The Future is in Fairfield

     We all know that the fantasy sports industry has exploded over the last 10 years into one of the fastest growing money makers around.  All of the major sports conglomerates like Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and even Yahoo! Sports have all amped up their fantasy departments in order to keep up with the rapidly growing demands.  With that growth and newfound media coverage, fantasy sports addicts, like myself, have been adjusting our game in order to stay ahead of the suddenly increased levels of competition.  Our research is more in-depth and our scouting of players has gone to levels that the everyday fantasy Joe couldn’t fathom.

     Let’s take fantasy baseball, for example.  Back in 2001, most fantasy baseballers were watching Spring Training and marking off players whom they thought would be locks for the Major League rosters.  Along with the incumbents, we were looking at the minor leaguers that were being sent back down, the ones that maybe had a shot at being brought up mid-season, and the ones that maybe had a shot to stay with the big club right away.  But somehow, due to some offhanded comments from Tony LaRussa, everyone seemed to skip over Albert Pujols.  He wasn’t supposed to make the club and therefore, was left alone in every fantasy baseball draft that took place prior to the evening before Opening Day.  Well, we all know how that one ended as Pujols was the most coveted fantasy free agent that season and went on to reward those quick fingered waiver wire hounds that year.

Not a single professional start and Stephen Strasburg is already owned by thousands of fantasy players

     Today, that’s just not happening.  Fantasy baseballers are so intent on picking up the next Pujols that they’ll go to considerable lengths to not let the “next big thing” slip past them.  Dynasty Leagues are popping up more and more to cover the vast number of minor leaguers out there, and it’s even slipping to the college ranks.  This year, San Diego State sensation, Stephen Strasburg, found his way onto numerous fantasy rosters before he was even drafted number one overall by the Washington Nationals.  Right now, he is currently owned in 25% of the leagues on CBS Sportsline — that’s a higher ownership percentage than major leaguers like Luis Castillo, Chris Getz and Josh Willingham.

     So after watching the potential player pool grow from just the pros to potential major leaguers still in college and undrafted, I decided to take it a step further.  On a recent trip back to the east coast, I decided to do a little scouting in the Fairfield National Little League;  the 11 year olds.  Sounds silly, right?  Not so much if you’re looking at the next Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield or Jason Varitek.  Each one of those guys, along with a few others like Carney Lansford and even Boog Powell, are from the select group of players that have played in both the Little League World Series and the MLB World Series.  If you had the opportunity in a Dynsaty League to hold onto Doc Gooden for 7 years until he broke into the majors and tore up the competition so that you could win a fantasy championship, wouldn’t you take it?

     So with that, I sat down and watched the boys from Hadfield’s Sporting Goods, the eventual league champions, mop up their inferior competition from a local pizza place as I checked off names of prospective fantasy stars.  While all of the boys exhibited sound fundamentals and the ability to listen to their coaches (tough thing for an 11 year old, if I remember correctly), there were 4 boys that stood out the most to me, one of which I have already submitted a claim for in my Dynasty League — catcher Benjamin Diamond, shortstop Jonathan Zarrilli, pitcher Curran Cook, and first baseman Chris Kral.  All four boys showed me the skills and a level of competitiveness that could lead each one of them, with some additional hard work, to outstanding high school careers which could eventually bring them success at the college and minor league level.  Obviously, it’s a little early to say as each boy needs to fill out physically, but by my eye, the potential is there.

Ben Diamond helps lead his team from both at the plate and behind it.

     For me, Ben Diamond leads the foursome as his ability and baseball savvy creates the foundation of the team when he’s behind the plate.  His apparent spring-loaded arm shoots a snap throw to first that would make even Pudge Rodriguez proud, let alone his coaches and family.  I learned later that Diamond’s skills behind the dish are so strong that opposing teams don’t even try to steal off him anymore;  no passed balls and a gun to second with amazing accuracy.  On top of that, the boy can rake.  Hitting third in the lineup, he’s got a batting average over .400 and the shots into the outfield gaps that I witnessed were an amazing display of plate discipline and solid mechanics.

     I also learned that Diamond is one of the team’s top pitchers.  He currently leads the team in strikeouts, ERA and pitches incredibly well under pressure.  Much like the Yankees/Red Sox series in the playoffs, Hadfield’s real World Series was against their chief rivals in the league semi-finals.  Diamond tossed a 3 hitter to help his team advance to the championship game. 

Zarrilli digs in ready to turn two

     Jonathan Zarrilli is a slick fielding shortstop with quick feet and has immense range for a boy his age.  He also plays a pretty mean left field.  While there were few opportunities for him in the infield, he made the most of each one with 4 quality put outs and a sweet tag at second on a kid who took a few too many steps off the bag on a pop up.  While playing the final two innings out in left field, Zarrilli also made a throw to second that looked like vintage Vladimir Guerrero as he turned what should have been a double into a very long single.  That kept the runner out of scoring position and eventually became a stranded baserunner.

     Zarrilli also has quality skills at the plate.  He bats cleanup to provide protection for Diamond, and in the game that clinched the divisional title heading into the playoffs, Zarrilli roped a ball into left that plated the game winning run.  Prior to the game, he was leading the team with a .522 average and an OBP of .633.  His skills are raw, but with proper development, I see a potential keeper league shortstop.

     Both Chris Kral and Curran Cook looked equally impressive that day.  Kral has the persona of a field general and played the first base position like a seasoned veteran.  He appeared to be the communication liason to the outfielders as the coach shouted instructions from the dugout.  Picture a shorter Don Mattingly with much less facial hair.  Kral’s intensity was almost intimidating as he was able to maintain his focus despite the jeers from the opposing players and coaches.  Unlike most professional first baseman though, Kral hits leadoff and at the time I was there, was leading the team with 14 stolen bases in 10 games.  The speedster is the ideal table-setter for the boys that bat behind him.

     Cook’s presence on the mound is also quite intimidating.  His physical prowess is enough to scare even the biggest of hitters he faces and he’s got the lower body strength and push-off that resembles a Roger Clemens-type power pitcher.  After looking at some of the team stats, happily provided by one of the boys’ father, it looks like Cook could be destined to be a top closer of the future.  He’s got a blazing fastball and the movement on some of his other pitches makes the 11 year olds he faces look like 4 year olds hacking at the T-Ball level.

Focus, hard work and a love of baseball led the boys from Hadfield's Sporting Goods to the 2009 championship

     Again, I certainly don’t want to take anything away from the other boys on the Hadfield’s Sporting Goods team.  Baseball is a team sport and without the other players on the team, Diamond, Zarrilli, Kral and Cook may not be celebrating a league championship today.  The beauty of a team sport is that while the machine has major components, without even the smallest cog, that machine doesn’t work.

     But now am I jumping the gun here, scouting these boys for fantasy purposes?  Maybe a little.  Who’s to say that any of them grow up to be professionals?  The boys are no older than 11 years old and still have a long way to go in their development as ball players.  Not to mention, the everyday distractions of a child growing up and other hobbies and interests.  For example, both Diamond and Zarilli play in a local rock band called the Sewer Gators where Diamond is the drummer and Zarrilli sings and plays keyboard.

     But just like any competitive game, to be successful in fantasy baseball, you need to gain an edge over your opponents.  And what better way than to increase your knowledge and broaden your scouting techniques?  With the massive amount of information put out on the pros today, everyone is reading, more or less, the same updates.  You have to take matters into your own hands to gain that advantage, and what better way in baseball than to start scouting the professionals before they become professionals.  When you’re fighting for a championship, you can’t leave any stone unturned.  And under the stone I just flipped over, I found me the boys of Fairfield.