The first games of spring training are scheduled for tomorrow 25/02/09. That means the baseball season is about to start, roughly in five weeks. This marks the beginning of the fantasy baseball season 2009 as well. Drafts have already taken place in many leagues and teams have started to wheel and deal. But why would you draft at this stage of the season? Here are a few reasons why you should not do it.

Injuries

The teams are going to play some 34 games during spring training. Surely, prospects will get an extended amount of playing time, pitchers will pitch an inning or two and designated starters will bat and field for just a few innings. Nonetheless there is a chance of getting injured.

Last year I drafted Scott Kazmir and John Lackey. Both got injured and missed the start of the season. I already had to use up 2 spots on Injury Reserve and got lucky with my “temporary replacements” Ervin Santana and Jair Jurrjens. 

Your first round pick is the most important pick. What if he is one who will miss a few games at the start of the season? Or even more? You won’t be able to find a reasonable replacement.

Also, bear in mind that there is a World Baseball Classics scheduled in March, in which the intensity will be much higher than during a spring training game. And with a lot of pride and honour at stake I expect some players to be very competitive.

Unsigned Free Agents

The top tier free agents have been signed, with the exception of Manny Ramirez, but there are still some players who haven’t found a team for 2009. Orlando Cabrera comes to mind. I had him on one of my teams last year when he was playing for the Chicago White Sox, and I was quite pleased with him. He shouldn’t go undrafted in any league but how can I project his productivity if I don’t even know yet for which team he’s going to play?

Rotation/Bullpen

The spring training serves to determine a pitching rotation and bullpen. The much-hyped Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers received a late season call-up last year and performed with varying success. He will most likely be in this season’s rotation, but where? And before I consider drafting him I would like to have a little more clarification on this.

The closer situation is widely unclear as well and that matters a big deal as you are competing in the saves category.

Line Up

I don’t need to explain the difference between batting first in the line up and batting third. But there’s also a significant difference between batting fourth and batting fifth. Even though you can pretty much anticipate the formations I would still prefer to watch the situation a little longer to get a clearer picture. Too many things can factor in, most importantly injury, which brings us back to the first point.

Fantasy Baseball is the fantasy sport where so many circumstances factor in, ballpark, line up, opponent, weather, to name a few. I’d wait until I’ve seen a few games in spring training before I take part in a draft.