Ottoneu H2H Is Here
While it’s true that Ottoneu never sleeps, some are often surprised to know that January and February are among the busiest months of the year for this growing fantasy sports platform. This winter frenzy period for baseball is refreshing because it keeps owners engaged even as they await free agent signings, and it is highly active because so many new leagues are forming. If you’re thinking about playing Ottoneu this season, here are some key resources for review:
How To Get Started Playing Ottoneu
In addition to its extremely deep player pool, its saber-economic foundations, and a highly active community of raving fans, Ottoneu’s dedicated developer (Niv Shah) is offering even more to customers this year: the introduction of Head-to-Head leagues. Niv’s accessibility to his customers sets Ottoneu apart from all other fantasy services, and he’s taken all your feedback to launch this new head-to-head version of the game in 2018.
Here are three key features of the upcoming H2H option:
All leagues will have the option to incorporate the H2H system into their schedule.
New leagues forming today can now choose the H2H option, but even better is that existing leagues can choose either to convert their league into an H2H schedule, or they can choose to simply add the H2H playoff feature (see below) into their current league. In other words, all these options (selected before the start of each season) offer leagues flexibility to find the perfect blend of game features to accommodate owner preferences. A few other key details:
- One matchup per week per team (2018 is a 25 week schedule) with daily roster changes.
- Two starting pitcher slots, with no caps on games started or innings pitched per matchup.
- One catcher slot (in non-H2H leagues Ottoneu allows two catcher slots but still limits 162 games played at the position).
- The trade deadline for all leagues will remain August 31st.
- All other rules remain standard to Ottoneu leagues (roster sizes, budgets, auction timelines, etc.)
Scoring options will include either FanGraphs Points (FGPTS) or SABR Points.
For 2018, the H2H scoring will be limited to either of the two more popular points formats, though Niv has already indicated that category-based Roto scoring for H2H may be coming in future updates. Either way, the linear-weighted points scoring system is a great place to start in Ottoneu and should help create a perfect blend into the new H2He format. You can read more about these points scoring game types here.
Playoffs are optional, with three different configurations available.
- Three-division (4 teams per division, 6 teams make the playoffs), “wild card” schedule with a two week championship matchup (best overall record determines teams 4-6)
- Two-division (6 teams per division, 4 teams make the playoffs), two week per round matchup (no wild card)
- Two-division (6 teams per division, 4 teams make the playoffs), two week championship matchup (available if you want to purposely avoid the final week of September)
In 2018, each playoff schedule will begin on September 3rd, but leagues will need to select a playoff option before their season starts. For H2H leagues that choose not to use a playoff system, the league champion will be determined by the team with the best overall record at the end of the regular MLB season. Likewise, for leagues that do not select the H2H system for the regular season but want to use playoffs to determine their league champion, playoff seeds will be determined by the standings on the last day prior to the start of the playoffs (top four or six teams).
H2H for Ottoneu is here, and is just one more great reason why you should give Ottoneu a try this season. Have questions before forming or joining your own H2H league? Feel free to ask in the comments.
Trey is a 20+ year fantasy veteran and an early adopter of Ottoneu fantasy sports. He currently administers the Ottoneu community, a network of ~1,200 fantasy baseball and football fans talking sports daily. More resources here: http://community.ottoneu.com
How often do owners stop trying in Ottoneu (thinking of doing a no prize league but scared that it won’t be competitive)?
My first answer is always the same: really depends on the quality of the owners in the league. But let’s assume you have good ones, and if so, they will either be trying for now or the future (rebuilding smartly). Very generally (in points leagues) I would say 4-5 teams are still in the title race by August 1st; this could be different (by design) in H2H, which is why it’s going to be fun to watch this season.
OK, almost ready to take the leap. This is a silly question, maybe, but…
I love using FG dominate my leagues. In Otto, I imagine everyone is using the same information. So, does that level the competition and make it more a battle of luck/attrition?
I’m not sure I’d agree everyone has the same information, but for now let’s assume that’s true. Luck (like health) is a factor, but there are still intangibles that set great owners apart from good ones. For example, just because we have the same information doesn’t mean we interpret it or use it in the same way (or at the same time). Also, a big part of the game is playing your opponents (like poker), as some owners are better at this than others. In general, I definitely agree the level of competition in Ottoneu is higher than any other platform I’m familiar with.
More info on H2H playoffs here
How many relievers are allowed? The early guidance was all over the place.
Five relievers in a starting lineup on a given night.
More updates on H2H in Ottoneu here.
I see there are no matchup limits on IP or GS (having only 2 SP spots regulates both), does this mean there is no season IP cap or minimum requirement?
I got an answer:
There are no season-long IP minimums or maximums in H2H
Are there any plans to offer NL- and AL-only Ottoneu leagues?
This may happen in the future but I think Niv prefers a basic economic foundation of rules applied to all Ottoneu leagues, and a core rule for now is 40 man rosters with deep players pooled from both AL and NL
I’ve played H2H and Roto for over 15 years. My experience is 1) H2H keeps the weaker teams interested longer, and 2) H2H turns a large sample test of fitness into 26 small sample tests. Not sure how Otto will operate H2H, but if it involves September playoffs, that will further marginalize the value of assembling the best team over a season. In my long term H2H league the winningest regular season team wins the playoffs 30% of the time. In roto, it’s always 100%.
My league won’t go H2H while I’m in it.
What you described is the exact reason why people like H2H. It’s a better simulation of reality. That said, as somebody who happens to be pretty good at the whole fantasy thing, I strongly prefer Roto. I only do H2H with my old college teammates.
Agreed, the randomness of a team getting hot at the right time is what makes H2H actually a closer mirror to reality of MLB Playoffs. That said, I fully agree that Roto separates the best team overall. It just depends on your point-of-view which you think is more enjoyable (I play both for the reasons given, but tend to h2h as it gives bite-sized indications of success and failure, just like winning / losing a baseball series in the Show)
What you’ve described is a feature of H2H, not a bug. Those discussions happened frequently here.
In a 12 team league divisions are teats on a boar hog. It is a 26 week season, with 22 weeks being enough for each team to play all of the others 11 twice. Week 23 and 24 features #1 v. #4 and #2 v. #3, but for 14 days. The final two weeks of the season highlight the two winners, but if you wish, things can be arranged so that all twelve teams play every day of the last month.
But Roto is still a much better format.
Are H2H leagues going to be added to the Auction Calculator?