This article is part of our Oak's Corner series.
Now that we are into the second half of the season and the weather is really warming up, it's quite clear that the 2019 home run craze is just getting ramped up, and it seems to be getting more pronounced. Just in the last week since the All-Star Break, while watching games I have seen at least 10 homers that looked like line drive doubles in the gap or fly outs that left the park. Of course, there's nothing we can do about; it's the new reality right now, but how do we deal with it from a fantasy angle?
The first item of business is to change your mind set about what you need from your pitchers, as your goal ERA coming into the season may no longer be realistic or even what you need to compete in your league. Your actual team ERA isn't the number that's important, it's all about where that number puts you relative to the rest of your competition. In my NFBC leagues, more than half the teams have team ERAs over 4.00 on the season, and the all-time homerun record for an NFBC is going to be shattered this year. So, as you have pitchers who get hit a little bit, it's important to remember that we don't need quite the gems we used to need and when you do get one, they are even more golden than they used to be.
The other angle with the crazy offense (my goodness, Yandy Diaz