If repeating a gag is wrong . . .
This is the 56th installment of The Labyrinthian, a series dedicated to exploring random fields of knowledge in order to give you unordinary theoretical, philosophical, strategic, and/or often rambling guidance on daily fantasy sports. Consult the introductory piece to the series for further explanation.
Do They Have Sheriffs in Io-what?
I’m traveling to Iowa — or, as I like to call it, “Io-what?” — so this piece is going to be shorter than the typical Labyrinthian. Actually, maybe not shorter, but probably less substantial.
By the way, the guy next to me on the plane smells really bad.
I just want to call your attention to the FantasyLabs awesomeness that occurred yesterday (May 26, 2016).
First of all, “Sheriff” Bill Monighetti released the first part of his study on fastball velocity, and it’s fantastic. The second (and final) part should be out soon: Be sure to check it out. In his study on the subject, Bill examines A) the assumptions we have regarding pitch velocity, and B) the contextual factors that impact its DFS importance.
Not only does Bill’s piece provide great information, but it also serves to illustrate the depth of research that can be done with . . . our FREE Trends tool! — which brings me to my second point.
But, first, here’s a totally unexpected message from my employer!
Have You Heard the Good News? We Have FREE Trends
The good news is that I just saved 15 percent on my car insu — oops, wrong document.
Here’s the good news: Yesterday, we made our DFS Trends tool free. I’m biased, but I think that’s an awesome development, and you should definitely take advantage of it.
The Trends tool is unreservedly my favorite tool that we offer. I say this knowing that many people prefer the Player Models. I like the Models. For every single slate that we offer, you can look at the Models and see not only the ratings for each player but also what led us to those ratings: Our advanced data as well as our unique metrics, such as Plus/Minus, Bargain Rating, Upside, and Consistency (all of which are accessible via our free Ratings tool).
Also, in Models you can make your own models, and we definitely encourage you to do so. The Models are invaluable . . .
I Like Big “Buts” and I Cannot Lie
. . . but I like the Trends tool more.
I think of the Models as the daily equivalent of giving a man a fish. And, to finish the analogy, the Trends tool is the equivalent of giving a man a big juicy steak.
- What kind of man needs to be taught to fish?
- For that matter, what kind of man eats fish?
I’m joking.
With the Models, you can answer questions like, “Who is discounted for this slate?”
With the Trends tool, you can answer questions like, “What types of players tend to be discounted for most slates?”
I tend to find the second type of questions (and their answers) much more intriguing and valuable. And, now, you can start to find the answers to those questions for free . . .
There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: Subtitle, Getting Most of the Milk for Free
. . . sort of. You can get most of the Trends tool for free, but — as I was told way too many times in college — you can’t get everything you want unless you’re willing to commit for at least five days.
As my high school economics teacher liked to say, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. That’s basically the only thing I learned from him. That, and the fact that if someone repeats a mundane saying enough times then it will become unwillingly housed in someone’s brain never to be dislodged.
Anyway, you’re getting most of the milk for free — and we have a lot of milk to give you. But if you want the creamy, deliciously fatty substance that we’ve skimmed off the top, you’ll need to buy the cow.
(Somehow, that previous paragraph didn’t sound nearly as dirty as I wanted it to sound.)
Ignore What I Just Said
Of course, I hate the idea that there can never be a free lunch. I hated it even in high school. For some people, free lunches can be had. It’s possible to get something for nothing. That’s basically the idea that drives arbitrage.
By using our Trends tool for free, you really are getting a free lunch, and we’re footing the bill.
But you’re not getting the same lunch as the paying patrons get. That wouldn’t be fair. You’re not getting the meat. (Although you might be getting DFS manna.)
You’re not able to see which players currently match any given trend.
So you won’t be able to create a rare trend that matches for secret supermen and then, without paying, look at the “Current Matches” tab and know immediately which players in the upcoming slates are likely to be those supermen. Rather, you’ll be able to know “only” which factors tend to transform mere mortals into DFS gods.
Of course, that on its own is a quite a bit of information and should be satisfactory considering that you’re not paying for it. Under certain circumstances, getting to third base can be just as fulfilling as hitting a home run.
If you’re the type of person who simply wants to drive a fast car, then you’re likely to be occasionally annoyed by the free version of our Trends tool.
If, though, you’re the type of person who enjoys learning about engines and understanding what makes a car go fast, then let the free ride begin.
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The Labyrinthian: 2016, 56
Previous installments of The Labyrinthian can be accessed via my author page. If you have suggestions on material I should know about or even write about in a future Labyrinthian, please contact me via email, [email protected], or Twitter @MattFtheOracle.
