PROGRESSIVE?... Isn't that Insurance?

[DOUGHBOYS]

As a whole, fantasy baseball folks are traditionalists. The NFBC is no exception. Any rule change is usually scrutinized and talked about seemingly forever before Greg makes a decision. Like Chess, it's a beautiful game that doesn't need much change.
The daily games have appeared and some players are enjoying that venue. Continuing the Chess analogy, daily games are the Speed Chess of our industry.
But, what if we were progressive?
No, not the insurance company.
I mean forward thinking.
What rule changes would we see?
Let's take a look at a few....

TWO CATCHERS WOULD BE ONE CATCHER-
When the original fantasy game was formed, there were two catchers. There are different explanations as to why this was the case.
We have two catchers, even in a 15 team league, only because of tradition.
Besides outfielders, it is the only specific position that have multiple places on our roster.
In a 15 team league, losing a catcher like Buster Posey last year or Victor Martinez during the slow draft season this year, almost single-handedly can put a death nail to any team's chances.
Some like the two catchers thinking it adds more gamesmanship or strategy to the game.
The same could be said for playing one catcher and having an option each week, instead of being 'stuck with two catchers'.

TWO START PITCHERS-
We have a choice as to when to start each of our pitchers. We'll research and pick the pitchers on our rosters who give us the best chance to win.
Not so with two start pitchers. We are locked into starting them against both teams that they face.
All or nothing.
Technology has come a long ways and this does not have to be the case anymore. We should be able to decide if we want that two start pitcher to not only face both or none of those teams, but just one of them.
Let's say Kuroda is facing the Red Sox at Fenway on Monday and the Twins at home Sunday. I would rather forego the Red Sox matchup and just have Kuroda face the Twins.
The technology is now here to make that happen.
If we wanted to be even a little more progressive-
We could even say that bypassing the Red Sox start 'owes' us another start and in this instance, we can use another pitcher off our bench.

FIVE ROUND SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT FOR SLOW LEAGUES-

By the All-Star break, most slow draft rosters are ridden with DL'ed players, players sent to the minors, and players that have never been called to the majors.
A five round supplemental held during All-Star week could boost all of our rosters and give us something to do during all the 'down time'.
We don't want to punish teams that have done well to this point by having them draft last in the supplemental. It would be of a random nature with participants knowing their position the week before the supplemental is to start.
In order to guaranty that the draft is finished and time is left for the new players to be inputted, the draft clock would start at the faab deadline that Sunday night and only be two hours during daylight hours.

AN EXTRA UTILITY PLAYER-

This is not new. Some other places use this and players are very happy with it.
The new Utility player would be the 24th player on our weekly roster. This player would actually be the 'Super Utility Player. He can be your 14th hitter or he can be your 10th pitcher.
This new position makes the game especially appealing as we draw closer to the end of the season.
Do we need more rbi or do we need more strike outs?
This new position makes it intriguing in not only your decision down the strech, but your competition's usage of the new position as well.
Without one catcher, the 23 players started each week would not be disturbed.

As said before, we are in a tradition laden industry and change is tough. I don't expect any of these changes to take place soon.
But,they are fun to talk about and who knows, in the future they may enhance our game to a degree.