Tout Wars

Tout Wars is a highly competitive, expert-only fantasy baseball league. Founded in 1997 by Lawr Michaels, it brings together prominent baseball analysts, writers, and broadcasters to compete against each other in various fantasy baseball formats. Tout Wars serves as a real-world testing ground for different fantasy strategies and player valuation methods, providing valuable insights to the wider fantasy baseball community.

History and Purpose:

The league was conceived as a way to showcase the skills and analytical abilities of baseball media personalities in the realm of fantasy baseball. It aimed to elevate the discourse surrounding fantasy baseball by featuring knowledgeable and dedicated participants. Over the years, Tout Wars has become a prestigious competition, with winning Tout Wars titles considered a significant accomplishment within the fantasy baseball industry.

League Structure and Formats:

Tout Wars is comprised of multiple leagues, each utilizing a different fantasy baseball format. Common formats include AL-only, NL-only, mixed leagues, and head-to-head leagues. These formats often incorporate auction drafts or snake drafts, and utilize statistical categories such as batting average, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, wins, saves, ERA, and WHIP to determine standings. The specific rules and scoring systems may vary between different Tout Wars leagues.

Significance:

The results and strategies employed by Tout Wars participants are closely followed by fantasy baseball players of all levels. Because the participants are typically seasoned experts, their draft choices, trade strategies, and roster management decisions are often analyzed and debated. This provides a valuable learning experience for those seeking to improve their own fantasy baseball skills. Many fantasy baseball tools, player projections, and analytical methods are tested and refined within the context of Tout Wars.