Problems with ESPN.com
This year was the first time I have used ESPN.com for a fantasy league.
And unfortunately, the results have been awful.
The site has been having problems with fantasy baseball since the season began. This is the first time ESPN.com has offered to run leagues for free, and if you're like me, that caught your attention. However on Wednesday, the site was forced to do the following as its only course of action for fixing problems:
Luckily for me, I hadn't made any transactions. I wanted to see how the team I drafted performed -- for a couple weeks at least. However, my squad did move from first place to second place today because of the second bullet above. The main reason? I lost the 'wins' category by missing out on Rich Harden's first start -- 7 IP, 0 ER, 7 K against Seattle.
Anyway, I will give ESPN.com credit for a few things. Number one, they sent out multiple e-mails to users, explaining that they were having problems and doing everything in their power to fix them. Also, they are offering free ESPN Insider content throughout baseball season and free use of their site for fantasy football.
The bottom line is that it's pretty dumbfounding that an operation that serves as the measuring stick for sports Web sites had to completely reset leagues 10 days into the season -- so I assume ESPN.com had no other choice. Hopefully things run smoothly from here on out.
Comments
Is this the first year that ESPN has offered fantasy baseball? What freaking changed about this year that the waiver system no longer works (or didn't work for the first week and a half). Our league has been in constant turmoil for the first week, and I really don't think there is any excuse that ESPN can provide that would change my mind about not choosing to use their leagues next year when there are so many other free options out there. Good job ESPN!
Posted by: Rookies | April 13, 2007 8:58 AM
This "fix" and the problems that led up to it are unacceptable. As ESPN communicated their problems and the fix that ensued I gave them the benefit of the doubt. But after dropping in the standings considerably after this "fix," the recent rash of sloppy writing at ESPN's web site (Fatnasy Baseball? Evin Twin Pitchers? Get a spell checker, please) and a much better fantasy baseball experience with Yahoo and Fox Sports I doubt I'll give ESPN fantasy leagues another chance. Even their interface is sub-standard compared to other options out there. ESPN is slipping as a "leader" in sports.
Posted by: Devin Hurd | April 15, 2007 7:27 PM