Welcome to Mendoza Baseball, home of the most realistic general manager simulation game on the internet!

Mendoza Baseball is the closest thing you'll find to owning a real MLB franchise. Mendoza Baseball is designed to simulate the economics, strategies and transaction rules of MLB as closely as possible. You'll compete for free agents in an e-Bay style, internet auction, and develop prospects that you keep for years. You can be George Steinbrenner, signing every free agent in sight, or you can be Billy Beane, competing to win on a shoestring budget with homegrown talent. You can even be Bud Selig, banking revenue-sharing money while fielding a cheap team that's going nowhere. It's up to you!

On the field, Mendoza Baseball takes advantage of the most up-to-date sabermetric research to ensure that player values are as close to the real thing as possible. That means we don't use team-dependent stats such as wins, saves, or RBIs. Instead, player value is measured in the only number that really helps teams win: runs on the scoreboard. We estimate each player's contribution to team runs scored and runs allowed using intricate but intuitive formulas backed by solid sabermetric research. We tie it all together with a team win-loss record based on Bill James' Pythagorean theorem.

The league is constantly evolving based on the latest MLB rules changes and advances in sabermetrics. This has led to the addition lots of neat features over the years that you won't find in most other fantasy games:

  • In 2004, we implemented differentiated bullpen roles based on research on reliever innings leverage published at Baseball Primer.

  • In 2005, we implemented a new keeper system based on the MLB's reserve clause, including a simulator of MLB's arbitration process.

  • In 2009, we added a minor league draft that allows you to lock up top prospects while still in the low minors.

  • In 2011, we added our first all-MLB league with a six-division format.

  • In 2014, we added defensive statistics using Baseball Info Solutions' Defensive Runs Saved metric.

  • Gameplay has been pretty stable the past 10 years because the formula works well!

Mendoza Baseball has some of the highest-quality owners of any fantasy game. Mendoza is set up to let you build your team for the long run. Once you've made that investment, you won't want to just dump your team and move on, and other owners don't either. In fact, Mendoza owners consistently return at a rate of over 90%.

Here's what some current and past owners have had to say about Mendoza Baseball:

"The league and site are brilliant."

"I'd been in a couple of more traditional Rotisserie-type leagues before, but never really warmed up to it that much. Mendoza is a whole different experience."

"I had a *blast* this year. Thanks to Arne and Robert for all their hard work! I'm already looking forward to next year!"

"Frankly, I wish I'd discovered Mendoza years ago."

"Jeez, do you guys not have lives or what?"

Mendoza Baseball was invented in 1998 by Arne Olson and Robert Carter, two regular guys who were dissatsified with conventional fantasy baseball games and wanted something more. We still run this league and site in our spare time, when we're not doing regular stuff like working and taking care of our families. E-mail us at commish@mendozabaseball.com. Thanks for visiting!

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