Fantasy Baseball: I Want My Life Back!!!!!

Waking up late this Sunday morning, I had officially realized how fantasy baseball was slowly taking over almost every aspect of my personal life. I looked at the clock to see one of the scariest sites a fantasy baseball owner can see on a Sunday, 12:56 p.m. I rushed to my computer to make sure my lineup was set and that everything was in order for the 1 o'clock games. But then i realized something that scared me even more. My lineup for Sunday was already set 2 days ago, yet I was still freaking out about checking my lineup in time. Not to brag or anything, but right now my team is in first place in my league and that is why I pay so much attention to it this season. In the past, however, I have been out of contention by the all-star break and yet I still find myself hanging on to every pitch by my starter or every deep fly-ball hit by one of my players. Fantasy baseball just seems to have a dominating effect on my life and I know that there are people out there just like me. Last season, I had the number 1 pick in my draft and for our league, pitching is more important than hitting. That meant that Johan Santana was the consensus first pick. So I went online, bought a Santana Minnesota Twins shirt, and a red Twins hat. I haven't worn either of those items in the last year and a half. On days where Tim Lincecum pitches, I wear his shirt to work as an undershirt. Wardrobe aside, fantasy baseball also affects how I act at work. As some of you may know, I work at a local newspaper in the Westchester County area. I am in front of a computer all day, waiting for stories to follow and report on. Most of my time spent here is looking up fantasy baseball stats and if I am lucky enough, following any games that start during the day. Though when work comes to me, I do end up having to stop what I am doing to make sure I don't accidently write about Carlos Beltran in some sort of robbery trial. When I go out at night, I am following baseball scores on my cell phone constantly, and at times completely ignoring the people I am with. The other night someone asked me what I wanted to drink, and I looked up at them and said, "Howie Kendrick just homered, isn't that crazy?" (For those of you who don't know, Kendrick never homers so it was crazy) 5 years ago this would've never happened. With technology the way it has progressed, people have more access to things they couldn't have imagined just as early as 2003. Perhaps 5 years from now, I'll be able to get a phone call from Uber shortstop Hanley Ramirez telling me how his late plate appearance felt or a text message from Ben Sheets letting me know his shoulder is alright after the 111 pitches he just threw. My point is that while I clearly like fantasy baseball, I am not happy with the social habits it has helped me develop. Something must be done to prevent myself and others from permanently becoming social outcasts and missing birthday parties to watch Ryan Dempster pitch against the Reds. While some may think this is a bit dramatic, I kid you not I have heard stories of missed parties and other events over fantasy baseball matters. Nobody plan any weddings in September this year, cause I won't be able to make it?