Spurs Talk Fantasy Baseball 09

[FromWayDowntown]

Have 8 players, but need 4 more. For those who are interested in filling out those spots, here's the information:

For those who do, the league is in Yahoo and the particulars for signing up are:

League ID#: 111457
League Name: Spurs Talk Smackdown
Password: vincecarter

Draft is 3/26/09 at 7:00 p.m. -- subject to changes if necessary.

$25 entry fee.

[Thunder Dan]

do you have me down?

who do I send the $$$$ to?

[FromWayDowntown]

do you have me down?

who do I send the $$$$ to?


You Hang I Bang?

I got you.

[timvp]

Thanks for setting it up once again, FWD :tu

PM me to move this to the Spurs forum if you don't get the needed signups in the next few days.

[ATRAIN]

Thanks for setting it up once again, FWD :tu

PM me to move this to the Spurs forum if you don't get the needed signups in the next few days.

Your going down just like your Dominican team lmao!!!

[FromWayDowntown]

Thanks for setting it up once again, FWD :tu

PM me to move this to the Spurs forum if you don't get the needed signups in the next few days.

Will do.

Should we get a mini forum for our Dorky McDork business. :lol

[Melmart1]

Has florige signed up? I know he wanted to.

[florige]

I want to join too. PM me where the money is supposed to be sent if there are any spots left. Thanks.

[florige]

Has florige signed up? I know he wanted to.



Thanks Melly.

[FromWayDowntown]

Still need at least 1 and as many as 3 more players. Once we have all 10 or 12 (hopefully today) I'll set a draft order.

[timvp]

I put it in the Spurs forum. Hopefully we can get to 12.

[Thunder Dan]

Say my team puts it all together and wins, do I get one of those little trophies?

[timvp]

Say my team puts it all together and wins, do I get one of those little trophies?Yessir.

[FromWayDowntown]

No more bites yet. Still need 1 to make 10 or 3 to make 12. Not sure if it will work with just 9.

[TheTruth]

I went ahead and signed up. I also sent a message to my 2 dynasty leagues asking if anyone was interested in playing. Should be able to find 2 out of that group.

[slayermin]

No more bites yet. Still need 1 to make 10 or 3 to make 12. Not sure if it will work with just 9.

In head to head leagues, you have to have an even amount of teams. If you don't have an even number, yahoo will delay your draft and either autodraft your teams or make you reschedule your draft.

[FromWayDowntown]

In the hope of getting a draft order out and moving the ball along, I've closed the league at 10 teams. If anyone would like to keep the registration open for another day or so, let me know -- this will, of course, limit the time available with the draft order (or will require pushing back the draft date and time from its currently scheduled 3/26/09 at 7:00 p.m. CST.)

As a concession to the reduction in teams, I've unilaterally made 2 significant changes to the complexion of the league:

1. only 4 of the 10 teams will make the playoffs, which will occur in weeks 24 and 25 (presumably, the last 2 weeks of the MLB regular season)

2. I've added offensive positions for a corner infielder and a middle infielder, increased the number of pitchers for each team from 8 to 10, and expanded the benches from 9 to 10. In a 12 team league last year, there were 312 players on rosters (not counting injured players). Those changes will result in there being 310 players on rosters (not counting injured players).

If anyone has a problem with either of those decisions, let me know. Otherwise, I'll publish a draft order by tomorrow afternoon in anticipation of a Thursday evening draft.

[slayermin]

Are there going to be limits on transactions?

[Thunder Dan]

any chance of making the draft like 30 minutes earlier, or an hour later

[FromWayDowntown]

Are there going to be limits on transactions?

Haven't heard much from the gang about that issue.

It seems to me that the easiest compromise is to put no limit on transactions in-season, but to limit transactions, if any, to no more than 3-5 per week during the playoffs.

[FromWayDowntown]

any chance of making the draft like 30 minutes earlier, or an hour later

I have reset the draft time for 8:30, for the moment. It does appear that we have some more flexibility -- I would have no quarrel if the group thought we should push the draft date back. If, however, tomorrow night is good for most people, I'd say we keep it and proceed from there.

[Thunder Dan]

I have reset the draft time for 8:30, for the moment. It does appear that we have some more flexibility -- I would have no quarrel if the group thought we should push the draft date back. If, however, tomorrow night is good for most people, I'd say we keep it and proceed from there.

9:30 would be perfect for me (I'm on East Coast time) so 8:30 Central

[FromWayDowntown]

Yeah, the time is now set for 8:30 central on Thursday night.

[FromWayDowntown]

Alright, with 10 teams in the league and a draft scheduled for tomorrow, I used an online random number generator to come up with the draft order. The particulars are as follows:

Here is your sequence:

8
6
3
5
2
10
4
7
1
9

Timestamp: 2009-03-25 20:46:57 UTC

http://www.random.org/sequences/?min=1&max=10&format=html&rnd=new

I assigned each team a number corresponding to the position in the "standings" windown that I see on my screen. Those positions are as follows:

1-You Hang I Bang
2-alamo's terror squad
3-EricB whatever...
4-ThemBoogieKnights
5-Screwballs3
6-Each Hit
7-Atrain's Army
8-Bashers
9-DominicanRepublicans
10-A Fraud's Roiders

Putting the two lists together, the draft order is as follows:

8 -- Bashers
6 -- Each Hit
3 -- EricB whatever...
5 -- Screwballs3
2 -- alamo's terror squad
10 -- A Fraud's Roiders
4 -- ThemBoogieKnights
7 -- Atrain's Army
1 -- You Hang I Bang
9 -- DominicanRepublicans

The rounds will serpentine, so each odd numbered round will have picks made in this order while each even numbered round will have picks made in the reverse of this order.

Let me know if there are any problems.

-FWD

[timvp]

I'm willing to trade my 10th and 11th pick overall for a pick in the top three and a third rounder.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm willing to trade my 10th and 11th pick overall for a pick in the top three and a third rounder.

If you do that, you'll have to make pre-arrangements to have the picks already made -- or the parties to the trade will have to PM each other their picks. The Yahoo interface won't let me change the draft order on a round-by-round basis.

[Melmart1]

Good draft, guys. I think mine is pretty solid. I am pretty excited for the season to start.

[whottt]

Good draft everyone and GL :tu

[timvp]

Tiny island vs. the world :smokin

[slayermin]

Good luck to everyone. Let the marathon, what we call the MLB season, begin.

[Thunder Dan]

I'm pretty pumped about my team, I think I got the potential to go undefeated

Mark Teahen and Cameron Maybin...remember the names

[FromWayDowntown]

I appreciate how quickly we could do that and how easy everyone made it. Thanks to all; good luck on a successful season.

And if anyone wants to trade me a closer, I'm all ears.

[Thunder Dan]

Seriously, How can you not fear my lineup?

Catcher- Victor Martinez
2nd- Chase Uttley
SS- Jimmy Rollins
3B-Chipper Jones
1st-Carlos Guillen/Victor Martinez/Jim Thome
OF-Granderson
OF-Magglio Ordonez
OF-Manny Ramirez

Bench
Alex Gordon (stud)
Lastings Millage
Torii Hunter
Comeron Maybin (another stud)
Mark Tehan (hitting .500 in spring training with 4 homers last week)

Pitchers
Cy Young Cliff Lee
Johnathan Papelbon
John Lester
Armando Gallaraga (stud)
Scott Baker (stud)


this is a dream team

[ATRAIN]

Seriously, How can you not fear my lineup?

Catcher- Victor Martinez
2nd- Chase Uttley
SS- Jimmy Rollins
3B-Chipper Jones
1st-Carlos Guillen/Victor Martinez/Jim Thome
OF-Granderson
OF-Magglio Ordonez
OF-Manny Ramirez

Bench
Alex Gordon (stud)
Lastings Millage
Torii Hunter
Comeron Maybin (another stud)
Mark Tehan (hitting .500 in spring training with 4 homers last week)

Pitchers
Cy Young Cliff Lee
Johnathan Papelbon
John Lester
Armando Gallaraga (stud)
Scott Baker (stud)


this is a dream team

Lets see how you do rook

[Thunder Dan]

My bench is better than half of the teams. I look at some of these teams and laugh- both my lineup and pitching has the potential to be in the All Star game.

[whottt]

Seriously, How can you not fear my lineup?


Catcher- Victor Martinez

Because I had this fucking ass last year.



2nd- Chase Uttley
SS- Jimmy Rollins

Good players. Possibly the best keystone combo in this league.



3B-Chipper Jones

He'll spend half the season on the DL.



1st-Carlos Guillen/Victor Martinez/Jim Thome
These guys were waiver wire fodder all last year...In a 12 team league. Except for Martinez...whose fucking ass I had. Stupidly.



OF-Granderson
Decent player.



OF-Magglio Ordonez

One of my favorite players, getting pretty long in the tooth though.



OF-Manny Ramirez

Well he's Manny.




Pitchers
Cy Young Cliff Lee
Johnathan Papelbon
John Lester
Armando Gallaraga (stud)
Scott Baker (stud)


this is a dream team

No offense but I think just about every guy on that list outside of Papelbon spent time on the waiver wire last season...including Cliff Lee(who was picked up by FWDT at some point never to return).


You have a good team but safe to say you are the person most impressed with it.

[ATRAIN]

You have a good team but safe to say you are the person most impressed with it.

:lmao he kind of sounds like me last year and I did HORRIBLE until i figured out how to play and then made some decent waiver pick ups to lead me to a 1st round playoff elem. Lets see if Dan is so lucky.

[whottt]

:lmao he kind of sounds like me last year and I did HORRIBLE until i figured out how to play and then made some decent waiver pick ups to lead me to a 1st round playoff elem. Lets see if Dan is so lucky.

Yeah, I remember you turned your season around after a couple of asswhuppins from Melmart. We'll see what he does...

[Melmart1]

My bench is better than half of the teams. I look at some of these teams and laugh- both my lineup and pitching has the potential to be in the All Star game.

If all-star teams won championships, that would be great. And your bench better be better than more than half the league ... only the top 4 teams make the playoffs, which is less than half the league.

Your team is pretty good with potential, but I don't fear it at all. Since I have you as my opponent Week 1, I guess we will see if all your crowing is for naught.

OH, and I think both my catchers are better than yours. And I have five closers, possibly six. And I have a Cy Young winner, too (Lincecum). And two studs, Wainwright and Garza. Oh, and there is that Jake Peavy guy ... he is pretty good, too. :rolleyes

[FromWayDowntown]

Last year, someone (ATrain, I think) wanted some sort of a preview of the teams at this juncture. I don't have the time to do an extremely careful team-by-team analysis, but I did ask ESPN's draft analyzer to apply ESPN's projections to the teams we drafted and forecast the possible results. I'll admit that what I got back is far from perfect -- I can't get ESPN's draft analyzer to exclude AVG and include OBP; and I'm not sure that the numbers they've come up with reflect the positional usage that we employ. So while I'm not sure that the results are very good at all -- and I'm certain they become irrelevant come Sunday night -- they do at least offer the spark of conversation.

With that said, here's my 2009 category-by-category preview, based on ESPN's analysis:

Offensive Categories
HOME RUNS
1. alamo's terror squad (proj. 422 HR) -- for alamo50, Ryan Howard's presence goes a long way towards cinching the category, but a slew of guys with the bats to reach 25 or so home runs (Sizemore, Quentin, Bay, Votto, Cantu, Wells) makes that outcome much more likely.
2. ATRAIN's Army (415)
3. You Hang, I Bang (405)
4. Dominican Republicans (364)
5. Them Boogie Knights (350)
5. Eric B whatever (350)
7. Bashers (341)
8. Screwballs 3 (329)
9. A Fraud's Roiders (320)
10. Each Hit (233)

RUNS
1. You Hang, I Bang (1650) -- the lineup of this braggadocious newcomer, Thunder Dan, boasts 7 players who are projected to score at least 90 runs (Rollins, Granderson, Utley, Peralta, Ramirez, Guillen, and Thome) and another 5 who are projected to score between 80 and 90.
2. ATRAIN's Army (1637)
3. Eric B whatever (1528)
4. alamo's terror squad (1505)
5. Dominican Republicans (1453)
6. A Fraud's Roiders (1340)
7. Them Boogie Knights (1321)
8. Screwballs 3 (1183)
9. Bashers (1162)
10. Each Hit (1145)

RUNS BATTED IN
1. ATRAIN's Army (1610) -- A strong, if quarrelsome, finish to last season's newcomer brings ATrain back with sights on the title. A lineup boasting 4 guys likely to best the 100 RBI mark in '09 (Hamilton, Braun, Youkilis, and Atkins) helps. Having a total of 10 players who are projected to exceed 80 RBI is all the better.
2. alamo's terror squad (1532)
3. You Hang, I Bang (1517)
4. Eric B whatever (1439)
5. Dominican Republicans (1409)
6. Them Boogie Knights (1314)
7. A Fraud's Roiders (1286)
8. Bashers (1230)
9. Screwballs 3 (1119)
10. Each Hit (1004)

STOLEN BASES
1. ATRAIN's Army (263)
2. EricB whatever (232) -- the Yahoo autodraft function loaded EricB's team with speed to burn in 2009. With 4 guys who are likely to swipe at least 20 bags (Reyes, Upton, Kemp, and Beltran) and another group with a good chance to get at least 10 (Werth, Markakis, Kelly Johnson, Iwamura, and Napoli (gasp! a running catcher), EricB stands to be a threat to win this category in most weeks.
3. You Hang, I Bang (222)
4. A Fraud's Roiders (219)
5. Dominican Republicans (209)
6. alamo's terror squad (188)
7. Screwballs 3 (168)
8. Each Hit (161)
9. Bashers (139)
10. Them Boogie Knights (101)

BATTING AVERAGE
While batting average is NOT a category in the league and doesn't really come close to approximating OBP, it's the best I've got.
1. You Hang, I Bang (.288)
2. Them Boogie Knights (.286)
3. A Fraud's Roiders (.286)
4. EricB whatever (.283)
5. Dominican Republicans (.282) -- Reverting to the form of 2 years ago, timvp's devotion to the home land results in a lineup littered with big names and bigger bats, including perrenial MVP candidates Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, annual multi-category forces like Vladimir Guerrero and Alfonso Soriano, and the hope of high average/high power seasons from Carlos Pena, David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre, with the speed of Rafael Furcal, Willy Taveras, and Carlos Gomez.
6. Each Hit (.281)
7. alamo's terror squad (.277)
8. ATRAIN's Army (.276)
9. Screwballs 3 (.275)
9. Bashers (.275)

Pitching Categories
Strikeouts
1. Them Boogie Knights (1745) -- While offering no starters who are projected to rack up 200 K's in '09, The Truth's staff instead boasts great depth, including 6 pitchers (Burnett, Volquez, Gallardo, Billingsley, Verlander, and Jimenez) projected to fan at least 150 hitters. Add to that 2 strikeout per inning guys in the bullpen (Wood and Morrow) and the Truth appears to be that K is the letter of the day.
2. Screwballs 3 (1725)
3. Bashers (1688)
4. Eric B whatever (1642)
5. Each Hit (1597)
6. A Fraud's Roiders (1526)
7. alamo's terror squad (1485)
8. ATRAIN's Army (1321)
9. Dominican Republicans (1214)
10. You Hang, I Bang (1162)

WINS
1. Them Boogie Knights (139)
2. Screwballs 3 (136) -- a perennial contender for the league crown, whottt's 2009 entry is built on a foundation of big arms from elite teams, including 8 pitchers projected to win at least 10 games (Shields, Matzusaka, Lilly, Beckett, Maine, O. Perez, Saunders, Scherzer) as well as a group of willing win vultures in the pen.
3. A Fraud's Roiders (133)
4. Each Hit (129)
5. Bashers (121)
6. Eric B whatever (120)
7. alamo's terror squad (112)
8. You Hang, I Bang (107)
9. ATRAIN's Army (102)
10. Dominican Republicans (76)

SAVES
1. Bashers (169) -- virtually running away with the projections in this category, slayermin's use of the consecutive picks in each even and odd numbered round has resulted in a bullpen built on the all-time record holder for saves in a season (KRod), an unhittable closer in last season's biggest moments (Lidge), and 3 other guys are projected to save 28 games or more in 2009, despite recent changes in scenery (Fuentes, Lyon, Street).
2. Screwballs 3 (154)
3. A Fraud's Roiders (153)
4. Each Hit (128)
5. Them Boogie Knights (88)
6. Dominican Republicans (86)
7. alamo's terror squad (80)
8. Eric B whatever (69)
9. ATRAIN's Army (66)
10. You Hang, I Bang (43)

EARNED RUN AVERAGE
1. A Fraud's Roiders (3.420) -- last year's runner-up (still reveling over Zambrano's no-no to win the semifinal) and this writer's favorite owner (other than whottt), FromWayDowntown went into the draft hoping to build a club around strong starting pitching and might have done it. With a staff anchored by traditional low-ERA guys (Santana, Halladay, Webb, Oswalt), the promise that an instant star (David Price) might return to the big leagues soon, and the hope that a one-time Yankee ace (Wang) will dominate in a down rotation role, A Fraud's Roiders figure to be strong in ERA.
2. Bashers (3.467)
3. ATRAIN's Army (3.568)
3. Dominican Republicans (3.568)
5. alamo's terror squad (3.601)
6. Eric B whatever (3.648)
7. Each Hit (3.701)
8. Screwballs 3 (3.717)
9. You Hang, I Bang (3.749)
10. Them Boogie Knights (3.770)

WALKS PLUS HITS PER INNING PITCHED (WHIP)
1. ATRAIN's Army (1.207)
2. A Fraud's Roiders (1.226)
3. Bashers (1.240)
4. alamo's terror squad (1.254)
5. Dominican Republicans (1.269)
6. You Hang, I Bang (1.273)
7. Screwballs 3 (1.279)
8. Eric B whatever (1.283)
9. Each Hit (1.287) -- she won the thing last year, after narrowly missing out the year before, and Melmart1 returns for Year 3 to continue whipping up on the boys. To begin her reign, she's drafted a team with a great balance of strong starters (Linecum, Peavy, Wainwright, Garza, and Chris Young) a big-time closer (Nathan) and several guys who are projected to thrive in bigger roles in 2009 (Qualls, Francisco). By season's end, expect to being hearing "Each Hit" when talking about playoff contenders.
10. Them Boogie Knights (1.306)


That's Great, But What Does it Mean?

Putting those pieces together, here's how ESPN thinks the teams rank -- using the old roto standings (10 points to team leading category, 1 to team that's last in the category, ties result in split points) -- which, last year (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2590338&postcount=201), were a pretty fair predictor of the head-to-head standings:

10. Each Hit -- 37 points (11 points offense; 26 points pitching)
9. Screwballs 3 -- 48 (14 off. /34 pitch.)
8. Dominican Republicans -- 52 (31 off./21 pitch.)
7. Them Boogie Knights -- 52.5 (24.5 off./28 pitch.)
6. Bashers -- 53 (12 off./41 pitch.)
5. You Hang, I Bang -- 56 (44 off./12 pitch.)
4. Eric B whatever -- 59.5 (36.5 off./23 pitch.)
3. alamo's terror squad -- 60 (35 off./25 pitch.)
2. A Fraud's Roiders -- 66 (26 off./40 pitch.)
1. ATRAIN's Army -- 66 (41 off./25 pitch.)

Frankly, though, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the standings at season's end were almost completely inverted. Melmart, whottt, and timvp are among the best owners in this league -- if not it's 3 best. So, like all predictions, this projection will likely be rendered a complete waste when September rolls around.

Pitches will be thrown in anger on Sunday. Get your lineups set and try, as much as possible to remain an active participant in the league. Yahoo will let you set your lineup many days ahead of time -- I could set my lineup for next Friday right now and make sure it will be different than my lineup for next Thursday and next Saturday. If you're going away or can't find time on a daily basis to check in, please consider using that feature.

Mostly -- have fun this season!

Good luck to all.

[Melmart1]

Yeah, I remember you turned your season around after a couple of asswhuppins from Melmart. We'll see what he does...

That's cus I felt sorry for him and told him how to improve his team and pick players up from waivers. :lmao He is a good padawan learner.

[Thunder Dan]

Because I had this fucking ass last year.



Good players. Possibly the best keystone combo in this league.



He'll spend half the season on the DL.


These guys were waiver wire fodder all last year...In a 12 team league. Except for Martinez...whose fucking ass I had. Stupidly.


Decent player.



One of my favorite players, getting pretty long in the tooth though.



Well he's Manny.




No offense but I think just about every guy on that list outside of Papelbon spent time on the waiver wire last season...including Cliff Lee(who was picked up by FWDT at some point never to return).


You have a good team but safe to say you are the person most impressed with it.

V-Mart was hurt last year, and can play 1st base as well. He has always had a solid bat. If not, I also have AJ Piezynski and Kelly Shoppach who can be manageable

Chipper Jones was lights out last year, and besides Wright, there arn't too many 3rd basemen better than him.

Pitching doesn't win fantasy baseball. My pitchers might be the weakness of my team, but that was on purpose. Between Lee, Carmona, Lester, Baker, Galaraga and Mark Burle I can get some wins, pick up points with Saves with Papelbon- and get the strikeouts from Arradando and Samajiaza

My middle infield will be the most productive infield in our league

My corners should be decent between Gordon, Jones, V-Mart and Carlos Guillen

and my outfield has the potential to put up 80-100 homers and 150-175 doubles, plus hit in the .300s

Gordon and Teahan are primed for breakout years (each hit 2 homers in a game this week, Tehan is hitting around .500) Plus, Teahan plays all 4 infield positions!

Maybin will give me 25-30 stolen bases, Granderson maybe 20-25
It's probably the most well drafted team in the history of fantasy baseball

[Thunder Dan]

plus, I didn't even mention emerging stars Sin Soo Choo and Lasting Millage. Those are my insurance policies! They would be starting on most teams

[Melmart1]

WOW .... so according to that projections, I guess Atrain is gonna win. We will never hear the end of it if that happens! :lol

I think like FWD says, timvp, whottt and I are gonna have something to say about being ranked the three last teams.

My offensive team doesn't look all that hot, but I think they are well-balanced and solid and will improve as the year goes on, like my squad last year. I was mired in the middle of the pack for several months before my team took off. Nobody feared my team this time last year. I am not worried at all.

[FromWayDowntown]

I think the interesting difference between head-to-head fantasy and roto is that massive aggregations of numbers really don't mean a lot beyond the hope that they bring some kind of week-in/week-out consistency.

If a team hits 100 more home runs than the rest of the league, it's not going to "win" home runs any more than a team that beats its opponent by 1 in that category every week.

Ultimately, that's why the "preview" above is largely worthless.

The great thing about head-to-head is that you don't develop cushions in categories. If you're dominant in one category, you'd better win it every week. And if you're weak in other categories, you'd better win everything that your team is good at each week. That's why I honestly think that head-to-head fantasy does a better job of catching some of the variables of real-life baseball than a pure roto league does.

[FromWayDowntown]

plus, I didn't even mention emerging stars Sin Soo Choo and Lasting Millage. Those are my insurance policies! They would be starting on most teams

Not on mine. :)

And in that regard, my insurance policies (for Carlos Lee, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Nate McLouth) are Bobby Abreu, Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon, and Delmon Young.

I'll transform into Cocky Commish for just one second, but -- ahem -- I think I'll take mine.

[Melmart1]

Man, I would like to pummel Thunder Dan next week just to shut him up. But if history holds up, I will get my ass handed to me on week 1. I think TPark beat me 8-2 week 1 last year :lol

EDIT: I just looked it up ... I lost 3-6-1. Not quite as humiliating but bad nonetheless.

[Thunder Dan]

Last year, someone (ATrain, I think) wanted some sort of a preview of the teams at this juncture. I don't have the time to do an extremely careful team-by-team analysis, but I did ask ESPN's draft analyzer to apply ESPN's projections to the teams we drafted and forecast the possible results. I'll admit that what I got back is far from perfect -- I can't get ESPN's draft analyzer to exclude AVG and include OBP; and I'm not sure that the numbers they've come up with reflect the positional usage that we employ. So while I'm not sure that the results are very good at all -- and I'm certain they become irrelevant come Sunday night -- they do at least offer the spark of conversation.

With that said, here's my 2009 category-by-category preview, based on ESPN's analysis:

Offensive Categories
HOME RUNS
1. alamo's terror squad (proj. 422 HR) -- for alamo50, Ryan Howard's presence goes a long way towards cinching the category, but a slew of guys with the bats to reach 25 or so home runs (Sizemore, Quentin, Bay, Votto, Cantu, Wells) makes that outcome much more likely.
2. ATRAIN's Army (415)
3. You Hang, I Bang (405)
4. Dominican Republicans (364)
5. Them Boogie Knights (350)
5. Eric B whatever (350)
7. Bashers (341)
8. Screwballs 3 (329)
9. A Fraud's Roiders (320)
10. Each Hit (233)

RUNS
1. You Hang, I Bang (1650) -- the lineup of this braggadocious newcomer, Thunder Dan, boasts 7 players who are projected to score at least 90 runs (Rollins, Granderson, Utley, Peralta, Ramirez, Guillen, and Thome) and another 5 who are projected to score between 80 and 90.
2. ATRAIN's Army (1637)
3. Eric B whatever (1528)
4. alamo's terror squad (1505)
5. Dominican Republicans (1453)
6. A Fraud's Roiders (1340)
7. Them Boogie Knights (1321)
8. Screwballs 3 (1183)
9. Bashers (1162)
10. Each Hit (1145)

RUNS BATTED IN
1. ATRAIN's Army (1610) -- A strong, if quarrelsome, finish to last season's newcomer brings ATrain back with sights on the title. A lineup boasting 3 guys likely to best the 110 RBI mark in '09 (Cabrera, Morneau, and Longoria) helps. Having a total of 8 players who are projected to exceed 80 RBI is all the better.
2. alamo's terror squad (1532)
3. You Hang, I Bang (1517)
4. Eric B whatever (1439)
5. Dominican Republicans (1409)
6. Them Boogie Knights (1314)
7. A Fraud's Roiders (1286)
8. Bashers (1230)
9. Screwballs 3 (1119)
10. Each Hit (1004)

STOLEN BASES
1. ATRAIN's Army (263)
2. EricB whatever (232) -- the Yahoo autodraft function loaded EricB's team with speed to burn in 2009. With 4 guys who are likely to swipe at least 20 bags (Reyes, Upton, Kemp, and Beltran) and another group with a good chance to get at least 10 (Werth, Markakis, Kelly Johnson, Iwamura, and Napoli (gasp! a running catcher), EricB stands to be a threat to win this category in most weeks.
3. You Hang, I Bang (222)
4. A Fraud's Roiders (219)
5. Dominican Republicans (209)
6. alamo's terror squad (188)
7. Screwballs 3 (168)
8. Each Hit (161)
9. Bashers (139)
10. Them Boogie Knights (101)

BATTING AVERAGE
While batting average is NOT a category in the league and doesn't really come close to approximating OBP, it's the best I've got.
1. You Hang, I Bang (.288)
2. Them Boogie Knights (.286)
3. A Fraud's Roiders (.286)
4. EricB whatever (.283)
5. Dominican Republicans (.282) -- Reverting to the form of 2 years ago, timvp's devotion to the home land results in a lineup littered with big names and bigger bats, including perrenial MVP candidates Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, annual multi-category forces like Vladimir Guerrero and Alfonso Soriano, and the hope of high average/high power seasons from Carlos Pena, David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre, with the speed of Rafael Furcal, Willy Taveras, and Carlos Gomez.
6. Each Hit (.281)
7. alamo's terror squad (.277)
8. ATRAIN's Army (.276)
9. Screwballs 3 (.275)
9. Bashers (.275)

Pitching Categories
Strikeouts
1. Them Boogie Knights (1745) -- While offering no starters who are projected to rack up 200 K's in '09, The Truth's staff instead boasts great depth, including 6 pitchers (Burnett, Volquez, Gallardo, Billingsley, Verlander, and Jimenez) projected to fan at least 150 hitters. Add to that 2 strikeout per inning guys in the bullpen (Wood and Morrow) and the Truth appears to be that K is the letter of the day.
2. Screwballs 3 (1725)
3. Bashers (1688)
4. Eric B whatever (1642)
5. Each Hit (1597)
6. A Fraud's Roiders (1526)
7. alamo's terror squad (1485)
8. ATRAIN's Army (1321)
9. Dominican Republicans (1214)
10. You Hang, I Bang (1162)

WINS
1. Them Boogie Knights (139)
2. Screwballs 3 (136) -- a perennial contender for the league crown, whottt's 2009 entry is built on a foundation of big arms from elite teams, including 8 pitchers projected to win at least 10 games (Shields, Matzusaka, Lilly, Beckett, Maine, O. Perez, Saunders, Scherzer) as well as a group of willing win vultures in the pen.
3. A Fraud's Roiders (133)
4. Each Hit (129)
5. Bashers (121)
6. Eric B whatever (120)
7. alamo's terror squad (112)
8. You Hang, I Bang (107)
9. ATRAIN's Army (102)
10. Dominican Republicans (76)

SAVES
1. Bashers (169) -- virtually running away with the projections in this category, slayermin's use of the consecutive picks in each even and odd numbered round has resulted in a bullpen built on the all-time record holder for saves in a season (KRod), an unhittable closer in last season's biggest moments (Lidge), and 3 other guys are projected to save 28 games or more in 2009, despite recent changes in scenery (Fuentes, Lyon, Street).
2. Screwballs 3 (154)
3. A Fraud's Roiders (153)
4. Each Hit (128)
5. Them Boogie Knights (88)
6. Dominican Republicans (86)
7. alamo's terror squad (80)
8. Eric B whatever (69)
9. ATRAIN's Army (66)
10. You Hang, I Bang (43)

EARNED RUN AVERAGE
1. A Fraud's Roiders (3.420) -- last year's runner-up (still reveling over Zambrano's no-no to win the semifinal) and this writer's favorite owner (other than whottt), FromWayDowntown went into the draft hoping to build a club around strong starting pitching and might have done it. With a staff anchored by traditional low-ERA guys (Santana, Halladay, Webb, Oswalt), the promise that an instant star (David Price) might return to the big leagues soon, and the hope that a one-time Yankee ace (Wang) will dominate in a down rotation role, A Fraud's Roiders figure to be strong in ERA.
2. Bashers (3.467)
3. ATRAIN's Army (3.568)
3. Dominican Republicans (3.568)
5. alamo's terror squad (3.601)
6. Eric B whatever (3.648)
7. Each Hit (3.701)
8. Screwballs 3 (3.717)
9. You Hang, I Bang (3.749)
10. Them Boogie Knights (3.770)

WALKS PLUS HITS PER INNING PITCHED (WHIP)
1. ATRAIN's Army (1.207)
2. A Fraud's Roiders (1.226)
3. Bashers (1.240)
4. alamo's terror squad (1.254)
5. Dominican Republicans (1.269)
6. You Hang, I Bang (1.273)
7. Screwballs 3 (1.279)
8. Eric B whatever (1.283)
9. Each Hit (1.287) -- she won the thing last year, after narrowly missing out the year before, and Melmart1 returns for Year 3 to continue whipping up on the boys. To begin her reign, she's drafted a team with a great balance of strong starters (Linecum, Peavy, Wainwright, Garza, and Chris Young) a big-time closer (Nathan) and several guys who are projected to thrive in bigger roles in 2009 (Qualls, Francisco). By season's end, expect to being hearing "Each Hit" when talking about playoff contenders.
10. Them Boogie Knights (1.306)


That's Great, But What Does it Mean?

Putting those pieces together, here's how ESPN thinks the teams rank -- using the old roto standings (10 points to team leading category, 1 to team that's last in the category, ties result in split points) -- which, last year (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2590338&postcount=201), were a pretty fair predictor of the head-to-head standings:

10. Each Hit -- 37 points (11 points offense; 26 points pitching)
9. Screwballs 3 -- 48 (14 off. /34 pitch.)
8. Dominican Republicans -- 52 (31 off./21 pitch.)
7. Them Boogie Knights -- 52.5 (24.5 off./28 pitch.)
6. Bashers -- 53 (12 off./41 pitch.)
5. You Hang, I Bang -- 56 (44 off./12 pitch.)
4. Eric B whatever -- 59.5 (36.5 off./23 pitch.)
3. alamo's terror squad -- 60 (35 off./25 pitch.)
2. A Fraud's Roiders -- 66 (26 off./40 pitch.)
1. ATRAIN's Army -- 66 (41 off./25 pitch.)

Frankly, though, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the standings at season's end were almost completely inverted. Melmart, whottt, and timvp are among the best owners in this league -- if not it's 3 best. So, like all predictions, this projection will likely be rendered a complete waste when September rolls around.

Pitches will be thrown in anger on Sunday. Get your lineups set and try, as much as possible to remain an active participant in the league. Yahoo will let you set your lineup many days ahead of time -- I could set my lineup for next Friday right now and make sure it will be different than my lineup for next Thursday and next Saturday. If you're going away or can't find time on a daily basis to check in, please consider using that feature.

Mostly -- have fun this season!

Good luck to all.

Here is the thing though. This doesn't take into account the actual number I will beat everyone by in the offensive categories because I'm banking on proven hitters like Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, Victor Martinez and Curtis Granderson who all had down years last year. Plus, I'm there are the locks of Alex Gordon and Shin Soo Choo having breakout years

Like I said, I know I'm lacking in pitching- but those guys get hurt all the time, so there is no use wasting precious draft picks on those bums. Within a month of the start of the season, a closer will go down, and I'll pick up the replacement and I'll be right back in the saves lead. Then, starters like Carmona will have bounceback years, and there will always be that other guy that nobody ever hears of to breakout

and if all that fails, just find out who the Nationals are playing and pick up the opposing pitching staff for the week.

[Thunder Dan]

Man, I would like to pummel Thunder Dan next week just to shut him up. But if history holds up, I will get my ass handed to me on week 1. I think TPark beat me 8-2 week 1 last year :lol

Get that weak stuff outta here. I looked at your lineup earlier today and I almost ruined my keyboard when I spit my coffee out laughing

[Melmart1]

Here is the thing though. This doesn't take into account the actual number I will beat everyone by in the offensive categories .

That doesn't matter at all. If you beat your opponent in runs by 1 or by 100, you still only get 1 win for that category. If you beat your opponent in home runs by 2 or by 20, it is still only 1 win.

[Thunder Dan]

Not on mine. :)

And in that regard, my insurance policies (for Carlos Lee, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Nate McLouth) are Bobby Abreu, Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon, and Delmon Young.

I'll transform into Cocky Commish for just one second, but -- ahem -- I think I'll take mine.

Dye got lucky last year, he will come back down to reality with his old bones

Damon sucks

Delmon Young stikes out too much

and you broke the Golden Rule of never drafting a Pittsburgh Pirate

My Insurance policies: Thome, Torii Hunter, Shin Shoo Choo, Cam Maybin (you all will be trying to trade me everything for him come July), Gordon (same as Maybin), Peralta and Coco Crisp (he sucks and is my weak link)

I'm about to rename my team to the Dream Team

[FromWayDowntown]

I just looked at my team's schedule and realized that its brutal. Play everyone twice and then play 5 of the teams a third time. My schedule of those extra games -- all in the pennant race -- is ATRAIN, slayer, timvp, Melmart, and whottt!!!

&(*@()&)$%)& schedule.

[Melmart1]

I just looked at my team's schedule and realized that its brutal. Play everyone twice and then play 5 of the teams a third time. My schedule of those extra games -- all in the pennant race -- is ATRAIN, slayer, timvp, Melmart, and whottt!!!

&(*@()&)$%)& schedule.

Don't worry, my team apparently sucks, ask Thunder Dan.

[Thunder Dan]

That doesn't matter at all. If you beat your opponent in runs by 1 or by 100, you still only get 1 win for that category. If you beat your opponent in home runs by 2 or by 20, it is still only 1 win.

I'm just saying, I don't like winning by a point- I like to rub it in. Braggin rights. It's part of the You Hang It, I Bang It philosophy

[Thunder Dan]

Don't worry, my team apparently sucks, ask Thunder Dan.

basically the Pirates of the Spurstalk smackdown

[Melmart1]

I'm just saying, I don't like winning by a point- I like to rub it in. Braggin rights. It's part of the You Hang It, I Bang It philosophy

Great. But that won't help you in the standings at all. And the standings and playoffs is where I like to rub it in. You are rubbing too early. That causes premature ejaculation. Just sayin.

[Thunder Dan]

Great. But that won't help you in the standings at all. And the standings and playoffs is where I like to rub it in. You are rubbing too early. That causes premature ejaculation. Just sayin.

Hitting always shows up. Pitchers and balance always get hurt. That is the You Hang It, I Bang It golden rule (besides never drafting a Pirate)

My lineup could hit .310 with 400 home runs in their collective sleep

[whottt]

5. Dominican Republicans (.282) -- including perrenial MVP candidates Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez,

It's pretty much an indictment of every owner in this league that we let timvp pull this crap off. One owner winding up with both Pujols and A-Rod via draft picks is probably a first in the history of fantasy baseball or at leat since Pujols rookie season.

He also wound up with Vlad, Ortiz and Soriano....

Projections be damned...he's going to lead the league in HR this year, and he's got 3 guys that can win that category for a team by themselves in any given week.

I think the projections show that he's going to hit 364 HR this year...what they don't show is that he'll hit 264 of them in the last 2 months of the season.

[whottt]

Hitting always shows up. Pitchers and balance always get hurt. That is the You Hang It, I Bang It golden rule (besides never drafting a Pirate)

My lineup could hit .310 with 400 home runs in their collective sleep

Just so you know slick...you're talking to the person who won this league last year...and her pitching was probably the main reason.

[whottt]

BTW FWDT, nice breakdown, thanks for doing that. :tu

[Thunder Dan]

Just so you know slick...you're talking to the person who won this league last year...and her pitching was probably the main reason.

I know. Have you ever heard the one tip people say when you go to prison? Find the biggest guy and punch him in the face; it's the same thing they say in fantasy baseball.

Her pitchers will get hurt, and I'll get to my computer quicker than anyone else to pick up the emerging stars.

[whottt]

WOW .... so according to that projections, I guess Atrain is gonna win. We will never hear the end of it if that happens! :lol

I think like FWD says, timvp, whottt and I are gonna have something to say about being ranked the three last teams.

My offensive team doesn't look all that hot, but I think they are well-balanced and solid and will improve as the year goes on, like my squad last year. I was mired in the middle of the pack for several months before my team took off. Nobody feared my team this time last year. I am not worried at all.

I remember a couple of years ago we did one of these projection things for D-league 1 fantasy basketball that had me as the #1 team by like a 20 point margin...I finished with the worst record in the league that year.

They are fun but...grain of salt and all that.

[TheTruth]

Thanks for the breakdwon FWDT.

[whottt]

Her pitchers will get hurt

Sez the man who drafted Chipper Jones.

[TheTruth]

RUNS BATTED IN
1. ATRAIN's Army (1610) -- A strong, if quarrelsome, finish to last season's newcomer brings ATrain back with sights on the title. A lineup boasting 3 guys likely to best the 110 RBI mark in '09 (Cabrera, Morneau, and Longoria) helps. Having a total of 8 players who are projected to exceed 80 RBI is all the better.

That's actually my team you're talking about there. Unless of course I traded all of those players to Atrain in my sleep.

:smokin

[whottt]

By the way about the limits on waiver wire moves in the post season...where are we on that? I say 3 per week. That's more than enough to cover any injuries.

[FromWayDowntown]

It's pretty much an indictment of every owner in this league that we let timvp pull this crap off. One owner winding up with both Pujols and A-Rod via draft picks is probably a first in the history of fantasy baseball or at leat since Pujols rookie season.

When he started rumbling about a trade, I figured this was his plan. Short of someone talking overtly about blocking the deal -- by explaining what the plan was -- or burning an early pick on ARod (something I nearly did a few picks in front of timvp's selection -- I took Carlos Lee instead; the picks that followed were Pedroia, Sabathia, Manny (all pretty reasonable, I think), and then timvp's back-to-back of Vlad and ARod) it was a hard thing to stop.

For what it's worth, I did play in an auction league with roto scoring, in which one guy had ARod, Pujols, and Howard (a keeper from the previous season) -- and still didn't come close to winning the league. What he didn't have, though, was the speed of a guys like Soriano and Furcal (if he can stay healthy) or any pitching to speak of (timvp does at least have Liriano and Rivera).

[whottt]

Hitting always shows up. Pitchers and balance always get hurt. That is the You Hang It, I Bang It golden rule (besides never drafting a Pirate)

My lineup could hit .310 with 400 home runs in their collective sleep

Pitching counts for half the categories that determine who wins and who loses...I don't care how little you value it.

[FromWayDowntown]

That's actually my team you're talking about there. Unless of course I traded all of those players to Atrain in my sleep.

:smokin

Ugh. Fixed it.

[EricB]

I apologize for not being at the draft, I was driving some things over to Tucson Arizona and had some car trouble and didnt get to the hotel until midnight central.

that being said, it looks like Yahoo Auto draft lucked me into a decent team.

I apologize again guys, I try my best in this but I suck at Yahoo Baseball Fantasty, but I still like it none the less.

Thanks for the great breakdown FWDT and thanks everyone for your understanding, hopefully.

[Thunder Dan]

Sez the man who drafted Chipper Jones.

Alex Gordon, remember the name. I might have to sit a healthy Chipper because of the emergence of Gordon. That is one of the many position battles I have going on in my camp where I am 3 deep at every position

[Thunder Dan]

Pitching counts for half the categories that determine who wins and who loses...I don't care how little you value it.

but most pitchers get hurt atleast once a year. And there are always guys that come out of nowhere to have a good season, hell last year who drafted Justin Dutchesher, Cliff Lee, Edinson Volquez or Tim Lincecum? If there is any position that doesn't translate year to year it's pitchers. There are maybe only 5-8 pitchers you can guarantee will be solid for you, other than that it's a crap shoot. I can pick up another closer once one goes down, pick up a starter anytime.

[FromWayDowntown]

Now see, this is good.

Thunder Dan stirs it up, we get some good chatter with about 72 hours left before the season opens, and everyone's ready to go.

[TheTruth]

Alex Gordon, remember the name. I might have to sit a healthy Chipper because of the emergence of Gordon. That is one of the many position battles I have going on in my camp where I am 3 deep at every position

We've been remembering that name for the past 3 years. Still waiting on that breakout season.

[Melmart1]

Hitting always shows up. Pitchers and balance always get hurt. That is the You Hang It, I Bang It golden rule (besides never drafting a Pirate)

My lineup could hit .310 with 400 home runs in their collective sleep

Great .. but that is still only half of your wins and losses. What about the other half? Have you ever played head-to-head before?

[FromWayDowntown]

There are maybe only 5-8 pitchers you can guarantee will be solid for you, other than that it's a crap shoot. I can pick up another closer once one goes down, pick up a starter anytime.

Agreed -- guys like Santana, Webb, Halladay, and Oswalt come to mind.

And it would have been foolish for any league with NL players to have let Tim Lincecum go undrafted last year, since he had won 7 games in 24 starts in 2007 and had struck out more than a batter per inning.

[TheTruth]

By the way about the limits on waiver wire moves in the post season...where are we on that? I say 3 per week. That's more than enough to cover any injuries.

I think that is a pretty stupid rule. If a guy wants to build his team through the wire he should be able to. Doesn't matter what point of the season we're in.

[whottt]

I can pick up another closer once one goes down


Famous last words...why don't you ask Truth how well that strategy worked for him, then take a look at how he drafted this year. Hint: Don't look at the stats from last year. Look at the roles they have this year.

You think you're the only one that looks for closers? I've got 5 of them...and I guarantee you I will go after any closer that becomes available.

[Melmart1]

I apologize for not being at the draft, I was driving some things over to Tucson Arizona and had some car trouble and didnt get to the hotel until midnight central.

that being said, it looks like Yahoo Auto draft lucked me into a decent team.

I apologize again guys, I try my best in this but I suck at Yahoo Baseball Fantasty, but I still like it none the less.

Thanks for the great breakdown FWDT and thanks everyone for your understanding, hopefully.

It's all good. ATrain wasn't there for half the draft. I think it auto-drafted Ben Sheets for him. Ouch! :lol

[FromWayDowntown]

We've been remembering that name for the past 3 years. Still waiting on that breakout season.

Now come on!! Gordon is at least a weathy man's Billy Butler.

[TheTruth]

Famous last words...why don't you ask Truth how well that strategy worked for him, then take a look at how he drafted this year. Hint: Don't look at the stats from last year. Look at the roles they have this ye are.

You think you're the only one that looks for injured closers? I've got 5 of them...and I guarantee you I will go after any closer that becomes available.

I wish I could post my roster, cause I drafted a pretty damn good team. I just didn't realize it was a daily league to start the season, and didn't really keep track of it. I was the deadbeat owner last year.

[whottt]

I think that is a pretty stupid rule. If a guy wants to build his team through the wire he should be able to. Doesn't matter what point of the season we're in.

And I disagree and have been arguing against for 3 years now.

Then let's just eliminate the pitching categories if we are going to render them meaningless in the playoffs. Why bother drafting a pitching staff when you get over run with sheer volume.

You do not see real baseball teams dropping their entire pitching staffs nightly in the post season. It is a complete detatchment from the real game to do that in fantasy baseball.

[Thunder Dan]

guys get called up and give you quality starts and win tons of games because hitters have never faced them before.

Guys get called up don't come and hit .300.

Young Pitching gives you diminishing returns (Lincecum, Volquez) once hitters know how they are pitching them. Hitting takes time- that is why you draft hitting and pick up pitchers throughout the season

[FromWayDowntown]

I wish I could post my roster, cause I drafted a pretty damn good team. I just didn't realize it was a daily league to start the season, and didn't really keep track of it. I was the deadbeat owner last year.

The Truth's 2008 draft (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2347175&postcount=174)

[FromWayDowntown]

guys get called up and give you quality starts and win tons of games because hitters have never faced them before.

Guys get called up don't come and hit .300.

Young Pitching gives you diminishing returns (Lincecum, Volquez) once hitters know how they are pitching them. Hitting takes time- that is why you draft hitting and pick up pitchers throughout the season

Lincecum was pretty much a diminishing return for all of 2008, once the NL hitters got to know him. . . . .

:lol

[Thunder Dan]

You think you're the only one that looks for closers? I've got 5 of them...and I guarantee you I will go after any closer that becomes available.

that is why I drafted 2 setup guys from teams with new closers. Once Marmol and Fuentes get demoted or hurt, I'm money

[Thunder Dan]

Lincecum was pretty much a diminishing return for all of 2008, once the NL hitters got to know him. . . . .

:lol

saying year to year. He won't win a Cy Young every year

[TheTruth]

OH sweet, you can look at your team from last year.

C - Mcann
1b - Miguel Cabrera
2b - Phillips
SS - Tulo (what a letdown)
3B - Youklis
OF - Josh Hamilton
OF - Markakis
OF - Kemp
U - Loney
U - Hawpe

P - Volquez
P - Grenke
P - Lester
P - Lirian
P - Myers
P - Bedard - Verlander

But yeah, ZERO closers.

[FromWayDowntown]

that is why I drafted 2 setup guys from teams with new closers. Once Marmol and Fuentes get demoted or hurt, I'm money

Marmol's been demoted; Kevin Gregg is going to close for the Cubs to start the season. I'm sure that whottt (who drafted Gregg) is well aware of this.

[Melmart1]

Lincecum was pretty much a diminishing return for all of 2008, once the NL hitters got to know him. . . . .

:lol

Yeah, he really hurt my team bad last year. So did that Peavy guy, who the NL batters have had three years to try and crack. They have obviously gotten to him.

[TheTruth]

And I disagree and have been arguing against for 3 years now.

Then let's just eliminate the pitching categories if we are going to render them meaningless in the playoffs. Why bother drafting a pitching staff when you get over run with sheer volume.

You do not see real baseball teams dropping their entire pitching staffs nightly in the post season. It is a complete detatchment from the real game to do that in fantasy baseball.

Considering this is FANTASY baseball, and really doesn't have anything to do with reality I don't see why it's a big deal. Do major league teams get a point if they hit more homers than the other teams in the league?

Teams that work the waiver wire smartly should be rewarded. Nothing, IMO, wrong with building your team a certain way and using that strategy to get you wins in the playoffs.

[FromWayDowntown]

saying year to year. He won't win a Cy Young every year

Well, he made 24 starts in 2007 and made 34 starts in 2008. 2008 was better for him than 2007.

Just sayin.

[Thunder Dan]

Marmol's been demoted; Kevin Gregg is going to close for the Cubs to start the season. I'm sure that whottt (who drafted Gregg) is well aware of this.

he sucks. Brady Quinn's go-to will be closing by year's end

[FromWayDowntown]

Considering this is FANTASY baseball, and really doesn't have anything to do with reality I don't see why it's a big deal. Do major league teams get a point if they hit more homers than the other teams in the league?

Teams that work the waiver wire smartly should be rewarded. Nothing, IMO, wrong with building your team a certain way and using that strategy to get you wins in the playoffs.

I don't disagree with this, but I do tend to agree with whottt that the game becomes terribly distorted (on the pitching end at least) in the playoffs, when owners are furiously gobbling up as many starters on each night as possible to put together incredible totals in some of the counting categories.

It's pretty infuriating to have built a good staff of pitchers that you're unwilling to jettison to waivers only to lose categories like K's or Wins because your opponent can add 3 starters every night and roll up 50 or more additional IP during the week.

And I tend to think that while Fantasy is not exactly a real world simulation, it shouldn't be so easily bastardized into something that has very little bearing on what the real world is.

[whottt]

Considering this is FANTASY baseball, and really doesn't have anything to do with reality I don't see why it's a big deal. Do major league teams get a point if they hit more homers than the other teams in the league?

Teams that work the waiver wire smartly should be rewarded. Nothing, IMO, wrong with building your team a certain way and using that strategy to get you wins in the playoffs.

You don't have to do it smarly without limits...you can just add 5 new pitchers every night and overhwelm your opponents in wins and k's. There's no intelligence to that, it is a sheer numbers game. It just about totally destroys any strategy or talent scouting on the pitching side of the ball.

The entire purpose of including the pitching side of things is for owners to utilize strategies on that side of the ball.

I mean if we just want to eliminate pitching and draft the best hitters available every round then why don't we just state that's what we are going to do?

Why go through the motions of even including those pesky pitching stats?

[whottt]

When he started rumbling about a trade, I figured this was his plan. Short of someone talking overtly about blocking the deal -- by explaining what the plan was -- or burning an early pick on ARod (something I nearly did a few picks in front of timvp's selection -- I took Carlos Lee instead; the picks that followed were Pedroia, Sabathia, Manny (all pretty reasonable, I think), and then timvp's back-to-back of Vlad and ARod) it was a hard thing to stop.

For what it's worth, I did play in an auction league with roto scoring, in which one guy had ARod, Pujols, and Howard (a keeper from the previous season) -- and still didn't come close to winning the league. What he didn't have, though, was the speed of a guys like Soriano and Furcal (if he can stay healthy) or any pitching to speak of (timvp does at least have Liriano and Rivera).

What gets me is that timvp I believe got Arod with Melmart's 3rd round pick. It's insane that Arod was still on the board in the 3rd round.

[FromWayDowntown]

What gets me is that timvp I believe got Arod with Melmart's 3rd round pick. It's insane that Arod was still on the board in the 3rd round.

Technically, ARod was the first pick of the 4th round.

I think, in light of his surgery and the uncertainties that surround it, he's generally coming off the board in Round 3 or so. And, like I say, I definitely considered him in Round 3, but chose to go with Carlos Lee instead, if only because he's likely to put up fairly comparable numbers while playing in substantially more games than ARod. I don't think ARod, at that point, would have been a bad pick for anyone.

Of course, you too could have had ARod instead of David Wright, Lance Berkman, or Prince Fielder.

[whottt]

Technically, ARod was the first pick of the 4th round.

I think, in light of his surgery and the uncertainties that surround it, he's generally coming off the board in Round 3 or so. And, like I say, I definitely considered him in Round 3, but chose to go with Carlos Lee instead, if only because he's likely to put up fairly comparable numbers while playing in substantially more games than ARod. I don't think ARod, at that point, would have been a bad pick for anyone.

Of course, you too could have had ARod instead of David Wright, Lance Berkman, or Prince Fielder.

I was definitely including myself in said indictment. I totally snoozed on Arod. Didn't have a clue he was still on the board by the 3rd round, I was too zeroed in on Fielder at that juncture. I figured he was off the board by the end of the second round...price I pay for going outside to smoke a cig between picks :depressed

Arod with a 40 pick in the draft is an insane steal. His counting numbers aren't going to be as good as they usually are this year, but his PCT's will be.

[EricB]

It's all good. ATrain wasn't there for half the draft. I think it auto-drafted Ben Sheets for him. Ouch! :lol


That would be me that Ben Sheets went to :lol

I replaced him with Todd Wellemeyer however, who was top 10 in strikeouts last year and has looked even better in Spring Training this year for the Cardinals :)

[Melmart1]

That would be me that Ben Sheets went to :lol

I replaced him with Todd Wellemeyer however, who was top 10 in strikeouts last year and has looked even better in Spring Training this year for the Cardinals :)

Oops, I thought it was him :lol We got a good laugh out of that. Glad you picked up someone good. Having only 10 teams means the waiver wire isn't as barren as it might normally be.

[whottt]

Having only 10 teams means the waiver wire isn't as barren as it might normally be.

This why I had to chuckle at Dan touting Thome on his team in a 10 team league. This guy was off and on the waiver wire for the entire season in a much deeper league last year. I don't think there was a team in the league that didn't own Thome at some point.

He's looking at the 34 home runs, he's not looking at all those 0-4 and 0-5 that come in between them. I think Thome had about 20 good games all of last season in which he put up just about all of his numbers, and the rest of the time he was going 0-fer.

I give it a month tops before Dan puts him on waivers. First time he goes 0-fer for an entire week... :tu

[Thunder Dan]

This why I had to chuckle at Dan touting Thome on his team in a 10 team league. This guy was off and on the waiver wire for the entire season in a much deeper league last year. I don't think there was a team in the league that didn't own Thome at some point.

He's looking at the 34 home runs, he's not looking at all those 0-4 and 0-5 that come in between them. I think Thome had about 20 good games all of last season in which he put up just about all of his numbers, and the rest of the time he was going 0-fer.

I give it a month tops before Dan puts him on waivers. First time he goes 0-fer for an entire week... :tu

He is just a seat filler until I pick up this year's breakout star (one that I don't already have((Gordon,Maybin,Choo)). I have my watch list of 8 guys- all currently on waivers. Watch out. You are about to witness baseball managing gold in the summer

[Thunder Dan]

See ladies and gentlemen, the key to success in any field is to have a plan, build a solid foundation, trust in your plan and most importantly trust in yourself. That is what I bring to the table. I might be a little unorthodox, but I have followed all the keys to success and now I just have to sit back a reap the benefits

[Melmart1]

This why I had to chuckle at Dan touting Thome on his team in a 10 team league. This guy was off and on the waiver wire for the entire season in a much deeper league last year. I don't think there was a team in the league that didn't own Thome at some point.

He's looking at the 34 home runs, he's not looking at all those 0-4 and 0-5 that come in between them. I think Thome had about 20 good games all of last season in which he put up just about all of his numbers, and the rest of the time he was going 0-fer.

I give it a month tops before Dan puts him on waivers. First time he goes 0-fer for an entire week... :tu

Yeah, all players have weaknesses. A guy who gives you a shitload of homeruns is going to bring your OBP down, and the rest of your team has to be able to make up for it. I don't think Dan is recognizing that. That, and his pitching staff has a few good guys, but its pretty damn thin if you ask me, and come playoff time he will regret that, cus no way in hell that every good pitcher that might come up will end up in his lap. And even if they do, who do you give up for them. If his entire team is soooo good, he won't want to waive anyone to get another pitcher.

[Thunder Dan]

Yeah, all players have weaknesses. A guy who gives you a shitload of homeruns is going to bring your OBP down, and the rest of your team has to be able to make up for it. I don't think Dan is recognizing that. That, and his pitching staff has a few good guys, but its pretty damn thin if you ask me, and come playoff time he will regret that, cus no way in hell that every good pitcher that might come up will end up in his lap. And even if they do, who do you give up for them. If his entire team is soooo good, he won't want to waive anyone to get another pitcher.

Jim Thome is one of the all time leaders in walks!

Where am I thin in my pitching except relievers?! I have 3 #1 starters in Lee, Baker, and Burley. I have Galaraga and Carmona- 2 young guns ready to rock and roll, and I have Lester who plays on one of the best teams which will a)get me innings, b) get me wins

I like my position better than drafting a pitcher high up and hoping he comes through when he pitches once a week, or hoping he doesn't get hurt. Hitters hit everyday so you get consistency, pitchers pitch once a week which means it's a crap shoot. You are more likely to find a flash in the pan pitcher for a couple weeks than you are a hitter. And PLUS, if that isn't enough, I'll be so dominate in my hitting that I will only need to steal one or 2 pitching categories- which can be done with my staff. I'm sorry, but my outfield would beat the lineup of: Satlamachia, Blaylock, Kinsler, Headly, Victorino, Ibanez, and Chris Young

[Melmart1]

Jim Thome is one of the all time leaders in walks!

Where am I thin in my pitching except relievers?! I have 3 #1 starters in Lee, Baker, and Burley. I have Galaraga and Carmona- 2 young guns ready to rock and roll, and I have Lester who plays on one of the best teams which will a)get me innings, b) get me wins

I like my position better than drafting a pitcher high up and hoping he comes through when he pitches once a week, or hoping he doesn't get hurt. Hitters hit everyday so you get consistency, pitchers pitch once a week which means it's a crap shoot. You are more likely to find a flash in the pan pitcher for a couple weeks than you are a hitter. And PLUS, if that isn't enough, I'll be so dominate in my hitting that I will only need to steal one or 2 pitching categories- which can be done with my staff. I'm sorry, but my outfield would beat the lineup of: Satlamachia, Blaylock, Kinsler, Headly, Victorino, Ibanez, and Chris Young

Yeah, cus that is the lineup I will roll with each day. That is just who is in those slots now. And I wasn't specifically talking about Thome, I was talking about players in general. Your team is not very well-balanced, imho. But nothing I can say is going to dissuade you from this, so go ahead and shake your pom-poms. You may even beat me week 1. But you are gonna have problems with that staff down the line.

[Thunder Dan]

I think my 3rd base platoon could beat that lineup

[Thunder Dan]

Yeah, cus that is the lineup I will roll with each day. That is just who is in those slots now. And I wasn't specifically talking about Thome, I was talking about players in general. Your team is not very well-balanced, imho. But nothing I can say is going to dissuade you from this, so go ahead and shake your pom-poms. You may even beat me week 1. But you are gonna have problems with that staff down the line.

not well balanced if you don't like, speed, average and power

my staff will have one of this year's Cy Young winners on it by years end


I don't see a guy in your position players I would want playing on my team (the Indians) let alone on my fantasy team.

[FromWayDowntown]

Ian Kinsler or Asdrubal Cabrera? Hmmmm. Lemme think about that one.

[Thunder Dan]

Ian Kinsler or Asdrubal Cabrera? Hmmmm. Lemme think about that one.

anyone can put up those numbers in that ballpark


Which brings me to Fantasy Baseball Rule #2: never draft a pitcher that pitches for the Rangers.


you guys are going to love me this season...

[FromWayDowntown]

anyone can put up those numbers in that ballpark

True, perhaps. But in Kinsler's case -- in 2008 at least -- he hit almost 3 times as many homers (14) on the road last year as he did at home (5) [and he played 1 more road game than home game, with 11 more plate appearances in road games than home games], and drove in almost twice as many runs (47) on the road as he did at home (24). He had more doubles in Arlington than he did on the road, but his slugging percentage was better in road games (.530) than in home games (.504).

Just sayin.

I'd take Kinsler over Cabrera in a heartbeat. I suspect most baseball people would, too.

[Thunder Dan]

True, perhaps. But in Kinsler's case -- in 2008 at least -- he hit almost 3 times as many homers (14) on the road last year as he did at home (5) [and he played 1 more road game than home game, with 11 more plate appearances in road games than home games], and drove in almost twice as many runs (47) on the road as he did at home (24). He had more doubles in Arlington than he did on the road, but his slugging percentage was better in road games (.530) than in home games (.504).

Just sayin.

I'd take Kinsler over Cabrera in a heartbeat. I suspect most baseball people would, too.

maybe at 2nd base, but I can't say the same about any of the other positions

[whottt]

Yeah, all players have weaknesses. A guy who gives you a shitload of homeruns is going to bring your OBP down, and the rest of your team has to be able to make up for it. I don't think Dan is recognizing that. That, and his pitching staff has a few good guys, but its pretty damn thin if you ask me, and come playoff time he will regret that, cus no way in hell that every good pitcher that might come up will end up in his lap. And even if they do, who do you give up for them. If his entire team is soooo good, he won't want to waive anyone to get another pitcher.

Guys without pitching staffs won't be in the playoffs this year, there are only 4 teams that will make it and it's not going to be ones without pitching staffs.

No team without a pitching staff is going to finish above 4th place in this league.

You think back on the history of this league and there's only one owner that's had any semblance of success without much of a pitching staff and that's timvp...and even he's got a pitching staff this year.


In my case...I prepared for the playoffs wins and k's onslaught in the draft this year. That strategy is not ever going to win a championship IMHO, even if it does do ok early in the playoffs. Pitching is more consistent(just like in the real game) than hitting, it's also much harder to find. There will be 30 HR guys on the waiver wire heading into the playoffs this season, there won't be any 200k pitchers on it.

Bottom line is that HR and RBI(the two macho stats) are only 2 categories, and whether anyone realizes it or not, they are just about the hardest two to predict on a week to week basis. The best hitter in the game can go homerless and RBI less for an entire week at any point...but if you put a Cy Young candidate out there and he's pitching twice in a week, he will put up some K's at the least and usually get a win with a low ERA and WHIP along with it.


Has the team with the most HR or RBI ever won this league? Not that I can remmber...both times it was teams that had just about the best pitching staffs that won it.

[Melmart1]

Guys without pitching staffs won't be in the playoffs this year, there are only 4 teams that will make it and it's not going to be ones without pitching staffs.



I agree totally, and I think that Dan's pitching staff is pretty thin. He is dumb to think that he can just pick pitchers up later -- those are hard to come by, and those that are called up usually have a learning curve. You have to draft a good team, I had a great pitching staff last year and 90% of those guys were my draftees.

I think my pitching staff is very solid, some great starters and five, possibly six closers. That's why I am not worried about the perceived shortcomings in my offense -- offensive players are much easier to pick up and since they play everyday they can make an immediate impact on your team, unlike a pitcher. Also, I think my offense has some real sleepers on it that will improve as the season goes on. Slow and steady wins the race.

[Melmart1]

BTW -- I just realized I haven't paid my fee for the league :lol FWD, will you kindly PM me payment details?

[whottt]

I'm still waiting on that info too FWDT...

[timvp]

Like two years ago, I'll consider it a success if I make the playoffs. Making the playoffs last time I had an all Dominican team was one of my better fantasy accomplishments. Even though I was closer to a championship last year playing like everyone else, I didn't have nearly as much fun.

It's going to be damn hard because so much Dominican pitching came off the board higher than expected. Combine a rush for Dominican closers and Dominican strikeout heavy starting pitchers ... and it's going to be tough because I was banking on the Franciscos, Corderos, Volquezes, Cuertos, Jimenezes, etc. in the middle rounds but they were gone far above their ADP.

[timvp]

Oh and thanks FWD for that preview. I would think I'd be last on paper considering I was forced to draft the likes of Willy Aybar at the end.

[whottt]

Oh and thanks FWD for that preview. I would think I'd be last on paper considering I was forced to draft the likes of Willy Aybar at the end.

Thnat is why you're close to last..and I'm next to last because I drafted a guy like Brandon Wood.

Makes a difference.

Coulda drafted Jim Thome instead or something and increased the HR ranking. :tu

[timvp]

Thnat is why you're close to last..and I'm next to last because I drafted a guy like Brandon Wood.

Makes a difference.

Coulda drafted Jim Thome instead or something and increased the HR ranking. :tu

:lol Yeah, the main problem with projections, as I found out when doing them for the dynasty basketball leagues, is it doesn't accurately weigh the superstars. Come money time, having the big guns is much more valuable than having a lot of mediocrity. In fantasy baseball, those pitching aces are deadly in the playoffs (as I know too well :depressed). And those top ten or so bats can carry you for an entire week.

Looking more at my team, I think I can be alright if I can stay .500 until ARod returns. But to do that, Vlad and Ortiz can't fall off the cliff this year. I'll also either need a really healthy season from my pitching staff or a few quality Dominican pitchers to arrive on the waiver wire at some point. :lol

Last time I did this, I was lucky to get like four or five solid waiver wire Dominicans including C. Pena, U. Jimenez, Al Reyes and a few others. I need that luck this year.

Oh and regarding the waiver wire rule, I think we should set something up ASAP. The way that makes sense to me is to give a total number to cap for the regular season and the playoffs. Say like 40 transactions. Then it'll add strategy to the waiver wire all year long.

I've done it that way in fantasy football leagues and it's always pretty interesting. Some people use up their transactions early on trying to get all the "sleepers" and others save them up for use late in the season.

But I'm fine with whatever the majority wants. And I do want to warn ATRAIN that I will do all I can to win within the confines of the rules and if he needs to cry he'll need to wipe away his own tears.

:smokin

[whottt]

Oh and regarding the waiver wire rule, I think we should set something up ASAP. The way that makes sense to me is to give a total number to cap for the regular season and the playoffs. Say like 40 transactions. Then it'll add strategy to the waiver wire all year long.

I've done it that way in fantasy football leagues and it's always pretty interesting. Some people use up their transactions early on trying to get all the "sleepers" and others save them up for use late in the season.


:smokin


I'm ok with limits during the regular season, but I'd still want separate limits for the post season so that you can't just win pitching stats with sheer volume...

Ya can't do that in fantasy football even with no limits, they don't play games on enough days of the week to just overwhelm with sheer volume and in most leagues the only backs availavbe are 3rd stringers etc. Pitching is a totally different animal.

The reason I am for limits in the post season is to keep owners from taking the talent judging aspects out of the pitching stats.


I'm not even worried about it on the hitting side, those transactions could remain limitless in the post season as far as I am concerned because it's just not possible to win on nothing but volume like it is with pitching...due to the sort of more or less inevitable nature of the W and K stats in pitching...

[slayermin]

Nice preview, FWD.

The CI/MI positions makes this league a little different from the last couple of years. I hope my strategy of drafting Alexei Ramirez early works out for me.

Trying to pickup closers or any other quality player is tough in this league. Everyone here watches the game like a hawk. It makes it fun and challenging.

I'm all for a limit on transactions for the playoffs and/or the regular season since I drafted my team with that in mind.

[whottt]

Here's a group of folks having the exact same discussion:

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2009/01/transaction-lim.html


Personally I like what that one keeper league does, 40 during the regular season and 2 per week during the playoffs.


Anorther alternative is just to eliminate the w and k stat categories entirely...I mean if they are meaningless then let's make them meaningless and end the charade.


Or one other alternative..and expand the rosters for the post season and you go with what you have for that expansion.

[slayermin]

Personally I like what that one keeper league does, 40 during the regular season and 2 per week during the playoffs.

This sounds pretty good to me.

[whottt]

This sounds pretty good to me.

I love working the waiver wire but since I'll usually only have one or two spots that I am looking to fill and will rotate about 60 guys out of those two spots, I can learn to cope.

[ATRAIN]

But I'm fine with whatever the majority wants. And I do want to warn ATRAIN that I will do all I can to win within the confines of the rules and if he needs to cry he'll need to wipe away his own tears.

:smokin

Yeah well you have to make playoff first ho!!

[ATRAIN]

Yeah, I remember you turned your season around after a couple of asswhuppins from Melmart. We'll see what he does...

I did beat her once last year and once I did I heard nothing but excuses from her.

[ATRAIN]

WOW .... so according to that projections, I guess Atrain is gonna win. We will never hear the end of it if that happens! :lol

I think like FWD says, timvp, whottt and I are gonna have something to say about being ranked the three last teams.

My offensive team doesn't look all that hot, but I think they are well-balanced and solid and will improve as the year goes on, like my squad last year. I was mired in the middle of the pack for several months before my team took off. Nobody feared my team this time last year. I am not worried at all.

Really the only ones that wont hear the end of it are YOU, Dan, and TIMVP!!

[Melmart1]

I did beat her once last year and once I did I heard nothing but excuses from her.

Revisionist history at its finest. This is the thanks I get for educating you. You didn't even know what WHIP was last year! You will get no more help from me, so you better pay attention, puto.

[ATRAIN]

Revisionist history at its finest. This is the thanks I get for educating you. You didn't even know what WHIP was last year! You will get no more help from me, so you better pay attention, puto.

I knew what WHIP was but you did help me understand the way fantasy baseball worked and I was able to turn my season around after that and for that I thank you mel. I did beat you though but it was a regular season win and you are the champ so for now I bow down to the champ. I am no longer a rook so i have no excuses. FWD thanks for that breakdown it was a fun read but its like power rankings, fun and great to see on paper how your team looks but any given week you can get your ass kicked by the worst (Thunderdan's team) team in the league. Just a few more days guys and as everyone said this is a very competitive league and yes everyone watches free agencies/waivers like a hawk. I had a tough time with fantasy football with some of you guys in a 12 team league. I am used to being the guy in my league that hogs up the good free agents but some of you guys are faster with the trigger than I am which makes for a fun season. :toast good luck to all and TIMVP your going down!!

[Thunder Dan]

I agree totally, and I think that Dan's pitching staff is pretty thin. He is dumb to think that he can just pick pitchers up later -- those are hard to come by, and those that are called up usually have a learning curve. You have to draft a good team, I had a great pitching staff last year and 90% of those guys were my draftees.

I think my pitching staff is very solid, some great starters and five, possibly six closers. That's why I am not worried about the perceived shortcomings in my offense -- offensive players are much easier to pick up and since they play everyday they can make an immediate impact on your team, unlike a pitcher. Also, I think my offense has some real sleepers on it that will improve as the season goes on. Slow and steady wins the race.

you are vastly underestimating a)my free time, b)my managing skills

Your pitching staff might be great in your eyes, but if one or 2 of them go down you are finished because A) I will already have picked up the best available starter at the time, b)your lineup isn't out hitting anyone.

The odds of a pitcher getting hurt or having a couple bad starts is much greater than a team built around hitting going into extended slumps. Your best pitcher could go out and give you 2 terrible starts in one week- if my best hitter sucks for a week I'm not screwed because I'm not dependent on just one guy. That is why pitching is important in real baseball, and not in fantasy baseball

[ATRAIN]

you are vastly underestimating a)my free time, b)my managing skills

Your pitching staff might be great in your eyes, but if one or 2 of them go down you are finished because A) I will already have picked up the best available starter at the time, b)your lineup isn't out hitting anyone.

The odds of a pitcher getting hurt or having a couple bad starts is much greater than a team built around hitting going into extended slumps. Your best pitcher could go out and give you 2 terrible starts in one week- if my best hitter sucks for a week I'm not screwed because I'm not dependent on just one guy. That is why pitching is important in real baseball, and not in fantasy baseball

I made the playoffs by making the right moves with my pitching staff. They are what kept me in the running so you saying its not important is false. Just wait and see you will realize what we are talking about.

[Melmart1]

I think Dan is vastly underestimating a) The other owners and their vigilance over the waiver wire and b) how late some of them stay up at night

[Thunder Dan]

you guys are dogging a pitching staff with 3 legitimate Cy young candidates and one of the top closers in baseball

Cliff Lee
Fausto Carmona
Scott Baker
Jon Lester
Armando Galaraga
Mark Burley

that has the potential to be the best starting group in the league. You guys act like it stands no chance. Lee won a Cy Young, Lester could, and Carmona almost did. Baker is a stud that plays 1/2 of his games in a pitcher friendly park. Glaraga is a great young arm too. He finished last year 13-7 1.19WHIP, on a shitty team, going 1-3 with a ERA over 7 in September

[ATRAIN]

I think Dan is vastly underestimating a) The other owners and their vigilance over the waiver wire and b) how late some of them stay up at night

Mel I expect a point sweep on your week 1 matchup. We need to give Dan the rude awakening that I got last year.

[Thunder Dan]

Mel I expect a point sweep on your week 1 matchup. We need to give Dan the rude awakening that I got last year.

stop being silly, did you look at my lineup?

Half of Melmart's lineup is rangers and they will be shut down by 2 of my starters. Hank Blaylock? are you kidding me? You might as well just draft and start Aaron Boone

I got this in the bag. Week 1 is going to be a bloodbath.

[Melmart1]

You keep focusing on Blalock, but he is more of a bench player. Someone else will be in 3B by the time scoring starts. Week 1 might be a bloodbath, but its a looong season and my team was built for endurance and longevity.

[Thunder Dan]

You keep focusing on Blalock, but he is more of a bench player. Someone else will be in 3B by the time scoring starts. Week 1 might be a bloodbath, but its a looong season and my team was built for endurance and longevity.

You Hang It, I Bang It are like debt collectors, we come on strong and once we see weakness we don't let up. We just intimidate, punish then cripple the competition. I like having weekends to myself so normally we already have the W by Friday. It's nothing personal, you are just first on our list.

Chase Headley, Mark DeRosa, and Ty Wigginton- man that sounds like murderer's row. I'm glad I'm not faced with that decision. You might as well just draft Mr. Met and throw him at 3rd base

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09052007/photos/mrmet9407.jpg

[Melmart1]

The MLB team Mark DeRosa is on may suck, but he doesn't.

[Thunder Dan]

The MLB team Mark DeRosa is on may suck, but he doesn't.

a Rangers fan talking smack about the Tribe?! get that weak stuff outta here! :lmao

[ATRAIN]

a Rangers fan talking smack about the Tribe?! get that weak stuff outta here! :lmao

I like the Indians..........well the team from Major league at least. Hey Dan did you try to draft Wild Thing Rick Vaughn on your team?

[Melmart1]

A SpursTalk fantasy rookie talking smack to the champion?! Get the weak stuff outta here! :lmao

[Thunder Dan]

A SpursTalk fantasy rookie talking smack to the champion?! Get the weak stuff outta here! :lmao

I live by prison code.
sWZnNre63J8

[ATRAIN]

A SpursTalk fantasy rookie talking smack to the champion?! Get the weak stuff outta here! :lmao

thats why you have to humble him week 1

[Thunder Dan]

I like the Indians..........well the team from Major league at least. Hey Dan did you try to draft Wild Thing Rick Vaughn on your team?

I got the next best thing in Fausto Carmona. I think Melmart has Roger Dorn starting at 3rd this week, he is an upgrade from all the other stiffs she has. I could find better numbers in the waiver wire than whats sitting in her 3rd base platoon.

[Thunder Dan]

thats why you have to humble him week 1

dude, look at my lineup. I will win every single offensive category, and will be able to steal a pitching category once I employ my opening week strategy. I'll have the win locked up by Thursday at the latest so I can enjoy myself at opening day Friday.

My Lineup is a mixture of All Star lineup and the futures game lineup, Melmart's is a lineup full of has beens or guys that never had a prime.

[ATRAIN]

dude, look at my lineup. I will win every single offensive category, and will be able to steal a pitching category once I employ my opening week strategy. I'll have the win locked up by Thursday at the latest so I can enjoy myself at opening day Friday.

My Lineup is a mixture of All Star lineup and the futures game lineup, Melmart's is a lineup full of has beens or guys that never had a prime.

Since mel and timvp are my fantasy baseball rivals I will be pulling for ya little guy

[Thunder Dan]

Peavy is due to get hurt. Plays on a crappy team with little run support

Lincecum will have the classic sophomore slump. Plays on a crappy team with little run support

Garza sucks, Rays got lucky last year. They will be a .500 team this year at best

Wainwright is decent at best, plays on a crappy team with little run support


you better hope you dominate every other category because wins will be hard to come by

[Thunder Dan]

Brandon McCarthy pitches in the least hitter friendly park imaginable. He isn't even good

Jamie Moyer- are you serious? get that weak stuff outta here

Jesse Litsch- a poor man's Ed Harris

Mark Lowe-just found out he has diabetes- tough news coming off a 1-5 season

Jair Jurrjens- decent at best

[TheTruth]

you guys are dogging a pitching staff with 3 legitimate Cy young candidates and one of the top closers in baseball

Cliff Lee
Fausto Carmona
Scott Baker
Jon Lester
Armando Galaraga
Mark Burley

that has the potential to be the best starting group in the league. You guys act like it stands no chance. Lee won a Cy Young, Lester could, and Carmona almost did. Baker is a stud that plays 1/2 of his games in a pitcher friendly park. Glaraga is a great young arm too. He finished last year 13-7 1.19WHIP, on a shitty team, going 1-3 with a ERA over 7 in September

Lee, lester and who else? Carmona was shit last year and came into camp fat this year. Galaraga hasn't proven a thing in the Major Leagues. Baker and Buehrle are average to above average at best. That is NOT a good Fantasy Pitching staff.

[TheTruth]

I got the next best thing in Fausto Carmona. I think Melmart has Roger Dorn starting at 3rd this week, he is an upgrade from all the other stiffs she has. I could find better numbers in the waiver wire than whats sitting in her 3rd base platoon.

Have you seen your starting 1b?

[TheTruth]

Peavy is due to get hurt. Plays on a crappy team with little run support

Lincecum will have the classic sophomore slump. Plays on a crappy team with little run support

Garza sucks, Rays got lucky last year. They will be a .500 team this year at best

Wainwright is decent at best, plays on a crappy team with little run support


you better hope you dominate every other category because wins will be hard to come by

This post is just full of fail.

Lincecum played on an even crappier team with even less run support last year. Seemed to have an alright season.

Wainwright is "decent at best". Watch him pitch. Please!!

Garza's what? 26? Seemed to be a pretty good pitcher last year in the ALCS. I think the kid might have a future. LMAO. Garza sucks, but your sucking Scott Baker's dick? That is hilarious.

[Thunder Dan]

Lee, lester and who else? Carmona was shit last year and came into camp fat this year. Galaraga hasn't proven a thing in the Major Leagues. Baker and Buehrle are average to above average at best. That is NOT a good Fantasy Pitching staff.

Carmona packed on muscle. The reason he sucked last year was because a)he got hurt, b)Victor Martinez got hurt and he doesn't speak English so he and Kelly Shoppach couldn't agree on anything. He was the 2nd best pitcher in winter ball this winter and has a 2.40 ERA in the Spring.

He has the best stuff of anyone on my staff. Both Torri Hunter and Derek Jeter called him unhittable

[Thunder Dan]

This post is just full of fail.

Lincecum played on an even crappier team with even less run support last year. Seemed to have an alright season.

Wainwright is "decent at best". Watch him pitch. Please!!

Garza's what? 26? Seemed to be a pretty good pitcher last year in the ALCS. I think the kid might have a future. LMAO. Garza sucks, but your sucking Scott Baker's dick? That is hilarious.

Garza will implode this year. He will be on the waiver wire by June. He logged too many innings last season, and isn't that good to begin with. Teams like the Rays come every so often. They put it all together then the next year they implode- see the 2007 Indians.


Have you seen your starting 1b?

Have you seen my starting middle infield and outfield?

1st base is a platoon, Victor Martinez, Carlos Guillen, Thome, and Tehan. Somewhere in there I can pick up some stats. But I won't need them since my outfield, and the rest of my infield will be raking

[TheTruth]

Carmona packed on muscle. The reason he sucked last year was because a)he got hurt, b)Victor Martinez got hurt and he doesn't speak English so he and Kelly Shoppach couldn't agree on anything. He was the 2nd best pitcher in winter ball this winter and has a 2.40 ERA in the Spring.

He has the best stuff of anyone on my staff. Both Torri Hunter and Derek Jeter called him unhittable

Carmona admitted to coming in overweight and that he had to lose a few pounds. Wonder if he lost a few pounds of muscle?

[Thunder Dan]

Lincecum will implode as well, too many innings for a young arm last year.

[Thunder Dan]

Carmona admitted to coming in overweight and that he had to lose a few pounds. Wonder if he lost a few pounds of muscle?

he is fine. Leave scouting the Indians to the expert. I'm not worried about Carmona as much as I am about Cliff Lee

[TheTruth]

Garza will implode this year. He will be on the waiver wire by June. He logged too many innings last season, and isn't that good to begin with. Teams like the Rays come every so often. They put it all together then the next year they implode- see the 2007 Indians.



Have you seen my starting middle infield and outfield?

1st base is a platoon, Victor Martinez, Carlos Guillen, Thome, and Tehan. Somewhere in there I can pick up some stats. But I won't need them since my outfield, and the rest of my infield will be raking

:lmao at you thinking that Vmart, Guillen, Thome and Tehan is anything more than below average for a starting 1b. And then all you have for CI is Alex "bust from day 1" Gordon? TEHAN?!?!?!? Dude, you aren't doing yourself any favors posting his name in this thread.

A platoon at 1b, which is probably the most STACKED position in all of Fantasy? That's hilarious.

[TheTruth]

he is fine. Leave scouting the Indians to the expert. I'm not worried about Carmona as much as I am about Cliff Lee

Expert? Dude, you lost that status when you drafted that pitching staff.

Cliff Lee? Lighting in a bottle. Hope he enjoyed that 1 great season.

[Thunder Dan]

:lmao at you thinking that Vmart, Guillen, Thome and Tehan is anything more than below average for a starting 1b. And then all you have for CI is Alex "bust from day 1" Gordon? TEHAN?!?!?!? Dude, you aren't doing yourself any favors posting his name in this thread.

A platoon at 1b, which is probably the most STACKED position in all of Fantasy? That's hilarious.

so you agree with my strategy then. No use spending a high draft pick on a first baseman when I will be beating others in other positions. I just need my first base platoon to not be as bad as my opponents 3rd base platoon because I won't lose another position. My Outfield is by far the best in the league, my middle infield is the best, and 3rd base is no slouch

If first base is so stacked, then there is no reason to spend a high draft pick on one.

[TheTruth]

so you agree with my strategy then. No use spending a high draft pick on a first baseman when I will be beating others in other positions. I just need my first base platoon to not be as bad as my opponents 3rd base platoon because I won't lose another position. My Outfield is by far the best in the league, my middle infield is the best, and 3rd base is no slouch

Negative. Terrible strategy. You are sending out a below average player at a position with way more than 10 above average options. I'd really like for you to point out how many teams in this league have a worse 3b option than your 1b options. And 3b is BY FAR AND AWAY a thinner position than 1b.

And is Alex Gordon really your only fall back for when Chipper gets hurt? Seriously friend, you can't seriously feel comfortable with a guy that can't hit lefthanded pitching being YOUR ONLY viable CI starter.

You do have a pretty nasty OF, but if you expect Magglio, Manny, or Bradley to come even close to what they did last year you are worse at Fantasy Baseball than I think.

Granderson has proven his biggest year was a fluke. The guy doesn't even steal bases anymore.

But hey, you've got Lastings Milledge. Now theres a stud. Just hope he can find some playing time in the really crowded Nationals OF.

[TheTruth]

Did a little reasearch and Carlos Guillen or Jim Thome wouldn't start over any other teams starting 3b except Chase Headley.

Lol, i guarantee it wasn't a strategy. You just got caught up in drafting old ass OF and forgot to draft a 1b. Admit it.

[Thunder Dan]

Did a little reasearch and Carlos Guillen or Jim Thome wouldn't start over any other teams starting 3b except Chase Headley.

Lol, i guarantee it wasn't a strategy. You just got caught up in drafting old ass OF and forgot to draft a 1b. Admit it.

I drafted Victor Martinez to be my 1st baseman


and Magglio sucked last year and Milton might not even get any PT in my line because I go Shin Soo Chooooo

[alamo50]

It's all good. ATrain wasn't there for half the draft. I think it auto-drafted Ben Sheets for him. Ouch! :lol

I did a mock draft a day before the draft here and the guys over there pointed out to me to delete Sheets from the auto draft sheet.

I couldn't make it to the draft here because of:

- 7 hour time difference (during a week day)
- no idea what I am doing anyway

Just spread the positions using the FA's on the waiver wire and keeping an eye on the developments during the season.

I was a hughe MLB fan about 15 years ago, but lost touch with it due to my passion for the NBA. Looking forward to learn about the current stars in the league due to this fantasy league.


Kinda cool to see me high in the pre-season rankings, but skeptic to why I got these players in the auto-draft before anybody else did. I'll learn as the season goes by.

Thanks for your time FWD and good luck to all y'all Spurs fan!

[Thunder Dan]

Everyone has an itching for pitching

Some Fantasy owners hold steadfast to the belief that pitching trumps hitting in Head-to-Head leagues, bucking the conventional wisdom of Rotisserie play, which says just the opposite. So when you see your opponents scooping up starting pitchers left and right during the first few rounds of a Head-to-Head draft, don't be surprised, but don't follow suit either.

The argument just doesn't hold water. True, you can survive with a makeshift rotation better in a Rotisserie league than a Head-to-Head league, where wins and innings often have greater statistical significance, but that subtle difference shouldn't rock the foundation of longstanding Fantasy ideology.

I think the misconception stems from a recurring snap judgment that even responsible -- yes, responsible -- Fantasy owners seem to make. They look at the numbers -- a habit I fully endorse -- and see that pitchers typically score more than hitters. I'll admit it: They do. They outscore hitters. But quarterbacks typically outscore running backs in Fantasy Football, and you won't find anyone telling you to pick them instead.

And you know full well why. The position as a whole outscores the other positions, meaning the 10th starting pitcher outscores the 10th second baseman just like the first starting pitcher outscores the first second baseman. But you'll notice the 10th starting pitcher outscores the 10th second baseman by more than the first starting pitcher outscores the first second baseman, demonstrating a lack of elasticity at the position. The scoring output declines faster at second base, meaning you don't lose as much by taking a lesser pitcher as you do by taking a lesser second baseman.

You might worry that if you don't draft a pitcher early, you'll lose your chance to get a bona-fide ace. But you shouldn't think of it as losing an ace so much as gaining a stud at another position. You'll still get an ace, just a lesser one, and your opponent will have a much harder time finding a suitable option at whatever position you took instead. Just because someone drafts a pitcher early doesn't mean he gets to play that pitcher at shortstop instead, which I realize sounds like a ridiculously fundamental idea, but my point is you shouldn't judge how a position stacks up against another position as much as how a position stacks up against itself. Don't think of it so much as your opponent getting 582 points from Tim Lincecum compared to your 563.5 points from Jimmy Rollins. Think of it more as him getting 582 points from Lincecum and 426.5 from Miguel Tejada compared to your 563.5 points from Rollins and 461 points from Chad Billingsley. Who wins? Quite honestly, who wins?

To get an idea of how far this pitchers-first mentality has spun out of control, take a look at our earliest Head-to-Head mock draft.

I didn't take my first pitcher until Round 6. By then, most every other team had two or three. Might I have considered taking one earlier? Sure, but not when I had the opportunity to reel in this catch during Rounds 1-4: David Wright, Grady Sizemore, Rollins and Ian Kinsler.

Notice the common thread between those players? That's right: All four could potentially go in the first round of any draft.

Nobody should ever open a season with four first-round draft picks. You might get two if you pick in the right spot, maybe three if you play with a complete novice on some misguided mission to reassemble the 2003 New York Yankees. But four? That should never, ever happen.

But it did -- and in a league of professionals, no less. And I don't mean to suggest they don't know what they're doing, because they obviously do. I just want you to understand how easily you can get swept away in a grab-fest for frontline starting pitching.

I also don't mean to suggest if some clear-cut ace like Roy Halladay falls to you in the third or fourth round, you shouldn't even consider taking him, but don't get so caught up in an ill-advised pitching run that you overlook a stud the rest of the league has hand delivered to you.

Of course, that idea applies specifically to Head-to-Head leagues. I can think of some even more important reasons to target hitters over pitchers, and if you'd like to read about them, check out my separate column on pitching philosophies.

[Melmart1]

So some dude I have never heard of from CBS Sportsline comes up with a philosophy and that all the sudden makes it gospel?

At this point, I am not sure who you are trying to convice here ... us or yourself.

[Thunder Dan]

So some dude I have never heard of from CBS Sportsline comes up with a philosophy and that all the sudden makes it gospel?

At this point, I am not sure who you are trying to convice here ... us or yourself.

he is the Michael Jordon of Fantasy Baseball, wins his league every year

[Melmart1]

he is the Michael Jordon of Fantasy Baseball, wins his league every year

Really? Cus his bio on the site says that he has won 'several football and baseball' leagues. No numbers. If he won every year, you think they would say so. Also, if he won every year they would make him their 'expert' instead of that other guy. Instead, he is just a staff writer.

[slayermin]

Just looking at Thunder Dan's roster, imo, he's deficient in wins, saves, and strikeouts. His pitching staff will have a difficult time competing in those three categories all year long. And if a couple of his pitchers gets rocked each week, he won't have enough innings pitched to minimize the damage to his era and whip. His hitting better carry him because his pitching is going to put him in a hole from the beginning.

And looking at his batters, he has a deep, diverse group of talent. But for him to even consider making the playoffs, he will need Victor Martinez, Chipper Jones, and Manny Ramirez to stay healthy all season. History tells us that is a crap shoot.

The way I see it, unless Thunder Dan makes some incredible pitching pickups during the season, I see him finishing in the middle of the pack at best.

[TheTruth]

Picking Vmart as your 1b was a mistake. The guy is getting old, and i no way will ever perform as more than a barely average first baseman.

[whottt]

<<<taking notes on talking shit from ThunderDan


I only thought I was good at talking bullshit. This dude is a bullshit maestro.

[timvp]

Thunder Dan, what is your opinion of Luis Scola? And while you're at it, what do you think of Brent Barry?

Thanks in advance.

[whottt]

And how does a Cleveland fan end up calling himself ThunderDan?

That's like a Spurfan calling himself the dunking dutchman or something.

[FromWayDowntown]

Really? Cus his bio on the site says that he has won 'several football and baseball' leagues. No numbers. If he won every year, you think they would say so. Also, if he won every year they would make him their 'expert' instead of that other guy. Instead, he is just a staff writer.

I'm skeptical of his view, mostly because I can't imagine any reputable league -- anywhere -- that would allow Sizemore, Rollins, and Kinsler to last beyond Round 2. That the expert's opinion is somehow justified by his draft in a league in which one of those players was available in Round 3 and another in Round 4 says to me that the league either completely sucks or that the owners were f'ing around when drafting. In either event, those results certainly seem anomalous and hardly a good basis to advise others about how to draft.

We'll see how this thing works philosophically. This league has teams that are pitching-heavy and teams that are bat-heavy, to go with a few that are fairly balanced. By season's end, we should have evidence to prove or disprove this guy's theory.

[Thunder Dan]

Really? Cus his bio on the site says that he has won 'several football and baseball' leagues. No numbers. If he won every year, you think they would say so. Also, if he won every year they would make him their 'expert' instead of that other guy. Instead, he is just a staff writer.

He is recognized by the WFBS (World Fantasy Baseball Society) every year for his dominance in the game. Tell me you are a member as I am. I've been a charter member for 5 years now. Looks like you amateurs have met your match. You all are about to get the classic 5 month hustle



And how does a Cleveland fan end up calling himself ThunderDan?

That's like a Spurfan calling himself the dunking dutchman or something.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/239452.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0ED7D7A72DB96AEFDE7 284831B75F48EF45

[Thunder Dan]

Just looking at Thunder Dan's roster, imo, he's deficient in wins, saves, and strikeouts. His pitching staff will have a difficult time competing in those three categories all year long. And if a couple of his pitchers gets rocked each week, he won't have enough innings pitched to minimize the damage to his era and whip. His hitting better carry him because his pitching is going to put him in a hole from the beginning.

And looking at his batters, he has a deep, diverse group of talent. But for him to even consider making the playoffs, he will need Victor Martinez, Chipper Jones, and Manny Ramirez to stay healthy all season. History tells us that is a crap shoot.

The way I see it, unless Thunder Dan makes some incredible pitching pickups during the season, I see him finishing in the middle of the pack at best.

you are forgetting that I have one a supreme baseball mind and can see things baseball related that others can't ever comprehend. I draft guys you will all be knocking at my door for come July when all your stiffs are batting .200 and striking out 4 times a game


Picking Vmart as your 1b was a mistake. The guy is getting old, and i no way will ever perform as more than a barely average first baseman.

He is 30 years old. WTF are you talking about? GET THAT WEAK STUFF OUT OF HERE.


I'm skeptical of his view, mostly because I can't imagine any reputable league -- anywhere -- that would allow Sizemore, Rollins, and Kinsler to last beyond Round 2.

obviously you haven't seen my lineup

Rollins
Uttley (>Kinsler)
Manny/Magglio (two headed monster better than Grady)

Next year you all will be asking yourselves- How the hell did we let Thunder draft Cam Maybin, Alex Gordon AND Mark Tehan?!

[Thunder Dan]

speaking of Mark "the Hammer" Teahan, He is the Royals starting 2nd Baseman, why can I play him as a middle infielder?

[FromWayDowntown]

speaking of Mark "the Hammer" Teahan, He is the Royals starting 2nd Baseman, why can I play him as a middle infielder?

Because he didn't start 5 games at second base last year (or appear in 10 games as a second baseman) and because he hasn't yet started 5 games at second base this year (or made 10 appearances there).

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/baseball/season/status/baseball-09.html

And since we're here -- since when is a guy who hits .260 with 15 HR and 60 RBI ever known as "The Hammer." Jim Adler puts up better numbers than that and he's still a jackass when he calls himself "The Hammer."

Somewhere, Hank Aaron weeps.

[Thunder Dan]

For Everyone knocking on Mark "The Hammer", Maybe you should watch. This really pumps you up for the season. It gets really good around the 3:45 mark

4V4lxC4HGOE

[whottt]

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/239452.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0ED7D7A72DB96AEFDE7 284831B75F48EF45

Damn I didn't even know he played for Cleveland....that's still pretty lame though. He played there for one year and it wasn't a particularly great year anything. This simply speaks to the dearth of talent to have played for the Cavs in their history. Something to do with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price or even Craig Ehlo would have been more appropo...IMHO.

[Thunder Dan]

Damn I didn't even know he played for Cleveland....that's still pretty lame though. He played there for one year and it wasn't a particularly great year anything. This simply speaks to the dearth of talent to have played for the Cavs in their history. Something to do with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price or even Craig Ehlo would have been more appropo...IMHO.

the reason it's my name doesn't have to do with him. It's because I got the nickname Thunder Dan because my name is Dan, and when my friends and I would play intermural basketball in college I wouldn't run any plays I would just stand in the corner and shoot 3's. So they called me thunder dan


why are there no comments on my Mark "The Hammer" Teahan highlight film?

[TheTruth]

He is 30 years old. WTF are you talking about? GET THAT WEAK STUFF OUT OF HERE.

!

30 is pretty old for a catcher. Especially one that has already shown signs of breaking down. He did miss a few games last year, right?

[TheTruth]

the reason it's my name doesn't have to do with him. It's because I got the nickname Thunder Dan because my name is Dan, and when my friends and I would play intermural basketball in college I wouldn't run any plays I would just stand in the corner and shoot 3's. So they called me thunder dan


why are there no comments on my Mark "The Hammer" Teahan highlight film?

Most likely because no one watched it. The HAMMER!!!

[Thunder Dan]

Most likely because no one watched it. The HAMMER!!!

come on, I promise you it would be worth your time to just watch the first minute.

[Thunder Dan]

30 is pretty old for a catcher. Especially one that has already shown signs of breaking down. He did miss a few games last year, right?

because of a fluke elbow injury. Barry Bonds has an elbow problem when he was 30 and how did that turn out for his fantasy owners?

[TheTruth]

because of a fluke elbow injury. Barry Bonds has an elbow problem when he was 30 and how did that turn out for his fantasy owners?

I'm not sure how it would have turned out without the steroids, but that's not the point

The point is that Catchers rarely last past 30, and if they do they aren't nearly the players they were before.

Good luck with Vmart as your only decent 1b option. It would be less pathetic if you had a decent Catcher outside of Vmart on your roster.

[Thunder Dan]

I'm not sure how it would have turned out without the steroids, but that's not the point

The point is that Catchers rarely last past 30, and if they do they aren't nearly the players they were before.

Good luck with Vmart as your only decent 1b option. It would be less pathetic if you had a decent Catcher outside of Vmart on your roster.

Kelly Shoppach is better than most anyone elses in the league

[TheTruth]

Kelly Shoppach is better than most anyone elses in the league

Which sucks because he's only getting consistent playing time when/if Vmart gets hurt. Vmart catches most games and only DH's or plays 1b once or twice a week.

You're seriously going to have VMart starting as your 1b and Shoppach as your starting catcher when you'll be lucky to get 2 starts a week from Shappach? Terrible strategy.

Now I KNOW you never drafted Vmart as your starting 1b. Because if you did with Shoppach as your only other Catcher you really are a terrible Fantasy Owner.

[Thunder Dan]

Which sucks because he's only getting consistent playing time when/if Vmart gets hurt. Vmart catches most games and only DH's or plays 1b once or twice a week.

You're seriously going to have VMart starting as your 1b and Shoppach as your starting catcher when you'll be lucky to get 2 starts a week from Shappach? Terrible strategy.

Now I KNOW you never drafted Vmart as your starting 1b. Because if you did with Shoppach as your only other Catcher you really are a terrible Fantasy Owner.

Shoppach will catch 90-100 games this year, VMart will catch the rest, Victor will play 150 games so whether he catches or not it doesn't matter where I start he at on my team. Stop being jealous

[Thunder Dan]

Plus even if vic is catching that day I can play him at first and when Kelly DHs I can put him as catcher. Perfect strategy

[FromWayDowntown]

I've sent PM's to everyone concerning how to make payment of the league entry fee. Sorry for the delay in getting that information out.

-FW "The Hammer" D

[FromWayDowntown]

So far, I have payments from:

tim"The Hammer"vp
whot"the hammer"tt
Mel"the Hammer"mart1
and FW "The Hammer" D
Thunder "The Hammer" Dan
"The Hammer" alamo50

[FromWayDowntown]

And let me be the first to suggest a new nickname for MLB 2009:

Cliff "The Hammered" Lee (2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (all Earned), 1 BB, 1 K)

:)

[Thunder Dan]

And let me be the first to suggest a new nickname for MLB 2009:

Cliff "The Hammered" Lee (2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (all Earned), 1 BB, 1 K)

:)

notice my great managing decision to not start him

[whottt]

We would....but we're all too busy being impressed by the fact that the best pitcher you drafted is a guy you're afraid to start :tu

[Melmart1]

notice my great managing decision to not start him

Funny, cus according to StatTracker, his stats are counting towards your production this week. You do realize that anyone in the 'P' position still has their stats count, right? If you were too afraid of Hank "THE HAMMER" Blalock (who you criticized endlessly this week) hitting a three-run bomb off of him like he just did, you should have benched him, not put him in the 'P' position.

You better hope the rest of your pitching staff is good enough to bring down that 12+ ERA and 2.20 WHIP line he got today.

[Thunder Dan]

We would....but we're all too busy being impressed by the fact that the best pitcher you drafted is a guy you're afraid to start :tu

Hey man, when a guy has a era over 8 in a stadium you sit him. I'm not you conventional fantasy owner as you can probably already tell. Shit, I was sitting Manny in favor of Coco Crisp until the Royals game got rained out. Melmart might have gotten the best of me so far today, but she is in for a world of pain the rest of the season

[Melmart1]

He gave up 7 earned runs ... and all seven of those were batted in by Rangers who were drafted by EACH HIT!!!

[Thunder Dan]

Funny, cus according to StatTracker, his stats are counting towards your production this week. You do realize that anyone in the 'P' position still has their stats count, right? If you were too afraid of Hank "THE HAMMER" Blalock (who you criticized endlessly this week) hitting a three-run bomb off of him like he just did, you should have benched him, not put him in the 'P' position.

You better hope the rest of your pitching staff is good enough to bring down that 12+ ERA and 2.20 WHIP line he got today.

son of a bitch. Technical Managing error on my part. Even Michael Jordan made his mistakes. Like all true champions, I will learn from my mistakes to further bury you all in the standings

[Thunder Dan]

He gave up 7 earned runs ... and all seven of those were batted in by Rangers who were drafted by EACH HIT!!!

losers need to point at small victories. Champions look towards the long haul. Japan thought they beat the United States when they attacked Pearl Harbor. Yes they won that day, but the Champion USA came and dropped 2 nukes on their asses and showed them. This case is no different. You are Japan, I am USA.

[whottt]

So dan...which do you like better, Blalock's bat or Melmart's strap-on?

[Melmart1]

losers need to point at small victories. Champions look towards the long haul. Japan thought they beat the United States when they attacked Pearl Harbor. Yes they won that day, but the Champion USA came and dropped 2 nukes on their asses and showed them. This case is no different. You are Japan, I am USA.

I think I have proved that I am not a loser in this league, thanks.

Good luck getting your victory wrapped up by Friday. You are gonna need it after the turd your Ace laid today at the hands of EACH HIT.

[Thunder Dan]

BFD. My players understand that this is a long haul. I won last night, you won today (so far). My team is primed to last the whole season and not just win a meaningless day in April. You are showing loser mentality. Losers have to point to small wins. Like when a meth junkie has to count the days sober. Losers have to point that they are X number of days sober, where us winners either a)not do meth, b)don't stop using meth, c)just stop cold turkey. That is the main difference between losers and winners

[Thunder Dan]

Rafeal Perez coming in to clean up Lee's mess.

[Melmart1]

BFD. My players understand that this is a long haul.

They know, do they? Gather them around before the big game today and give them the ole 'long haul' pep talk, didya?

[Thunder Dan]

They know, do they? Gather them around before the big game today and give them the ole 'long haul' pep talk, didya?

We have a team dinner every Sunday night to discuss strategy

[whottt]

you won today (so far)



:lmao No doubt. As you get back in this thing in other categories, like saves for instance...I mean it's just a matter of time till you take ownership in that category this week what with that impressive list of closers you drafted. You gonna own that stat cat all season long :lol

[Thunder Dan]

:lmao No doubt. As you get back in this thing in other categories, like saves for instance...I mean it's just a matter of time till you take ownership in that category this week what with that impressive list of closers you drafted. You gonna own that stat cat all season long :lol

don't count me out of ERA this week, or any other statistical category. It's the start of the week. Again, winners point at the finish line and not the mile marker

[whottt]

don't count me out of ERA this week, or any other statistical category. It's the start of the week. Again, winners point at the finish line and not the mile marker



I thought real winners did all their pointing before the season even began? :king

[Thunder Dan]

I thought real winners did all their pointing before the season even began? :king

we just get into the head of the weaker minded competition. It's no different than when Mike Tyson would hold press conferences

[whottt]

LOL ok man, I know a mercy call when I hear one :) :tu


Hey, that scrub Saltalamaccia just hit a home run...who knew?

[Thunder Dan]

The Rangers always start off hot. They will fizzle, that's what shitty franchises and their players do, they fizzle.

[Thunder Dan]

I just got off the phone with Fausto Carmona's interpreter, Fausto is pitching a 3 hit shutout tomorrow in which no players on Melmart's team will get a hit

[whottt]

The Rangers always start off hot.

True


They will fizzle, that's what shitty franchises and their players do, they fizzle.

You forget they also play games during 10cent beer night gimmicks :toast

In any case...I suggest you realize that the Red Ranger Unis are back, and with their return comes the strong second half Ranger teams :tu

[whottt]

I just got off the phone with Fausto Carmona's interpreter, Fausto is pitching a 3 hit shutout tomorrow in which no players on Melmart's team will get a hit

Is this before of after he hits the buffet line? :lmao

[Melmart1]

The Rangers always start off hot. They will fizzle, that's what shitty franchises and their players do, they fizzle.

False. They have started April as the worst team in baseball for two years straight, and just snapped a five-game Opening Day losing streak. They are shitty starters, great in May/June/July, shitty down the stretch.

[whottt]

I give it a month tops before Dan puts Thome on waivers.




Jim Thome (CWS - Util) Drop You Hang I Bang Waivers thunder_dan20

:lmao

I'd have at least given him an at bat :lol

[Thunder Dan]

:lmao

I'd have at least given him an at bat :lol

Back problems. He is useless on my team. There are just too many weapons for him to fit in my lineup on a consistent basis

[Thunder Dan]

that is the way You Hang It, I Bang It Operates. We don't have any room for weak links. It doesn't matter. We are ruthless and will cut you no matter what. Nobody is safe on my roster, not Manny, not the Hammer, not Chase Uttley. Everyone is on notice.

[whottt]

:lmao

[Thunder Dan]

if Manny Ramirez's little girl(assuming he has one) comes down with a rare life threatening disease and he is force to miss 4 weeks in July, he is probably getting the ax from You Hang It, I Bang It

[FromWayDowntown]

if Manny Ramirez's little girl(assuming he has one) comes down with a rare life threatening disease and he is force to miss 4 weeks in July, he is probably getting the ax from You Hang It, I Bang It

Not Manny "The Hammer" Ramirez?!?!?! Surely not.

[Thunder Dan]

Not Manny "The Hammer" Ramirez?!?!?! Surely not.

4V4lxC4HGOE

[FromWayDowntown]

It's good to see my Orioles putting it to CC "The Hammer" Sabathia.

[Thunder Dan]

Worked myself into a small hole yesterday and looking for a little bounce back so we are back on track for that Friday victory.

This is no different than when Rocky fell behind Apollo Creed in the first round in Rocky 2: I play the role of the heroic Rocky, while Melmart is serving the role of the unliked, over matched Apollo Creed.

[ATRAIN]

Worked myself into a small hole yesterday and looking for a little bounce back so we are back on track for that Friday victory.

This is no different than when Rocky fell behind Apollo Creed in the first round in Rocky 2: I play the role of the heroic Rocky, while Melmart is serving the role of the unliked, over matched Apollo Creed.

wow you expecting to win friday, what about the weekend games?

[ATRAIN]

It's good to see my Orioles putting it to CC "The Hammer" Sabathia.

:( not for me

[Thunder Dan]

wow you expecting to win friday, what about the weekend games?

You Hang It, I Bang It work bankers hours. We do not work on the weekends

[Thunder Dan]

Alex Gordon, First AB of the Season........DINGER. You hang it, Gordon bangs it!!

Remember this day. (forget the fact that I forgot to start him or that he hit it off of one of my pitchers)

[slayermin]

Alex Gordon, First AB of the Season........DINGER. You hang it, Gordon bangs it!!

Remember this day. (forget the fact that I forgot to start him or that he hit it off of one of my pitchers)

Farnsworth hung it, and Thome banged it.

[FromWayDowntown]

Uncanny managerial stuff from Thunder "The Hammer" Dan. :)

I heart my pitching staff. . . .

[ATRAIN]

Hey Dan plan on getting a point on any of the categories?

[ATRAIN]

who am I playing this week? FWD can you give us a list of posters name with their team name.

[FromWayDowntown]

who am I playing this week? FWD can you give us a list of posters name with their team name.

You're playing me, ATRAIN.

Off the top of my head, here are the teams and their owners:

Bashers -- slayermin
Dominican Republicans -- timvp
Atrain's Army -- Atrain
Each Hit -- melmart1
A Fraud's Roiders -- FWD
Them Boogie Knights -- The Truth
Screwballs 3 -- whottt
Eric B whatever -- Eric B
alamo's terror squad -- alamo50
You Hang, I Bang -- Thunder Dan

[FromWayDowntown]

By the way, I got The Truth's payment, so I have payment from 7 owners:

The Truth
Thunder Dan
Melmart1
alamo50
timvp
whottt
FWD

I'm still missing payments from slayer, ATRAIN, and Eric B.

[ATRAIN]

You're playing me, ATRAIN.

Off the top of my head, here are the teams and their owners:

Bashers -- slayermin
Dominican Republicans -- timvp
Atrain's Army -- Atrain
Each Hit -- melmart1
A Fraud's Roiders -- FWD
Them Boogie Knights -- The Truth
Screwballs 3 -- whottt
Eric B whatever -- Eric B
alamo's terror squad -- alamo50
You Hang, I Bang -- Thunder Dan

nice thanks for that.......i couldnt even remember the team name of who I was playing lol. Good luck this week.

[ATRAIN]

By the way, I got The Truth's payment, so I have payment from 7 owners:

The Truth
Thunder Dan
Melmart1
alamo50
timvp
whottt
FWD

I'm still missing payments from slayer, ATRAIN, and Eric B.

I had 20 in my paypal im waiting for the other 5 to clear

[Thunder Dan]

Hey Dan plan on getting a point on any of the categories?

Mixture of a melmarts scrubs starting off hot and my studs starting off slow has put me in a small hole but true champions fight thier way to the top. Jimmy Rollins won't hit .125 the whole year just as denard span won't hit .700 it's the law of averages. At some point her shitty players will turnans my studly players will start mashing

[FromWayDowntown]

Mixture of a melmarts scrubs starting off hot and my studs starting off slow has put me in a small hole but true champions fight thier way to the top. Jimmy Rollins won't hit .125 the whole year just as denard span won't hit .700 it's the law of averages. At some point her shitty players will turnans my studly players will start mashing

Actually, I think Denard "The Hammer" Span will end up hitting .623 for 2009. My 2021 Sports Almanac -- obtained with my Delorean time machine -- says The Hammer will shock the world by not just hitting .400 or even .500, but by actually staying around .700 for most of the summer and then cooling off to a high school like .623 for the season.

Book it.

[Thunder Dan]

Denard Span sucks, if he was any good I would have drafted him. Anyone can hit .600 for a week

[ATRAIN]

mixture of a melmarts scrubs starting off hot and my studs starting off slow has put me in a small hole but true champions fight thier way to the top. Jimmy rollins won't hit .125 the whole year just as denard span won't hit .700 it's the law of averages. At some point her shitty players will turnans my studly players will start mashing

lmao

[Thunder Dan]

So far the GM of the year award goes to my pickup of that bonificianato dude from Florida

[ATRAIN]

So far the GM of the year award goes to my pickup of that bonificianato dude from Florida

you know you barely beat me on that.....that guy is freaking fast

[FromWayDowntown]

Denard Span sucks, if he was any good I would have drafted him. Anyone can hit .600 for a week

You'd better hope he doesn't do that this week. What he does after this week is irrelevant to whether or not you take the L this week.

[Melmart1]

I just got off the phone with Fausto Carmona's interpreter, Fausto is pitching a 3 hit shutout tomorrow in which no players on Melmart's team will get a hit

Through two innings:

Carmona 2.0IP, 5H, 4ER

OOOPS!!! I think he needs a new translator.

Oh, and that scrub Denard Span hit a two-run dinger today. And I didn't forget to start him :)

[Thunder Dan]

BFD, your scrubs will come back down to earth soon. Maybe not this week, but the law of averages will prevail once again.

[TheTruth]

Damn Whoottt, only took 3 days for one of our players to steal a base.

[Melmart1]

BFD, your scrubs will come back down to earth soon. Maybe not this week, but the law of averages will prevail once again.


What he does after this week is irrelevant to whether or not you take the L this week.

[TheTruth]

Wow! This thread is a fantastic FAIL on Thunder's part. I don't know whats better, him not getting a point, or that it was Mel that he talked the most shit about.

:lmao His best player has been Jim Thome and he dropped him the first day. This is fantastic.

[Thunder Dan]

McCarthy hanged it, and Shoppach banged it!