Ron Shandler Will Be Chatting Here At 2 ET Today

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:35 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Get well soon, Ronald!

I believe rotisserie baseball a while back had 4X4 as its most popular game.

5X5 rules the day now.

If you could look into your crystal ball and select one category for hitters, and one for pitchers to jump to 6X6...which would they be?

("Holds" come to mind...stats they now track that were not kept track of previously.)

~Lance I'm not a fan of adding complexity for complexity's sake. The more categories there are, the more moving pieces you have to analyze. And adding bad categories just because they are available is kinda pointless. I wouldn't mind moving back to 4x4 but use better categories.

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:37 am

Originally posted by Potter:

Radford or Va Tech? Yikes! I've been living in hillbilly country for 12 years but I'm still a northerner at heart. Neither.

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:38 am

Originally posted by RON@HQ:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Get well soon, Ronald!

I believe rotisserie baseball a while back had 4X4 as its most popular game.

5X5 rules the day now.

If you could look into your crystal ball and select one category for hitters, and one for pitchers to jump to 6X6...which would they be?

("Holds" come to mind...stats they now track that were not kept track of previously.)

~Lance I'm not a fan of adding complexity for complexity's sake. The more categories there are, the more moving pieces you have to analyze. And adding bad categories just because they are available is kinda pointless. I wouldn't mind moving back to 4x4 but use better categories. [/QUOTE]what would your cats be in a 4x4?

[ February 21, 2008, 01:39 PM: Message edited by: cleaver beavers ]

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:39 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Sorry for the activity, Ron...

You last post re: consensus top picks NEVER BEING top picks brought my mind to how the top 10 in football ALWAYS seem to have a 50% turnover.

I know baseball has much less contact...but is there a similar (to a lesser degree) trend?

~Lance I think it's normal variability. To extend the analysis, less than 40% of the the consensus top 5 have returned top 5 value, and that percentage would be less than 20% if not for ARod. I don't think this is ground-breaking, just business as usual.

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:41 am

Originally posted by cleaver beavers:

ron

any chance marcus giles wins a starting job in col. and is a quality late round sleeper. I'd bet against. I hate to open a whole discussion on PEDs but he's one of those guys who has a fair amount of circumstantial evidence pointing to his few inflated-stat seasons.

RedRum · Post by **RedRum** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:42 am

Ron,

regarding drafting 2 catchers... Do you have a specific formula that you stick to? Meaning do you target your first or second catcher in certain specific rounds?

Thanks

Top Dawg · Post by **Top Dawg** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:43 am

Originally posted by Top Dawg:

Ron - Your dollar values for 5x5 seem to weight batting average and stolen bases somewhat higher than I would expect. For example, you have a higher dollar value on Matt Kemp at $28 than you do for Prince Fielder at $27. Same for Chone Figgins $30 to David Ortiz at $28. In drafts, these lower dollar guys are being drafted in rounds 1 and 2 while the others are several rounds later. Are we NFBC'ers just not getting the value of these guys right or are your dollar values somewhat out of line?

Thanks,

Pete Bump... Ron?

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:45 am

what would your cats be in a 4x4? Not sure exactly, but I'd start with making sure there were the same number of counting cats and avg cats on the batting and pitching sides. Perhaps HR, SB, Avg and runs produced for batters and W, Sv, K and ERA for pitchers. That would be a start. Fewer moving parts than 5x5. And does anyone really pay attention to WHIP anyway?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:45 am

I'm going to let Ron answer as many more questions as he can before he keels over. Seriously, I hope you feel better Ron. I can relate since I'm home sick today too. Thanks again for taking time out of your day to chat with us here. It's been a lot of fun.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:48 am

On a general topic...

I've always felt as though the east coast / east has "better" or "more knowledgeable" or a the very least "more rabid" fans of sports in general, and baseball for sure.

In your "First Pitch Forums" do you seem to get higher turnouts and more activity/questions from the eastern regions?

~Lance

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:49 am

Ron, Last Chance. I'm offering you a chance in the 1300 AL Auction in Las Vegas. The AL is your strong suit. Yes or No? Please do it. Everyone would love to see it.

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:49 am

Originally posted by RedRum:

Ron,

regarding drafting 2 catchers... Do you have a specific formula that you stick to? Meaning do you target your first or second catcher in certain specific rounds?

Thanks No. Catcher is a high-risk position. You can't find ANYONE draftable in the 1st 15 rounds who has maintained their draft round for the past three years. I look for pockets of stats - like the power numbers I mentioned earlier - try to grab whatever I can late. I'd never reach for one of these guys.

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:50 am

Originally posted by Top Dawg:

quote:Originally posted by Top Dawg:

Ron - Your dollar values for 5x5 seem to weight batting average and stolen bases somewhat higher than I would expect. For example, you have a higher dollar value on Matt Kemp at $28 than you do for Prince Fielder at $27. Same for Chone Figgins $30 to David Ortiz at $28. In drafts, these lower dollar guys are being drafted in rounds 1 and 2 while the others are several rounds later. Are we NFBC'ers just not getting the value of these guys right or are your dollar values somewhat out of line?

Thanks,

Pete Bump... Ron? [/QUOTE]I don't know the answer to this off the top of my head. I'd have to consult my tech guys. Drop me an email...

NorCalAtlFan · Post by **NorCalAtlFan** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:52 am

Originally posted by RON@HQ:

quote:Originally posted by RedRum:

Ron,

regarding drafting 2 catchers... Do you have a specific formula that you stick to? Meaning do you target your first or second catcher in certain specific rounds?

Thanks No. Catcher is a high-risk position. You can't find ANYONE draftable in the 1st 15 rounds who has maintained their draft round for the past three years. I look for pockets of stats - like the power numbers I mentioned earlier - try to grab whatever I can late. I'd never reach for one of these guys. [/QUOTE]I would think that applies across the board. I really hope most people share your general disdain for SP and catchers:)

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:52 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

On a general topic...

I've always felt as though the east coast / east has "better" or "more knowledgeable" or a the very least "more rabid" fans of sports in general, and baseball for sure.

In your "First Pitch Forums" do you seem to get higher turnouts and more activity/questions from the eastern regions?

~Lance I don't think I can generalize. New York always has the highest turnout but we have a solid attendance in Chicago and this year's LA turnout is rivaling NY in only its second year.

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:53 am

I haven't read the previous questions, so sorry if this is a repeat...

Ron,

Last year Jimmy Rollins fell to the 2nd rd in many NFBC drafts. (The eventual champion drafted Arod and Rollins last year in the first 2 rounds respectively). This year, Rollins appears to be a top 5 pick. Which, if any, player(s) this year do you see as a 2nd round pick this year that could give you mid to early 1st rd value?? Thanks Ron.

And great work on the Forecaster as always.

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:56 am

Originally posted by Hitless:

I haven't read the previous questions, so sorry if this is a repeat...

Ron,

Last year Jimmy Rollins fell to the 2nd rd in many NFBC drafts. (The eventual champion drafted Arod and Rollins last year in the first 2 rounds respectively). This year, Rollins appears to be a top 5 pick. Which, if any, player(s) this year do you see as a 2nd round pick this year that could give you mid to early 1st rd value?? Thanks Ron.

And great work on the Forecaster as always. Of my aforementioned Top 15, the one player who makes my list that I don't see going until Rd 2 is Mark Teixeira. Solid skills, consistent, pretty healthy and on a potential contender now.

RON@HQ · Post by **RON@HQ** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:57 am

Okay, I think I'm spent. Hope that was helpful.

Thanks, and good luck!

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:57 am

Thanks, Ron!

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:58 am

I like to eat fried chicken before a draft. Do you have any pre-draft rituals?

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:59 am

thanks ron, loved your insight...get well.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:00 am

Pete L -- for the record, that was one of the biggest cop-outs of all time. Agreed?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:04 am

Originally posted by RON@HQ:

Okay, I think I'm spent. Hope that was helpful.

Thanks, and good luck! Thanks much Ron. Get better soon. You're traveling every weekend for the next 4-5 weeks, so I know you need to get better ASAP.

For the record, Tom is home sick too. I think they both got a computer virus from each other.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:06 am

Originally posted by rucrew2:

I like to eat fried chicken before a draft. Do you have any pre-draft rituals? You never have to drop azz during the draft? Now that Ron is gone a little house keeping. Walla Walla my experience with Ron face to face is that he is a humble, intelligent, nice person. To try to call him out several times just makes you look stupid. I have no idea how Ron would do in the nfbc- the only thing I am confident on is that it would be a lot better than you.

The Mighty Men · Post by **The Mighty Men** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:07 am

Originally posted by RON@HQ:

quote:Originally posted by Top Dawg:

quote:Originally posted by Top Dawg:

Ron - Your dollar values for 5x5 seem to weight batting average and stolen bases somewhat higher than I would expect. For example, you have a higher dollar value on Matt Kemp at $28 than you do for Prince Fielder at $27. Same for Chone Figgins $30 to David Ortiz at $28. In drafts, these lower dollar guys are being drafted in rounds 1 and 2 while the others are several rounds later. Are we NFBC'ers just not getting the value of these guys right or are your dollar values somewhat out of line?

Thanks,

Pete Bump... Ron? [/QUOTE]I don't know the answer to this off the top of my head. I'd have to consult my tech guys. Drop me an email... [/QUOTE]I thought Pete's question was outstanding. I'd love to still get an answer, even if it is in a day or two.

Thanks, Ron, for sacking up and answering the questions while ill.