NFBC Weekly Profile - Shawn Childs

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:49 am

His very name strikes fear or in the hearts of many fantasy players. Whether he’s in contention or not, everyone wants to know exactly where he’s at in order to monitor his progress.

With success comes respect. Shawn Childs has had plenty of the former while garnering a healthy amount of the latter.

So it’s no surprise then that the standings in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship’s Auction Championship have felt a bit of a tremor at the top as Childs has made a push up the standings in recent weeks. He entered play 15th overall, still out of the money but within striking distance of contention.

That has Childs keeping everything in perspective as he gears up for the stretch run.

“I'm hurting in two categories Stolen Bases and Saves,” he said. “I think I have a couple of players on my team that could help me make a push steals, but I need them healthy and running. B.J. Upton has been a disappointed, but he could help with a hot month. His ankle is a concern because it would be tough to find the speed replacement on the wire.

“Andrew McCutchen is my other speed threat. He played well early in the year, but he hasn't done much lately. His has a shoulder problem. Rickie Weeks is having a great year except he isn't running as much as I had hoped. If he had 15 steals, my team might be right on target for speed. Between these three players, I need to make up 10-12 stolen bases to make up 25-30 points in steals.

“My second closer has been a problem most of the year. I probably need to make up the same number of saves as steals to gain about 30 points overall. I have a couple of options if the right players get traded. To make an impact, I need three closers the rest of the way. I can't afford to lose ground to Wins and Strikeouts. As the great Jupinka would say, I need to thread the needle.”

At this point of the season, Childs said it’s too late to consider radically changing his approach. With the exception of steals and saves, he likes the overall balance of his roster. Much of that, he said, is due to an auction strategy which has worked out well for the most part.

“My plan almost worked out, but I was in two bidding wars for Vlad (Guerrero) and (Carlos) Quentin,” he said. “Between the two players, I lost about $8 of buying power. It doesn't sound like much, but it left me with three holes on my team to start the year – middle infield, corner infield and second closer.

“I fixed one of the three and I probably got enough stats out the middle infield. I just didn't get the right stats. I purchased Ty Wigginton at the auction hoping he might qualify at second if Roberts’ issues lingered. I was right, but I dropped him too early.”

If there’s one regret Childs has with his auction team, it’s diving in heavily for Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon.

“I probably could have purchased two closer for a couple of dollars more,” he said. “Papelbon cost me a couple of times the first weekend in Vegas.”

The 48-year-old Childs began the year ranked first all-time in career NFBC auction winnings and fifth in all-time NFBC winnings. One of the reasons why he has accumulated a high level of success in this format is because he’s been able to adeptly supplement and improve his roster throughout the season with critical free-agent pickups.

Childs points to Chris Snyder, Vicente Padilla and Jose Guillen as some of the key players he has picked up this season who have bolstered his lineup. Could a savvy move or two be in store in the final weeks of the season that could propel Childs’ team further up the standings?

We shall see.

“Maybe one of the closers in waiting I’m holding will help down the stretch,” he said. “If I was able to solve (my saves and stolen base) problems, I might be able to get over 1,000 points with some minor gains in other categories. If the top team had some fade, I might be a contender. As of today, I'd be happy making a run at my league title.”

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:20 am

Jeez, hasn't this guy been profiled enough????

I think there's been more written on Shawn Childs than George Washington, Bill Gates, or God!

Of course all the accolades are well deserved.

Great job once again Shawn.

Glenn

rockitsauce · Post by **rockitsauce** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:04 pm

yes, yes, we all know how great 'ol Shawn is....now clean out that damn mailbox so you can help me stratergerize my satellite team!

maybe I can make it to Vegas in '11

CC, u ready for the Hangover pt 2?

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:53 am

Originally posted by rockitsauce:

yes, yes, we all know how great 'ol Shawn is....now clean out that damn mailbox so you can help me stratergerize my satellite team!

maybe I can make it to Vegas in '11

CC, u ready for the Hangover pt 2?

Door number one has been opened.

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:47 pm

I'm tired of this guy being put on a pedestal. Ok congrats... you have had some success. How about some cred for kevin bass of the poppers who is currently beating shawn, kj and ken in the same league.

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:59 pm

I'm tired of this guy being put on a pedestal. Ok congrats... you have had some success. How about some cred for kevin bass of the poppers who is currently beating shawn, kj and ken in the same league.

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:13 pm

Fyi ... shawn is currently 5th in this league and 19 freakin points behind kevin. Why is an article necessary? Was there nothing else to write about?

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:48 pm

Originally posted by Fourslot40:

Fyi ... shawn is currently 5th in this league and 19 freakin points behind kevin. Why is an article necessary? Was there nothing else to write about? I don't know what I did to pi$$ you off, but Tom asked me last week to do the write up as my team was starting to climb the auction standings after a good week. I didn't have a chance to do it right away. He held the story over the weekend and posted it this week.

Just like the 18-20 other people, when Tom asked for a response to some questions, I did what he asked. Should I have not responed?

When I read post like yours, I like to put a name to a moniker. It wasn't hard to find you were in my auction league. Maybe I'm 5th at the moment, but I could be in second in an hour. Kevin Bass is having a great season and he's long time NFBC supporter. I wish him well, but I'll do my best to impress you and catch him. I see 20 points on the table and half of them could be make up in a week.

I wish you well in your chase to get into the money in our league.

[ August 04, 2010, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: CC's Desperados ]

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:25 am

I have nothing against you or anybody. You did what was asked of you. I'm usually quiet on these boards, but this made little sense to me. The whole striking fear thing and build up for a team that was so far behind in their own league. It's just silly to me. I felt that Kevin deserved more credit at this point in the game.

It's nothing personal. If it were any other team in the league that got this article I would've felt the same way based on the standings.

I'm enjoying the season and not upset at all. I just didn't understand the point of it. You have had some great accomplishments and perhaps it is deserving of more press at times. Just not this time in my opinion.

Good luck to you as well.

[ August 05, 2010, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: Fourslot40 ]

Layin'theSmackDown · Post by **Layin'theSmackDown** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:48 am

what a great response from CC. Don't know him but definately a class act.

Money · Post by **Money** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:56 am

Originally posted by Layin'theSmackDown:

what a great response from CC. Don't know him but definately a class act. Pretty tough to figure out the thought process on this one. The guy helps anyone who asks.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:01 am

Originally posted by Fourslot40:

How about some cred for kevin bass of the poppers who is currently beating shawn, kj and ken in the same league. KBass has had extraordinary health so far this season, to go along with a very nice job drafting his team. My team has been relatively healthy too with mostly just nagging injuries here and there, but my best two players on each side - Hanley and Braun, and Greinke and Haren - haven't performed nearly up to par. If those guys come around I think that 15 pt lead can get whittled down quickly.

In the words of Denny Green, if you want to crown him then go ahead and crown his a**!!! But it's a long way from over, John.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:04 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

“My plan almost worked out, but I was in two bidding wars for Vlad (Guerrero) and (Carlos) Quentin,” he said. “Between the two players, I lost about $8 of buying power. You should've let me have Vladdy, we'd both have been better off.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:11 am

Guys, when I contacted Shawn his team was one of the hottest teams in the Auction event. So I thought it would be a good idea to profile him - especially in light of the fact he is No. 1 all-time on the NFBC'a auction money list. I thought it would be a good time to put together a profile on him as it looked like his team was really making a strong push up the standings.

Not sure what happened last weekend but I blame Shawn for that (kidding

). In any event, Shawn was kind enough to reply to my questions and I didn't want to toss his answers in the trash so I put together the profile for this week.

I realize there are a lot of participants who are doing well in many of our events this year and my intention was not to slight any of them, but highlight someone whose team had been on the rise in an event in which he has long excelled in.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:25 am

Childs is good at what he does, his achievements

are well chronicled.

However, I don't trust anybody that can make a bowling video in which he can roll a bowling ball with efficiency using both his left and right hands.

Additionally, the guy has yet to deliver for me when it comes to wagering in both Horse racing and the dog races. So I can't share in all of this lovey dovey sentiment.

I'll see you in Vegas if you want to prove this wrong Childs.

[ August 05, 2010, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: Sack ]

Fourslot40 · Post by **Fourslot40** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:34 am

KJ... I love the Denny Green quote. It's one of my favorites. I'm not crowning a victor just yet. Our league has had several large movements within the standings each week and we have two months to go.

I agree that I should have chose a better approach. My delivery isn't always so great.

My apologies to Shawn, Tom and my other league members as my post was more of a protest that Kevin hadn't been recognized at the time and certainly not a personal attack against Shawn or anyone for that matter.

Beers on me next year for this one.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:10 pm

The reason a Shawn Childs is profiled is the same reason Sports Illustrated puts Tiger Woods on its cover every other week.

It's simple. Certain players sell.

Glenn

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:11 pm

Originally posted by Sack:

Additionally, the guy has yet to deliver for me when it comes to wagering in both Horse racing and the dog races. So I can't share in all of this lovey dovey sentiment.

I'll see you in Vegas if you want to prove this wrong Childs.

You know I swing for the fences! I'll have that PAYDAY one of these days.

I thought you were staying on the east coast.....

Money · Post by **Money** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:23 pm

Originally posted by Fourslot40:

KJ... I love the Denny Green quote. It's one of my favorites. I'm not crowning a victor just yet. Our league has had several large movements within the standings each week and we have two months to go.

I agree that I should have chose a better approach. My delivery isn't always so great.

My apologies to Shawn, Tom and my other league members as my post was more of a protest that Kevin hadn't been recognized at the time and certainly not a personal attack against Shawn or anyone for that matter.

Beers on me next year for this one. Great Response. I've been on the wrong end of of few of these things myself. No one will hold it against you.