Anyone Up For A Baseball Chat Today?

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:12 am

Since you said you're up for anything...my brother sent me this e-mail...

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice

came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was

almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the

call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the

new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he

was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find

out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card

and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to

see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket,

and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he

dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply

said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a

baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter Reluctantly she accepted

his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived

at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The

baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well,

let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not

taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet

her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis

thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a

paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't

come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman

with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband

and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a

different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the

movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he

needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and

brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda

knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life

with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children.

Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well,

Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed

as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his

Cardinals in the hunt for a possible appearance in the Super Bowl. Is this a

surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

AND THE REST OF THE STORY:

Today at church our minister mentioned that when Kurt, his wife and 7 children go out to eat he

has one of his children pick out a family eating at the restaurant. Kurt then tells the wait staff he is

picking up the tab for that family's dinner anonymously. He remembers the days he was working nights

in the grocery store and feeding his family on food stamps.

751542 · Post by **751542** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:13 am

koq

2 main event and 1 sat...the other main i am poised to make a run and my sat team is just beat up....all in all very happy. my team that is on the lid is tough but as you know injuries can kill em....cp3 is a stud..gotta get biedrans back in the lineup...how are you doing and how many leagues are you in??

751542 · Post by **751542** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:19 am

great story about curtis and brenda!!

751542 · Post by **751542** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:20 am

my apologies....kurtis!!!

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:31 am

Greg,I always buy the first magazine that hits the newstand. With signings being ever so slow and not much happening during the off season, do you think it would increase sales for your magazine to move up the deadline a month? Personally, wouldn't it be nice to have a Christmas season without the looming deadline?

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:41 am

Originally posted by eddiejag:

In the Labor draft noticed you and John put big money in Eric Byrnes.He was 32 coming off a career year but those 50 steals fooled many.Will you guy's take gambles like this again or look for safer options on players over 25 dollars.

On the other side of a great upside pick i noticed last year the 2 dollars on Kerry Wood and he was worth 25 dollars.

Can you give us your reasons for these to pick's.

I thought Marmol had that job and most everybody else did by what they went for in drafts.

OK pick one or the other.

Carlos Pena or Joey Votto

Peralta or Drew

Chris Young or Werth

Geinke or Lester

Thanks Hi Eddie...

Byrnes... wasn't a target... we had him at 28-30 SB's. He was the last of the guys in that SB range and we were forced to pay a premium as we lost out (wouldn't overpay) for the SB guys before him. There is rarely a time in a LABR draft where you can get a "safe" $25 player. These guys almost always have a 15-20% premium tagged on. I an only remember one draft that didn't start out with major inflation on stars from the get go.

Gambles.... seems like every LABR draft, all teams are forced to take one. In the AL, it was Kazmir.

K.Wood... That was Greg's pick. I think it was $4. I took Cantu and C.Ross for a $1 each. We go into each draft trying to pick up cheap saves. We have always both agreed that they have been overpriced in LABR, but the last few years has seen the prices declining a bit each year on closers.

Carlos Pena or Joey Votto

Votto.. better value IMO. I hate low avg guys.

Peralta or Drew

too close. I like them both.

Chris Young or Werth

Werth. I hate low average guys. lol.When has CYoung ever given value?

Greinke or Lester

too close again.

I'll take the guy I can get cheaper.Actually wouldn't mind having these two be 1/2 on a 190/70 team.

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:48 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

speed and endurance would be my ally BUT if he ever got a hold of me i would be in trouble!!! i may have to go "rope a dope" unless this is a sanctioned MMA bout...i think i prefer a 15 rounder...remember i am old school!! You may want to step up your training if you're going 15 rounds Mr. Old School.

I remember you being a bit worried about that spare tire you found in Novemeber!!!

Nah, don't worry, Z can't go 15 rounds either. Let's change this to 15 BEERS at the Flamingo instead and make peace, not war.

[/QUOTE]I'm not worried about lasting 15 rounds, I'm worried about getting hit in the nuts.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:52 am

Greg:

Any thoughts on Mark McGuire's Brother coming out with a book on his Brothers use?

I think McGuire's Brother talking about releasing the "steroid goods" on Mark is interesting. My hunch is that people will scream at the nobody brother as being the lowest form of scum on the earth. Actually makes Mark a sympathetic figure. I mean - getting ratted out by your brother? Mark takes the bull by the horns and ADMITS ( what we already know ) soon after he actually DID take the steroids and goes on a marketing campaign to bring this message to our youth. America will forgive, MARKY gets a shot at election to the HALL in the future for coming clean. Just my wild theory. Your thoughts?

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:54 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Do you think TOUT or LABR could invite Childs to play one year (pay him off to lose) and put this NFBC vs. "experts" thing to bed?

~Lance Lance, If I was ever asked, I would decline. As I think it would be a great honor to play in either event, I think the trading game has passed me by. There was a time I enjoyed it, but over the years it has lost its luster. I've seen too many bad trades and too many trades made with allies that don't make sense. It's a great way to learn the game, but over time you see too many things that make you shake your head. Once I played in the NFBC, I can never go back. This is the best game in town.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:55 am

Of the 15 teams in the KJ Duke higher stakes salary league...do you foresee a few teams breaking the bank and locking up 5 or 6 "first rounders"?

How would you guess it goes? 50% cheapskates, 30% middle range bankroll, and 20% Yankee payroll?

Does Robert Downey Jr. nail a Best Supporting Actor award for his Tropic Thunder role?

"I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude!"

~Lance

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:56 am

What type of effect do you think the two new stadiums in NY will have on the studs on both teams? Will David Wright hit 40 HR in a less cavernous CitiField? Will Johan be quite as good? I heven't even heard whether each park is suppose to be nuetral, favor the hitter or pitcher.

[ January 23, 2009, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: Cool Hand Luke ]

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:02 am

I would never try to hurt Perry. Sting him maybe.

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:05 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Do you think TOUT or LABR could invite Childs to play one year (pay him off to lose) and put this NFBC vs. "experts" thing to bed?

~Lance Lance, If I was ever asked, I would decline. As I think it would be a great honor to play in either event, I think the trading game has passed me by. There was a time I enjoyed it, but over the years it has lost its luster. I've seen too many bad trades and too many trades made with allies that don't make sense. It's a great way to learn the game, but over time you see too many things that make you shake your head. Once I played in the NFBC, I can never go back. This is the best game in town. [/QUOTE]Reason #47 why we shake our heads when comparing NFBC to Industry Drafts.

Trading has far more effect on LABR final results than the draft does. Always has and always will.

Cooperstown · Post by **Cooperstown** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:06 am

Greg,

How will the departure of Maddux effect your beloved Brewer's pitching staff?

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:06 am

Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

i have run 141 straight days(of atleast 30 min) since getting off the plane on sept 4th and plan on running 195 straight days till march 18th, endurance wont be an issue!!! Impressive RT.

I'm inspired, I'm re-starting my regime today! I could be ready for 15 rounds by draft day, who's in my weight class?

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:07 am

Originally posted by JohnZ:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

speed and endurance would be my ally BUT if he ever got a hold of me i would be in trouble!!! i may have to go "rope a dope" unless this is a sanctioned MMA bout...i think i prefer a 15 rounder...remember i am old school!! You may want to step up your training if you're going 15 rounds Mr. Old School.

I remember you being a bit worried about that spare tire you found in Novemeber!!!

Nah, don't worry, Z can't go 15 rounds either. Let's change this to 15 BEERS at the Flamingo instead and make peace, not war.

[/QUOTE]I'm not worried about lasting 15 rounds, I'm worried about getting hit in the nuts. [/QUOTE]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:08 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Any chance of adding another row of Graemlins to our options.

The evil laugh, a crying one, and my favorite...the straight face, etc.

~Lance excellent suggestion

[ January 23, 2009, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:22 am

Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

if you were a betting man

1. pitt -7 or ariz +7???

2. when when you take your first closer and how many would you draft n start???

3. "if" a sidebet was made in baseball between RT n zaleski who would you put your money on???u have to answer!! no pr wiggle

4. do you forsee nbc getting involved in fantasy hockey or golf or both??

5. did you see RT for 3 is leading his division in NFBBC???

6.please give us your #1 sleeper in bases and then your deep sleeper please.

7. is it gonna snow in iola this weekend?? never mind stupid question.. 1. If I had bet this NFL post-season, I'd be lucky to be 50-50 at best. Thank goodness I chose to invest my money in the stock market instead.

But Super Bowls are blowouts and that Steelers' defense is just too damn good. I'd lay the 7.

2. I think a lot of teams are going to lay back on closers this year. I'm seeing a run of second-tier closers in the ninth round so far and folks are still getting Jenks and Cordero and some of those guys there. Nice value for the position and good strategy this year.

3. I like you both. I think it would be a tie.

You're a tough grinder, no doubt, and he has that stupid laptop for Draft Day, so it's a push.

4. Not until the economy gets better. We have a good setup with STATS now to expand to future sports and our basketball event will be run through STATS in 2009-10 with the goal of adding the other sports after that. But with this economy, I'd be a fool to expand before we sell out our core events.

5. I didn't see that. Keep it going now. I hope you didn't just jinx that team.

6. My deep sleeper as you know is Eric Young Jr., who we saw in the AFL. If that guy makes the team as a reserve OF, he could find more ABs and eventually a starting job. Wieters isn't a sleeper, but I'll stay on him this year for sure. When scouts say he's a future Hall of Famer, I pay attention. I don't know how we define sleepers anymore, but guys like Denard Span, Adam Jones, Billy Butler and Cameron Maybin are all later round guys that I like a lot.

7. It was 24 for a high today, which is a heat wave over the last month. Now a Canadian blast is coming from the north and it's 30 mph winds and it's going to drop to -8 tonight with a wind chill of -30. And believe it or not, somehow it's snowing. I've lived here 48 years, but these last two could force me out of here. That's for sure.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:25 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

If you are the Mets, any chance you let Johan pitch in the WBC?

From what you remember about 2006, any effects the WBC had on players? Pitchers? Hitters? NO WAY!! Trust me, the Mets will spin it by saying they wish he could pitch for his country, but the latest MRI showed a little weakness in his shoulder and thus they want him to rest in early March.

You know that's coming.

From what I remember and maybe others can chime in, the pitchers were ahead of the hitters to start the season but then wore down a bit in the second half. I might be wrong, but I thought the long season seemed to take a toll on a few pitchers. When you're throwing that hard in March to win a title for your country, it's inevitable that you'll be tired by the end of the MLB season, right?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:36 am

Originally posted by eddiejag:

In the Labor draft noticed you and John put big money in Eric Byrnes.He was 32 coming off a career year but those 50 steals fooled many.Will you guy's take gambles like this again or look for safer options on players over 25 dollars.

On the other side of a great upside pick i noticed last year the 2 dollars on Kerry Wood and he was worth 25 dollars.

Can you give us your reasons for these to pick's.

I thought Marmol had that job and most everybody else did by what they went for in drafts.

OK pick one or the other.

Carlos Pena or Joey Votto

Peralta or Drew

Chris Young or Werth

Geinke or Lester

Thanks Eddie, fly to Phoenix for me and YOU can be my AL Auction partner!!! Deal?

You're the AL King.

We never targeted Byrnes. Instead we targeted Howard and got him for $36 and took Carlos Lee at $29. We then probably went too heavy for Brandon Phillips after that ($35) as we spent a lot and still needed speed. That's tough to do after you just spent $100. So we tried to get it all with Byrnes at $24 after missing on Chris Young ($32) and Shane Victorino ($26). Byrnes was a killer, but in LABR you get their money back if they are out for the year and we were able to get the high bid for Rich Harden in July, which helped.

I used to compete in LABR with one $30+ anchor and lots of $20 bargains and I'd finish third or fourth or fifth and never get to the top. So I dove in recently with more $30+ players and have missed more than I've hit. I'd almost like to go back to the $20+ theory, but Jason Gray and Tristan Cockcroft also do that and if you get 2-3 guys going for the same $20 guys they wind up going for $30. So we'll see.

Kerry Wood was $4 and we were fortunate. I actually pointed out Cantu and we both agreed we had to get him as he was already pegged as the starting 3B. Byrnes and Homer Bailey were killers on that team, plus no production from catcher, but that happens sometimes.

Carlos Pena or Joey Votto. Votto

Peralta or Drew Drew, but I like Peralta

Chris Young or Werth. Young has more upside, but I hate low BAs. Give me Werth this year as I drafted him in the Keeper XFL League.

Geinke or Lester. Greinke. GREAT upside.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:44 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Do you feel the 5x5 categories are set in stone for the next 20 years...or do you think there is a chance some change to reflect more accurately a players value?

With modern stat reporting/collecting, it could be a seamless and painless change to some of the "newer" stat categories.

~Lance Good question Lance. You know, Daniel Okrent, the guy who invented this crazy game, used to take a lot of heat for not evaluating defense better and leaving that component out of this great game. He said stolen bases showed the speed of a player and in many ways that can lead to good defense, whether in the infield or the outfield. If you have a full squad of sluggers, then you probably have a lot of stiffs on defense, too.

I bring that up because the 4x4 Rotisserie setup was a great way to determine the best teams in any league. The same is now true in 5x5 and I think if you had Crazy's 11x11 league setup the best team will still win.

I don't think extra categories are needed anymore in fantasy baseball and I don't think there is any category that would enhance the experience. I could see batting average changed to on-base percentage to include walks someday down the road, but outside of that I don't see many necessary changes. I mean, who cares if we don't have holds or slugging percentage? But Rotisserie Baseball without strikeouts and runs – which was the case for many years – definitely was missing key parts of the game.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:49 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Do you think TOUT or LABR could invite Childs to play one year (pay him off to lose) and put this NFBC vs. "experts" thing to bed?

~Lance When he's the owner of BaseballMafia.com they will consider him.

I'm sure he knows enough owners in Tout to get an invitation.

You know what, if we all called these Industry Leagues instead of "Expert" Leagues I think everyone would shut up about this debate. Because most of these are held real early in the year to give folks an idea of players' values and that's really all they are. Nobody that I know of – okay, outside of a select few

– think we as participants in LABR or Tout are EXPERTS!! We're EXTREMELY lucky to have jobs writing about fantasy baseball, but that's it.

It's our own fault for labeling these as expert leagues, but trust me when we draft baseball in early December we are anything but experts.

But I will say, Shawn is among the best fantasy players I've ever seen and I've been doing this 20+ years. He could win ANY league he's in, no matter who the other owners are. That's a gurantee.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:49 am

At 36...do you think Carlos Delgado has a few more years left?

His 2nd half was an eye opener, and he seems to go fairly late.

24 HR and .313 avg. are numbers guys being drafted before him are hoping for...and he did that in the 2nd half alone.

~Lance

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:51 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Any chance of adding another row of Graemlins to our options.

The evil laugh, a crying one, and my favorite...the straight face, etc.

~Lance I have no control of these UBB boards, but I'll ask STATS if we can add more. I've been using 1 or 2 for too long, so I'm with ya. Let's get more Graemlins!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:56 am

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Greg,I always buy the first magazine that hits the newstand. With signings being ever so slow and not much happening during the off season, do you think it would increase sales for your magazine to move up the deadline a month? Personally, wouldn't it be nice to have a Christmas season without the looming deadline? We published three baseball issues per year from 1990-2001 or so. Our first baseball issue went to press the second Monday of December and I would scramble to have all dollar values and rankings done before anyone else. It was a BEAR and I swear it almost killed this one-man editorial group until we finally went with just two baseball issues per year. Our sell-throughs for that early issue were always dismal and we finally decided that being the first one out on newsstands in January was suicidal as nobody picks up baseball mags until after the Super Bowl. Our sell-throughs were so bad for that first issue that I'm sure we'll never publish that early again.