Tuesday Live Chat With Greg & Tom

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, we've spent a lot of time on these Message Boards selling out leagues and posting draft spots and it's been great. It's unbelievable how well things are going early in with all of these Online drafts, especially the Cutline Championship. But we haven't had a direct dialogue in some time, so let's set up a thread to talk a little baseball and to get your questions answered. This thread is open all day, or all week for that matter.

Let's see, in the last week I've participated in AL LABR, NL LABR, Mixed Tout Wars and now tomorrow I'm drafting in the SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio Hosts League. That one will air tomorrow from 7 to 10 pm ET and will include 14 teams. I don't know what my draft spot is yet, but it should be a lot of fun. I'm ready for any and all questions if you have them.

I'm also finalizing Las Vegas right now with the Bellagio. It is going to be insanely busy out there the week of March 28-April 1, so be ready. There's a huge convention in town and the Bellagio is jam packed. That being said, I have three fantastic suites on Thursday, March 31st for our NCAA Viewing Party/Drafts that start at 4 pm PT. We are using one of the suites for the Main Event and I have one more suite set aside for a second Main Event or Online Championship Plus. If anyone is itching to draft that night while also having a few drinks just let me know. We'll get it done.

Anyway, March Madness is starting this week, so let's talk hoops, let's talk baseball, let's talk Big Apple live drafts with Tom, let's talk Sin City with me. Let's just talk.

I know there's someone out there with a question or a comment. Phone lines are open. Who's on the line? "Long time listener, first time caller, you're on the air"!!

Bring it on. Let's do this. What do you have for us?

[Edwards Kings]

Are you a buyer on Rusney Castillo this year? He projects to hit in an awful spot in the BoSox lineup.

Are the reports of Avisail Garcia's demise premature even though Austin Jackson is in the house?

If you are looking for a bounceback candidate, and you had your choice of Markakis, Werth, or a bottle of flat beer, which would you choose?

Any gas left in Pedroia's tank? Assume he gets 550 AB, what would you expect?

Is Wil Myers "what you see is what you get", or is there another gear to 25 year old?

Do you see any Cinderella teams out there this year?

[mikenj46]

I really think the Cutline is a great addition to the overall brand! Have you noticed people making adjustments to the way they draft? How would you adjust considering it's a breakdown of points instead of the neccesary balance in Roto. Have you thought at all about how your stategies would differ?

[Greg Ambrosius]

I really think the Cutline is a great addition to the overall brand! Have you noticed people making adjustments to the way they draft? How would you adjust considering it's a breakdown of points instead of the neccesary balance in Roto. Have you thought at all about how your stategies would differ?

The Cutline Championship has exceeded expectations in a number of ways:
1) Drafts are quicker than I expected for 36 rounds. Most drafts are getting done in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

2) We have drafts every night and folks know they can sign up after work for a 10-team, 12-team or sometimes a 15-team draft. Impulse buys are here.

3) Great camaraderie in these leagues. Low risk, quick and easy make for fun chatter.

4) The potential for this optimal scoring format is as great as any contest we've created. We will likely be a little more aggressive with our prizes next year. Pretty cool.

I think the interesting and fun thing about the Cutline this year is that nobody is sure what is the winning formula for this format. Is it drafting a lot of power early? Is it going after as much Starting Pitching as possible? Should you avoid base stealers and closers? Nobody knows for sure and I certainly don't. I think a lot of guys are having fun trying to find that winning formula. It's kind of fun playing in a virgin format.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Are you a buyer on Rusney Castillo this year? He projects to hit in an awful spot in the BoSox lineup.

Are the reports of Avisail Garcia's demise premature even though Austin Jackson is in the house?

If you are looking for a bounceback candidate, and you had your choice of Markakis, Werth, or a bottle of flat beer, which would you choose?

Any gas left in Pedroia's tank? Assume he gets 550 AB, what would you expect?

Is Wil Myers "what you see is what you get", or is there another gear to 25 year old?

Do you see any Cinderella teams out there this year?

We got Rusney Castillo in LABR for $9. That was all Shawn, the Red Sox fan, so he must know something, right? Now that was LABR AL, not a Mixed League, so tred carefully.

I don't know, I just read something this weekend that said Garcia changed his approach and was smacking the ball. I've always liked Garcia, but yeah at-bats are going to be squeezed now with Jackson there. We'll see, but I just don't think the White Sox are ready to give up on him.

I definitely wouldn't choose flat beer. Given those three options it would definitely be Werth.

Again, Shawn nabbed Pedroia in LABR AL for $17. We both think he has a little more in the tank on this team. Now if you gave me 550 at-bats right now I'd jump for joy. I'd love that considering he has only 381 ABs last year.

Myers is another guy we got in LABR NL. We think there's something still there if he can stay healthy. He was hitting .291-5-19-3 with 28 runs through the first 5+ weeks of last season before getting hurt. There's potential here.

In the NCAA? Texas A&M looks pretty good. Kentucky as a 4 seed is criminal. Good luck.

[Happenstance]

- What's in store for the NCAA viewing party in Vegas this year?

- How do you see the NFBC being different in 5 years?

- What do you think we players would find most surprising about what it takes to run the NFBC?

[Donacion]

Providence as a dark horse. Maryland is 25/1 might make a good play. Wisconsin and Pittsburgh i know you guys will be rooting for Wisconsin. My nephew is s walk on for Pitt he went with Dixon he wants to coach at some point.

Are there any high ADP pitchers your leery of. I have two Syndegaard his injury history at AAA bothers and Strasburg what's to say he has figured his issues out. Matz also he has had a checkered injury history. Are you worried about these 3 and are there any others.

[Attie]

I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question, but I want to make sure I am clear on when the week 1 lineups lock. There are four games on Sunday, April 3. Will the lineups for those 8 teams lock for the week when their games start, or is this a "free" game where we can see how our players do, then lock the lineups before their first game Monday or Tuesday? For example, if a pitcher gets bombed Sunday night, can we pull him out of the lineup? Also, for the FAAB period on Sunday, April 3, if a free agent has a huge game in the afternoon, can we pick him up that night and insert him in the lineup and get his stats for the game already played?

[Greg Ambrosius]

- What's in store for the NCAA viewing party in Vegas this year?

- How do you see the NFBC being different in 5 years?

- What do you think we players would find most surprising about what it takes to run the NFBC?

1. I have three suites rented out in the Spa Tower at the Bellagio for Thursday, March 31st. We'll meet in a new suite at 4 pm PT that has a fantastic viewing room and a pool table. That will be our hangout for the night. The Main Event guys will go upstairs to one suite with the big boardroom table at 5 pm PT and then the Auction Championship guys will go downstairs to the Executive Boardroom at 6 pm PT. We'll have drinks in all three rooms and food for the drafting/auction participants. Folks who aren't drafting can stay upstairs in the pool room until 9 or 10 if they'd like. I have one other boardroom set aside for a live draft that night; either a second Main or a $750 OC Plus, whatever folks want. I thought there'd be more interest in one more draft that night, so it's out there if folks want it.

2. The way the government is foolishly cracking down on fantasy sports, it could all be gone in 5 more years or the federal government will step up and legalize it along with sports betting. It wouldn't surprise me to see that happen 5 years from now. Just legalize it, tax it and regulate it. Prohibition isn't the answer, not when you have lotteries and Indian casinos everywhere. So whether that would help or hurt us, we don't know, but I think it needs to be done and will eventually be good for those of us in this space.

3. You have no idea how many emails we get and how consuming this is in March and August for us. I have three kids and they just know I'm gone for 5 weeks during these times. It's all-consuming. There used to be more phone calls, but that doesn't happen as much. And I think you'd be surprised by how much pressure we feel trying to fill all of these drafts to perfection. It's not easy, but somehow we seem to get it done.

[Deadheadz]

I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question, but I want to make sure I am clear on when the week 1 lineups lock. There are four games on Sunday, April 3. Will the lineups for those 8 teams lock for the week when their games start, or is this a "free" game where we can see how our players do, then lock the lineups before their first game Monday or Tuesday? For example, if a pitcher gets bombed Sunday night, can we pull him out of the lineup? Also, for the FAAB period on Sunday, April 3, if a free agent has a huge game in the afternoon, can we pick him up that night and insert him in the lineup and get his stats for the game already played?

Those are fine questions which we'd all like the answers for.


.

[Captain Hook]

Will any of the online signups for the OC + leagues (especially the 750) be combined to help fill vacancies with those leagues in live venues?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Providence as a dark horse. Maryland is 25/1 might make a good play. Wisconsin and Pittsburgh i know you guys will be rooting for Wisconsin. My nephew is s walk on for Pitt he went with Dixon he wants to coach at some point.

Are there any high ADP pitchers your leery of. I have two Syndegaard his injury history at AAA bothers and Strasburg what's to say he has figured his issues out. Matz also he has had a checkered injury history. Are you worried about these 3 and are there any others.

Yeah, I think all three are scary. After having Strasburg last year, I'll probably stay away from him in all leagues this year. I don't have him anywhere. Heck, even Felix Hernandez is worrisome with all the innings his arm has on it. There's a lot of arms to be worried about, but nobody can predict the injuries just yet.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question, but I want to make sure I am clear on when the week 1 lineups lock. There are four games on Sunday, April 3. Will the lineups for those 8 teams lock for the week when their games start, or is this a "free" game where we can see how our players do, then lock the lineups before their first game Monday or Tuesday? For example, if a pitcher gets bombed Sunday night, can we pull him out of the lineup? Also, for the FAAB period on Sunday, April 3, if a free agent has a huge game in the afternoon, can we pick him up that night and insert him in the lineup and get his stats for the game already played?

Ante, the Sunday games are a free game for everyone in every contest. The lineups for those 8 teams will lock on Monday or Tuesday, whenever their next game is.

Correct, if a Sunday pitcher bombs you have to decide whether to bench him for the rest of the week or start him in Week 1 with the knowledge that he probably has one more start coming. And for FAAB pickups, yes you can pick them up on Sunday and start them on Monday and get the April 3rd stats. Again, you take the risk of what happens over the next 7 days, but that's how we have to deal with this new schedule. We had no idea MLB would go with 4 games on that opening Sunday after always having just one game on Sunday night.

Hope that helps.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Will any of the online signups for the OC + leagues (especially the 750) be combined to help fill vacancies with those leagues in live venues?

The goal is no, but we'll see. What we did for football in those instances was keep them Online and make the picks for the live drafters. We had this down to a science. The one that you and Greg are in you are alone at that time, but we have a Vegas $750 that same night if you're interested. That would be easy to fit together.

[COZ]

I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question, but I want to make sure I am clear on when the week 1 lineups lock. There are four games on Sunday, April 3. Will the lineups for those 8 teams lock for the week when their games start, or is this a "free" game where we can see how our players do, then lock the lineups before their first game Monday or Tuesday? For example, if a pitcher gets bombed Sunday night, can we pull him out of the lineup? Also, for the FAAB period on Sunday, April 3, if a free agent has a huge game in the afternoon, can we pick him up that night and insert him in the lineup and get his stats for the game already played?

Those are fine questions which we'd all like the answers for.

.

Those are GREAT questions. Thanks Antie for clarifying as I was not entirely clear on this myself.

COZ

[COZ]

1) Why don't we get more love & promotion for the higher end Satellite Leagues? We have a 15 team, $1,000 Satellite with 3 SPOTS LEFT and a 12 teamer with 6 SPOTS LEFT? Let's get these filled boys.

2) Is the OL Championship PLUS D.O.A.???? I'm shocked by the lack of sign-ups. I thought it was a great concept for people who prefer 12 team format. I think its pretty clear for the same price point people are opting for the Main Event over the OCP. Just curious as to your thoughts on the OCP....

3) if anyone has ever run a league as a Commissioner trying to fill a league, they would understand the anxiety of trying to fill a league, let alone hundreds of leagues. Why do you feel people wait till the last minute to sign up for these events? I never understood that. That must be maddening to you guys.

COZ

[Greg Ambrosius]

1) Why don't we get more love & promotion for the higher end Satellite Leagues? We have a 15 team, $1,000 Satellite with 3 SPOTS LEFT and a 12 teamer with 6 SPOTS LEFT? Let's get these filled boys.

2) Is the OL Championship PLUS D.O.A.???? I'm shocked by the lack of sign-ups. I thought it was a great concept for people who prefer 12 team format. I think its pretty clear for the same price point people are opting for the Main Event over the OCP. Just curious as to your thoughts on the OCP....

3) if anyone has ever run a league as a Commissioner trying to fill a league, they would understand the anxiety of trying to fill a league, let alone hundreds of leagues. Why do you feel people wait till the last minute to sign up for these events? I never understood that. That must be maddening to you guys.

COZ

1. Yeah, it's hard to keep track of every league that is close to selling out. Tom runs the Satellite Leagues, so I'll tell him to push some of those that are close to filling. I didn't realize we were that close with those, but yeah they deserve some love to and obviously we want both to fill.

2. No, I wouldn't say that. I think you'll see folks jump into them here in late March and if not then we'll analyze what we did wrong. If we can't get 20 of these leagues then the overall grand prize can't be $100,000. It's as simple as that. We jumped the grand prize $25,000 because we expected at least 20 of these OC Plus leagues. We are offering the best league prizes for any national contest we run and yet folks still aren't filling these as expected. It just proves that the big carrot is the draw with fewer entries, but last year we had 208 teams and an $80,000 grand prize in the Primetime and that wasn't well accepted. So I'm at a loss, but I'm not giving up on the OC Plus this year yet. I think things will pick up.

3. Considering that we'll have close to 500 different leagues it is maddening. But this is the sign of the times: Everyone waits now until the day of the draft to sign up. It's very maddening, but we understand it now. We're getting good at this.

[Tom Kessenich]

Chris, to answer your question about the high-end satellites, you're right we should push those more and like Greg said that's on me. I'm so focused on selling out whatever we have open on the next particular day I'm not looking too far down the road, especially since as Greg said so many of our leagues are selling out on the day of drafts now. As a result I tend not to worry too much about ones in the future.

But I'll take a look and get some posted because you're right those are great leagues with great league prizes.

[Deadheadz]

3) if anyone has ever run a league as a Commissioner trying to fill a league, they would understand the anxiety of trying to fill a league, let alone hundreds of leagues. Why do you feel people wait till the last minute to sign up for these events? I never understood that. That must be maddening to you guys.

COZ

3. Considering that we'll have close to 500 different leagues it is maddening. But this is the sign of the times: Everyone waits now until the day of the draft to sign up. It's very maddening, but we understand it now. We're getting good at this.

Sorry for chiming in on this. I know it's not my thread but my own reason for waiting til the last minute often involves wanting to see who the other signups are. Choosing to pass on a league full of heavyweights or even a single former champion is one way of trying to improve the potential ROI. Maybe others do it for this reason too?

If you can't spot the fish...you ARE the fish.


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[Doctor Who]

Good luck trying to find an easy league then. There is no such thing. Even guys you may not have heard of before are still vets that easily could win any league that comes to them. I know I'm not good enough yet for people to be afraid of or to worry about ROI, so I just get in any league and take the fight to them because going to have to beat them some how or another in the overall to even be worried about ROI. I'd rather get in early and there be a league then wait too long and be out of a league. At least being in one, gives me a chance to pop, while not playing doesn't. But to each their own...

[Rog]

When trying to set my lineup as of right now it tells I can not move pitchers during the first time period but allows for the second.
Sun, Apr 03 - Thu, Apr 07 | Fri, Apr 08 - Sun, Apr 10 | Mon, Apr 11 - Thu, Apr 14
I am to assume after the sunday game there will be a a new time frame for the 4th-7th ?
thanks again and looking forward to vegas.

[Greg Ambrosius]

When trying to set my lineup as of right now it tells I can not move pitchers during the first time period but allows for the second.
Sun, Apr 03 - Thu, Apr 07 | Fri, Apr 08 - Sun, Apr 10 | Mon, Apr 11 - Thu, Apr 14
I am to assume after the sunday game there will be a a new time frame for the 4th-7th ?
thanks again and looking forward to vegas.

The Set Lineup feature isn't active just yet. We'll activate that soon. Thanks.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Tune in to SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio tonight for another 15-team draft featuring many of the hosts on that show. I'm representing the STATS Fantasy Advantage tonight from the 4th spot. I took Clayton Kershaw last week in Tout Wars Mixed at 7, so I don't think I'm going Kershaw twice in a row. Sorry NFBC.

I think SiriusXM is airing this from 7 to 10 pm ET. Listen in and we'll have some fun. This is definitely my last draft of the season. After this I'm going to watch live drafts and auctions while drinking Corona's, now at a higher price this year at the Bellagio! Oh well.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here is the public draft board for tonight: http://www.rtsports.com/siriusxm1

They are going 30 seconds per pick to fit it into a 3-hour show!! Wow, I better limit my Coronas. Can't take a potty break during this speed draft.

[ChipChopChip]

I like George's team through round 14