Time For A Tuesday Chat

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:58 am

Hey everyone, let's step up to the plate and have ourselves another chat as the week inches forward. We're getting close to our 300-team limit and the sign-ups continue to come in daily. It's a very exciting time and we're grateful to all of you for your continued support and enthusiasm about the event. So thanks for that and as always this is your opportunity to talk about anything you'd like, ask questions or fire away comments about the NFBC, MLB, fantasy baseball or whatever.

The floor is yours.

pancho11 · Post by **pancho11** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:04 am

what do you think of Mota this year? i happen to think hell be 3rd best closer behind gagne and lidge in NL

Also how entrenched is Closser as the starting catcher in Col. Do you foresee him playing 125+ gms? Cause if he does i think he could be a legit 290 25 90 ribbie guy in Coors

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:07 am

Closser will be the guy once the Rockies move Charles Johnson. And I agree, he has tremendous upside hitting in that park. I like Mota a lot. I always have. I think he can definitely be this year's version of Octavio Dotel or Lidge, a guy who bided his time as a set-up man before taking advantage of his closer opportunity. There are enough questions about whether he can do the job to keep his value from escalating too high which should make him a solid option in drafts and auctions.

Kimo · Post by **Kimo** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:57 am

Tom,

I have a rule question for you. Reading over the rules, I noticed in the main event, to gain in season elgibility you need 10 games. But in the auction league rules, to gain in season elgibility, you need 20 games. Just making sure this is correct.

Thanks for your time

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:11 am

Jim, it's 10 games. We'll make the change in the rules page. Thanks for spotting that for us.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:17 am

I don't think anyone would do that and if someone did let's just say that wouldn't be the person I'd pick to win their league.

RichV · Post by **RichV** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:21 am

Originally posted by pancho11:

what do you think of Mota this year? i happen to think hell be 3rd best closer behind gagne and lidge in NL

Also how entrenched is Closser as the starting catcher in Col. Do you foresee him playing 125+ gms? Cause if he does i think he could be a legit 290 25 90 ribbie guy in Coors Mota could be dominant. But I find it tough to rank him ahead of proven closers, like (in no particular order, other than ahead of Mota) Hoffman, Benitez,Wagner,Izzy.

pancho11 · Post by **pancho11** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:22 am

Tom what do you think best ratio of sp to closers is -- id say 7 sps to 2 rps -- have you ever seen someone chuck the svs completely go with 9 sps and win the lg?

nydownunder · Post by **nydownunder** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:25 am

Jim Beam

I analyzed some of the drafts last year and found that one manager did go crazy in the draft with closers. It was somehting like 4-5 in the first 10 rounds. I believe he finished near the bottom of his league. If you want to win your league there is no point to this strategy as 1 save more than the 2nd place Save guy is equal to 20 more saves (ie 15 points)than the 2nd place Save guy. Of course in the overall competition you can add to that point total, but one could argue you'd only be adding an additional 20-30 points (approx. to the number of leagues) with the 20 more saves.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:28 am

Originally posted by pancho11:

Tom what do you think best ratio of sp to closers is -- id say 7 sps to 2 rps -- have you ever seen someone chuck the svs completely go with 9 sps and win the lg? I've seen it happen but I think it's rare. My personal preference is 6 starters and 3 relievers, but I think 7/2 is a pretty common ratio.

pancho11 · Post by **pancho11** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:40 am

Tom how do you budget yourself for an auction

Would you cap off say dollar range for IF OF SP RP and stay under that number .. would you break it down by pos or cat or would you not wanna restict yourself at all

Just curious

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:41 am

C'mon, I can't give away my personal secrets on a public message board now can I?

pancho11 · Post by **pancho11** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:42 am

Figured as much

Lol was worth a shot

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:16 am

tom - would the following news "bump up" Randy Johnson on your cheatsheets? will the unit get an extra start or two this season?

The Yankees are considering taking advantage of off-days to start new ace Randy Johnson in three of their first eight games.

The Yankees normally are reluctant to skip starters' turns early in the season, but pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said yesterday, "There's a very good chance I'll have to skip somebody" to keep Johnson "as close as I can" to his accustomed schedule.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:17 am

It's pretty hard for me to bump up a guy I already consider to be the No. 1 starter in fantasy baseball this season, Gordon.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:19 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

It's pretty hard for me to bump up a guy I already consider to be the No. 1 starter in fantasy baseball this season, Gordon. instead of taking him #6 or #7 overall (or wherever you'd first select him), would it bump him up to a slot or two overall?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:22 am

Doubtful, but that's personal preference. I don't like to take a starting pitcher too soon. The earliest I would consider taking one would be the turn at the end of the first round which is where I took Johnson in an expert league draft recently.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:29 am

in case anyone missed it...

Magglio Ordonez is getting the "good to go". He's working out without a knee brace. Enjoy!!

viper · Post by **viper** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:36 am

Hate to ask this but are you guys are squared up with the MLBAM?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:38 am

We are working with them and they are fully supportive of our event. They want to see us grow and prosper this year and in the years to come.

viper · Post by **viper** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:41 am

So they are saying "Live long and prosper". Do they have pointy ears too?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:45 am

I've only met a couple of people from the MLBPA. Neither one of them had pointed ears.

viper · Post by **viper** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:45 am

There was a question earlier on an all closer pitching strategy. Last year one of the 195 teams drafted two closers in the first three rounds. No teams started out closer/closer however.

Other draft starts can be found here - compliments of me

http://www.creativesports.com/newsmanag ... &zoneid=48

Cooperstown · Post by **Cooperstown** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:49 am

Is Gordon sending these little news blurbs out because he wants us to take players quicker (or later) than we should, or, is he wanting us to think that so we don't take them as quickly as we should, or, is he just being a nice guy.