Time For A Wednesday Chat

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:02 am

We're at the midpoint of the work week and the sign-ups continue to come in. We're getting closer to the 300-team limit which I know is going to make everyone here breathe a lot easier than we did a year ago at this time. But the topic for today is a daily chat so whatever you guys want to talk about today, here's the place to do it.

So bring it on.

edelman24 · Post by **edelman24** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:05 am

hey TOm sounds great can't wait to get underway, what are your thoughts on my situation below.

I'm in a 10 team 5 x 5 normal snake draft format keeper league, and I can keep 3 guys. This is a long-term keeper league with no restrictions on how long you can keep a player, so if anyone wants to give their two cents I'd appreciate it. Thanks

I can keep (3) .

Arod, Unit, Schilling, Teixitra, and Crawford

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:08 am

ARod, Teixeira and Crawford. I'd keep the youth even though it's obviously tough to pass on those two terrific starters. If you hate to part with one of them I'd keep Schilling over Johnson and probably drop Teixeira.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:11 am

Gordon Gekko has started a discussion on another thread concerning the potential for increased 3rd place league money starting in 2006. Does Krause Publications feel that offering a substantial 3rd prize is necessary to keep existing customers as well as add new ones?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:14 am

I'll let Greg answer that directly in the thread Gordon created as I'm sure he'll get to it soon. He's the one in charge of making those decisions so I'll defer to him.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:17 am

Tom, how does it feel to be directly responsible for picking the draft order of the $5000 Ultimate Draft? I would imagine it must feel something like how James Caan felt at the tollbooth scene in the first Godfather movie.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:20 am

Hey Edelman! I just posted this on the string you started elsewhere, but I agree with Tom. Especially as you said you could have long term keepers. I would go with the youth rather than a couple of creaky old pitchers who will be getting relief soon from Depends rather than the bullpen.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:20 am

Hmmm I was thinking more along the lines of Pierce Brosnan when he first saw Halle Berry coming out of the ocean in "Die Another Day."

Top Dawg · Post by **Top Dawg** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:20 am

King - Glad to see you finally joined the draft officially. Gordon was talking about $1000 for 3rd. Is that "substantial"? I think it's $250 more than it is today and I think it assumes we have more than 300 teams next year.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:21 am

OK who am I kidding, it's not that exciting.

Top Dawg · Post by **Top Dawg** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:22 am

Keepers - Yea, the 3 younger dudes for sure. Can you get anyone with Santana to take a combo of Tex, Schilling, Johnson (2 of 3) in a trade?

Top Dawg · Post by **Top Dawg** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:25 am

Tom - Who do you see as a possible first round "bust" for 2005? Will Bonds go in the first round in most leagues.... I see him as a possible bust if he does.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:25 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

OK who am I kidding, it's not that exciting. Few things are.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:26 am

Originally posted by Top Dawg:

King - Glad to see you finally joined the draft officially. Gordon was talking about $1000 for 3rd. Is that "substantial"? I think it's $250 more than it is today and I think it assumes we have more than 300 teams next year. See my notes on the other thread. I don't want to clog up Tom's fireside chat with our drivel.

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:27 am

Hi Tom, how are you? I was wondering if Krause Pub. was recently bought out?

I have been reading the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Bob Lemke, Krause Pub.) for pretty much the 14 years it has been running. It is by far the best in the business for vintage baseball cards. It will be interesting to see how things will shake out, but I hope the "Bible" isn't touched!!!

edelman24 · Post by **edelman24** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:28 am

hey guys thanks for all the responses...its a tough decision...Dawg I am trying to package any 2 of the guys for other players so far no one wants to deal with me since I seem to do well every year lol I am having a hard time wanting to part with the Unit now that he is finally with the yanks but I think I might have to go young all the way Crawford is getting much hype this year.

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:30 am

"Who should I blame? Should I blame you, the media? Who should I blame for the reasons my kids need to hear all the bad stuff about me?"

Addicts and junkies always want to blame somebody else. Bonds is a steroid addict and can't look himself in the mirror to accept the consequences.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:31 am

Originally posted by seefer:

Hi Tom, how are you? I was wondering if Krause Pub. was recently bought out?Was wondering the same thing. When I spoke to Greg yesterday, I was greeted with a "Thank you for calling F & W Publications."

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:31 am

Originally posted by seefer:

Hi Tom, how are you? I was wondering if Krause Pub. was recently bought out?I'm doing good and yes we were bought out a couple of years ago actually by a company based in Cincinnati called F&W Publications.

I have been reading the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Bob Lemke, Krause Pub.) for pretty much the 14 years it has been running. It is by far the best in the business for vintage baseball cards. It will be interesting to see how things will shake out, but I hope the "Bible" isn't touched!!! It won't be touched. I don't work in the sports collectibles division anymore but F&W has been good about allowing our products to proceed without massive changes being made.

[ February 23, 2005, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:39 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:

Gordon Gekko has started a discussion on another thread concerning the potential for increased 3rd place league money starting in 2006. Does Krause Publications feel that offering a substantial 3rd prize is necessary to keep existing customers as well as add new ones? I have no problem with healthy discussion on any proposals for the future and this is all still a work in progress. But the loudest voices aren't always the majority opinion. If GG had his way, we'd just pay first place and not reward anyone for finishing lower than that in each league. But there needs to be incentives for everyone to keep competing and I'm going to do my best to reward second and third place in each 15-team league better going forward while still taking care of the overall top finishers. Top three of 15 in this type of competition is still a solid finish. I'm confident that we'll shoot for more than 300 teams next year and once I determine that number I'll find a suitable way to reward all those who deserve it.

Trust me, I enjoy the debate and the ideas. Just realize that 2006's prize structure won't be determined for another seven months, so don't knock yourself over this just yet.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:44 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Just realize that 2006's prize structure won't be determined for another seven months, so don't knock yourself over this just yet. This is true, Greg. However, on another thread, you have already declared what would happen with the extra money if we hit 315 teams ($2250 for 2nd, $900 for 3rd)...in 2005. Logic would dictate that your emphasis is on league prizes and not overall prizes--just curious why. If you want to move this discussion to the other thread, I'm willing to follow you.

[ February 23, 2005, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: King of Queens ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:45 am

Originally posted by seefer:

Hi Tom, how are you? I was wondering if Krause Pub. was recently bought out?

I have been reading the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Bob Lemke, Krause Pub.) for pretty much the 14 years it has been running. It is by far the best in the business for vintage baseball cards. It will be interesting to see how things will shake out, but I hope the "Bible" isn't touched!!! Aaron, Krause Publications was started in 1952 by Chet Krause and when he retired in 1988 he turned this company into an Employee Stock Ownership Program, allowing the employees to own the company. We were 100 percent employee owned from 1994 to 2002 and in 2002 F&W Publications bought us for..ah...a lot of money. F&W Publications owns companies in Cincinnati, Denver, New York, Boston, London, Dubuque and Iola! We are now Krause Publications, a Division of F&W Publications. Nothing has changed here as we still have 500 employees in a town of 1,100 and all of our divisions continue to excel. The sports collectibles industry, as you know, has been on a downward curve since 1991, but we have more than held our own and The Standard Catalogue of Baseball Cards by Bob Lemke will always be around.

By the way, Beckett Publications was sold two weeks ago, so nothing is sacred anymore!!!

Oh, by the way, Tom Kessenich is a multi-millionaire because of that buyout who still works 10 hours a day because he loves his job!

Well, maybe I exaggerated a little, but you get the point!

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:46 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by seefer:

Hi Tom, how are you? I was wondering if Krause Pub. was recently bought out?

I have been reading the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Bob Lemke, Krause Pub.) for pretty much the 14 years it has been running. It is by far the best in the business for vintage baseball cards. It will be interesting to see how things will shake out, but I hope the "Bible" isn't touched!!! Aaron, Krause Publications was started in 1952 by Chet Krause and when he retired in 1988 he turned this company into an Employee Stock Ownership Program, allowing the employees to own the company. We were 100 percent employee owned from 1994 to 2002 and in 2002 F&W Publications bought us for..ah...a lot of money. F&W Publications owns companies in Cincinnati, Denver, New York, Boston, London, Dubuque and Iola! We are now Krause Publications, a Division of F&W Publications. Nothing has changed here as we still have 500 employees in a town of 1,100 and all of our divisions continue to excel. The sports collectibles industry, as you know, has been on a downward curve since 1991, but we have more than held our own and The Standard Catalogue of Baseball Cards by Bob Lemke will always be around.

By the way, Beckett Publications was sold two weeks ago, so nothing is sacred anymore!!!

Oh, by the way, Tom Kessenich is a multi-millionaire because of that buyout who still works 10 hours a day because he loves his job!

Well, maybe I exaggerated a little, but you get the point!

[/QUOTE]Nope that's all true.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:47 am

Hey Tom, How are you coming on securing Drink girls in Vegas? 120 thirsty drafters could start a stampede if you wait till the breaks to order drinks.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:48 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Just realize that 2006's prize structure won't be determined for another seven months, so don't knock yourself over this just yet. This is true, Greg. However, on another thread, you have already declared what would happen with the extra money if we hit 315 teams ($2250 for 2nd, $900 for 3rd)...in 2005. Logic would dictate that your emphasis is on league prizes and not overall prizes--just curious why. If you want to move this discussion to the other thread, I'm willing to follow you. [/QUOTE]You're right, I probably will do that. The extra money that we generate if we go over 300 teams this year should go to more people since they are assuming we will stop at 300. There's not enough of the third place money I'm proposing for 2005 to go around to help 2nd through 8th overall this year. If you think I should give it all to second place league money, that's another story.

Hopefully we'll land at 300 and stay there. Then nobody can complain about the extra money I was going to distribute.