NFBC Weekly Profile - David DiDonato
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 3:43 am
The National Fantasy Baseball Championship remains the premier baseball event in the country. One of the many reasons why is the continued effort of its creators to unveil new and exciting games for players to participate in each year.
In 2010, the brightest addition to the NFBC stable was the Diamond League.
Featuring a $10,000 entry fee, the Diamond League also boasted many of the top fantasy players in the country. Winning this league is not only going to prove to be a major test but whoever does emerge as the victor at season’s end will certainly have earned the league title.
With the NFBC season halfway owner, one owner currently stands apart from the crowd. But David DiDonato understands there is still plenty of baseball left to be played and in this league in particular the battle for the championship is likely to be waged until the bitter end.
“The competition as in all the leagues in the NFBC is top notch,” said the 48-year-old DiDonato, who entered Tuesday’s play with 11 points ahead of James Stanard in the Diamond League. “There are a bunch of great guys who will compete until the end who just happen to have more disposable income than others or are bigger risk takers.
“When you are in a league with these guys you have to be on top of your game, but at least you know what to expect out of them. You get to know their tendencies and players they like or dislike.”
DiDonato is no stranger to NFBC success. He was the 2006 Classic champion and the only two-time Ultimate League champion in NFBC history, he began the season ranked second on the NFBC’s all-time money winner list.
In the Diamond, he has had relied heavily on strong pitching to carry his team to the top of the standings through 13 weeks.
“My starters have pitched better than any rotation I have had had in many years of (playing in the NFBC),” he said. “I usually wait on pitching and load up on hitting through the first six rounds or so. After last year when I finished out of the money for the first time (in the NFBC) because my pitching was horrible I decided to go a little earlier for pitching – especially starters.
“That decision paid off because I got Jon Lester in the fourth, Josh Johnson in the fifth and Jonathan Broxton in the sixth. All of them have been anchors. Picking up two stud starters early has worked perfectly as I am near the top in both ERA and WHIP.”
That strong pitching has helped offset the lack of production from his second-round pick, Jimmy Rollins.
“Two of my first three picks were shortstops,” he said. “I couldn’t help but take Jose Reyes in the third when he dropped to me. Reyes has come on strong in the past month after missing part of the early season, but Rollins has been a big disappointment due to injury.
“By picking those two, I locked myself in at shortstop and bypassed other players who I thought were good value picks later because I had no room for them.”
As is almost always the case with a first-place team, DiDonato has bolstered his roster with some strong free-agent pickups. Among his top acquisitions thus far have been John Buck, Anibal Sanchez and Manny Corpas.
DiDonato’s success in the NFBC is born of many years of fantasy baseball competition. He has been playing the sport for more than 25 years.
“I have always been a big baseball fan,” he said. “These types of contests allow me to combine two of my passions – baseball and intense competition. It usually makes for a fun summer.”
DiDonato’s fun summer isn’t confined to his NFBC teams, however. He is engaged to be married on July 29. The owner of a waterfront restaurant and bar in Smithfield, R.I., DiDonato also has two young children.
A summer wedding and plenty of baseball bliss? What more could anyone ask for? Perhaps the $75,000 prize that will go to the Diamond League champ this year? DiDonato admitted he has pondered what life would be like as the Diamond League champion.
“It is early but I always set my sights on the top prize,” he said. “I never play for anything less unless as the season goes along I realize I have no chance to win.
“Although I have been in first place for much of the last month in the Diamond I actually have fallen to second place on at least two occasions. It’s still very early in the contest and based on past performances anything can happen. The categories are extremely close.”
[ June 29, 2010, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]
In 2010, the brightest addition to the NFBC stable was the Diamond League.
Featuring a $10,000 entry fee, the Diamond League also boasted many of the top fantasy players in the country. Winning this league is not only going to prove to be a major test but whoever does emerge as the victor at season’s end will certainly have earned the league title.
With the NFBC season halfway owner, one owner currently stands apart from the crowd. But David DiDonato understands there is still plenty of baseball left to be played and in this league in particular the battle for the championship is likely to be waged until the bitter end.
“The competition as in all the leagues in the NFBC is top notch,” said the 48-year-old DiDonato, who entered Tuesday’s play with 11 points ahead of James Stanard in the Diamond League. “There are a bunch of great guys who will compete until the end who just happen to have more disposable income than others or are bigger risk takers.
“When you are in a league with these guys you have to be on top of your game, but at least you know what to expect out of them. You get to know their tendencies and players they like or dislike.”
DiDonato is no stranger to NFBC success. He was the 2006 Classic champion and the only two-time Ultimate League champion in NFBC history, he began the season ranked second on the NFBC’s all-time money winner list.
In the Diamond, he has had relied heavily on strong pitching to carry his team to the top of the standings through 13 weeks.
“My starters have pitched better than any rotation I have had had in many years of (playing in the NFBC),” he said. “I usually wait on pitching and load up on hitting through the first six rounds or so. After last year when I finished out of the money for the first time (in the NFBC) because my pitching was horrible I decided to go a little earlier for pitching – especially starters.
“That decision paid off because I got Jon Lester in the fourth, Josh Johnson in the fifth and Jonathan Broxton in the sixth. All of them have been anchors. Picking up two stud starters early has worked perfectly as I am near the top in both ERA and WHIP.”
That strong pitching has helped offset the lack of production from his second-round pick, Jimmy Rollins.
“Two of my first three picks were shortstops,” he said. “I couldn’t help but take Jose Reyes in the third when he dropped to me. Reyes has come on strong in the past month after missing part of the early season, but Rollins has been a big disappointment due to injury.
“By picking those two, I locked myself in at shortstop and bypassed other players who I thought were good value picks later because I had no room for them.”
As is almost always the case with a first-place team, DiDonato has bolstered his roster with some strong free-agent pickups. Among his top acquisitions thus far have been John Buck, Anibal Sanchez and Manny Corpas.
DiDonato’s success in the NFBC is born of many years of fantasy baseball competition. He has been playing the sport for more than 25 years.
“I have always been a big baseball fan,” he said. “These types of contests allow me to combine two of my passions – baseball and intense competition. It usually makes for a fun summer.”
DiDonato’s fun summer isn’t confined to his NFBC teams, however. He is engaged to be married on July 29. The owner of a waterfront restaurant and bar in Smithfield, R.I., DiDonato also has two young children.
A summer wedding and plenty of baseball bliss? What more could anyone ask for? Perhaps the $75,000 prize that will go to the Diamond League champ this year? DiDonato admitted he has pondered what life would be like as the Diamond League champion.
“It is early but I always set my sights on the top prize,” he said. “I never play for anything less unless as the season goes along I realize I have no chance to win.
“Although I have been in first place for much of the last month in the Diamond I actually have fallen to second place on at least two occasions. It’s still very early in the contest and based on past performances anything can happen. The categories are extremely close.”
[ June 29, 2010, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]
