NFBC Weekly Profile - Rob Conti
Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 4:44 am
Great teamwork is the benchmark for any championship team. It’s no different in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship.
Case in point – Rob Conti and Eddie Greenberg.
Conti had done well in NFBC satellite leagues but he wanted to a stronger result in the NFBC Classic this year. So he recruited Greenberg, who came to the party armed with plenty of league titles on his resume.
The goal was to combine their strengths as individual managers for some standout success in the $100,000 event. So far so good.
Entering play on Tuesday, Conti and Greenberg’s Classic team was 10th in the overall competition and well within striking distance of the Top 5.
“(Our partnership) has worked out well so far,” Conti said. “Eddie and I have really enjoyed being a part of the league from Day 1.
“Eddie handled the draft prep and the bulk of the draft. I worked on draft sleepers and perceived value picks between Rounds 11-30. I run the team during the season, setting the lineup and making the weekly waiver pickups.”
With a strong plan in place, the two began their quest for Classic success on Draft Day in New York.
“We really just drafted based on value,” Conti said. “Eddie projected out the Top 500 players prior to the draft, and based on his stats we were able to build a well-rounded team. We targed strikeout pitchers and hitters that fill every category.
“Some guys we targeted late have beat even our expectations, which made up for a wasted fourth rounder in Nick Markakis. Comeback players Tim Hudson and Roy Oswalt and young pitchers, David Price, Matt Latos, Johnny Cueto, Brandon Morrow gave our staff the depth that has driven our team. Marlon Byrd, Angel Pagan, and Chris Young, all late picks we targeted, solidified our outfield.”
Confronted with a formidable group of owners in their New York league, Conti said the goal for this season was simple.
“We really wanted to just try and compete with them,” he said. “Up to this point, we have exceeded our expectations.”
The 41-year-old Conti is married and has two children. Greenberg, 28, will be getting married in November. The two have been playing fantasy baseball for several years and work on the same desk at a financial trading firm in Manhattan.
“We’ve had some great Yankees versus Mets debates from the day we met,” Conti said.
Comparing the merits of Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes is one thing. Putting everything together to have their team finish high in the Classic standings is another. So for now, the debates are on the back burner. The focus is on pushing their Classic team to greatness.
That goal became more difficult when their team lost Francisco Rodriguez for the season with a thumb injury. Now they’re hoping some of the closers they’ve added through free agency will help them compensate for K-Rod’s absence.
Can it all come together and result in fantasy greatness when the season comes to an end? That’s what remains to be seen. But they are optimistic their team has the stuff to remain highly competitive the rest of the way.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves because a lot of things have to happen for (winning the $100,000) to be a reality,” Conti said. “But either way, it’s going to be a fun last few weeks.”
Case in point – Rob Conti and Eddie Greenberg.
Conti had done well in NFBC satellite leagues but he wanted to a stronger result in the NFBC Classic this year. So he recruited Greenberg, who came to the party armed with plenty of league titles on his resume.
The goal was to combine their strengths as individual managers for some standout success in the $100,000 event. So far so good.
Entering play on Tuesday, Conti and Greenberg’s Classic team was 10th in the overall competition and well within striking distance of the Top 5.
“(Our partnership) has worked out well so far,” Conti said. “Eddie and I have really enjoyed being a part of the league from Day 1.
“Eddie handled the draft prep and the bulk of the draft. I worked on draft sleepers and perceived value picks between Rounds 11-30. I run the team during the season, setting the lineup and making the weekly waiver pickups.”
With a strong plan in place, the two began their quest for Classic success on Draft Day in New York.
“We really just drafted based on value,” Conti said. “Eddie projected out the Top 500 players prior to the draft, and based on his stats we were able to build a well-rounded team. We targed strikeout pitchers and hitters that fill every category.
“Some guys we targeted late have beat even our expectations, which made up for a wasted fourth rounder in Nick Markakis. Comeback players Tim Hudson and Roy Oswalt and young pitchers, David Price, Matt Latos, Johnny Cueto, Brandon Morrow gave our staff the depth that has driven our team. Marlon Byrd, Angel Pagan, and Chris Young, all late picks we targeted, solidified our outfield.”
Confronted with a formidable group of owners in their New York league, Conti said the goal for this season was simple.
“We really wanted to just try and compete with them,” he said. “Up to this point, we have exceeded our expectations.”
The 41-year-old Conti is married and has two children. Greenberg, 28, will be getting married in November. The two have been playing fantasy baseball for several years and work on the same desk at a financial trading firm in Manhattan.
“We’ve had some great Yankees versus Mets debates from the day we met,” Conti said.
Comparing the merits of Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes is one thing. Putting everything together to have their team finish high in the Classic standings is another. So for now, the debates are on the back burner. The focus is on pushing their Classic team to greatness.
That goal became more difficult when their team lost Francisco Rodriguez for the season with a thumb injury. Now they’re hoping some of the closers they’ve added through free agency will help them compensate for K-Rod’s absence.
Can it all come together and result in fantasy greatness when the season comes to an end? That’s what remains to be seen. But they are optimistic their team has the stuff to remain highly competitive the rest of the way.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves because a lot of things have to happen for (winning the $100,000) to be a reality,” Conti said. “But either way, it’s going to be a fun last few weeks.”