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Guys, I'm here for 50 minutes. Let's discuss anything and everything about the NFBC, including the prize structures we're considering. Thanks.

OK, discuss the prize stuctures. please.

Fair enough. We are currently looking at 11 full leagues in the NFBC and three full Auction Leagues. We are at a level where the event will not be profitable for us and yet we are committed to this format and realize how important it is to keep the grand prize at $100,000 and the league prizes at $5,000 for first and $1,750 for second. If you finish second, you deserve to win more than your entry fee.



So are there any savings we can make to keep management on course with this event and still show our loyal customers that we'll take a hit in Year One and build this event for the future?



Right now, your odds of winning the NFBC are 165:1 and our Auction Leagues will help with some of the other costs. But I need your faith in the NFBC and management's faith that this is worth sticking out beyond Year One. Are you with me? (Actually I'm asking that internally and externally!!)

How about the 20-games played at a position rule--why is that rule only being applied to minor leaguers/rookies? If you extend it to all players, doesn't it make things a lot simpler?

How do you arrive at the 165:1 figure?

I'm not sure where the confusion about the 20 games played is. Bill Hall is a veteran who qualifies at second base and shortstop as he played 18 games there in both cases. The questions about Ben Grieve and Daryle Ward involve the fact that one DH'd for more than 20 games played last year and one pinch-hit for more than 20 games last year. So they deserve to be available at Utility only, which is the position they played last year. Where's the confusion?

I think there's a consensus forming to reduce 3rd place league prizes to under $600 in consideration of the tax threshold. That will save you guys money and paperwork. The benefit to the players goes without saying. Try hard not to cut any of the top overall prizes because that's why so many people signed up to play in the first place.

11 leagues right now means there are 165 players competing for the $100,000 grand prize. I guess the odds are 1 in 165, but you get my point.



Now we certainly could fill more leagues as there are five people on my voice message right now who want to sign up. We still have room to grow, but we're making contingency plans that make sense for everyone if we stay at 165 NFBC teams and 36 Auction League teams. That's 201 total teams, which isn't a bad debut.

Yes, I like the idea of reducing third place money from $750 to $500 and that would help. I understand the concern over second, third and fourth overall and all I can do is ask you to trust us that we will add value to those finishers in other means than the $25,000 we had guaranteed based on 300 teams. That doesn't sound like much to you and me, but it's enough now to make some people happy here and that's important. Because the bottom line is that 165 NFBC teams isn't what we had budgeted for.

Pinch hitter is a position? I think that's where the confusion is.

Reduce the 3rd Place League payout to $500 or I shall take at least $250 of the $750 to put in my coffers and screw you anyways.

Pinch-hitter was his role in 2003. Why should he be considered an outfielder in 2004 when his main role was a pinch-hitter in 2003? Ward's case is no different than Lenny Harris's position has been the last 10 years. This is not a new situation and Ward doesn't deserve eligibility at any playing position.

Originally posted by Nevadaman:

I think there's a consensus forming to reduce 3rd place league prizes to under $600 in consideration of the tax threshold. That will save you guys money and paperwork. The benefit to the players goes without saying. Let's give Gekko his due with this one. Even with all of the reputed "gaming" experts in this event, and they couldn't figure this one out. Makes you wonder?

I don't mean to belabor this point, but you're "crediting" Daryle Ward's pinch hitting appearances as a position. In almost 20 years of playing this game, I have never seen that done. The offensive positions are C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF and DH. Ward played 13 games at 1B, 11 at OF (and zero at DH)--he should qualify at the position he appeared the most.

I seriously had not considered reducing any of the league prize money until it was suggested here. I appreciate the input on the third place setup and we'll see what happens.



Seriously, on the overall prize payment for second, third and fourth, we are proposing a change from $15,000, $7,500 and $2,500 to a free entry in 2005 and autographed memorabilia like a signed Hank Aaron limited edition lithograph and more. We are offering a free team plus an autographed memorabilia piece for fourth place. So yes, it's not cash, but we will try to make the value as close as possible to that $2,500 figure.



So the bottom line is that we are really reducing two overall places for people who already probably have $5,000 in their pockets. We have to decide if it's worth that savings to ensure the long-term viability of this event/contest and you guys will be the determining factor. Two people will likely get less than we first said and I wish we didn't have to do it. But we're asking for your input and we'll decide this tomorrow and then recilicite you if we go that way. That's why I'm here now, to get your feedback.

Hey Gekko, if you want props for that sure np but why a slimy lizard and then claim to be a shark for those of us on the higher intelligentia level? I mean you chose your name so you must see your self more of a desert lizard or maybe a lounge singer, than a shark correct? Just having fun I for one enjot most of your ascerbic posts.

The position is Utility, not DH. We're talking about Ward's eligibility in an NL-only league and there is no DH in the NL. He was used as a utility player last year and that's where he belongs.



He's still a good $1 pickup in NL and I know he went for at least $1 in LABR. So put him at Utility and hope he plays 20 games in the outfield this year.

Greg, on the matter of overall 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes, I spoke to Rocky today and suggested you offer 6 valuable memorabilia items to these three teams. The team that finishes in 2nd has first choice of any 3 of those items. The 3rd place team gets two of the remaining 3, and the 4th place team gets the remaining item. If the memorabilia items are all nice enough, I think this would work quite nicely.

Originally posted by FresnoFanatics:

Hey Gekko, if you want props for that sure np but why a slimy lizard and then claim to be a shark for those of us on the higher intelligentia level? I mean you chose your name so you must see your self more of a desert lizard or maybe a lounge singer, than a shark correct? Just having fun I for one enjot most of your ascerbic posts. Desert lizard? I think you got the wrong image in your head.

Your suggestion has already been implemented and I think we'll even add a free 2005 entry into that since those three people most likely would have spent $1,250 to re-enter next year. So again, we're trying to get there. We won't reach $15,000 in value for second place, but we'll get there next year and beyond.



Your suggestion is in the planning stages right now. This is why we are calling all 201 people in the NFBC this week and talking to every single person about this. We aren't hiding behind any computer and hoping to dupe anyone. We want all of us to be happy with this first event and make it work, while retaining the $100,000 grand prize.

Thankfully, I am not in an NL-only auction. That said, I'm going to check my pinch-hitting/games- played spreadsheet to see if there are any more Daryle Wards lurking around the corner.

KOQ: I think that would be too brutal. Imagine missing 1st place by a hair and going from $100,000 to a piece of memorabilia! Just too brutal. As a last resort, I could see going from $15K, $7.5K to $10K and $5K, but no lower than that. I have no problem with Greg's proposed 4th place change.

Greg,



I believe u are just trying to figure contingency plans on the prizes...correct? As you will not know the full size until the deadline? If so then I agree with 3 in the leagues as suggested by Gekko, and as to 2nd and 3rd overall I would like to see something more than free entry and memorabilia...but again the 100K is the important one so anything necessary to keep this alive for the future would be the right plan

Everything is being bandied about, but the 2nd, 3rd and 4th overall prizes are the ones we're looking at the most. Can we find a middle ground? Maybe.



Our signup deadline is Sunday at midnight and I've promised league designations and draft picks on Monday. So we can't wait until the last minute and thus we're seeking your input now. All of it is appreciated.

Sorry Gordon,



A gekko is a common lizrd usually bright green or yellow common to the southwest US thus all over Vegas and Barstow California