Gekko League_Ramblings

Hard Heads · Post by **Hard Heads** » Thu May 01, 2008 3:38 pm

Originally posted by Paperboys:

quote:Originally posted by ssmarsh:

quote:I mean, seriously, how many of you can stand to cough up $2500 on average per year for entry fees and then another $2500 on average for travel to the live draft? How many of your wives are going to let you do that for long while you finish fifth every year?Exactly. No way I'm dropping $5K on fantasy baseball. It's fun and all, but I've got many other things that money can be used for. [/QUOTE]The main event isn't nearly this expensive. Costs are being greatly exaggerated. I traveled by plane to the main event in Chicago.

$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main event [/QUOTE]Go to Vegas and it is 5K plus LOL

ssmarsh · Post by **ssmarsh** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:24 pm

$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main eventI'd rather pay the mortgage. Besides, that's still $1540 more than I pay now to play in my hometown league where I know everyone.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:22 pm

Originally posted by Paperboys:

quote:Originally posted by ssmarsh:

quote:I mean, seriously, how many of you can stand to cough up $2500 on average per year for entry fees and then another $2500 on average for travel to the live draft? How many of your wives are going to let you do that for long while you finish fifth every year?Exactly. No way I'm dropping $5K on fantasy baseball. It's fun and all, but I've got many other things that money can be used for. [/QUOTE]The main event isn't nearly this expensive. Costs are being greatly exaggerated. I traveled by plane to the main event in Chicago.

$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main event [/QUOTE]Boy that there sounds like a fun trip! :rolleyes:

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu May 01, 2008 6:22 pm

Originally posted by ssmarsh:

quote:$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main eventI'd rather pay the mortgage. Besides, that's still $1540 more than I pay now to play in my hometown league where I know everyone. [/QUOTE]Let us know when you win the $100,000 prize in your home league.

Jackstraw · Post by **Jackstraw** » Thu May 01, 2008 6:43 pm

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by Paperboys:

quote:Originally posted by ssmarsh:

quote:I mean, seriously, how many of you can stand to cough up $2500 on average per year for entry fees and then another $2500 on average for travel to the live draft? How many of your wives are going to let you do that for long while you finish fifth every year?Exactly. No way I'm dropping $5K on fantasy baseball. It's fun and all, but I've got many other things that money can be used for. [/QUOTE]The main event isn't nearly this expensive. Costs are being greatly exaggerated. I traveled by plane to the main event in Chicago.

$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main event [/QUOTE]Go to Vegas and it is 5K plus LOL [/QUOTE]Yep. That's one reason why I opted to go to Chicago this year. It does bring the cost down some. But, hell, I drove... I ended spending as much on gas as it would have for me to fly to Vegas. Thanks, George Bush.

At least I got a hotel room for $90/night that was much nicer than anywhere I've stayed in Vegas for $250/night.

ssmarsh · Post by **ssmarsh** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:04 pm

Let us know when you win the $100,000 prize in your home league.As I stated above, I play fantasy baseball for the FUN of it, not as a job. If I ever spent $5K and ended up in the main event, I'd be agonizing over it all season (way more than I already do in my hometown league) knowing what was at stake. For those of you who have the money to spend on an entry fee in the main event, I say go fo it. It's just not my cup of tea.

Paperboys · Post by **Paperboys** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:10 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

quote:Originally posted by Paperboys:

quote:Originally posted by ssmarsh:

quote:I mean, seriously, how many of you can stand to cough up $2500 on average per year for entry fees and then another $2500 on average for travel to the live draft? How many of your wives are going to let you do that for long while you finish fifth every year?Exactly. No way I'm dropping $5K on fantasy baseball. It's fun and all, but I've got many other things that money can be used for. [/QUOTE]The main event isn't nearly this expensive. Costs are being greatly exaggerated. I traveled by plane to the main event in Chicago.

$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main event [/QUOTE]Boy that there sounds like a fun trip! :rolleyes: [/QUOTE]We actually had a blast, thanks.

I was simply making the point that assuming the NFBC is a $5k investment is a bad assumption. If you guys go to Vegas, make it a 5 day trip, and drop $5k, that's fantastic. However, that's a 5-day Vegas vacation with the NFBC thrown in the middle, not an accurate portrayal of the costs of entering the NFBC.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:24 am

Originally posted by Paperboys:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

quote:Originally posted by Paperboys:

quote:Originally posted by ssmarsh:

quote:I mean, seriously, how many of you can stand to cough up $2500 on average per year for entry fees and then another $2500 on average for travel to the live draft? How many of your wives are going to let you do that for long while you finish fifth every year?Exactly. No way I'm dropping $5K on fantasy baseball. It's fun and all, but I've got many other things that money can be used for. [/QUOTE]The main event isn't nearly this expensive. Costs are being greatly exaggerated. I traveled by plane to the main event in Chicago.

$1300 entry fee

$150 round trip airfare on Southwest

$100 hotel stay near the convention center

$10 3 day CTA pass for the train

$40 4 or 5 meals, snacks on the trip

= $1600 main event [/QUOTE]Boy that there sounds like a fun trip! :rolleyes: [/QUOTE]We actually had a blast, thanks.

I was simply making the point that assuming the NFBC is a $5k investment is a bad assumption. If you guys go to Vegas, make it a 5 day trip, and drop $5k, that's fantastic. However, that's a 5-day Vegas vacation with the NFBC thrown in the middle, not an accurate portrayal of the costs of entering the NFBC. [/QUOTE]Nick I remember you from Tampa a few years ago. I think it is great that a young guy like you finds a way to do this. I see that your team is off to a great start this year and wish you the best of luck.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:42 am

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

Okay, I’ve been wanting to write this piece since drafts day was over, and I finally have some time so here goes. I participated in the main event, the super draft, and three $250 satellite leagues.

I’ve never entered more than 2 NFBC leagues in a season as the time to effectively scour the waiver wires on Sunday’s was impossible to manage. This year I said what the heck, I’ll try it.

My take…

5 leagues WAS too many to manage before STATS upgraded their FAAB interface. Now 5 leagues is just about right, give or take a league. But, I still find myself spending 70% of my FAAB time on my main event team, with another 25% on my super team, and 5% on my satellite teams. I don’t really “follow” any of my players except for my main event team. Do other owners feel the same way about their main event team?

Main Event – love that league. Only place to get the crack at the 100K. level of league competition contains a handful of good players and a lot of average to poor players. I’m guessing that’s the landscape for most of the main event leagues. The guys drafting next to me didn’t have any clue who cueto and volquez were when I selected them on draft day, yet they are 2nd in my league (hey are utley and peavy owners). Good players available via FAAB

Super – I’ve never thrown up that much capital on a league and likely never will again. There are a number of reasons.

1. The competition is too good. It’s like Spartan against Spartan. For me, I don’t play fantasy baseball for the “competition”. So this is a definite turnoff for me.

2. with the super being the day after the main event draft, I presumed that my main event team would likely makes it’s way to some of the owners hands prior to the super draft, thus compromising some of my strategy. I chose to “jump the gun” on some of my players. Main Event I took B.Butler in the 13th and Cueto in the 18th. Super I took Butler in the 11th and Cueto in the 15th. Looking back those were probably mistakes, but AT THE TIME I felt I needed to do that. I don’t want to be in a league where I need to do that. Taking butler in the 13th and cueto in the 18th was forcing it enough already.

3. mostly “lesser” players available via faab

$250 Satellite leagues – loved doing them, as I can do so without giving my real name. gave me a chance to draft prior to the main event and get a feel for doing a draft. competition level is a bit less than the main event leagues. Good players available via FAAB. would never do a $100 league as that would be a waste of my time. $250 minimum.

Any thoughts? Above is a post from Gekko that really struck me when I read it because I "almost" jumped into the super league waters this year , but my husband talked me out of it last minute because he didn't think I could compete as well in a league likely to draw "sharks". Then when I read Gekko's post I felt relieved that I didn't try and cross over. I really like the payout structure of the super lg., but when a player as good as Gekko says the competition is too good it restricts a player like mines ability to join a league with those payouts.

I guess my point is, Greg or Tom, can you create a super league that keeps out the so called "sharks". Say that you have 45 people willing to play in a super lg. Is it possible that you put 15 people in one lg. that have the least success in past contests? If what Gekko says is true, Spartan vs. Spartan, then the sharks should not have a problem being put in a lg with one another.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:47 am

Originally posted by cindy:

Above is a post from Gekko that really struck me when I read it because I "almost" jumped into the super league waters this year , but my husband talked me out of it last minute because he didn't think I could compete as well in a league likely to draw "sharks". Then when I read Gekko's post I felt relieved that I didn't try and cross over. I really like the payout structure of the super lg., but when a player as good as Gekko says the competition is too good it restricts a player like mines ability to join a league with those payouts.

I guess my point is, Greg or Tom, can you create a super league that keeps out the so called "sharks". Say that you have 45 people willing to play in a super lg. Is it possible that you put 15 people in one lg. that have the least success in past contests? If what Gekko says is true, Spartan vs. Spartan, then the sharks should not have a problem being put in a lg with one another. Cindy - thanks for the props. just remember i listed three items and not just the "spartan vs spartan"

Super – I’ve never thrown up that much capital on a league and likely never will again. There are a number of reasons.

1. The competition is too good. It’s like Spartan against Spartan.

2. with the super being the day after the main event draft, I presumed that my main event team would likely makes it’s way to some of the owners hands prior to the super draft, thus compromising some of my strategy. I chose to “jump the gun” on some of my players.

3. mostly “lesser” players available via faab

also, having a less than stellar draft, put me in a hole very quickly and it was one i couldn't get out of against these guys.

NOW, do i think i can beat these guys next year, absolutely! will i try? let's see how the economy goes, but i doubt it...

[ October 10, 2008, 12:48 PM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko ]

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:50 am

aaah- i think gecko had a problem with it. i think he stated that and had a reason. it is the same as poker. the big guns play for the big $- but would prefer not to play against one another- so they would want into our league and away from theirs- can you blame them?

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:06 am

Gekko which super lg. were you in? Is your team name Guess Who?

Also, when you say "lesser players" were available in free agency, what do you mean by that? don't all the leagues have the same available players or am I wrong? And lastly, I agree with you on the ability of others seeing who you picked before conducting the draft. I think with the amount of entry costs for the supers/ultimates that they should be held prior to the main event because all those players play in the main event, but not vice versa.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:09 am

Originally posted by cindy:

Gekko which super lg. were you in? Is your team name Guess Who?

Also, when you say "lesser players" were available in free agency, what do you mean by that? don't all the leagues have the same available players or am I wrong? And lastly, I agree with you on the ability of others seeing who you picked before conducting the draft. I think with the amount of entry costs for the supers/ultimates that they should be held prior to the main event because all those players play in the main event, but not vice versa. i think my team name was sir zelik or something like that. i felt that the talent available on this waiver pool was thinner than in a main event league...which is to be expected.

if you play for the thrill of competition, i'd recommend the Super or Ultimate leagues

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:12 am

Cindy, all I will say is that in this competition it's very easy for any shark this year to be a minnow the next year.

The Supers and the Ultimates have the best league payouts, which obviously brings out the best competition. It's no different for the auction leagues.

Try the $1,000 satellite leagues. Maybe there's some minnows there amongst that $8,000 first place prize.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:22 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Cindy, all I will say is that in this competition it's very easy for any shark this year to be a minnow the next year.

The Supers and the Ultimates have the best league payouts, which obviously brings out the best competition. It's no different for the auction leagues.

Try the $1,000 satellite leagues. Maybe there's some minnows there amongst that $8,000 first place prize.

Good points Greg. I'm sure there probably aren't many people that have won more than once in these contests, which I guess they are the "great whites" of the sharks. The rest most likely have reversal of fortunes from year to year. Also, it would be hard for you to pick and choose who goes in what league anyway. That was actually a stupid idea on my part:) As for Auctions, "never" for me. the drafts are hard enough!!! I suppose I could try the 1k satellite, that pays out 8k to first place?

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:30 am

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by cindy:

Gekko which super lg. were you in? Is your team name Guess Who?

Also, when you say "lesser players" were available in free agency, what do you mean by that? don't all the leagues have the same available players or am I wrong? And lastly, I agree with you on the ability of others seeing who you picked before conducting the draft. I think with the amount of entry costs for the supers/ultimates that they should be held prior to the main event because all those players play in the main event, but not vice versa. i think my team name was sir zelik or something like that. i felt that the talent available on this waiver pool was thinner than in a main event league...which is to be expected.

if you play for the thrill of competition, i'd recommend the Super or Ultimate leagues

[/QUOTE]If I wasn't convinced already, I am now! I just looked at the super league you were in and I recognize 4 team names that finished in the top 10 overall in the main event in just this super league. WOW! Sharks everywhere in this league:) Definitely satellites for me.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:19 pm

Originally posted by cindy:

Gekko which super lg. were you in? Is your team name Guess Who?

Also, when you say "lesser players" were available in free agency, what do you mean by that? don't all the leagues have the same available players or am I wrong? And lastly, I agree with you on the ability of others seeing who you picked before conducting the draft. I think with the amount of entry costs for the supers/ultimates that they should be held prior to the main event because all those players play in the main event, but not vice versa. I would much rather have them held after the main. In the main you have to beat 389 people. In the ultimate you need to beat 14. There are different way to win a single league, but only one way to win the overall in the main event.

By the way, where have you been hiding for 6 months? How did you do this year?

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:26 pm

Hi Shawn. I lay low during the season, mostly because my kids are on summer break, but I like to chime in every now and then. No success for me this season:) I tried to employ all of your great advice from baseball mafia, but I just didn't get it right. Can I look forward to more writing from you? How about a year in review article on your team?

Cotton1 · Post by **Cotton1** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:24 am

i dont post often, usually watch from a far. the point i would add that everyone knows is how bunched up everyone is and how one mistake is magnified to the point mine was. i felt pretty good thru the first 6-7 rounds of the main event draft with kinsler, vlad, johan, krod, etc...the one pick i cringed at immediately was hideki matsui. i knew i needed another starter to go along with johan, but thought i would get them next round. when i picked godzilla i knew immediately i had made a mistake, but it was too late. i passed on billingsley, dice-k, guys i had targeted but waited too long on. i ended up taking soria in the ninth and my next starting pitcher was ian snell(god!). i thought he would regress, but not to that extent. anyway, if i had made a different decision and gone with dice-k or some other 7th rounder i would have gone from 8th in my league to first by a wide margin and in the top 25 overall...instead i end up 8th and 122nd! the point is, that is how tight things are between us and how one decision can change your year. it certainly didnt help that i was in one of the toughest leagues(vegas one) with zola, terrence haney, etc. i think we cancelled each other out to a certain extent. i think i cracked the code though, and really look forward to next year. the guys that come in the top 20-30 every year are impressive, look at terrence haney 07 versus 08'. did he get any dumber?(by the way, we drafted 11-12 in our league, so i sat with him all day, what a great guy). no, he didnt get dumber, but a couple of moves difference, all well thought out, just with different results can make or break your year. finally, gekko, i manage a major brokerage firm office with 125 employees, most of which are very highly compensated with VERY large egos, so i get where you are coming from. it is good to see your posts(which again, i usually watch from afar) go more to the humility side. everyone knows how good you are at this, you dont have to say it so often. the amazing thing is your consistency, that is what you should be proud of. any one of us can catch lightning in a bottle, but to come in the top 10-20 every year is very impressive, indeed. ok, thats enough, you wont hear from me again for a long time. cant wait til next year!

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:19 am

Originally posted by cindy:

Hi Shawn. I lay low during the season, mostly because my kids are on summer break, but I like to chime in every now and then. No success for me this season:) I tried to employ all of your great advice from baseball mafia, but I just didn't get it right. Can I look forward to more writing from you? How about a year in review article on your team? I need to finish my last chapter of the Quest series. It will recap my mistakes and players who under achieved. They are updating the site. I'm waiting to hear this season game plan.

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:01 am

MOON OVER MY HAMMY, a very nice post.Yes your draft was going good till GODZILLA ruined it.Funny i alway's seem to have Matsui but stayed away this year.You still had a nice year and just need to tweak a few pick's.The 7th round is alway's a good round for stud pitchers, you can get plenty of hitters later , get your 2nd and 3rd starters in the 7th round.This year in the main and the Super i went pitching in rounds 6 to 10.

Main 6th Nathan

7th Shields

8th Liriano

9th Lilly

10th Valverde

Super 6th C Young

7th Shields

8th Liriano

9th Saito

Young getting hit in the face really hurt and Saito getting hurt killed his value but others all helped get me in the money in both.But you need to do much better to win. cant wait till next year.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:26 am

Originally posted by cindy:

Hi Shawn. I lay low during the season, mostly because my kids are on summer break, but I like to chime in every now and then. No success for me this season:) I tried to employ all of your great advice from baseball mafia, but I just didn't get it right. Can I look forward to more writing from you? How about a year in review article on your team? I thought I asked you earlier, but what team were you in New York? I thought you said something about drafting with your husband.

[ October 16, 2008, 03:41 PM: Message edited by: CC's Desperados ]

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:52 pm

we were at the bottom of league 8.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:26 pm

Originally posted by cindy:

we were at the bottom of league 8. I'm kind of surprised by this with all the off season work. I tried to send you something, but you have the PM feature off.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:45 pm

I enabled it.