Wednesday Chat Has Begun

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:51 am

Let's kick off our first chat of the 2006 NFBC season. As always, I'm here to talk about whatever's on your mind -- from the upcoming baseball season to the NFBC, why Ron Artest is such a loon or the dress Scarlett Johansson wore to the Golden Globes recently.

So bring your questions and let's have some fun today.

agd · Post by **agd** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 6:57 am

Tom, list YOUR top 15 picks in order.

Also what is YOUR preference in kentucky style?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:01 am

If I was choosing KDS I'd probably list 1-7 or so in that order. My preference generally is to be in the middle of each round of a fantasy draft; that way you don't miss out on a run of a position you're targeting. Generally speaking.

As far as my Top 15, at this point I'd go:

1. ALEX RODRIGUEZ, 3B, NYY

2. ALBERT PUJOLS, 1B, ST. LOUIS

3. VLADIMIR GUERRERO, OF, LAA

4. MARK TEIXEIRA, 1B, TEXAS

5. JOHAN SANTANA, SP, MINNESOTA

6. CARL CRAWFORD, OF, TAMPA BAY

7. DERREK LEE, 1B, CUBS

8. MANNY RAMIREZ, OF, BOSTON

9. MIGUEL CABRERA, OF/3B, FLORIDA

10. MIGUEL TEJADA, SS, BALTIMORE

11. BOBBY ABREU, OF, PHILADELPHIA

12. DAVID ORTIZ, DH, BOSTON

13. DAVID WRIGHT, 3B, METS

14. JIMMY ROLLINS, SS, PHILADELPHIA

15. ALFONSO SORIANO, 2B, WASHINGTON

Right off our Web site

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:03 am

Quahogs was wondering this on the NFFC boards of all places....who will be the closer for the D-rays. I am guessing Orvella would be closing with Colome as the setup man. But with this franchise down here, it is hard to tell.

Any thoughts? Also, do you think Rocco will perform well this season or not?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:06 am

Originally posted by GOD Loves You:

Quahogs was wondering this on the NFFC boards of all places....who will be the closer for the D-rays. I am guessing Orvella would be closing with Colome as the setup man. But with this franchise down here, it is hard to tell.Right now it looks like Orvella will get the first chance to win the job. If he falters it could end up being a closer by committee situation although Mori could be the second choice.

Any thoughts? Also, do you think Rocco will perform well this season or not? He's risky especially since one of his big assets is his speed. But the early signs have been positive that I've seen and if he has a strong spring I definitely think he'll be someone to consider. Right now I'd view him as an upside play late in a draft.

[ January 25, 2006, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:10 am

The D-rays sure believe in him....They extended his contract to pay him him basically the same as CC, which infuriated Crawford. Don't you think Crawford is worth a little more than the 27-34 million he is set to make??

What is your take on the young Brewer players??...Hardy, Fielder, Weeks, etc....

agd · Post by **agd** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:11 am

What kind of year will Thome have?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:12 am

Crawford's pretty damn good and I would rather keep him happy than Baldelli.

Brewers' youngsters have huge upside. How much of that will be realized this season is the question. I think Fielder has a real chance to be productive; Weeks could be a 20-20 guy at some point but he needs better plate discipline. Hardy's a huge question mark. If we see the Hardy of the second half of last year the Brewers will have a pretty potent lineup since he'll be hitting at the backend in all probability. But if he's as weak as he was in the first half that could open the door for Billy Hall to get a lot of PT (assumming he's not traded).

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:13 am

Originally posted by agd:

What kind of year will Thome have? I imagine him returning to form, but what do I know

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:13 am

I think Thome bounces back with a big year. He'll be healthy; he's in a good lineup and I think playing DH will help him quite a bit. I like Thome a lot as a bounceback candidate.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:14 am

How about the other half of the Thome trade...Rowand..any thoughts..better stats or worse, or same?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:16 am

I think Rowand's stats will be about the same. I'd expect 15 HRs and SBs at least and maybe he makes a run at 20 SBs.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:18 am

Any breakout candidates or deep sleepers you care mentioning? Who is the one guy you are tageting in your drafts??...Don't worry, we won't tell

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:21 am

How much manual effort was required for the KDS in the Magazine league? You getting ready for the 22 or so main event KDS's?

I decided to post my KDS preferences for that draft - almost felt like it started a minor firestorm.

[ January 25, 2006, 01:30 PM: Message edited by: viper ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:21 am

For mixed drafts, here are some of the guys I think have nice sleeper potential this season:

Chris Shelton

J.J. Hardy

Ryan Zimmerman

Dallas McPherson

Kenji Johijima

Jeff Francoeur

Zach Duke

Aaron Harang

Chris Young

Travis Bowyer

Dak · Post by **Dak** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:22 am

For NFBC II Mag League - when will we have access to Mock Central? Would like to be able to rank today.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:23 am

Originally posted by viper:

How much manual effort was required for the KDS in the Magazine league? You getting ready for the 22 or so main event KDS's?

We'll be ready. Count on it.

Greg did most of the work for the Magazine League but he said it was a pretty smooth process and we're talking to STATS to see if we can simplify the process even more. Our estimates at this time have it taking around 4-5 hours to get all of the league draft spots set for the main event.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:25 am

Originally posted by Dak:

For NFBC II Mag League - when will we have access to Mock Central? Would like to be able to rank today. I was under the impression Jason from Mock Draft Central had sent out an e-mail to everyone already. If that's not the case it should happen later today at the latest. We definitely want to give everyone plenty of time to check out the site and be comfortable with it.

Dak · Post by **Dak** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:27 am

With the pros and cons of draft positions a hot topic - what position and why for you?

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:28 am

Dallas was quite the letdown last year. I am curious to see how he does perform this year. I love getting those "somewhat unknown" guys who explode and that is what I expected from him last year.

Same with Nick Swisher last year...he had his moments but was a major letdown in my eyes. What is comical about Swisher is I drafted him in almost every league I played in. I went to Ohio in May for my bro's graduation and my dad was talking about Swisher....He is from their community and is a member of the church my dad is involved in...Thought it was funny to draft somebody from close to home and not even know it!

Dak · Post by **Dak** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:29 am

Viper! Has Jason contacted you as of yet, concerning Mag draft?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:29 am

Dak, I'm a firm believer it's not where you draft but who you draft. But if I absolutely positively had to pick a draft position most years I would prefer to be in the middle. That can change from year to year (my thinking would likely be different for football next season for example), but generally speaking I would prefer to be in the middle of the round.

Dak · Post by **Dak** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:36 am

All's quiet on the Wisconsin front! Did my NDSU Bison take that much wind out of ya'

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:37 am

nothing from mockdraftcentral yet.

I bowl tonight and work tomorrow during the day. I hope to have some time to set lists at least through the top 100 or so. May not have time now. Also want to make sure I can get in and things work. Going for 4th straight 700 tonight in my bowling league.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:37 am

I have no comment on that game.