Christopher Stephenson Is Week 24 Online Championship Winner

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:41 am

Congratulations to Christopher Stephenson who led the way in the Online Championship last week with 5,065.5 points.

Matt Wieters (.480-2-10), Jacoby Ellsbury (.423-2-6-2), Brian McCann (.444-2-9) and Drew Stubbs (.320-3-5-2) were the top players offensively. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kevin Correia combined for three wins and 22 strikeouts while Joe Nathan had four saves to lead the pitching staff.

Congratulations again to Chris and good luck to everyone in the Online Championship this week.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:42 am

Chris Stephenson and Andy Nolan are charter members of the NFBC. Their partnership has been a profitable one but when the Online Championship was introduced they decided they wanted to take things one step further.

In came Michael D’Onofrio.

The three formulated a Draft Day and in-season plan and that plan came to fruition in a big way last week as their team led the way in the Online Championship with 5,065.5 points.

Matt Wieters (.480-2-10), Jacoby Ellsbury (.423-2-6-2), Brian McCann (.444-2-9) and Drew Stubbs (.320-3-5-2) were the top players offensively. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kevin Correia combined for three wins and 22 strikeouts while Joe Nathan had four saves to lead the pitching staff.

So how did the three-headed team work? Allow Andy to explain:

“Mike and I drafted the team and the start of the draft worked out great,” Nolan said. “Howard, Utley, McCann and Ellsbury have been a constant for us all year. They left us with a strong offensive base while filling second base and catcher.

“Pitching we have been chasing all year and have really been snake bitten in the Wins category. Little did we know we were also drafting against online draft bully Ken Magner so we have been fighting for second place in the league since May.”

The plan for Week 24 was simple – work the two-start pitchers to their advantage and get some speed in the lineup.

“Being the weekly winner never even crossed our minds,” Nolan said. “We hit on Kevin Correia and Dice-K plus our offensive stalwarts provided their normal base along with a big week from Matt Wieters and other Waiver Wire gems Willie Bloomquist and Drew Stubbs.

“In general, it has been another fun and exciting year in the NFBC, which we consider the best and only game in town. What started out as an added event to Chris’ NCAA annual Vegas adventure has turned into the No. 1 reason to be in Vegas that weekend and a chance to catch up with some real good new friends.

“Then with the addition of the Online Leagues, Stevieland had a chance to expand their brand, call in some reinforcements, and add to the fun. Across our five leagues Stevieland is relevant, on the cusp of some money finishes, so hopefully this Week 24 win by Midwest League Stevieland will spring board us to a strong finish across Stevieland. If nothing else Mike D'Onofrio should at least earn a spot in Double A next year with Texas League Stevieland.”

All three owners are married. Chris has no children, Andy has four and Mike has two. Chris lives in Bellevue, WA while Andy lives in Bellingham, MA and Mike lives in Roslindale, MA.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:27 am

Chris, Andy, & Mike:

Online Draft Bully? Now that is a first!

Great job last week, your name carries a solid rep from past success and your game is well respected. I knew I'd have my work cut out for me this season.

Congrats again for the weekly honors, well done guys. Best of luck with Stevieland, Inc and with all of your NFBC ventures.!

Da Bully

[ September 22, 2009, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: Sack ]

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:47 am

Stevieland winning a weekly award in week 24 comes as absolutely no surprise to me.

Andy Nolan has been and is one of the best players it has been my priviledge to know. Among the many attributes he possesses in fantasy baseball would be his ability to grind. Grinders are winners and Andy is a winner.

[ September 22, 2009, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:12 pm

Grinding sucks!

Andy rules. Chris too. Enjoy meeting them very much when I run into them.