Chat Today Has Begun

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:36 am

Originally posted by GOD Loves You:

I really like Freel too...kinda reminds me of a football player.In my NL-only keeper league I have him for $3 for this season. Pretty happy with that. I can't really get mad at Greg for stealing him, though. After Greg took him and I cursed him (with complete respect

) about 5 other guys also said they were waiting to take him. Looks like he's a guy quite a few of us were targeting in the 13th or 14th round.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:45 am

$3 is a definite steal for Freel. Especially if he can remain injury-free..

Speaking of steals, do you think Figgins can steal as many or more than last year?

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:46 am

Freel's is a bit fragile, and isn't he one more DUI away from some legitimate problems. ANy concerns there, Tom?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:49 am

Originally posted by GOD Loves You:

Speaking of steals, do you think Figgins can steal as many or more than last year? Yup. I think the guy's a stud. We are projecting him to steal 57 bases this season.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:49 am

Originally posted by Captain Hook:

Tom - hope it's not too cold there.

I have a question about the auction leagues on Friday. As I read the schedule, for Las Vegas

NL auctions are at 9 AM

AL auctions are at 4 PM (mixed as well?)

So, 1) are you really allowing 6-7 hours for each league?, and 2) If they were shortened up to five hours, couldn't you hold drafts at 8 AM, 2PM and 8 PM - still allowing some extra time and letting people compete in three different leagues if they wanted to? All of the NL Auction Leagues last year in Las Vegas got done around 2:45 p.m. and then we need to refresh the rooms for the 4 p.m. auctions and get the nameplates on for everyone. So we do need the 7 hour intervals. I can't imagine doing a tight schedule like the one you propose above as the 8 p.m. auction would get done at 2 a.m. and then we'd be back drafting on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Anything is possible and as our events grow and more and more people want to do all three auctions, we'll find a way to expand our weekend of fun. Maybe Thursdays and Sundays will have to be used more effectively!!! Maybe Saturday afternoon auctions could happen! Anything is possible in the future.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:50 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

Freel's is a bit fragile, and isn't he one more DUI away from some legitimate problems. ANy concerns there, Tom? Sound like he's working with the team to deal with the off-the-field issues. We'll see about that. He does have durability issues but he was hurt last year and still had a huge year with SBs. I think he's a lock for 30+ SBs this season.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:56 am

To all who are here, have a great day...gotta pick up son from school

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:00 am

Who do you think will close in Baltimore? Ray? And how much of a factor do you think Leo Mazzone can be on some of their young arms in 2006?

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:00 am

Hi Tom,

When do you draft your closers in a 15 team league? I prefer to wait as long as I can and get two solid guys but the past two years in Vegas the top 20 closers go really early.

JD

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:03 am

I think Ray will be the closer and Mazzone should help quite a bit. He's a great teacher so all of their pitchers should benefit from him being there.

With regard to closer strategy, it really depends on the flow of the draft. If the closers are flying off the board and you want to get at least one you need to adjust and make sure you get one. Other drafts you can wait a bit and still get one or two without reaching.

I'd say somewhere between the 5th and 7th rounds will be when the closer run begins.

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:05 am

Hi Tom, how are you?

How many teams do you and Greg end up with each year? That is, teams that you stay active with throughout the season?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:08 am

I'm good Aaron. Hope you're doing well.

I can't speak for Greg but I try to stay involved with as many of the leagues I'm in as possible. Not always possible - especially once I get buried with football work - but I definitely stay active in our KP Leagues (2 of those) and then it depends on how I'm doing in the others. If I fall out of contention it's possible I might bail on the team.

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:10 am

Tom,

Do you stay way from guys coming off injuries? (Even though they may be bargains)

JD

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:10 am

In your expert drafts for your magazines you only have 12 teams (experts), why not 15 as all the mixed NFBC leagues are?

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:12 am

Concerning when you draft closers, in the recently completed NFBC Magazine league, here are some interesting numbers:

Rounds 1-3: no closers drafted

Rounds 4-6: 12 closers drafted (2-7-3)

Rounds 7-9: 3 closers drafted

Rounds 10-12: 8 closers drafted.

Two definite runs

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:13 am

Originally posted by seefer:

In your expert drafts for your magazines you only have 12 teams (experts), why not 15 as all the mixed NFBC leagues are? You'd have to ask Greg that one. He's in charge of the rules.

To the injury question: It depends on who the guys are. Griffey, for example, is a guy I won't touch unless the value is great because he's going to get hurt every year. Some guys, though, could fall and end up being great value picks. I think Kerry Wood could be a guy like that this year. If that happens I'll pounce because the risk is outweighed by the upside.

pancho11 · Post by **pancho11** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:21 am

How do you think the WBC will affect April/May baseball besides teh obvious threat of injuries.. will hitters be locked in earlier/ will pitchers have better stamina earlier on etc

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:22 am

Hi Tom,

It seems that the second round this year has become a round where the scare positon guys(2B, SS, 3B) or speed guys get drafted? Would you stick by that or go best available? Thanks

JD

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:23 am

Originally posted by pancho11:

How do you think the WBC will affect April/May baseball besides teh obvious threat of injuries.. will hitters be locked in earlier/ will pitchers have better stamina earlier on etc We might see some lower pitch counts earlier in the season. That wouldn't surprise me. It really is an odd time for this thing. Not sure why it's being scheduled now instead of over the winter.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:24 am

Originally posted by Red Sox Nation:

Hi Tom,

It seems that the second round this year has become a round where the scare positon guys(2B, SS, 3B) or speed guys get drafted? Would you stick by that or go best available? Thanks

JD I would go best available but there is definitely some position scarcity thinking going on and I agree that could continue. But I wouldn't pass on a strong player just to try and get someone to fill a position which could be scarce. I always draft the best players early and then later start to fill in any roster holes I might have.

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:31 am

In the Magazine draft, I fully intended to take VMart at 3-11 knowing Todd Zola at 3-14 would take him there and not even risk the 4-2. But Shefield was there and I could not pass on him. I personally think position scarcity, excluding catchers, is vastly overrated in large leagues like the NFBC. It applies more to 10 teams leagues without CI & MI positions. My opinion at least. Oh, and Todd did take VMart at 3-14.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:33 am

Catcher is actually the position I never worry about. I liken it to TEs in football. I'm not going to grab a top one early; I'll just wait and see who is out there in the middle to later rounds.

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:34 am

Very little said on the Magazine League but two teams have no closers and two more have just one. Also, one team has no starters. Multiple strategies being used.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:35 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

Catcher is actually the position I never worry about. I liken it to TEs in football. I'm not going to grab a top one early; I'll just wait and see who is out there in the middle to later rounds. Love the baseball/football analogies.

Let's fill in the blank:

Catcher : Tight End

________ : Clinton Portis

Sorry, Tom, I couldn't resist

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:40 am

I'm gonna rest on that Portis laurel at least until the start of next season.