Countdown to the NFBC

[Money Men]

or you could have went with this:

May your lifelong quest to be crowned Champion come to fruition just as it did for the greatest third baseman ever to lace em up.

[rockitsauce]

or you could have went with this:

May your lifelong quest to be crowned Champion come to fruition just as it did for the greatest third baseman ever to lace em up.

well put sir

Here is Schmitty in action wearing the Red & Blue that Glenn loves

Michael Jack launches # 500

#500.jpg (11.68 KiB) Viewed 6718 times

[Glenneration X]

or you could have went with this:

May your lifelong quest to be crowned Champion come to fruition just as it did for the greatest third baseman ever to lace em up.

well put sir

David Wright hasn't won his first championship yet? Though I am feeling pretty good that this could be the year!!

That said, I believe I've given the Phils more than their just due in this thread. After all, I've already posted a "pair" of pictures of the greatest to ever "wear" the Philly pink and majenta. OK one more, for any Philly fans who check out this thread, my bud Pausma who asked for another during last night's NFBCK draft slot auction, and ummmm, OK and for me too .....

[Glenneration X]

Only 19 Days 'til the NFBC live drafts and auctions as we wind down the unbelievably successful NFBC Slow Draft season. Now that the Ryan Braun saga is finally behind us, the live drafters won't have the same speculation to worry about that the slow drafters did on whether a top 5 player will be suspended for 50 games. The questions on whether to grab Braun and how much to discount him due to the doubt no longer a concern.

However, the questions on whether he cheated or not still remain.








I suppose eventually all the information will fully come out and we'll be able to truly identify how his innocence was determined. Was it actually a false positive and a test tainted by mishandling that will allow Braun to remain a player considered on par with the greatest of his era?









Or is he a player truly guilty of the charges who simply got off on a technicality and if so a player who will remembered by history more for how he cheated than how he played the game?






I suppose all that will play out in time. For now, those who drafted Braun in the 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th rounds of the Slow drafts can just rejoice on their good fortune (I was lucky enough to get him in the 3rd round for both of my slow/slow drafts ).





And in 19 Days, Braun will start going in the early first round of the live drafts. I wonder if in about 19 years, he'll be allowed to join other Milwaukee immortals in the Hall of Fame, or if like so many others tainted by the steroid era, he will be left on the outside looking in due to the stigma that will surely be placed upon him and one that he may have brought upon himself.

[gpchurchill]

5:04 on a sunday morning. THAT is impressive. that is dedication. up first with the kids ?

[Glenneration X]

5:04 on a sunday morning. THAT is impressive. that is dedication. up first with the kids ?

Dedication, ummm maybe. 5:04am? Ummm, definitely not.
It was 8:04am here on the East Coast. I am the first up in my house each morning, but usually try to have a few moments with my coffee, cereal, and laptop before the babies awake. With a 4-year old son and twin 1-year old girls, not always the case however.

[Glenneration X]

Only 18 Days remain 'til the NFBC's 1st of 2 weekends of live drafts and auctions. This year MLB has thrown an interesting twist into the mix as they are opening their 2012 regular season with a 2-game series between the Mariners and A's in Japan. This will create a little bit of a fantasy football feel as these opening games will be played between the two NFBC draft weekends. Does Dustin Ackley move up the boards from one weekend to the next if he goes 6 for 8 with a pair of homers and 6 RBI's? What if Montero catches the 2nd game? What if Fuentes gets a save? All I'll say is to be careful of these early results. Just ask anyone who drafted Devery Henderson last NFFC season.





And what of Japan's other new contribution to our 2012 fantasy season? Yu Darvish is coming with the severe hype that often accompanies every big name signing from the two time defending World Baseball Classic Champions and more than any since probably Dice K himself. Still, how many Japanese hurlers have lived up to the hype. Dice K didn't. In fact, probably the last to do so was nearly two decades ago when Nomomania exploded on the scene. Yet Darvish comes with a pedigree unseen in any of the pitchers that have made the migration previously. Even some of the speakers at the First Pitch Forum this weekend sounded enamoured of his talent. Still the questions abound. Can he make the transition to the American style of pitching? Can he handle MLB hitters? What of the mid-summer Texas heat? It'll take an early pick and some serious lack of risk aversion to have the answers count towards your team totals.





So will Darvish make the seamless transition and become as much of a cultural icon in this country as he was in his own?




Or will his be another sad story that does not play out as advertised?





And what of our big name imports from other parts of the world?





I think it's great that over the last couple decades, MLB has become more of an international game. America's pastime is the greatest game in the world. The world's greatest players should play here. One shame is that it didn't start a little earlier.







And for we fans of all New York sports, we know that no matter your heritage, if you bring enough game you will get it done. Go Knicks!!!! (Damn Celtics!)

[Glenneration X]

Only 17 Days 'til the 2012 NFBC and the best part of any draft experience, the live Auctions.






For anyone who's been a part of an Auction for any sport, they know there's nothing like it. If you love the thrill and excitement of a live draft but have never taken part in a live Auction, do yourself a favor and grab one of the few remaining open teams. The ability to truly implement any strategy regardless of draft slot, to buy any player you deem worthy of the cost, to have multiple 1st round worthy players or none, to buy 10 players in row or sit for an hour bidding on none, Stars & Scrubs, Spread the Wealth, or Hoard Money for Late Values, the team you build and the way you build it is truly your own in the Auction format and totally dependent upon how YOU decide how to build it.






Although I couldn't find a fit for an Auction Championship team in my packed schedule this season, I made sure I'd get my share of the Auction experience as I'm registered for both the AL-Only Auction and the Ultimate Auction. Of all my teams, I'm probably most excited about these two because of the format, surpassing even the anticipation I feel for the Diamond. Following the recent LABR AL & NL Auctions on the web and these boards just added to that feeling. If I could find an opening in another live Auction that worked with my schedule, that might be the only reason I'd break my self-imposed and already filled limit on drafts this season. I can not wait.




Just be aware though, while there's no draft as exciting as the Auction experience, there's also no draft as exhausting. Being able to bid on every player, deciding whether to bid that extra dollar on that player you want, deciding whether to bid that extra dollar to price enforce on that player you don't want, every step of the Auction requires a decision that affects your strategy and the team you end up with. After two high stakes Auctions in three days, I fully expect to leave Vegas with my head spinning and Dizzy from the experience, but with a smile on my face.



Only 17 Days 'til the first player gets called out for $1.

[Edwards Kings]

As always, great series Glenn. See you in Vegas!

[Glenneration X]

As always, great series Glenn. See you in Vegas!

Thanks Wayne. I look forward to meeting you in Vegas also. Just a few weeks away.

[Glenneration X]

Only 16 Days left 'til the 2012 NFBC....




Our next opportunity to be part of something truly special....




And be compared to the All-Time Greats.






As our last great Champion has shown, prove you're the best at this game and you could see your name and image plastered everywhere....






OK, maybe you won't make the side of a Times Square high rise, but it's pretty much a guarantee you at least make the home page of a certain fantasy sports contest....




By the way Champ, in the two years between these pictures and your two Championships, it doesn't look like you've aged a day in all that time!! I guess that's what good livin' does for you.

[Glenneration X]

Only 15 Days left 'til the NFBC live drafts and auctions and for us to make any last minute adjustments or tweaks to our personal rankings. I just finalized this one.....



15. Dennis Eckersley

14. Rollie Fing......ah, who cares about 14 anyway?

13. Does it really matter?

12. Like the Slow Draft prize payouts, all anyone's concerned about is the top spot anyway!

11. C'mon, let's get to #1 already!

10. Ditto

9. "

8. "

7. "

6. "

5. "

4. "

3. "

2. Finally, almost there!!!

1. And of course, at # 1 in our rankings......



I know, I know. I used this picture as part of last year's Countdown. Some pictures are so iconic, they should be a part every year. Looking forward to having a Corona with you in Vegas this year Greg. First one's on me.

[Glenneration X]

Only 14 Days, just two short weeks 'til the start of the NFBC live drafts and auctions.






As fun as fantasy baseball is and as much as the NFBC multiplies that fun with their great live drafts and overall contests, for many who are in the NFBC this is serious business. The NFBC is filled with great players, players who over the years have come to expect to win. For them, we're about to enter a 6 month battle where they'll give everything they have to end up on top.















So you need to realize that noone's just handing over the league championship or $100K Overall top prize to you here and come prepared to play....and play hard.






But Pete knew you could play as hard as it took, still have a serious blast along the way, and sometimes when it was all said and done with that hard work paying off, it proved to be well worth it in the end.






And even if that $100K turns out not to be in the cards this year, remember there's still always side bets.

[Glenneration X]

Just 13 Days left 'til the NFBC live drafts and auctions and we decide what to do with some former first rounders who fell a bit off the cliff last year in their production.




From their current pre-season ADP's, it appears many believe this may be the start of the unavoidable decline that happens to all players eventually, no matter how great.




However, if you're one that believes "regression to the mean" works both ways, this may create a buying opportunity as these players may bounce back to their former levels. Which will it be? Continued decline or regression to the mean? Who knows, it's for each of us to decide for ourselves.




This may also apply to our contest itself this year and a few of its greatest players. Some of our most accomplished colleagues are coming off of a year that saw their finishes fall a bit short of what had become commonplace for them. Shawn Childs, RT, Gekko, some others who also have Hall of Fame accomplishments and resumes here have all admitted on these boards that they weren't satisfied with their finishes last season and are committed to return to their former regularly seen and stratospheric levels before this one year blip. Let's just say that if they all "regress to the mean", the rest of us may be in big trouble.

Only 13 Days 'til all the greatest in this hobby take each other on again to prove once again why they are the greatest.

[Sack]

You missed 4 letters to go into that group from last season: LOWY

I realize you are quiet and unassuming, but don't sell yourself short Glenn. ( Sorry, RT )

[Edwards Kings]

Ahhh...Pete Rose...what a....

[rockitsauce]

Ahhh...Pete Rose...what a....

I think you meant THIS former Red....Pete is just a rank amateur compared to little Joe.

I know BASEBALL !

joe-morgan.jpg (12.17 KiB) Viewed 6260 times

[Glenneration X]

Only 12 Days remaining 'til the 2012 NFBC live weekends "kickoff" with the very first drafts ever for our new 12-team Main Event, the NFBC XII.








I know this is a baseball contest and those are football pictures. Yet, the name chosen for our new 12-teamer does evoke thoughts of the NFL's signature event, the Super Bowl, and honestly is there an athlete for any sport at any time that more represented the number 12 with greatness than our Broadway Joe? Still, to keep on topic with the sport associated with the fantasy contest of the day, it's only fair to follow up with pictures that elicit thoughts of both our greatest sports and show that even though the NFBC XII has a football name, it is most certainly a baseball event.





(Here's a rare shot together of the two greatest athletes ever in those sports, likely the two greatest ever in the history of all sports. )



For those who are entered in one or more of the other NFBC overall contests, and have both the time and the means but have yet to consider the NFBC XII, what are you waiting for? The Main Event itself, the Auction Championships, the Slow Drafts, the Online Championships have all sold out or will sell out and more, while sales for the XII have lagged behind. This may be your last opportunity to get in on the best return on investment for any of these contests.


And for a bit more inspiration to join up, here's a few other baseball shots typically associated more with football but that should also elicit thoughts of both sports.....and maybe a couple other thoughts we can't mention on a family board.










Only 12 Days left 'til the start of the NFBC and maybe even less to jump into its new 12-team Main Event.

[Glenneration X]

Only 11 Days 'til the 2012 NFBC live drafts and auctions.




With the NFBC live weekends getting closer, the anticipation for them is starting to be one of the biggest things on my mind. However, this past week my mind was distracted as I learned with most of the rest of this country about Joseph Kony, a monster who is terrorizing another part of the globe, using children as his weapons. It struck me. Not to sound preachy or corny, but one of the feelings that overwhelmed me while learning about this man was how lucky, how truly blessed I am to live in the greatest and safest country in the world. My biggest worries in life are to get that project completed on schedule at work, or to make sure my kids are eating the right foods at home, or whether or not to grab a 3-pack in the Online Championships. While others are worried about where they're going to sleep tonight because their home was destroyed, or if their kids will eat at all, or even survive another day. In a world where genocide, famine, war on civilians is almost commonplace, none of that comes close to touching my home. I am truly thankful. I love this game, I love baseball, but even with all its problems, I love this country most. Only 11 Days 'til the start of a game that can be my biggest worry, how lucky am I.

















And to make sure I'm not getting too sentimental or preachy.......

[Winston's Empire]

Very nicely done Glenn... We are indeed all very blessed and to just be born here is hitting the jackpot!

[Glenneration X]

Only 10 Days left 'til the start of the 2012 NFBC live weekends and we get to see who wins the over/under side betting on Lindy's Hall of Fame speech.





Following a phenomenal season that saw Lindy win his 2nd Main Event Overall title in 3 years and his 3rd Overall title of any kind, Lindy will be inducted into the NFBC Hall of Fame at this year's live events in Vegas.










The Great Lindy will join the Greats Shawn Childs and Steve Jupinka, last year's inaugural class of inductees, as the only members of this very exclusive club. The standards for induction are extremely high. To prove how high, even after two previous overall titles, Lindy had to wait one season and win another to lock in his election. I agree that the standards for any Hall of Fame should be set very high and reserved for only the truly Great of the games they represent. There should be no question of the worthiness of those within.






However even with that statospheric bar, there were several other candidates that were seriously considered or lobbied by others for induction these first two years as their enormous achievements and/or contributions to our game made them very worthy and would have made them great choices as well. Gekko, RT, David Didonato, Doughy, a few others were some of the names bandied about, but ultimately like Lindy year one, were asked to wait at least one more season and possibly add even a little more to their already legendary achievements and resumes (in Lindy's case, it winning another Overall ) before their induction could be confirmed.

Who amongst these greats adds enough to their resumes this season to assure being on next years list of inductees? Does one? Do all of them? Does someone previously unconsidered have such a great season, his candidacy comes out of the blue?



In only 10 Days it starts to play out. In the meantime, we have Lindy's speech to look forward to. I have $10 bucks riding on the under.

Congrats Lindy, well deserved.

[Glenneration X]

Just 9 Days left (Single Digits!!!) 'til we get to feel like The Kid again as we step to the plates of our NFBC live drafts and auctions......





in the hopes of having that one defining moment of our careers in this hobby that will turn us from being considered just another player in this game......








to being considered The Natural......





and placing The Kid in us right in the conversation of the All-Time Greats of the Game.

[Winston's Empire]

Cool pictures Glenn! Its amazing how big Ruth's hands are next to Ted Williams!

[Glenneration X]

Only 8 Days left 'til our live drafts and auctions.

With our long wait nearing an end, the anticipation for these drafts are growing stronger, but also for many the feeling that we'd better have that perfect draft or auction......





While having that great draft goes a long way towards paving the way for a successful season, it assures nothing. Neither does an imperfect draft assure a poor season. Just as important is our in-season management, FAAB, setting lineups, managing our team injuries and matchups. Work at it day after day and your chances for success increase.....





Combine a great draft with great in-season management and how high can you soar?


(This one's for my buddy, Max ).



Who knows, but maybe as high as it gets.



Only 8 Days 'til the fun begins.

[Glenneration X]

My buddy Gates reminded me of another #8 that deserves to be remembered today. So as a bonus post, only 8 Days 'til another chance for us to enjoy life to the fullest the way The Kid always taught life should be lived, even for those that end much too soon.



Rest in Peace Gary, you were one of the true greats and you'll be truly missed.