Gigglin Marlin Vassalo Wins Week 1 Prize

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:25 am

Congratulations to Gigglin Marlin Vassalo, who claimed our first weekly prize of the 2006 season with 2,718 points in Las Vegas League 6. The team was paced by standout weeks from Chris Shelton (.583-5-9) and Ryan Freel (.545, 8 runs, 5 SBs). Jonny Gomes (.333-2-5) and Curtis Granderson (.318-2-4-1) also delivered big weeks.

For finishing first last week, Gigglin Marlin Vassalo wins a Hank Blalock autographed bat courtesy of Tri-Star Productions. Thanks to Tri-Star for their contributions to the NFBC this season and congratulations again to Gigglin Marlin Vassalo.

Good luck to everyone in the NFBC this week.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:00 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

Congratulations to Gigglin Marlin Vassalo, who claimed our first weekly prize of the 2006 season with 2,718 points in Las Vegas League 6. The team was paced by standout weeks from Chris Shelton (.583-5-9) and Ryan Freel (.545, 8 runs, 5 SBs). Jonny Gomes (.333-2-5) and Curtis Granderson (.318-2-4-1) also delivered big weeks.

For finishing first last week, Gigglin Marlin Vassalo wins a Hank Blalock autographed bat courtesy of Tri-Star Productions. Thanks to Tri-Star for their contributions to the NFBC this season and congratulations again to Gigglin Marlin Vassalo.

Good luck to everyone in the NFBC this week. Congratulations Jamie on a fine week. I see you and Chris have some other auction league teams doing well, so congrats on a great start. Only 25 more weeks to go!!!

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:16 am

And to think I was making fun of these guys during the draft for taking Melvin Mora in the second round! Great job on winning this weeks prize!

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:57 am

Dumb luck or fantasy baseball expertise? Depending on which member of the Vassalo family you ask, one of them is the reason behind Gigglin Marlin Vassalo’s big opening week of the NFBC.

Regardless of the reason, the end result was a place at the top of the event’s standings.

That was where Vassalo’s team finished after a standout Week 1. His team in Las Vegas League 6 topped the NFBC field in Week 1 with 2,718 points.

For finishing first last week, Vassalo wins a Hank Blalock autographed bat, courtesy of Tri-Star Productions.

“Most people would say after one week in being the point leader that it was dumb luck,” Vassalo said. “While my wife and four-month-old daughter would agree with the dumb part, I agree with the luck part.”

All kidding aside, Vassalo believes his Draft Day strategy has already paid dividends.

“Many of you war rooms were painted with the likes of Bonds, Rodriguez and Manny,” he said. “Mine were coated with Chris Duffy, Melvin Mora, Ryan Freel and Brady Clark.

“Going into the draft I wanted my first 10 picks to be solid contributors, guys I could trust to take my daughter to the park in the summer. Another important factor was injuries – a laceration of the index finger or a hip contusion and you were off my board.

“I also view starting pitching at the beginning of the year like one would view a hemorrhoid during the holidays.”

It’s a good thing then that so many hitters stepped up and delivered big weeks for Vassalo in Week 1.His team was paced by standout weeks from Chris Shelton (.583-5-9) and Ryan Freel (.545, 8 runs, 5 SBs). Jonny Gomes (.333-2-5) and Curtis Granderson (.318-2-4-1) also delivered big weeks.

“I was fortunate to score a lot of runs and hit a lot of homers,” said Vasallo, who lives in New Berlin, WI. “Unfortunately, my batting average looks like a 30-year mortgage rate.

“All in all it has been a fun week and I only have to maintain this for 25 more. Hopefully for my daughter’s sake I will be able to feed her again at that time.”

[ April 11, 2006, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]