Countdown To NFBC 2014

[Quahogs]

Best. Countdown. Ever.

[ALL-IN JD]

The Massatto rips are a little light though!!

[Glenneration X]

Best. Countdown. Ever.

Russ lost me when he neglected the obvious choice of Jerry Koosman for number 36.



Thankfully he reeled me back in with the inspired shots of Miss Berry and Upton.



Great job so far Russ. It's been a great daily read.

PS....I do agree with Dobies though that the Massotto rips are the one missing component to making this thread an All-time Classic. I have faith that you'll get there however. And if not, a few of us will surely help you out there!!

[Quahogs]

Ok Haslett we can start with the basics and then work from there...

" You can take the ASS out of Jersey but you can't take the ASS out of MASSotto !

[Glenneration X]

Ok Haslett we can start with the basics and then work from there...

" You can take the ASS out of Jersey but you can't take the ASS out of MASSotto !

Now that's what we're talking about Juprinka!!!!

Listen and learn Russ. Listen and learn.

[Navel Lint]

Ok Haslett we can start with the basics and then work from there...

" You can take the ASS out of Jersey but you can't take the ASS out of MASSotto !

[Navel Lint]

Best. Countdown. Ever.

Thankfully he reeled me back in with the inspired shots of Miss Berry and Upton.



Great job so far Russ. It's been a great daily read.

PS....I do agree with Dobies though that the Massotto rips are the one missing component to making this thread an All-time Classic. I have faith that you'll get there however. And if not, a few of us will surely help you out there!!

Thanks.
But don't go using up all my of pictures to early, I still have 34 days to go.

Oh, who am I kidding, I'll look for Halle Berry pictures all-day long if I have to....

[Baseball Furies]

Ok Haslett we can start with the basics and then work from there...

" You can take the ASS out of Jersey but you can't take the ASS out of MASSotto !

Just so you know, Jupinka, your life is only going to get more miserable from here on in. The Platinum is shaping up to be the longest four hours of your life, my friend.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled MTM bashing. That is all.

[Navel Lint]

34 Days to NFBC 2014

It's nice to have the superstars, the first and second round players that can carry your team.

You want a starting pitcher that will give you 200+ innings with a low ERA and WHiP.



You need a stud hitter that will provide a solid mix of HR's and SB's.




This has been a tradition for as long as we have been putting together fantasy rosters.



But not every player can be a first rounder. We need a starting lineup of 23 players, and some of those players are going to be roster fillers. It's those roster fillers though that can make the difference between "cashing" and crying.

Sometimes it can be that 6th starter that wins 9 games......




Or that 5th Outfielder that hits 10 HR's and picks up 10 SB's......



So remember, not everyone can be a first rounder.............



Sometimes they just fill out the roster, but you can't win without them.........

[Bronx Yankees]

Your main Day 34 pitcher and hitter - King Felix and Bryce Harper - were excellent picks. Very commendable. In terms of the Day 34 women, however, you definitely "reached" and came up short. Seemed like rushed selections. Perhaps a full night's sleep before posting would have helped. I understand wanting to try to tie the gratuitous female shots into a theme, but, well, you still have to make sure that the shots can stand on their own. If they can't, then that's a sign the theme should be abandoned.

Please take this as constructive criticism from someone that has thoroughly enjoyed your thread to date.

Mike

[Navel Lint]

Your main Day 34 pitcher and hitter - King Felix and Bryce Harper - were excellent picks. Very commendable. In terms of the Day 34 women, however, you definitely "reached" and came up short. Seemed like rushed selections. Perhaps a full night's sleep before posting would have helped. I understand wanting to try to tie the gratuitous female shots into a theme, but, well, you still have to make sure that the shots can stand on their own. If they can't, then that's a sign the theme should be abandoned.

Please take this as constructive criticism from someone that has thoroughly enjoyed your thread to date.

Mike

I hear ya.
I just wanted to say that not every pick can be a first rounder

[Bronx Yankees]

Your main Day 34 pitcher and hitter - King Felix and Bryce Harper - were excellent picks. Very commendable. In terms of the Day 34 women, however, you definitely "reached" and came up short. Seemed like rushed selections. Perhaps a full night's sleep before posting would have helped. I understand wanting to try to tie the gratuitous female shots into a theme, but, well, you still have to make sure that the shots can stand on their own. If they can't, then that's a sign the theme should be abandoned.

Please take this as constructive criticism from someone that has thoroughly enjoyed your thread to date.

Mike

I hear ya.
I just wanted to say that not every pick can be a first rounder

I'll look forward to some of your later "value" picks.

Mike

[Navel Lint]

Sorry. Monday is not a good day for me. I will always get something posted , but if anyone wants to jump in on Mondays from here on out, that would be OK with me

33 Days to NFBC 2014



Has any one player been more associated with, or had more to say about steroids than Jose Canseco? In 2006 he literally wrote the book on the subject.



Since then we've had congressional hearings, better testing and joint drug enforcement agreements, short and long suspensions, and lawsuits; yet despite all of this, PED's are still a very present stain on the game.



Last year 9 Major League players were suspended for periods of 50, 100, or more games; this included 3 previous league MVP's.




HOF stat producing players are left outside the Hall with no hope of getting in without buying a ticket first, and other players are blanketed under a cloud of suspicion and doubt.



So how will PED's effect 2014 and does it play a factor on your draft board? That's up to each drafter to decide.




Know this though, PED's will continue to influence the game this year, if not for years to come.



In case you are wondering, this is Ryan Braun's girlfriend

[Navel Lint]

32 Days to NFBC 2014



Entering the 1980 season, Steve Stone had a career record of 78-79 with a 4.06 ERA. Then as if out of nowhere, he helped lead the Baltimore Orioles to the World Series by going 25-7 and winning the Cy Young Award.

From 2002 through 2007 Cliff Lee had a lifetime 4.64 ERA, including a 6.29 era in '07, a season when he was sent back to the minors. In the 2008 NFBC draft, he went undrafted in every league except one. That year he started 2-0 with Cleveland and was picked up in most leagues for FAAB bids ranging from $1 to low double digits. Cliff Lee won the CY Young Award in 2008 by going 22-3 w/2.54. He also 'won' a lot of NFBC leagues.

There are other examples of pitchers seemingly coming out of nowhere to win the CY Young Award; Pat Hentgen in '96, Chris Carpenter in '05 and Mark Davis in 1989 to name a few.

What about 2014? Is there a pitcher that come from deep in the pack and surprise everyone by winning the CY Young?



I'm not saying it's going to happen, then again, I would have never guessed that Lyle Lovett would have married Julia Roberts.

[MadCow Sez]

You forgot the boobs and the MTM slam. If I wanted to see smiles I'd go to a dentist. C'mon...you had such promise!

[Atlas]

I would have guessed LL marrying Julia Roberts.


I would not have guessed Julia Roberts marrying him!

[Navel Lint]

You forgot the boobs and the MTM slam. If I wanted to see smiles I'd go to a dentist. C'mon...you had such promise!

Sorry. But just like watching Bob Costas on the Olympics, I couldn't help but stare into those eyes

[Navel Lint]

31 Days to NFBC 2014



HOF pitcher Fergie Jenkins won 284 games during his career, including one stretch when he won 20 or more games 7 times in 8 years. Over the past 50 years, only Jim Palmer (8) had more 20 win seasons.



Over the past couple of days there have been multiple posts on the message board about starting pitchers winning 20 games.
Winning 20 games really isn't that much more significant than winning 19 games, but let's face it, nobody comes out of the draft hoping that their SP1 wins 19 games, 20 just has a much nicer ring to it.

Yet as we know, winning 20 games just isn't easy.
Going into 2014 there is only 1 active pitcher that has more than one 20+ win season. You read that right, only one pitcher has more than one 20+ win seasons, that pitcher is 73 year old Bartolo Colon with 2.
Wait, Colon is only 40yo.



Last year only one pitcher won 20+ games, Max Scherzer.

We all like to make stat projections for our players, but if you're predicting 20 wins for Yu Darvish, Clayton Kershaw or any of the other top tier starting pitchers, you are most likely going to be disappointed at seasons end.



This women is modeling 'Jockey for Her', I'll let you guess why she got into todays post.

[Navel Lint]

30 Days to NFBC 2014

Sorry, I've been running around all morning.

[Glenneration X]

Ummmm Russ, the Countdown guy doesn't get weekends, let alone the 4-day variety!!!
Where ya been Bud? You disappeared just as catching up on this thread was becoming part of my morning ritual.

[Quahogs]

Let's just cut to the chase. I'll try to make it relevant.

It's been 9 days since we've had an update from Russ...

[Quahogs]

ummm. I know. Go Yanks.

[Quahogs]

24,552 years since Cubs have won a World Series...

[Glenneration X]

I'm guessing Russ realized what I did when I neglected to continue my Countdown these past couple pre-seasons. That the Countdown takes 24/7 dedication. With any hopes of competing in the NFBC, draft prep must also receive a 24/7 commitment. Our jobs, our family, our homes.....also all 24/7 responsibilities.

Wow that's quite a few 24/7's!!! I suppose something's gotta give. Well, here's to hoping that Russ decides it's not the Countdown. After all, you can always find another job. Homes are bought and sold everyday. Our families, do they really appreciate us? And Russ, it's not like you were going to compete in the NFBC anyway. J/K. But the Countdown, now that means something! That's forever!

So Russ, wherever you are....whether on the job or with the family, whether plunging the toilet or nose deep in the Forecaster, stop what you're doing and remember....we need you. We're counting on you. We're counting on the Countdown.

And to show my support, I'll kick start your return to the Countdown by reminding you that it's only 24 more Days (and give or take about 7 hours ) til this year's "live" NFBC drafts and auctions (which in case anyone missed a couple of the other threads on these boards is much, much tougher than Online ).





And to keep Mr. Juprinka interested and away from his studies.....


Yeah, I know....wrong sport. Still, who's looking at the jersey and after all it's only 186 Days 'til the NFFC.



PS....Remember one more thing Russ, you could get lucky and end up in a league with Massotto. Do you really need 24/7 prep for that? (Obligatory Massotto rip now satisfied. )

[Navel Lint]

Back to our regularly scheduled program.........

29,28,27,26,25,24 Days to NFBC 2014

Yes I am alive, thank you to those that emailed. As Glenn said, real life caught up with my fantasy life , but I'm back and better than ever and hopefully without any further interruptions (although I'm going down to spring training next week so I make no guarantee ).


Rod Carew


Wilbur Wood


Kent Tekulve


Billy Williams


Jim Abbott


Willie Mays


Willie Mays was the first true power/speed player. Before Mays, only one player, Ken Williams in 1922, had ever put together a season of 25+ HR's and 25+ SB's, then Willie Mays came along.

Mays put together a string of 5 straight 25/25 seasons and just missed a sixth season by 1 SB. His total numbers during that 6 year stretch are staggering. 214HR/185SB/611RBI/.321

Since his retirement after the '73 season, other players have put together seasons of 25/25, but very few have been able to sustain that level of excellence.

One current player though has started his career in an amazing way. Mike Trout has had two straight seasons of 25/25. Are we seeing the next Willie Mays right before our eyes?



He has a long way to go before making it to the HOF, but it will be fun to watch.



Oh, and it may be 100 something years since the Cubs have won the World Series, but we do still have day baseball and the bleachers. It might not be the same as having a 25/25 guy on the field, but it's a close second.