What Did We Learn From The First Half Of The NFBC Season?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:42 am

I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering what the hell I was thinking about when I made certain selections in my nine different leagues I'm trying to manage now. It's possible that a few of you are scratching your heads over your picks too right now. Honestly, I thought Randy Johnson would bounce back in New York and Ben Sheets would stay healthy in Milwaukee. Really I did!

This is a thread to vent if you'd like, but I also wanted to profile the first half of the NFBC competition. We have 35 leagues in the three cities, not counting the satellite leagues. Here's a quick look at the races in each level of events:

Ultimate Leagues: It's an interesting range with $40,000 on the line in our two Ultimate Draft Leagues and one Ultimate Auction League. Only 2.5 points separate the top two teams in the Ultimate Auction League, while 16.5 points and 8.0 points separate the top teams in the two other leagues. I have a feeling all of these leagues will still go down to the wire.

Auction Leagues: Last year all of these leagues seemed to come down right to the very end as bidding for players has a tendency to level the playing field. This year five of the 10 leagues have the top two teams within four points of each other. The other five leagues have leaders ahead by anywhere from 9.5 points to 13.5 points. Interesting, but there's still a lot of time left.

Main Event Leagues: Of the 22 leagues, four are decided by 0.5 points right now. Four other leagues have the top two teams within five points of each other. Most leagues have at least four teams within 6-8 points of the top spot. Six of the 22 league leaders have double-digit leads, with our overall leader having the largest lead of 22.5 points in Las Vegas League 9.

Not to jinx him, but David DiDonato has had a great first half as our overall leader. He leads LV9 by 22.5 points and he leads the Ultimate Draft League by 16.5 points. Great job David.

On another note, it's tough to repeat in the NFBC as only four owners defended their 2004 league titles in 2005. We'll see if any of those can win three straight titles, but right now it looks tough. Our 2004 and 2005 NFBC champions are also struggling to become the first owners to win two national titles as they are both in the bottom tier of their main event leagues. But there's still plenty of time to turn things around.

Good luck in the second half and we'll see what the dog days of summer have in store for us. If you want to vent about the players who have become dogs for you, feel free to do so here!

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:44 am

to this goofball, watch where you swing the bat ! Or maybe to Zambrano, watch where the hell you're walking ! You think YES, at least I dont have to deal with any new injuries these 4 days, that players will be getting HEALTHY... NOT !!

clowns

Q

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:56 am

I think the first half has taught us once again that in baseball, especially a sepentine format, the most important parts of team building take place in the middle to late rounds. So much quality was avaliable later on that if you were smart enough or lucky enough to land a few of the biggies you have a shot at some cash.

While I still don't enjoy a straight draft as much as an Auction, I'll say that the KDS is a nice idea but doesn't really come into play in my mind as a plus. I'll continue to leave my KDS at 1-15 and take my chances.

While taking an under the radar guy in football seems to have workded in the past because of an injury that doesn't seem to woirk in baseball. A lesson I've learned the hard way and will remember for March 2007.

Good luck to all in the second half. NFBC/NFFC are clearly head and shoulders above anything else in the Roto/Fantasy world and Greg and Staff have alot to do with that. Enjoy guys.

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:37 am

I have to say, I believe that the auction leagues represent a greater chance for managers to differentiate themselves. Serpentine drafts I believe tend to only have highly differentiated teams when someone get lucky with late round players and gets 3-4 players above their heads.

By creating the additional choices you have to make in an auction, you give people more chance to make mistakes. In the auction draft I see people often mismanaging money so they are stuck with little money late. If you want an example of this, go see the LV Mixed 2 league!

I echo Sacks words though to Greg and Tom. Hurrah for them!

Regards

Spy

poopy tooth · Post by **poopy tooth** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:52 am

Well, I was actually looking forward to my first pick in the ultamite league. My only choice was ARod or Pujols...(of course I was wrong...ARod!) but I am sitting dead last...31 points! Just awful...

Things I will not do...take an ace with my number 2 pick. I've been burnt both years...Sheets last year and Peavy this year. This is too much pitching you cam get later.

Another thing, even though the OF has plenty to offer, you better grab players early, don't get caught with Brady Clark and Mark Kotsay types filling out your OF. You'll pay the price!!!

Finally, closers...pick them early, pick them late??? I'm sure if I walked away with Papelbon in the 25th round or Putz later, I'd say just wait, but I'm not sure yet.

Oh, one more thing...balance your FA budget...after bidding $200 plus dollars on Jeremy Burnitz and putting him on my bench, I'd kick my own ass if I could!

Good luck to all going forward!!!