Week 14 Drops

nydownunder · Post by **nydownunder** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:20 pm

I am in a league where a couple of teams have 4 closers, and although I doubt they'd drop one because of one's heavily weighted RP strategy, I think it would be a shame if one of their closers were removed from the pool...especially considering I've been scraping for a second closer for some time. And although I would not have enough FAAB dollars to pick one up, I still think it is the fair thing to do. I think that league should be aloud to RE-WEIGHT itself in the saves category. Of course if it's an elite closer that is contributing over and above Saves, then the situation certainly calls for possible removal.

Jones, or even Dotel for that matter, aren't 3 or 4 category players. You'd wouldn't see them go in the first 10 rounds of a draft today.

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:33 pm

Im also in Las Vegas 6, and will give my honest opinion , im in the race , so you would think i would want Jones out.I dont , Jones and Dotel are not big time player's that should be taken out.If you take these guy's out you will be making it harder on yourself's all year as better players like Hamilton have gone by , a 30 homer , 90 rbi man, possible]

I also have about 40 dollar's left so dont think this is why , i dont have the money to buy him.

If I DID SAFE MY MONEY AND HE WAS TAKEN OUT , iwould be very upset.Let someone blow there money on him and get the saves with that bad everything else.I also believe Rodney OR Zumaya will close later on the line only because of injuries.That's my opinion and im in this league with no money. good luck on your choice.

EDDIE G

Latham · Post by **Latham** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:35 pm

I think we need to get some uniform standard for removing players during the off season. We seem to go through this debate too many times over too many players. Removing players from the free agent pool should be used for the elite players or to eliminate any possible collusion. There is a reason that nobody in any main event league drafted Todd Jones or Octavio Dotel with a top 100 pick. Saves aren't anymore important than any other category (actually it's a pretty ridiculous stat IMO). I am not in any of the league(s) in question, but that is my .02 cents.

mdz129 · Post by **mdz129** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:01 pm

Greg,

As I member of LV 6 -- I have changed my vote to leaving Jones in the FA Pool. I have no FAAB money left, but what the heck-- let the chips fall where they may.

So Maybe LV 6 could vote on this--

so far 4 yes 0 no

Mike

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:16 pm

In this case (dropping TJ and OD), why should a team be allowed to strengthen a category (at the expense of the league) but suffer no consequences when the category is maxed out to their benefit ? It must be nice knowing that after I draft 3 closers and outbid the league for 2 others that I'll be able to drop 3 of them and no team will benefit from being able to add them.

Also what happens if Dotel is removed from that league and then gets dealt to the Mets for example ? He's now a setup guy and may be dropped from 15 additional leagues. Is he off limits in those leagues too? Even though he's a middling middleman ?

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:15 am

A vote by LV6 misses the point. The overall contest is unique, in that the other 360 owners do not have the benefit of the closer for the reigning American League Champs becoming available in July. I agree it is a slippery slope, but it is one that Greg must navigate. It comes with the territory of having a two tiered contest. Removing Jones would have a very minimal affect on LV6, compared to the affect it could have on the overall contest.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:23 am

I have decided to keep Dotel and Jones in their respective free agent pools because obviously each closer has as much risk as reward. These are not dominant closers who dominate 3-4 categories and thus we'll allow them to remain in their free agent pools.

Thanks for the discussion and the feedback. We want to continue to keep the overall competition balanced for everyone, while also respecting the divisional races. We've ruled pretty consistently through the first three years and want to keep that balance in 2007 as well. Still, when it comes to players who can dominate a certain category and are dropped in only a few leagues, we'll analyze those cuts and take those players out of their respective leagues' free agent pools when necessary.

Good luck everyone the rest of the way.

SluggoJD · Post by **SluggoJD** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:19 am

Mission Impossible IV weighing in...

As today's leader in LV6, where we change leadership more often than we change our socks, I fully support Greg's decision.

MI4 WILL NOT bid on Jones - we'll continue with Nathan, Weathers, and Shields...and Gallardo in the pen until the Brewers turn him lose again in August. Just too risky, Ks are too volatile in our ultra-competitive league, and saves are not the ticket to winning this whole thing. Besides we expect a big 2nd half from Nathan, and the rest of our team.

And isn't Ryan Braun amazing?

John

mdz129 · Post by **mdz129** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:24 am

And with the 30th round selection -- Main Event Insulators select Ryan Braun and in week 1 he is dropped-- for Juan Salas -- Masterful.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:24 am

Greg,

I do not agree with your decision but it was clearly a tough judgment call and not one that in my opinion would be terrible in either direction. So lets move on before the name Jack Cust comes up.......

I do think giving additional weight to the direct league members opinions is a bad precedent- some really good guys in that league but they all have something to gain or lose directly. I cannot say that if a controversial drop happened in my league that I could be completely impartial with my opinions.

It will be interesting to see how much he goes for....

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:28 am

Originally posted by SluggoJD:

Mission Impossible IV weighing in...

As today's leader in LV6, where we change leadership more often than we change our socks, I fully support Greg's decision.

MI4 WILL NOT bid on Jones - we'll continue with Nathan, Weathers, and Shields...and Gallardo in the pen until the Brewers turn him lose again in August. Just too risky, Ks are too volatile in our ultra-competitive league, and saves are not the ticket to winning this whole thing. Besides we expect a big 2nd half from Nathan, and the rest of our team.

And isn't Ryan Braun amazing?

John You know John when I am drafting I always think about next year's draft board and who the guy is that if you could see in the future you would say that guy in round 2??? Example would be seeing Hanley Ramirez on the 07 boards a year in advance or Cole Hamels going in round 7.

I think we have our answer for the 08 boards and his name is Ryan Braun. Not sure he will go 2nd round but it will be very high. I have not seen him much but the first couple of weeks he seemed prone to really good fastballs, I assume he has made some adjustments.

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:31 am

Good call Greg!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:18 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Greg,

I do not agree with your decision but it was clearly a tough judgment call and not one that in my opinion would be terrible in either direction. So lets move on before the name Jack Cust comes up.......

I do think giving additional weight to the direct league members opinions is a bad precedent- some really good guys in that league but they all have something to gain or lose directly. I cannot say that if a controversial drop happened in my league that I could be completely impartial with my opinions.

It will be interesting to see how much he goes for.... No precedent here, Chest. I'm not sure who you think influenced my decision, but it certainly wasn't anyone in LV6. If it's Jones, then it's Dotel. Then it's Scott Podsednik (who was also cut this week) as a potential one-category wonder. I looked over the cuts as I said I would and after further looking everything over it made sense to keep these closers available. I feel comfortable with the decision.

Again, no precedent here. In fact, it's more consistent with what I've done since 2004 than precedent setting.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:23 am

Good choice Greg. Same boat as Eddie G in LV #6, still alive and kicking but not enough money to go after Todd Jones. If I had "waited" with my FAAB this certainly would have been a reward. All part of the strategy - good call.

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:36 am

Tough call, but that is why Greg gets paid the big bucks. The decision may have been made a bit easier, since LV6's leader is only 35th overall. However if this were August instead of July 3rd, and a top 10 overall team may have been the beneficiary, the decision may have been more difficult and the outcry from other top overall teams may have been louder. I can think of one owner who may have voiced his displeasure, can you GUESS WHO?

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:09 am

Precedent has already been set: if Josh Barfield was not removed from the pool back in April, then these two turds should be left available now.

Good call, Greg.

SluggoJD · Post by **SluggoJD** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:41 pm

Chest, no doubt Braun is going to go pretty high next year. He's made all the adjustments necessary to continue to play at a high level, IMO. Yesterday was his first really stinky game since early on, yet he still managed to get a hit finally , and steal a base. He missed a HR twice by at most a yard. Today he comes back 2-5, and steals a base for us again. Never saw the SBs coming!

I'm just amazed at how mature he appears to be at the plate...plus his defense has been much better than feared.

Batting .343 now, 30-30+ projected for a season, over 100 runs and rbis...wow. We knew he was good, we knew we had to get him before others decided it was time, but I never expected this...plus his swing is such that he doesn't look like the kind of player that will go into bad slumps.

Ok, enough about Braun LOL

Greg had a tough call here, but I have to respect the slippery slope debating points. I have mixed feelings about seeing someone pick him up this weekend, but there is no way in hell we want him lol. We'll take our chances that we can finish in the middle of the pack in saves, and the rest of the stats will be good enough to pull 80% overall in pitching. I believe our team is built for the second half, nobody is over-achieving except V Mart, so if I'm right, we got a chance, and if I'm wrong, well, we'll battle for money in the league. Regardless, at least I don't suck this year LOL

[ July 03, 2007, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: SluggoJD ]

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:50 pm

"As for Leyland's step-sister, she's 80 and balding, only Randy Johnson and Homer Bailey remain interested."

HAAAA!!!!!

Love it!

~Lance

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:46 am

With 39 dollars we wont be buying Todd Jones, but if we had the money , ah yes we would try to get him.Im not a big Jones guy but with Z

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:50 am

With 39 dollars we wont be buying Todd Jones, but if we had the money , ah yes we would try to get him.Im not a big Jones guy but with Zumaya out to till september and Fer Rodney out on the DL , he win's by default.He did pitch much better last year after the all star break, so he should get the save's , just no K's. Whoever get's him great job, to hang onto your money and get some value is a good job.I alway's spend early and often . good luck

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:30 pm

Winning bids:

Todd Jones 158 (69 runner-up)

Octavio Dotel 83 (45 runner-up)

As is usually the case, much ado about nothing...