2007 NFBC Champion Profile - Larry Edelman

[Tom Kessenich]

NFBC CHAMPION PROFILE – LARRY EDELMAN NEW YORK LEAGUE 8



1. How did it feel to win your league title?

I was very excited and proud to win the league title and to finish in the Top 10 of the main event. I commend the other owners in my league for their skill, effort and courtesy throughout the competition.



2. What were the keys to your championship season?

The key to my success this year was my ability to achieve balance across the 10 scoring categories; although this balance was somewhat derailed by significant injuries in the second half of the season (ie Victorino, Pence, Taveras, and Bonderman), my solid first half numbers and my bench depth largely offset the eventual injury caused decline in production.



3. What draft day strategies worked best?

As has always been the case, my draft day strategy in 2007 was to have a balanced team across the 10 scoring categories, and while in past years injuries to key drafted players have wrecked my plans, this year the injuries stayed away until the second half of the season, allowing my team to accumulate at the outset some solid statistics across the board.



4. Were there any draft day strategies that didn't pan out?

Drafting a closer very early. BJ Ryan in the third round, hurt my team; even though I was able to make up for his stats through FAAB, my missed opportunity to draft a good offensive player that round definitely came back to haunt me. When will I learn that pitchers are extremely fragile?



5. How did FAAB work for you?

I was very pleased with my FAAB pick-ups of Jeremy Accardo and Kevin Gregg to offset the loss of BJ Ryan in April, and the pick-up of Gallardo to help offset the second half doldrums of my other starting pitchers. I was not as astute in picking up offensive players through FAAB, most notably passing on Carlos Pena in April because of my mistaken belief that I already had someone worthwhile at first base in either Wes Helms or Scott Thorman (both of whom were complete fantasy failures).



6. How long have you been playing fantasy baseball/fantasy sports?

I am proud to be an original participant in NFBC, and I have been participating in various configurations of fantasy baseball every year since 1985. I can't imagine a spring and summer without it!



7. Personal - single/married/occupation/where do you live?

I am married with two sons, living in Westchester

County, NY. I am a Department Manager at a Bank.