Todd Zola Will Chat Today At 2 PM EST

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:05 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Being more of an insider to the NFBC than I...do they ask big winner players to send in a picture holding a piece of wood measuring, say 3 feet...and then superimpose the "Big Check" into their hands?

...or do they fly them out somewhere to take those photos?

I enjoy the evolution of the Mag photos including daughters, grandkids, dogs, funny costumes. More personal and fun to see each Mag.

~Lance Just win baby and you're all set up -

www.taylors-shop.co.uk/acatalog/7077-te ... e-300c.jpg [/QUOTE]HA!!!!

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:06 am

What do you see for C.Gomez? 500-600 AB

.255 BA +/- .015

25 SB

Needs to improve contact and patience.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:12 am

What are you thoughts on a player in Tout Wars who has admitted he's NEVER....yes, NEVER won a single fantasy baseball league in his life??

Should this person be allowed to participate in such a league AND when are they going to start inviting players who are consitently winning both leagues and money??

While I am not part of the LLC that runs the leagues, I have a VERY active unofficial role as SWAT for all 3 leagues.

If it is OK, I will hold off on answering this question, as I have been persuaded to write a weekly essay for these boards and my plan is to talk about leagues such as Tout Wars.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:15 am

Describe what you do (not what you are) in your profession in under 30 words.

[ February 28, 2008, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:15 am

Do you recall if a 5X5 (or more with DEF cats) rotisserie style format for Football has ever been tried, and why it was not successful?

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:20 am

"...AND when are they going to start inviting players who are consistently winning both leagues and money??"

THIS is why they get so much crap.

Not only do they more or less refuse to play in the NFBC...they keep their "good old boy network" alive by excluding the NFBC's best.

Pathetic how they assume so much clout and pride and brag up their successes from these type leagues.

Reminds me of a "Blogger Tournament Poker Championship" where only pro bloggers are invited.

~Lance

[ February 28, 2008, 01:22 PM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:20 am

1) You are a good guy, and I am interested in what's next for Todd Zola (Greg briefly touched on something with your job)?

2) Is this your year in the NFBC? If so, why?

3) Childs or Gekko? Pick one

4) What is your KDS as of today?

5) What career possibilities exist at FantasyBaseball.com if GG wanted to take it to the next level?

1) Short term it is all baseball, probably through September, then I will evaluate my options.

2) Last year, I had the dubious distinction of finishing in 4th in both the AL and NL $1350 Vegas auctions. I plan on bettering both this year. As for the Main, I'll pick the guys I think are the best and let the chips fall where they may. With about two weeks of prep left, I KNOW I am further along that I have been in the past, so we'll see.

3) You and Shawn both have track records that speak for themselves.

4) KDS as of today is something like 8,7,9,10,11,1,15,14,13,12,6,5,4,3,2

5) In all seriousness, we are about to expand our staff. Anyone registered will get an e-mail soon

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:25 am

How do you approach valuing players who are involved in spring battles for starting positions (e.g., Pirates CF)? In the main event, you need full time AB from every position, so I will only roster these guys late as reserves. In deeper leagues, I will take a shot at guys I have a feel will get more AB than the public perceives, as unless you spend $9 on pitching, you will have a couple of platoon players on your squad.

JEagle · Post by **JEagle** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:27 am

I prefer my jimmies on my icecream cones

Crazy Like a Fox · Post by **Crazy Like a Fox** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:29 am

I feel you have great knowledge in dissecting numbers. Do you set out with a goal to have a "safe" draft based on your projections or do you consider yourself a risk taker?

Who do you like between Ubaldo Jiminez, Ervin Santana or Kevin Slowey this year?

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:32 am

Ryan Sweeney or Chris Denorfia...who has a better season and why?Denorfia -- just a gut call, more power and speed and more patient. Sweeney makes better contact, but does less with it

Also, will the tribe actually give Ben Francisco a shot this season? I think they WANT Gutierrez to be the man, so he gets first shot in RF.

Delucci has a track record but is coming off injury, Michaels is what he is. If a shot is 300AB? Yeah, I see that. The vast majority of time in either corner OF? Not impossible, but not their first option.

Over/under on wins by the Rays this season? 84

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:32 am

Can you explain why you differ with Ron Shandler on projections? I know it has to do with SGP. But could you explain it for us laymen?

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:33 am

todd- really surprised the 1b outdid the 3b. at least tell me you think it is close and could have gone 25-20 the other way. thanks

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:34 am

What's new on the AVG projections. Have you made any headway on your search for the perfect projection?Perfect? No. And as a fan, I hope we never get there -- what fun would watching the games be? And don't worry, we won't.

Better? Working on it.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:37 am

Being more of an insider to the NFBC than I...do they ask big winner players to send in a picture holding a piece of wood measuring, say 3 feet...and then superimpose the "Big Check" into their hands? Sorry, you'll have to ask a big winner. The auctions I have cashed in are paid with regular-old checks.

Crazy Like a Fox · Post by **Crazy Like a Fox** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:38 am

What's your projection on Delmon Young and Alex Gordon?

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:42 am

Rank these 2nd tier shortstops who seem to be going in similar rounds (4th-5th): Jeter - value wise I have him the highest, but unless I have taken a slugger with risky BA (Howard comes to mind), I would rather get more counting stats that what his value provides

Guillen (still eligible) - love the speed/power combo

Tejada -- guessing I will personally need some SB from this spot, but if you don't exepct the MVP Tejada, he'll be fine

M. Young -- still hits for a high BA, but it is getting emptier every season, would prefer Polanco or even Pedroia several rounds later

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:44 am

How many tubes of sun screen should Greg bring to Phoenix?

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:48 am

Describe what you do (not what you are) in your profession in under 30 words Depends on which profession..

As a Chief Scientific Officer in a small manufacturing company, I was resposnible for the design and synthesis of custom products, also providing technical assistance to customers and serving as the chemistry liason to the rest of the company.

As Research Director of FB.com, I develop valuation and projection processes and apply them to game theory, sort of like a sabermetric approach to PLAYING the game, not analyzing the players like someone like Ron Shandler does, though I am bridging into that area as well.

JEagle · Post by **JEagle** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:50 am

what he is saying is that he is a lot smarter then the dopes on this message board

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:52 am

Do you recall if a 5X5 (or more with DEF cats) rotisserie style format for Football has ever been tried, and why it was not successful?

CDM uses it in their challenge game, something like 8 categories, including stuff like Ave rush yards and ave rec yards so running QBs and pass catching RB really affect these averages.

Football's popularity is a function of the ease it is to play, relative to other sports. It can work in a niche market, but not mainstream.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:54 am

I prefer my jimmies on my icecream cones Duh -- ice cream is for dessert. You can't have dessert until you make clean plate first.

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:01 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

"...AND when are they going to start inviting players who are consistently winning both leagues and money??"

THIS is why they get so much crap.

Not only do they more or less refuse to play in the NFBC...they keep their "good old boy network" alive by excluding the NFBC's best.

Pathetic how they assume so much clout and pride and brag up their successes from these type leagues.

Reminds me of a "Blogger Tournament Poker Championship" where only pro bloggers are invited.

~Lance Not only do they not invite the actual best......at least 2 of the top 5 finalists to play Sam Walker in the upcoming "Fantasyland" movie work in the industry. Wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity to invite a TOTAL outsider/non-"expert" to see how well they perform??

No offense to all the industry experts here.....but the majority of you guys play/think/draft the same. If you've seen one expert draft, well, you basically seen them all.

For football....."oh, you gotta get those RB's, at least 2-3 in the first 4 rounds :rolleyes: "

For baseball...."don't take pitching early, wait for it.....eh, take a catcher at the end, they're all the same :rolleyes: " Check out my signature, it's quite laughable IMO.

The industry has become a bunch of robots...why do you think Lenny Melnick is doing what he's doing, he saw it becoming stagnant, lacking something and he wanted to help bring forth a change and he's attempting to do it.

Todd, et al, kudos to all of you for not being afraid to play with the best. I'm sure TK and Greg can't wait until they can join us in the main events!

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:03 am

Originally posted by ToddZ:

quote: What are you thoughts on a player in Tout Wars who has admitted he's NEVER....yes, NEVER won a single fantasy baseball league in his life??

Should this person be allowed to participate in such a league AND when are they going to start inviting players who are consitently winning both leagues and money??

While I am not part of the LLC that runs the leagues, I have a VERY active unofficial role as SWAT for all 3 leagues.

If it is OK, I will hold off on answering this question, as I have been persuaded to write a weekly essay for these boards and my plan is to talk about leagues such as Tout Wars. [/QUOTE]It's your chat, answer what you want. It's just a little perplexing how this can be. I really like the guy I am talking about...although I don't know him personally.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:04 am

I feel you have great knowledge in dissecting numbers. Do you set out with a goal to have a "safe" draft based on your projections or do you consider yourself a risk taker?I think you need to balance the risk with the safe. There are times and places to take risks, mostly when you are covered with safer picks.

Who do you like between Ubaldo Jiminez, Ervin Santana or Kevin Slowey this year?Jimenez and Slowey about equal, Slowey projected to have better ratios but Jimenez more Ks. Tie goes to the Ks as the ratios are more luck-driven. I view them as spot starters in the NFBC. I would not touch E Santana in the NFBC Main, but could see taking a shot in the AL auction -- last year was worst case scenario, there is upside and opportunity.