CREATiVESPORTS Column on FAAB

Buster · Post by **Buster** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 5:39 am

As promised, this week's Outside the Box, following the energy charged reaction to last week's column (regarding Walla Walla's usage of all 1,000 FAAB already) again discusses FAAB usage.

This column includes many of your comments, as well as e-mailed comments, and the long awaited Walla Walla explanation for his usage.

The column can be found at

Outside the Box

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:57 pm

Let me follow up on my statement as it were. First I did feel good in the AL auction league the night before and I’m getting drilled there. So I won’t use being sick in the main event as an excuse. Let’s just say I’m not very good at drafts. Second I think a better story would have been why the first place team is doing great and not why my lowly team was doing bad. Finally I wonder if of the 15 teams in our league, you picked me out because I beat you out of three bids you wanted. True I used up my FAAB but I did get some players I needed. Like I stated before I’m not an industry guy. We had four industry guys in our draft. You could have put any of them in the show case. Of course they’re use to writing and could of made their case better than I can. Your excuse of trying to just point out how smart you are by knocking the common man that competes in these contests is the same as when Ron Shandler did the same thing in Baseball HQ. It’s a cheap shot.

Buster · Post by **Buster** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 6:42 pm

Walla, If I wanted to take a shot at you, I would. Thing is, I didn't. I merely wrote about a strategy that wasn't recommended.

There is nothing noteworthy and nothing remarkable about any team doing well. In a fifteen team league, someone is going to be in first by default. Someone will be in the lead of the 195 teams, again by default. If not you, then me, or someone else. There is no need to write about a team winning in late May. Odds are, whoever is leading in May is not likely to be leading at the end of September. It's difficult to go wire to wire. (However, if it is done, now that will be noteworthy).

If you think I picked you out because you "beat me out of three bids I wanted," then you are even more mistaken. Probably each of the other thirteen teams beat me out on those three guys, as I did not bid aggressively. I didn't write about any of that, because, again, that is not noteworthy nor interesting. Imagine the headline, "Buster bids $100 on Tim Worrell, but doesn't get him!" I bet the readers would line up for that one.

My columns have often discussed different and alternative methods of tackling fantasy sports leagues. Sometimes, I learn of a new method that is successful. You can bet that I will do a full piece on the team that wins the NFBC, analyzing what he/she did right. I will also do a self examination, analyzing what I did wrong, and right. (Drafting Sheffield in the first round apppears to be wrong, at this point, but I am still holding out hope.)

I know that I didn't shoot my wad in May, so at least that is one thing that I didn't do wrong. Hopefully, CREATiVESPORTS.com readers won't make that mistake, either.

In that regard, that is what I do. Advise on good things, and try to disuade our readers from the wrong.

It just so happens that you were the one who made the mistake (in my opinion) of spending all the money. If Todd Zola or Nate Ravitz (both industry guys) had done the same thing, rest assured I would have pointed that out as well. However, there was no need to "showcase" Mr. Zola, Mr. Ravitz, or the RotoChamp guys, because they did nothing noteworthy with their FAAB.

You, on the otherhand, did. Hence the column, and pursuant to your request, a column identifying your reasons for the bids you made.

In closing, if you have read any of my columns, you will see that I never claim to be the smartest, or among the smartest, guys around. My team is not performing well, and I am the first to admit it.

Simply put, you blew it with your FAAB. I pointed it out, and CREATiVESPORTS.com readers are better for it. On behalf of the readers, thank you for your example.

Last Week's Buster's Column regarding FAAB and Walla Walla

Hoosier Hick · Post by **Hoosier Hick** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 3:09 am

Your drafting Sheffield in the first round makes me not feel so bad about drafting him in the second round.

I have middle infielders with better stats than him. I hope he gets going soon.

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 3:35 am

Buster,

You say you were just making a point about money management. I’d believe you if you had just said I have a team in my league that did this. But you put out in that first article the name of my team 10 times. You say it wasn’t personal. The hell it wasn’t!

You name a team ten times in a story than your targeting that person. Than you have the balls to post on the league site it’s not personal. You state that “There is nothing noteworthy and nothing remarkable about any team doing well. In a fifteen team league, someone is going to be in first by default. Someone will be in the lead of the 195 teams, again by default”. Are you kidding me? Being in the lead of 195 teams is not noteworthy? You my friend are not the front end of the horse

Buster · Post by **Buster** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 6:16 am

Walla:

Let's get the record straight. I listed your team name twelve times, not ten times. If I wanted to make it personal, I would have included your name, not just your generic team name.

Next, including a team name adds credence to the column. The old, "a team in one of my leagues" sounds trite and a little bit fictional. Adding a team name (but not the individual's name) demonstrates that there is indeed truth to what I write. You will note that I didn't use your team name or your personal name in the second column, as there was no need to do so. I established in the first column, and you confirmed in the postings, that what I had written was true. Hence, no need for the team name the second time around.

Next, a team has led the league each of the 9 weeks. Someone has to be in the lead, and someone has to be last. There is nothing interesting or noteworthy about a team leading the pack 1/4 of the way through.

For example, after week 1, it was King of Queens. After week 2, it was Ride the Puffins. After the third week, Team O'Connor was leading. Get the drift? It isn't noteworthy, as last time I checked, there was no prize money and no notoriety for leading early in the season.

For what it is worth, Detroit and Oakland were leading their respective divisions after the first week of the MLB season. Does anyone (other than you) think that this was noteworthy? Obviously not.

You, Walla, made yourself noteworthy, and as a result, the CREATiVESPORTS.com readers are enriched. Thank you again.

Buster.

bowlingfool · Post by **bowlingfool** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 6:29 am

Wahla Wahla

Why don't you quit your whining? You blew it by spending all your money. Be a man and accept it and learn from it. We are all tired of your whining.

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 6:49 am

Buster, No point arguing with you anymore. Anyone who has to gravel for readers here by posting is on a one way ticket out anyway. The good ones can promote without attacking future customers. You may win this thing but you've lost respect from many. If I lose this thing no big deal.

Buster · Post by **Buster** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 7:39 am

Walla:

Didn't know you spoke for "many" unless you mean "many whiners and complainers."

If you recall, YOU posted the link to my column on this board, I didn't. I let our little ol' league know that I posted a column, that was 14 other people, YOU advertised my column by posting a complaint, and then YOU admitting that YOU over-reacted.

If anyone is promoting me, it is YOU. Thanks.

As to respect, I don't think you have it correctly. I didn't whine, I didn't cry, I didn't moan. You, however, do.

If then I have lost the respect of whiners, well, I can live with that. Funny thing is, while you will never admit it, you WILL keep reading.

As always, I wish you only the best of luck.

Buster

Buster · Post by **Buster** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 4:12 am

In keeping with the money management theme, this week's column again discusses the FAAB process. There is no mention of Walla Walla or his team, but there is a nice plug for Cheap Shot Chuggers, who, in my humble opinion, did a spectacular job in acquiring Dontrelle Willis, while still retaining some FAAB $ to spend.

If interested, the column is located at Outside the [Batter's] Box Column regarding Cheap Shot Chuggers

Thanks.

Buster

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 10:55 am

Originally posted by Buster:

In keeping with the money management theme, this week's column again discusses the FAAB process. There is no mention of Walla Walla or his team, but there is a nice plug for Cheap Shot Chuggers, who, in my humble opinion, did a spectacular job in acquiring Dontrelle Willis, while still retaining some FAAB $ to spend.

If interested, the column is located at Outside the [Batter's] Box Column regarding Cheap Shot Chuggers

Thanks.

Buster Hey Bust - nice read on the article. And it's not that I disagreed with your points EVER - you're dead on.

You might, however, want to revisit the heading:

"The Calvary Returns"

Calvary or (according to dictionary.com) "A sculptured depiction of the Crucifixion" returning is probably not what you meant.

I'm guessing Cavalry

Good read, though.

Dyv

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:15 pm

Buster, Ok your right. Your the man. Gordon Gekko

your also the man. I bow to you both. I'll never try to compete in a league like this again.

Brian Walton · Post by **Brian Walton** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 5:50 am

Another possibility is to change league rules to allow $0 bids. This would allow teams with no FAAB money remaining to still acquire players if and only if no one else wanted them in a given week. This approach is used successfully in another league in which I compete and might be worthy of 2005 consideration here.

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 7:15 am

Originally posted by brian:

Another possibility is to change league rules to allow $0 bids. This would allow teams with no FAAB money remaining to still acquire players if and only if no one else wanted them in a given week. This approach is used successfully in another league in which I compete and might be worthy of 2005 consideration here. I'll donate $3 of my FA money to Walla for beer... that would be a cool option

D

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:14 pm

Brian, your league with o bids is most likely with 100 dollars of faab money. A $1000 of faab is alot of money over 26 periods. Everyone should be able to manage that through the year. There shouldn't be an edge for someone to bid zero, you know you can put in a ton of 0 bids in and get a player to fill in. Everyone gets dealt the same hand. For a championship like this, everyone should be even when it come to money.

Brian Walton · Post by **Brian Walton** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:52 pm

CCD, you are correct on the $100 vs $1000 point. However, budgeting any reasonable amount requires discipline or at least a strategy. If I have money and another player doesn't, I can outbid him every time if I want to.

Still, in all fairness, the owner who is out of cash does not seem upset about that fact. So, why try to fix something that is apparently not broken? I withdraw the suggestion.

P.S. Congratulations on your overall lead in the competition.

[ June 15, 2004, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: brian ]

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 1:44 pm

Thanks Brian, about 98 games to go!! Skating the injury bug seems to be the biggest speed bump....