Edward Nolan Is Week 3 Winner

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:06 am

Congratulations to Edward Nolan whose Bull Pen PUGS team in Orlando League 3 finished first in the NFBC last week with 3,241.5 points.

Big weeks from Conor Jackson (.480-3-10, 10 runs) Miguel Cabrera (.429-2-11) led the way offensively. David Eckstein (.346-1-5) and Aaron Hill (.321-1-4) also had good weeks at the plate. On the mound, Zack Greinke and Greg Smith combined for 18 strikeouts while Joe Nathan had two saves.

Congratulations again to Edward and good luck to everyone in the NFBC this week.

Quack · Post by **Quack** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:38 am

way to go Ed...representing Orlando 3

Plymouth · Post by **Plymouth** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:55 am

Ed, nice job, give the rest of us a chance to catch up.

Bull Pen Pugs · Post by **Bull Pen Pugs** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:01 am

WOOT, WOOT......

Thanks John and Mike.....

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:18 am

Football is his first love, so it’s taken a little while for Edward Nolan to embrace fantasy baseball.

But he’s grown to love the game and after last week, he may be eternally devoted to it.

Nolan’s Bull Pen PUGS team in Orlando League 3 finished first in the NFBC last week with 3,241.5 points. Big weeks from Conor Jackson (.480-3-10, 10 runs) Miguel Cabrera (.429-2-11) led the way offensively. David Eckstein (.346-1-5) and Aaron Hill (.321-1-4) also had good weeks at the plate. On the mound, Zack Greinke and Greg Smith combined for 18 strikeouts while Joe Nathan had two saves.

“I joined the NFBC four years ago and almost joined in their first, but was a little skeptical to put this much money into a site that just started up,” Nolan said. “I will admit that football is my first passion, but baseball has become my second. I played in mainly 12-team leagues for about 10 years, but after the strike in the mid-90s, I felt "soured" on baseball and did not play again or watch it until playing in the NFBC.

“Additionally, an 11-year tour in the Navy sailing around the globe did contribute a little too. My lifetime NFBC stats back that up as I finished in the bottom 10 percent my first year. But, since then I have moved up each year and into a top 80 finish.”

And last week, his team was No. 1 in the event, much to Nolan’s relief.

“Finally, the Pug team has been able to sustain a weekly run and come away with an overall week win,” he said. “While it is only one week, it is a start and after almost winning an overall week a few times last year I am happy.

“This is a tough and long contest, with very good owners so winning anything is a plus. This week also allowed the Pugs, to move into the overall Top 5 for the main contest, so it was a productive week.

“I benched Ichiro and had briefly thought of benching either Jackson or Cabrera, but obviously did not on the advice of the wife. This week highlighted my hitters finally coming up to speed with my pitching, as my pitching has been carrying the squad. Having Miguel Cabrera,

Connor Jackson, Aaron Hill and Eckstein turn it up has allowed the hitting to catch up to the pitching. Additionally, getting some good RBI production from both my catchers - Bengi Molina and Chris Snyder - along with Ryan Garko rounded out the hitting.

“The pitching staff got good production from everyone, as I had no starter really sour on me. Wainwright, Greinke, Greg Smith and Lincecum provided solid production to round off the pitching staff and lead us to the overall win this week. Hopefully, this is a start to a strong and steady year in the main and will let us break the top level this year.”

This was Nolan’s first trip to a warmer climate on draft day as he had traveled to Chicago the previous three years. Going into the draft, he targeted Cabrera in the first round and then he wanted to ensure his offensive players were strong 4-5 category performers.

“To end up Cabrera, Ichiro, Bobby Abreu, Ian Kinsler and Chris Young set the stage for the rest of the team,” he said. “While I do not have ‘must have’ players there were several I coveted this year. Mainly, Cabrera, Abreu, Dice K, Lincecum, Wainwright, Greinke, Conor Jackson and Carlos Gomez were the ones I wanted. I also planned to wait on pitching and focus on hitting early and was able to get Joe Nathan in the seventh and Dice K late in the sixth.”

Nolan is married and lives in a suburb near St. Paul, MN. He works for a top financial institution in downtown Minneapolis as a physical security manager.

“I am a transplant from northern New Jersey, so I still enjoy watching my Yankees and New York Giants, but admit the Twins have grown on me,” he said.

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:02 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

“I benched Ichiro Wow! A bold move that paid off. Congrats on the winning week.