Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
- Greg Ambrosius
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Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
One other note, our first baseball magazine goes to press tomorrow and all early-bird signups should be getting it in the mail before the end of January. It's a fun read and Tom and I will be posting our position eligibility lists online very soon along with rankings and dollar values for AL-only and NL-only leagues. We have all of the Cheat Sheets done and can copy and paste those soon onto the NFBC main page.
We'll tease our Top 25 list on the Message Boards this week and give a snippet of Perry Van Hook's AFL Report, where he ranks the Top 10 fantasy players from this year's Arizona Fall League. Great job for the magazine Perry and I trust you won't mind if we tease this a bit on the boards first.
Believe it or not, this is our 20th anniversary issue for the magazine, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment in this day and age of magazines. I hope we last another 20 years, but that will be tough. I'll post a bit of my editorial on the boards as well and a look back at our first 20 years because it has been interesting. I've edited every single issue and watched this industry grow up from a pipe dream to a major, major industry. It's been a fun ride so far and hopefully the best is yet to come.
So get ready for more content soon, once we get this beast to the publishers.
We'll tease our Top 25 list on the Message Boards this week and give a snippet of Perry Van Hook's AFL Report, where he ranks the Top 10 fantasy players from this year's Arizona Fall League. Great job for the magazine Perry and I trust you won't mind if we tease this a bit on the boards first.
Believe it or not, this is our 20th anniversary issue for the magazine, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment in this day and age of magazines. I hope we last another 20 years, but that will be tough. I'll post a bit of my editorial on the boards as well and a look back at our first 20 years because it has been interesting. I've edited every single issue and watched this industry grow up from a pipe dream to a major, major industry. It's been a fun ride so far and hopefully the best is yet to come.
So get ready for more content soon, once we get this beast to the publishers.
Greg Ambrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
greg: how do we sign up to get the magazine?
- Greg Ambrosius
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- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:00 pm
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Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Originally posted by Richie:
greg: how do we sign up to get the magazine? You can sign up online by clicking on the Register link of the home page or just contact me via e-mail or here and I'll sign you up. I don't need a credit card until Feb. 15th and you'll have the magazines well before that.
I'll call some of you in the next few weeks to see how things are going and if you're going to be coming back. I know the economy is tough everywhere and we have different payment plans this year if that helps and even the online option or the cheaper Online Championship option. Hopefully we can still keep most folks involved in the NFBC this year.
greg: how do we sign up to get the magazine? You can sign up online by clicking on the Register link of the home page or just contact me via e-mail or here and I'll sign you up. I don't need a credit card until Feb. 15th and you'll have the magazines well before that.
I'll call some of you in the next few weeks to see how things are going and if you're going to be coming back. I know the economy is tough everywhere and we have different payment plans this year if that helps and even the online option or the cheaper Online Championship option. Hopefully we can still keep most folks involved in the NFBC this year.
Greg Ambrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
- Edwards Kings
- Posts: 5910
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Duluth, Georgia
Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
Believe it or not, this is our 20th anniversary issue for the magazine, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment in this day and age of magazines. I hope we last another 20 years, but that will be tough. I'll post a bit of my editorial on the boards as well and a look back at our first 20 years because it has been interesting. I've edited every single issue and watched this industry grow up from a pipe dream to a major, major industry. It's been a fun ride so far and hopefully the best is yet to come.
Twenty years! Wow!
When I think back twenty years, I recall:
1) I had no kids...which was good because
2) I wasn't married.
3) I was still in my prior career (restaurant management), working crazy hours, and still thought cocktail waitresses were part of a "target rich environment".
4) I was making dirt for money and was rich as hell.
5) Monday Night Football still meant something.
6) The Braves were perennial second division also-rans.
Greg, as part of your Twenty Year Retrospective, was there one baseball prediction/projection that stands out as one you went out on a limb about and nailed (I know there were many but was one special)? Conversly, was there one that stands out as your biggest swing and a miss?
[ January 05, 2009, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]
Believe it or not, this is our 20th anniversary issue for the magazine, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment in this day and age of magazines. I hope we last another 20 years, but that will be tough. I'll post a bit of my editorial on the boards as well and a look back at our first 20 years because it has been interesting. I've edited every single issue and watched this industry grow up from a pipe dream to a major, major industry. It's been a fun ride so far and hopefully the best is yet to come.
Twenty years! Wow!
When I think back twenty years, I recall:
1) I had no kids...which was good because
2) I wasn't married.
3) I was still in my prior career (restaurant management), working crazy hours, and still thought cocktail waitresses were part of a "target rich environment".
4) I was making dirt for money and was rich as hell.
5) Monday Night Football still meant something.
6) The Braves were perennial second division also-rans.
Greg, as part of your Twenty Year Retrospective, was there one baseball prediction/projection that stands out as one you went out on a limb about and nailed (I know there were many but was one special)? Conversly, was there one that stands out as your biggest swing and a miss?
[ January 05, 2009, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
- Edwards Kings
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- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:00 pm
- Location: Duluth, Georgia
Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Prince Fielder: "Until he learns to hit to all fields and gets himself in better shape, Fielder will be limited to a .275-.285 average and power numbers similar to what we saw in 2008 (34 HRs, 102 RBIs)." Agree here, but I have these numbers as a baselilne. Would I use a high draft pick on this kind of baseline and know that one little hot streak can take him to 40+ and 120+...yes. Very little risk here.
Kevin Youkilis: I think Youk is a good enough hitter to alter his approach based on team needs. When he was hitting higher in the line-up, his job was to get on base. Remember calling him the "Greek God of Walks"? I do not think he is a prototypical clean-up hitter (which is where we saw him hit late after Manny left) and I think we may have seen his HR upside. He would be one of the better #3 hitters out there. If the BoSox use him at #6 to protect Lowell again, it would be a waste. I have him down as rock solid to help BA, but I think it is a stretch to think he can flirt with 30 HR again and he may not drive in 100 much less 110 unless he does hit fourth again, then his BA will probably not crack .300. Spring training will tell me how high I would draft him, but it would be only a difference between the third and fourth rounds I am thinking.
Chris Davis: Young power hitters that have tendencies to be free swingers will have some significant ups and downs. I do not think his July '07 will be the norm, nor do I think his August is either. A rollercoaster bat in the right park for power. Could easily hit 35+ HR given 500+ AB, but the BA is really risky. A hot spring will cause, coupled with 3B scarcity, him to go even earlier. It just depends on your risk tolerance.
Aubrey Huff: Will go too high. Burned us before. 3B availability will have him going 5-6-7. I will waive at him as he goes by.
Pablo Sandoval: Better than Chris Davis in my opinion, but doesn't have the park. Exposed to a full year to ML pitching will show some teething pains and up/down results. Starting to get some love and may sneak into the Top 10 rounds, but he won't be worth it...this year. I am hoping for an awful spring, a short term assignment to AAA (SF is desparate, so probably will not happen), so I can sneak a pick on him much later in the draft.
[ January 05, 2009, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]
Kevin Youkilis: I think Youk is a good enough hitter to alter his approach based on team needs. When he was hitting higher in the line-up, his job was to get on base. Remember calling him the "Greek God of Walks"? I do not think he is a prototypical clean-up hitter (which is where we saw him hit late after Manny left) and I think we may have seen his HR upside. He would be one of the better #3 hitters out there. If the BoSox use him at #6 to protect Lowell again, it would be a waste. I have him down as rock solid to help BA, but I think it is a stretch to think he can flirt with 30 HR again and he may not drive in 100 much less 110 unless he does hit fourth again, then his BA will probably not crack .300. Spring training will tell me how high I would draft him, but it would be only a difference between the third and fourth rounds I am thinking.
Chris Davis: Young power hitters that have tendencies to be free swingers will have some significant ups and downs. I do not think his July '07 will be the norm, nor do I think his August is either. A rollercoaster bat in the right park for power. Could easily hit 35+ HR given 500+ AB, but the BA is really risky. A hot spring will cause, coupled with 3B scarcity, him to go even earlier. It just depends on your risk tolerance.
Aubrey Huff: Will go too high. Burned us before. 3B availability will have him going 5-6-7. I will waive at him as he goes by.
Pablo Sandoval: Better than Chris Davis in my opinion, but doesn't have the park. Exposed to a full year to ML pitching will show some teething pains and up/down results. Starting to get some love and may sneak into the Top 10 rounds, but he won't be worth it...this year. I am hoping for an awful spring, a short term assignment to AAA (SF is desparate, so probably will not happen), so I can sneak a pick on him much later in the draft.
[ January 05, 2009, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]
Baseball is a slow, boring, complex, cerebral game that doesn't lend itself to histrionics. You 'take in' a baseball game, something odd to say about a football or basketball game, with the clock running and the bodies flying.
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
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Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
I know it's too late now...but having a full page of nostalgia (maybe in the note from the editor first page)...of what life was like 20 years ago for Greg and Tom and MLB and other sports and politics would put things into perspective.
I always enjoy a look back in time. Maybe in the second edition.
~Lance
I always enjoy a look back in time. Maybe in the second edition.
~Lance
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."
~Albert Einstein
~Albert Einstein
- Greg Ambrosius
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Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Originally posted by sportsbettingman:
I know it's too late now...but having a full page of nostalgia (maybe in the note from the editor first page)...of what life was like 20 years ago for Greg and Tom and MLB and other sports and politics would put things into perspective.
I always enjoy a look back in time. Maybe in the second edition.
~Lance I'm writing it now.
The beauty of starting our first magazine in 1989 before the 1990 season was that MLB players went on strike that offseason. They held out through the entire spring training and so our first magazine was on newsstands during a time when baseball was talking about cancelling the season. Trust me, that didn't help newsstand sales!!
They settled this just before the start of the season and even though spring training was cancelled and Florida and Arizona took a hit, MLB players got what they want and MLB owners said they got what they wanted. What a fun time that was. NOT.
I know it's too late now...but having a full page of nostalgia (maybe in the note from the editor first page)...of what life was like 20 years ago for Greg and Tom and MLB and other sports and politics would put things into perspective.
I always enjoy a look back in time. Maybe in the second edition.
~Lance I'm writing it now.
The beauty of starting our first magazine in 1989 before the 1990 season was that MLB players went on strike that offseason. They held out through the entire spring training and so our first magazine was on newsstands during a time when baseball was talking about cancelling the season. Trust me, that didn't help newsstand sales!!

They settled this just before the start of the season and even though spring training was cancelled and Florida and Arizona took a hit, MLB players got what they want and MLB owners said they got what they wanted. What a fun time that was. NOT.

Greg Ambrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
- Greg Ambrosius
- Posts: 41100
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:00 pm
- Contact:
Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Originally posted by Edwards Kings:
quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
Believe it or not, this is our 20th anniversary issue for the magazine, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment in this day and age of magazines. I hope we last another 20 years, but that will be tough. I'll post a bit of my editorial on the boards as well and a look back at our first 20 years because it has been interesting. I've edited every single issue and watched this industry grow up from a pipe dream to a major, major industry. It's been a fun ride so far and hopefully the best is yet to come.
Twenty years! Wow!
When I think back twenty years, I recall:
1) I had no kids...which was good because
2) I wasn't married.
3) I was still in my prior career (restaurant management), working crazy hours, and still thought cocktail waitresses were part of a "target rich environment".
4) I was making dirt for money and was rich as hell.
5) Monday Night Football still meant something.
6) The Braves were perennial second division also-rans.
Greg, as part of your Twenty Year Retrospective, was there one baseball prediction/projection that stands out as one you went out on a limb about and nailed (I know there were many but was one special)? Conversly, was there one that stands out as your biggest swing and a miss? [/QUOTE]Yes, that first year the group we started this magazine up with was a player agency called Speakers of Sport. They represented Cecil Fielder and during one of our meetings in Iola they told us that Cecil would have a big year in Detroit. I drafted him for my brother that year and he won our fantasy league title!!!
I can't remember if I got Cecil ranked in our first issue or not but I'll look soon. He was a MONSTER and Pat Rooney set up a phone interview with me and him at the end of the season. I interviewed him and all he talked about was his little boy Prince. He was a cool cat from what I remember in our conversation.
quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
Believe it or not, this is our 20th anniversary issue for the magazine, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment in this day and age of magazines. I hope we last another 20 years, but that will be tough. I'll post a bit of my editorial on the boards as well and a look back at our first 20 years because it has been interesting. I've edited every single issue and watched this industry grow up from a pipe dream to a major, major industry. It's been a fun ride so far and hopefully the best is yet to come.
Twenty years! Wow!
When I think back twenty years, I recall:
1) I had no kids...which was good because
2) I wasn't married.
3) I was still in my prior career (restaurant management), working crazy hours, and still thought cocktail waitresses were part of a "target rich environment".
4) I was making dirt for money and was rich as hell.
5) Monday Night Football still meant something.
6) The Braves were perennial second division also-rans.
Greg, as part of your Twenty Year Retrospective, was there one baseball prediction/projection that stands out as one you went out on a limb about and nailed (I know there were many but was one special)? Conversly, was there one that stands out as your biggest swing and a miss? [/QUOTE]Yes, that first year the group we started this magazine up with was a player agency called Speakers of Sport. They represented Cecil Fielder and during one of our meetings in Iola they told us that Cecil would have a big year in Detroit. I drafted him for my brother that year and he won our fantasy league title!!!

Greg Ambrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
- Greg Ambrosius
- Posts: 41100
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:00 pm
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Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Hey, as a treat for this position profiles, I'm going to add rankings and dollar values from our first issue. You'll be getting them anyway in our magazine, so we might as well have fun dissecting where we were right and wrong on the boards first. I'll post first basemen after I get back from hoops.
Greg Ambrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Founder, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
General Manager, Consumer Fantasy Games at SportsHub Technologies
Twitter - @GregAmbrosius
Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Little boy, Prince? I have doubts.
[ January 05, 2009, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]
[ January 05, 2009, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]
On my tombstone-
Wait! I never had the perfect draft!
Wait! I never had the perfect draft!
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Fact Or Fiction: First Basemen
Fielder is Fat.
FACT
Sandoval is NOT eligible at C.
FACT
FACT
Sandoval is NOT eligible at C.
FACT