2008 NFBC Champion Profile - Bob Mazur

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:02 am

1. How did it feel to win your league

Being the last man standing in a 5 team dog fight, what's not to like? In 2007 we tied for 1st in Las Vegas 7 and I'll be the first to admit that we were pretty lucky to do so. That being said, It was nice to lose the asterisk last year.

2. What were the keys to your championship season?

We didn't have any critical injuries to speak of and added to a capable foundation were the following key picks:

RD.7 Josh Hamilton- gave us first round production

RD.17 George Sherrill- Grabbed a 3rd closer here. By the time he broke down we had already secured the saves category and avoided his 2nd half ugliness.

RD.13 Bengie Molina

RD.20 Ryan Doumit- Two productive mid round catchers who hit a collective .300 and gave our offense a huge boost.

RD.22 John Danks

RD.25 Mike Mussina- These two helped offset pitching disappointments in earlier rounds.

3.Was there a point in the season when you began to realistically believe you could win the title?

The team played close to the action all season long. I was hopeful, but as it turned out it was just one of 5 very competitive teams in Las Vegas 10 so there was no room for overconfidence at any point in the season. The final outcome went down to the wire.

4. What draft day strategies worked out best?

Simply playing the draft's flow worked out a lot better than reaching for our targeted players, who ranged from less than we expected, to utterly disappointing! This 'Roto Laissez-faire' approach presented us with Joe Nathan in the next to last pick of Round 6, who we felt was a value pick at that point in the draft, although he came several rounds earlier than we intended to take a closer. This perceived opportunity then created a tactical problem. We were now sitting with 3 pitchers after 6 rounds, leaving our offense to play catch-up. Originally, we planned to take 2 offensive picks in Rounds 6&7, but after taking Nathan at 6 we now needed to find a real upside player in round 7 to compensate. Josh Hamilton, a player not on our pre-draft wish list, became that high risk/upside player chosen by circumstance and paired with Nathan marked the turning point of our draft.

5. Did any not work out as planned?

If I listed all the personnel mistakes we made, you'd be scratching your heads wondering how we finished with 120 points, won Las Vegas 10, and finished 22nd in the overall standings. I'm still scratching.

6. How did FAAB work for you?

Picking up Jorge Cantu in Week 1, giving us the numbers we hoped to get from Ryan Garko was our key acquisition. Between that pick and the last six weeks, the cupboard was pretty bare save for a couple of players that were useful for stretches. Pick ups during the last 6 weeks however, were the difference between winning and finishing fifth. While these players weren't with us long, they gave us what we needed to win: Pablo Sandoval, Josh Anderson, Cam Maybin, Eugenio Velez, Nelson Cruz, Jody Gerut, and Felipe Lopez.

7. How was the competition in your league and the overall event?

There was a point in mid-September that five teams were separated by 1.5 points, all sitting between 111.5 and 110. Folks, I wasn't kidding when I said that this was one helluva dogfight. Any one of these teams could have won if the season lasted another week. I'd also like to say to any NFBC newcomers who happen to read this, if you see any of the following names in your league on draft day, bring your 'A' game to the table:

2nd Place-Craig Williams and Mike Berkich 115.5 points

3rd Place-Steve Wells 112 points

4th place-Kyle and Mike Borth 110 points

5th place-Carlos Barrionuevo and Art Harmon 107 points

Good luck this year gentlemen. I wish you the best and hope you're all in somebody else's league.

8. How Long have you been playing fantasy baseball/fantasy sports?

I've played fantasy baseball since about 1990 and for most of that time, it was against two of my partners in the NFBC. Mark Miller (LV10, Shawn Childs League and Super 1) and 'Denver Dan' Dolan (Super 1 and March 4 1000 Sat.). Partnerships can be tough, but when the work well they tend to work very well. Take a bow boys, you've earned it.

9. Personal info-married/single, where do you live, what do you do for a living?

I live in beautiful but flakey Boulder Colorado and was hoping to retire from the USPS after 25 years come July. At the moment I'm just happy to be employed, if you know what I mean? I share my home with two devoted and rather large German Shepherds, who happily guard my NFBC Situation Room on a 24/7 basis for mere biscuits. And after 35 years my wife Debra's smile still light's my way. Life is good.

Hard Heads · Post by **Hard Heads** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:08 am

Congrats Bob and kudos on winning a very very tough league. The funny thing was we faced some bigger names that didn't even place in the top 5! All in all you were the better team and had the better season and kudos to you. We look back at all of our mistakes to and scratch our heads and wonder how we even pushed you to the end! Great season from a great owner. Good luck this year!

Craig

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:27 am

Way to go, Bob!

Colorado and Rhode Island seem to have a battle for least populous states with the most NFBC wins.

I am glad you are on our side.

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:27 am

Bob great job as you also kicked ass in other leagues taking 2nd in one of the Super's and 2nd in the 1.000 dollar satelitte league.And winning the Child's league.See Ya in a couple week's.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:49 am

Very quietly one of the best at this and a heck of a nice guy. You put it on me pretty good. Good luck in 2009. I will be glad not to be sitting at a table with you, Wells, Gino, Gene, Chris, Will and Mike Sheets again....

Vander · Post by **Vander** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:20 am

Having played against you in a sat and studied some of your drafts in the past, I've found you are one of the best players in nfbc. That's saying a lot since this must draw most of the best players anywhere. Good luck this year, especially since I don't draft in Vegas.

Nevadaman · Post by **Nevadaman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:24 am

I echo all the positive comments: Bob is a great player and a very nice guy. Congrats again on a dominating season.

bmike · Post by **bmike** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:23 am

Congrats on your super season Bob. Hey, I was wondering, if I cut your picture out of Fantasy Sports Mag #1, what would you charge me to autograph it? It would be like your "Rookie Card".

-----an interested fan!!

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:33 am

Congrats Bob! Nice to see one of the good guys that shares the passion end up on the winning side of the ledger.

Looking forward to seeing you in Las Vegas. Super job, maybe we can twist your arm into the auction format one of these years!

KM/ Friend of the Pig Farmer

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:32 pm

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen. If I had realized that so many of you would be this generous with your praise, I would have posted my profile much sooner

Dave: Looks like I'll just have to settle for enjoying your posts as it doesn't appear tha we'll be going head to head again this year. Good luck. Kent: Depending on which Super you get slotted into, NY or Vegas, will determine whether we have an encore. I was really surprised when your team dropped off last year. I thought you were going to be in there for the long haul. Let's do it again.

Dan: Have you noticed the new generation of Coloradan's bypassing the learning curve and nipping at our heels? Think it's the Coors?

Mike: Autographs? Do I look like Norma Desmond?

Eddie: Three leagues in one year against you was fun. Let's do it again in some not too distant decade.

Ken: Think about inviting your Godfather Frank to breakfast at the IP, maybe he'll pick up the tab?

Steve and Craig: My Las Vegas pals. Boy did I get my fill of you two last year, not to mention the early drafts this year. Let's do lunch anyway..................

I'm arriving Thursday morning for a couple of days of R&R before D-Day and I look forward to eating, drinking and talking baseball. My cell is 303-641-6839, give me a ring. (That's an invitation open to all). Finally, I don't know about anyone else but I'm pretty much climbing the walls, before my wife throws me out of the house, let's get this thing filled!

DenverDan · Post by **DenverDan** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:07 pm

After partnering with Bob last year I just had to get my 2 cents in:

Bob Mazur a nice guy, come on now give me a break, Bob is overbearing, demanding, mean, whats that we won? ....................Bob Mazur he is one hellva nice guy.

After playing against Bob for many years, and now finally with him, I would give odds that he will be on the front of the magazine cover someday soon with that $100,000 dollar check just smiling.

Save a spot in the hall of fame for him. No pressure now Bob I thought you just needed better message board clippings.

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:20 pm

Originally posted by Denverdan:

After partnering with Bob last year I just had to get my 2 cents in:

Bob Mazur a nice guy, come on now give me a break, Bob is overbearing, demanding, mean, whats that we won? ....................Bob Mazur he is one hellva nice guy.

After playing against Bob for many years, and now finally with him, I would give odds that he will be on the front of the magazine cover someday soon with that $100,000 dollar check just smiling.

Save a spot in the hall of fame for him. No pressure now Bob I thought you just needed better message board clippings. Thanks for the kiss of death Dan!

Ken- Don't trouble Frank, Dan's buying breakfast

Hard Heads · Post by **Hard Heads** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:43 pm

Bob you buying? I am eating! LOL

See you in Vegas for the Saturday Super!

DiamondKing · Post by **DiamondKing** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:52 pm

Bob.

I have carried a bag for the last 21+ years.OK curbline for the last 12.Look forward to meeting you in Vegas.

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:25 am

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

Bob you buying? I am eating! LOL

See you in Vegas for the Saturday Super! Craig, Dan's buying-bring an appetite

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:28 am

Originally posted by DiamondKing:

Bob.

I have carried a bag for the last 21+ years.OK curbline for the last 12.Look forward to meeting you in Vegas. Curbline in Fla? Fluids fluids fluids. That has to be brutal! Call me when you get in.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:52 am

Originally posted by DiamondKing:

I have carried a bag for the last 21+ years.The last time I said anything like that, my wife did not speak to me for days!

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:54 am

Bob, what time are you arriving on Thursday morning? I'm expected in at 7am, should you need a ride I'll have a rental. Least I can do for having Dan pick up the tab!

DenverDan · Post by **DenverDan** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:28 am

If Dan picks up the tab, I expect it to be a roast Bob Mazur type breakfast.

Bob Enzyte · Post by **Bob Enzyte** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:16 am

2 pages for his 2008 NFBC Championship Profile? I have to meet this Spartacus cat.

Schwks · Post by **Schwks** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:38 am

Great responses to the questions...gave some real nice insight into te strategy. Some real nice moves both at draft and in-season. Congrats.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:54 am

Originally posted by Bob Enzyte:

2 pages for his 2008 NFBC Championship Profile? I have to meet this Spartacus cat. Hello Bob!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:32 am

I'll admit that the most enjoyable part of creating this live event format is a thread like this one. The friendships that have been made in the NFBC are ones that are going to last for a long time and they center around just two things: Good people and baseball. It grows from there, but it centers on those two points. Awesome.

Before the NFBC in 2004, Eddie Gillis had no idea who Shawn Childs was. Shawn didn't know Jesse Herron or Dustin Ashby and never would have bumped into them. Rick Thomas wouldn't have met me or David DiDonato or Shawn. Bob Mazur wouldn't have met Sack...and the list goes on and on. These are some really good friendships and it started here and continues here. It's cool, it really is.

And this should continue for years to come, even well after I'm done running this. I like this part of it most of all. Good people meeting other good people, forming friendships through it and talking about baseball. How cool is that?

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:45 am

Originally posted by Denverdan:

If Dan picks up the tab, I expect it to be a roast Bob Mazur type breakfast.

Hey Lance, you feel like crashing a breakfast?

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:19 am

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

quote:Originally posted by Denverdan:

If Dan picks up the tab, I expect it to be a roast Bob Mazur type breakfast.

Hey Lance, you feel like crashing a breakfast?

[/QUOTE]Someone along life's path told me to never turn down free food!