Impromptu Tuesday Afternoon Chat

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:55 am

We have a pretty nice turnout on the boards right now so how about we have an afternoon chat. Whatever's on your mind we can discuss. Anybody game cuz I'm here.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:03 am

Hey Tom Of the 225+ signups for the Main how many are 1st time players ?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:05 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

Hey Tom Of the 225+ signups for the Main how many are 1st time players ? I don't know the exact number Steve. I know that every year we have a retention rate close to 80 percent. I do know we are ahead of our overall pace compared to last year. On Jan. 26 of 2009, we had just topped 200 teams and we're over 230 today. So we're ahead of schedule which is very positive considering our biggest rush typically begins when the football season is over.

The RoundTrippers · Post by **The RoundTrippers** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:10 am

is it true you are 0-12 in picking playoff games?? would you suggest fading your play for the super bowl or taking your suggestion???

Schwks · Post by **Schwks** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:11 am

Tom, I see Dotel signed with Pirates...does he get shot at closing?

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:12 am

Andrew McCutchen - guy's set up for a monster season - do you think he can be the player people believe BJ Upton should be ? 25-40 but with a better b.a. ?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:15 am

Originally posted by The RoundTrippers:

is it true you are 0-12 in picking playoff games?? would you suggest fading your play for the super bowl or taking your suggestion??? Who said I was 0-12? I got most of the teams right this year. Missed on a lot of the spreads, though. And this year's Super Bowl looks too close to call. That's not a game I'd want to bet on.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:16 am

Originally posted by Schwks:

Tom, I see Dotel signed with Pirates...does he get shot at closing? I would expect that to be the case. It's not like they have a plethora of standout options. Dotel's never been someone who's really taken to the role so it will be interesting to see how that develops. The upside pick there is Meek in my opinion.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:17 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

Andrew McCutchen - guy's set up for a monster season - do you think he can be the player people believe BJ Upton should be ? 25-40 but with a better b.a. ? I don't know if he has Upton's SB upside but I think he has 30-30 potential with a quality average. I'm big on this kid this year. I've been waiting for him to really burst onto the scene and I think it happens this season. I also think he's a guy you might have to pounce on a round or so earlier than his ADP. I think he'll be a very popular sleeper pick.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:29 am

Is Minnesota's climate better than Wisconsin's in April ? What's the typical Wisc April and can we expect the same for Minny ? How badly do you think the weather will "dampen" Mauer's stats this year ?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:35 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

Is Minnesota's climate better than Wisconsin's in April ? What's the typical Wisc April and can we expect the same for Minny ? How badly do you think the weather will "dampen" Mauer's stats this year ? I think they're pretty comparable. I haven't spent a lot of time in Minnesota - just covering Packers-Vikings games when I was a Packers beat writer. But I would expect comparable weather conditions to what we typically see in Chicago and Milwaukee (pre-roof) in April. Mauer's a stud. I don't expect the weather to slow him down. I could see him regressing because his 2009 season was through the roof. But if the power stroke wasn't a mirage, you're talking about a guy who will hit well above .300 with quality power at a talent-thin position.

The question I have is how high should Mauer go in drafts? We had two drafts in the Just Cheat Sheets issue. In the 15-team NFBC mock, he went 15th. In a 10-tea mock, he went 23rd.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:37 am

It looks like Carlos Gomez is finally going to get regular P/T... think Dale Sveum will get him turned around so he finally realizes that 15hr 40sb season ?

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:41 am

As a long time Packer fan and Brett Favre fan, did the Minnesota loss keep you from rooting for the Viking in the Super Bowl?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:42 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

It looks like Carlos Gomez is finally going to get regular P/T... think Dale Sveum will get him turned around so he finally realizes that 15hr 40sb season ? I don't know about 15 HRs, but if Ken Macha lets the Brewers run, Gomez could reach 30 SBs. The concern obviously can he get on base consistently? A .287 OBP last season was dismal but he's young and talented and if the Brewers stick with him he could be a nice surprise. I liked this trade a lot for Milwaukee.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:43 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

As a long time Packer fan and Brett Favre fan, did the Minnesota loss keep you from rooting for the Viking in the Super Bowl? I was rooting for Favre to get to the Super Bowl. I think it would've been a great story. I'm a big Brees fan so either way I was going to be happy. I'm not a bitter Packer fan who hates Favre. Far from it. The Packers didn't want him and ran him out of town. I don't have any problems with the fact he went to Minnesota. It was a smart move on his part.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:44 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

Andrew McCutchen - guy's set up for a monster season - do you think he can be the player people believe BJ Upton should be ? 25-40 but with a better b.a. ? Sometimes you need to know the answer of the question before you ask!

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:01 am

Tom...is there one player you consider a must own for you...say after round three?

swampass · Post by **swampass** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:01 am

Tom, lets talk closers. I keep seeing RP rankings with Rivera ahead of Broxton. I know the sandman keeps on coming but Broxton is nasty. He k'ed over 100 guys last year and was banged up in the 2nd half. I have him as my #1 Rp. Thoughts?

Do the closers for each team seem a little more settled this year than in years past? There dont seem to be many battles going on (outside maybe dotel). anyone we should be looking at?

Lastly can the two former braves, gonzalez and soriano, hack it in the tough AL east?

thanks!

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:02 am

As a long time player in New York, do you think Quahogs gets caught up in all the lights in Vegas and has a down year?

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:03 am

Has Sidney Rice passed Randy Moss on the fantasy football food chain?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:05 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

Tom...is there one player you consider a must own for you...say after round three? I'll give you two:

Andrew McCutchen

Tommy Hanson

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:06 am

Originally posted by swampass:

Tom, lets talk closers. I keep seeing RP rankings with Rivera ahead of Broxton. I know the sandman keeps on coming but Broxton is nasty. He k'ed over 100 guys last year and was banged up in the 2nd half. I have him as my #1 Rp. Thoughts?

Do the closers for each team seem a little more settled this year than in years past? There dont seem to be many battles going on (outside maybe dotel). anyone we should be looking at?

Lastly can the two former braves, gonzalez and soriano, hack it in the tough AL east?

thanks! I like Broxton more but Rivera's still a stud on a great team. You can't go wrong either way.

There does seem to be a little more predictability with the closer situations than in years past. But we know from experience this is a position with a lot of turnover annually.

I like Soriano from a "stuff" perspective but I'm not sure he has the mental makeup to be a dominant closer. I do like him more than Gonzalez.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:08 am

Do you think Tommy Hanson is worthy of being a fantasy ace in a 15 team NFBC league or should I position my team to draft him as a number two starter?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:13 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

As a long time player in New York, do you think Quahogs gets caught up in all the lights in Vegas and has a down year? He's a pro's pro. I think he'll be fine in Sin City.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:14 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

Has Sidney Rice passed Randy Moss on the fantasy football food chain? Not yet. But I do think the WR position will be LOADED in 2010. I think there could be upwards of 20 players who can produce WR1 numbers.