Wednesday Chat Has Begun

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:22 am

Originally posted by BackToFoulke:

When are the Brewers going to trade Sheets to the Sox so he can get his Hudson/Santana deal? And join some real baseball. I think the Brewers are going to end up re-signing Sheets. Letting him go would tell fans once again that this team isn't committed to winning. That's not the kind of message the new owner can afford to send.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:25 am

In an auction (since I can't be in one

) I think that Johnson and Santana will clear out biggest bucks, followed by Schilling and Schmidt. Unless you have a Die Hard Cubbie (and they are numerous) Prior might be a bit of a "bargain", only costing an arm and PART of a leg.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:36 am

How many people think Rick Ankiel will ever see the bigs as an OF? or otherwise?

Personally, I would say as an OF about as much chance as my mother-in-law gracing the cover of SI in a string bikini!

pancho11 · Post by **pancho11** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:39 am

never

JAR · Post by **JAR** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:40 am

I haven't researched Ankiel's hitting very much, but the article I saw on ESPN makes him out to be a fairly decent hitter. He did have 2 HR in his rookie MLB season, so you just never know.

Personally I'd like to see Mike Hampton make the conversion. That guy can flat out RAKE!

Snord35 · Post by **Snord35** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:14 am

Tom for the people that bring a laptop to Chicago can we use a extension cord from one of the outlits in the room? Or would it be wise not to count on having a outlet to use? Also how big is the room that we will be drafting in just in case we can use a extension cord?

Fantasy ? What do you think of the Colorado rookies? Do you think Hawpe will get some playing time over Mohr?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:30 am

I think Hawpe has a chance to get some good playing time there but I really like Mohr as a sleeper pick. Keep an eye on him.

As far as the extension cord, you can't hook your laptop up to an outlet during the draft, so if you bring a laptop bring plenty of batteries.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:39 am

Tom, any concerns regarding Sheets' back surgery.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:43 am

Nothing yet. He should be fine.

JAR · Post by **JAR** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:46 am

Tom - who wins the spot in RF for Cleveland? Has Juan Gonzo even played yet this spring?

viper · Post by **viper** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:47 am

Looks like we came close to the 105th in NYC. Would you select the NYC draft slots once they got to 120 even if the other leagues were short? My guess is not since all these guys after 285 are likely only playing if you get to 300.

[ March 09, 2005, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: viper ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:52 am

Originally posted by JAR:

Tom - who wins the spot in RF for Cleveland? Has Juan Gonzo even played yet this spring? I think Gonzalez will get a shot, but there are no guarantees. I don't know if he's played yet or not to be honest.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:53 am

Originally posted by viper:

Looks like we came close to the 120th in NYC. Would you select the NYC draft slots once they got to 120 even if the other leagues were short? My guess is not since all these guys after 285 are likely only playing if you get to 300. We don't want to announce any leagues until we get to 300. So let's go those last few sign-ups and hit 300 tomorrow or Friday and get it done before the weekend.

JAR · Post by **JAR** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:03 am

Why the 13th cutoff date? We're not drafting until the 19th.

I truely don't think a full week is needed to prepare for any one draft position. 2-3 days would be plenty of time. I mean in all reality what are you preparing for? 1 pick?.. maybe 2?.. It all goes out the window once a good value comes along, and you end up drafting someone you didn't expect to.

Just a thought for next year maybe, because I know you guys won't change it this year.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:08 am

We want to give folks about a week to prepare after finding out their draft spot. I can appreciate the arguments against doing that, but that's how we have things set up for baseball and football and we're going to stick with it.

Chameleon · Post by **Chameleon** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:20 am

Tom -- have you guys got a relatively "sound proof" plan for the draft rooms etc. for Chicago (and NYC and Vegas, for that matter). As you'll recall from post draft-day banter last year, the fact that you could clearly hear the selections of other drafters in other leagues really made drafting in your own league difficult, what with trying to time player selections, sleepers, position runs and so forth. THANKS.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:24 am

We are going to do everything we can to minimize any possible distractions in each of the cities. We are aware that some folks had some problems with being too loud so we'll work to correct that next week.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:49 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

As far as the extension cord, you can't hook your laptop up to an outlet during the draft, so if you bring a laptop bring plenty of batteries. i'm going to be purchasing 2 extra batteries for my laptop solely for this reason. they are not cheap at $100+ each. i'm counting on this provision being upheld at chicago. hopefully some people's laptops will die in round 8.

btw, i'll be taking the full 1 minute per pick.

[ March 09, 2005, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:53 am

Just don't pull a Mike Tice and let the time run out on you Gordon.

Balticsquids · Post by **Balticsquids** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:54 am

Only request i have is please NO CELL phones ................

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:46 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

We are going to do everything we can to minimize any possible distractions in each of the cities. We are aware that some folks had some problems with being too loud so we'll work to correct that next week. Tom, in regards to the NY auction leagues, i would rather switch to the AL auction friday afternoon instead of teleconfrencing the MIXED league between 2 or 3 cities ....in auction leagues you need to look the other GM's in the eye...its not the same otherwise....

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:23 pm

Originally posted by fandango:

in auction leagues you need to look the other GM's in the eye...its not the same otherwise.... BS

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:25 pm

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

Just don't pull a Mike Tice and let the time run out on you Gordon.

that's alright, my pick will only get shuffled back one spot. in the 20th round, it makes no difference

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:40 pm

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by fandango:

in auction leagues you need to look the other GM's in the eye...its not the same otherwise.... BS [/QUOTE]lol - next thing you'll do is study 'tells'

Hehe

Dave

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:05 pm

Originally posted by JAR:

Why the 13th cutoff date? We're not drafting until the 19th.

I truely don't think a full week is needed to prepare for any one draft position. 2-3 days would be plenty of time. I mean in all reality what are you preparing for? 1 pick?.. maybe 2?.. It all goes out the window once a good value comes along, and you end up drafting someone you didn't expect to.

Just a thought for next year maybe, because I know you guys won't change it this year. I disagree Jason as many guys will be traveling next week and want to know their draft position ahead of time. Besides, we need to have a cutoff date to process the credit cards or checks and certainly by Monday of next week is as late as we'd like to go before the Saturday draft. The one week before the draft deadline makes sense for a number of reasons and if we don't hit 300 by Sunday night at midnight, then I'm not so sure we'd hit 300 by Wednesday night at midnight.

Time for the fence-sitters to stand up and join us. Let's get those 10 spots filled.