Live Chat With Todd Zola, Tuesday, Feb. 22nd At 7 PM ET

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:40 am

If you had one moment to relive in your life, do you wish you blew out the candle that one lonely night in Vegas?

crazytown · Post by **crazytown** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:44 am

Todd,

Who is the 1 player that you must have on your NFBC Auction Championship team. How much would you like to get that player for? How high would you go for that player if pushed?

Thanks

jblume33 · Post by **jblume33** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:48 am

Hey Todd, I know you have a lot of friends in the industry and I am sure certain allegiances but what peron do you really listen to when they speak about fantasy baseball? Is that person different than the person you listen to most about non-fanatsy related baseball talk? Just curious who the top of the top is for you.

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:48 am

Hi Todd,

(This is a common question I see during these types of chats)

How many teams will you have this year that require in season transactions?

How do you keep sane managing all these teams?

Any tips for managing the FAAB and lineups without spending all day on it. I think many of us feel burned out by years end with this part of the game. Thanks

Jason

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:55 am

Okay, let's get this party started.

For fear of being called a shill....

I will be on the road this weekend, presenting at the Spring First Pitch Forums in Gaithersburg MD on Friday night, NYC (LaGuardia) on Saturday and in my backyard, Natick MA on Sunday.

For those of you into this social media thing that seems to be catching on a bit, we have recently given Mastersball a face-lift which includes a Twitter account

@Masters_Ball ">http://twitter.com/Masters_Ball> (with an

underline in between)

and a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Mastersball

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:01 pm

Todd,

Can I officially stick a fork in Brandon Wood?

Who wins the LAA 3B job? Callaspo, Izturis, Wood, Trumbo, etc.

Give me a few end game catchers $1-2 that could surprise.

Thanks

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:01 pm

Originally posted by Random Lobbyist:

Todd, thanks for doing this.

Curious to get your take on Ryan Zimmerman. Not huge HR total last year, high GB rate, usually goes in the middle of the 2nd in a 15-teamer. Overvalued? Remember he missed the last part of the season. Zimmerman's HR per PA was almost the same as 2009. His HR/FB dropped a tad, but nothing to worry about. And while he isn't exactly a fly ball hitter is GB/FB =1 which is fine.

I have him "valued" as a later second rounder. Some may take him early second round since they don't like the #B pool and that is justifiable. What tempers his value is lack of steals. I am not sure I would force myself into taking him early 2nd just to get a 2nd baseman, it depends on what else is available at the time. But I don't think he is overvalued either.

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:04 pm

Are there any young SP that have had "workload spikes" that concern you so much that you will stay away?

Are there any Yankees that are too busy building mansions that i should avoid?

Thanks

[ February 22, 2011, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: Red Sox Nation ]

Cocktails and Dreams · Post by **Cocktails and Dreams** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:04 pm

Be sure to check your email later Todd. Thanks.

Bob Enzyte · Post by **Bob Enzyte** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:05 pm

Todd, you are currently at 6 pages for this chat. Shawn finished at 12. Can you match or beat him?

I can ask this question about 100 more times if it would help.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:06 pm

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

OK Todd, who's a bigger Jacka$s? Me for drafting Jose Bautista or Toronto for giving him $60 million?

Doesn't this sort of stuff promote illegal HGH products? One big year at the time...bang payday.

Your a chemist by trade, ever think of working for the dark side of baseball? Some people already think I am working on the dark side of baseball.

I honestly don't get into the amount of money teams play guys, it's monopoly money to me and I focus on the fantasy implications.

my concern with Bautista is more strategic than anything. In a vacuum he's worth a 3rd round pick. And while I do not "track" my batting average, I prefer not to draft players early that provide a high positive or high negative value to average. I know this makes those of you trying talk me out of Ichiro a few years ago roll your eyes, but I finally "got it."

oldwolf55 · Post by **oldwolf55** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:08 pm

According to my rankings I have 14 1st round choices after that it's a bunch of ?. so if you have 1.15 & 2.01 who are you looking at? I have it narrowed to Tex, A-Rod, Hamilton

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:08 pm

Originally posted by ToddZ:

quote:Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

OK Todd, who's a bigger Jacka$s? Me for drafting Jose Bautista or Toronto for giving him $60 million?

Doesn't this sort of stuff promote illegal HGH products? One big year at the time...bang payday.

Your a chemist by trade, ever think of working for the dark side of baseball? Some people already think I am working on the dark side of baseball.

I honestly don't get into the amount of money teams play guys, it's monopoly money to me and I focus on the fantasy implications.

my concern with Bautista is more strategic than anything. In a vacuum he's worth a 3rd round pick. And while I do not "track" my batting average, I prefer not to draft players early that provide a high positive or high negative value to average. I know this makes those of you trying talk me out of Ichiro a few years ago roll your eyes, but I finally "got it." [/QUOTE]You finally get Ichiro fairly priced this year. He would be a stud if he played 2B.

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:09 pm

Lets talk Colorado:

Who do you feel earns the most PT at 2B? Lopez, EY2, Wiggington.

Will RF will be a strict platoon between Smith and Spill? Thanks

Jason

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:10 pm

Originally posted by Bob Enzyte:

Todd, you are currently at 6 pages for this chat. Shawn finished at 12. Can you match or beat him?

I can ask this question about 100 more times if it would help. If he does, are buying Gabe his new car?

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:11 pm

Originally posted by Bo's Bombers:

How do you handle OF's this year. After doing many mock drafts, it seems like if you don't get two good OF's in the first five rounds, your chasing your tail trying to get them. Do you agree? I don't worry about how my OF looks, or how my MI looks, I worry about how my TEAM looks.

I am not opposed to drafting a couple of outfielders early at all. It's sort of funny. In one mock, I will go 2B then SS and will be labeled a scarcity drafter. In the next, I go two OF and am called a best player available drafter.

I will say this. While it is fine to fill a few OF spots early, you need to have a couple available late. The reason is, as opposed to the other positions, we all have a different idea of playing time for outfielders, so there is usually someone or a couple that you rank higher than others just because you think they will play more, not necessarily better.

[ February 22, 2011, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: ToddZ ]

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:18 pm

Originally posted by crazytown:

Todd,

Regarding auction leagues: Why does it always appear that some top players cost a few dollars more than any publication has them predicted. Pujols for example, and maybe another player or 2, will go for more than 40 in all NFBC leagues this spring yet no publications ever have him as high as that. What are your thoughts on this topic and other auction values? Most values are spewed out by a little back box that has a means of ranking player relative to each other, then distributing the money in proportion to that rank. I call it "value in a vacuum."

If you take a look at a typical projection set and count up the number of $1, $2 and $3 players, you will find that a real auction has considerably more $1, $2 and $3 players than "projected". I know this is a cause and effect thing, this exists because people do "overpay" at the top, but if you look at it a little differently, and realize you will likely be able to fill in your back end of your roster paying $1 for a guy you have at $6, this enables you to perhaps spend at the top. If I am confident that there are some $1-$3 players I like, I will likely splurge for a star or two. But if I am reticent about the end game pool, I'll find my profit in the middle.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:21 pm

Originally posted by Bo's Bombers:

When planning your first ten picks, Do you have an idea of what position you want to fill in each round? In each round? No. If I am asked to predict my positional distribution for my first 10 picks, it would be pretty dang close to

1 C

1 1B

1 2B

1 3B

1 SS

2 OF

2 SP

1 CL

But, if the draft gives me otherwise, I am not married to that. It just seems to be my usual is all.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:23 pm

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

If you had one moment to relive in your life, do you wish you blew out the candle that one lonely night in Vegas? What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:23 pm

Ok, YES!!!!

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:26 pm

Originally posted by crazytown:

Todd,

Who is the 1 player that you must have on your NFBC Auction Championship team. How much would you like to get that player for? How high would you go for that player if pushed?

Thanks Not being coy, just honest. I don't have anyone that I MUST have. Are there some guys that I will likely end up with? you know, this year there are fewer than in previous seasons, but it appears as though I like Drew Stubbs more than most. But a lot of that is likelg him at MARKET value and not having to pay for the upside. Honestly, I have not found anyone that I am so confident this season that I will pay for the upside, but plenty I see with upside that I hope to get at market value.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:33 pm

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

Not be a wise a$$, would you really trust Lilly and his 86.7 MPH fastball as an early SP3...his upside seems to be limited? Shawn's true colors finally shine through...

I actually hate him. I have spent the better part of the past several years building up some credibility so I can purposely mislead everyone on Ted Lilly.

Hmm, this wise-ass stuff is kinda fun.

Truthfully, I am fine with him. Not as my SP2 in the SCL, but as a SP3 or SP4, for sure.

I don't care about his mph, I care about his K/9 and BB/9 and both are quite stable and quite acceptable and have been so for 4 seasons. For Lilly, it is all about the HR/9. I will say this -- I tore a muscle in my thumb texting my partner Lawr Michaels at the FSTA draft in Vegas. He is concerned about someone of Lilly's age doing it 5 years in a row. And he may be right. But he drafted him anyway

[ February 22, 2011, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: ToddZ ]

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:35 pm

Originally posted by jblume33:

Hey Todd, I know you have a lot of friends in the industry and I am sure certain allegiances but what peron do you really listen to when they speak about fantasy baseball? Is that person different than the person you listen to most about non-fanatsy related baseball talk? Just curious who the top of the top is for you. This could be the easiest question in the queue.

Jason Grey of ESPN.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:39 pm

Originally posted by Red Sox Nation:

Hi Todd,

(This is a common question I see during these types of chats)

How many teams will you have this year that require in season transactions?

How do you keep sane managing all these teams?

Any tips for managing the FAAB and lineups without spending all day on it. I think many of us feel burned out by years end with this part of the game. Thanks

Jason My participation is going to be down this season. But in the past, I stopped counting once I hit double digits.

To be fair, I am not the best person to ask about FAAB management. Part of what I do with my respect to responsibilities at Mastersball is updating year to date projections, so I am pretty intimate with the player pool. I also answer a lot of player questions, so my "homework" is done as part of my fantasy responsibilities.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:40 pm

Please rank the following:

Toy Story

A Bug's Life

Toy Story 2

Monsters, Inc.

Finding Nemo

The Incredibles

Cars

Ratatouille

WALL-E

Up

Toy Story 3