AL fantasy baseball league - in-season updates

[QuikSand]

(New thread title is just a ploy... but we could use a few more owners. $50 to play, cash prizes, draft this Friday at 9pm ET)

- - -

After a pretty healthy competion last year, I'm offering to renew the Front Office fantasy baseball league. The league will be run via Yahoo! with the same settings that served us well last season -- basically pretty standard 5x5 setup for the AL only:

League Settings

Scoring Type Rotisserie
Max Teams 12
Player universe AL only
Max Moves No maximum
Max Trades No maximum
Trade End Date August 12, 2007
Trade Review League Votes
Trade Reject Time 2 days
Waiver Time 2 days
Can't Cut List Yahoo! Sports
Post Draft Players Follow Waiver Rules
League Start Date Sunday, Apr 1
Roster Changes Weekly - Monday
Maximum Games Played 162
Maximum Innings Pitched 1250
Catcher (C) 2
First Base (1B) 1
Second Base (2B) 1
Third Base (3B) 1
Shortstop (SS) 1
Left Fielder (LF) 0
Center Fielder (CF) 0
Right Fielder (RF) 0
Outfield (OF) 5
Middle Infielder (MI) 1
Corner Infielder (CI) 1
Infielder (IF) 0
All Batters (Util) 1
Starters (SP) 0
Relievers (RP) 0
All Pitchers (P) 9
Disabled List (DL) 0
Bench (BN) 7

Scoring Settings
Edit Settings
Runs
Home Runs
Runs Batted In
Stolen Bases
Batting Average
Wins
Saves
Strikeouts
Earned Run Average
(Walks + Hits)/ Innings Pitched

The draft will be live online, and is set for 6pm on Saturday, March 31.

League entry is $50, and all entry payments, less transaction costs as appropriate, go back to the winners.

Send me a PM if you are interested, and I'll set you up with the League information and password, and we'll get you in.

Any questions? Ask them here, or by PM.

[Lathum]

I enjoyed this last year and may want in again

[Terps]

I'd be interested but I don't think I'd be able to make the draft. I always like the AL only leagues better than mixed.

[LastWhiteSoxFanStanding]

Nero's Henchmen reporting to duty.

[LastWhiteSoxFanStanding]

Also,

let me say the league was a lot of fun last year. I had never done a league before where there were so many people on one roster, but it really worked well and added a lot of strategy.

Maybe this is the year I can draft all White Sox players.

[Toddzilla]

I'd be interested too, even though I'm an NL guy. If you need another body, count me in...

[Lathum]

count me out...

[lcjjdnh]

I had fun last year, but I'm going to have to sit this one out. Have fun.

[QuikSand]

Bump... still looking for participants. I think we can go as long as we get 8 teams, but 10 or 12 would be even better.

[QuikSand]

bump

[Toddzilla]

My Bumps, My Bumps....

we've only got 3 people signed up....ruh-roh

[QuikSand]

Well, I have gotten a number of inquiries, but only two payments. Things looking bleak.

Would more people be willing to play if this were free? I'm not really even sure that it would be worth the time, as my experience with free leagues has been pretty universally shitty... but I've already set up the league and set aside the draft time. *shurg*

[Fighter of Foo]

I will play either way as long as the draft isn't on a friday night.

[stevew]

Bad draft time for me, but it does seem like it would be fun. Maybe next year.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Fighter of Foo

I will play either way as long as the draft isn't on a friday night.

FYI --

Originally Posted by QuikSand

The draft will be live online, and is set for 6pm on Saturday, March 31.

...and we're even in the same time zone.

[Fighter of Foo]

That works. NCAAs, beer and munchies and a fantasy draft. I'll have to brush up on AL backup catchers and middle infielders so I can bust out Pablo Ozuna in the 20th round

[QuikSand]

Bump? Four in... still way short of a reasonable league, methinks.

[QuikSand]

Not looking good -- any last-minute types interested in a draft this evening? (6pm ET)

[QuikSand]

I have moved the draft back one week to 6pm ET next Saturday. I think that buys us one, and maybe two more paying participants. Let's see if we can rescue this thing, even at a slightly later date. *shurg*

[Toddzilla]

I'm all for waiting...2 weeks even, if that means we get 10 guys.

[QuikSand]

Looks encouraging -- I think we are up to 6 registratnts, with at least one more who had expressed interest but couldn't do last weekend. So... signups still open.

[QuikSand]

Heh, and now I am unavailable for the draft on Satudray. *shurg*

I don't even know that he have a critical mass -- I have three people who have paid plus myself, making four. And we have a couple others who expressed interest and availability -- haven't checked to see if they have signed up. But right now, I think we have at most six teams.

If we really are viable, I'll do an autodraft team. But if delaying until either Sunday or next Saturday would work, perhaps that could get us another owner or two.


I'm also open to a two-tiered system -- those paying the fee play for the cash prizes, and we fill up with anyone else who might want to play for free without prizes. Just another thought... I will post an email to those who have registered...

[QuikSand]

*sigh* - draft moved to Friday at 9pm ET, last chance.

[QuikSand]

Bumped, new thread title.

[QuikSand]

I believe we are up to 8 teams, with the latest extension.

[QuikSand]

8 teams, draft is at 9pm ET tonight

[Toddzilla]

With only 8 teams, I'm just not that motivated to be honest. But if the other 7 owners are paid up and ready to roll, then I'll make a go of it.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

With only 8 teams, I'm just not that motivated to be honest. But if the other 7 owners are paid up and ready to roll, then I'll make a go of it.

I don't mind if you're not motivated. More money for me.

[QuikSand]

Well, last year in this league I deliberately went with a sort of ploy -- and punted on pitching unti pretty late in the draft. Dicey proposition in a 5x5 league, and when I didn't get a few of the sleeper pitchers that I had hoped to get (including Verlander and Liriano) things fell apart for me. I made a late run and got into 3rd place, but was never a contender for a top spot.

This year, I intended to go for more balance and punt only the saves categeory. However, in the round sfrom about 5-15, I kept feeling like starting pitchers were my best investment (contrary ot mu usual feelings on the subject) and I suspect I ended up with a team that can be competitive, but not dominant, on offense. On paper, this might not be a bad way to go... but I don't think it's the surest route to a championship. I am also pretty heavily invested in some young bats, and if several of them fizzle, we might have some difficulty in the offensive counting stats.

Here's the initial roster of my club:

C 	  	
Kenji Johjima
(Sea - C)
	Tex 	4:05 pm 	7/17 	1 	0 	1 	0 	.412
C 	  	
Gerald Laird
(Tex - C)
	@Sea 	4:05 pm 	4/31 	2 	0 	2 	1 	.129
1B 	  	
Paul Konerko
(CWS - 1B)
	@Cle 	1:05 pm 	8/35 	3 	1 	5 	0 	.229
2B 	  	
Brian Roberts
(Bal - 2B)
	KC 	1:35 pm 	10/49 	7 	0 	3 	1 	.204
3B 	  	
B.J. Upton
(TB - 2B,3B)
	@Min 	2:10 pm 	13/33 	5 	1 	7 	1 	.394
SS 	  	
Derek Jeter
(NYY - SS)
	@Oak 	4:05 pm 	14/44 	9 	0 	3 	1 	.318
CI 	  	
Lyle Overbay
(Tor - 1B)
	Det 	1:07 pm 	10/45 	6 	1 	6 	0 	.222
MI 	  	
José López
(Sea - 2B)
	Tex 	4:05 pm 	6/23 	4 	0 	1 	0 	.261
OF 	  	
Manny Ramírez
(Bos - OF)
	LAA 	1:05 pm 	7/36 	3 	0 	4 	0 	.194
OF 	  	
Torii Hunter
(Min - OF)
	TB 	2:10 pm 	11/40 	5 	1 	7 	4 	.275
OF 	  	
Coco Crisp
(Bos - OF)
	LAA 	1:05 pm 	4/36 	2 	0 	3 	1 	.111
OF 	  	
Kenny Lofton
(Tex - OF)
	@Sea 	4:05 pm 	10/37 	5 	1 	4 	4 	.270
OF 	  	
Elijah Dukes
(TB - OF)
	@Min 	2:10 pm 	5/31 	3 	2 	2 	0 	.161
Util 	  	
Alex Gordon
(KC - 3B)
	@Bal 	1:35 pm 	4/36 	1 	1 	2 	1 	.111
BN 	  	
Nelson Cruz
(Tex - OF)
	@Sea 	4:05 pm 	6/24 	3 	0 	4 	0 	.250
BN 	  	
Dustin Pedroia
(Bos - 2B,SS)
	LAA 	1:05 pm 	6/27 	3 	0 	0 	0 	.222
BN 	  	
David Dellucci
(Cle - OF)
	CWS 	1:05 pm 	7/22 	2 	0 	0 	0 	.318
BN 	  	
Jason Kubel
(Min - OF)
	TB 	2:10 pm 	6/23 	0 	0 	4 	0 	.261
BN 	  	
Andy Marte
(Cle - 3B)
	CWS 	1:05 pm 	5/28 	2 	1 	6 	0 	.179

Nominally, I think I am deep and decent on offense, but probably not a contender to top every category here, as I was last season. BAvg might be soft.

P 	  	
Scott Kazmir
(TB - P)
	@Min 	2:10 pm 	20.0 	1 	0 	21 	4.95 	1.20
P 	  	
Jeremy Bonderman
(Det - P)
	@Tor 	1:07 pm 	21.0 	0 	0 	15 	2.57 	1.00
P 	  	
A.J. Burnett
(Tor - P)
	Det 	1:07 pm 	14.0 	1 	0 	12 	7.07 	1.64
P 	  	
Andy Pettitte
(NYY - P)
	^@Oak 	4:05 pm 	11.0 	1 	0 	6 	1.64 	1.36
P 	  	
Kevin Millwood
(Tex - P)
	@Sea 	4:05 pm 	17.0 	2 	0 	10 	3.71 	1.59
P 	  	
Zack Greinke
(KC - P)
	^@Bal 	1:35 pm 	13.0 	1 	0 	12 	1.38 	1.15
P 	  	
James Shields
(TB - P)
	@Min 	2:10 pm 	13.2 	1 	0 	11 	4.61 	1.02
P 	  	
Joakim Soria
(KC - P)
	@Bal 	1:35 pm 	6.0 	0 	1 	6 	0.00 	0.50
P 	  	
Al Reyes
(TB - P)
	@Min 	2:10 pm 	4.0 	0 	3 	4 	0.00 	0.50
BN 	  	
Matt Garza
(Min - P) NA
	TB 	2:10 pm 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
BN 	  	
Andrew Miller
(Det - P) NA
	@Tor 	1:07 pm 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-

Much heavier in starting pitching than my teams *ever* get... but what use is it if you don't try out new things. I usually am weak in the wins/strikeouts catgeory, but I suspect this team has a shot at a top spot in each. I did make a token effort for some cheap saves, but anything better than 2-3 points in saves for this season will be a victory, as we didn't use a pick before round 21 (I think) on any relievers.


We'll see. I broke most of my own rules with this draft, but kinda like the team anyway...

[QuikSand]

Chief Rum sounded the call early on, with this snippet:

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I don't mind if you're not motivated. More money for me.

Little did we know, he was telling the truth:

Overall Points
  	  	
Batting
	
Pitching
	 
Rank
	
Team
	
R
	
HR
	
RBI
	
SB
	
AVG
	
W
	
SV
	
K
	
ERA
	
WHIP
	
Total
1. 	Go Angels 	7 	7 	8 	5 	7.5 	7 	6 	6 	6 	6.5 	66
2. 	Bob Loblaws Law Blog 	4 	6 	5 	7 	4 	8 	2 	4 	8 	6.5 	54.5
3. 	ChesapeakeCheapshots 	6 	5 	6 	8 	5 	4 	5 	8 	4 	3 	54
4. 	Maximum Fantasy Team 	8 	8 	7 	2 	3 	5 	7 	5 	2 	1 	48
5. 	Caligula's Henchmen 	5 	2 	3 	6 	6 	6 	1 	7 	3 	4.5 	43.5
6. 	Flying DH's 	3 	4 	4 	1 	2 	2 	4 	2 	7 	8 	37
7. 	fighters of foo 	1 	1 	1 	3 	7.5 	1 	8 	1 	5 	4.5 	33
8. 	Burke Lakers 	2 	3 	2 	4 	1 	3 	3 	3 	1 	2 	24

So... congratulations to Chief Rum and his Angel-powered juggernaut for the win this year. And also to kurtism for literally nabbing second place away from me on the very last day of the season (I still can't believe he made that rally).

Another year in the books.