Fantasy Baseball 2013

[UMass922]

I've run an AGS rotisserie league on ESPN the last couple of years, and (even though I'm not around here much anymore) I'll be happy to run it again if we have enough interest.

Newcomers: give me your email address in a PM, and I'll send you an invite.

If you played last year, your spot is already there for you, so you don't need to sign up again. If you don't plan on playing again, please let me know so that I can delete your team from the league (or you can remove yourself, I think).

This is the roster we had last year:

UMass922s
NASHVILLE BRAVES
Oakland A's
Springfield Cardinals
NH Penmen
Hudson Valley Raiders
IBP Triple Crown
Hilsboro Valiants
Liberty Flames
Harry's Hardballers (defending champ)

I'll cap the league at 14 teams, meaning that there will be room for at least four newcomers (though probably more, assuming some people don't return).

I haven't decided on a draft date yet, so please let me know what days of the week and times are best for you, and we'll figure something out that best accommodates everyone. I prefer to draft as close to the regular season as possible, so let's try to set our target sometime in the week before the season starts (the opener is a Sunday night game on the 31st).

[NHwildEcat]

Hey UMass, thank for running this. I am going to have to pass this year. I have a baby coming around the beginning of May, so I don't foresee any time to keep up with a team!

[UMass922]

Hey UMass, thank for running this. I am going to have to pass this year. I have a baby coming around the beginning of May, so I don't foresee any time to keep up with a team!

Ok, thanks for letting me know. Good luck with the little one!

[TTUEagles]

Congratulations NHWildEcat! Nothing better than having kids...it's amazing!
As far as draft times, I prefer at night, preferably in the 7-10 PM time frame (in a real time zone - Central time xrolleyesx)

[I Bleed Purple]

I might be taking a job that's swing, so I'd need weekends for a draft. I'll update if necessary, though.

I have a new strategy this year, which hopefully includes me actually remembering the draft this year.

[I Bleed Purple]

The owner, what'sitsface, mentioned something about a prize for winning AGS's league. That should give you incentive to join.

[UMass922]

The owner, what'sitsface, mentioned something about a prize for winning AGS's league. That should give you incentive to join.

Indeed. From last year's thread:


KNUTS told me he won this thing and as per my committment he's gonna get hit with an admin rep (100 pts.) and a $25 gift card of his choosing. You guys really ought to alert a guy about these things.xthumbsupx

Good job KNUTS!

So, if the admins are willing to offer a prize again, that should be enough incentive to get us a full, active league, hopefully . . .

[seantaylor]

I'm in. I propose a money league. If it isn't, the league dissolves quick with people forgetting, not caring, etc.

[PhoenixSupreme]

I did the league in 2011, but dropped last year due to being busy. I think I'm good to join this year. Any night time works for me on the draft.

[UMass922]

I'm in. I propose a money league. If it isn't, the league dissolves quick with people forgetting, not caring, etc.

I can't do a money league, but ursus has confirmed for me that the AGS admin will be putting up a prize again for the winner, so hopefully that will be enough of an incentive for people to participate.

Also, even though I prefer doing a roto league, I'd be open to doing a head-to-head league if that would keep more people in it longer (since other people still have a shot even if one person runs away with the regular season).

[KNUTS]

As defending world champion of the world I would just like to say that I like my new bar and want to keep it! You guys are on... The trick is dont draft any Cubs!!

[PhoenixSupreme]

Soo.... is anyone gonna e-mail me the league name and password or do I have to look through my data on ESPN to find it.

[UMass922]

Soo.... is anyone gonna e-mail me the league name and password or do I have to look through my data on ESPN to find it.

Send me your email address in a PM and I can send you an invite . . .

(Unfortunately with these custom ESPN leagues you can't just post a password; you have to collect email addresses and send out invites.)

[I Bleed Purple]

roto roto roto roto.

[UMass922]

Ok, so far we've got six for sure:

UMass922
I Bleed Purple
TTU Eagles
PhoenixSupreme
KNUTS
Cmitty

seantaylor, are you still in even if it's not a money league? (Though there will be a prize awarded by the admins, as mentioned earlier.) Send me your email address in a PM if you want an invite.

Teams that are still on the roster from last year, but whom I haven't heard from yet about this year:

Oakland A's
Hudson Valley Raiders
Hilsboro Valiants
Liberty Flames

If I don't hear anything from those folks come draft day (still TBD), I'll have to assume they're not playing and drop them from the league (and some of them weren't very active last year anyway).

As long as we have at least ten teams (maybe nine), we'll do a mixed league, but if we end up with fewer than that, I propose doing AL- or NL-only so that the league won't be too shallow.

[UMass922]

Bump.

[UMass922]

Time to start talking draft date. The season starts on Sunday the 31st, so let me know what dates/times next week work best for you guys. I'm pretty flexible.

Also, we still only have six confirmed participants, so let me know how you feel about doing an NL- or AL-only league in the event that we end up with only 6-8 people . . .

[TTUEagles]

I am an NL fan, so if we go that route...I vote for NL only, but hope we can do an All MLB league...I also vote for drafting on any day after this coming Tuesday (vacation)....

[UMass922]

I vote for NL only, but hope we can do an All MLB league

Yeah, it's not ideal, but I figure NL- or AL-only would be better than either an extremely shallow mixed league or no league at all. Just want to make sure doing one-league-only wouldn't be a deal-breaker for anybody. Hopefully we can get a few more people on board in the next week or so and it won't be an issue.

[PhoenixSupreme]

I don't mind a one-league only format and it doesn't matter which league is chosen. As for draft dates, any night next week, though I'd rather not have the draft fall during the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 dates. But that's a minor request and I can certainly work around that if it needs to happen.

[UMass922]

I'd rather not have the draft fall during the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 dates. But that's a minor request and I can certainly work around that if it needs to happen.

This was my thought as well . . . maybe we should target Wednesday night, then?

[I Bleed Purple]

Starting a new job Monday. Swing shift. Anything that isn't next weekend means no draft for me for the second year.

[UMass922]

Starting a new job Monday. Swing shift. Anything that isn't next weekend means no draft for me for the second year.

Ok, let's try for Saturday then. That ok with everybody else? Name a time . . .

[I Bleed Purple]

I can work around most anything on Saturday. I don't have a preference.

[UMass922]

Ok, cool. I'll try to go for a time that doesn't conflict with any of the NCAA tourney games on Saturday. Shouldn't be difficult, since it'll be the regional finals by that point, meaning just two games to work around.

[TTUEagles]

It really doesn't matter but if we are voting....I vote for after 8 pm cst

[PhoenixSupreme]

I'm indifferent on time as well

[UMass922]

Ok, I've set the draft for Saturday night at 10 PM Eastern.

[UMass922]

Also set the player pool to NL-only for now. If we can get up to a nine-man league, we'll do mixed for sure; at eight I'd still lean toward NL-only, but would be ok doing mixed if more people strongly prefer that.

[I Bleed Purple]

Would a couple hours earlier work for everybody? I'm pretty much fine as is, but would like a bit earlier for ending purposes.

[UMass922]

Would a couple hours earlier work for everybody? I'm pretty much fine as is, but would like a bit earlier for ending purposes.

Keep in mind that if this ends up being a six-team/NL-only league, it's going to be done in half the time of a standard draft. TTU said he preferred no earlier than 8 PM Central, so we could perhaps bump it up an hour and try it then . . .

Last night I did a 12-team mixed-league draft with 25-man rosters (300 total picks), and it took about two hours. So figure that as our league stands now, the draft would take about an hour.

[I Bleed Purple]

7 my time is better than 8, my time. Would like it earlier, but I can run with that at the moment.

[TTUEagles]

No worries either way with me, really... It's just a preference to do it at 8 or 9 CST, not a NEED.

[UMass922]

7 my time is better than 8, my time. Would like it earlier, but I can run with that at the moment.

What time zone are you in?

[I Bleed Purple]

MDT. 5 or 6 PM is probably the most ideal for me, but I'm not in dire need to do that.

[UMass922]

No worries either way with me, really... It's just a preference to do it at 8 or 9 CST, not a NEED.


MDT. 5 or 6 PM is probably the most ideal for me, but I'm not in dire need to do that.

Ok, how about we go with 8:30 Eastern . . . seems like that would get us the closest to everybody's preferences.

[bodoyle]

If you need another player, and it's a free league, I'll join.

[UMass922]

If you need another player, and it's a free league, I'll join.

Absolutely--send me your email address in a PM and I'll send you an invite.

[bodoyle]

Is the draft on Saturday? If so, is it ok if I set my picks to auto? I will be in the Bahamas on my honeymoon xthumbsupxxnodx

[UMass922]

Is the draft on Saturday? If so, is it ok if I set my picks to auto? I will be in the Bahamas on my honeymoon xthumbsupxxnodx

Ha, yes, if you must. I suppose that's a good excuse. ;)

[bodoyle]

Got your email. I setup my auto draft to make it go as quick as possible.

[UMass922]

Bump. If anyone still wants to join, PM me with your email address within the next 24 hours and I can send you an invite. We're drafting at 8:30 PM (Eastern) tomorrow night. Right now we've got seven people for an NL-only. With a couple more we can make it a mixed league.

[UMass922]

A question about settings I'd like your opinions on. Since we're doing an NL-only league, how do you want to handle players who get traded to an AL team during the season? Do you want to go the generous route and have their stats continue to count, or go the tough-luck route and have it be treated as the equivalent of a season-ending injury? (The tough-luck option is the default.)

[TTUEagles]

Go the tough-luck route...

[UMass922]

Draft room is open; draft begins in 20 minutes. Good luck everybody!

[KNUTS]

**** I completely forgot about the draft but think I did pretty good with the auto picks so I'm happy... except I ****ing hate Ryan Braun!! The guy is on my punch list so I dont want the asshole on my team but I do realize he has value so instead of dropping the piece of **** I will take serious trade offers only. Good luck this year boys!

[UMass922]

Opening Day is upon us. Good luck everybody! Have fun and be active. xnodx

[I Bleed Purple]

Need pitching. Got hitting. Make an offer.

[TTUEagles]

Need pitching. Got hitting. Make an offer.
I'll offer up one of my closers except Kimbrell for someone who can steal a base...

[I Bleed Purple]

I'll offer up one of my closers except Kimbrell for someone who can steal a base...
Prefer Starting pitching.

[bodoyle]

Only player I have with double digit SBs is Segura with 14.

[PhoenixSupreme]

After almost 2 months in relative futility, I hope I've finally gotten a solid team with some staying power for the rest of the season.

[I Bleed Purple]

No one responding to my trade offers. :(

Not even a "you're an idiot for trying to rip me off" reply.

[UMass922]

Just sent you an offer, IBP.

[I Bleed Purple]

Just sent you an offer, IBP.

I don't know. Not sure I should do a deal with you unless it takes you to the woodshed, and you're too smart for that.

[UMass922]

I see you guys have a nice race for second going on. xwhistlex

[KNUTS]

I guess I'm gonna lose my banner... Dammit it looked so good too. I should've known being a Cubs fan that I was going to stink in an all NL league. At least I was way early on the Ryan Braun hate!!

[Smitty]

Grats on your win. Just couldn't catch up in any of my leagues this year...

[ursus arctos horribilis]

Who won? They get a rep shot from the admin and the "Playa" bar moves over to them.

[Smitty]

Umass922

[UMass922]

Thanks ursus! And thanks to everyone who played; it was still a pretty active league despite it being a runaway, so props to everyone for that. I'll spread some rep around myself to everyone who participated.

[I Bleed Purple]

I got rolled. :(