| DIVISION | W | L | W % | WC | DIV | DCS | LCS | WS | PSPTS | PSW | PSL | Runs | ERA | Field | +/-' |
| NL EAST | 2,463 | 2,073 | 0.543 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 74 | 70 | 15.3 | 10.0 | 13.8 | 13.6 |
| AL EAST | 2,325 | 2,211 | 0.513 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 52 | 47 | 13.3 | 18.4 | 15.1 | 14.1 |
| NL WEST | 2,299 | 2,237 | 0.507 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 41 | 40 | 16.5 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 15.7 |
| AL WEST | 2,284 | 2,252 | 0.504 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 41 | 42 | 16.6 | 15.7 | 17.7 | 13.9 |
| AL SOUTH | 2,264 | 2,272 | 0.499 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 46 | 50 | 11.1 | 21.1 | 17.9 | 19.7 |
| NL SOUTH | 2,204 | 2,332 | 0.486 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 36 | 37 | 19.9 | 14.6 | 20.3 | 19.3 |
| AL NORTH | 2,158 | 2,378 | 0.476 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 41 | 38 | 15.0 | 23.4 | 18.2 | 18.4 |
| NL NORTH | 2,147 | 2,389 | 0.473 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 27 | 24.4 | 14.8 | 15.0 | 17.3 |
Friday, June 29, 2012
Divisional Standings
Monday, May 7, 2012
Up Close with Upper Deck Veteran grivfmd1
Finally got a chance to chat with Upper Deck founding member grivfmd1 but first he offered a little more insight.
1st a little background. I'm 61 and now the oldest in the clan as my 91 yr old father recently passed away. I do not know who shortened my handle to "griv" but the original handle (GRIVFMD1) stood for Grand Rapids (where I live in MIchigan) IVF (infertility and in vitro fertilization - what I do) MD (what I am) a nd 1(because I had used the GRIVFMD previously elsewhere).
1.) I notice you have "other" as your favorite sport, what might that be? I grew up in Westbrook Ct (grandparents - esp summer) on the coast near Saybrook and outside Hartford Ct (parents - winter). In High School I thought I was a hotshot in skiing and went to college in Maine to ski (in part). Discovered I was pretty average at alpine skiing and needed to take up cross country (I had run track in high school) to stay on the alpine team. Meanwhile my friends and I were beating each others heads at Small Boat Sailing (And Big Boat) in Essex, CT. Turns out we were all good at sailing. I eventually won a national championship and almost all the rest of the guys make their living from sailing (I do not). So my favorite sport is small boat sailing (usually with a second hand boat). The last few years my arthritis and job have kept me away from it.
2.) Who is your favorite all-time baseball player? Baseball was always my favorite team sport. Living on the water in coastal CT; I did not get to play it much. Could play D but could not hit. At night I could get the NYC radio stations (I'm old - no TV in the area and certainly no cable).
The Dodgers and Giants had recently moved to the west coast and thankfully the mets did not exist (yet). The Giants games were still on the NYC radio station. They had this rookie named McCovey and could he ever hit.
3.) Play any sports? No organized team sports - in part because I was not good enough. I could jump and get above the rim in Basketball but my hands were too small to palm the ball. Could not hit in baseball and was always afraid of hurting my knees, so no football. Ran track in high school from the 440 to the 2 mile. But mostly I skied (and taught skiing to earn money) and sailed (and taught /coached sailing to earn money)
4.) Whats your best fan moment? Best in-person sports moment? Got to see a no hitter, while I was working in Philadelphia. Was sitting in the upper deck of the old Vet and had a perfect view of the 3rd baseline. Hayes snagged a liner for the last out right along the line. But in my view he did not "save" the no hiiter, if he had missed it, it would have gone foul. Earlier that year I had decided to go to a NBA playoff game rather than the baseball game that night. Turns out that was the night Schmidt hit his last home run before retiring. Win some, loss some. Do not remember anything about the NBA game.
5.) Being that you are in several well established elite leagues, which one do you find the most difficult to win in? Which one is your fav? What do you think is most important to have a good world, competitive balance, good characters, a winning team, rules? I'm going to take these together. "Elite" is a relative term. What makes a league "elite", I'm not sure, and I have doubts about any of the rating systems, as I tend to view them as self-fulfilling. Is Cooperstown "elite"? I have 14 division titles in 21 seasons and 2 WS titles. Is No Quitters "elite"? 7 Division titles, 4 league championships but no WS. Does that make No Quitters "better". I do not know. I do know that respecting other owners counts, that the quality of a league is based more on ownership than the rules, and that competitive balance makes it more interesting. FWIW, my favorite league is No Quitters but that may be more because I started it (esp now that the Blue Crabs can not seem to win)
6.) If you could have one real life player in MLB transferred to your Upper Deck team, who would that be? Every league I 'm in I seem to be looking for Pitching and.or defense. The failings of the playoff teams are probably more based on the lack of a big stick than the lack of pitching or defense. So while I'm tempted to say Jared Weaver or Kershaw, I would probably be better off recruiting a power stick - like Cabrera of Detroit, Bruce or Votto of Cinci, Kemp of LA, Braun of Mil, or Harper of the Nats. Let'd go with Harper since he has the most "cheap years" left.
7.) If you could sit at a poker table or play a round of golf 3 other people who would they be and why? Well, I do not play poker or play golf but I doubt these guys would either. I am a history buff and much of history has to do with religon. While I would be described by most as agonistic, I would view myself as more of a Unitarian. The people I would love to talk to, to see what was in their minds at the time they lived, would be Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad. Though I would not mind being able to pick the brains of Luther or Constantine as well (for those less versed in history Constantine was the Roman Emperor who adapted christianity as the Roman state religion. To do so he needed a single "dogma" and called the Council of Nicene to get it (Nicean Creed). The upshot of the Council of Nicene was the adoption of the Trinitarian view of Christianity over the Unitarian view. I wonder how much of the rise of Islam is do to the eastern Christian churches (the churches outside of greece that Paul wrote to) being primarily Unitarian and never being totally comfortable with the Trinitarian view.
8.) Besides running your HBD teams, what are some of your other interests and hobbies? I sort of answered that in the last question. I am a history buff and read constantly, but seldom read a Novel. If I do it will be a historical novel. I run our practice 401k plan, so out of necessity have become versed in psychology and economics (from my prospective these are inseperable). While I have never beaten the DOW/S&P in their best years I have never had a down year either. For a long period I was a single parent, and like most parents have a lot of pride in how the Kids turned out (though of course this is still in process and you never know until they have raised their own kids). So far they have all adapted the approach to life that I have always been most comfortable with (and what led to my 1st divorce and my second solid marriage), which is NO DEBT. Something I strongly believe the country needs to rediscover (want to guess who I am NOT voting for in the next presidential election)
9.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done? The highest thing of my "bucket list" is quasi-sport. It is to descend into the Grand Canyon, stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch, and hike back out. However, to get reservations at the Phantom Ranch you need to book it 13 months ahead (1st of the month a year before). At present my work schedule does not allow this, even if my arthritis would. So this is on hold. Otherwise, like many I just try to visit as many ballparks as possible
10.) If there was one thing you could add/change about HBD, what would that be? There is no doubt on this one. "Advance Scouting" is not advance scouting (it should be scouting the other team before you play them and having your pitchers try to pitch to the other teams weakness and vice versa). When I discovered this did not exist I quickly moved my Advance Scouting budget to 0. The projections on players are self - fulfilling on any player with 2 or more years in the minors (and for younger players can be figured out by their draft position and the draft/scouting budgets of the team that drafted them in the year they were drafted). Since I do not trade much, I find Adv Scouting as presently constructed worthless. If it included what I originally thought it was, that I would pay for. HBD is missing the boat on this one.
1st a little background. I'm 61 and now the oldest in the clan as my 91 yr old father recently passed away. I do not know who shortened my handle to "griv" but the original handle (GRIVFMD1) stood for Grand Rapids (where I live in MIchigan) IVF (infertility and in vitro fertilization - what I do) MD (what I am) a nd 1(because I had used the GRIVFMD previously elsewhere).
1.) I notice you have "other" as your favorite sport, what might that be? I grew up in Westbrook Ct (grandparents - esp summer) on the coast near Saybrook and outside Hartford Ct (parents - winter). In High School I thought I was a hotshot in skiing and went to college in Maine to ski (in part). Discovered I was pretty average at alpine skiing and needed to take up cross country (I had run track in high school) to stay on the alpine team. Meanwhile my friends and I were beating each others heads at Small Boat Sailing (And Big Boat) in Essex, CT. Turns out we were all good at sailing. I eventually won a national championship and almost all the rest of the guys make their living from sailing (I do not). So my favorite sport is small boat sailing (usually with a second hand boat). The last few years my arthritis and job have kept me away from it.
2.) Who is your favorite all-time baseball player? Baseball was always my favorite team sport. Living on the water in coastal CT; I did not get to play it much. Could play D but could not hit. At night I could get the NYC radio stations (I'm old - no TV in the area and certainly no cable).
3.) Play any sports? No organized team sports - in part because I was not good enough. I could jump and get above the rim in Basketball but my hands were too small to palm the ball. Could not hit in baseball and was always afraid of hurting my knees, so no football. Ran track in high school from the 440 to the 2 mile. But mostly I skied (and taught skiing to earn money) and sailed (and taught /coached sailing to earn money)
4.) Whats your best fan moment? Best in-person sports moment? Got to see a no hitter, while I was working in Philadelphia. Was sitting in the upper deck of the old Vet and had a perfect view of the 3rd baseline. Hayes snagged a liner for the last out right along the line. But in my view he did not "save" the no hiiter, if he had missed it, it would have gone foul. Earlier that year I had decided to go to a NBA playoff game rather than the baseball game that night. Turns out that was the night Schmidt hit his last home run before retiring. Win some, loss some. Do not remember anything about the NBA game.
5.) Being that you are in several well established elite leagues, which one do you find the most difficult to win in? Which one is your fav? What do you think is most important to have a good world, competitive balance, good characters, a winning team, rules? I'm going to take these together. "Elite" is a relative term. What makes a league "elite", I'm not sure, and I have doubts about any of the rating systems, as I tend to view them as self-fulfilling. Is Cooperstown "elite"? I have 14 division titles in 21 seasons and 2 WS titles. Is No Quitters "elite"? 7 Division titles, 4 league championships but no WS. Does that make No Quitters "better". I do not know. I do know that respecting other owners counts, that the quality of a league is based more on ownership than the rules, and that competitive balance makes it more interesting. FWIW, my favorite league is No Quitters but that may be more because I started it (esp now that the Blue Crabs can not seem to win)
6.) If you could have one real life player in MLB transferred to your Upper Deck team, who would that be? Every league I 'm in I seem to be looking for Pitching and.or defense. The failings of the playoff teams are probably more based on the lack of a big stick than the lack of pitching or defense. So while I'm tempted to say Jared Weaver or Kershaw, I would probably be better off recruiting a power stick - like Cabrera of Detroit, Bruce or Votto of Cinci, Kemp of LA, Braun of Mil, or Harper of the Nats. Let'd go with Harper since he has the most "cheap years" left.
7.) If you could sit at a poker table or play a round of golf 3 other people who would they be and why? Well, I do not play poker or play golf but I doubt these guys would either. I am a history buff and much of history has to do with religon. While I would be described by most as agonistic, I would view myself as more of a Unitarian. The people I would love to talk to, to see what was in their minds at the time they lived, would be Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad. Though I would not mind being able to pick the brains of Luther or Constantine as well (for those less versed in history Constantine was the Roman Emperor who adapted christianity as the Roman state religion. To do so he needed a single "dogma" and called the Council of Nicene to get it (Nicean Creed). The upshot of the Council of Nicene was the adoption of the Trinitarian view of Christianity over the Unitarian view. I wonder how much of the rise of Islam is do to the eastern Christian churches (the churches outside of greece that Paul wrote to) being primarily Unitarian and never being totally comfortable with the Trinitarian view.
8.) Besides running your HBD teams, what are some of your other interests and hobbies? I sort of answered that in the last question. I am a history buff and read constantly, but seldom read a Novel. If I do it will be a historical novel. I run our practice 401k plan, so out of necessity have become versed in psychology and economics (from my prospective these are inseperable). While I have never beaten the DOW/S&P in their best years I have never had a down year either. For a long period I was a single parent, and like most parents have a lot of pride in how the Kids turned out (though of course this is still in process and you never know until they have raised their own kids). So far they have all adapted the approach to life that I have always been most comfortable with (and what led to my 1st divorce and my second solid marriage), which is NO DEBT. Something I strongly believe the country needs to rediscover (want to guess who I am NOT voting for in the next presidential election)
9.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done? The highest thing of my "bucket list" is quasi-sport. It is to descend into the Grand Canyon, stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch, and hike back out. However, to get reservations at the Phantom Ranch you need to book it 13 months ahead (1st of the month a year before). At present my work schedule does not allow this, even if my arthritis would. So this is on hold. Otherwise, like many I just try to visit as many ballparks as possible
10.) If there was one thing you could add/change about HBD, what would that be? There is no doubt on this one. "Advance Scouting" is not advance scouting (it should be scouting the other team before you play them and having your pitchers try to pitch to the other teams weakness and vice versa). When I discovered this did not exist I quickly moved my Advance Scouting budget to 0. The projections on players are self - fulfilling on any player with 2 or more years in the minors (and for younger players can be figured out by their draft position and the draft/scouting budgets of the team that drafted them in the year they were drafted). Since I do not trade much, I find Adv Scouting as presently constructed worthless. If it included what I originally thought it was, that I would pay for. HBD is missing the boat on this one.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Up Close with AZ owner jtpsops
Recently I sat down with founding Arizona owner jtpsops to find out a little more about him.
1.) Arizona team - check, Arizona St favorite college - check, Arizona resident?
Actually I live in Kitchener, Ontario, about 45 minutes southwest of Toronto. The Arizona thing is a bit hard to explain – as a kid, I was fascinated with the state and always wanted to visit. Not sure where it came from, but I’ve always had a thing for Arizona. I finally made it there for spring training about 5 years ago – it’s all I imagined it to be. I love it. As for the Sun Devils, when I was getting into college sports, I didn’t want to follow the crowd and pick one of the mainstream teams, so the Sun Devils seemed like a great choice. Plus they always have a strong baseball program.
2.) Baseball being your favorite sport, who's your team and favorite current or all-time player?
I was a big Cal Ripken Jr. fan as a kid for his work ethic and his passion for the game, and that led to me being a fan of the Orioles. Part of that was me being rebellious and not wanting to root for the “home town” Jays like everyone else. It was good in the mid-to-late 90s, but definitely not since.
3.) Play any sports?
I play softball every year (sadly the closest I can get to real baseball these days), as well as tennis, golf and volleyball. And I’m always down for a good game of rec football with the guys.
4.) Whats your best fan sports moment? Best in-person sports moment?
I’m a Broncos fan, so that OT win over Pittsburgh is up there. I became a fan in the late 90s right as they were winning their two Superbowls, so it was nice, but it didn’t really feel like “my” team yet. The O’s and Broncos haven’t given me much to cheer about lately, so the excitement of this season and winning that David-vs-Goliath matchup, especially in that fashion, was huge. As for in person, I’ve been blessed with some good opportunities, so there are a couple that are up there. I met Ripken at a ST game in Fort Lauderdale when I was 15 – he sat down and talked with me for a few minutes and signed a hat, which was just mind-blowing for me at the time. I also attended Game 3 of the ’92 World Series in Toronto. It was unbelievabley loud and the atmosphere was electric – it’s something I’ll never forget. Walking Augusta National for a practice round at the Masters and seeing a night Yankees-Red Sox showdown at Fenway are up there too. Absolutely magical.
5.) What sort of changes, if any, can we expect with the Desert dogs this season and how do you plan on passing up SF?
It’s hard for me to admit it, but I’m clearly still getting a grasp on the game. I’ve overvalued some guys and I’m sure I’ve mismanaged a bit, but I think I’m getting better. I probably have a long way to go to catch SF though – z has put together a really strong team. I’m hoping some young guys will come into their own this year, like SP Morris Ramirez. I’m going to be aggressive in FA, as usual, and hopefully that brings a piece or two that will help bridge the gap.
6.) Who's going to win this weekend's NFL Conference championships and who's taking the Super Bowl?
I’m going with the Ravens and the 49ers, with the Ravens winning. I picked the Ravens pre-season, so I’m sticking with them all the way. The 49ers are a great story though. It’s amazing what Jim Harbaugh has done with that team, and it’s nice to see Alex Smith and Vernon Davis get a little redemption.
7.) If you could have one real life player in MLB transferred to your AZ team, who would that be?
My team can hold their own offensively and defensively, but pitching has always been the black hole. I need a dominant, innings-eating ace, so probably Roy Halladay or Felix Hernandez.
8.) If you could sit at a poker table and have a roundtable discussion with 3 other people who would they be and why?
Cal Ripken would definitely top the list, simply because he’s my idol and I’ve “grown up with him” so to speak. I think he would have a lot of wisdom to share about the game – and business too, surprisingly. An odd choice, but I think I’d take Howard Stern second. I’ve heard him do a few serious shows in his time, and he’s actually an incredibly intelligent and well-researched man. I think it would be interesting to have an off the radio discussion with him and see what he had to add away from the cameras. Lastly, I’d go with Tim Tebow. A bit of a homer choice, but I’ve been fascinated by him and how he handles himself. He’s also incredibly invested in people and I think it would be valuable to sit down with him and find out how he’s able to make everything work together in his life. Plus having him and Stern together would definitely create some memorable moments, I’m sure.
9.) Besides simulation sports websites, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
I’m a huge movie buff and my PS3 gets a lot of work. I also love writing in my spare time and have a handful of novels on the go. My goal is to one day be published, but that may be down the road a ways.
10.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done?
Some of the obvious ones that I think are on most sports fans' lists, like a Superbowl and perhaps a US Open (tennis) night session. On a more attainable scale, I’d like to visit the ballparks for every major league team. I’ve been to 19 parks so far, though 3 are no longer in use. I’m hoping to knock Busch and Kaufmann off the list this year.
11.) If there was one thing you could add/change about HBD, what would that be?
Given that I’m still learning the game, it’s hard to tell. I’ve suggested a few changes already, but some vets have kindly (and not-so-kindly) told me why they aren’t good ideas, and it made sense. Off the top of my head, I would like to see an easier transfer of funds between budget areas. I understand why the restrictions are there, but it would be nice to not have to wait 3-4 seasons to max out a particular budget area when you take over a team.
1.) Arizona team - check, Arizona St favorite college - check, Arizona resident?
Actually I live in Kitchener, Ontario, about 45 minutes southwest of Toronto. The Arizona thing is a bit hard to explain – as a kid, I was fascinated with the state and always wanted to visit. Not sure where it came from, but I’ve always had a thing for Arizona. I finally made it there for spring training about 5 years ago – it’s all I imagined it to be. I love it. As for the Sun Devils, when I was getting into college sports, I didn’t want to follow the crowd and pick one of the mainstream teams, so the Sun Devils seemed like a great choice. Plus they always have a strong baseball program.
2.) Baseball being your favorite sport, who's your team and favorite current or all-time player?
I was a big Cal Ripken Jr. fan as a kid for his work ethic and his passion for the game, and that led to me being a fan of the Orioles. Part of that was me being rebellious and not wanting to root for the “home town” Jays like everyone else. It was good in the mid-to-late 90s, but definitely not since.
3.) Play any sports?
I play softball every year (sadly the closest I can get to real baseball these days), as well as tennis, golf and volleyball. And I’m always down for a good game of rec football with the guys.
4.) Whats your best fan sports moment? Best in-person sports moment?
I’m a Broncos fan, so that OT win over Pittsburgh is up there. I became a fan in the late 90s right as they were winning their two Superbowls, so it was nice, but it didn’t really feel like “my” team yet. The O’s and Broncos haven’t given me much to cheer about lately, so the excitement of this season and winning that David-vs-Goliath matchup, especially in that fashion, was huge. As for in person, I’ve been blessed with some good opportunities, so there are a couple that are up there. I met Ripken at a ST game in Fort Lauderdale when I was 15 – he sat down and talked with me for a few minutes and signed a hat, which was just mind-blowing for me at the time. I also attended Game 3 of the ’92 World Series in Toronto. It was unbelievabley loud and the atmosphere was electric – it’s something I’ll never forget. Walking Augusta National for a practice round at the Masters and seeing a night Yankees-Red Sox showdown at Fenway are up there too. Absolutely magical.
5.) What sort of changes, if any, can we expect with the Desert dogs this season and how do you plan on passing up SF?
It’s hard for me to admit it, but I’m clearly still getting a grasp on the game. I’ve overvalued some guys and I’m sure I’ve mismanaged a bit, but I think I’m getting better. I probably have a long way to go to catch SF though – z has put together a really strong team. I’m hoping some young guys will come into their own this year, like SP Morris Ramirez. I’m going to be aggressive in FA, as usual, and hopefully that brings a piece or two that will help bridge the gap.
6.) Who's going to win this weekend's NFL Conference championships and who's taking the Super Bowl?
I’m going with the Ravens and the 49ers, with the Ravens winning. I picked the Ravens pre-season, so I’m sticking with them all the way. The 49ers are a great story though. It’s amazing what Jim Harbaugh has done with that team, and it’s nice to see Alex Smith and Vernon Davis get a little redemption.
7.) If you could have one real life player in MLB transferred to your AZ team, who would that be?
My team can hold their own offensively and defensively, but pitching has always been the black hole. I need a dominant, innings-eating ace, so probably Roy Halladay or Felix Hernandez.
8.) If you could sit at a poker table and have a roundtable discussion with 3 other people who would they be and why?
Cal Ripken would definitely top the list, simply because he’s my idol and I’ve “grown up with him” so to speak. I think he would have a lot of wisdom to share about the game – and business too, surprisingly. An odd choice, but I think I’d take Howard Stern second. I’ve heard him do a few serious shows in his time, and he’s actually an incredibly intelligent and well-researched man. I think it would be interesting to have an off the radio discussion with him and see what he had to add away from the cameras. Lastly, I’d go with Tim Tebow. A bit of a homer choice, but I’ve been fascinated by him and how he handles himself. He’s also incredibly invested in people and I think it would be valuable to sit down with him and find out how he’s able to make everything work together in his life. Plus having him and Stern together would definitely create some memorable moments, I’m sure.
9.) Besides simulation sports websites, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
I’m a huge movie buff and my PS3 gets a lot of work. I also love writing in my spare time and have a handful of novels on the go. My goal is to one day be published, but that may be down the road a ways.
10.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done?
Some of the obvious ones that I think are on most sports fans' lists, like a Superbowl and perhaps a US Open (tennis) night session. On a more attainable scale, I’d like to visit the ballparks for every major league team. I’ve been to 19 parks so far, though 3 are no longer in use. I’m hoping to knock Busch and Kaufmann off the list this year.
11.) If there was one thing you could add/change about HBD, what would that be?
Given that I’m still learning the game, it’s hard to tell. I’ve suggested a few changes already, but some vets have kindly (and not-so-kindly) told me why they aren’t good ideas, and it made sense. Off the top of my head, I would like to see an easier transfer of funds between budget areas. I understand why the restrictions are there, but it would be nice to not have to wait 3-4 seasons to max out a particular budget area when you take over a team.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
League Memo
After talking with the VC we have adjusted the Win requirements, we bumped up with 1 season req to 52 to .320 and lowered the season 2 req to .367 and lowered the 3 season req to .385 down from .400. I think it would be good if we can give owners a fair chance at rebuilding I know there were a couple franchises that were in bad shape and I figure it'd be better if we have a consistent owner who is willing to improve the team while still fielding a respectable team.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Prospect Cap Voting Results
The votes are in and this is how it shook out. The committee had 4 options.
1 VC member didn't vote in time but it wouldn't change the outcome so voting is over.
Option A) Eliminate the cap entirely (5 votes)
Option B) Move the cap to $30 million
Option C) Keep the cap as is (1 vote)
Option D) Griv's idea with a $25 million cap on prospects and unlimited for the draft (2 votes)
1 VC member didn't vote in time but it wouldn't change the outcome so voting is over.
Option A) Eliminate the cap entirely (5 votes)
Option B) Move the cap to $30 million
Option C) Keep the cap as is (1 vote)
Option D) Griv's idea with a $25 million cap on prospects and unlimited for the draft (2 votes)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Up Close with Trenton GM jvford
1.) UCONN grad? What do you think of their chances vs Kentucky this weekend? I think it depends on Oriakhi. If he plays well and stays out of foul trouble, the Huskies are hard to beat. 
2.) Baseball being your favorite sport, who's your team and favorite current and all-time player? Boston Red Sox. My favorite current player is Kevin Youkilis: hard worker, intense, and he stood up to Manny. Growing up, I was a fan of Dwight Evans from the beginning. Loved the outfield arm and he was an OPS machine before I knew what that was.
3.) Lots of success in Hoops Dynasty with a 329-110 record. Give it up for any reason? Any tips for noobs?
I kind of felt like the game was all about the recuiting period, with very little to do afterwards. Towards the end of my time there, I was adding more teams in HBD and I just started losing interest in HD. There's just no comparison between the depth of HBD and HD. Tips for noobs? Seems like so long ago that I was playing HD. From what I remember, plan ahead: when you're recruiting, look to be replacing your juniors, not your seniors.
4.) Whats your best sports moment? Best in-person sports moment? Best sports moment would be the 2004 ALCS. I was away at a convention and I remember a couple of Yankee fans shooting their mouths off in the bar every night during the comeback. For a Red Sox fan, it couldn't get any more exciting.
Best in person moment was May 19th, 2008. My father had been asking me for a week to go to this game with him and a couple of guys from his work. It was a Monday night game and a 3+ hour drive, but I decided to go last minute because I honestly couldn't remember ever going to a game with my father. Anyway, Jon Lester threw a no-hitter and the place was electric. My father still talks about that game.
5.) What sort of changes, if any, can we expect with the Trenton Crossing this season?
There could be a lot. Thatcher is another year older and most of my RP are FA. I haven't decided whether or not to start tearing it down...a lot depends on what's available in FA. Of course, I owe it to an aging Doster to make another run.
6.) What do you think is more important for an HBD team? A sure fire Ace? Strong pitching staff? Well rounded lineup? Speed, defense, coaching?
Defense, defense, defense. My teams will always be among the top defensive teams in any world I'm in. I've gotten away with mediocre pitchers in my rotation (check out Dave Malloy's 3 seasons) and made good pitchers great (Doster).
7.) If you could have one real life player in MLB transferred to your new team, who would that be and why, age irrelevant?
Felix Hernandez....dominant and throws a lot of innings. I could see him anchoring a rotation for 10-12 years in HBD.
8.) If you could sit at a poker table or play a round of golf with 3 other people who would they be and why?
Marc Cuban, Tony Kornheiser, Bill Simmons...3 guys that could cover all aspects of sports....there would never be a lull in the conversation. I read a lot of Cuban's blog posts (great head for business) and I listen to a lot of TK and BS podcasts. I think it would be a heck of an entertaining round of golf.
9.) What part of the country do you reside in and what do you like to do in your spare time when you're not running your HBD teams?I live in CT. I spend most of my spare time with my wife and 3 kids.
10.) If there was one thing you could add/change about HBD, what would that be? I would change the draft. It's my least favorite part of the game. At the very least, the should come up with a way of allowing us to import rankings via excel. I hate sitting at my desk at work and re-ranking 75-100 players manually....it just takes forever.
2.) Baseball being your favorite sport, who's your team and favorite current and all-time player? Boston Red Sox. My favorite current player is Kevin Youkilis: hard worker, intense, and he stood up to Manny. Growing up, I was a fan of Dwight Evans from the beginning. Loved the outfield arm and he was an OPS machine before I knew what that was.
3.) Lots of success in Hoops Dynasty with a 329-110 record. Give it up for any reason? Any tips for noobs?
I kind of felt like the game was all about the recuiting period, with very little to do afterwards. Towards the end of my time there, I was adding more teams in HBD and I just started losing interest in HD. There's just no comparison between the depth of HBD and HD. Tips for noobs? Seems like so long ago that I was playing HD. From what I remember, plan ahead: when you're recruiting, look to be replacing your juniors, not your seniors.
4.) Whats your best sports moment? Best in-person sports moment? Best sports moment would be the 2004 ALCS. I was away at a convention and I remember a couple of Yankee fans shooting their mouths off in the bar every night during the comeback. For a Red Sox fan, it couldn't get any more exciting.
Best in person moment was May 19th, 2008. My father had been asking me for a week to go to this game with him and a couple of guys from his work. It was a Monday night game and a 3+ hour drive, but I decided to go last minute because I honestly couldn't remember ever going to a game with my father. Anyway, Jon Lester threw a no-hitter and the place was electric. My father still talks about that game.
5.) What sort of changes, if any, can we expect with the Trenton Crossing this season?
There could be a lot. Thatcher is another year older and most of my RP are FA. I haven't decided whether or not to start tearing it down...a lot depends on what's available in FA. Of course, I owe it to an aging Doster to make another run.
6.) What do you think is more important for an HBD team? A sure fire Ace? Strong pitching staff? Well rounded lineup? Speed, defense, coaching?
Defense, defense, defense. My teams will always be among the top defensive teams in any world I'm in. I've gotten away with mediocre pitchers in my rotation (check out Dave Malloy's 3 seasons) and made good pitchers great (Doster).
7.) If you could have one real life player in MLB transferred to your new team, who would that be and why, age irrelevant?
Felix Hernandez....dominant and throws a lot of innings. I could see him anchoring a rotation for 10-12 years in HBD.
8.) If you could sit at a poker table or play a round of golf with 3 other people who would they be and why?
Marc Cuban, Tony Kornheiser, Bill Simmons...3 guys that could cover all aspects of sports....there would never be a lull in the conversation. I read a lot of Cuban's blog posts (great head for business) and I listen to a lot of TK and BS podcasts. I think it would be a heck of an entertaining round of golf.
9.) What part of the country do you reside in and what do you like to do in your spare time when you're not running your HBD teams?I live in CT. I spend most of my spare time with my wife and 3 kids.
10.) If there was one thing you could add/change about HBD, what would that be? I would change the draft. It's my least favorite part of the game. At the very least, the should come up with a way of allowing us to import rankings via excel. I hate sitting at my desk at work and re-ranking 75-100 players manually....it just takes forever.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Season 1 Draft Recap
A recap of the Season 1 Rule 4 (Amateur) Draft, held recently. Grades are based on the player and where he was picked only (I can't speculate as to who else was/wasn't available on anyone's draftboard).
1. MINNESOTA MILLERS
Pick: Brian Fornatero, CF
Analysis: With the #1 overall pick you hope to get a future superstar, and Fornatero sure looks like one. Scouts had him pretty much unanimously as the best prospect in this draft- a 5 tool player. He'll start in A ball, but his coach at Memphis said he could start in CF for some major league teams now and he's probably right. Grade: A
2. WASHINGTON D.C. FILIBUSTERS
Pick: Christopher Grabow, 3B
Analysis: Minnesota and D.C. went two for two. If not for his somewhat questionable glove, Grabow would be mentioned as being every bit as good as Fornatero. Like Fornatero, he can not only hit but has good speed and knows the strike zone. Grade: A
3. PAWTUCKET INDIANS
Pick: Joaquin Ramirez, 2B/CF
Analysis: Apparently in this draft, great hitters who can run and field well just grow on trees. Pawtucket fans who saw Fornatero and Grabow go off the board won't be disappointed with the consolation prize here. Grade: A
4. CHICAGO OLD STYLE
Pick: Al Boyd, SP
Analysis: Finally, a pitcher comes off the board, and probably the best one available. His coach at Evansville said his arm was great, but also that he always wanted to finish games. He's a hard thrower who should strike out a lot of guys but may give up some homers, especially in the windy confines of Chicago. He may lead all pitchers in pinch-running attempts as well.
Grade: A
5. BUFFALO GHOSTBUSTERS
Pick: Tony Stanley, SS
Analysis: He's still unsigned and wasn't on my draft board, so I can't comment on him.
6. HOUSTON HALFWITS
Pick: Harry Lugo, SP
Analysis: And here we have the first gamble of the draft. Hpuston passes on several good position players to take a pitcher whose stamina and control have been questioned by scouts but probably has a better pure arm than any pitcher in the draft, including Boyd. If they can get enough innings out of him, this is a great pick. If he doesn't pan out as a starter, less so. Grade: INC
7. SAN JOSE KUSH
Pick: Giovanni Vernon, SP
Analysis: Vernon should be a solid pitcher starter for San Jose. His sinker isn't a hard sinker, but he induces ground balls with it. He may not ever win a Cy Young Award, but he should be a mainstay in San Jose's (or somebody's) rotation for years to come. Grade: A-
8. SYRACUSE SYNDICATE
Pick: Saul Nunez, SS
Analysis: Didn't see him and he's unsigned.
9. LITTLE ROCK RAZORBACKS
Pick: Carl Rowe, SP
Analysis: No, he's not the mastermind of George W. Bush's campaigns. He's an 18-year-old starter out of Washington State. On the plus side, he should provide innings, throws hard, and has excellent control. The only downside scouts see is he's generally a 2-pitch pitcher. But I still expect good things from him. Grade: A-
10. CHARLOTTE'S WEB OF LIES
Pick: Kyle McCorley, LF
Analysis: An interesting prospect if ever there was one. Kyle's got a world of speed and excellent power, but can't necessarily be counted on to play 162 games. When he's out there, watch out! Grade: A-
11. TRENTON CROSSING
Pick: Steve Hammonds, RF
Analysis: You don't always find a middle of the order hitter at #11, but Trenton sure did. The only question is his glove- one of his Winthrop teammates said, "We told Stevie not to try out for wide receiver on the football team". But he's a very good all around hitter. Grade: A-
12. OKLAHOMA CITY PIG ROPERS
Pick: Corey Wilkins, LF
Analysis: Wilkins is every bit as good a hitter as Hammonds, maybe slightly better. He's never be any more than a LF/1B type, but he'll be in the #3 or #4 hole in the lineup someday.
Grade: A
13. ARIZONA DESERT DOGS
Pick: Danny Wyatt, SS/CF
Analysis: He'd be one of the better bats in the league as SS, but can he field the position? Or is he a CF? Either way, he's got a lot of ability both offensively and defensively. Grade: A-
14. IOWA CITY FOXHOUNDS
Pick: Brad Willis, 2B
Analysis: He's a good solid hitter who is lightning fast. Defensively he's solid if not spectacular. A solid pick for the slot. Still unsigned. Grade: B
15. TAMPA BAY STORM
Pick: Lou McDonald, LF
Analysis: A good all-around hitter who also is very fast (notice a theme here with that?). Doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well (except run) but does everything well offensively. Grade: A-
16. NEW YORK YANKEES
Pick: Bernie Ordonez, RP
Analysis: The first reliever goes off the board. While he should be a ML closer, I'm not sure he's an elite closer. He's tough on righties, but lefties have a chance against him and he doesn't have a very good second pitch. Grade: C+
17. SAN JUAN QUENOS
Pick: Matty Lansing, SP
Analysis: Like some of the other pitchers in the 1st round, he comes with some question marks. Like Lugo, he tended to run out of gas early in his college career and his pitches aren't exceptional. If he can overcome those things, he'll be a fine starter. Grade: B
18. LOS ANGELES FRESH
Pick: Troy Brumfield, SP
Analysis: Your stereotypical "soft-tossing lefty" out of Rhode Island is a project- he's several seasons away. Some scouts question whether he'll be able to get righties out consistently, but his sinker and slider are both tough pitches to hit and he'll take the ball early and often. Grade: B
19. ST. LOUIS YARDBIRDS
Pick: Marcus Witt: SP
Analysis: The third straight starter picked seems to be a dropoff from the first two. He's an example of a hard thrower with good control, but scouts don't think his stuff translates to the ML level as well as people might think or as well as St. Louis fans hope. Should be a bottom of the rotation type guy. Grade: C-
20. MONTGOMERY BOLL WEEVILS
Pick: Rolando Brogna, IF
Analysis: OK, back to position players who can hit a lot. Another very good all-around hitter, this one comes with a cannon for an arm. Montgomery needs to find a position for him (it may or may not be SS), but he's no slouch defensively. Grade: A-
21. SEATTLE PILOTS
Pick: Carlos Familia, 2B
Analysis: He may struggle against righties at times and he's got some durability questions, but other than that he's yet another position prospect with a good bat. Solid pick. Grade: B+
22. BUFFALO GHOSTBUSTERS
Pick: Clarence Morehead, RP
Analysis: Very similar to Bernie Ordonez, except maybe with better pitches and not quite as tough on righties. Result should be similar: solid reliever, not a dominant closer. Grade: C
23. ROCHESTER RED WINGS
Pick: Dennys Olsen, RP
Analysis: Hard throwing righty who is probably better than the first two closers to go in this round. Not sure if his pitches are quite good enough, but he's got the stuff to be dominant. Grade: B+
24. TRENTON CROSSING
Pick: Walt Kydd, SS
Analysis: Not bad at all for the team's second pick in the round. Kydd can field a decent shortstop and provides a bat at the position as well as speed. Only reason this isn't an A+ is that he probably won't ever play near 162 games. Grade: A-
25. BOISE RIFLEMEN
Pick: Bart Stearns, CF
Analysis: Good fielder with exceptional speed. Whether he can hit enough to stay in a big league lineup remains to be seen- scouts are divided on this. Grade: B-
26. SAN FRANCISCO NINJA BAY SOX
Pick: Fritz Gutierrez, CF
Analysis: Only difference between him and some of the higher picked prospects is that this lefty struggles with left handed pitching. Grade: B
27. CHICAGO OLD STYLE
Pick: Hughie Hegan, LF
Analysis: Another very good hitting prospect, Chicago mines him late in the first round. Good work by their scouting staff here- he's a middle of the order type guy. Grade: A
28. SALT LAKE CITY OIL SLICKS
Pick: Matt Lockhart, RF
Analysis: Like Gutierrez, may struggle against lefties, but that's the only knock on him offensively. In just about every other respect, he's just as good as the guys in the middle of the round. Grade: B+
29. BOSTON RED SOX
Pick: Roy Mercedes, SP
Analysis: Aptly named, because he may be in the shop often like an expensive luxury car. But the biggest knock on him is that lefties hit him hard in Juco. Grade: C-
30. FARGO SODBUSTERS
Pick: Earl Jamison, 2B
Analysis: Perhaps a bit overrated by some scouts, he's a solid if unspectular prospect.
Grade: B
31. OAKLAND A'S
Pick: Mo Lewis, INF
Analysis: Not a great hitter, he probably wins a gold glove at any position but short. A poor man's Danny Wyatt. Grade: B
32. SAN FRANCISCO NINJA BAY SOX
Pick: Michael Medders, INF
Analysis: Unlike some of the other "SS" prospects, his bat is good enough to cut it at other positions such as 3B or 2B. May be slightly better than their first pick. Grade: B+
1. MINNESOTA MILLERS
Pick: Brian Fornatero, CF
Analysis: With the #1 overall pick you hope to get a future superstar, and Fornatero sure looks like one. Scouts had him pretty much unanimously as the best prospect in this draft- a 5 tool player. He'll start in A ball, but his coach at Memphis said he could start in CF for some major league teams now and he's probably right. Grade: A
2. WASHINGTON D.C. FILIBUSTERS
Pick: Christopher Grabow, 3B
Analysis: Minnesota and D.C. went two for two. If not for his somewhat questionable glove, Grabow would be mentioned as being every bit as good as Fornatero. Like Fornatero, he can not only hit but has good speed and knows the strike zone. Grade: A
3. PAWTUCKET INDIANS
Pick: Joaquin Ramirez, 2B/CF
Analysis: Apparently in this draft, great hitters who can run and field well just grow on trees. Pawtucket fans who saw Fornatero and Grabow go off the board won't be disappointed with the consolation prize here. Grade: A
4. CHICAGO OLD STYLE
Pick: Al Boyd, SP
Analysis: Finally, a pitcher comes off the board, and probably the best one available. His coach at Evansville said his arm was great, but also that he always wanted to finish games. He's a hard thrower who should strike out a lot of guys but may give up some homers, especially in the windy confines of Chicago. He may lead all pitchers in pinch-running attempts as well.
Grade: A
5. BUFFALO GHOSTBUSTERS
Pick: Tony Stanley, SS
Analysis: He's still unsigned and wasn't on my draft board, so I can't comment on him.
6. HOUSTON HALFWITS
Pick: Harry Lugo, SP
Analysis: And here we have the first gamble of the draft. Hpuston passes on several good position players to take a pitcher whose stamina and control have been questioned by scouts but probably has a better pure arm than any pitcher in the draft, including Boyd. If they can get enough innings out of him, this is a great pick. If he doesn't pan out as a starter, less so. Grade: INC
7. SAN JOSE KUSH
Pick: Giovanni Vernon, SP
Analysis: Vernon should be a solid pitcher starter for San Jose. His sinker isn't a hard sinker, but he induces ground balls with it. He may not ever win a Cy Young Award, but he should be a mainstay in San Jose's (or somebody's) rotation for years to come. Grade: A-
8. SYRACUSE SYNDICATE
Pick: Saul Nunez, SS
Analysis: Didn't see him and he's unsigned.
9. LITTLE ROCK RAZORBACKS
Pick: Carl Rowe, SP
Analysis: No, he's not the mastermind of George W. Bush's campaigns. He's an 18-year-old starter out of Washington State. On the plus side, he should provide innings, throws hard, and has excellent control. The only downside scouts see is he's generally a 2-pitch pitcher. But I still expect good things from him. Grade: A-
10. CHARLOTTE'S WEB OF LIES
Pick: Kyle McCorley, LF
Analysis: An interesting prospect if ever there was one. Kyle's got a world of speed and excellent power, but can't necessarily be counted on to play 162 games. When he's out there, watch out! Grade: A-
11. TRENTON CROSSING
Pick: Steve Hammonds, RF
Analysis: You don't always find a middle of the order hitter at #11, but Trenton sure did. The only question is his glove- one of his Winthrop teammates said, "We told Stevie not to try out for wide receiver on the football team". But he's a very good all around hitter. Grade: A-
12. OKLAHOMA CITY PIG ROPERS
Pick: Corey Wilkins, LF
Analysis: Wilkins is every bit as good a hitter as Hammonds, maybe slightly better. He's never be any more than a LF/1B type, but he'll be in the #3 or #4 hole in the lineup someday.
Grade: A
13. ARIZONA DESERT DOGS
Pick: Danny Wyatt, SS/CF
Analysis: He'd be one of the better bats in the league as SS, but can he field the position? Or is he a CF? Either way, he's got a lot of ability both offensively and defensively. Grade: A-
14. IOWA CITY FOXHOUNDS
Pick: Brad Willis, 2B
Analysis: He's a good solid hitter who is lightning fast. Defensively he's solid if not spectacular. A solid pick for the slot. Still unsigned. Grade: B
15. TAMPA BAY STORM
Pick: Lou McDonald, LF
Analysis: A good all-around hitter who also is very fast (notice a theme here with that?). Doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well (except run) but does everything well offensively. Grade: A-
16. NEW YORK YANKEES
Pick: Bernie Ordonez, RP
Analysis: The first reliever goes off the board. While he should be a ML closer, I'm not sure he's an elite closer. He's tough on righties, but lefties have a chance against him and he doesn't have a very good second pitch. Grade: C+
17. SAN JUAN QUENOS
Pick: Matty Lansing, SP
Analysis: Like some of the other pitchers in the 1st round, he comes with some question marks. Like Lugo, he tended to run out of gas early in his college career and his pitches aren't exceptional. If he can overcome those things, he'll be a fine starter. Grade: B
18. LOS ANGELES FRESH
Pick: Troy Brumfield, SP
Analysis: Your stereotypical "soft-tossing lefty" out of Rhode Island is a project- he's several seasons away. Some scouts question whether he'll be able to get righties out consistently, but his sinker and slider are both tough pitches to hit and he'll take the ball early and often. Grade: B
19. ST. LOUIS YARDBIRDS
Pick: Marcus Witt: SP
Analysis: The third straight starter picked seems to be a dropoff from the first two. He's an example of a hard thrower with good control, but scouts don't think his stuff translates to the ML level as well as people might think or as well as St. Louis fans hope. Should be a bottom of the rotation type guy. Grade: C-
20. MONTGOMERY BOLL WEEVILS
Pick: Rolando Brogna, IF
Analysis: OK, back to position players who can hit a lot. Another very good all-around hitter, this one comes with a cannon for an arm. Montgomery needs to find a position for him (it may or may not be SS), but he's no slouch defensively. Grade: A-
21. SEATTLE PILOTS
Pick: Carlos Familia, 2B
Analysis: He may struggle against righties at times and he's got some durability questions, but other than that he's yet another position prospect with a good bat. Solid pick. Grade: B+
22. BUFFALO GHOSTBUSTERS
Pick: Clarence Morehead, RP
Analysis: Very similar to Bernie Ordonez, except maybe with better pitches and not quite as tough on righties. Result should be similar: solid reliever, not a dominant closer. Grade: C
23. ROCHESTER RED WINGS
Pick: Dennys Olsen, RP
Analysis: Hard throwing righty who is probably better than the first two closers to go in this round. Not sure if his pitches are quite good enough, but he's got the stuff to be dominant. Grade: B+
24. TRENTON CROSSING
Pick: Walt Kydd, SS
Analysis: Not bad at all for the team's second pick in the round. Kydd can field a decent shortstop and provides a bat at the position as well as speed. Only reason this isn't an A+ is that he probably won't ever play near 162 games. Grade: A-
25. BOISE RIFLEMEN
Pick: Bart Stearns, CF
Analysis: Good fielder with exceptional speed. Whether he can hit enough to stay in a big league lineup remains to be seen- scouts are divided on this. Grade: B-
26. SAN FRANCISCO NINJA BAY SOX
Pick: Fritz Gutierrez, CF
Analysis: Only difference between him and some of the higher picked prospects is that this lefty struggles with left handed pitching. Grade: B
27. CHICAGO OLD STYLE
Pick: Hughie Hegan, LF
Analysis: Another very good hitting prospect, Chicago mines him late in the first round. Good work by their scouting staff here- he's a middle of the order type guy. Grade: A
28. SALT LAKE CITY OIL SLICKS
Pick: Matt Lockhart, RF
Analysis: Like Gutierrez, may struggle against lefties, but that's the only knock on him offensively. In just about every other respect, he's just as good as the guys in the middle of the round. Grade: B+
29. BOSTON RED SOX
Pick: Roy Mercedes, SP
Analysis: Aptly named, because he may be in the shop often like an expensive luxury car. But the biggest knock on him is that lefties hit him hard in Juco. Grade: C-
30. FARGO SODBUSTERS
Pick: Earl Jamison, 2B
Analysis: Perhaps a bit overrated by some scouts, he's a solid if unspectular prospect.
Grade: B
31. OAKLAND A'S
Pick: Mo Lewis, INF
Analysis: Not a great hitter, he probably wins a gold glove at any position but short. A poor man's Danny Wyatt. Grade: B
32. SAN FRANCISCO NINJA BAY SOX
Pick: Michael Medders, INF
Analysis: Unlike some of the other "SS" prospects, his bat is good enough to cut it at other positions such as 3B or 2B. May be slightly better than their first pick. Grade: B+
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