Hello all, just wanted to take a sec to advertise for the SDMB Fantasy Baseball League. The thread is here – http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=454776.
Basically, it’s a fantasy baseball league run on Yahoo, with non-standard settings. No keepers or anything, but it’s been around for at least six years, with a core group of about a dozen or so that have been in it for most of the years.

We use all MLB, live draft:
Roster Positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, IF, LF, CF, RF, OF, Util, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, DL, DL
Stat Categories: R, HR, RBI, SB, OBP, SLG, W, SV, K, HLD, ERA, WHIP

So it’s OBP and SLG instead of AVG, and the addition of holds, and slightly bigger rosters. And we go very deep – we’ve had between 18 and 20 teams the last few years. We’re at 17 owners right now, and we’d love to get back to 20!

Our draft time is currently set for Wed, Mar 19th at 10:30 pm eastern, and the draft usually runs 2.5 to 3 hours. If I can get a slightly earlier slot that night I’ll move it up, but right now that’s where we are.

So if you are looking for another league to join, and want to put your knowledge of middle releivers to good use, let me know! Email me at paulm17 at yahoo dot com!
- Paul

Spring Training is now complete! The file is ready for download and the first games of the season are Monday night by me.

Nice to be back, isn’t it?

So yesterday was the PL or as I like to call it the Jr Circuit and today is the SL or the Sr Circuit:

Brooklyn – The Bombers are poised to repeat in the OEL. Most of the team returns to help defend the title. The main key addition this season is SS Melvin Barrett. His addition will help solidify the lineup which includes the Ted Williams Award Winner 2B Miyatarou Takenao. He flirted with .400 last season ending up at .387 and leading the league in Hits, RBIs, AVG, OBP and OPS. The pitching staff is solid with Mark Fossum, Ayurou Hidetada, and last year’s rookie of the year Trevor Canela all doing their part. Can this team repeat??? I think so…
What to watch for – SP Tyler “Ex-” Conn probably the best pitching prospect in the game will be part of the rotation…how good can he be???

Helena – The Handbaskets were in the wildcard team last year, and they look poised to be there again this year. Last year’s Cy Young Award winner Joseph “Happy” Diederich and Tomas Folch combined for 37 wins last season and should improve on that number this year. The team made no major FA moves, but there are plenty of young players on the team that are looking to make contributions. The lineup is solid too and they should create enough runs to help out the pitching staff. The only weakness is the bullpen that could give up some games in the late innings. Hopefully, their offense will be able to score some late runs to win some of the games the bullpen gives up.
What to watch for – The same as last year…just this year they should wrap up the wildcard earlier in the season.

Jersey City – The Skeeters were close to the playoffs this season, but this season it is going to be tough for them get that close this year. They did not make any big additions to the team this year in the FA market, Joseph “One Dog” Silas should shine again this year as he builds on the 17 wins he had last season. The lineup does not have any superstars, but is solid. They will be struggling at times to score runs so they need to keep the runs scored against them down so they can keep the games close.
What to watch for – There is not much talent at AAA for the Skeeters so watch the stars at the ML level including “One Dog” who should have a fine season.

Marietta – The Mammoths are going to have a solid season this year, but don’t look for a playoff run this season. Brandon Millette will fill the roll of #1 starter and looks to earn his $9/year contract extension he signed last season and they hope to get some leads to their strong bullpen. Constantino Martinez, the Honduran G-d of walks looks to get his 3rd straight season of 100+ walks and build on his 44 HR season in 2002 and should be the cornerstone of the offense. They need to hope that the team can score enough runs to win some games.
What to watch for – Nate making a trade or 2 or 3 that will bring all the prospects to Marietta.

New York – The Knights have the best SS in the game Alfonso Reyes and he hopes to recover from an off season last year and to earn his $9M/year contract that he signed last year. Too bad, there is not much else to help with the offense on this team. Charles Hults will be the anchor for the pitching staff, but just like with Reyes and the Offense, Hults will not get much help from the rest of the staff. It looks like a long year for the Knights, but they do have some promising talent at the AAA level.
What to watch for – Abe Nix and Tim Nosal should make their ML debuts this season and look to be promising young starters for a while. There is also closer Javier Corchado who is just about ready at AAA so look for him soon. There is also 1B Richard Berkeley who should be a nice addition to the ML roster real soon. While this season maybe a wash for the Knights the next few seasons look very bright.

Winnipeg – As the token CPU team in the SL, the Strikers gobbled up their share of FA in the off-season running up their payroll to over $90M (we are not sure if these are American or Canadian $$$). Samuel Mazza will earn over $7.5M to pitch in Canadia and will be the #1 in the rotation. The problem they will have is that he is not a true #1 starter and the rest of the rotation is at the same level. Even SP Tobias Rosado was able to get a contract for over $5.5M, after a 7-15 season with Cairo, this pitching staff is going to struggle. RF Jerry Brasher will be paid close to $4M in Winnipeg and they are hoping that he will follow up on his over .300 season he had last year in Marietta. He should be the star of an offense that will struggle to get runs across the plate.
What to watch for – MR Hernando Desalvo will get his chance to show what all the hype is about. He will start the season at the ML level, and will get plenty of chances to pitch.

That is the team by team outlook for the 2003 season…but where will they finish???

1. Brooklyn
2. Helena
3. Marietta
4. Jersey City
5. New York
6. Winnipeg

Do you agree???? Is there anyone I missed in the what to watch for sections???? Do you just want me to be quiet and let the season speak for itself?????

As for the playoffs I am going to say Brooklyn over Helena in 7 games (closer than last season) in the SL and Seattle over Stockholm in 5.

For the World Series…I hate to say it, but I think that Seattle will beat Brooklyn in 7 (I hope I am wrong on this one).

Here is a team by team look at the 2003 season (as I see it):

Cairo – The Leveemen are in for a long season. They have one of the best MR in the game James Dambrosio and arguably the best closer in Ariel Santos…the problem is that they will probably not get too many opportunities to get to them with the lead. The fact that the Leveemen took 4 of the 5 players selected in the Rule V draft should tell you something.
What to watch for – James Pila the #2 overall prospect in the game should see some ML action this year. Too bad he probably will not get that many wins.

Maryland – The Poedamnedmonium have one of the longest names and are looking to make a playoff run this year. They only finished 8 games out of the wild-card in the PL last season and with the additions of 3B Andre Hanson and SS Charles Fordyce to big FA contracts will help solidify the left side of the infield and add some pop in the lineup. The big question comes in if Wilfredo Solares and Wayne Dick will be able to make rookie contributions to the starting rotation.
What to watch for – Silvia Ruiz to have a break out year now that he is the man in RF. Arguably the best young OF in the game will get the chance to show us what he his future is going to look like.

Pittsburgh – The Fish are looking to make another run to the playoffs in the 2003 season. Last year their wildcard run was impressive with the trades of many of their big names on the team. This season they were in the heat of the Gaby Duran sweepstakes, but fell short to the upstart CPU managed Sylva Black Bears. Even without a true top flight starter, the Pisces look to be right in the playoff push in the PL. Their main off-season moves were to add some MR help in the FA market. They added Jeffery Avelar and Bill McLaurin…will it be enough to put them back into the playoffs?
What to watch for – The development of Donald Parson and Gary “Tiny” Croce the 10th and 5th prospects in the game…will they make their way to Pittsburgh eventually or will they be traded for that #1 starter that the Pisces may need to make the playoffs this season.

Seattle – Whoa Nelly…The Ministry of Silly Walks are going to be tough to beat this year. Barring injury this team should walk away (or run away) with the PL again this year. Billy Lowry and Thomas Holte are the best one-two punch in the starting rotation in the league. When they turn it over to th bullpen, they keep up the intensity with closer Wesley Savage shutting the door in the 9th inning. The lineup is solid from 1-8 with RF George Pullum (44 HR and .340 BA for 2002) anchoring the lineup.
What to watch for – Another dominate season for the Ministry as they should go wire to wire as the leader of the PL.

Stockholm – The Sluggers have a very solid team this season and should improve on their 4th place finish last year. The rotation is anchored by Chad Gomez who has a lifetime 2.65 ERA and should post another 15+ win season. The Sluggers were also happy when Saul Galinas floated his homemade raft from Cuba to Miami and was rewarded with a 4 year $4M/year deal with the sluggers. Cedrick “We’re Talking about Practice” Iverson was another big FA signing by the Sluggers and should help solidify the bullpen.
What to watch for – Can the sluggers catch up to Seattle’s domination of the PL. Also, the emergence of Ben “Sugar” Towell as the #1 SS on the team…is he ready to take the reigns?

Sylva – The Black Bears defiantly had the most interesting off-season of any team. The computer went computer on us and spent like crazy adding close to $30M to the payroll of the team. The big signing that everyone was talking about is 5-Star SP Gaby Duran. He gives them a solid #1 starter that should compliment their impressive offense that includes a lineup that is solid from top to bottom.
What to watch for – Does spending equal a better record…can they catch Seattle or are they just going to lose millions this season?

Here is how I think the final standings will shake out:
1. Seattle
2. Stockholm
3. Pittsburgh
4. Sylva
5. Maryland
6. Cairo

Well there it is how I think each of the PL teams will perform. What do you guys think? Comments I’m sure will follow.

Tomorrow – If I find the time…preview of the SL!!!!!

Hello everyone.

The Rule V Draft is now complete! Here are the picks as they went:

Cairo Rule 5 Draft Round 1 Pick: LF Henry Du from Helena.
Jersey City Rule 5 Draft Round 1 Pick: P Tom Mathis from Stockholm.
Cairo Rule 5 Draft Round 2 Pick: P Young McCallister from Sylva.
Cairo Rule 5 Draft Round 3 Pick: 3B Saul Hernandez from Maryland.
Cairo Rule 5 Draft Round 4 Pick: SS Kenneth Dixon from New York.

The file is now uploaded and ready for you to make your Spring Training plans. I’ll download everything on Monday night and then we’ll be ready to get the season underway.

Rosters have been uploaded and we’re ready for the Rule 5 draft on Friday. Send your picks to Nate (who is thankfully up and running again).

Free agency is finally over. League file is updated. The web pages are en route. The next sim will be Wednesday by me (not Nate, due to computer problems). The purpose is to update your rosters before the Rule 5 draft. Rosters will be locked Wednesday night. I’ll re-post the web pages that evening showing the players available in the Rule 5 draft.

This sim’s signings:

Day 27 :
Winnipeg : P Ediberto Diaz, 2,860,000 per year, for 2 years.

Day 30:
Pittsburgh: CF Richard Whitesides has been signed to a minor league contract.
Winnipeg: 3B Alan Kay has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: LF Arthur Salcedo has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: CF Tanner McEwan has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Jose Salo has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: 3B William Parada has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P James Merlo has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: RF Johnnie Tapp has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P John Karpinski has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: P Jackie Chadwick has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: RF Shachihiko Okitsugu has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Tom Ambler has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Curtis Severson has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: RF Heriberto Serrano has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Edward Brewer has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Matthew Pahl has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: CF Terry Lopez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Jesus Soto has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: RF Henry Kincer has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: 3B Jason Godines has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: CF Renato Fleites has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: C Rocky Slape has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: RF Cary Buteau has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: P Alejo Fuensanta has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: C Leo Quintana has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: 1B Frankie Pope has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: SS Danny Ganz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Brooklyn: P Edward Fisher has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Gayle Segarra has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: SS Neal Decamp has been signed to a minor league contract.
Winnipeg: 1B William Coldiron has been signed to a minor league contract.
Winnipeg: P Aaron Tennyson has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Leonel Spires has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P George Sanchez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: P Benjamin Pence has been signed to a minor league contract.
Jersey City: P Nicanor Gonzalez has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: P Donald Villalba has been signed to a minor league contract.
Sylva: P Archie Swanson has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: 2B Lawrence Nickel has been signed to a minor league contract.
Brooklyn: P Wayne Drexler has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: P William Winslow has been signed to a minor league contract.
Winnipeg: 1B Luis Medina has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: SS Jonah Leiva has been signed to a minor league contract.
Brooklyn: P Anthony Iwane has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: P Basilio Duran has been signed to a minor league contract.
Jersey City: P Adam Still has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: P Robert Bright has been signed to a minor league contract.
Pittsburgh: P Joseph Tokarz has been signed to a minor league contract.
Winnipeg: 1B Roberto Rosas has been signed to a minor league contract.
Seattle: C Jose Abella has been signed to a minor league contract.
Brooklyn: P Michael Hess has been signed to a minor league contract.
Maryland: P Michael Gorton has been signed to a minor league contract.
Brooklyn: RF Luciano Cestero has been signed to a minor league contract.

Only two signings, both by the one of the computer teams. They’re spending money like it’s going out of style.

Day 23 :
Winnipeg : C Alton Baade, 403,700 per year, for 1 year.

Day 25 :
Winnipeg : P Juan Encarnacion, 710,400 per year, for 2 years.

Final free agency sim will be Monday! Then Nate takes over with Spring Training and the Rule 5 draft.

League file is uploaded. Web pages en route.

Some more signings. League file uploaded. Web pages en route. Next sim will be Friday night.

Day 16 :
Winnipeg : LF Julian Galgano, 2,224,800 per year, for 2 years.
Winnipeg : 3B Michael Rutan, 513,600 per year, for 1 year.
Jersey City : SS Francis York, 300,000 per year, for 1 year.
Winnipeg : C Ricardo Vizcaino, 406,800 per year, for 2 years.
Jersey City : P Kenny Mitchell, 380,000 per year, for 4 years.

Day 17 :
Marietta : P Winfred Froehlich, 750,000 per year, for 1 year.

Day 18 :
None

Day 19 :
Brooklyn : P Brian Orme, 300,000 per year, for 1 year.

Day 20 :
Marietta : SS Manuel Toscano, 750,000 per year, for 1 year.

More free spending by those SOB computer teams…

Day 13 :
Winnipeg : SS Robert Emanuel, 2,553,800 per year, for 3 years.
Sylva : P Pedro Ortiz, 1,050,900 per year, for 3 years.

Day 14 :
Pittsburgh : RF James Rhodes, 500,000 per year, for 1 year.

Day 15 :
Sylva : 1B Patrick Cresswell, 444,600 per year, for 2 years.

League file is updated. League web pages en route. Next sim will be Wednesday, when we’ll knock out free agency days 16-20.