Fantasy Baseball: Keeper League (Open to new entrants)

BigBadRob83

Hi everyone,

We are setting up a new Fantasy Baseball Keeper League, to run for 2012 season... and beyond.
We have 9 people interested so far, minimum of 10 to set it up and can have up to 20.

*If you want to join up, just post in this thread or send me a PM. The more the merrier.

Interested
1. UCD AFC
2. Iang87
3. WallyWanka
4. BigBadRob83
5. Masked Man
6. brilliantboy
7. 8-10
8. lankythecamel
9. summerskin
10.

EDIT: 9th person added to league

BigBadRob83

I have also set up a poll for people to vote on what the rules, makeup, etc. of the keeper league should be: http://www.surveytool.com/s/SB292AF116

Any suggestions on stuff to be added to the league, drop me PM to let me know. Anyone who is partaking in Keeper League 2.0 should complete the poll so we all have a say in how it is structured.

Going to use ESPN for this league, have used a few sites over the years and from what I can tell it's the best free one out there (customisation options are immense, free App will be out in time for season)
http://games.espn.go.com/frontpage/baseball

You can see what a standard league looks like at bottom of this page: http://games.espn.go.com/flb/resourc...e=league-types

BigBadRob83

Interested
1. UCD AFC
2. Iang87
3. WallyWanka
4. BigBadRob83
5. Masked Man
6. brilliantboy
7. 8-10
8. lankythecamel
9. summerskin
10. bit of red72
11.....

We have the minimum number needed for the league, so we're good to go.

Plenty of room for new members to still join

gciddy

Hi,

Long time fantasy baseball player - american living in Ireland for last 8 years, and would love to join a league with other managers over hear.

Thanks!

G

UCD AFC

1. UCD AFC
2. Iang87
3. WallyWanka
4. BigBadRob83
5. Masked Man
6. brilliantboy
7. 8-10
8. lankythecamel
9. summerskin
10. bit of red72
11. gciddy

where in america you from if you don't mind me asking?

gciddy

Grew up in Vermont, then spent 7 years in Chicago. Grew up a Yankees fan, and then started to also follow the Cubs after going to many of their games. Thanks for adding me!

G

BigBadRob83

Welcome to the league gciddy.

Am away this week lads, so will send around the league invites when I get back next week now that we had the minimum (and growing)

BigBadRob83

Okay guys, I will start sending around invites to the league so you can all join up on the ESPN fantasy baseball page, and start setting draft boards, research, etc. and my priority at the moment; coming up with a good team name.
EDIT: Invites sent to everyone list above in post #5

Have created the league, but I will still be able to change league settings until right before the draft, when we have finalised the number of owners and the league rules via the poll.

In relation to the poll, am still waiting on two guys to fill it out:

bit of red72
gciddy

Can you guys complete it when you get a chance: http://www.surveytool.com/s/SB292AF116

Thanks

P.S. Keep spreading the word to anyone you know who may be interested. Have also noticed there is an option to share ownership of a team with someone.

BigBadRob83

Sorry guys, invites I sent out seemed to be valid for one team only as it's a private league.

Re-sent PM's to ask for your email addresses. Will send out correct individual invites when you PM me address.

Iang87

done signed up.

Just wonderin could the draft be changed to the evening time on the 26th







or is it set for 7pm

BigBadRob83

Iang87 wrote: »

done signed up.
Just wonderin could the draft be changed to the evening time on the 26th
or is it set for 7pm

Just put in a draft time because needed to enter one. Once the league is filled up, I will do another poll and see what time best suits everyone and go for that.

BigBadRob83

Okay guys, now that everyone is signed up, I have setup a poll to decide our draft date:
http://www.doodle.com/tv8r3qhwudirhdce

So go to the poll, and click on the times you can or can't make and we'll have the draft on the day/time that suits the most amount of us so we can have maximum participation.

Also, until draft day, we will still be open to new entrants.

Have set last draft day as Tuesday 27 March, as 28 March is Opening Day (albeit in Japan)

BigBadRob83

Okay guys,

Draft date has been provisionally set for Tuesday 20 March at 21:00.

Still awaiting a couple of responses to the draft poll, but so far this day is the clear leader, everyone who has responded is able to do this date.

So get your draft prep going; watching Spring Training, reading copious amounts of articles, drill down into the stats and set your draft boards....

Also, after randomising the teams, ESPN has come up with our draft order:

1. GOT THE RUNS
2. Liberty City Swingers
3. Seattle Seamonkeys
4. Dublin Turtles
5. Judean Peoples Front
6. Limerick Hotballs
7. Cloverhill Cavaliers
8. Summer Skins
9. GCiddy's Biddies
10. Exiled Red Sox
11. Team Connolly
12. Tolka Wrens
13. Ballinlough Bottlers

We are drafting snake style, so the above will be the draft order for round 1 and all odd-numbered rounds.
That order will be inverted for round 2 and even-numbered rounds

BigBadRob83

Hope everyone is ready for draft tonight, looking forward to it.

Iang87

for no apparent reason I decided the draft was tomorrow night. Ok study time

BigBadRob83

Iang87 wrote: »

for no apparent reason I decided the draft was tomorrow night. Ok study time

Must be the bank holiday throwing you off. Does feel like a Monday today alright

brilliantboy

Yeah, jesus, it really crept up quick. Looks like I'll be hitting the books for the rest of the evening too See you there

8-10

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

Okay guys,

Draft date has been provisionally set for Tuesday 20 March at 21:00.

Just saw this now, hope everyone else realises it's 8pm, not 9! (USA already moved their clocks so 4pm Eastern = 8pm here until next week)



Best of luck everyone....see you in 9mins!!

UCD AFC

Has the draft started? No idea the US moved their clocks?!

gciddy

Lots of no-shows! I think the time difference messed up some people.

Masked Man

Ugh knew I forgot to subscribe to this thread

Sorry about the no-show, I'm there now but tbh I'd be as well off leaving it on auto-pick.

Iang87

**** just arrived home. missed the draft but ended up with a mighty team

8-10

I wonder how much better my team would have been had I not been there for the draft!

Anyway, happy enough with my team. I think I have good balance without being strong in any one point. Let's see how it goes from next week!

Good luck everybody! Looking forward to an active and competitive league.

Iang87

So the trades begin, I love my pitching staff. Judean peoples front I'm mulling the offer over I will let you know

UCD AFC

Whoever took Bryce Harper, I had my eyes on him for my last pick. Little did I know someone was gonna take him that early (couple of rounds to go iirc)

I got my prospect in Lavarnway though - might have too many Sox with

Lester
Bard
Bucholz
Bailey
Lavarnway

Iang87

Id an army of sox last year at one stage it was crazy. Basically it read Gonzo, pedroia, youk and ortiz.

was fun when the sox were putting up 10 and 12 runs a night, not so fun with one or 2 runs a night



I also have a thing where I'm not a bigbfan of pitchers from the AL east, cos of the yankees, rays and sox but I believe that rule has been broken thanks to auto draft

BigBadRob83

Yeah the 4-hour time difference completely threw me, only got in from the 13th round on. Was annoyed at first (stupid US daylight savings time) until I had a look at my team.
Had tinkered a lot with my pre-draft rankings, so was very happy with team drafted for me, especially Upton & Reyes in first two rounds. Very happy with top of my rotation (Strasburg, Wainwright & Johnson), and am a bit surprised at the number of Nationals I have on my team.
Will be updating the trade block, mainly to see if anyone wants my Yankees, and may look for a closer as its the one position I may need help in.
Had my eyes on Harper late too, was interesting seeing Trout and him both go in the 22nd round.

This is what ESPN though of our draft, with league standings based on their projections:



Congratulations Team Hughes, you won the draft!
Unlucky Ballinlough Bottlers, you have the wooden spoon. I guess ESPN doesn't believe in Paul Konerko as much as you do.

*I have also put some trophies up for the league (http://games.espn.go.com/flb/trophylist?leagueId=70828&seasonId=2012)
Any suggestions on trophies to add are welcome, the more ridiculous/fun, the better!

Congoose

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

I guess ESPN doesn't believe in Paul Konerko as much as you do.

On the contrary, ESPN auto-drafted him for me in round 1!! God knows how they justify having him there.

I was caught on the hop by the time difference too, only missed about 15 minutes though.

BigBadRob83

Congoose wrote: »

On the contrary, ESPN auto-drafted him for me in round 1!! God knows how they justify having him there.

Wow, that is weird he's only ranked 36 in their standard rankings. Harsh.
Must have been a pick based on position rather than ranking.

Congoose

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

Wow, that is weird he's only ranked 36 in their standard rankings. Harsh.
Must have been a pick based on position rather than ranking.

I think what happened is that when I set up my account a few weeks ago I messed around with pre-draft settings and I must have put 1B first.

Not a good move I know! But I knew I wouldn't be auto-drafting so I didn't look at it again.

I guess a couple of the teams before me drafted 1Bs in the first round and he was the next "best" available.

I'm actually not too unhappy with the rest of my team though, despite the bottom ranking. Got a few sleepers I wanted and plenty of stolen bases so with a bit of luck I might hit above my weight! :cool:

summerskin

reasonably happy with my team, even though i missed the live draft due to work. a couple of trades to be made, and i'll be even happier.

BigBadRob83

summerskin wrote: »

reasonably happy with my team, even though i missed the live draft due to work. a couple of trades to be made, and i'll be even happier.

Throw up the trade block and see what's there. Have put mine up already, just in case.

EDIT: Ha, just looking at my team, had no idea Vogelsong was 34 years old!

8-10

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

Throw up the trade block and see what's there. Have put mine up already, just in case.

EDIT: Ha, just looking at my team, had no idea Vogelsong was 34 years old!

I feel stupid but where is the trade block?

Iang87

When you're on the my team page. Its auto set to roster just look along and you'll see options like add drop etc and there is the trade block option further to the right

UCD AFC

Iang87 wrote: »

I also have a thing where I'm not a bigbfan of pitchers from the AL east, cos of the yankees, rays and sox but I believe that rule has been broken thanks to auto draft

think for me it's because i would watch the AL East the most (and am a Sox fan) so probably over value them

bit of red72

I picked up Bryce Harper earlier than I planned. I was struggling to find what I thought was value and ended up with Harper, Miller and now Teheran so i have loads of prospects but not sure how the keeper aspect with fit into the league. I haven't played ESPN before and it seems you have to play a lot of your squad with little space to store bench players. Still, hopefully it'll be a n active league. Must review everyone's trading blocks now....

BigBadRob83

bit of red72 wrote: »

I picked up Bryce Harper earlier than I planned. I was struggling to find what I thought was value and ended up with Harper, Miller and now Teheran so i have loads of prospects but not sure how the keeper aspect with fit into the league. I haven't played ESPN before and it seems you have to play a lot of your squad with little space to store bench players. Still, hopefully it'll be a n active league. Must review everyone's trading blocks now....

Yeah, the idea behind 3 bench spots is that you have guys on your roster that you are using actively during the year and not stashing guys away. In a deep league like this having a good bench can be pretty important.
If you can manage to keep those prospects on your bench all year (or until they come up), you'll have the basis of a good team in 2013 or 2014 though.

BigBadRob83

Hey guys,

Think I mentioned before that there would be an ESPN fantasy baseball app, the 2012 one doesn't seem to have been released yet, not sure when it will be.

In the meantime, I am using one called Fantasy Monster. You can sign in to your ESPN fantasy teams and yahoo teams too. Worth a look if you want to manage on the go.

gciddy

Hi All,

Those league projections are pretty interesting! I'm 'okay' with my team at the moment although I have a few low batting average/high hr players that could cause me a lot of grief this year (Goldschmidt, Kelly Johnson, Mark Reynolds, and Belt). I also managed to grab Verlander who isn't shabby. I have updated my trading block and put Verlander on it. I would be interested in a high average equal value batter in return if there is any interest in this former MVP?

G'luck this year, all!

G

Iang87

i liked my pitching staff a whole lot more before 2 of my closers have to get tommy john surgery. 2 like for **** sake

BigBadRob83

Iang87 wrote: »

i liked my pitching staff a whole lot more before 2 of my closers have to get tommy john surgery. 2 like for **** sake

Yeah that is unlucky man, thanks for the temporary trade offer including Soria though!
Had picked up Broxton as possibility for KC closer role but looks like it'll be Holland or Crow. Just have to hope that my pickup of Sean Marshall works out as CIN closer now.

BigBadRob83

ESPN Fantasy Baseball App is finally out!

For Android and iPhone so have a look to manage your team.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/espn-fantasy-baseball-2012/id413111438?ls=1&mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.espn.espnfantasybaseball

UCD AFC

Just noticed the trophies available to win (wooden spoon, silver slugger etc.) will be nice to look at as the league progresses into future years

BigBadRob83

UCD AFC wrote: »

Just noticed the trophies available to win (wooden spoon, silver slugger etc.) will be nice to look at as the league progresses into future years

Thought I'd put something in there to keep it interesting if you're not chasing first place overall. If anyone has any ideas for other trophies, put them up...

Masked Man

3 pitchers DL eligible

BigBadRob83

Masked Man wrote: »

3 pitchers DL eligible

Wow that is harsh man. Unlucky start to the season. Who knows how long Carpenter is out, and when Oswalt signs with a team.

In related news, if you're looking for a starting pitcher I have Chad Billingsley and Bud Norris available.

Masked Man

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

Wow that is harsh man. Unlucky start to the season. Who knows how long Carpenter is out, and when Oswalt signs with a team.

In related news, if you're looking for a starting pitcher I have Chad Billingsley and Bud Norris available.

I'm going to need a bit of time to think about it. This is my first season and it's a lot more confusing than i thought it would be.

BigBadRob83

All my pitchers available via trade (except Strasburg, off to a flyer! Which is more than I can say for Josh Johnson).

Looking for an upgrade at Catcher or one of the OF positions.

Would do a 2-for-1, positon player and pitcher for a position player if anyone's interested:


Adam Wainwright
Josh Johnson
Brandon Morrow
Tyler Clippard
Jonny Venters
Jonathon Niese
Johan Santana
Matt Capps
Bud Norris
Chad Billingsley
Sean Marshall

BigBadRob83

First trade of the league is consumated.

GCiddy's Biddies send Mark Reynolds to the Exiled Red Sox in exchange for Brandon Morrow.

BigBadRob83

Good job to the lads who picked up Harper and Trout.

Don't know what to do with my team, invested most of my high draft picks in my offense only to see it sink to the bottom of the standings. Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman on the DL, Jose Reyes, Justin Upton, Kevin Youkilis, and more... all been underwhelming.
Not to mention Josh Johnson and Adam Wainwright.

Could've done with picking up some young guys to keep cheaply for next year. Only May, but looks unlikely I'll contend

summerskin

rivera gone for the year, in fact probably forever, and Sandoval out for 4-6 weeks, not a great day for my team. some roster juggling to be done, i think.


Anyone up for a trade? Need some SBs.