Live Draft Chat Transcript for: Live! MDC Baseball Expert Draft #1 (12/3/2007)

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Jason Pliml: Greetings everyone. Glad you could make it.
(Commish): Welcome to our early arrivals
T Heaney & N Minnix: Hi Jason, Nick from KFFL here. Tim will be joining us in a few
Chris McDonnell: HI Jason.
Scott Swanay: Hi Jason & Geoff
Scott Swanay: and Tim!
T Heaney & N Minnix: Hey Geoff
Jason Pliml: Hey Chris. Hi Scott
(Commish): Hi Scott, hi Nick
T Heaney & N Minnix: Hello everyone
Scott Swanay: Anybody doing NBC's $100K contest?
Scott Swanay: fantasy football?
Jason Pliml: I was, but I gambled several times and lost
Jason Pliml: I figured I'd pick major sleepers and see what happened. Several worked great, some bombed
Scott Swanay: I made it to the "finals", but had a bad week this week.
Scott Swanay: I liked that contest a lot.
Scott Swanay: Although luck certainly plays a part.
Jason Pliml: it was a very fun contest - but having knowledge helped as well
Scott Swanay: Sure.
Jason Pliml: I came off looking like a genius some weeks and a moron others
Scott Swanay: I had to go out yesterday afternoon ~ 1 EDT.
Scott Swanay: Wound up replacing Braylon Edwards w/ Boldin - ugh.
Jason Pliml: so is it just me or does the fantasy baseball season hold more intrigue this year than in years past? The 2nd & 3rd rounds are a mystery to me after the first 7-8 picks
Chris McDonnell: This is my first mock draft so I'll tell you in a couple hours.
Jason Pliml: Yeah, but you've been doing projections for months :)
Dave Regan: Chris playing it cool...
Chris McDonnell: Do you guys think ARod is the slam dunk #1 pick?
Jason Pliml: In a 12 team, probably. In a 15-team, I'm not so sure. Might go after SB there
T Heaney & N Minnix: He's the consensus No. 1, but it's hard to say A-Rod is a slam dunk
Dave Regan: Lebron is the only slam dunk #1 among the 3 top fantasy sports IMO
Chris McDonnell: Does he qualify at SS?
Alex Cushing: Hello all
Alex Cushing: evening
Jason Pliml: Hey Alex.
Jason Pliml: Did you stretch first? Don't want to pull anything with the 3rd pick
(Commish): Question from AIM: Who is number 1 on everyones board arod?
Chris McDonnell: I'll tell you in 7 minutes
Alex Cushing: Yeah, stretched and ready to gamble on Jose Molina at 3
Jason Pliml: Tough to pass on Arod.
Jason Pliml: you're sure to pull something with a reach like that :)
Scott Swanay: I'd take A-Rod over Pujols based on position scarcity
(Commish): Question from AIM: do u guys like fielder over some of the people ranked above him?
T Heaney & N Minnix: Yep, definitely hard to say anyone but A-Rod
Jason Pliml: the other guys I like are SB guys
Alex Cushing: I think Fielder is ranked accurately
Jason Pliml: Fielder is pretty compelling, but 1B is pretty deep
Scott Swanay: I'd rank Fielder 3rd at 1B behind Pujols and Howard.
Todd Zola: scarcity is all but gone in today's game
Todd Zola: and 3B is actually stronger than 1B
Jason Pliml: Todd with the Hallmark greeting
(Commish): Question from AIM: Viewer Question: Who does the panel think is the hottest expert in tonight's draft? My vote goes to Matt Hinzpeter.
Todd Zola: you want a friend, buy a puupy -- THIS IS FANTASY BASEBALL DAMMIT
(Commish): That SN looks familiar
Matt Hinzpeter: LMAO
T Heaney & N Minnix: Hey guys, Tim from KFFL here.
Alex Cushing: Hey Tim
Jason Pliml: hotness is a scarce category in fantasy baseball
Dave Regan: I vote for Lawr Michaels...that hair...
Gerrit Ritt: Ah ha! We're in! What's up boys?!
Chris McDonnell: Geoff is quite the ladies man.
Jason Pliml: so he tells me
Todd Zola: nah, Lawr's the coolest though
Jason Pliml: I'll second that. Lawr rocks
Jason Pliml: literally and metaphorically
Matt Hinzpeter: i heard we're going for a record tonight: "fastest draft"
(Commish): Please hold while we get the missing in
Paul Greco: ok. do discuss the first pick, Chris
Chris McDonnell: I give Hanley the nod over ARod. ARod's an every other year guy. Hanley beats him in 3 of the 5 catagories and isn't too bad in the power department.
Todd Zola: saying he's an every other year guy is a misnomer
Chris McDonnell: He wins the MVP every OTHER year.
Paul Greco: Lets get it going boyz
Scott Swanay: Not sure he'll score more runs than A-Rod next year.
(Commish): And we're off
(Commish): My apologies
Paul Greco: my fault too...sorry guys
Eric Hinz: It would have been me but for picking 11th
(Commish): Question for Chris: with cabrera potentially being traded doesnt chris think that hanley numbers will deminish?
Gerrit Ritt: Picked him No. 1 last year. No. 7's a steal.
Todd Zola: Hanley's numbers will dininsh just due to natural regression, plus he is still an inury question
Chris McDonnell: Hanley's numbers may go down slightly, but I don't see a big dropoff coming.
Jason Pliml: I'd like Howard a bit better if he cut down on K's
Jason Pliml: can't argue with the RBI & power though
Matt Hinzpeter: three phils in a row, including my own pick. as a mets fan, i feel disgusted
Gerrit Ritt: fair enough - they rarely hurt ya though
Gerrit Ritt: I feel disgusted that you're a Mets fan
Matt Hinzpeter: after last year, me too
Gerrit Ritt: Or that there are Mets fans at ALL
Jason Pliml: after that stretch run meltdown, I thought that Mets fans were added to the endangered species list
Matt Hinzpeter: lmao
Gerrit Ritt: How's Gregg Jeffries doing these days?
Paul Greco: LOL
Matt Hinzpeter: hahaha
Alex Cushing: Since when did Phillies fans have so much pride?
Gerrit Ritt: My favorite Met of all-time has to be Sid Finch, because he was an INTENTIONAL joke
Chris McDonnell: As a Phillies fan, this pride thing is new to us, but we're running with it!
Alex Cushing: As a Mets fan, the whole Phillies pride thing is new to me too ...
Eric Hinz: Lots of great 20/20 types
(Commish): Question from AIM: Does Santana's value go up with a trade to either of the Big 2?
Gerrit Ritt: Of course - more potential for wins
Todd Zola: no -- he'll haveto face the other of the big-2 more
Dave Regan: but Cleveland less :-)
Gerrit Ritt: But his new team NONE (whether it be NY or BOS)
Eric Hinz: I doubt Santana
Jason Pliml: bummed that Sizemore and Peavy both went before me
(Commish): quesion from aim: does a trade of ellsbury or hughes help or hurt their value?
Jason Pliml: hughes should get great run support - hard to like a switch
Todd Zola: both are so young, we can't get a grasp on their value anyway
Eric Hinz: Maybe. Ellsbury would have no threats of lost playign time if he started slow for another team.
(Commish): Comment from AIM: nice braun pick
Dave Regan: Ellsbury would still have some nice sticks behind him in MIN
Todd Zola: he'll have no threat in Boston either
Gerrit Ritt: Give me a full year in the bigs for either of their stocks to be anywhere
Eric Hinz: I have a hard tiem giving a rookie the benfit of two months at .200 on a serious contender.
Chris McDonnell: And thank you because I wanted Phillips.
Jason Pliml: what a happy coincidence
(Commish): Question from e-mail: not couting injuries, how accurate will these results be to drafts in march?
Jason Pliml: wow! Russell Martin -- he was an 11th rounder at best last year
Matt Hinzpeter: "I'd say strong, to quite strong"
Jason Pliml: trades will have an effect, but in general I think that many of these picks will have validity.
Matt Hinzpeter: no takers on what movie thats from?
(Commish): Keeper question from AIM: better to keep proven veterans whose production may be sliding (i.e. Guerrero, Berkman) or up-and-comers like Upton or Granderson?
Jason Pliml: baseball gives you a LOT of data to work with and discern trends
Eric Hinz: Have to take Martin early if you pick at the ess.
Todd Zola: depends on your risk tolerance, if you want to win this season and the keeper parameters
Jason Pliml: argh. wanted granderson
Gerrit Ritt: At a loss Matt, and I'm not happy about it
Alex Cushing: every up and comer is different -- depends on which ones.
Matt Hinzpeter: Meet the Parents
Matt Hinzpeter: how's your portfolio?
Lawr Michaels: Question from AIM: who does everyone prefer rios or granderson?
Gerrit Ritt: I'm pretty proud of it
Alex Cushing: By and large, though, best to take guys who haven't reached their peak yet and are under the age of 30
Todd Zola: that rules me out
Jason Pliml: Granderson
Gerrit Ritt: I go Granderson too - and he has more upside still too
Jason Pliml: more upside and better lineup around him
Eric Hinz: Rios wouldn't be a Rick mirer consolation prize though
Alex Cushing: Granderson strikeouts concern me
Alex Cushing: in the short run
Jason Pliml: somewhere Rick Mirer is crying on the shoulder of Ryan Leaf
Gerrit Ritt: Am I the only one here not worried about Ks? Doesn't effect my decision ever.
Alex Cushing: Well, you are a Phillies fan...
Gerrit Ritt: Or else I wouldn't have picked Howard No. 1 last year
Alex Cushing: (kidding(
Todd Zola: K's just mean he player is more vulnerble to bad luck with BABIP
Alex Cushing: Ks mean a lot in terms of evealuating someones AVG potential
Gerrit Ritt: Cubs fan actually!
Eric Hinz: If Upton was taken before my 3rd pick, I was going Roberts.
(Commish): Question from AIM: Question from AIM: where do you see jason bay ending up for 08 and how does it affect his value
Alex Cushing: Tough to say, I wouldn't bank on a return to previous norms considering Bay took dives in the fundamentals dept. (BB/K, K rate, etc)
(Commish): Question from e-mail: Do you think that Magglio Ordonez is this years Jermaine Dye? He can't possibly come close to last years production, can he? Dye was a 3rd rounder coming into 2007 also.
Jason Pliml: I agree. Bay dropped of in some core areas that don't indicate a huge performance jump
Jason Pliml: Dye is certainly an upside play. You should be able to get him at a nice discount
(Commish): Any takers on the Mags question?
Todd Zola: I don'
Todd Zola: t like the Dye comparison, but he'll regress for sure
Jason Pliml: And I think Dye is a potential bargain this year. So in that sense, yes
Alex Cushing: While Maggs will almost certainly take a step back, I doubt it will be big as Dyes was. Ordonez is finally healthy and has much better strike-zone judgment than Dye ever did
Dave Regan: well Maggs won't hit .363 or whatever it was again, but .320-25-100 seems a given
Jason Pliml: going with captain batting average, eh?
(Commish): Question from AIM: Thinest position this year?
Chris McDonnell: Dunn wasn't that bad in the BA department last year
Eric Hinz: SS after the big three
Todd Zola: catcher, then there are all teh same
Gerrit Ritt: I agree, catcher
Todd Zola: scarcity is gone
Jason Pliml: Todd do you mean positional, categorical, or both?
Todd Zola: positional
(Commish): Question from AIM: hafner's still available...was last year just an aberation (A Ramirez 03) or a indication of decreasing production?
Gerrit Ritt: I think filling 5 OF positions is kind of a pain in the tail too though
Dave Regan: agreed, esp since I have zero OF now
Todd Zola: Hafner's GB% declined big time, if that is real, he's in trouble.
Alex Cushing: I wouldn't pay for Hafner to rebound
Gerrit Ritt: AIM question from ME.....was Pence a reach right there?!?!
Alex Cushing: No
Gerrit Ritt: just makin sure!
Alex Cushing: But that's just me
Eric Hinz: Does the crap out at catcher last season continue this year?
Todd Zola: not a reach, a risk, yes, but not a reach
Gerrit Ritt: hitting in Minute Maid has to be fun
Todd Zola: there are a few youngsters at C that could surprise, but it is still thin
Gerrit Ritt: I'm taking Geovany Soto in the 20th round - he better stil be there people!
Jason Pliml: Pena? Really?
Jason Pliml: I guess he did it over the course of the whole season, but I'm still in shock
Todd Zola: you don't hit that many HR by accident
Dave Regan: well he won't hit 46 again, but that's a lot of HRs
Alex Cushing: Nice call on Cano
Todd Zola: 46 in a year power was down in a place not exactly a HR haven
Jason Pliml: I'm just bitter that I held that turd on my dynasty team for three years, release him and he goes ape shit
(Commish): Question from AIM: return of liriano, what can we expect?
Gerrit Ritt: Brilliance
Paul Greco: Liriano will have to prove he's healthy in Sprint Training...could be a great sleeper though
Todd Zola: never know what to expect from TJS as the mental aspect is unpredictable. If he is OK with that, you can epxect some rustiness, then the same, if not better pitcher
(Commish): Question on Liriano: i cant determine a draft poistion from brilliance, how bout some numbers
Jason Pliml: 15 wins tops, 175 K, 3.96 ERA if healthy
Todd Zola: I'd make a listof guys I really want, as soon as I started questioning the list, he goes there
Jason Pliml: I think the Twins will be average this year
(Commish): Question from AIM: Player already selected who will be the biggest bust?
Jason Pliml: could be Vernon Wells
Gerrit Ritt: Disagreed - 15-to-18 wins, 3.30-3.50 ERA - over 200 Ks
Jason Pliml: could be Hafner
Chris McDonnell: My vote goes to Chipper
Jason Pliml: that's pretty lofty. I expect a slow start to the year for Liriano and a couple bad outings before he returns to form
Dave Regan: as long as wells is recovered from the shoulder injury that bothered him all year, he'll be just fine
Gerrit Ritt: Was that the 1st RP taken?
Jason Pliml: yes / papelbon, putz, nathan gone
Jason Pliml: krod
Gerrit Ritt: oh, sorry
Lawr Michaels: nice sentence
Lawr Michaels: papelbon, putz, nathan, gone...
Jason Pliml: this is a grammar optional league
Dave Regan: shoulder problem a concern re: Hanley?
Lawr Michaels: and, i just like the way the words papelbon, putz, nathan, gone sound and the image it evokes...
Lawr Michaels: the guy is really really good. he does everything. and, he is still coming into his own.
Matt Hinzpeter: the pats are about to score? what else is new
Lawr Michaels: i just don't see anything holding him back. cept maybe his team some
Jason Pliml: gues Uggla's not getting back to me :)
Lawr Michaels: a pox. verlander.....
(Commish): Through 12 rounds, the Mock Draft Central/Big Dawg Baseball projections favor: Chris McDonnell
Alex Cushing: Starter run
Jason Pliml: dang Todd - wanted Victorino next
Todd Zola: neener neener neener
Jason Pliml: words hurt like a fist
Alex Cushing: I traded Victorino to Todd in tout this past season and never lived it down (Commish): Question from e-mail: better second season from dice k?
Alex Cushing: hes the one that got away
Matt Hinzpeter: definitely for dicek
Lawr Michaels: agreed on dicek. i think a year to get the feel for playing here and being in a race.
Lawr Michaels: he will have that much less to adjust to.
Gerrit Ritt: DiceK should be strong this year - inthe 18-win, 220-K category
Alex Cushing: Dice-K needs to get the ball down and judging from how well the team handled that with beckett i say better sophomore year as well
Gerrit Ritt: ERA will go down, but still in the mid-to-high 3's
(Commish): Question from AIM: who is the most overrated player on the board?
Lawr Michaels: so, if everything else is the same, that has to mean better numbers
Todd Zola: careful on the wins/ks, they could have a 7 man rotation
Gerrit Ritt: He'll get his every 5th day
Jason Pliml: Bay makes me very nervous
Jason Pliml: although it's getting very hard to ignore him
Dave Regan: resist the temptation
Gerrit Ritt: Overrated? Probably Fielder this year. Can't see him repeating last year.
(Commish): Question from AIM: Delmon projection?
Alex Cushing: Disagreed, first 23-year-old player to hit 50 homers means something with fielder
Alex Cushing: delmon .290-15-15
T Heaney & N Minnix: 20 homers, 20 steals is a safe projection
(Commish): Question from e-mail: Last year i believe that Mauer was a 4th round pick and McCann a 5th round pick after such horrible seasons how can you validate spending 3rd round picks on them?
Paul Greco: .275 avg 35+ HR 90+ RBI 20+SB
Eric Hinz: A jump in power
Gerrit Ritt: Mauer's another overrated guy
Paul Greco: I meant 25 plus not 25 +
Lawr Michaels: well, i took mauer, and i would hardly call last year horrible.
Paul Greco: not 35+
Lawr Michaels: and, he was hurt a chunk of the year.
(Commish): I think Todd touched on catcher being thin earlier
(Commish): And this league starts two
Lawr Michaels: where i was going next....scarcity.
Chris McDonnell: After Martin and Matinez, nobody else is deserving of an early pick
Lawr Michaels: but, let's face it, position or not, either of those guys can rake with the best of them
Dave Regan: McCann was quite a bit better down the stretch if I recall correctly
Lawr Michaels: plus, they are both young and after a down year, both should be ready to step it back up
Alex Cushing: I second a McCann bounceback, whether minor or major
Chris McDonnell: Agreed. McCann is third on my board, followed by Mauer
(Commish): Question from AIM: anyone hate their team like i always do at this point?
Gerrit Ritt: Nope!
Gerrit Ritt: Ha
Lawr Michaels: we could hate his team too, right guys?
Alex Cushing: No, ask me in one hour though
(Commish): I believe so
Dave Regan: Kemp in the 9th is interesting
Paul Greco: vary
Alex Cushing: Good pick on Kemp, thought he would swing around
Chris McDonnell: That's a nice way of saying "lousy pick"
Matt Hinzpeter: i will not resist the temptation
Dave Regan: As a Dodgers fan I love the upside
Lawr Michaels: there goes bay watch
Jason Pliml: a moment of silence for the passing of Pamela's youth
(Commish): Comment from AIM: kemp's potential is better than what some of these other scrubs offer
Dave Regan: hopefully Dodgers don't deal him and give him 550 at-bats
(Commish): Just a note to our viewers: Mock Drafts are available 24/7/365 here at MDC
(Commish): You can draft like these experts at any time
Jason Pliml: Carmona is a solid pick
(Commish): We've added a ton of new features this year, check them out!
Matt Hinzpeter: theres that wainwright pick i like so much
(Commish): Question from AIM: same value on myers if he were a closer?
Jason Pliml: I wouldn't value Myers any higher at RP
Todd Zola: not in mixed 12
Eric Hinz: Nice pick with Saltalamachia
Gerrit Ritt: Thank you sir
Gerrit Ritt: He's gonna blow up this year
(Commish): You spelled it wrong :-)
(Commish): Some expert
Paul Greco: lol
T Heaney & N Minnix: good value pick in lowell, at this point, it seems
Paul Greco: THX...Hopefully he doesn't melt down after the WS ...
Eric Hinz: I'm just happy my capitlization was good.
(Commish): Question from AIM: how many leagues do you guys do
Jason Pliml: I'll toss F Cordero and Harang into my major bust potential category
Jason Pliml: 8-10 leagues
Dave Regan: 8 for me
Todd Zola: Jason -- injury or performance?
Alex Cushing: 3-4, anything more and I'm fried
Jason Pliml: injury for Harang, not opportunities for Cordero
Jason Pliml: I'm almost done with English as a 2nd language
Jason Pliml: course
Jason Pliml: Harang look abused last year and he didn't have Dusty in the dugout
Todd Zola: CoCo will still get the ops -- the whole Dusty thing is way overblown, plus he'll have his pitching coach handling the pitchers
Matt Hinzpeter: love yovani
Alex Cushing: thanks
(Commish): Question from e-mail: at what round do you draft on potential more than performance?
Todd Zola: the guy that playsthe pan flute?
Jason Pliml: I believe that is Zamfir
Matt Hinzpeter: lol yes, yanni
Lawr Michaels: nice, jason
Lawr Michaels: i always thought of him as "yawnni"
Gerrit Ritt: Good question - I think you always do really - not all rookies, but everyone has to have the optential to better their #s from the previous year
Todd Zola: but 70% of players regress
Alex Cushing: Sometimes you go on Minor League performance, that matters when it comes to how players perform in the bigs
Gerrit Ritt: Except for the primo top 2-3 rounds
Gerrit Ritt: Those are year-to-year performers
(Commish): Comment from AIM: closer value seems good this year
Gerrit Ritt: It has been for a few years now, I think
Todd Zola: nope, actually, the top 3 rounds regress 70% as well
Gerrit Ritt: Most teams can field two, if not three, strong ones
Todd Zola: 70% regress
Gerrit Ritt: If by digress, you mean going from 48 homers to 43 homers, I'll still take
Gerrit Ritt: it
Chris McDonnell: ALERT: Ravens score. Weird.
Todd Zola: by regess I mean not do as well as they did the year before
Gerrit Ritt: regress, sorry
Todd Zola: but I digress
(Commish): Who wants to watch football? Baseball baby
Gerrit Ritt: nice
(Commish): Question from e-mail: McGowan over Cain please explain
Matt Hinzpeter: Josh McGowan?
Jason Pliml: I prefer Cain
Paul Greco: SF offense is horrible
Lawr Michaels: check out mcgowan's second half totals.
Jason Pliml: can't get worse run support than last year
Dave Regan: over/under on Cain's win total... 11?
Jason Pliml: over
Todd Zola: love McGowan, hate the facthe pitches in the AL east
(Commish): Question from AIM for Gerrit: best landing spot for Rowand
Lawr Michaels: 11 is pretty good.
Alex Cushing: landing spot as far as destination?
(Commish): I guess
Lawr Michaels: am i gonna hafta wear my ed reed jersey tomorrow?
Dave Regan: you HAVE an Ed Reed jersey?
Lawr Michaels: yep
Lawr Michaels: a couple of years ago he intercepted a pass with like a minute to go, pretty much in the end zone, and ran it back for a score.
Lawr Michaels: i got like ten points for it. six for the td. two the interception. two the distance
(Commish): I did that on Madden once
(Commish): Friend threw his control at me
Lawr Michaels: i thought i was gonna lose the game and he won it right there.
Lawr Michaels: it was a night game, even.
Todd Zola: you need a Zen setting for Lawr
(Commish): Our programmers are hoping to have it by football season
Lawr Michaels: we were doing it in the car, right geoff?
(Commish): Uhhhh.
Lawr Michaels: uh. zen drafting, that is.....
Dave Regan: that doesn't sound good
Matt Hinzpeter: EWWW
(Commish): Correct
Matt Hinzpeter: lol
Matt Hinzpeter: doing it
Jason Pliml: just click the Englightened button when you're done
Lawr Michaels: i'm sorry man. i was drunk. i met him in the yard....
(Commish): :-)
Gerrit Ritt: snagged penny right out from under me!
Todd Zola: thats what Alysa Milano said
Paul Greco: lol
(Commish): Question from e-mail: Geovany Soto - how much can we expect from him this year?
Todd Zola: more than Henry Blanco
Lawr Michaels: grrrr. swisher.....nice pick
Matt Hinzpeter: he's gotta come back around, no?
Todd Zola: Soto is a wild card -- one great year in the minors after he got in shape
Alex Cushing: I think Soto can put up comparable numbers to Posada this year
Alex Cushing: .285-15-20 homers 75 ribbies
Lawr Michaels: totally on swisher.
Gerrit Ritt: The Cubs will play him everyday - just dumped Kendall
Lawr Michaels: he can hit 30
Matt Hinzpeter: that swisher pick makes up for you taking wainwright before me in two drafts
(Commish): Question from AIM: rumors are bedard to mets. moving out of al east to nl raises his value how much?
Paul Greco: damn..you stole my thunder...just got word in my room here on that...reported on that earlier today...the two GM's have been locked up all day
Dave Regan: what do the Mets have to deal?
Matt Hinzpeter: one of their 10 million catchers LOL
Todd Zola: They are asking for the moon for Bedard
Scott Swanay: Yes.
Chris McDonnell: nobody is coming cheap in trades this year
Chris McDonnell: Except for Lastings Millage
(Commish): And Elijiah Dukes
Chris McDonnell: He's not cheap
Matt Hinzpeter: lastings milledge is the worst
Chris McDonnell: He comes with a set of luggage
(Commish): Nats got a talented player for a bucket of turds
(Commish): No love for O-Cab. Nice pick
Todd Zola: O-Cab -- STEAL OF THE DRAFT, BAR NONE
(Commish): Jinx
T Heaney & N Minnix: that's the hope
T Heaney & N Minnix: he's hit .302 at the cell
Gerrit Ritt: I love him, but 8 HR is not the "steal of the draft"
Todd Zola: from a MI that will steal 25 in the 15th it sure is
Gerrit Ritt: thank you
Matt Hinzpeter: ummmm
(Commish): Is that who you wanted Matt?
Matt Hinzpeter: yeah, why?
(Commish): The ummm threw me off
Jason Pliml: To our visitors - listen to live audio analysis of the expert draft:
Jason Pliml: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fantasybaseballguy/2007/12/04/From-the-Winter-Meetings-1
Matt Hinzpeter: oh my bad... i just thought it was interesting that .275-35-96 was still just chillin
(Commish): Question for Alex Cushing: Is Alex Cushing drafting using the pitch or ditch strategy? I'm trying to understand his pitching staff!
Paul Greco: thanks for pimping...going great so far...don't forget to check out the after draft analysis
Alex Cushing: As far as pitching is concerned...
Alex Cushing: Starters tend to fluctuate from year to year and deserve little investment -- I prefer taking starters in the mid-to-late rounds -- plenty of time left
Todd Zola: I'm so programmed for the 15-team NFBC style, this is different
(Commish): Delgado is crying somewhere
Todd Zola: Jason/Geoff -- nice touch with the real time standings, now we just have to get you some real projections to put in there ;)
(Commish): Thanks
Dave Regan: agreed on the "real" projections
(Commish): The Big Dawg projections are quality
Todd Zola: I'm just needling Chris
(Commish): He's not biting
(Commish): Think he's watching the football game
(Commish): As our most of our viewers judging by the lack of questions
Chris McDonnell: Sorry. I missed that conversation about me. I was drafting
Matt Hinzpeter: i'd call in paul but under the weather
Chris McDonnell: What were you needling me about Todd?
Paul Greco: No prob pal...totally understand...
Matt Hinzpeter: do me a favor though and give a shout out to all my females fans out there LOL
(Commish): Hey Paul, aren't you glad you added the extra hour?
Paul Greco: RIGHT ON...LOL
Paul Greco: heck ya pal..thanks
(Commish): Make sure you say hi to Mrs. Hinzpeter
(Commish): And Grandma Hinzpeter
Paul Greco: for you geoff or for matt
Todd Zola: kidded that the real time standings were cool, but they needed realprojections
Matt Hinzpeter: lol
Paul Greco: ryan garko
(Commish): Matt -- I'm not touching that one
Lawr Michaels: boff!
Matt Hinzpeter: LMAO
Matt Hinzpeter: gross
Chris McDonnell: They are a couple of weeks old
Paul Greco: thank you pal
Lawr Michaels: i like the lmao/gross juxtapose.
Paul Greco: my bad...LOL
Lawr Michaels: the same thing that makes it funny makes it disgusting
Jason Pliml: Chris - send along updated projections when you can. WE have a better process in place now
Matt Hinzpeter: hahaha
(Commish): For the experts wondering about what Todd and Chris are talking about, click the red View Projections option at the top of the screen
Chris McDonnell: I'll send them along tonight or tomorrow
Matt Hinzpeter: that's a sweet ass feature Geoff
(Commish): You can watch the projected order of finish update after every pick
Dave Regan: no way
Dave Regan: I have 2 1B already, but am tempted to go Delgado just to get him off the board
(Commish): Since the questions have pretty much died -- do any of the experts want to plug ther site?
Todd Zola: I'd rather plug Alyssa milano
Chris McDonnell: My site is cool
Matt Hinzpeter: www.fantasyinsideronline.com - for the most handomest sports writers ever
Lawr Michaels: taveras is against my better judgement....
Paul Greco:
Lawr Michaels: but the worst with superlatives, matt.
Paul Greco: PORN StAR = me www.fantasybaseballguy.com
Matt Hinzpeter: lmao
Matt Hinzpeter: touche paul
Paul Greco: I've been told I have a nice stroke by the experts
T Heaney & N Minnix: dammit

Eric Hinz: Anyone attending the Fantasy Fishing rollout at the Waldorf-Astoria tomorrow morning?
Chris McDonnell: Plug for site: www.bigdawgbaseball.com has 2008 projections up and running!
(Commish): www.mockdraftcentral.com -- expert drafts and stuff
Matt Hinzpeter: lol
Matt Hinzpeter: www.fantasyinsideronline.com - fantasy sports and really small jean shorts
Paul Greco: lol
(Commish): Like the Arroyo pick Scott
Gerrit Ritt: sounds good Matt
Gerrit Ritt: I'm buyin
Matt Hinzpeter: hahaha
Eric Hinz: head over to www.faketeams.com and tell me how well I did.
Scott Swanay: Thanks! Looked at Jer Weaver too.
Matt Hinzpeter: its the drugs i'm taking for this bronchitis. don't mind me
(Commish): Question from e-mail: Two young players have gone higher than I expected. What do you project for Justin Upton this year? Is he even guaranteed a starting job? And what about the Cubs closer situation. Is Marmol the man?
Gerrit Ritt: Marmol IS the man - can't wait to see what he does over a full season
(Commish): I think Wood gets first crack in Chicago
Todd Zola: with the trade of Quentin, he has a job
Gerrit Ritt: No chance
(Commish): Based upon his re-signing for a discounted rate
Dave Regan: and very nice incentives for games finished
Todd Zola: of course there is a chance
Todd Zola: closing is manageres whim
Jason Pliml: dammit scott
Scott Swanay: Good/Bad Ollie still available!
Jason Pliml: pass
(Commish): As is the bad case of heartburn that comes with watching his starts
Gerrit Ritt: And Marmol is a beast - 1.43 ERA - 96 K's in 69 IP
Gerrit Ritt: He'll be the closer in Chicago for 10 years
Todd Zola: the problem is teams don't look at thingsthe way we do
(Commish): He got them out of a lot of tight spots last year
(Commish): In middle relief
Eric Hinz: Wood closes until he fails or gets hurt.
(Commish): Think Lou keeps him in that role with other closing options available
Gerrit Ritt: Others available?
(Commish): Wood, Howry
Gerrit Ritt: If anyone besides him closes, it'll be Howry
(Commish): Dempster is still there
Gerrit Ritt: Dempster's a starter this year
Gerrit Ritt: already been decided
(Commish): A starter in an already crowded rotation
(Commish): May not have a spot
(Commish): I wouldn't be surprised if they put him back in the pen eventually
Gerrit Ritt: With Trachsel and Wade Miller there, there's definitely room available
Lawr Michaels: hey geoff or jas. neither polanco nor pedroia is on my roster within my window
Gerrit Ritt: bums, the both of em
Jason Pliml: did you expand your roster Lawr?
Gerrit Ritt: Sorry, you get me talkin about the Cubbies and I could go on and on - I'll stop now
(Commish): Hit the +/- vurron
(Commish): I'm a die-hard too
Jason Pliml: I see Pedroia at MI on your team
Gerrit Ritt: You're a good man
(Commish): I'd like to see them give Gallagher a real shot at the No. 5 spot
(Commish): Think they already have a Dempster in the rotation -- Marquis
(Commish): He wasn't awful as a relief pitcher
(Commish): Don't really understand the move
Lawr Michaels: i mean the window under my name, where i can toggle to grid view?
Lawr Michaels: on the grid view, i see them
(Commish): Welcome to the hell that is Rocco Baldelli, Scott
Scott Swanay: I know, I know - hoping for the best at this point in the draft.
(Commish): Aren't we all
Matt Hinzpeter: jason, thanks for taking my dude
Jason Pliml: np
(Commish): Todd loves the Jurrjens
(Commish): Didn't you take him in the Nov. draft too?
Jason Pliml: just another player stolen from my queue by Todd
Todd Zola: it was more a ROb pick, but yeah, we took him -- this time it was me, all me
Todd Zola: I like NL fliers more than AL fliers at this point
(Commish): Somewhere Rob is smiling
Todd Zola: actualy, he's at a board meeting
(Commish): Then he's probably not smiling
(Commish): Can't beat Pie during the holiday season
(Commish): I crack myself up
Scott Swanay: Hopefully he's a sweet potato
(Commish): Nice
Lawr Michaels: very nice on harden....i was hoping he would fall to me.
(Commish): Probably best that he does not fall -- he's a bit fragile
Chris McDonnell: ouch
Dave Regan: and water is a bit wet
Scott Swanay: He's quite disarming too.
Alex Cushing: Been a pleasure fellas, thanks to geoff, paul and jason for all the help!
(Commish): Feb. something
Paul Greco: FUN!!!
(Commish): Thanks everyone
(Commish): We appreciate you joining us
Scott Swanay: Great job, Geoff!
(Commish): Thanks to all of our viewers
Lawr Michaels: thx for the early coverage, geoff
(Commish): Thankss Scott
Gerrit Ritt: Because I need more pop in my lineup.....
(Commish): lol
Matt Hinzpeter: alright homies
Matt Hinzpeter: always a blast
Gerrit Ritt: late
Jason Pliml: For the record - we had 109 viewers
(Commish): Thought you were going Bonds
Dave Regan: ha..who?
Jason Pliml: at peak, we had 76 viewing simultaneously
(Commish): Gerrit with the power
Gerrit Ritt: Does he play baseball?
Jason Pliml: Thanks to everyone that asked questions
Paul Greco: AWESOME JOB
Matt Hinzpeter: see you when i see you
Matt Hinzpeter: have a good one everyone
Chris McDonnell: Great job guys
Jason Pliml: We'll be posting the draft results and chat transcript tomorrow.
Jason Pliml: Feel free to comment on the draft results, picks made, who was cutest, etc
Dave Regan: thanks guys..good stuff
Paul Greco: Looking forward to talking to you guys over the course of the season...
Lawr Michaels: nice on correia, todd
Paul Greco: Working for ROTOHOG.com and could be getting a nice little show...I'll let you guys know
T Heaney & N Minnix: Thanks for having us, commish.
(Commish): Thanks guys
Lawr Michaels: yep. thx geoff and jason
(Commish): yw Lawr
(Commish): Thanks bud
(Commish): Take care