Re: 2006 Season Startup

[Tim]

I think we'll get started with our draft order so Tim can start his planning. Also, please send $10 to:

Juan Sorensen

19401 E. 50th Place

Denver, CO 80249

 

If you didn't pay last year, please send $20. That name again . . . is Mr. Plow . . .

 

I will send you an email about the draft - if I don't hear back in 48 hours, you will get the lowest available spot.

Yee-haw!

 

Adam Dunn, come on down.

[Quakers]

Juan - The check is in the mail.

 

Tim - Did you get my check for premium service?

 

Spring cannot come too soon. But after some really good news for a few of my prospects during the fall league, the trading season has not been so favorable to me. Eldred will probably start in AAA and McCarthy looks like he will be the sixth starter for the Sox.

[Tim]

Juan - The check is in the mail.

 

Tim - Did you get my check for premium service?

 

Spring cannot come too soon. But after some really good news for a few of my prospects during the fall league, the trading season has not been so favorable to me. Eldred will probably start in AAA and McCarthy looks like he will be the sixth starter for the Sox.

When did you send it? I can't remember whether I received it or not and I won't have access to my records until around the 7th. But I've got you set up for premium access.

[Tim]

Woo - hoo! Officially the 1st and 3rd draft picks. Probably the 16th and 17th, as well. Hmm...I need an outfielder a catcher and a couple more good pitchers. I should be done after the second round. :D

 

Dunn is going #1, but there are a number of other questions...

 

If Sheff is still available with the third pick I don't know that I could pass up an OF with Bonds, Abreu, Dunn & Sheff.

 

Can Beckett stay healthy?

 

Do Clemens, Johnson and Smoltz have another great year left in the tank?

 

Will Clemens even play?

 

Andy Pettitte can't really be that good, right?

 

Varitek seems too high at #3, but I doubt he'll last until 16/17.

 

When is the right point in the draft to start adding closers?

 

Would Jeter provide a huge lift over what I'll get from Barmes / Upton?

 

How many of my young pitchers will excel in 2006? Between Bonderman, Cain, Liriano, Reyes, James and Verlander, I'm confident of a couple guys stepping up. But how much starting pitching do I really need to draft?

 

What prospects will be added to the database before the draft? Is anyone worth drafting early?

 

What other pitchers might surprise in 2006?

 

 

 

So many dilemmas. :D

[abuck1220]

all fascinating questions that no one cares about but you. :D

 

 

and you forgot one...

 

how am i going to topple the returning champions?

[Tim]

all fascinating questions that no one cares about but you. :D

 

 

and you forgot one...

 

how am i going to topple the returning champions?

I'll settle for another undefeated regular season. After all, the playoffs are a crapshoot and the best team doesn't always win. ;)

[Quakers]

If Sheff is still available with the third pick I don't know that I could pass up an OF with Bonds, Abreu, Dunn & Sheff.

 

Do you really think Bonds will return to form?

 

Come to think of it Sheff is getting a little old too :loser:

 

All this talk of past championships is boring. Shoot, NC will probably win this year.

[Tim]

If Sheff is still available with the third pick I don't know that I could pass up an OF with Bonds, Abreu, Dunn & Sheff.

 

Do you really think Bonds will return to form?

 

Come to think of it Sheff is getting a little old too :loser:

 

All this talk of past championships is boring. Shoot, NC will probably win this year.

I think Bonds will be the best hitter in the game when he's on the field. I plan on keeping an extra OF around just in case he spends more time off it than on, though. After all, I'll still have Gomes, too.

 

BTW - if anyone is intersted in one of my picks, make me an offer. I do love to trade!

[abuck1220]

all fascinating questions that no one cares about but you. :D

 

 

and you forgot one...

 

how am i going to topple the returning champions?

I'll settle for another undefeated regular season. After all, the playoffs are a crapshoot and the best team doesn't always win. ;)

 

you and the '01 mariners...quite the couple. :D

[NCCubFan]

Shoot, NC will probably win this year.

Worst to first, baby. :D

[Quakers]

I think Bonds will be the best hitter in the game when he's on the field. I plan on keeping an extra OF around just in case he spends more time off it than on, though. After all, I'll still have Gomes, too.

 

I bet there are a considerable number of parents, especially in the SF area, that wish that the word "steriods" did not have to come up when their children talk about him.

 

 

For me, my early thoughts center on how early I should start selecting pitching. I have had some decent offenses over the years, but I have never been able to put together a solid pitching staff.

 

Does anyone know if Kent will qualify at both second and first next year?

[Tim]

I think Bonds will be the best hitter in the game when he's on the field. I plan on keeping an extra OF around just in case he spends more time off it than on, though. After all, I'll still have Gomes, too.

 

I bet there are a considerable number of parents, especially in the SF area, that wish that the word "steriods" did not have to come up when their children talk about him.

 

 

For me, my early thoughts center on how early I should start selecting pitching. I have had some decent offenses over the years, but I have never been able to put together a solid pitching staff.

 

Does anyone know if Kent will qualify at both second and first next year?

Kent only played 14 games at first base last year, so you'll have to wait until he plays 10 games there in 2006 to qualify.

 

The pitching is tricky. For the most part, the only pitchers out there that are fairly sure bets are 39+ years old. Once past those first round pitchers, it is more art than science to get a guy who will be productive.

 

Last year I had a dominant staff, but got really lucky on Carpenter, picked up Patterson part way through the season after he was released by someone else, held over Burnett because he was cheap coming off his injured season and then went with the sure thing in Livan. Much of my playoff issues were caused by Bonderman wearing down and shutting down, Carpenter being ineffective late in the year, Livan getting injured and Burnett going off on his team.

 

In 2004, I had three pitchers I kept and then dropped guys every week and found pitchers in the bargain bin that I could get a couple starts out of or who had favorable matchups.

 

This year, I'm taking an approach where I'm going to load up the rotation with vets, then have about 4 pitchers on my minor league roster for their first 10 starts. Around mid-May, I'll trade off or dump the guys that don't win out and probably keep 7 guys on my roster and rotate them based on matchups.

[Guest]

Juan, Matt is out of town, and I am too. As soon as he and I both get back to Detroit, we'll send you money.

 

Don