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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Problems with Value-Based Drafting

Problems with Value Based Drafting

Value Based Drafting in fantasy football is essentially valuing a player to the extent he exceeds the baseline player at his particular position. For example, if Aaron Rodgers is projected to score 427 fantasy points, and in your 12-team league, the No. 12 QB (the baseline player), Robert Griffin, is projected to score 322 points, then Rodgers' value is 105 points. Compare that to Adrian Peterson who we project for 290 points and who exceeds our No. 24 RB, Ahmad Bradshaw (168 points), by 122 points. According to VBD*, Peterson is more valuable than Rodgers in that case - by 17 points.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

ADP First Look: Preparing for Fantasy Football

You might be thinking that it’s still too early to be discussing fantasy football, but with free agent signings, team OTA’s coming and going, reports of other off-season workouts and important keeper league decisions needing to be made, we’re here to tell you that it’s never too early.
Monday, June 17, 2013

Lord Stanley Game Three

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool Joel Quennville four times? Shame on the organization. Zdeno Chara was in the dressing room with a skate issue for at least four shifts and Quennville failed to get Jonathan Toews on the ice for any of them. How does that happen with today's technology?
  • Tuukka Rask. Wow. Great game, but "the ice gets sh$^% at the ends of periods"? NBC's Pierre McGuire seems to inspire swearing, eh? Andrew Shaw got him at the end of Game 1, too.
Saturday, June 15, 2013

Lord Stanley Game Two

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • How many Hawks can a Bruin hit if a Bruin could hit Hawks? Answer? 50. Wow. Hit the ice tubs, boys.
  • Jaromir Jagr and his anti-beard -- so close, yet so far, far away. Maybe the posts have fattened up over the duration of his career.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Lord Stanley Game One

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • I almost went to bed after the third Boston goal. What a mistake that would have been, eh?! Cue the comeback.
  • Marian Hossa will do anything to win. He, Milan Lucic and Tuukka Rask were the best players on the ice through two OTs.
Saturday, June 8, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Cup Runneth Over

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Is Corey Crawford the Rodney Dangerfield of NHL twinetenders? He don't get no respect.
  • June 9 sure is a big day for Patrick Kane. A natural hat trick sends the Hawks to the final. Three years ago, his goal delivered a Cup ... on exactly the same day.
Friday, June 7, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Brooms Come Out

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Best save of the night? Zdeno Chara's backhanded snag in the last minute. That stung, but not as much as it would have had the puck found twine.
  • Tuukka Rask, second-best goalie in the world or just lucky? Discuss.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Pens on the Ropes

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Soooo ... who would you rather have on your team this postseason? Sidney Crosby or David Krejci? Discuss.
  • Repeat after me -- Jarome Iginla does not belong in black and gold. And that's not because I'm a Flames' fan. He has never fit into the Pens system and looks lost. That whistling sound you hear is the air coming out of his FA value
Monday, June 3, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Conference Finals Monday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Coincidence or not? Sidney Crosby sheds his jaw protector and goes two games without a point, the first time this season he's been held pointless for that duration of time. He looked ... average, at best.
  • The Kings scored 11 goals in five games against the Blues, 14 in seven against the Sharks and now three in two against the Hawks. Their average goals-per-game is on a serious decline. They'd better get serious about scoring goals when they return to La-La-Land.
Saturday, June 1, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Round Three Begins

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • I'm not sure I've seen Sidney Crosby as angry as he was at the end of the second period. He let Tuukka Rask get under his skin and then popped Rask in the chest (twice). And he chirped Zdeno Chara who had his number all night long (hint: he's too big for you Sid). He let them get him off his game. 
  • Why is Corey Crawford the least-desirable goalie in the conference semis? That goal Saturday was a fluke. And he's allowed just a single goal in three of his last four games.

Show Notes: 6/1



Opening Thoughts

Stephen Strasburg owners shouldn't be too worried about his injury as far as panicking and selling low. Further, the oblique injury has nothing to do with him being shut down by the Nats last season.

Accounting for the likelihood of a couple missed starts, Strasburg now falls just behind Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez and Adam Wainwright (sixth among starting pitchers) for the rest of the season.
Friday, May 31, 2013

Mock Draft Army #2 Team

Not even June 1st and I'm already moving into Fantasy Football season.  It's never too early to get a leg up on your opponents in what is the best fantasy sport around.  Sure, there's baseball, but that's for marathon runners.  I'm more of a sprinter.  I'll take football and its 16 weeks of agonizing ecstasy.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Round Two Is Over

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. I'm talking about you, Brent Seabrook. It's a rare day when you score the game winner twice ... in the same game.
  • Block the shot or get out of the bloody way. Niklas Kronwall is going to be seeing that one in his sleep for a long, long time.
Monday, May 27, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Round Two Monday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Corey Crawford had the yips for the entire third period. Joakim Andersson and his knucklers can do that to any one. Not.
  • Look who showed up. Marian Hossa had his best game of the series. He's still elite, but he's definitely a buy-out candidate after next year.
Saturday, May 25, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Saturday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Isn't it interesting that the final four could be comprised of the last four Stanley Cup winners? Or four of the last five? Parity has been the catch phrase of the NHL for years, but that smells like dominance to me.
  • Why did it take Joel Quennville until Game 5 to get Jonathan Toews away from Henrik Zetterberg?
Thursday, May 23, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Thursday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Brad Richards, popcorn vendor? I know he has struggled, but there's no way be should be in the press box. No bloody way.
  • Patrick Kane just hasn't been good enough. Three shifts in the last 11 minutes? And the last was after the empty netter? Where's the fire in the belly? He's giving up way too easily.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Tuesday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Joe Thornton's first period might have been his most dominant playoff performance. Ever. Jumbo? Nope. Larger than life ... including the massive man beard.
  • Stick a fork in the Rangers. That stupid defensive system is sinking them. Bu-bye, Torts. Maybe Patrick Roy is holding out for a gig on Broadway instead of in Mile High.
Sunday, May 19, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Weekend

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Abuse of an official? I guess I went to bed too early. You're a bad, bad boy, Jonathan Quick. I wonder if they have the onions to lay down some supplemental discipline under Rule 39.5. It's a possibility when a game misconduct is called for abuse of an official.
  • Uh-oh. Henrik Lundqvist has an injured shoulder and is undergoing evaluation Sunday night. The Rangers can kiss that series goodbye without the King.
Friday, May 17, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Friday (Thursday, too)

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Four shots, three goals ... and his second career hat playoff hat trick. The third goal was Sidney Crosby's 100th playoff point, a feat accomplished in merely 75 games. Plus he's the fifth fastest to hit that 100-point mark. Who was faster? Just Wayne Gretzky (46 games), Mario Lemieux (50), Jari Kurri (67) and Mike Bossy (74). Now that's elite company.
  • Where-o-where has my Brad Richards gone? Oh, where-o-where could he be? Oh right -- behind the play, struggling to catch up. Sometimes skills trickle away; sometimes they just fall off a cliff. Sad.
Thursday, May 16, 2013

Building the Perfect Beast

Like everyone else, I'm looking for that edge in my leagues to skew the odds in my favor. Many fantasy players traditionally load up on the stud hitters and stream pitchers at the end of their staff to pick up those counting stats without killing the ratios. I'm one of those people, however, my pitching stream has been as weak as a 70 year old with a bad prostate.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Round Two Wednesday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Patrick Sharp is 31-3 this season. Yes, the Hawks have only lost three times with him in the lineup. Wow.
  • Moths to a light -- the Wings were puck focused all night long. That will change next game ... might not change the outcome by much, though.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Round Two Tuesday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Team captains do not act like children. They do not blame others. They stand up and accept responsibility. Alexander Ovechkin has been looking in that fun house mirror again. Have I ever mentioned how I much I can't stand people like that?
  • Special teams -- will they be the story of the second round? They sure were in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
Monday, May 13, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Monday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Chris Hadfield returned to Earth at 10:31 p.m. Eastern time a sad man -- Canada's space station commander is a HUGE Leafs' fan. No wonder he had a hard time getting out of the space capsule. He had to dry his tears first.
  • Andrew Ference arrived at the arena in a walking boot. Wade Redden was a late scratch. And the Bruins lost Dennis Seidenberg after two shifts. They may have gotten out of the first round, but they won't get far with a back-end held together with chewing gum and bailing wire.

Questions and Answers at the PGA Tour's Halfway Mark

With the completion of The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s truncated 2013 season has passed the halfway point. Here’s a look at what’s transpired thus far, and what looms ahead.
Sunday, May 12, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Sunday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • Optimus Reim. Reim Minister. I don't care if the nicknames are any good; I just know the goalie is. James Reimer has proved his detractors wrong and even Roberto Luongo has become a fan. Bobby Lou's tweet after the game? #REIM4SOCHI. Now that's funny.
  • Ho hum, Henrik Lundqvist was the difference for the Rangers. Again. The guy was his typical brilliant self. But why isn't anyone talking about Braden Holtby who has allowed one fewer goal in the same six games? Just wondering ...
Saturday, May 11, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Saturday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • What's the over-under on the number of questions Erik Karlsson will get about "the Matt Cooke incident." You know, team owner Eugene Melnyk still believes it was deliberate and says he is getting forensic evidence to prove it. Quick, take away his tin foil.
  • Man, the Isles looked good early -- they should have been up by at least two. But they just couldn't sustain it. Dang.

15 Reasons Why You Never Draft Pitching Early

Revisionist history is fun, right? Hind sight is always 20-20. But this theory is neither revisionist nor hind sight. Not drafting pitchers early in fantasy baseball drafts is not new. The following is a fifteen-pitcher starting pitching staff (fourteen of them not named Matt Harvey) with an ADP of 200 or higher (as of 4/4/13) on Mock Draft Central. It will make you feel kind of silly for drafting David Price, Cole Hamels, Gio Gonzalez, or others of their ilk.
Friday, May 10, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Friday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • James Reimer, two; Roberto Luongo, zero. Playoff wins, that is -- isn't that what Leafs' fans thought they'd get out of a Bobby Lou trade? Any chance they eat crow?
  • Where are you, Rick Nash? Brad Richards? And how much cash is tied up in you two stiffs?
Thursday, May 9, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Wednesday

Just a few things that caught my eye:

 

  • Read my lips, Dion Phaneuf – hit the guy if you’re going to pinch. Better yet, DO NOT PINCH. He’s a decent player, but a crappy decision maker. Yikes.
 
  • David Krejci is money in the bank in the postseason. His hattie was just his third, three-point effort in his last four games. Ten points in four games. Wow.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013

NHL Playoff Observations -- Tuesday

Just a few things that caught my eye:
  • No offense to Peter Budaj, but Montreal has no hope without Carey Price between the pipes. He was terrific before he went down. #HabsDown.
  • The Isles are like a bad rash -- they just won't go away. They haven't figured out they're supposed to lose to the Penguins. Andrew MacDonald will be hard to replace, though.

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