Let's play Who Would You Rather Have

Here's the 2006 stats from five players. You tell me which you'd want most:
R RBI SB BA SLG BB K
61 68 1 .292 .477 55 69
82 92 5 .310 .497 55 96
93 62 52 .267 .393 65 100
73 34 19 .279 .404 30 92
101 85 8 .270 .553 63 162


Top to bottom, Player No. 3 would seem to be the best of the bunch, followed by No. 2. It's a toss up for third place between No. 5 and No. 1 -- if you can afford the strikeouts, you would probably take No. 5.

But if you're Tom, you take Player No. 1 over any of them. Why? Because his name is Jeff Kent, and he is one of Tom's pet players. Anyone who doesn't share Tom's love of his pet players, such as Jason Smith and myself, gets his scorn.

As you'll notice, the other players in the comparison are, in respective order, Lyle Overbay, Chone Figgins, Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall. Those are the players that Jason kept instead of Kent, which Tom criticized, but only Weeks had clearly inferior numbers last year -- and besides being 14 years younger than Kent, Weeks missed about half the year with injury. Indeed, the best player of the bunch last year was Figgins, whom Tom has previously dubbed one of the most overrated players in baseball.

Keep that in mind next time Tom criticizes your personnel decisions.

Mock Draft #2

With the first pick in the 2007 ICA Draft the Upper Deck Bleacher Bums select Jason Bay (LF-Pitt). cue huge uproar from the Alex Rodriguez camp.

Trade to Report

Outlaw Stars send:
Picks 43, 49

to Walden, for:
Pick 36

If someone wants to turn that into article form, that'd be great.

Rating the draft board (updated)

At first glance, with the top two picks, Figgs would seem to be in the best position to improve his team heading into the March draft. But after crunching some numbers, that might not be so obvious.

I calculated the average draft position for each team below. For teams with less than nine picks, I ascribed #91 to each of their missing picks; for teams with more than nine picks, I disregarded their extras. Here are the average draft positions:

Weiland: 24
Jason: 28
Colby: 38
Mike: 39
Figgs: 41
Meer: 51
Tom: 53
Adam: 56
Curt: 59
Newman: 74 (!)

Now, certainly those numbers can be misleading. In reality, we all know there's not a huge difference between pick #65 and pick #90. Indeed, for some managers, the only thing that really matters is having a strong top of the draft. With that in mind, here are the positional averages for each team's top five picks:

Jason: 13
Figgs: 15
Weiland: 17
Mike: 20
Colby: 24
Tom: 33
Meer: 34
Curt: 38
Adam: 43
Newman: 67 (!)

Effects of old trade

Which option would you rather have right now?

Rich Hill (MR)
Pick 10

or

John Smoltz
Pick 31

Minor League Draft

Now that we have a formalized tiebreaker, here is your minor league draft picks:

Giants: 1, 18, 19
Oedipus: 2, 17, 20
Walden: 3, 16, 21
UDBB: 4, 15, 22
PTI: 5, 14
Renegades: 6, 13
Outlaw: 8, 11
DaFaze: 9
VPGS: 10

Minutes of Owners' Meeting

I. Meeting of the Illinois Chooch Association was called to order by Commisioner Kirby at 7:17 PM, Saturday December 9, 2006. Present: Kirby, Newman, Feigh, Smith, Weiland, Hanik, Meer. Tardy: Lyons

II. State of the Association by Kirby

III. Election of new Statistician. Kirby nominates Meer. Lyons seconds. Passes unanimously.

IV. Election of new chief marketing officer. Weiland nominates Lyons. Seconded by Meer. Passes unanimously.

V. Expansion: Lyons will handle expansion meeting detail for fall outfield. Online application pending.

VI. Motions for formal trade away, trade down, and arbitration all fail.

VII. Motion for a no trade clause addition to draft day by Lyons. Language passes as follows unanimously:

“During the ICA’s major draft, the owner of a draft pick directly behind another pick that was just selected (owner two), may offer a no trade clause to the player just selected – the player selected with the draft pick directly preceding the pick currently on the clock.

If so done, the player’s original selector (owner 1) will either match the offer of no trade, or the player will be given to owner two with a no-trade binding. If owner 1 denies a no trade offering, his team will be on the clock for the next pick, and will also receive a compensatory sandwich pick after the 7th round.

If either owner ends up with the player in question with a no trade binding, they may not cut or trade said player, unless he dies, fails to make a 40-man roster out of spring training, or is cut via mandatory release.”

VIII. Present teams each named a backup gm for the upcoming draft.
a. Renegades – Kirby
b. Walden – Hanik
c. DaFaze – Meer
d. Giants – Feigh
e. Outlaw – Lyons
f. Oedipus – Lyons
g. Pine Tar – Lyons
h. Golden Sox – Newman

IX. Lyons made a motion to formalize a tiebreaker to determine minor league draft order. Suggested winning percentage over the previouis two years. Passes unanimously.

X. The following language regarding offseason free agency was passed unanimously:

“Free agent transactions will henceforth be allowed between the period of two days following the draft – at the conclusion of the initial waiver period – until the end of the Fuggin Cup Final.”

XI. Discussion of playoff transactions. “Henceforth, a team in the playoffs shall be limited to 5 transactions per week, where a roster move is defined as a waiver or free agent for player swap. A week is defined as the day a player enters one’s roster.” Passes unanimously.

XII. Discussion of appeals proceedings. “A team appealing a ruling of the commissioner’s office shall pay $5 to challenge the ruling. If successful in arbitration, the money will be returned. If unsuccessful, it will be used to limit the cost of the league outing.”

XIII. Discussion of dues. An increase in dues to $50 per year was passed unanimously.

XIV. Commissioner’s office is appointing the Commissioner’s Special Subcommittee on Yahoo Exit Strategy. Kirby, Smith, Feigh, Newman will report their findings to the league on or before draft day.

XV. Draft day is set for Saturday, March 24, 2007 at Dirty Champs in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

XVI. Rulebook was perused as amended and passes unanimously. Being revised by Lyons before final submission to owners.

XVII. MR teams for 2007 were drawn: Washington, NY Mets, Kansas City, LA Angels, Chicago Cubs.

XVIII. Lottery was done. The following is the draft order each round of the draft: Upper Deck Bleacher Bums, Walden Warriors, Outlaw Stars, American Giants, Oedipus & the Mama’s Boys, Wyoming Pigs.

Helton joins Fuggin Cup champs

Just days before the ICA Winter Meetings convene in Villa Park, a major deal has gone down between the Fuggin Cup champion Golden Sox and the cellar-dwelling American Giants.

During the viewing of tonight's Bulls-76ers game, Giants owner Jason Smith and Sox owner Adam Kirby agreed on a trade that sends perennial All Star Todd Helton to the champs in exchange for Chone "Don't Call Me Chone" Figgins. Helton is expected to serve as the Sox' second utility hitter, backing up first baseman Albert Pujols and fellow utility man Prince Fielder. Who knows what the hell Smith will do with Figgins.

The Sox are likely not done dealing. Sources indicate the champs are also shopping All Star pitchers Barry Zito and John Smoltz.

Atkins Fails Physical; Trade to Walden Nixed

Madison, WI – Citing the failure of a physical, Walden Warriors’ General Manager Tom Lyons declined a tentative trade that would have had his team reacquire Outlaw third basemen Garrett Atkins.

The deal would have sent Walden Starting Pitcher Jake Peavy to Outlaw in return.

“That’s why we set up tentative arrangements to some trades,” said Lyons. “We want to make sure we know what we have before it’s finalized.”

Atkins was a member of the controversial ‘Moneyball’ draft Walden had in 2005. Due to strict 13-man rules, along with the lack of a minor league system at the time, Walden was forced to cut him after 2005.

The 27-year old Atkins is coming off of a career year in 2006. After hitting .329 with 29 Home Runs and 120 RBIs, he was coveted by Walden.

Peavy struggled in 2006, going 11-15 with a 4.09 ERA, though he was third in the ICA in strikeouts. He is 57-45 in his career.

Outlaw owner Steve Weiland did not immediately return phone calls requesting comment.