ICA Regular Season
1. DaFaze
2. VP Golden Sox
3. Wyoming Pigs
4. Renegades
5. Pine Tar Incident
6. Outlaw Stars
7. UD Bleacher Bums
8. Walden Warriors
9. Oedipus and the Mamas Boys
10. The American Giants
Fuggin Semifinals
DaFaze over Renegades
Sox over Pigs
Fuggin Finals
Sox over DaFaze
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Kirby retarded, Teixeira terrified
Upon being introduced as the newest member of Oedipus and the Mamas Boys, first baseman Mark Teixeira flees in horror.
Special thanks to the photographer, Jason Smith, for making me look "special." I appreciate that.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
On the clock
At Tom's suggestion, I'd like to start enforcing our draft day rules regarding how long everyone has to make their picks. I offer this proposal:
We will hopefully have some type of exacting clock mechanism (a stopwatch, egg timer, something) to make this go smoothly.
- First round picks may take up to five minutes
- Subsequent picks are allowed no more than three minutes
- Each manager may invoke one three-minute "grace period" at any point during the draft
- Once the clock has expired, and if the manager has used up his grace period, the person with the next pick may jump ahead and make a pick
We will hopefully have some type of exacting clock mechanism (a stopwatch, egg timer, something) to make this go smoothly.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Mock Draft
Some owners have been working on a mock draft for a couple weeks now ...
Now that I've actually taken the time to do some draft prep, I'll also participate. Here's where the draft is at so far. Remember, anyone can add to the mock draft by adding to the comments section of this post -- just try to make it logical.
Here are your draft picks and who owns them...
Colby: 1, 11, 29, 32, 40, 41, 60, 80, 90 (9)
Jason: 12, 19, 31, 36, 52, 53, 58, 71, 82 (9)
Tom: 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 17, 33, 67, 83 (9)
Meer: 4, 15, 24, 28, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84 (9)
Figgs: 14, 25, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 88 (8)
Newman: 16, 26, 46, 56, 66, 72, 76, 77, 86 (9)
Adam: 7, 27, 34, 37, 38, 47, 51, 57, 62, 63 (10)
Mike: 8, 18, 23, 35, 42, 48, 61, 68, 78, 87 (10)
Curt: 9, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89 (7)
Weiland: 13, 20, 21, 22, 30, 43, 50, 70, 73 (9)
The mock draft, to date ...
1. Oedipus: Mark Teixeira
2. Warriors: Bobby Abreu
3. Warriors: Michael Young
4. Pine Tar: Andruw Jones
5. Warriors: Travis Hafner
6. Warriors: Chase Utley
7. Sox: Billy Wagner
8. DaFaze: John Smoltz
9. Pigs: Alfonso Soriano
10. Warriors: Tim Hudson
Now that I've actually taken the time to do some draft prep, I'll also participate. Here's where the draft is at so far. Remember, anyone can add to the mock draft by adding to the comments section of this post -- just try to make it logical.
Here are your draft picks and who owns them...
Colby: 1, 11, 29, 32, 40, 41, 60, 80, 90 (9)
Jason: 12, 19, 31, 36, 52, 53, 58, 71, 82 (9)
Tom: 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 17, 33, 67, 83 (9)
Meer: 4, 15, 24, 28, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84 (9)
Figgs: 14, 25, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 88 (8)
Newman: 16, 26, 46, 56, 66, 72, 76, 77, 86 (9)
Adam: 7, 27, 34, 37, 38, 47, 51, 57, 62, 63 (10)
Mike: 8, 18, 23, 35, 42, 48, 61, 68, 78, 87 (10)
Curt: 9, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89 (7)
Weiland: 13, 20, 21, 22, 30, 43, 50, 70, 73 (9)
The mock draft, to date ...
1. Oedipus: Mark Teixeira
2. Warriors: Bobby Abreu
3. Warriors: Michael Young
4. Pine Tar: Andruw Jones
5. Warriors: Travis Hafner
6. Warriors: Chase Utley
7. Sox: Billy Wagner
8. DaFaze: John Smoltz
9. Pigs: Alfonso Soriano
10. Warriors: Tim Hudson
Friday, March 10, 2006
ICA Minor League Teams
So last winter meetings, we voted to add a minor league system for the 2007 season. I'm excited.
This begs the question: should ICA minor league teams have names? It'd be cool to have cafe press gear for your minor league team (all three players, at most).
On the other hand, it's not a minor league per se, as our minors squads won't be playing one another; team names might not be warranted.
All that being said, I think if I want to call my three minor leaguers (hopefully two, we'll see how we do this year), I can call them something. Behold, I introduce to you the name of a team that doesn't yet exist (except, of course, conceptually)...
This begs the question: should ICA minor league teams have names? It'd be cool to have cafe press gear for your minor league team (all three players, at most).
On the other hand, it's not a minor league per se, as our minors squads won't be playing one another; team names might not be warranted.
All that being said, I think if I want to call my three minor leaguers (hopefully two, we'll see how we do this year), I can call them something. Behold, I introduce to you the name of a team that doesn't yet exist (except, of course, conceptually)...
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
No Trade Clauses?
In real life, when a team offers a free agent a no-trade clause, the free agent tends to prefer that over similar offers which do not include said clause.
Why can't ICA owners place bids that include no-trade clauses?
Say we had this rule in effect for the upcoming draft. Adam selects, whoever, Billy Wagner at pick 7. The owner within one pick -- at pick 8, in this case Feigh -- could offer his own pick along with a notrade clause. Thereafter, the original drafter (Adam) could match the no-trade offer to Wagner, or give Wagner to Feigh in return for Feigh's own pick 8.
If Wagner is offered a no-trade clause by either Feigh or Kirby, he is bound to appear on his owners' 13-man team until he retires, dies, or mandatorily released. So, it's a pretty hardcore commitment.
Not too complex, and would definitely add a twist to draft day. What do you all think?
Why can't ICA owners place bids that include no-trade clauses?
Say we had this rule in effect for the upcoming draft. Adam selects, whoever, Billy Wagner at pick 7. The owner within one pick -- at pick 8, in this case Feigh -- could offer his own pick along with a notrade clause. Thereafter, the original drafter (Adam) could match the no-trade offer to Wagner, or give Wagner to Feigh in return for Feigh's own pick 8.
If Wagner is offered a no-trade clause by either Feigh or Kirby, he is bound to appear on his owners' 13-man team until he retires, dies, or mandatorily released. So, it's a pretty hardcore commitment.
Not too complex, and would definitely add a twist to draft day. What do you all think?
Monday, February 27, 2006
Figgs lives
I made contact with Figgs (Mark Wegren) today, and he does indeed still exist. He won't be attending the draft in person, but he'll be there via Internet. Let's hope that's the case.
This is the up-to-date draft list ...
Present:
Me
Steve
Jason
Tom
Meer
Colby
Feigh
Online:
Figgs
Undetermined:
Curt (online or by request list)
Newman (online or with surrogate)
This is the up-to-date draft list ...
Present:
Me
Steve
Jason
Tom
Meer
Colby
Feigh
Online:
Figgs
Undetermined:
Curt (online or by request list)
Newman (online or with surrogate)
Why ICA 2011 is expensive
Tom says his proposal below would not be that expensive. I disagree.
Things that Tom proposed that require an expense (my comments in bold):
1. "the spare room of Anyway's or something" — requires renting space
2. "microphones to amp up this bad boy" — requires renting or purchasing, and necessitates renting space as opposed to just plopping down at some tables
3."We arrange for the ICA to be set up as a charitable organization" — not cheap
4. "a LED-light display detailing each pick" — I thought at first he was being facetious, but apparently he's serious about this
5."Other owners are wearing appropriate attire with their team's logo on it" — that's fine with me, but I've had logo apparel available for sale for 3 years, and exactly 4 owners, fewer than half, have made purchases
6. "Big honkin posterboards are all over the place with each team's roster and logo" — not horribly expensive, but not cheap either
7. "We get a HARDCORE draft board" — either expensive or not hardcore
8. "If we play our cards right, in 5 years the value of an ICA franchise could hit $1000 if we approach this with a sound marketing strategy and treat it like a business. That's not a bad return." — it's not a bad return if you're looking to sell your team, which I'm not, and it still doesn't address the fact that nobody who would be willing to pay big bucks for a team is going to want to do it when the championship pot is $200 or so. If you're willing to dramatically increase annual dues, then this starts to make sense.
Things that Tom proposed that require an expense (my comments in bold):
1. "the spare room of Anyway's or something" — requires renting space
2. "microphones to amp up this bad boy" — requires renting or purchasing, and necessitates renting space as opposed to just plopping down at some tables
3."We arrange for the ICA to be set up as a charitable organization" — not cheap
4. "a LED-light display detailing each pick" — I thought at first he was being facetious, but apparently he's serious about this
5."Other owners are wearing appropriate attire with their team's logo on it" — that's fine with me, but I've had logo apparel available for sale for 3 years, and exactly 4 owners, fewer than half, have made purchases
6. "Big honkin posterboards are all over the place with each team's roster and logo" — not horribly expensive, but not cheap either
7. "We get a HARDCORE draft board" — either expensive or not hardcore
8. "If we play our cards right, in 5 years the value of an ICA franchise could hit $1000 if we approach this with a sound marketing strategy and treat it like a business. That's not a bad return." — it's not a bad return if you're looking to sell your team, which I'm not, and it still doesn't address the fact that nobody who would be willing to pay big bucks for a team is going to want to do it when the championship pot is $200 or so. If you're willing to dramatically increase annual dues, then this starts to make sense.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
The ICA, 2011
I sent this email to Weiland this morning, but then I thought others should really read this also. Curious if it hits a chord with anyone else.
=====
Steve,
Fact is, we have an round of expansion application set to start in one year. We need to capitalize on that, and ergo, plan for that capitalization.
I was hanging with Jason at Champ's last night. We got some marketing ideas.
*The owners' meeting has got to be in a public place. We need a big flippin banner with the ICA logo on it, and we need to own the spare room of Anyway's or something. We could have expansion applications on hand. We also need microphones to amp this bad boy.
*We arrange for the ICA to be set up as a charitable organization, which is admittedly expensive. However, we host a charity poker tournament, once again to be held at a public place. Cue the aforementioned banner.
*On draft day, we have to get Adam in a suit to read every pick. It's got to be more about entertainment/theatre than about getting a draft done. Once again, in a public place. Expansion apps on hand. Get a LED-light display detailing each pick. Every owner shouting and clapping - a la the NFL - after each pick. Other owners are wearing appropriate attire with their team's logo on it. We're using microphones again. Big honkin posterboards are all over the place with each team's roster and logo. We get a HARDCORE draft board.
With three over-the-top, very public, very fun events in a public place of people interested in baseball, the market value of each team - including expansion teams - will skyrocket. If we play our cards right, in 5 years the value of an ICA franchise could hit $1000 if we approach this with a sound marketing strategy and treat it like a business. That's not a bad return.
But, we have to get out of this mentality that we can't be more than 10 schmucks on Yahoo. If we begin with the end in mind - an aggressive, professional, competitive fantasy baseball league that only allows the most serious of owner - and act toward that end, the ICA will be the cream of the crop of fantasy baseball everywhere.
But it starts with marketing.
Anyone's thoughts please?
-Tom
=====
Steve,
Fact is, we have an round of expansion application set to start in one year. We need to capitalize on that, and ergo, plan for that capitalization.
I was hanging with Jason at Champ's last night. We got some marketing ideas.
*The owners' meeting has got to be in a public place. We need a big flippin banner with the ICA logo on it, and we need to own the spare room of Anyway's or something. We could have expansion applications on hand. We also need microphones to amp this bad boy.
*We arrange for the ICA to be set up as a charitable organization, which is admittedly expensive. However, we host a charity poker tournament, once again to be held at a public place. Cue the aforementioned banner.
*On draft day, we have to get Adam in a suit to read every pick. It's got to be more about entertainment/theatre than about getting a draft done. Once again, in a public place. Expansion apps on hand. Get a LED-light display detailing each pick. Every owner shouting and clapping - a la the NFL - after each pick. Other owners are wearing appropriate attire with their team's logo on it. We're using microphones again. Big honkin posterboards are all over the place with each team's roster and logo. We get a HARDCORE draft board.
With three over-the-top, very public, very fun events in a public place of people interested in baseball, the market value of each team - including expansion teams - will skyrocket. If we play our cards right, in 5 years the value of an ICA franchise could hit $1000 if we approach this with a sound marketing strategy and treat it like a business. That's not a bad return.
But, we have to get out of this mentality that we can't be more than 10 schmucks on Yahoo. If we begin with the end in mind - an aggressive, professional, competitive fantasy baseball league that only allows the most serious of owner - and act toward that end, the ICA will be the cream of the crop of fantasy baseball everywhere.
But it starts with marketing.
Anyone's thoughts please?
-Tom
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Request from the CMO
What I'm looking to do is have a theme song from each team that will play during each of your picks. If you could either post here or email the theme song of your choice that would be great. If not a song will be selected to fill the void of silence during your pick. Personally I'd rather pick my own. Hope you draft preparations are going well. Lastly if you haven't replied to the evite that would be most appreceative.
Stephen Weiland
Chief Marketing Officer
Illinois Chooch Association
Stephen Weiland
Chief Marketing Officer
Illinois Chooch Association
Friday, February 24, 2006
Is this too complex to be cool?
I was talking to Colby last night, and we came up with an idea.
Follow me here.
Imagine you're the VP Golden Sox. You have Ben Sheets. You like Ben Sheets. Ben Sheets, when healthy, doesn't suck at pitching.
Milwaukee is one of the 20 teams that could be drawn in the next MR drawing. Statistically, Milwaukee has a 1 in 4 chance of being drawn (5 out of 20). This concerns you if you own Ben Sheets. So you decide to convert Ben Sheets into a restricted free agent.
Before the MR drawing, you can restrict one (and only one) player on your 22-man team. To do so binds you to selecting that player on your 13-man team. You restrict Ben Sheets by foregoing a draft pick in an even round, say your 4th round pick, in the subsequent draft.
We follow that with the standard MR drawing and 13-man selections. If Milwaukee is indeed selected, and Ben Sheets then mandatorily dropped at the following winter, the owner that selects Sheets (a restricted free agent) owes the Golden Sox a draft pick equal to one-half of the round that was foregone by the Golden Sox. In this case, one-half of a 4th rounder is a 2nd rounder.
*You're concerned about losing Sheets without anything to show for him.
*You cough up an even rounded draft pick to restrict Ben Sheet's potential forthcoming free agency. We'll call it a 4th rounder (but it could be 2, 4, 6, or 8).
*If the Milwaukee is selected, Sheets will be mandatorily released.
*When Sheets is drafted, you are owed a 2nd round pick by the team that drafts him, as two is one-half of four.
A couple of things I think this can do:
*Entice risk-averse owners to essentially lose draft picks buying MR-insurance.
*Entice players with talented, MR-eligible players to lose draft picks buying MR-insurance.
*Spice up the MR system.
*Increase the value of draft picks.
*Decrease the price-in-draft picks of restricted players (as additional draft picks would be owed).
Also, imagine you cough up a 4th rounder to restrict Sheets, and in fact he has a horrid year. No one in their right mind will draft him AND lose a 2nd rounder to obtain him. Theoretically, Sheets might not get drafted, which would then lead to another implication...
*The importance of post-draft waivers would skyrocket.
I think this is a really cool idea, and could do a lot of good. The only cost, as I see it, is complexity.
Is this too complex to be cool?
Follow me here.
Imagine you're the VP Golden Sox. You have Ben Sheets. You like Ben Sheets. Ben Sheets, when healthy, doesn't suck at pitching.
Milwaukee is one of the 20 teams that could be drawn in the next MR drawing. Statistically, Milwaukee has a 1 in 4 chance of being drawn (5 out of 20). This concerns you if you own Ben Sheets. So you decide to convert Ben Sheets into a restricted free agent.
Before the MR drawing, you can restrict one (and only one) player on your 22-man team. To do so binds you to selecting that player on your 13-man team. You restrict Ben Sheets by foregoing a draft pick in an even round, say your 4th round pick, in the subsequent draft.
We follow that with the standard MR drawing and 13-man selections. If Milwaukee is indeed selected, and Ben Sheets then mandatorily dropped at the following winter, the owner that selects Sheets (a restricted free agent) owes the Golden Sox a draft pick equal to one-half of the round that was foregone by the Golden Sox. In this case, one-half of a 4th rounder is a 2nd rounder.
*You're concerned about losing Sheets without anything to show for him.
*You cough up an even rounded draft pick to restrict Ben Sheet's potential forthcoming free agency. We'll call it a 4th rounder (but it could be 2, 4, 6, or 8).
*If the Milwaukee is selected, Sheets will be mandatorily released.
*When Sheets is drafted, you are owed a 2nd round pick by the team that drafts him, as two is one-half of four.
A couple of things I think this can do:
*Entice risk-averse owners to essentially lose draft picks buying MR-insurance.
*Entice players with talented, MR-eligible players to lose draft picks buying MR-insurance.
*Spice up the MR system.
*Increase the value of draft picks.
*Decrease the price-in-draft picks of restricted players (as additional draft picks would be owed).
Also, imagine you cough up a 4th rounder to restrict Sheets, and in fact he has a horrid year. No one in their right mind will draft him AND lose a 2nd rounder to obtain him. Theoretically, Sheets might not get drafted, which would then lead to another implication...
*The importance of post-draft waivers would skyrocket.
I think this is a really cool idea, and could do a lot of good. The only cost, as I see it, is complexity.
Is this too complex to be cool?
Monday, February 20, 2006
Draft update
For those of you who were worried about missing NCAA tournament action you will be well taken care of. Coverage of the tournament will be shown in both the main forum as well as the trade conference room. Feel free to email (sweiland125@yahoo.com) or blog any other concerns. If it is a reasonable request we will take care of your need.
Stephen Weiland
Chief Marketing Officer
Illinois Chooch Association
Stephen Weiland
Chief Marketing Officer
Illinois Chooch Association
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Mock Draft?
It'd be pretty cool if interested ICA owners could do a mock draft before the real deal on March 19th. One problem, though, and that's the fact that in order to obtain value, sometimes it's best to keep one's draft intentions hush hush.
Which brings me to suggest the following: a don't pick for yourself mock draft. People could go to a message board, and make a mock draft pick on behalf of someone else. The only rules would be that one couldn't make a mock pick for their own team and the actual draft order would have to be obeyed.
Here are your draft picks and who owns them...
Colby: 1, 11, 29, 32, 40, 41, 60, 80, 90 (9)
Jason: 12, 19, 31, 36, 52, 53, 58, 71, 82 (9)
Tom: 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 17, 33, 67, 83 (9)
Meer: 4, 15, 24, 28, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84 (9)
Figgs: 14, 25, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 88 (8)
Newman: 16, 26, 46, 56, 66, 72, 76, 77, 86 (9)
Adam: 7, 27, 34, 37, 38, 47, 51, 57, 62, 63 (10)
Mike: 8, 18, 23, 35, 42, 48, 61, 68, 78, 87 (10)
Curt: 9, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89 (7)
Weiland: 13, 20, 21, 22, 30, 43, 50, 70, 73 (9)
It could be done right on this blog. I'll make this easy..."With the first pick in the 2006 ICA Draft, Oedipus & the Mama's Boys select Mark Teixeira, 1B, Texas."
Now somebody that isn't me replies to make a pick or two for Walden, and then someone who isn't Meer replies to make a mock pick for Pine Tar, and so on.
With a SMALL bit of effort, this could be really cool.
Which brings me to suggest the following: a don't pick for yourself mock draft. People could go to a message board, and make a mock draft pick on behalf of someone else. The only rules would be that one couldn't make a mock pick for their own team and the actual draft order would have to be obeyed.
Here are your draft picks and who owns them...
Colby: 1, 11, 29, 32, 40, 41, 60, 80, 90 (9)
Jason: 12, 19, 31, 36, 52, 53, 58, 71, 82 (9)
Tom: 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 17, 33, 67, 83 (9)
Meer: 4, 15, 24, 28, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84 (9)
Figgs: 14, 25, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 88 (8)
Newman: 16, 26, 46, 56, 66, 72, 76, 77, 86 (9)
Adam: 7, 27, 34, 37, 38, 47, 51, 57, 62, 63 (10)
Mike: 8, 18, 23, 35, 42, 48, 61, 68, 78, 87 (10)
Curt: 9, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89 (7)
Weiland: 13, 20, 21, 22, 30, 43, 50, 70, 73 (9)
It could be done right on this blog. I'll make this easy..."With the first pick in the 2006 ICA Draft, Oedipus & the Mama's Boys select Mark Teixeira, 1B, Texas."
Now somebody that isn't me replies to make a pick or two for Walden, and then someone who isn't Meer replies to make a mock pick for Pine Tar, and so on.
With a SMALL bit of effort, this could be really cool.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
League's ready to go
The Yahoo league is up and running. The league ID is 83012, the password is the same as last year (starts with an F). If you don't know the password, e-mail me.
Sign up for the league here.
Yahoo tweaked the site layout a bit, as it does every year. New this time around is something called "Smack Talk," though I haven't quite determined how that's different from the message board, along with a very cool feature that displays your entire fantasy sports history. It even includes a virtual trophy case!
I had forgotten the inspiring second place performance of Seashells & Balloons in the 2001 VP/Lombard Chooch League. Thanks Yahoo.
Sign up for the league here.
Yahoo tweaked the site layout a bit, as it does every year. New this time around is something called "Smack Talk," though I haven't quite determined how that's different from the message board, along with a very cool feature that displays your entire fantasy sports history. It even includes a virtual trophy case!
I had forgotten the inspiring second place performance of Seashells & Balloons in the 2001 VP/Lombard Chooch League. Thanks Yahoo.
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