Bengals Board Fantasy Baseball (The Show)

[coachmcneil71]

Any members interested in joining the boards FBB league chime in or send me a PM.

[TecmoBengals]

(02-09-2025, 02:37 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Any members interested in joining the boards FBB league chime in or send me a PM.

I wonder if anyone posting in the Reds forum would play?

[coachmcneil71]

(02-09-2025, 10:39 PM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I wonder if anyone posting in the Reds forum would play?

As far as I am aware everyone from last season is back, but we're always open to expansion. Would be great to have any of those folks in the league if they want. 

[TecmoBengals]

(02-10-2025, 02:27 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: As far as I am aware everyone from last season is back, but we're always open to expansion. Would be great to have any of those folks in the league if they want. 

Regarding everyone coming back: No biggie, but you just posted asking if anyone wants in and thus my suggestion. 
Play ball!

[coachmcneil71]

(02-10-2025, 03:27 PM)TecmoBengals Wrote: Regarding everyone coming back: No biggie, but you just posted asking if anyone wants in and thus my suggestion. 
Play ball!

Right on! I'm actually on the same page with you. That's why I posted that. Always happy to have the guys in the league.

 Leonards Leap was in the league for several years and he knows his stuff! Several of those cats know their baseball and are always welcome. Wtbs, I knew here you were coming from.

 All good! Hell, remind the guys in the Reds thread that any and all are welcome. In baseball we could probably go as high as 14 teams and it would probably still be competitive with the crew we have. 

[coachmcneil71]

Gonna try to open up the league by the weekend, but maybe before. Getting to be that time!

[kevin]

(02-19-2025, 02:36 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Gonna try to open up the league by the weekend, but maybe before. Getting to be that time!

I just looked at this.  ESPN Fantasy Season starts March 18th.   The early games count as part of a long Week One.  Now, some will draft players on these teams in early games.  I don't like that MLB is moving Opening Day up to March 18th, but they have, and ESPN Fantasy is going along with it.  So I suggest a Draft maybe Saturday March 15th.  That gets our League and Teams going for Start of ESPN Fantasy Week One.   It also leaves plenty of time for League Managers to tweak and adjust their teams before most teams start playing.  

Or we skip Week one and Start Week 2 of ESPN Fantasy some time in April.  That could cause problems also.  

This is February 21st.  I myself could Draft a team Saturday March 15th.  I could say Sunday the 16th, but that cuts it close to the 18th.   Friday the 14th or Saturday the 15th sound good and not during school or work hours.  I could even draft a week earlier March 8th or 9th Saturday or Sunday, but that sounds too early.  

Whatever you decide.  Just keep in mind ESPN Fantasy starts March 18th.  I would think a Draft on Saturday the 15th would get us Going in Time for Start of ESPN Fantasy, or even Friday 14th.  Sunday 16th is cutting it close.  I think it takes a couple days after Draft for teams to be Active.  So I suggest March 14th or 15th.  We should see who is Injured or Healthy that weekend. 

However you do it.   Looking forward to it.  PLAY BALL. 

[kevin]

Name change....Cincy Red Bengals, but we have Tecmo Bengals....Kevin Kelly Over 70 Team and I can use hat with a K on it.   I did turn 70, so it let's people know a real old dude playing.   Plus, I'm not going to have only Reds Players....Kevin Kelly Over 70 Team says more of who I am.

It's too long for ESPN.   I dropped the over 70 part.   Just Kevin Kelly Team....I liked Cincy Red Bengals for years, but often I don't have Reds, and I don't live in Cincinnati.  I like the cap with my initial K on it.   Not KK, because too close to racist group.  Just one K on the cap is fine. 

I considered Ozzie Pugs and ESPN dog like a pug, but that is my football team name.   I've grown tired of Cincy Red Bengals.   Kevin Kelly Team with a K ball cap will be fine. 

[coachmcneil71]

DDs and I did discuss adding two teams. We don't have to, but we can. A friend of mine was asking me about it. His father is a professional bb coach. Last I heard he was with a minor league affiliate in Arizona. Anyways, good dude, and very good fantasy player.

Let's see if we can get one of our bb savvy board members/brothers or sisters to join us.

[TecmoBengals]

(02-23-2025, 01:36 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: DDs and I did discuss adding two teams. We don't have to, but we can. A friend of mine was asking me about it. His father is a professional bb coach. Last I heard he was with a minor league affiliate in Arizona. Anyways, good dude, and very good fantasy player.

Let's see if we can get one of our bb savvy board members/brothers or sisters to join us.

I'm supportive of whatever you decide including giving me free, top fantasy players. 

[kevin]

(02-23-2025, 01:36 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: DDs and I did discuss adding two teams. We don't have to, but we can. A friend of mine was asking me about it. His father is a professional bb coach. Last I heard he was with a minor league affiliate in Arizona. Anyways, good dude, and very good fantasy player.

Let's see if we can get one of our bb savvy board members/brothers or sisters to join us.

Sure.  If you have 2 who want to join, why not.  ESPN has 12 team Leagues.  10 to 12 is no big deal.  Plus you never know when one of our 10 will stop playing.  Even me, I'm 70, and I plan on playing this year, but most people my age that I knew are dead. Younger people go to college or get jobs and drop out, and older people get sick or die, and so League Members change.  So if you have 2 that want to join, that is a good thing, and the day may come soon you will need them to make a 10 team league.   Again, people for various reasons have to leave the Fantasy League, so brining in 2 that want to join makes sense Now and in The Future.  We have had members, good members, who simply had to say they no longer had the Time for this.  Adding 2 new members who want to join actually makes sense.  

There are enough Free Agents for a 12 team league.  You have 30 teams of batters, starting pitchers, relief pitchers.  This is not NFL where Free Agency has a shortage of Running Backs or Tight Ends who actually score points.  The Baseball Free Agent Pool is pretty large.  Plus, 12 team might make people think twice about swapping out players every other day.  If you have a good player, you might think twice about dumping him in free agency and trying to reclaim him a few days later, such as loading up on Sunday Pitchers.  12 teams might make us think twice about who we move in and out of our rosters. To me, that makes The League more competition and better.  Plus you say these are good Fantasy Players, and that will make the League tougher and better.  

I'm all for it.  Some of the top teams every year could use a challenge.  I see adding 2 new good teams as a Good Thing.  Plus, again, at some point, some of the 10 now will have to quit.  For some it is leaving school and joining the work force.  For a 70 year old like me, I have no guarantee how much longer I will live. For example my Paid In Full Funeral Home and Cemetery Paperwork Bag hangs in clear site for whoever might find me Dead, to be placed next to my wife already dead.  Some others lose access to Internet.  So if you have 2 good players ready and willing to join, I see that as a Good Thing. 

[TecmoBengals]

I think I'm locking in Corbin Carroll and Paul Skenes as my keepers when the time comes.

[kevin]

(02-24-2025, 02:41 PM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I think I'm locking in Corbin Carroll and Paul Skenes as my keepers when the time comes.

In Mock Drafts Carroll and Skenes are gone by pick 14, so those would be good Keepers.   I have Judge who goes fast, and sometimes De La Cruz is there after round 2, and sometimes he gets taken in round 2.  So I'm keeping Judge and as a Reds Fan I would like to keep De La Cruz and that locks in a good shortstop, and maybe third base later if they put McLain back at short and De La Cruz logs ESPN time at 3rd.  Hard to say who will play where as Francona tries to fix The Reds. 

[coachmcneil71]

(02-26-2025, 12:44 PM)kevin Wrote: In Mock Drafts Carroll and Skenes are gone by pick 14, so those would be good Keepers.   I have Judge who goes fast, and sometimes De La Cruz is there after round 2, and sometimes he gets taken in round 2.  So I'm keeping Judge and as a Reds Fan I would like to keep De La Cruz and that locks in a good shortstop, and maybe third base later if they put McLain back at short and De La Cruz logs ESPN time at 3rd.  Hard to say who will play where as Francona tries to fix The Reds. 

Last season both De La Cruz and Tatis were listed as SS going into the draft. Coming out of the draft Tatis was an outfielder, if I remember correctly. That was the only reason that I dropped Elly.

 If I had of known that ESPN/Padres were going to do a sneaky position change I may not have dropped De La Cruz.  I was not a happy camper about it, so be mindful of those things. 

I think you'll be fine with him either way, but a move to third for him could happen. He's gotta cut down on the errors playing SS! 

[kevin]

(02-27-2025, 12:13 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Last season both De La Cruz and Tatis were listed as SS going into the draft. Coming out of the draft Tatis was an outfielder, if I remember correctly. That was the only reason that I dropped Elly.

 If I had of known that ESPN/Padres were going to do a sneaky position change I may not have dropped De La Cruz.  I was not a happy camper about it, so be mindful of those things. 

I think you'll be fine with him either way, but a move to third for him could happen. He's gotta cut down on the errors playing SS! 

I want his batting points.  Judge and De La Cruz combined for close to 1,100 points.  Now these Fantasy Leagues be it ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, if a player gets in enough games at a position, they will add that position during the season.  Lets say 1975 Fantasy would have had Pete Rose as OF, of course they would have had to add 3rd Base during the season. So De La Cruz is listed as SS only at this time.  However if McClain is healthy, they could go back to him at short.  I'll be honest, there is no telling where most of the Reds will play.  Steers plays all over and so does that third baseman from Detroit with Reds in 2024.  They add Lux and others,  However I Trust In Francona. The man won with Red Sox for first time in 100 years.  Actually Reds managers have said it's a good thing when players can play other positions like a Rose or a Freel, they say it makes their manager job easier.  

These Reds could play anywhere, and any of these Reds could play.  Reds are not rated high as draft picks, not like last years draft.  That tells me Reds have some Sleepers to keep eyes on in Free Agency Pool.  I don't see many Reds that I would draft, and yet I think Reds are loaded with Sleepers that will be grabbed out of Free Agency as they play and put up good Fantasy Points.  If The Reds are healthy, Francona could even win the NL Central, because it is not the AL East or the NL West.  Francona might surprise and win the NL Central if the Reds are healthy instead of a MASH unit of injuries like last few years. In 1989, besides Pete Rose problems, The Reds were injured. In 1990 the Reds were real healthy, plus the bench was strong because they played so much in 1989. Nobody counted on the 1990 Reds, but they got healthy, and of course they beat everybody. Even we in Fantasy know, it helps to have a healthy team, not the whole team injured.  Most Reds are rated low in the draft, but The Reds will have 8 starters and 5 starting pitchers and a bullpen, and so some of these Sleepers will put up 2025 Fantasy Points. I'm just not sure who, but look for Francona to make good line-ups. 

[coachmcneil71]

(02-28-2025, 10:06 PM)kevin Wrote: I want his batting points.  Judge and De La Cruz combined for close to 1,100 points.  Now these Fantasy Leagues be it ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, if a player gets in enough games at a position, they will add that position during the season.  Lets say 1975 Fantasy would have had Pete Rose as OF, of course they would have had to add 3rd Base during the season. So De La Cruz is listed as SS only at this time.  However if McClain is healthy, they could go back to him at short.  I'll be honest, there is no telling where most of the Reds will play.  Steers plays all over and so does that third baseman from Detroit with Reds in 2024.  They add Lux and others,  However I Trust In Francona. The man won with Red Sox for first time in 100 years.  Actually Reds managers have said it's a good thing when players can play other positions like a Rose or a Freel, they say it makes their manager job easier.  

These Reds could play anywhere, and any of these Reds could play.  Reds are not rated high as draft picks, not like last years draft.  That tells me Reds have some Sleepers to keep eyes on in Free Agency Pool.  I don't see many Reds that I would draft, and yet I think Reds are loaded with Sleepers that will be grabbed out of Free Agency as they play and put up good Fantasy Points.  If The Reds are healthy, Francona could even win the NL Central, because it is not the AL East or the NL West.  Francona might surprise and win the NL Central if the Reds are healthy instead of a MASH unit of injuries like last few years. In 1989, besides Pete Rose problems, The Reds were injured. In 1990 the Reds were real healthy, plus the bench was strong because they played so much in 1989. Nobody counted on the 1990 Reds, but they got healthy, and of course they beat everybody. Even we in Fantasy know, it helps to have a healthy team, not the whole team injured.  Most Reds are rated low in the draft, but The Reds will have 8 starters and 5 starting pitchers and a bullpen, and so some of these Sleepers will put up 2025 Fantasy Points. I'm just not sure who, but look for Francona to make good line-ups. 

They have several guys that can play many different positions this season for sure. Both Lux and McClain can play 2nd,3rd, or OF. Elly is sort of pigeonholed at SS or #3rd, at least for now. So yeah, I absolutely agree with you, and I really like Francona.

Side Note:  I witnessed Francona with the Montreal Expos, rip a HR to right against Cincy at Riverfront. It was Johnny Bench's last season. So many greats on the field in that game. Bench had a double, but the Reds lost either 2-1 or 2-0, I can't exactly remember the score. I'm thinking it ended up 2-0 Expos. Great memory though! Was sometime in the early 80s and my Uncle took me to see the other JB! Lol

[kevin]

(03-01-2025, 11:33 AM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: They have several guys that can play many different positions this season for sure. Both Lux and McClain can play 2nd,3rd, or OF. Elly is sort of pigeonholed at SS or #3rd, at least for now. So yeah, I absolutely agree with you, and I really like Francona.

Side Note:  I witnessed Francona with the Montreal Expos, rip a HR to right against Cincy at Riverfront. It was Johnny Bench's last season. So many greats on the field in that game. Bench had a double, but the Reds lost either 2-1 or 2-0, I can't exactly remember the score. I'm thinking it ended up 2-0 Expos. Great memory though! Was sometime in the early 80s and my Uncle took me to see the other JB! Lol

Great memory game for you.  Here is one. 1983 Farmers Night in Cincinnati. Phillies had Perez, Morgan and Rose.  I think Perez only got to pinch it. Morgan played.  Pete Rose got on 1st and stole 2nd, then stole 3rd, and then a play where he got credit for stealing home.  Fans had to applaud.  Rose for Phillies in same at bat stole 2nd, 3rd and home.  Also all game Bench was playing 1st Base.  He made some of the best defensive plays I've ever seen a 1st basemen make.  Well, he was a Gold Glove catcher and he wore more of a 1st base mitt than the old catchers mitt, and he had those fast cat like reactions behind home plate. Johnny Bench showed me he should have been at 1st as his body hurt from too many games catching.  Best defensive 1st baseman that I ever saw was Johnny Bench that game.  So Perez, Morgan and Rose stealing 2nd, 3rd and home.  As if to say, OK, watch this, Johnny Bench hit a gapper to left center banging off the wall, as Reds scored on his walk off gapper RBI's......For a fan of all four, to see them once again in 1983, that was a game I remember.  It was like all the focus was on the Reds with Philly, but at end of game Johnny Bench was like, I'm still with Reds, and I'm going to win this game.  

Here's a Johnny Bench story. In 1971 and 1972, WLW TV had this Johnny Bench MVP Show.  He would have on guests and talk, athletes, actors.  Bench was good friends with Bobby Goldsboro and Bench would sing every show and he really thought he had a singing career going.  Reds announcer Al Michaels was on a show as a guest, and Bench sang.  Back at the talk show chairs, Bench asked real proud, " How did you like that song. That was pretty good ".  Al Michaels said, " All I can say Johnny is after hearing you sing, I hope you have a good and long baseball career ". 

Now that was Cincinnati WLW TV.   Later Bench had that National TV Saturday Morning TV Kids Show, The Baseball Bunch.  Bench getting kids to pretend playing guitar with ball bat was every show. I think the San Diego Chicken was on it also. So I imagine a lot of kids grew up knowing Johnny Bench from that Saturday Morning Kids Fun TV Show. It was Nation Wide show.  Also Bench did the Bob Hope Christmas in Vietnam Shows for The Troops.  Bench got to play golf with Bob Hope and USA Presidents. I'm sure he was at Pebble Beach and Desert Classic with Bing and Bob and Clint Eastwood, Jack Lemmon and stars and Palmer and Nicklaus. Bench and Goldsboro were good friends with Lee Trevino.  It is said Bench was almost good enough to be a Pro Golfer in the PGA.  He mixed in some pretty elite company is what I'm trying to say.  To play golf with Bob Hope and Presidents is something most Reds would never get to do.  Also Ted Williams asked Johnny Bench for his autograph, and that blew Johnny Bench away.  Also Bench had that cancer surgery around 1974, and he later said he never used it as an excuse, but he said he was never as good after that surgery, before it he was having those 40 plus home run seasons to go with his Gold Glove Defense at catcher.  

You know Coach McNeil, I think I'm ready for Baseball....We are getting close....I saw League Of Their Own, and The Natural on TV in last week.  Those are well acted and fun movies.  Tom Hanks has the classic line " There is no crying in baseball ". ....The 1919 Reds get a raw deal.  They beat John McGraw Giants and all other National League Teams.  The idea that they were not good enough to beat The White Sox is nonsense, The Reds had a great team.  They said the White Sox were unbeatable, but back then they said The Titanic was unsinkable. In 1990 the A's were suppose to sweep the Reds.   The 1919 Reds were a darn good team, because they won a very good National League.  White Sox Chicotte was having arm problems late in season, and the #2 pitcher might have been over rated.  The Reds who won National League were a good team.  The movies acting like Reds could not have won is nonsense.  If Reds could beat John McGraw NY Giants, they could beat White Sox.  Oh Yes.  Before 1919, Reds had great pitcher Christy Mathewson as Manager. He had to quit because he got mustard gassed during World War 1, and it was killing him. But Hod Eller and the 1919 Reds could Pitch, and I bet Christy Mathewson had helped on showing them how to pitch before he had to quit....There is a Red who doesn't get remembered, Reds had Christy Mathewson as Manager before his World War 1 poison gas made him retire and die, but the Hall Of Fame Pitcher must have taught the Reds how too Pitch, because Hod Eller and others won the very tough National League and yes, The World Series. 

[kevin]

So Coach McNeil.  ESPN starts Fantasy around March 18th.   This is March 5th.  Are we in on a Draft weekend of March 14th, March 15th, or do we skip the first weeks of ESPN Fantasy.  I'm OK either way.  For suggestions, Friday March 14th or Saturday March 15th around 7 PM to avoid school and work. We get our League and Teams going in time for March 18th ESPN start to season. Or we skip part of start to season. Sunday March 16th probably gets us in, but I would guess free agency takes a few days to open after draft. So people have to go with their draft picks March 18th, even if they went auto-draft. If we draft Friday or Saturday, it is possible free agency opens in time for people to adjust draft mistakes or computer errors.  I'm so use to baseball being around start of April, but they have moved it up to March 18th on ESPN Fantasy. 

[coachmcneil71]

(03-05-2025, 08:07 PM)kevin Wrote: So Coach McNeil.  ESPN starts Fantasy around March 18th.   This is March 5th.  Are we in on a Draft weekend of March 14th, March 15th, or do we skip the first weeks of ESPN Fantasy.  I'm OK either way.  For suggestions, Friday March 14th or Saturday March 15th around 7 PM to avoid school and work. We get our League and Teams going in time for March 18th ESPN start to season. Or we skip part of start to season. Sunday March 16th probably gets us in, but I would guess free agency takes a few days to open after draft. So people have to go with their draft picks March 18th, even if they went auto-draft. If we draft Friday or Saturday, it is possible free agency opens in time for people to adjust draft mistakes or computer errors.  I'm so use to baseball being around start of April, but they have moved it up to March 18th on ESPN Fantasy. 

DDs and I discussed it yesterday. We're still trying to find one more manager. We'll have an answer for you soon. Normally the stats roll over anyways. Meaning teams will get points from the early games if they draft players that have played in those games. I can check on that to be certain, but it's usually that way. I was really hoping that one of the guys from on here would join us. Ts, soon! 

[kevin]

(03-05-2025, 09:41 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: DDs and I discussed it yesterday. We're still trying to find one more manager. We'll have an answer for you soon. Normally the stats roll over anyways. Meaning teams will get points from the early games if they draft players that have played in those games. I can check on that to be certain, but it's usually that way. I was really hoping that one of the guys from on here would join us. Ts, soon! 

Thanks for Info.