Tuesday, May 31, 2011

2nd Power Rankings of Season 19

Without further ado here is the 2nd power rankings for this season:

1. Boston EliteDucks(53-27)-The EliteDucks took 2 out of 3 against the Louisville Sluggers which helps vaunt them to the top of the power rankings. It doesn't hurt when you have the best expected winning percentage, the 3rd best pitching staff and the 3rd best offense in the world.
Previously Ranked: 2nd (+1)

2. Louisville Sluggers(57-22)-Although the Louisville franchise does have the best record in AU, they have faultered some as of late. They have the 2nd best fielding team backing up the a vaunted pitching staff and a very solid lineup up and down.
Previously Ranked: 1st (-1)

3. Toronto Toros(45-35)-The very hot Toros have won 17 games in the past 9 days. They have catapulted themselves with the best offense in AU.
Previously Ranked: NR

4. New York Torrones(44-35)-As well as the Toros have been playing, the New York Torrones have been playing the best baseball in AU with 18 wins over 9 days. The Torrones also have the best fielding team in the world.
Previously Ranked: NR

5. Boise Browncoats(44-35)-The Browncoats have a solid all around team. They play well in all faucets of the game. They are in the top 15 in of categories and have the 4th best record in the world.
Previously Ranked: 9th (+4)

6. Florida Fire Sailfish(44-35)-Florida has a very good pitching staff that is backed up by an offense that scores enough to help them to a very good record.
Previously Ranked: 3rd (-3)

7. Philadelphia Chases Aces(44-35)-The Chases Aces have been holding steady and are tied for the 4th best record in AU. They don't excel at any one thing but they do play well as a unit.
Previously Ranked: 7th (E)

8. Buffalo Wings(43-37)-The Wings have stumbled a bit, but they are staying afloat with an excellent pitching staff and very good defense.
Previously Ranked: 6th (-2)

9. Iowa City Let's Play Two(43-37)-Iowa City has been playing some good baseball with 14 wins in a little over a week. The have the 6th best pitching staff in Addicted Users. They are steadily climbing from respectability into maybe becoming a contender.
Previously Ranked: NR

10. New Orleans Freebeads(44-36)-The Freebeads have risen into the power rankings after just missing out in the first one. They have a solid offense, that is held up by a pitching staff that is underperforming. If their pitching staff can get it together then they will be a force to reckon with.
Previously Ranked: NR

Dropping out: Madison Clansmen, Salem Senators, San Diego Blue Sox, and Detroit Grass Lakes

Sunday, May 29, 2011

20 questions with torrone

1. What should we call you?
Tony

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
Golf. Reading.

3. How did you fall into HBD?
Was originally in STATS baseball and it's later offshoot. WIS was discussed by some of the the owners there, so I checked it out and fell in love.

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your teams?
2 teams. About 2 hours a day, so about 14-15 hours per week.

5. Married? Children?
Married 36 years. 2 children, a daughter 30 and a son 28.

6. City/State you live in? Hometown where you grew up?
I live in Malverne, Long Island NY. I grew up in Floral Park, a town near where I live today.

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams often during the workday?
I'm retired.

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Mickey Mantle

9. What makes you laugh?
The absurd

10. Top 3 all time movies?
Gone With The Wind. Paths of Glory. The Graduate

11. What popular song past/present do you most identify with?
Large Time by the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Always looking to have a good time.

12. Real baseball team you grew up loving? Still in love with them?
Yankees. As much as ever.

13. Tell me 2 things you wish you knew about particular AU owners?
I'd like to know how MikeT23 has the time to post 100's of comments on the Forums every day.

14. You're fairly outspoken as a AU owner. Why?
As with many, I have an idea of how things should be done to maintain a strong league. I think maintaining your minors and screening new owners to make sure they will be a good addition are important.

15. What is your GM philosophy?
I look for solid all-around players. There are few superstars, so I think the role and complimentary players are the difference between a soild franchise and an also-ran.

16. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? Your AU team name?
torrone is a sweet Italian nougat candy made with honey and almonds. Try it, you'll love it. If you don't go into sugar-shock, that is.

17. Who is/was your favorite AU owner? Why?
I have 2. davidbutler9 from here and hitman1979 from my other league. Why? Because we have similar HBD philosophies. I also enjoy goldenboy69 for his intelligence and grissom97 for his passion.

18. Which MLB Commissioner do you admire or identify with most? Why?
Bart Giamatti. He did what needed to be done whether it was popular or not.

19. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
Flame wars on the chat. Owners who don't maintain their team at all levels. Unresponsive Wis support and unrealistic responses to many legitimate issues.

20. If I was AU Commish for a day I would...
shoot myself.

Friday, May 27, 2011

20 questions with goldenboy69

1. What should we call you?
Jeff Penn

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
I play softball, watch movies and read comic books some new mostly old.

3. How did you fall into HBD?
Started off in Sim Baseball, then started playing Hoops Dynasty and for awhile dreamed about the day that they would start a Baseball Sim like Hoops. Joined the first league i could with a friend that I worked with at PXP Sports, a "legal" sports betting website that was later purchased by Bodog. He got bored ten games into the season and left. I won the WS with the Santa Fe Express in Mr.October.

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your teams?
I have three teams, two of them for 19+seasons. Each team probably gets a solid 30 minutes everyday during the course of a season.

5. Married? Children?
Married for 13 years as of last weekend, Two kids, daughter 6, son 4.

6. City/State you live in? Hometown where you grew up?
I live just east of Toronto, Canada and grew up about an hour north of the city.

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams often during the workday?
I work for CTV, the largest tv network in Canada...i check my teams mostly while at work and do most of my draft research while at work.

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
That is a tough one, Dave Stieb, George Bell, Jeffery Leonard, Andy Van Slyke, Lenny Dykstra and Wally Backman

9. What makes you laugh?
When i see a little bird flying after a crow or a blackbird beating the crap out of it.

10. Top 3 all time movies?
I am a movie junkee so this is tough.

When i was 9 it was DC Cab, Clash of the Titans and Flash Gordon.

Now it is Royal Tenenbaums, Dark Knight, Unbreakable

11. What popular song past/present do you most identify with?
Today/Smashing Pumpkins, Sabotage Beastie Boys

12. Real baseball team you grew up loving? Still in love with them?
Loved and Still Love the '86 Mets. Always a Jays Fan

13. Tell me 2 things you wish you knew about particular AU owners?
Any Ladies? Any Canadians?

14. You're fairly outspoken as a AU owner. Why?
I am just outspoken in general. I love a good argument and have trouble believing that people dont actually just agree with me all the time.

15. What is your GM philosophy?
D up the middle C/SS/CF, Power over contact, pitches over splits. Rest players as much as possible so always have a strong bench. Stick by your closer.


16. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? Your AU team name?
In college we had a fictional wrestling league (long story). My character was called the Golden Boy. The Toros are a former WHA hockey team out of Toronto in the mid 70's.

17. Who is/was your favorite AU owner? Why?
We have a lot of great people here, Brent, torrone, jmercer, grissom

18. Which MLB Commissioner do you admire or identify with most? Why?
A. Bartlett Giamatti, because his son is Paul

19. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
Pre-season length, missed scouting on Amateur draft, you really should see every player...maybe not all the ratings

20. If I was AU Commish for a day I would...
Get a new commish :)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

20 Questions

1. What should we call you?
David, db9

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
I love all sports, baseball is probably my favorite sport followed closely by football. I also love playing poker, and spending time with my kids.

3. How did you fall into HBD?
I was online trying to find some baseball sim games and found whatifsports.com and fell in love with HBD.

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your teams?
I currently run 5 teams. i probably spend about an hour to an hour a half on each team per week.

5. Married? Children?
I am married with 2 wonderful children. I have an 8 year old son and a 3 year old daughter who thinks that she's the boss.

6. City/State you live in? Hometown where you grew up?
I live in Lafayette, IN which is the home of Purdue University. I grew up just outside of Lafayette, IN

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams often during the workday?
I work as a restaurant shift leader and yes i do if we are not too busy.

8. Who is your favorite baseball player of all time?
Ryne Sandberg

9. What makes you laugh?
my children

10. Top 3 all time movies?
Billy Madison
8 Men Out
The Hangover

11. What popular song past/present do you most identify with?
I really don't know if I identify with any songs.


12. Real baseball team you grew up loving? Still in love with them?
Chicago Cubs-I will always love the Cubs no matter how stupid it may be:)

13. Tell me 2 things you wish you knew about particular AU owners?
I enjoy playing against the other people in Addicted Users. I hope to get to know all of you a little better and that you all like the 20 questions idea, so we can all get to know each other a little better.


14. You're fairly outspoken as a AU owner. Why?
I am outspoken in real life as well. I normally have an opinion about something, but i think that the great thing about life is that not everyone agrees and that we can all hopefully come to compromises on most things. I think it's important that people feel free to express opinions in a respectful manner.


15. What is your GM philosophy?
pitching and up the middle defense surrounded by very good, quality hitting

16. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? Your AU team name?
not at all. i'm not very creative with my nicknames

17. Who is/was your favorite AU owner? Why?
i'm not sure i have a favorite. i like everyone here.

18. Which MLB Commissioner do you admire or identify with most? Why?
i don't know if i admire him and i certainly don't identify with him but i think that bud selig has done a better job than most people think. he has made a few mistakes, but i think overall the game is in a very good place now.

19. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
i wish that they would tweak the ditr's more. there still isn't much improvement in most of those players and i've still never had a ditr who became a major league player

20. If I was AU Commish for a day I would...
do whatever gb69 continues to have been doing. he is a great commish

Saturday, May 21, 2011

First Power Rankings for the 2nd Week of Season 19!!

This is my first ever power rankings and I'm sorry it's a little late for the week and i'll try and get them up sooner from now on.

1. Louisville Sluggers(43-11)-Best overall record and is tied for the most wins over the last week with Salem.

2. Boston EliteDucks(38-16)-Best record in the NL and has the second most wins over the course of the past week. Also has the best run differential in the majors.

3. Florida Fire Sailfish(31-23)-Even though Florida is second in their division they have the majors fourth best record and fifth best run differential and expected winning percentage in the majors.

4. Madison Clansmen(30-24)-The upstart Clansmen currently have the sixth best record in the majors and are also tied with the EliteDucks for the 3 most wins in the past week.

5. Salem Senators(32-22)-Sporting the majors third best record and tied for the most wins this past week with the Sluggers. However the Senators might be overachieving a little bit because they also have the ninth best expected winning percentage and run differential.

6. Buffalo Wings(31-23)-Buffalo has picked up where it left off last season owning the NL North first place spot again. Even though they have struggled some in the past week, this franchise seems poised to try and run away with their division again.

7. Philadelphia Chases Aces(30-24)-Tedpsu has this team playing very well. They are tied with the NL's fourth best record and have the majors seventh best run differential.

8. San Diego Blue Sox(29-25)-The Blue Sox have been playing very solid in a very tough NL West division. Although they currently are tied with the majors 10th best record, they have the 4th best run differential and if that continues to happen will quickly catch the division leading Senators.

9. Boise Browncoats(30-24)-The Boise franchise has been a symbol of excellence for many seasons and are hoping to make this season no exception. As a team they haven't been exceptional, but they have been very solid and hope to continue that throughout the season.

10. Detroit Grass Lakes(30-24)-The Grass Lakes edge out the New Orleans Freebeads because of a slightly better record. They are an overachieving bunch so far with the sixth best record in the majors but they currently have a -21 run differential. They will need to start scoring more runs if they want to stay in the top ten of the power rankings.