Hudson MadBum Franchise Announced

Brad P will be piloting Hudson MadBum this year.  Here's the logo.  It should not need to be stated, but Brad is a SF Giant fan.

Welcome Thomas R!

We've filled the last opening.  Please welcome Thomas R who comes to us by way of the #1 owner of all time, Justin P.  No pressure Thomas

#1 Picks by Owner

Thought it would be interesting to see the #1 pick history for active owners.  It wasn't, but figured I would share anyway.

Al H: ATB 16 - (B) - # 8 - 1927 Lou Gehrig

Allen C: ATB 11 - (B) - # 6 - 1894 Hugh Duffy
Allen C: ATB 12 - (B) - # 9 - 1932 Jimmie Foxx
Allen C: ATB 13 - (B) - #11 - 1908 Honus Wagner
Allen C: ATB 14 - (B) - # 7 - 1932 Jimmie Foxx
Allen C: ATB 15 - (P) - #21 - 2000 Randy Johnson
Allen C: ATB 16 - (P) - # 5 - 2000 Pedro Martinez

Brad P: ATB 7 -- (P) - # 6 - 1913 Walter Johnson
Brad P: ATB 9 -- (B) - #13 - 1908 Honus Wagner
Brad P: ATB 10 - (B) - # 1 - 1920 Babe Ruth
Brad P: ATB 11 - (B) - #16 - 1901 Nap Lajoie
Brad P: ATB 12 - (B) - #19 - 1910 Ty Cobb
Brad P: ATB 13 - (B) - #17 - 1876 Ross Barnes
Brad P: ATB 14 - (B) - # 8 - 1876 Ross Barnes
Brad P: ATB 15 - (B) - #19 - 1980 George Brett
Brad P: ATB 16 - (B) - # 4 - 2004 Barry Bonds (TRADE)

Brian B: ATB 10 - (B) - # 7 - 1924 Rogers Hornsby
Brian B: ATB 11 - (P) - # 9 - 1999 Randy Johnson
Brian B: ATB 12 - (B) - # 7 - 1908 Honus Wagner
Brian B: ATB 13 - (B) - # 1 - 1920 Babe Ruth
Brian B: ATB 14 - (B) - #12 - 1908 Honus Wagner
Brian B: ATB 15 - (P) - # 3 - 2000 Pedro Martinez
Brian B: ATB 16 - (B) - # 12 - 1941 Ted Williams

Dave K: ATB 14 - (B) - # 3 - 2002 Barry Bonds
Dave K: ATB 15 - (B) - #10 - 1927 Lou Gehrig
Dave K: ATB 16 - (B) - #20 - 1939 Joe DiMaggio

Gary G: ATB 14 - (P) - #17 - 1913 Walter Johnson
Gary G: ATB 15 - (B) - # 2 - 1920 Babe Ruth
Gary G: ATB 16 - (P) - #23 - 1913 Walter Johnson

Greg M: ATB 15 - (B) - #22 - 1901 Nap Lajoie
Greg M: ATB 16 - (B) - # 6 - 1957 Mickey Mantle

Ivar A: ATB 9 -- (B) - # 3 - 2002 Barry Bonds
Ivar A: ATB 10 - (B) - #11 - 1932 Jimmie Foxx
Ivar A: ATB 11 - (P) - # 5 - 1995 Greg Maddux
Ivar A: ATB 12 - (B) - # 8 - 1997 Larry Walker
Ivar A: ATB 13 - (B) - #18 - 1997 Larry Walker
Ivar A: ATB 14 - (B) - #15 - 1939 Joe DiMaggio
Ivar A: ATB 15 - (B) - #15 - 1917 Ty Cobb
Ivar A: ATB 16 - (B) - #24 - 1997 Larry Walker

Jason B: ATB 10 - (B) - #10 - 1908 Honus Wagner
Jason B: ATB 11 - (B) - #12 - 1908 Honus Wagner
Jason B: ATB 12 - (P) - # 4 - 2000 Pedro Martinez
Jason B: ATB 13 - (B) - #15 - 1925 Oscar Charleston
Jason B: ATB 14 - (B) - # 4 - 1957 Mickey Mantle
Jason B: ATB 15 - (B) - # 4 - 2004 Barry Bonds
Jason B: ATB 16 - (B) - #22 - 1926 Turkey Stearnes

Joe T: ATB 10 - (B) - #12 - 1969 Willie McCovey
Joe T: ATB 11 - (B) - #17 - 2008 Albert Pujols
Joe T: ATB 12 - (B) - # 3 - 1956 Mickey Mantle
Joe T: ATB 13 - (P) - #14 - 1995 Greg Maddux
Joe T: ATB 14 - (B) - #14 - 1948 Stan Musial
Joe T: ATB 15 - (B) - # 5 - 1957 Mickey Mantle
Joe T: ATB 16 - (B) - # 2 - 1908 Honus Wagner (TRADE)

Joe V: ATB 14 - (B) - #19 - 1961 Norm Cash
Joe V: ATB 15 - (B) - #13 - 1941 Ted Williams
Joe V: ATB 16 - (B) - # 1 - 1924 Oscar Charleston

Justin Bo: ATB 16 - (P) - #10 - 1995 Greg Maddux

Justin P: ATB 7 -- (B) - # 4 - 1941 Ted Williams
Justin P: ATB 9 -- (B) - #16 - 1935 Arky Vaughan
Justin P: ATB 10 - (P) - # 8 - 1995 Greg Maddux
Justin P: ATB 11 - (B) - #14 - 1941 Ted Williams
Justin P: ATB 12 - (B) - # 1 - 2001 Barry Bonds
Justin P: ATB 13 - (B) - #12 - 1932 Jimmie Foxx
Justin P: ATB 14 - (B) - #11 - 1884 Fred Dunlap
Justin P: ATB 15 - (B) - # 1 - 1924 Oscar Charleston
Justin P: ATB 16 - (B) - # 3 - 1920 Babe Ruth

Lou P: ATB 7 - (B) -- #12 - 1927 Lou Gehrig
Lou P: ATB 9 - (B) -- # 8 - 1941 Ted Williams
Lou P: ATB 10 - (B) - #17 - 1887 Tip O'Neill
Lou P: ATB 11 - (B) - #20 - 1917 Ty Cobb
Lou P: ATB 12 - (B) - #20 - 1948 Stan Musial
Lou P: ATB 13 - (B) - # 5 - 1957 Mickey Mantle
Lou P: ATB 14 - (B) - #13 - 1917 Ty Cobb
Lou P: ATB 15 - (B) - #17 - 1926 Turkey Stearnes
Lou P: ATB 16 - (P) - #18 - 1922 Nip Winters

Matt B: ATB 10 - (P) - #18 - 1908 Christy Mathewson
Matt B: ATB 11 - (B) - #19 - 1935 Arky Vaughan
Matt B: ATB 12 - (P) - #10 - 1995 Greg Maddux
Matt B: ATB 13 - (B) - #13 - 1887 Tip O'Neill
Matt B: ATB 14 - (B) - #20 - 1887 Tip O'Neill
Matt B: ATB 15 - (B) - #20 - 1933 Jimmie Foxx
Matt B: ATB 16 - (B) - #21 - 1935 Arky Vaughan (TRADE)

Mike M: ATB 15 - (B) - #12 - 1935 Arky Vaughan
Mike M: ATB 16 - (B) - #16 - 1980 George Brett

Mike S: ATB 7 -- (P) - # 7 - 1908 Addie Joss
Mike S: ATB 9 -- (P) - # 4 - 2000 Pedro Martinez
Mike S: ATB 10 - (P) - # 4 - 2000 Pedro Martinez
Mike S: ATB 11 - (B) - #13 - 1884 Fred Dunlap
Mike S: ATB 12 - (B) - # 5 - 1941 Ted Williams
Mike S: ATB 13 - (B) - # 8 - 1894 Hugh Duffy
Mike S: ATB 14 - (P) - # 2 - 2000 Pedro Martinez
Mike S: ATB 15 - (B) - #16 - 1922 Heavy Johnson
Mike S: ATB 16 - (B) - #19 - 1901 Nap Lajoie

Sean S: ATB 7 -- (B) - # 8 - 1924 Rogers Hornsby
Sean S: ATB 9 -- (P) - #15 - 1915 Pete Alexander
Sean S: ATB 10 - (B) - # 5 - 1941 Ted Williams
Sean S: ATB 13 - (B) - #16 - 1917 Ty Cobb
Sean S: ATB 14 - (B) - #18 - 1935 Arky Vaughan
Sean S: ATB 15 - (P) - # 7 - 1995 Greg Maddux
Sean S: ATB 16 - (B) - #13 - 1887 Tip O'Neill (TRADE)

Shotgun S: ATB 11 - (B) - # 3 - 2002 Barry Bonds
Shotgun S: ATB 12 - (B) - # 2 - 1921 Babe Ruth
Shotgun S: ATB 13 - (B) - #10 - 1924 Rogers Hornsby
Shotgun S: ATB 14 - (B) - # 9 - 1941 Ted Williams
Shotgun S: ATB 15 - (B) - #23 - 1939 Joe DiMaggio
Shotgun S: ATB 16 - (B) - # 9 - 1876 Ross Barnes

TJ O: ATB 7 -- (P) - #15 - 1909 Mordecai Brown
TJ O: ATB 9 -- (P) - #10 - 1995 Greg Maddux
TJ O: ATB 10 - (P) - # 6 - 1999 Randy Johnson
TJ O: ATB 11 - (B) - #15 - 1887 Tip O'Neill
TJ O: ATB 12 - (B) - #18 - 1901 Nap Lajoie
TJ O: ATB 13 - (B) - # 6 - 1941 Ted Williams
TJ O: ATB 14 - (B) - # 5 - 1927 Lou Gehrig
TJ O: ATB 15 - (B) - # 6 - 1929 Willie Wells
TJ O: ATB 16 - (B) - #15 - 1922 Heavy Johnson

Richie Ashburn is the All Time MVP

Check this out.  In the 10 years I have records on him, Richie Ashburn, the defensive wizard with a high on base, has never been on a losing team.  Not once!  Seven times he helped guide a franchise to 90 or more wins, including 108 win  Franklin Lakes Pillpoppers in ATB 7.

To find this stat, I created a baseball +/- score.  It is truly meaningless, or at least mostly meaningless, but a fun little stat nonetheless.  I looked at each player and simply gave them positive credit for being on a winning team, and negative credit for being on a losing one.  The more wins above .500 in a given year, the more credit.

Here is the top 15 of All Time:
129 Wins: Richie Ashburn (10 Seasons)
125 Wins: Al Grabowski (11 Seasons)
120 Wins: Ted Williams (11 Seasons)
119 Wins: Jeff Gray (10 Seasons)
116 Wins: Reggie Smith (10 Seasons)
103 Wins: Oscar Charleston (9 Seasons)
99 Wins: Johnny Podres (7 Seasons)
98 Wins: Rob Murphy (11 Seasons)
97 Wins: Teddy Higuera (10 Seasons)
95 Wins: Bill Bernhard (10 Seasons)
94 Wins: Dave Bancroft (7 Seasons)
93 Wins: Gabe White (11 Seasons)
91 Wins: Orator Shaffer (6 Seasons)
90 Wins: Harry Brecheen (11 Seasons)
90 Wins: Buck Leonard (9 Seasons)

Most of those are very good players, but only Ted Williams would be considered an ATB elite.

Let's look at the data slightly differently.  Here are the top 15 in terms of average +/- per season:

15.2 Wins: Orator Shaffer (6 Seasons)
14.1 Wins: Johnny Podres (7 Seasons)
13.4 Wins: Dave Bancroft (7 Seasons)
13.2 Wins: Ross Youngs (6 Seasons)
12.9 Wins: Richie Ashburn (10 Seasons)
11.9 Wins: Jeff Gray (10 Seasons)
11.8 Wins: Pud Galvin (6 Seasons)
11.6 Wins: Reggie Smith (10 Seasons)
11.6 Wins: Bob O'Farrell (7 Seasons)
11.4 Wins: Oscar Charleston (9 Seasons)
11.4 Wins: Al Grabowski (11 Seasons)
11.2 Wins: Lenny Dykstra (6 Seasons)
11.0 Wins: Pat Jarvis (8 Seasons)
10.9 Wins: Ted Williams (11 Seasons)
10.7 Wins: Rusty Staub (6 Seasons)

By this measure, Ashburn drops a few spots and Orator Shaffer takes the lead.  Oscar Charleston also makes an appearance.

Shaffer is an interesting case.  In 6 seasons, his teams have exceeded 97 wins 5 times, including a wonderful 111 win campaign last year from his Spanish Harlem Pinata Beaters.

Again however, the elite players of ATB are largely absent.  Here is a view for those players most commonly referred to as the best of the bes, the top 11 draft picks from last season:

1) 103 Wins: Oscar Charleston (9 Seasons)
2)  61 Wins: Barry Bonds (11 Seasons)
3)   6 Wins: Babe Ruth (11 Seasons)
4)  28 Wins: Honus Wagner (11 Seasons)
5)  42 Wins: Pedro Martinez (11 Seasons)
6)  13 Wins: Mickey Mantle (11 Seasons)
7)  28 Wins: Fred Dunlap (6 Seasons)
8) -26 Wins: Lou Gehrig (11 Seasons)
9)   3 Wins: Ross Barnes (4 Seasons)
10) 41 Wins: Greg Maddux (11 Seasons)
11)-95 Wins: Rogers Hornsby (11 Seasons)

Ugly isn't it?  Only Charleston is remotely close to the top 10 overall.

Finally, here are the worst career +/- scores:
-122 Wins: Bob Feller (8 Seasons)
-107 Wins: Don Mattingly (10 Seasons)
-107 Wins: Jimmie Foxx (11 Seasons)
-105 Wins: Steve Carlton (9 Seasons)
-104 Wins: Ichiro Suzuki (9 Seasons)
-97 Wins: Bob Gibson (11 Seasons)
-96 Wins: Tom Seaver (10 Seasons)
-95 Wins: Eddie Guardado (7 Seasons)
-95 Wins: Rogers Hornsby (11 Seasons)
-91 Wins: Ryne Sandberg (10 Seasons)
-90 Wins: Whitey Ford (7 Seasons)

There are some famous, but also bad, players on this list.  Feller, Mattingly, Carlton, Ichrio, Gibson, Seaver, Sandberg and Ford are all MLB greats.  They also happen to be drafted every year despite some serious ATB shortcomings.

Don't make too much of these lists however.  It's only for our enjoyment - I am still happy to have Babe Ruth, even if he's only been on a winning team in 4 of 11 seasons.  Said another way, only Brad P and Justin P have been able to go to the playoffs with Ruth as their franchise player.  Incredible.

Welcome JJ!

John J (JJ) will pilot the American League opening we had.  JJ comes to us via the Yuku Diamond Mind Baseball forum.

Welcome JJ!

Stock Up, Stock Down

Just as in fantasy baseball, year over year trends develop in where players are drafted.  In fantasy, this is mostly due to the success or failure due to the players aging curve, here in ATB, it is due rule changes, the introduction of new talent to the player pool, and smarter owners.  The reasons do not matter so much, but recognizing the trends can make a difference.

Here are a few players that have seen the stock rise and fall over the past few years.  The Round each player was selected is referenced in the stats.

Stock Up

Roy Halladay

Owners apparantly thought it best to take little sips of Roy Halladay before settling on the fact he is a pretty darn good pitcher. Four different years have been drafted in the past five seasons.  In ATB 12 he had a cup of coffee and a ERA over 6.  A year later he made 19 starts, but was below league average and last only 10 innings in ATB 14.  Finally, after the 500 resims Jeff B tried the 2002 version in ATB 15 (6th round) and in 255 innings Halladay compiled a 3.46 ERA.

Scott Rolen

This is a true head scratcher and I hope this post sets the world right again.  In ATB 12, the backup third basemen came to the plate just 59 times, justifiable for an 18th rounder.  A year later, Ivar caught some lightning in a bottle, getting a .774 OPS out of him in 34 games.

Along with the new found league wide love of defense, this brief success caused temporarity insanity in Sean, who jumped 10 rounds and drafted him in the 8th.  Rolen was awful with a .455 OPS in 223 at bats.  This must have looked good to Steve C, who took Rolen a round even earlier the following year.

He was awful yet again, so of course TJ took him another round earlier last season.  He was somewhat rewarded with a .306 OBP and .421 SLG.  Hopefully this doesn't make him a 1st rounder in January.

Bobby Murcer

Murcer is one of those players who are simultaneously over- and underratted at the same time.  Murcer can hit, but can't field.  He has some memorable seasons for some great teams as well.  In ATB 12 and 13, the centerfielder was drafted in the 11th and put up wonderful numbers (.327 / .392 / .479 in over 1,100 at bats) only to fall 4 slots to the 15th round in ATB 14.  He proceeded to have his worst season since ATB 7, and sure enough, owners finally caught on to his prowess (again helped by the 500 resims), and jumped on him in the 8th two years ago.  Last year, he went in the 6th.

Brett Saberhagen

We may have to rename this article, "the players who owe their careers to the 500 resims."  Sabes is another example of the 500 resims identifying talent.  Stuck in the early to mid teen rounds, the resims showed his talent and he is currently considered a viable 5th round pick.


Stock Down
Brooks Robinson

The defensive specialist (in ATB terms anwyay) has never been a particularly good player.  However, he was a decidely great MLB player which has caused him to be taken too early in years past.  Owners are now realizing he can be had in the later rounds and have appropriately adjusted.


David Cone

Cone has always been a pretty good pitcher and definitely worthy of a pick somewhere in the 12-15 range.  However, the 5th round is more than a stretch.

Overall in his entire history, not just the past 5 years, he's had incredible variation in draft slots:

ATB 7 - Undrafted (Brad P)
ATB 8 - Unknown
ATB 9 - 11th Round (Mike W)
ATB 10 - 4th Round (Mike T)
ATB 11 - 24th Round (Allen C)
ATB 12 - 5th Round (Allen C) 
ATB 13 - 8th ROund (Jeff B
ATB 14 - 12th Round (Mike S)
ATB 15 - 15th Round (Lou P)
ATB 16 - 15th Round (Mike S)

Interestingly, Cone did very well in the 355 resims (3.37 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) and may be headed for another earl selection within the 1st 10 rounds.

Dazzy Vance

I admit1924 Dazzy Vance should be a lot better than he is, but his real life 1.02 WHIP and 2.08 ERA is quite good but it has never translated to ATB.  The righty has performed about league average between ATB 13 and 15, and eventually dropped to the 27th round last year, only making into 1 game.  He had a decent enough resim to be useful as 5th starter or long man, but his days of 5th rounds picks should be done.

Ernie Banks

In a similar story to that of Robinson, Banks is a real life star ported to software hat doesn't appreciate his type of skillset.  Banks' real life numbers translate to a sub-.300 on base percentage and despite decent power, just doesn't warrent consideration in any regular role.

He did smack 27 HR in 613 plate appearances during the resims, so his power is legitimate.  Perhaps with a hands on manager one can find use?

Hal Newhouser

In ATB 10, Newhouse was drafted in the 3rd and sporeted a 5.85 ERA and 1.71 WHIP for Steve G.  Shotgun tried a different year in ATB 11, it didn't work, and Mike W was impressed enough with this failure to take him in the 2nd (!) in ATB 12.

TJ O caught on to the trend and waited 6 rounds before grabbing him in the next season, but while Newhouser's ERA was respectable (3.61) his WHIP of 1.59 showed not much had changed.  A year later he went in the 7th and made 38 starts despite a 4.93 ERA and 1.61 WHIP.

Finally, in ATB 15, owners had had enough, and waited until the 15th to give him another shot.  Leanne S enjoyed an above average starter in 29 games.  In ATB 16, Newhouser went nuts for Joe V, to the tune of a 2.65 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 40 games (26 starts).

Still Need 2 Owners, Computer Run Team(s) Option

We are still short two owners.  I have one "maybe", but he cannot commit until closer to the new year.

If anyone knows someone who might be interested, please let me know.

In the event we do not find owners 23 and 24 we'll switch to computer led teams.  We've done this in past seasons and it works, but obviously less than ideal.

I would draft these teams based upon my own personal ranking formula.  This is hit or miss, since players like Lefty Grove are rated highly and would be drafted too early.  However, generally, the formula works fairly well.  The PC teams cannot trade during the season and would only receive lineup changes to account for grievous injuries.

I am open to other ideas as long as they are practical and fair.  Comment in this thread if you have any thoughts.

Denver RoidBoyz Franchise Announced

Gary G will be piloting the Denver RoidBoyz this year.

Team Schedules Announced

And has been posted in the league reports section (permanently linked to the right).  In summary:

• 18 games against each intra-division team
• 12 games against each inter-division team
• 3 games against all teams in one interleague division. The Random Number generator came up with the following (AL East vs NL West; AL Central vs NL Central; AL West vs NL East)

Ankhana Adventurers Franchise Announced

Lou P will pilot the Ankhana Adventurers in the upcoming ATB 17 season.

The owners page has been updated, feel free to start submitting team names and optioinal team logos.