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March 20, 2014
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: Trainer in the logistics field avid investor and daily fantasy sports participant. From Cleveland Ohio. Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: Sports interest are as follows Football diehard and favorite, Hockey, Bases, Basketball and Boxing. Browns in spite of Josh Mccowan, and Indians fan. Played high school football (Slot) and ran track (100, 200 and 400 relay). Boxed a little as a kid also trained a few inner city kids in my adulthood. Still active with boxing more as a workout regimen and participate in a couple of 5k's yearly. Knees bad though... considering competitive biking as an alternative.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, what's your favorite?
A: I play Gridiron not good at it at all. Love the involvement of that Sim though. However, Hardball is clearly a favorite. Dealing with logistics and investing a Sim based game fits. Although I think I complicate HBD more than I should chasing numericals but eh that's what I do.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: Playing with stats and numbers that probably play no relevance. My favorite. I also enjoy the value we all place on an algorithm that's mysterious and ridiculously simple once you "get it". Genius. I would like to know what the gaming structure really is. Example. Does the field matter or is it really cosmetic? Why sabermetric information if it's not relevant? Make the DIA relevant. Other than that? I like the game.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Soloist
Q: Who do you consider the Lake Shores biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Rivalry. Hmm. I don't enter the post season much. When I do get in its usually different teams so technically do I have a "rivalry"? If I had to choose it would be based on how intently I shuffle lineups and try and have the better pitchers
ready plus the closeness in games won against one another, I would say the Iowa Badgers. They've stopped momentum for me more than once. Chicago Gray Stockings would be a strong second but more divisional I guess. That team beats me when it counts.
Q: What is your favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Cleveland Cavaliers championship bid against the Spurs, memorable moment. Hometown went nuts. Oh and the fumble the drive... Memorable moment in SP? My almost WS bid.... sigh.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Matt WolfQ: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be? (And don't answer Pepe Sosa. Its the right answer of course, but lets start getting a little variety into this question!)
A: Geoff Bowles. Huge SS and Catcher fan...
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Being a guy of African decent anyone from the Negro League. BUT take me back to the hippie Era with fly away collars free love? Mr. Charlie Hustle please and thank you. Yeah Pete Rose... my type of guy.
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April 1, 2014
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: 52 year old former tech worker, living in Scottsdale, AZ.Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: Played all sports growing up, nothing in High School or College, prefer Basketball, love the numbers of Baseball, but enjoy watching the NFL.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, what's your favorite?
A: Only play HBD, discovered doing a web search after Online Baseball Mogul ceased.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: Player development is a favorite, wish you could have more control of that. Hate the UI, it is horrible ergonomics and is inconsistent.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Nope
Q: Who do you consider the Wiley Coyotes biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Vancouver Tragedy Twins is biggest rivalry, consistently competitive.
Q: What is your favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A:Fav sports memory, 2001 Ravens vs Giants Super Bowl. In SP,
Q: Who is your all-time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: PEPE! : )Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be? (And don't answer Pepe Sosa. Its the right answer of course, but lets start getting a little variety into this question!)
A: Can't answer Pepe (LOL) so I will choose RF Junior Chang of the KC T-Bones.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Lunch with Greg Maddux.
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February 22, 2014
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: I am a 28 year old CPA from St. Louis. I have been married for 3 years and me and my wife are expecting our first child in June!
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: I am a diehard Cardinals and Mizzou fan. I grew up wanting to play short like Ozzie. I was however a much better Lacrosse player so played that all through high school and college and try to play as much as I can.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, what's your favorite?
A: I originally played Gridiron, enjoyed it but eventually moved to HBD and haven't found any other games nearly as exciting.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: My favorite part about the game is simply roster construction, finding the players that no one else wants and finding a niche for them on your team. Currently don't like the like of control over my team at times. Would love to have the live manager feature for the playoffs especially. I really think the game needs some element of giving more incentive to winning, for example teams that are above .500 get a higher budget...
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Nope, I am a lone wolf, have tried to get my friends involved in the past with marginal success.
Q: Who do you consider the Rebbellion's biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: By far Little Rock, what used to be Memphis. They recently ended my streak of division titles and overeasy just puts together competitive teams even when rebuilding, good coach. The first year Memphis came into the league, he really opened my eyes to defense. He finished ahead of my team with what I thought to be far inferior talent, damn fundamentals.
Q: What if your favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: As a Cardinals fan, Game 6 of the 2011 World Series was the best fan moment of my lifetime. In SP, the WS I won a few seasons ago was great, but I actually found as much pleasure in chasing the single season saves record with Ken Wall.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite SP player(s), past present?
A: Don't like to get attached to players as it can hurt your decision making, but it is easy to do. With that said, Ted Westmoreland was my guy and I will be rooting for him to the HoF in Washington.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be? (and don't answer Pepe Sosa. Its the right answer or course, but lets start getting a little variety into this question)
A: Starting pitching is just so important come playoff time, so I would have to say Pedro Castillo who I see in my division far more than I would like.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: I think it would be Dave Duncan, ex-Cards pitching coach. He has so much knowledge from all his years and I could get his personal take on some of my favorite Cardinals and ex-players.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball of HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: This is a tough one for me, I am going to say Jennifer Lawrence.
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November 28, 2013
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: I really hate to talk about myself, but I'll share a little. I'm a (59) year old who thinks he's (25) sometimes. I'm married to both a wonderful women & HBD, a father & grandfather who has always had a passion for sports, both competing & as a spectator. In the business world I'm a Facilities & Security Manager for a Top Secret Military Defense contractor going on (34) years now. I also enjoy building outdoor wood projects.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: Pro-football is my number 1 sport, I'm a part of a group of guys that own a large RV for our sporting events, mostly Eagles home & some away games. I still follow all the other Philly sports teams & attend some, but football is tops. I played some semi-pro football, ice hockey, box lacrosse, basketball, softball and a little boxing, but never hardball at an organized level, which I still regret. Lately I've been limited to target shooting with the grandson who's 17 now. As for HBD, it has lessened the stress from watching real sporting events because I actually have some control over the outcome, except for last season's World Series matchup.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, what's your favorite?
A: I learned about HBD from a WIS ad and decided to give it a try and was immediately hooked on it. I played other WIS games but HBD really is the only one that interests me now.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: I really enjoy the whole franchise ownership & building process. Any changes would be minimal because it really is very well designed to match the MLB experience.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: I convinced "littlejim" who is really "big Jim" to his friends, to join after my first season & then mgd64 wanted in after hearing all our stories. My brother, son-in-law & some friends tried other WIS games, but never bought into the HBD experience. They laugh when we talk HBD & our beloved players. I also met a few more like philsfan &. others at social events or someone noticing my HBD shirt or listening in on our HBD chatter & they ask if we're involved with a pro team, which always gives me a good belly laugh.
Q: Who do you consider the Stomp's biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: My biggest rival is whatever team has prevented the Stomp from winning the title each season so that position is currently held by you "Goose". Damn you.
Q: What is your favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Greatest sports moments were the (2) SuperBowls I went to with my brother and a group of friends even though the Eagles lost both. Greatest SP moment the "Winter Meetings" we held at a Phillies game two years ago and I think we should hold another at Cooperstown, NY one day.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: I don't have any old time SP favorites, but my current squad has a few, Q. Lee, O. Marten & J. Andrews, all future HOF's.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be? (And don't answer Pepe Sosa. Its the right answer of course, but lets start getting a little variety into this question!)
A: I always ask KC about David Chang, so he's one guy I'd like to see in a Stomp uniform.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: I would love to knock down some cold ones for a wild weekend with the Babe or Jimmie "the Beast" Foxx or even better would be to get into a fight with Ty Cobb while hanging with those two).
Q: Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Wow, tough one. I really can't pick a single actress because I fall in love with one during every movie I've ever seen. I'm a real sucker for a pretty face or a great a$$ so I'm just like all the other old dogs, plus my father always told me that variety was the spice of life.
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January 23, 2013- tragedy- In this interview we find out that our counterpart who is now the reigning WS Champs is actaully two people! So enjoy this two part interview with Joe and Jason...
Joe’s Responses
Q1: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A1:This is Joe Parker, one of the Tragedy Twins. I am a Product Specialist for a Software company in the Boston area. I enjoy playing Trivia and going to movies. I play third base on the company softball team. I am also the commissioner of a baseball Rotisserie League that has just passed its 25th season. I also play Rotisserie Football in three leagues, one of which I am the Commissioner. I don't use the term "Fantasy Football" because my fantasies do not involve football.
Q2: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A2: I am a huge sports fan, and I like the big 4 major sports (baseball, football, hockey and basketball in that order) When I moved to Boston in 2000, I decided to root for all the home teams, and it has been quite a ride with 3 super bowls, 2 world series wins, a Stanley cup and an NBA championship since I've been here. I am a real Red Sox fan, so much so now that I do not even want to buy New York Style Pizza anymore. As mentioned before, I play softball
Q3: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, what's your favorite?
A3: My co-owner saw this website and suggested we do something to fill the dead time in the baseball off-season, so we started in October two or three years ago.
Q4: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A4: My favorite part of this game is the fact that you have control of the entire system, not just the Major league team, like in other games. My least favorite was the sniping of childish owners fighting with each other about irrelevant things in the league. This league used to have that, but it was cleaned up by our excellent commissioner and this has been a model league ever since. AS far as the game itself, I wish the results would match up better to the ratings, and I wish they engine could do a double switch. I wish it could PH for the SS, and then move the 2B to SS and then put the PH at 2B if that would be the best defensive alignment.
Q5: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A5: Yes, we know Steve, the owner of the Atlanta Soda Poppers. He is an old friend, fraternity brother, and co-commissioner of our Rotisserie League.
Q6: Who do you consider the Tragedy Twin's biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A6: Our rival now is the San Diego Wiley Coyotes because they are an up and coming franchise. We were rivals with the Los Angeles Sharks because they were the team that won our division every year when we started. Now that we have tasted some success, I'm sure there will be new rivals to come.
Q7: What is your favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
Q8: My favorite moments as a sports fan are Super Bowl XXIV, when the 49ers won the Super Bowl over Denver 55-10. Don't let anyone fool you: a close game is exciting but drama is overrated. The blow out was so much better than the come from behind win just the season before. Then there was the Catch; Montana to Clark. In Baseball, the Red Sox winning the Series in 2004 will always be a special moment. In Satchel Paige, of course, it was winning the series in the past season. When we started, I remember being so frustrated about losing and we were so far away from even winning our division, let alone winning in the playoffs. Also, I was very happy I had a co-owner to share the joy.
Q8: Who is your all-time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A8: I think my favorite player is J.J. Haley, because we drafted him and watched him grow into an all-star shortstop.
Q9: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A9: Pepe Sosa
Q10: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A10: It would be Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams.
Q11: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A11: I say Catherine Zeta-Jones first, Charlize Theron second and Aishwarya Rai third
Q12: One last question... What’s it like to log in and see that trophy on the Satchel Page homepage?
A12: It is a very nice touch; one that I did not expect and a constant reminder of what we have accomplished.
Jason’s Responses
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: 50, married, one child. A partner in a lawyer firm in Los Angeles, California with 11 lawyers. I do business litigation for large companies. I have a second residence in Portland, Oregon where I spend most weekends.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: First and foremost, baseball. I have been the Hall of Fame twice (once with Joe to see Rickey Henderson inducted). I have been to games in 20 MLB stadiums. Also, in recent years, I have taken a liking to soccer. I have season tickets to the Portland Timbers. Favorite teams: Dodgers (although love for Dodgers damaged by McCourt), Mariners, Red Sox (which to school in Boston), LA Clippers, Portland Trailblazers, Portland Timbers, LA Galaxy, Texas Longhorns.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: In the 90s, Joe and I use to play two different Bill James baseball games that simulated baseball games. One was based on current players; the other on classic players. They would fax you the results. I wanted to get into the Bill James games again—but found it was defunct and then found SimBaseball, which lead to HBD. We only play HBD.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: My favorite part of the game is the GM aspects. I do not make trades without talking to Joe first. However, if we talking trade, you are talking to me. Least favorite part: people acting out in chat.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Steve, owner of the Soda Poppers, who I have known since high school. In fact, Steve was my best friend in high school. I met Joe via Steve.
Q: Who do you consider the Tradegy Twin's biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: See Joe’s response
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: As sports fan, going to 1981 world series with my dad. In this league, winning the WS last season.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Karim Olivia—our first big IFA signing
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: Pepe Sosa—can there be any other answer
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Anne Hathaway
Q: Since there are two of you, how do you guys handle decisions? Conference call? Do you split the duties?
A: Joe handles on field managment issues-- he hires all the coaches, sets all the lines, controls all the manager settings. I handlle GM issues-- some exclusive (signing minor leaguers, making waiver claims), others I suggest what we should do and act only if I get Joe's approval (long term contracts, budgets, signing IFAs, etc). We do the draft jointly. We text, email and speak by phone to manage the team.
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December 29, 2012- leklinner
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself. A: 44, two kids, work at the phone company, and call HS football and basketball games on the radio.
Q: What are you sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: Seattle Mariners, 5-sport letterman (golf, cross country, baseball, basketball, and soccer). Have coached 8th grade b-team basketball, and younger from there as the kids grow up. Played baseball and I lettered my junior year. Had 12 AB's and four hits. Three full swing barely-hit-it bunts, and a bleeder up the middle. I was a liability at first with the glove. Rode the pine mostly. What position? Bench.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: Hoops Dynasy and Gridiron Dynasty in the early days. Friend told me about it. Tried a little sim league baseball, with little success. HBD is my favorite.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: Setting (heh, heh) your team correctly and watching it work sometimes. Also, spending $175 mill bills. Least favorite part? Having a good team and watch them inexplicably lose. I think it would be fun to be able to somehow play your opponent (the other owner) in a setting where you could manage your club, the other owners could watch the game, and it all took less than five minutes. Sim it, but you can call a time out to make a move, call for a steal, pinch hit, or pinch run if the sim doesn't. Something like that. Have I exceeded my character limit?
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'?
A: Yep. Know oat. If so, how do you know them? Co-worker. He has a .646 winning percentage against me. Next question.
Q: Who do you consider the Camels' biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Our biggest rivals are (in order) Rev., Hitmen, Rainbow Warriors, Blues, Whiskey Jacks, Stomp, Titans, Jazz, and finally, the Polar Bears and Gray Stockings. Why? Because. That's why.
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Going to Seahawk and Mariner games in the Kingdome from year one, and it was especially fun when it was loud. Since it ain't winning a ring, it's the year Clay Beirne hit for the triple crown (.389 63 188) back in '13. I picked him up in a trade somewhere.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: See previous answer.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: Hippolito and/or Pepe. I believe they are on a first name basis with the rest of the league as well.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: All at one table? Babe Ruth, Branch Rickey, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, John McGraw, Casey Stengel,. George Steinbrenner, Lou Pinella, with Jackie Robinson and Kennesaw Mountain as toasters, and 1963 Ann Margaret to my left and 1948 Marilyn Monroe to my right. That would be a good lunch.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Marisa Tomei. Unless I can use my last answer.
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October 20, 2012- MrCub
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: I anchor the morning news for Fox in Detroit and excited to announce my debut spy thriller novel "Sandstorm" will be released in June 2013.
Q: What's it like to be covering the Tigers now that they're into the World Series?
A: It's always exciting. Miggy and Verlander are monsters! Team is made up of nice guys mostly, very family oriented organization. Pitching during the post-season has been amazing.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A. My sports interests are football, basketball, baseball and golf. I played a season of semi-pro baseball in the Caribbean when I lived in St. Thomas. A while ago for sure.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A. Took a chance on HBD after playing the basketball dynasty league in WIS. HBD seemed more in-depth and involved.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A. I like the challenge of trying to manage a successful season in HBD. It's certainly not as easy as it looks. My least favorite part is the hiring of coaches and how the salaries can get ridiculous during the hiring process. I also think the period takes too long, but maybe that's just me. If I could change one aspect, it would be to allow certain team or manager settings to be more specific. For instance, only allowing certain players the ability to steal more often or be aggressive on the base paths -- not the entire team.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A. No, sadly I don't. Or maybe that's a good thing???
Q: Who do you consider the Red Bolts' biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A. Our biggest rival without a doubt is Milwaukee. They've set the standard in our division and are good every year. We'd love to knock them down a notch.
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Playing semi-pro ball certainly comes to mind. Great experience. Watching the Ali-Frazier fights were great moments and then meeting Smoking Joe later in his life just brought it home.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: My all-time favorite player has to Jerome Valentine. Being a part of him becoming SP's all-time hits leader was cool.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: I really haven't thought about that too much. And if I mention a player currently playing, that should be some form of a violation.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A. Since I've interviewed Reggie Jackson, Cal Ripken, Jr., Hank Aaron, George Brett, Jim Leyland & more for my job, I'd say I'm covered in that regard.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Since I interviewed her, let me tell you, Jessica Alba is amazing. Wonderful personality as well.
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August 14, 2012-thunderdonky
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: Ben, wisconsin, 34, married with 2 kids, hobbies: brewing beer, sports, lawn work.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: Basketball, Football, Baseball, hockey. Favorite Sport: College Basketball/ Football. Played F/C in College Basketball. I have coached high school in the state.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: In the past, co-workers told me about it. I have played college basketball and college football in the past. By far, hardball dynasty is the best game on WIS.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: Favorite part-competition, making trades, free agent signings. Least-salary cap
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: No
Q: Who do you consider the Jazz's biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Biggest division rival has been houston because they were a top of the division when I took over the jazz. Biggest non-division rivals in the past has been trying to break into the st louis, anaheim, and baltimore hold of the american league since i have been with the jazz.
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Favorite fan moments: Packers super bowl victories against NE in 96 and Pitt in 11. Michigan football nc in 1997 with charles woodson and the awesome defense. Favorite player moment: winning a playoff game with 21 pts 17 rebs 7 blks 5 asts.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: My reliable 3 time all star closer (now set up)-montague and my current superstar and franchise cornerstone with the jazz 3b-martin.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: SP-Matos and SP-Sosa
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Robin Yount and Hank Aaron, great people plus they were great players who can tell a great story
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Haley Berry and Kate Winslet
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July 11, 2012- We get the honor to welcome back our old counter-part and former Commish davidjay. He had to take some time away from HBD due to the 'real life' after Season 12. Now, after four seasons, he has returned and, ironically gets to take over his old Salem franchise and re-establish the Salem Blues. To commemorate his return, davidjay's owner interview is below. Enjoy
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself. (First name, where you are from, age, what you do for a living, married, kids, other interests?)
A: As my WIS alias implies, my first name really is David and I'm 43 years old, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I also lived in Nashville in the late 1980s when I attended Belmont College, which has since been renamed Belmont University. I've had essentially two careers for my adult life and tend to go back and forth between the two as both have proved flexible. I've spent about ten years total, spread out over twenty, working casually for the Canadian federal government. That work involved helping mostly with property management projects, with my area of expertise being budget and forecasting systems. When not working for the government, I have also worked as a freelance writer and analyst and have been fortunate enough to find fairly steady work in that capacity. I haven't found Mrs. Right yet so I remain single but still hope to settle down one of these days. My other interests include playing guitar, poker and old-style wargames.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: My favorite sport is baseball and other than just bits and pieces of games, I don't really watch other sports except maybe pool/billiards. My favorite team is the Toronto Blue Jays with the New York Yankees a close second, this because my parents had both rooted for the Yankees before the Jays existed. I never played the game in any organized way other than hitting and throwing the ball in the backyard. If I could have picked a position, I would have been a pitcher.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: I think I was trying to find something similar to Scoresheet Baseball (which I used to play) but I wanted to be playing with fictional players and not have an entire winter to wait between seasons. So, it may have been something as simple as a Google search that brought me to it. No, Hardball Dynasty is the only game I have any interest in on the WIS site.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: I love the fact that we're playing with fictional players who are dynamic. My favorite is making the pitching rotations and lineups and trying to figure out which players might perform better or have more or less value than the overall rating might initially imply. I also love the contract aspect and building a roster gradually over several seasons until you feel it has a chance to be competitive.
My least favorite part is the public bickering that goes beyond logical debate to flaming or even arguably ranting. I am all for calmly debating issues in the open and do believe in ensuring new members aren't exploited by veterans in trades. So, as long as it stays focused on issues, the game remains enjoyable. I can see this league has come a long way in that respect.
If limited to just one wish on what I would change about the game itself, it would be great if we could choose our specific logo and team colors ourselves rather than having a specific uniform color set attached to a certain city. I can think of about twenty other things I'd change but you said just one so given other improvements they've already made, that would make the game much more enjoyable to me.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Nope, not a one.
Q: What have you been up to while you've been away from SP?
A: I had to leave previously because I had a government project that required my full attention for about six months. I think that's the first (and hopefully last) time I ever really needed to stop everything else to focus exclusively on work. After that, I took off a while from work for the purpose of cleaning, restoring and selling the house we've had in our family for over thirty years. My parents have both passed away and the house was packed with stuff and in disrepair. So, my sister and I had the task of going through many years worth of things in the various rooms and then fixing up the old place ourselves and putting it on the market. It turned out to be much more work than we expected but was worth it in the end. The sale closed at the beginning of June and I just got settled into my new place recently.
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Being a Blue Jays fan, the average person would probably guess that Joe Carter's 1993 home run would be my favorite, and it does rank up there, but surprisingly, I think it was hearing the radio broadcast of when Dave Stieb finally threw the first no-hitter in Blue Jays history. I was still at an age when no-hitters seemed more special or rare than they do to me now and my mother tracked me down when I was in Nashville to hold up the phone in the ninth inning so I could hear the radio broadcast as the game happened. So, the fact that my mother is gone now mixed with her effort and the sports memory probably makes that one of my favorite moments as a sports fan. For some reason, again probably because my younger version of myself thought everything was so important in baseball, watching the Blue Jays clinch the American League East in 1989 also ranks up there.
As far as Satchel Paige, I think making the playoffs for the first time was my favorite moment. I had taken over a pretty disastrous Salem franchise that had six different owners in all six seasons prior to me getting that team. It had lost 118 games the season just before I took the team and was loaded with terrible contracts that I gradually had to absorb. So, to make the playoffs in my second year in the league so far has probably been my favorite SP memory so far.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Probably Kelly Nelson. He carried my team pretty much throughout my tenure as Salem's GM and when he would be slumping, it always seemed my team was too. I also had great fondness for Eswallin Garrido because I think he was my first ever Rule 5 selection and he ended up as the heart of my batting order for every season I had the Salem team.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: Maybe Pepe Sosa. I'm pretty sure there's no current hitter in the league I'd rather have than Eugenio Estrella but I tend to think you need to build around starting pitching and Sosa certainly fits that bill on the combination of skill and how many years he still he has left in his career. As I return to SP, I'll need to get familiar with some of the newer players.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Well, if we're really opening this up to baseball history, then Babe Ruth has to be at or near the top of the list. Dave Stieb was always my favorite baseball player who actually played in my lifetime so he'd be a candidate as well.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: This is definitely going to date me as much older than some of the guys in the league but I'll go with Ashley Judd.
A: As my WIS alias implies, my first name really is David and I'm 43 years old, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I also lived in Nashville in the late 1980s when I attended Belmont College, which has since been renamed Belmont University. I've had essentially two careers for my adult life and tend to go back and forth between the two as both have proved flexible. I've spent about ten years total, spread out over twenty, working casually for the Canadian federal government. That work involved helping mostly with property management projects, with my area of expertise being budget and forecasting systems. When not working for the government, I have also worked as a freelance writer and analyst and have been fortunate enough to find fairly steady work in that capacity. I haven't found Mrs. Right yet so I remain single but still hope to settle down one of these days. My other interests include playing guitar, poker and old-style wargames.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: My favorite sport is baseball and other than just bits and pieces of games, I don't really watch other sports except maybe pool/billiards. My favorite team is the Toronto Blue Jays with the New York Yankees a close second, this because my parents had both rooted for the Yankees before the Jays existed. I never played the game in any organized way other than hitting and throwing the ball in the backyard. If I could have picked a position, I would have been a pitcher.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: I think I was trying to find something similar to Scoresheet Baseball (which I used to play) but I wanted to be playing with fictional players and not have an entire winter to wait between seasons. So, it may have been something as simple as a Google search that brought me to it. No, Hardball Dynasty is the only game I have any interest in on the WIS site.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: I love the fact that we're playing with fictional players who are dynamic. My favorite is making the pitching rotations and lineups and trying to figure out which players might perform better or have more or less value than the overall rating might initially imply. I also love the contract aspect and building a roster gradually over several seasons until you feel it has a chance to be competitive.
My least favorite part is the public bickering that goes beyond logical debate to flaming or even arguably ranting. I am all for calmly debating issues in the open and do believe in ensuring new members aren't exploited by veterans in trades. So, as long as it stays focused on issues, the game remains enjoyable. I can see this league has come a long way in that respect.
If limited to just one wish on what I would change about the game itself, it would be great if we could choose our specific logo and team colors ourselves rather than having a specific uniform color set attached to a certain city. I can think of about twenty other things I'd change but you said just one so given other improvements they've already made, that would make the game much more enjoyable to me.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Nope, not a one.
Q: What have you been up to while you've been away from SP?
A: I had to leave previously because I had a government project that required my full attention for about six months. I think that's the first (and hopefully last) time I ever really needed to stop everything else to focus exclusively on work. After that, I took off a while from work for the purpose of cleaning, restoring and selling the house we've had in our family for over thirty years. My parents have both passed away and the house was packed with stuff and in disrepair. So, my sister and I had the task of going through many years worth of things in the various rooms and then fixing up the old place ourselves and putting it on the market. It turned out to be much more work than we expected but was worth it in the end. The sale closed at the beginning of June and I just got settled into my new place recently.
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Being a Blue Jays fan, the average person would probably guess that Joe Carter's 1993 home run would be my favorite, and it does rank up there, but surprisingly, I think it was hearing the radio broadcast of when Dave Stieb finally threw the first no-hitter in Blue Jays history. I was still at an age when no-hitters seemed more special or rare than they do to me now and my mother tracked me down when I was in Nashville to hold up the phone in the ninth inning so I could hear the radio broadcast as the game happened. So, the fact that my mother is gone now mixed with her effort and the sports memory probably makes that one of my favorite moments as a sports fan. For some reason, again probably because my younger version of myself thought everything was so important in baseball, watching the Blue Jays clinch the American League East in 1989 also ranks up there.
As far as Satchel Paige, I think making the playoffs for the first time was my favorite moment. I had taken over a pretty disastrous Salem franchise that had six different owners in all six seasons prior to me getting that team. It had lost 118 games the season just before I took the team and was loaded with terrible contracts that I gradually had to absorb. So, to make the playoffs in my second year in the league so far has probably been my favorite SP memory so far.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Probably Kelly Nelson. He carried my team pretty much throughout my tenure as Salem's GM and when he would be slumping, it always seemed my team was too. I also had great fondness for Eswallin Garrido because I think he was my first ever Rule 5 selection and he ended up as the heart of my batting order for every season I had the Salem team.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: Maybe Pepe Sosa. I'm pretty sure there's no current hitter in the league I'd rather have than Eugenio Estrella but I tend to think you need to build around starting pitching and Sosa certainly fits that bill on the combination of skill and how many years he still he has left in his career. As I return to SP, I'll need to get familiar with some of the newer players.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Well, if we're really opening this up to baseball history, then Babe Ruth has to be at or near the top of the list. Dave Stieb was always my favorite baseball player who actually played in my lifetime so he'd be a candidate as well.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: This is definitely going to date me as much older than some of the guys in the league but I'll go with Ashley Judd.
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June 2, 2012- interview with jcairns
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: My name is Jeremy. I'm 29 going on 18 years old. No wife, no kids (that I know of!). I currently work as a restaurant manager (it sucks) in Los Angeles.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: Baseball. Is there another sport? Follow the dodgers religiously, to the point that I admit I have deep rooted psychological issues. I played some rec league baseball, but that's the extent of my playing. I wouldn't say I played a position, more like tried to not screw up.
A: Baseball. Is there another sport? Follow the dodgers religiously, to the point that I admit I have deep rooted psychological issues. I played some rec league baseball, but that's the extent of my playing. I wouldn't say I played a position, more like tried to not screw up.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: A buddy of mine got me into it. Been hooked ever since. Tried gridiron, but not nearly enough fun. It just doesn't quite work right in my opinion.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: Building up of a dynasty. Mistakes today kill me 5 seasons from now. Scouting. Heavily on scouting. Adv should affect all adv scouting (including prospect in draft, while your individual draft categories should show you a set number of prospects.) More chances of finding those 35th round hall of fame power hitter catchers!
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Yeah, I know one guy. He's a bit of an idiot, and doesn't really get the HBD thing. You guys may have heard of him, mongoose_22. ( should see our trade chats. )
Jcairns: I totally just spanked your team!
Mongoose_22: dude, it's the first game of spring training...
Jcairns: don't be a sore loser!
Q: Who do you consider the Sharks biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
Jcairns: I totally just spanked your team!
Mongoose_22: dude, it's the first game of spring training...
Jcairns: don't be a sore loser!
Q: Who do you consider the Sharks biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Pitt, Chicago, and the entire NL West now. Not looking forward to playing SD and Vancouver.
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: Easy. Sep 19, 2006. Dodgers hit 4 home runs in a row off (Kent, Drew, Martin then Anderson) of off Adkins and Hoffman. Then Nomar hit a walk off 2-run HR in the tenth. Player of the game? Kenny Lofton. Drew a 2 out, 0-2 walk setting up Nomar's HR. Its by far the best game I've ever attended. In satchel Paige? My first division title. It was nice winning 6 straight, but looking forward to battling it out each season rather then being handed the crown on opening day.
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Harold Paquette, Esteban Hernandez, and Peter Steenstra. It was tough letting Steenstra walk and sign with Chicago, but that's the business aspect of it.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be? A: Hipolito Matos or Pepe Sosa would be nice.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Harold Paquette, Esteban Hernandez, and Peter Steenstra. It was tough letting Steenstra walk and sign with Chicago, but that's the business aspect of it.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be? A: Hipolito Matos or Pepe Sosa would be nice.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Just one? That's not fair. Probably Branch Rickey. He was a great GM. I'd love to pick his brain. Player? Mickey Mantle.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Hands down, Scarlett Johansson. Go ahead and look up the recent pics of the avengers movie. The off take ones. Find me ONE that doesn't have every staff member that's behind her staring at her ass. ONE. I dare ya!
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June 2, 2012- interview with the commish, mongoose_22
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: My name is Brian. I'm 29. Married. No kids. I live in Los Angeles. I was a teacher for a couple of years, but when the California economy took a dump and the school districts started implementing freezing hires, I had to change careers. So now I work as a body shop estimator at the family business.
Q: What are your sports interests? Favorite sports? Teams? Do you play (or did you play) or coach any sports? If so, where? What position?
A: I really enjoy nearly all team sports. Basketball, football, hockey; but baseball is my favorite. I played on a rec league team for 6 years (yes with jcairns). I played mostly 2B; but also had stints at 3B, 1B and C. I also was the manager of the team.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD? Do you play any other WIS games? If so, whats your favorite?
A: I was listening to ESPN radio, and they had a guy from WIS come on and and use the site to predict the winner of the NBA Finals a few years ago. I got curious about the site, checked it out and very quickly found HBD. Haven't had a life since. I dabbled in Gridiron and Sim League Baseball, but neither hold a candle to HBD and I quickly lost interest... Oh, and when jcairns said a buddy got him into HBD, I'm that buddy. It was me. Jcairns, you're welcome for ruining your life.
Q: What is your favorite part about HBD? Least favorite part? If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
A: Legacy, history and dynasty. That's my favorite thing about HBD. The ownership in both the world and the team once you've been there a while. Learning the players and watching the power shift as great teams rise and fall. Its a big part of the reason why SP is my favorite world. Its history is so much richer than the other worlds I'm in. Traditional powers, young teams on the rise. We're soon gonna have our first generation of legendary players retire. As I'm sure many of you have noticed, I really try to grow and develop our worlds history and tradition with the blog. My least favorite would, hands down, be Spring Training. What a waste. You get all excited about your team after a great offseason only to have to wait for a week while nothing happens. They need to either make ST relevant or shorten it.
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Obviously you've probably read jcairn's interview so, yes I'll (reluctantly) admit to knowing him. We've been good friends since high school. He was actually the best man at my wedding.Good dude. And, like any two good buddies should, we give each other all kinds of s*** all of the time.
Q: Who do you consider the Gray Sox biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Hmmm, biggest rival would have to be a tie between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Los Angeles because we always seem to meet up in the playoffs. And whenever we play each other, somebody get to call the other with bragging rights. And, for the record, I'm 3-1 against LA in the playoffs. Scoreboard. Pittsburgh, because obviously I've been buried in 2nd place in the NL East forever. That team was so stacked when I got here I've never been able to catch up. We've met up in the playoffs a number of times, and luckily I've had some success otherwise it would be a very one-sided rivalry because they always seem to beat me down during the regular season. And after the last two seasons, I'd have to say Baltimore too. Anytime you meet the same team in the World Series two seasons in a row, its got to be a rivalry, right?
Q: Do you know any other SP owners in 'real life'? If so, how do you know them?
A: Obviously you've probably read jcairn's interview so, yes I'll (reluctantly) admit to knowing him. We've been good friends since high school. He was actually the best man at my wedding.Good dude. And, like any two good buddies should, we give each other all kinds of s*** all of the time.
Q: Who do you consider the Gray Sox biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: Hmmm, biggest rival would have to be a tie between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Los Angeles because we always seem to meet up in the playoffs. And whenever we play each other, somebody get to call the other with bragging rights. And, for the record, I'm 3-1 against LA in the playoffs. Scoreboard. Pittsburgh, because obviously I've been buried in 2nd place in the NL East forever. That team was so stacked when I got here I've never been able to catch up. We've met up in the playoffs a number of times, and luckily I've had some success otherwise it would be a very one-sided rivalry because they always seem to beat me down during the regular season. And after the last two seasons, I'd have to say Baltimore too. Anytime you meet the same team in the World Series two seasons in a row, its got to be a rivalry, right?
Q: What is you favorite/most memorable moment(s) as a sports fan (or maybe player or coach)? What about your favorite moment(s) in Satchel Paige?
A: My favorite sports moment was when my aforementioned baseball rec league team won the City Championship. That was very cool. We went to the best-of-three Championship series again the next season. But we fell one run short of going back-to-back, losing two games to one. Heartbreaking, but the team voted me MVP of the playoffs. I led the team in hits, RBI and batting average (I hit something like .550) during the playoffs. The other team even pitched around me once, lol. That was the first and last time that ever happened. So even though we lost, I took some solice in that I played the best baseball I've ever played when we needed it most. My favorite SP moment would have to be upsetting Pittsburgh in the playoffs the last two seasons. It was very liberating getting out from that shadow a bit. Now if I could only manage to win our division...
A: My favorite sports moment was when my aforementioned baseball rec league team won the City Championship. That was very cool. We went to the best-of-three Championship series again the next season. But we fell one run short of going back-to-back, losing two games to one. Heartbreaking, but the team voted me MVP of the playoffs. I led the team in hits, RBI and batting average (I hit something like .550) during the playoffs. The other team even pitched around me once, lol. That was the first and last time that ever happened. So even though we lost, I took some solice in that I played the best baseball I've ever played when we needed it most. My favorite SP moment would have to be upsetting Pittsburgh in the playoffs the last two seasons. It was very liberating getting out from that shadow a bit. Now if I could only manage to win our division...
Q: Who is your all time favorite SP player(s), past or present?
A: Julio Telemaco. He was the 1st true superstar player I ever had. He'll also be the 1st player I ever put into any HOF. Plus, he was the only guy I had who could go head-to-head with all of the stud pitchers that Pittsburgh always seemed to have.
Q: If you could have any current player(s) in SP that isn't currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: Well the obvious answer is Pepe Sosa or Hipolito Matos. But since everyone is going to say that now, I'm going to instead say Ted Westmoreland. That guy can rake.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Tough question. My first thought was Branch Rickey. But since jcarins already said that, I'll go with Ted Williams. Great ball player, great baseball mind and he lived quite a life. He'd have some stories, that's for sure.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality (player, manager, GM) from anytime in baseball history, who would it be?
A: Tough question. My first thought was Branch Rickey. But since jcarins already said that, I'll go with Ted Williams. Great ball player, great baseball mind and he lived quite a life. He'd have some stories, that's for sure.
Q: (Last question, random one, having nothing to do with baseball or HBD) Who is the best looking actress in Hollywood?
A: Once again, the obvious answer is Scarelett Johansson (did I spell that right?) But she is so hot, its intimidating. So I'll go with Natalie Portman. Not only is she great looking, but she's got that girl-next-door thing going on, so she'd be more approachable I think. Plus she's short and I've always had a thing for short girls.
Q: (submitted from sf33) What is your recipe for HBD success? Are there certain attributes that you think are most important in player quality? Do you ever get attached to your vets and feel like you owe them a bit more, or is it just business?
A: Its hard to give any one recipe for HBD success. Other than having good players, all of my successful HBD teams have had different recipes. I guess my answer to that would be 'return on investment.' Since we all have the same amount of money to budget, the player who finds the best return for his investment is the player who will have the most consistent success. Its why I try not to get into FA bidding wars if I can avoid it. Its also why I've only given out 2 max contracts in all of my HBD experience. I only give the max contract if I think it'll be the difference between winning the WS or not. Both of those max contracts took my team to the WS twice. Thats how I won my WS in Ryan and how I won my two NL Pennants here in SP. As far as most important attributes go, I think defense up the middle gets overlooked sometimes. I will not skimp on defense at SS, 2B or CF unless the guy is just a prodigious hitter. On the corners though, I'll definitely skimp on defense to get a guy with a solid stick. I rarely look at speed on a player either. I look at his glove and his bat. It he's fast, that great, he'll get me some bases. I look at it as a bonus. That's why my Gray Stockings suck so much in the steals department though this season, lol. And lastly, yes, I do get attached to my veteran players. Probably too much so. My big dilemma this offseason will be what to do with Telemaco. But when all is said and done, I'll probably be too nostalgic to let him go, and he'll be back on my roster as a mop-up man.
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May 12, 2012, interview with simonracing1
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: My name is Chuck Simon, I'm 44, married w/ no kids and train racehorses for a living. I live just outside of Philadelphia in Mt Holly, NJ.
Q: What are your sports interests?
A: Long suffering Houston Astros, NY Knicks and Miami Dolphins fan. Also U of AZ alum so I follow AZ basketball, football baseball as well.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD?
A: I stumbled onto WIS one day, tried the sim leagues out first and eventually tried HD which is by far my fav.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD? Least favorite?
A: I like the challenge of building a team over a number of seasons and one of the things that I think could be improved upon is perhaps a multi year commit from new players joining a league.
Q: Do you know any SP owners in 'real life?'
A: I dont know any other SP owners in real life or at least Im not aware that I do.
Q: Who do you consider the Rainbow Warriors biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: I guess strangely enough our biggest rival has been the Philadelphia Stomp who we seem to battle for the final playoff spot every year.
Q: What is your favorite sports memory? Favorite SP memory?
A: I have been fortunate enough to have have attended so many great sporting events over the years but I guess the MLB all star game in Milwaukee the year it ended in a tie was perhaps the most surreal. Everyone had no idea what was going on and when they announced the game was over the entire crowd went nuts. Of course as a Dolphin fan anytime we beat the Jets is a cause for celebration. My fav SP moment was sneaking into the playoffs 2 seasons ago, winning the 1st round series and playing competitively in the 2nd round.
Q: Who is your favorite SP player, past or present?
A: My Fav SP player is easily Gerald Martin who should be the Rainbow Warriors 1st Hall of Fame inductee when his career is over. He will pass the 2000 game mark this year, has 1200 runs scored, 2175 hits, 418 HR's, 380 2b's, 1480 RBI's and a .290/.355/.515 slash line. Add to that 3 Gold Gloves and a silver slugger award and the fact he is still going strong at 33 and the case is pretty strong despite only being named as a All start once. And yes I am already lobbying!
Q: If you could have any player that is not currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: If I could steal a player from another SP team it would be Hipolito Matos from the Whiskey Jackets. That guy could win 5 or 6 Cy Youngs before it is all said and done.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality from baseball history, who would it be?
A: If I could have lunch with any baseball personality it would be Nolan Ryan who was my favorite player growing up. Not only to talk about his playing career (and beating up Ventura!) but about how he has helped build Texas into a top team.
Q: Best looking actress in Hollywood is..
A: The best looking actress in Hollywood is probably a 100 way tie but Scarlett Johansson is pretty hard to top.
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April 10, 2012
turzich joined up with SP in Season 8. He has turned his Houston franchise into a consistent winner and playoff team. The Buushwackerz have made the playoffs in 6 of his 8 seasons, including a run to the ALCS in Season 9.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: My name is Mike and I am a firefighter/ paramedic in Phoenix, Arizona. I have been on the job for ten years now and I love my career. I was born in Phoenix and still living in the valley of the sun. I am 31 years old and not married, no kids that I know of. I just ended a two year relationship, she was crazy and had daddy issues. My hobbies include hunting, lifting, and cleaning up the single mom's in Scottsdale, lol....
Q: What are your sports interests?
A: My sports interests include baseball, football, and hockey. My favorite sport is baseball and have been involved with America's past time my entire life. I played shortstop all the way through college ball. Now I am relegated to playing in beer league softball games with Kenny Powers. My favorite teams are the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves. On my days off from work I teach paramedic students at a local community college and I am an assistant coach for my friend's high school baseball team. Note to all parent's if your child doesn't get in the lineup on his baseball team its probably because he isn't very good. My soap box, kids are so soft now a day's, they all want trophies and want fair playing time.
Q: How did you originally get into HBD?
A: I got involved with HBD when a couple of my coworkers recruited me to their league and I have been hooked ever since. I have ten former players currently playing college baseball or in the minors and HBD has been a helpful guide for me too explain to my former players the business side of baseball.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD? Least favorite?
A: My favorite side of HBD is building up a franchise through the minor leagues and seeing those prospects play to there potential as big leaguers. I just won my first HBD world series title in another league and it was awesome because the team I inherited was atrocious. The least favorite part is that the draft only produces major leaguers out of the first and second rounds. The diamonds in the rough hardly ever make an impact at the major league level. Albert Pujols was a sixth round draft pick and he will go down as the greatest hitter of all time.
Q: Do you know any SP owners in 'real life?'
A: I don't know anyone in SP but this league is by far the most fun to compete in. The blog is great by our commish and the league chatter and banter is pure comedy.
Q: Whats with your team name? And why the funky spelling?
A: I choose the team name Buushwackerz because it is in reference to the greatest tag team of all time, lol. Yes, as a child I was a wrestling fan. The spelling of the name just kind of happened and I went with it. Although there are those pundits in the media that believe the name was misspelled because of a lack of education in Houston's front office.
Q: Who do you consider the Buushwackerz biggest rival (or two) to be? Why?
A: My biggest rivals would have to be thunderdonkey(Jazz) and knappj (redbirds). The Jazz because they are in the division and have gotten the better of me as of late. They also make more player moves than Michael Jackson at a preschool birthday party. The Redbirds are another rival because I cannot beat them in the postseason. I believe I am 0-4 against him in October. I am due to get over the Redbirds hump.
Q: What is your favorite sports memory? Favorite SP memory?
A: My favorite baseball memory is Game 7 of the 2001 World Series Dbacks/Yanks, Gonzo with a bleeder over Jeter, classic and I was in right field cheering my ass off. My other favorite baseball memory is watching Sid Bream chugging around the bases and barely scoring against the Pirates in the NL championship series, can you say Franciso Cabrera. My greatest memory as a coach in baseball was watching my favorite former player get drafted into the minors Mikey Planeta, Orioles farm system. No real great SP moments yet, just heartache at the hands of the Redbirds.
Q: Who is your favorite SP player, past or present?
A: My favorite SP player is my boy Art Borders. He has been a loyal and hardworking player that always puts up all star numbers for the Buushwackerz. I might of said Christian Burns two seasons ago but I will let Benidict Arnold decline in California with his drug habit, but I am not bitter.
Q: If you could have any player that is not currently on your roster, who would it be?
A: The player that I would want on my team would be Pepe Sosa. He is a flat out horse and will win multiple Cy Young awards and MVP's as he makes his accent into SP record books. The best International signing I have ever seen in HBD. San Diego is going to be happy.
Q: If you could have lunch with any baseball personality from baseball history, who would it be?
A: If I could have lunch with any baseball personality I would have to choose Chipper Jones. Larry Wayne Jr. is my favorite baseball player and he has the best nickname in baseball. Too pick his mind about baseball, would be tremendous and he is an avid hunter. I would also like to hear some of the legendary stories of the Hooter's girls he ran through. As a firefighter we have our fair share of groupies but there is nothing that compares to the tail that follows baseball players around, got to love the cleat chasers...
Q: Best looking actress in Hollywood is...
A: My choice for best looking actress is Kate Beckinsale. I am a sucker for a sexy accent and you can't go wrong with latex outfits......
