Meet Bigalric 2.0

S22 marks Big Al's 2nd season in Hunter

1. Why did you join Hunter?

1, Looked like a good group of owners and teams - and it is.

2. What is your favorite aspect of Hunter?

2. Stabilty, Good competition, absence of drama (most times)


MTO Follow-up?

Last year you reveal your favorite teams were: Boston Red Sox, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bulls, Montreal Canadiens which is quite a crazy mix. I'd love to know how you settled on each of those teams


Follow-up. See, I wasn't born or live in the USA or Canada (except for vacation). So there's no local or regional loyalty or family connection to any club or franchise or university. However I follow a lot of sports and admire great players like Larry Bird, John Elway, Michael Jordan, Patrick Roy and that way I kind of developed a bond to their respective teams. COMMISH EDIT: Now I need to know where you do live???? I'm sure everyone that read the above has the same thought

-----Original Message-----
From: jahu43
To: bigalric
Sent: 2/10/2012 8:52:00 AM
Subject: MTO v2

Going to be running somehting similar to last year to drive blog content.

Can you answer the following questions?

Meet Csherwood 2.0

S22 marks Csherwood's 2nd season in Hunter

1. Why did you join Hunter?

1. I joined Hunter because I saw how it was being ripped in the forums after the mess at the end of the prior offseason. I wanted the challenge again of turning around an unsuccessful franchise and found this team in it that had never made the playoffs. Also, I thought I was about to miss the MWR (Min. Win Requirement) in Moneyball and be booted out of it and did not want to be down to only one team. However, I somehow made the minimum wins and ended up sticking around in Moneyball also for one more season, until I missed it this year...by one game!

2. What is your favorite aspect of Hunter?

2. I think the best part of Hunter is the group of owners that have been assembled. This is best shown by how it probably set the record for biggest improvement ever in HBD in the length of times during one offseason to the next (COMMISH EDIT: If only Knine wasn't at an appointment when I sent the invite would have been able to push the button in under 12hrs). When it comes down to it, the strength of a world, in my opinion, should not be measured by the records of the teams but rather the quality, friendliness and competitiveness of the owners in the world.

MTO Follow-up?

We discussed the epic Moneyball run last year and you made another run this year coming down to game 162? How do you feel about the result?

3. Regarding the end of my Moneyball career, I quite honestly expected to get the boot last season but made that miracle run to stay alive. About 1/3 of the way into the season this year I was way off the pace to get the wins I needed to stick around and started selling...hoping to at least give the next owner something worthwhile to build on. Next thing I knew, I was a few days from the end of the season and in the running to qualify for another year. It came down to the last 3 games of the year, having to take 2 of 3 from a team behind me in the standings to survive...and I lost the first 2...of course winning the third to make my final win total exactly one game short. As I had given up on a shot of coming back much earlier in the year, I wasnt too upset about the loss. I inherited a team there that was full of veterans with very little farm system and once again ( as I did in my first Moneyball stint) made the mistake of spending too much on a few extra big league wins versus just crossing my fingers and hoping I could survive a few years with lower level talent while I restocked my farm.

I think it is a mental block I have when it comes to leagues with MWRs -- I get too worried about getting the wins and change my strategy for building a team. I compare Moneyball to my team in Mays where I didn't worry about minimum wins and built one of the weakest franchises there into a World Champion and one of the elite teams in the world right now.

Meet Timf 2.0

Why did you join Hunter

I joined Hunter at the start of my HBD experience. I chose this world because I was interested in competing against jahu who happens to be a close friend of mine (COMMISH EDIT: I regretably have to confirm this accusation) and he informed me that Hunter was a truly competitive world with lots of trade action. On both accounts, I agree 100% and couldn't be happier I chose Hunter.

What is your favorite aspect of Hunter?

My favorite aspect of Hunter is the trade market. This season we had 10 trades accepted on the first day which is unheard of in most other worlds. It is easy for a team trying to rebuild to acquire prospects and it is also easy for a team looking to add a couple veterans to do so. Every season I am impressed with the trades that are made in both volume and quality.

MTO Follow-up?

How does it feel to lose 4 straight World Series (Since I'm his buddy I can get away with asking this question)

Losing 4 straight WS is bittersweet to say the least. I have lost to great teams in the WS but also beaten great teams to get there. It would be nice to win one in this world as during this run of 4 straight losses I took one in Roy Hobbs. The feeling was great but it was lacking

Meet Dufferman 2.0

1. Why did you join Hunter?

I am one of the original Hunter owners. Basically, it was one of the open leagues back when HBD was getting started so I joined it. I've stayed because I like the 'dynasty' part of HBD; accumulating the stats, seeing players come and go and just managing the franchise. Also Hunter is a very good league and I've enjoyed being part of it. Finally, it took 17 seasons for the BayDogs to reach a level of semi-respectability so I had to stay until I could look on the franchise with a little pride. :-)

2. What is your favorite aspect of Hunter?


As I said, I think Hunter is a good competitive league, where everyone has a chance of winning, or at least competing. There are also some very dedicated owners that make things much more interesting. I do not know anyone personally, but some of the guys have been around a long time and I think that makes it a strong league. Also, jahu, the commish is doing a great job with this blog and in running the league. (COMMISH EDIT: I really do appreciate all the positive feedback, it makes it a little easier when I have to hunker down to do the power ranks) That is very important for league stability.

MTO Follow-up?

How did it feel when Rich Peters finally made the HOF?

I was happy when Rick Peters got in to the HOF. I had been campaigning for him for some time because of the 500+ home runs and the fact that he lost a season to injury in his prime. Due to Baltimore's poor records during his career , he did not get some of the publicity that others received, but I think he was definitley deserving. Reading what I just wrote, I need to remind myself that he is just a pretend player - get a little too involved sometimes. (COMMISH EDIT: As a guy who once wrote sonnets to Magglio Javier, there is no such thing as too involved ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: jahu43
To: dufferman
Sent: 2/3/2012 1:10:00 PM
Subject: MTO v2

Going to be running somehting similar to last year to drive blog content.

Can you answer the following questions?

Meet Hineiii 2.0

1. Why did you join Hunter?

I was recruited by the commish. Jahu and I went to battle many games vs. each other in the Stargell and then the Stargell @ Monument Park worlds. He sent a sitemail stating what he was attempting to do with the Hunter world and it made sense to come in and have some fun in a world that needed to make a turn around. Bottom line Jahu has done a great job as commish and the world is quickly becoming one of my favorites. (COMMISH EDIT: Ah shucks, I'm blushing) By the way I hold an 81-68 record vs. him. (COMMISH EDIT: Enjoy it now, remove bjb and his relatives very few owners can claim that)

2. What is your favorite aspect of Hunter?

When I first looked at the world, it was a lot of players that I haven’t played against. This was a good thing. New competition. Seeing more perspectives on how to run a team and new thought processes only makes you a better player.

Follow-up question?

How do you see two players on max deals playing out? (Earley & Santiago) Max deals depending on my overall strategy for my team can be a very necessary expense. I have run teams different ways. High payroll is one that I enjoy and can be seen on a few of my seven teams. I am not the best at developing players so I will gladly overpay for good players.
One note on that is I have only offered a max deal to a player right as free agency started once. For this guy: http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=711283 Look at his stats and you will understand. 292 wins in 12 seasons!!
All of my max deals have slowly moved up the salary scale as I was being out bid.
As far as the two guys that I now have max deals on in hunter…. SP are really easy to give up the cash. So Santiago was a no brainer. 95,94,88 control Vs. L Vs. R not much else needs to be said. Early was more a product of bidding war. I wanted his power in the middle of my lineup being in Philly, my line-up could get close to the Colorado Homerun numbers without the crazy ballpark effect. It felt like he was the last part of the puzzle (at least I hope) 76,78,85,95,91,84,77 are the power numbers 1-7. Adding that 95 rating could be huge, plus he is a career .285 hitter. It’s a gamble I was willing to take (with his age), in the hopes I can make it far in the post season for a couple of seasons.

Is the decision to base your team in Philly in multiple worlds a strategy decision for the ballpark or your undying love of all things Philly? (All of a sudden being a 76ers fan isn't so bad)

It’s all Philly. All but two of my teams are in Philly. Both because when I joined the Philly ballparks were already taken. Or they all would be. And yes the Sixers look ok, couldn’t beat the Heat, but I am actually watching some of the games now instead of just reading the Box scores and the recap.