A hot date? Your wedding? Your anniversary?
How about being with your wife and just born first born?
That last obstacle wasn't good enough for Dean Weisgold from the Cheltenham Baseball league on CBSSports.com. Imagine being screamed at by your laboring wife while on speakphone with your leaguemates on Draft Day.
"You care more about your stupid Fantasy team than you do about me and the baby!" they heard in the background.
Save for the screaming wife and crying newborn, there was otherwise silence over the call at that point ...
"I'll take Cole Hamels," Weisgold responded, calmly, in Round 6.
That is what Weisgold had to endure because he hasn't missed a draft in a league that began some 22 years ago -- back when Fantasy scores where tabulated with pencil and paper and the results had to be U.S. snail mailed out. He hadn't let his Fantasy friends down before and he wasn't going to miss year the league's 20th-anniversary draft for the world.
The laboring wife was none too thrilled, but this story was written and submitted by leaguemate Doug Aaron at the urging of son David and wound up earning Weisgold and his Fantasy mates 12 flights from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Aaron's entry made the Cheltenham Baseball league winners of CBSSports.com's ULTIMATE Fantasy Baseball Draft Party, which paid for the flights, hotel accomodations, transportation, their league and a draft party attended by this Fantasy writer at the Hard Rock Cafe on Saturday, Feb. 27 (approximate retail value: $15,400).
In the end, the angst was worth it. They got to spend their draft away from the snowstorms in the northeast this past weekend, and did it on CBSSports.com's dime.
Coincidentally, we ranked Weisgold's team tops in the 11-team mixed Head-to-Head league with standard CBSSports.com scoring. If nothing else, he gets points for devotion to Fantasy Baseball.
Here are the results:
| Draft Results | ||
| Round 1 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Pujols, Albert 1B STL |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Ramirez, Hanley SS FLA |
| 3 | David Aaron | Braun, Ryan J. LF MIL |
| 4 | John Warr | Utley, Chase 2B PHI |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Rodriguez, Alex 3B NYY |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Fielder, Prince 1B MIL |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Mauer, Joe C MIN |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Teixeira, Mark 1B NYY |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Halladay, Roy SP PHI |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Lincecum, Tim SP SF |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Hernandez, Felix SP SEA |
| Round 2 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Howard, Ryan 1B PHI |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Holliday, Matt LF STL |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Jeter, Derek SS NYY |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Kinsler, Ian 2B TEX |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Longoria, Evan 3B TB |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Cabrera, Miguel 1B DET |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Tulowitzki, Troy SS COL |
| 8 | John Warr | Wright, David 3B NYM |
| 9 | David Aaron | Sabathia, CC SP NYY |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Kemp, Matt CF LA |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Crawford, Carl LF TB |
| Round 3 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Greinke, Zack SP KC |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Pedroia, Dustin 2B BOS |
| 3 | David Aaron | Gonzalez, Adrian 1B SD |
| 4 | John Warr | Ellsbury, Jacoby CF BOS |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Verlander, Justin SP DET |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Santana, Johan SP NYM |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Wainwright, Adam SP STL |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Reynolds, Mark 3B ARI |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Martinez, Victor C BOS |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Zimmerman, Ryan 3B WAS |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Rollins, Jimmy SS PHI |
| Round 4 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Sandoval, Pablo 3B SF |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Morneau, Justin 1B MIN |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Youkilis, Kevin 1B BOS |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Lester, Jon SP BOS |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Hill, Aaron 2B TOR |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Cano, Rob Quintinson 2B NYY |
| 8 | John Warr | Morales, Kendry 1B ANA |
| 9 | David Aaron | Lind, Adam LF TOR |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Haren, Dan SP ARI |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | McCann, Brian C ATL |
| Round 5 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Granderson, Curtis CF NYY |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Sizemore, Grady CF CLE |
| 3 | David Aaron | Johnson, Josh SP FLA |
| 4 | John Warr | Peavy, Jake SP CHW |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Upton, Justin RF ARI |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Lee, Cliff SP SEA |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Werth, Jayson RF PHI |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Hanson, Tommy SP ATL |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Beckett, Josh SP BOS |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Ethier, Andre RF LA |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Rob Quinterts, Brian 2B BAL |
| Round 6 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Bay, Jason LF NYM |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Zobrist, Ben 2B TB |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Upton, B.J. CF TB |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Gallardo, Yovani SP MIL |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Cain, Matt SP SF |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Carpenter, Chris SP STL |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Votto, Joey 1B CIN |
| 8 | John Warr | Markakis, Nick RF BAL |
| 9 | David Aaron | Ramirez, Manny LF LA |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Vazquez, Javier SP NYY |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Kershaw, Clayton SP LA |
| Round 7 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Uggla, Dan 2B FLA |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Dunn, Adam LF WAS |
| 3 | David Aaron | Hamels, Cole SP PHI |
| 4 | John Warr | Jimenez, Ubaldo SP COL |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Lackey, John SP BOS |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Quentin, Carlos LF CHW |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Suzuki, Ichiro RF SEA |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Cruz, Nelson R. RF TEX |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Papelbon, Jonathan RP BOS |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Webb, Brandon SP ARI |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Weaver, Jered SP ANA |
| Round 8 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Nathan, Joe RP MIN |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Rivera, Mariano RP NYY |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Broxton, Jonathan RP LA |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Ramirez, Alexei SS CHW |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Butler, Billy 1B KC |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Lee, Carlos N. LF HOU |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Rodriguez, Wandy SP HOU |
| 8 | John Warr | Rodriguez, Francisco J. RP NYM |
| 9 | David Aaron | Beckham, Gordon 3B CHW |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Billingsley, Chad SP LA |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Berkman, Lance 1B HOU |
| Round 9 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Wilson, Brian RP SF |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Kazmir, Scott SP ANA |
| 3 | David Aaron | Wieters, Matt C BAL |
| 4 | John Warr | Montero, Miguel C ARI |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Posada, Jorge C NYY |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Ramirez, Aramis 3B CHC |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Jones, Adam CF BAL |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Pence, Hunter RF HOU |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Sheets, Ben SP OAK |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Choo, Shin-Soo RF CLE |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Victorino, Shane CF PHI |
| Round 10 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Abreu, Bobby RF ANA |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Polanco, Placido 2B PHI |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Bell, Heath RP SD |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Lopez, Jose 2B SEA |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Hamilton, Josh CF TEX |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Gonzalez, Carlos OF COL |
| 8 | John Warr | Zambrano, Carlos SP CHC |
| 9 | David Aaron | McCutchen, Andrew OF PIT |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Figgins, Chone 3B SEA |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Bartlett, Jason SS TB |
| Round 11 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Burnett, A.J. SP NYY |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Street, Huston RP COL |
| 3 | David Aaron | Garza, Matt SP TB |
| 4 | John Warr | Lee, Derrek 1B CHC |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Shields, James SP TB |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Jurrjens, Jair SP ATL |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Nolasco, Ricky SP FLA |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Baker, Scott SP MIN |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Stewart, Ian 3B COL |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Jackson, Edwin SP ARI |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Wolf, Randy SP MIL |
| Round 12 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Hunter, Torii CF ANA |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Scherzer, Max SP DET |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Ibanez, Raul LF PHI |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Soto, Geovany C CHC |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Danks, John SP CHW |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Happ, J.A. SP PHI |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Beltran, Carlos CF NYM |
| 8 | John Warr | Bruce, Jay RF CIN |
| 9 | David Aaron | Price, David SP TB |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Cuddyer, Michael RF MIN |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | McLouth, Nate CF ATL |
| Round 13 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Young, Michael 3B TEX |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Oswalt, Roy SP HOU |
| 3 | David Aaron | Fuentes, Brian RP ANA |
| 4 | John Warr | Matsuzaka, Daisuke SP BOS |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Hawpe, Brad RF COL |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Floyd, Gavin SP CHW |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Kubel, Jason LF MIN |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Soria, Joakim RP KC |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Damon, Johnny LF DET |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Lowe, Derek SP ATL |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Martin, Russell C LA |
| Round 14 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Blanton, Joe SP PHI |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Molina, Bengie C SF |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Harden, Rich SP TEX |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Anderson, Brett SP OAK |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Aardsma, David RP SEA |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Suzuki, Kurt C OAK |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Pena, Carlos 1B TB |
| 8 | John Warr | Cueto, Johnny SP CIN |
| 9 | David Aaron | Franklin, Ryan RP STL |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Wells, Vernon CF TOR |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Lilly, Ted SP CHC |
| Round 15 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Rasmus, Colby CF STL |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Cantu, Jorge 1B FLA |
| 3 | David Aaron | Andrus, Elvis SS TEX |
| 4 | John Warr | Valverde, Jose RP DET |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Soriano, Alfonso LF CHC |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Soriano, Rafael RP TB |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Heyward, Jason OF ATL |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Rios, Alex RF CHW |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Pettitte, Andy SP NYY |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Span, Denard RF MIN |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Morgan, Nyjer LF WAS |
| Round 16 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Hudson, Tim SP ATL |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Hoffman, Trevor RP MIL |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Hudson, Orlando 2B MIN |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Konerko, Paul 1B CHW |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Porcello, Rick SP DET |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Drew, Stephen SS ARI |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Marmol, Carlos RP CHC |
| 8 | John Warr | Young, Chris B. CF ARI |
| 9 | David Aaron | Strasburg, Stephen SP WAS |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Bailey, Andrew RP OAK |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Liriano, Francisco SP MIN |
| Round 17 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Cordero, Francisco RP CIN |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Sanchez, Jonathan O. SP SF |
| 3 | David Aaron | Jones, Garrett 1B PIT |
| 4 | John Warr | De La Rosa, Jorge SP COL |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Hughes, Phil SP NYY |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Jones, Chipper 3B ATL |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Lidge, Brad RP PHI |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Buchholz, Clay SP BOS |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Ortiz, David DH BOS |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Kuroda, Hiroki SP LA |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Wood, Kerry RP CLE |
| Round 18 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Swisher, Nick CF NYY |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Coghlan, Chris LF FLA |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Loney, James 1B LA |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Davis, Chris 1B TEX |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | Dempster, Ryan SP CHC |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Guerrero, Vladimir DH TEX |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Cabrera, Asdrubal SS CLE |
| 8 | John Warr | Escobar, Alcides SS MIL |
| 9 | David Aaron | Prado, Martin 2B ATL |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Matusz, Brian SP BAL |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Blanks, Kyle RF SD |
| Round 19 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Ludwick, Ryan RF STL |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Wagner, Billy RP ATL |
| 3 | David Aaron | Borbon, Julio CF TEX |
| 4 | John Warr | Weeks, Rickie 2B MIL |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Maine, John SP NYM |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Escobar, Yunel SS ATL |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Feldman, Scott SP TEX |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Francisco, Frank RP TEX |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Matsui, Hideki DH ANA |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Hardy, J.J. SS MIN |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Saunders, Joe SP ANA |
| Round 20 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Fred Diamond | Buehrle, Mark SP CHW |
| 2 | Doug Aaron | Penny, Brad SP STL |
| 3 | Dan Aaron | Pierre, Juan LF CHW |
| 4 | Richard Kupersmith | Snider, Travis OF TOR |
| 5 | Adam Weiss | LaRoche, Adam 1B ARI |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Jenks, Bobby RP CHW |
| 7 | Rob Quint | Nunez, Leo RP FLA |
| 8 | John Warr | Marcum, Shaun SP TOR |
| 9 | David Aaron | Feliz, Neftali RP TEX |
| 10 | Michael Goldberg | Santana, Ervin SP ANA |
| 11 | Steve Ryan | Tejada, Miguel SS BAL |
| Round 21 | ||
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Steve Ryan | Slowey, Kevin SP MIN |
| 2 | Michael Goldberg | Molina, Yadier C STL |
| 3 | David Aaron | Morrow, Brandon SP TOR |
| 4 | John Warr | Kendrick, Howie 2B ANA |
| 5 | Rob Quint | Chamberlain, Joba SP NYY |
| 6 | Dean Weisgold | Doumit, Ryan C PIT |
| 7 | Adam Weiss | Beltre, Adrian 3B BOS |
| 8 | Richard Kupersmith | Stubbs, Drew OF CIN |
| 9 | Dan Aaron | Ruiz, Carlos C PHI |
| 10 | Doug Aaron | Bailey, Homer SP CIN |
| 11 | Fred Diamond | Eaton, Adam SP UFA |
In a quick post-draft review -- real quick, like just a few minutes -- we ranked the drafted teams in the following order:
1. Dean Weisgold
2. Michael Goldberg
3. Steve Ryan
4. Fred Diamond
5. Rob Quint
6. David Aaron
7. Doug Aaron
8. Adam Weiss
9. Dan Aaron
10. Richard Kupersmith
11. John Warr
It was real tough to slot most of the teams in any order, because they are so closely bunched. This draft went about the way most CBSSports.com standard drafts will go, save for some early picks with the hometown Phillies. The fact free agent Adam Eaton was picked at all -- fittingly as Mr. Irrelevant as the last pick overall -- was merely a tribute to rooting for the home team. They are from Philly, after-all, most of them doning the team colors Saturday.
The winning entrant's teenage son, David, did get chastised (slightly) for selecting Braun No. 3 overall, before the likes of A-Rod, Utley or Mauer. Poor kid.
But it wasn't as bad as the pregame Syracuse-Villanova college basketball smack talk (again, it was Philly crowd), becaue David was wearing a Villanova hat. This Fantasy writer was schooled at Syracuse. David was reminded not only is Syracuse better at basketball, but it also has a much more well-regarded journalism program. He wants to become a Fantasy writer some day, perhaps.
It is a good thing his draft went a lot better than the Wildcats' game that night. Despite that setback, David and the rest of the Cheltenham crew seemed to enjoy their prize -- save for Mrs. Weisgold and baby, who is now almost 2 years old.
Unfortunately, they didn't make the trip.
Emack.
