Bleacher Features - Topic 10: 'Braggarts'

Glen Thomas knows how to draft -- he must have a five-team league! Check out his team of winners:

Ted Kennedy's Hot Tub Club, owned by Glen Thomas, has stood atop the Baseball-Aholics Rotisserie Federation (BARF) league since April. A shrewd draft by yours truly netted gems such as Greg Maddux, Vinny Castilla (3rd round!), Juan Gonzalez, Brian Jordan, and my steal of the draft, David Segui, who was the last first baseman picked. Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera keep me well-stocked with saves. Two of my best pickups came after the draft--Andy Ashby and Tom Gordon . Both have been more potent than a Ted Kennedy martini.

All in all, I must say that the reason the Hot Tubbers continue to have a bubbly time of it this year is because of the pitching. We have a one-player keeper rule, so I decided this year to keep Maddux instead of Larry "Elbow in Traction" Walker. That move has further solidified my reputation as a genius and lucky s.o.b. Justin Thompson, Pat Hentgen, and Ismael Valdes have been a little erratic, but have racked up a few wins.

I hope everyone in my league continues to play after Ted's Hot Tub Club waterlogs them this year. I especially hope the owner of the second place team, Bill Branch, returns for more abuse this year. Bill had the gall to question one of my pick ups and scoff me for it, even after drafting Mark Clark, who might be named Everlast's "Punching Bag of the Year." I will also invite all of my BARF co-owners over for a Kennedy-style victory party in October. Until then, I'll sit in the First Jacuzzi -- leaving room for the Swedish Bikini Team, of course -- and get all pruny.

The Argyle Sox, owned by Greg Boattenhamer, are pretty used to bragging.

The Argyle Sox have won the Premium League Baseball pennant in five of the past six years, and are currently dominating the 1998 standings. This is a 14-team format, which crosses leagues (AL and NL). The Argyle Sox, in 19 years, have never finished lower than third place thanks to the identification talent of their manager, Greg Boattenhamer. This year's team is built around a few superstars mixed in with breakthrough players. No McGwire, no Sosa, no Griffey, no Maddux ... just deep and wide throughout. Nomar Garciaparra and Javey Lopez head an infield cast tht also includes the disappointing-so-far Chuck Knoblauch, the surprising Jeff King and John (2nd half) Valentin. Outfield/DH sports Bernie Williams as the marquee player, Albert Belle, Greg Vaughn, Gary Sheffield & Carlos Delgado. Shef and Delgado were draft steals based on spring injury reports. Solid AL pitching sports Roger Clemens (dealt Randy Johnson to get him), Chuck Finley, Rolando Arrojo, Brad Radke, Troy Percival, Tom Gordon and Andy Ashby (gotta have one NL player). Not many all stars, but solid bargains across the board. Key to annual success -- have to be strong up the middle (catcher, short, second, center field).

William Rehrmann is in complete control of his CBS SportsLine Fantasy baseball ROTO league. His team name is The Beach Bombers in league 1215, and his best players are Ken Griffey, Mark McGwire, and Alex Rodriguez.

Although I was in 13th place, I am sitting on top of my league right now and am in complete control. That goes to show you you should never give up.

I think we, the leaders, have a right to brag and should use and abuse it!

  • I have done a lot of bragging with my cousin, who is also in my league. I have compared myself to Sammy Sosa, in that I smack the competition around like nothing else; just like Sosa.
  • I look at the bottom of my league and laugh constantly, knowing they are feeling bad and are ready to hang it up (just like the Marlins).
  • I brag in chat rooms about how I am king and how no one else could ever come near me at the top.

    Web designer Todd D. Clark is very excited about his team.

    I love to brag! I decided that after two years in a row of winning my league it was time for a change. So, I went young in the off season -- Travis Lee Mark Kotsay, Jason Kendall, Chipper Jones, Jeromy Burnitz, Todd Helton, Neifi Perez, Royce Clayton, Jeff Kent, Mark Lewis, Kevin Millwood, Pete Harnisch, Masato Yoshi, Todd Stottlmyre, Shane Reynolds, Rod Beck, Antonio Osuna, Devon White, Shawn Estes.

    WOW! And with a farm system of Hermansen, Seguinold, Chen, Burrell and Drew (not happy about that one), I am not only winning, but have an 11.5 point lead now. I am dominating in every capacity! Our league is a 15 keeper, salary, contract system. My off-season steal was Chipper Jones at $10. In our league you can waive anyone and they automatically go to a $10 salary. The catch is you have to hope no one below you finds out or they can use their waiver claim. Great trade bait with the last place teams. I love to brag!

    Eric Siegler, the Commissioner and reigning champ of the Yankeesn97 league at CBS SportsLine, is a little caught up in his team!

    Well, the Murph Potatoes of the Yankeesn97 league have led from wire to wire thanks to brilliant managing that included claiming Jose Silva, Mark Leiter, Bret Boone, and Dimitri Young of waivers. The Murphs have their own killer "B's" with Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Craig Biggio and Bret Boone to go with Vinny Castilla, Jason Kendall, Brian Jordan, Eric Young and a gutsy pitching staff of Mark Leiter, Rick Reed, Al Leiter, Mike Hampton, Carlos Perez, Ricardo Rincon, and a revolving door of others. This team is first or second in all offensive categories and leads the league by 20 points. Yesterday, in desparation, the third place owner offered Marty Cordova and Ray Lankford for Bonds only to be rejected. There isn't a team in the league that comes close to the Murph Potatoes.

    Murphs are without a doubt untouchable. Even their worst players (Mcrae, H. Rodriguez) are contributing, showing what an amazing judge of talent the owner has. This team has survived injuries to all of its pitching stars (Hampton, Leiter, Jose Silva and Omar Daal) and continues to thrive. When Mark Wohlers got sent down, the Murphs had the gall to dismiss him and pick up potential closure Rick Croeshure. If the Cards would win a game, he might add a few saves.

    The reason this team is on top is clear -- a draft strategy that mandated obtaining the best player available at each infield spot (Bagwell, Biggio, Castilla, Kendall and Valentin) and then parlaying them into quality outfielders (Bonds and Jordan arrived in trades). On the pitching side, Murphs selected the best performers of 1997's second half (Perez and Hampton) and then went with 2, 3 and 4 starters like Leiter and Reed while everyone else spent big bucks on the aces.

    The draft whiz owner has been quoted, "If you get five category players, how can you lose? Bring on the professionals?"

    Also, see some of the interesting things fantasy players are saying in the Fantasy Baseball Forum

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