Armchair Thoughts

Welcome back Armchair managers to another Week In Review. My name is Jack and I'll be running you through the stats and news of our fantasy league for this week.

So I think I've got most of the bugs out of my computer. I've realized I should just tell you all at a basic level what my stats do and maybe save a glossary page somewhere for you all to link to. Otherwise, we're all friends, give me a call and I'll do my best to tell you what I'm doing here. You guys have to just rely for now that what I'm doing is beneficial. Let's take a look at some numbers:

Division	WeekCatW%	ActW%	PredW%	ComboW%
TK	Joe's Torn Ligament	0.542	0.602	0.784
TK	Sexual Napalm	0.500	0.600	0.779
TK	I'll Pick Later	0.438	0.537	0.599
DS	Dmitri Petrovich	0.521	0.525	0.579
DS	Maewyn Succat	0.521	0.507	0.513
DS	Sandbaggers	0.625	0.481	0.439
DS	Drunk Hot Girl Scout	0.458	0.458	0.365
TK	The Master Baker	0.458	0.458	0.370
DS	La Furia Roja	0.396	0.424	0.286
TK	Winston Wolfe	0.542	0.407	0.242

Actual W%-A team's actual winning percentage in the league standings
PredW%-A team's predicted winning percentage, based on where they rank each week in each category
ComboWin%-A team's percent chance of winning more categories than an average team. (That is, a team that has a 50% chance of winning each category) This is a new stat that I introduced last week and will be a better predictor of playoff winners.

[I plan to rename these as different acronyms sometime soon. Again, admissions are welcome. "ASS" just wasn't cutting it.]

And so after two weeks, Joe has found himself back on top. (Especially after a tough armchair football finish) What's surprising (or maybe it isn't) is that Joe is followed by two other Tom Kocon representatives. Yes yes I know it's only the second week, and you should be aware of that, too. So there's not a whole lot to conclude as for which division is tougher. We can simply average out PredW% for each team for each division and see whose is higher. Or we can see how our interleague matchups have been faring. Surprisingly, Joe's Torn Ligament has been the only team not to play an opponent in his own division yet. So he is the lone representative of Tom Kocon for all interleague games thusfar (And has edged out both of them 6-5). So we can keep a running tally this season on interleague W-L.

Again, some future things I'll include in my WIRs are each team's Strength of Schedule, which none some of you may be interested in.

So now comes the part of this WIR where I address certain league matters.

1) Divisions
I don't hate the idea of divisions, as long as they are divvied up in some objective manner. Maybe sort them similar to our draft order; First pick in Div1, 2nd and 3rd in Div2, 4th and 5th in Div1, ...

I'm even not opposed to saying that the top 3 winners of each division move on to the playoffs rather than the top 6 overall teams move on. Very MLB-esque.

2) Money
From the looks of it, not many people are too keen on the LeagueSafe idea, since Dave and I are the only ones that have signed up (though I haven't paid yet). I do think it can be a good idea and kudos for Dave for a) Taking the time to do such a thing and b) Trying to resolve and money issues. Maybe it's the small fee ($.30) that people don't like, or that they don't have a debit card (see: The Master Baker). I can do whatever, though.

3) Fines for DL players
I do enjoy a good fine once in awhile. I mean, the East Compton Wombats of old would have had a large tab at the end of the season (that is, before Riley took over), and it was no fun playing a ghost team (and losing). I think the original tariffs Dave proposed were a little steep. But I can be flexible. I'd like to think we're all diehards, but a lot of use may not want to maintain fantasy baseball while relaxing at a cabin, or traveling in another country. Do players all of a sudden go on the DL? Yep. Maybe a 3 strike rule should be in order or something. Or a warning. I don't know. I've been regularly checking my team and I'll bet it happens to me at some point this year, if it hasn't already.

I do like the idea, but personally I'd like to discuss the finer points of the punishment. I also like calling it the TMac Rule. (No offense, bud) And you know me, I'd be all for the fines going toward a buzzed up fantasy football draft. (Though, it's too bad Tom can't participate)

4) Relegation!
I know it hasn't been covered before. But I do love the idea of relegation. I think it would be a good way to include any additional players who wished to join our league. We'd make them sit through a year of battling other hopefuls to come join the fresh air of the top Armchair League. And whoever gets last place from the top league drops down to the second one. I know it's a bit extreme, but maybe we can meet in the middle. Perhaps we can have two divisions as we have now, but they are divided where one is the top league and one is the bottom. It's just extra incentive for a manager to want to do well and win. Though, it would make for a long year if one of us were to get relegated to the bottom league.

Well that's my take for the week. Onward to MEDIA:

Chan Ho Park's excuses for poor pitching:



And I've even got a second one for this week! What a terrible father:




Until next time Armchair Fans.