NFBC Main Event and Auction Championship results

By now, I’m sure all of you out there are on pins and needles wondering how my NFBC Main Event and Auction Championship teams turned out this past weekend, right?

I used this space last season to update the trials and tribulations of my Main Event squad. The season had plenty of ups and downs, plenty of mistakes and great moves, all culminating in a whirlwind of emotions on the season’s final day. When the dust had settled, I finished atop the heap of Chicago League 1.

As exciting as that title is, I was marginally disappointed, finishing only 29th overall (of 390 total teams). Rather than resting on my laurels, I put in more time and effort this offseason than at any point in my young fantasy career.

I have been working diligently since early October perfecting my projections, rankings and draft plans. I know the player pool inside and out and know exactly what I need to do to assemble a championship caliber team. My goal is not to just be competitive in my league. My goal is to be the No. 1 overall team at season’s end.

NFBC draft weekend is always one of my favorite weekends of the year, and this one surely didn’t disappoint. The atmosphere, excitement and camaraderie among my fantasy baseball brethren was absolutely top notch.

While there may not be as many leagues drafting in Chicago as there are in other locations, the core group of competitors there are fantastic drafters and even better people. My longtime co-managing contingent of Dan Wydick and Tom Amoroso split off on their own this season and took on a team in Chicago League 2. I felt like a parent sending his children off into the world. I instilled as much wisdom and knowledge as I could and sent them on their way. This season I had my twin brother Shawn in the co-manager’s chair for the Main Event.

I’m not going to get too much into the thought process and decision making that went along with the draft, as I’ll likely elaborate further in other articles. Just wanted to give everyone a chance to view my teams (Main and Auction) and offer up any compliments or criticisms that you may see.

Are these team’s contenders or pretenders?

I present to you Dynamic Inertia:

NFBC Main Event—Chicago League 1 (14th pick)

C – Wilson Ramos (14), Chris Iannetta (20)

1B – Prince Fielder (2)

2B – Danny Espinosa (10)

SS – Yunel Escobar (18)

3B – Mat Gamel (13)

OF – Jacoby Ellsbury (1), Hunter Pence (4), B.J. Upton (5), Melky Cabrera (11), Angel Pagan (16)

MI- Alexi Casilla (23)

CI- Ike Davis (9)

UTIL- James Loney (22)

SP- Dan Haren (4), Matt Moore (6), Daniel Hudson (7), Shaun Marcum (15), Ricky Nolasco (17), Ryan Vogelsong (21), Carlos Zambrano (24), Brett Cecil (27), Luis Mendoza (29)

RP- Mariano Rivera (8), Frank Francisco (12), Greg Holland (19)

Bench – Jesus Guzman (25), Seth Smith (26), Ruben Tejada (28)

I already know that I slightly over-drafted speed and under-drafted power. The biggest weaknesses to me look to be at middle infield and utility which I think will be relatively easy to fix. I would love to hear feedback, though.

NFBC Auction Championship

Dan Wydick sat in the co-pilot’s chair for this team, our first time competing in a 15 team mixed auction. I think we fared pretty well here. Again, I would love to hear thoughts and opinions on this team.

C – Chris Iannetta ($2), Jason Castro ($1)

1B – Adam Dunn ($12)

2B – Dustin Pedroia ($30)

SS – Hanley Ramirez ($35)

3B – Mat Gamel ($8)

OF – Matt Kemp ($40), Desmond Jennings ($18), Andre Ethier ($13), Yonder Alonso ($4), Dayan Viciedo ($1)

MI – Jimmy Rollins ($16)

CI – Carlos Lee ($7)

UTIL – Will Venable ($4)

SP – Adam Wainwright ($18), Ian Kennedy ($15), Max Scherzer ($8), Vance Worley ($4), Edwin Jackson ($2), Henderson Alvarez ($1), Carlos Zambrano ($2)

RP – Jason Motte ($12), Frank Francisco ($7)

Bench – Mike Leake, Brian Matusz, Bobby Abreu, A.J. Burnett Hector Noesi, Francisco Cordero, Wilson Betemit.

I would have liked to see one more high quality starting pitcher forthis team, but the pitching prices got pushed higher than was anticipated. I had Madison Bumgarner targeted as our ace, but was priced out at $23.

Where do I need to upgrade? Can these teams lead me to greatness?

Thoughts and opinions are welcomed and appreciated. Leave them in the comments here, or on twitter @DaveShovein