Cheyenne Raptors (NL) Schlemiel View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is the Schlemiel?
A: I am a 67 year old man who tries to do things right but screws it up each and every time -- hence, schlemiel

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: That is a fine question, but I plead oldheimers disease because I just don't recall.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Sim baseball and football and HBD. Came to Evangeline thru Kbrick's AAA league (probably following vdaino - going to beat him one of these days.)

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Backpacking with background of wildlife and range management. Women.

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: The Lord Jesus (OMG), Carol my deceased wife, Lonna my murdered fiance, St. John of the Cross, and Al Kaline

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Al Kaline, Bob DiPietro (a minor league 3b), Willie Mays, Y.A. Tittle, Greg Minton (load the bases 1st then get them out - lights on closer).

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: '53 and '84 49ers, '55 SF Seals, all Giants good and bad.

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: baseball and some football. Lots of tennis out of high school.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Win the California State 65-70 Mens Tennis
Championship. Tour the 4 grand slam tournaments in one year.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Breaking a eleven game losing streak even more than the World Championship.

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: Growing up before free agency I still try to emulate those days, so am more loyal to my players than real life is now. So, I sign my core to long term contracts and allocate that to my player budget with 3 million extra. Get max scouting all departments except international which I avoid (too costly), training more and more.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: I don"t yet allow enough players to go into free agency until they approach ages just over 32. Core players I sign longterm, others I let go thru arbitration and take those as they come. I rarely sign free agents for the Major club but fill in the minors thruout the season.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: Generally rehire to avoid hassle and frustration. Generally stress hitting coaches in pitcher home parks and pitching in hitter parks. Sometimes wait till end to pick up pretty good talent.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: Good spring training stats consideration in first call to majors, parttime for major plyrs to avoid injury. Watch who computer selects for particular situations off the bench or bullpen. Promotion based on merit as well as talent and letting 3A older players leave determine roster levels.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Use APBA technique: 1) on base % and speed and SB success. 2) Bat control and speed to avoid double plays and enable hit and run and sacrifice. 3)Best all around hitter on team for rbi - should not be slow speed. 4) Very good power and on base % to lead off an inning. 5) High average hitter to bat in leavings. 6) hitter with more power than #7 ) (and maybe even #5). 8)on base % and SB success to set up sacrifice by pitcher.
Start with best 5 rotation. Observe quality starts and make adjustments. Sometimes drop down to 4 man rotation and back to 5 towards end of season. For me, many good relievers because I tend to end up with quality but not great stamina starters.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: For batters power (groundballs thru the infield travel faster for power bats and thus more singles than same ball hit by low power bat) and batting eye combined with pushpull. For pitchers patience rating (home runs seem to occur more often by pitcher challenging the batter early in the count with to good a pitch) and control with lefty-righty almost as important.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: I love prepping the draft knocking down for injury, no control, difficult to sign potentials. I don't mess with internationals directly - let someone else sign them. I check waivers every cycle especially for minor league critical positions. Promotions made infrequently during season when obvious mismatch develops. Demotions rarely also, except into rookie league roster. Otherwise, promotions at end of season or beginning of next depending upon money available.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: My strategy develops a team into a every year dynasty capable of attaining new lows each subsequent year. More trading or free agent adroitness would help but goes against my baseball old time (never thought I would say that) roots.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Each of my teams seem to have maybe two - no coincidence they do well which helps. Always a fan.....lol

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: I have time usually to spend about 10 minutes per team per cycle and do. The change in the minors they made allowing several players to be switched in or out at the same time allowed me to buy into another world.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: Vdaino because I am always looking at his backside in the standings it seems. Actually all of them that sustain themselves thru the difficult times. Like in tennis which I teach - there is little sympathy but a whole lot of empathy.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: The building of teams in the minors and watching the progress on their cards.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Coaching so can hire a manager at the major level for 3 years with several subcoaches associated with him, and perhaps one coach position missing occasionally allowing promotion of minor league coaches. Second, scouting which misses ratings (what was the name of that dodger catcher- Giants fan here) and allows a top prospect to be way down in the draft and upon signing realization is made that guy has major league potential. Third, a ruling that allows me to have a 151 game lead on Vdaino before the season gets underway.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: I would be a bench coach in this league at the major level roasting opponents, moving my fielders around to parts of the dugout where the beer can be found, intercepting opponent signs as to where their beer can be found, and otherwise being my usual obnoxious good self.

Durham JAGUARS (NL) PBOYS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is PBOYS?
Paul Chastain, 40-year old married Florida boy with a 9-month-old baby boy, born in Orlando, sales manager at auto dealership, spent ten years in the air force.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: don't really remember, probably search engine

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: mostly dynasty but have tried them all at least one time.

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: I don't really have time for hobbies with a nine-month-old. This is my first baby and after doing what I want when I want for 20 years its a shocker to say the least. lol

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Elvis, Travolta, Hugh Hefner, Ty Cobb, Joe Namath

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Cal Ripken, Pete Rose, Dale Murphy, John Smoltz

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: 1991 Atlanta Braves

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Baseball every day

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Be at a world series game seven

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Season 3 gerhinger, world series winner

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: I look at free agency first and if i have a chance to win this season will make bold moves to get certain players that will help, doesn't always work out though. If I have no shot I will build through international free agency and draft prospects.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: If its a player I plan on keeping for a while and can afford the salary in the budget I will pay what he wants so that he doesn't get negative

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: I hate hiring coaches, more and more of my budget is going towards coaches now just cause you can't lock them up for more than one year.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I look at my 40-man roster mostly at what they did the year before at what level and their age plays into it also.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Same as everyone else, put your best players on the field and hope for the best

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Hitters - contact and vs rhp, pitchers - walk ratio and vs rhb

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: Do your homework early on what players I would like to focus on.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: Dynasty

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: If they are on my roster they are my favorites

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: I'm off and on all day until I get home then the wife and baby occupy my time

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: av84aal and Pubs

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: living the baseball dream through the internet with other washups like myself around this great country of ours.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Coach hiring, coach hiring and coach hiring

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: Shortstop 80 good contact, great range, good speed with a hot head

Blog interview: Gibbog

Honolulu Breeze (NL) gibbog View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is Gibbog?
A: Geoff Noseworthy

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: From nhl.com

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Clutch Racing, Soccer, including the dynasty games

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Writing, reading, movies & music

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Clint Eastwood, Frank Zappa, my grandfather, my uncle and my grandmother

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Patrick Roy, Guy Lafleur, Larry Bird

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bears

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Hockey, Baseball, Softball

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Attend an NHL game

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: It hasn't happened yet. I am at the top of the 'most wins, no championship list in hockey, and have had a string of losing seasons in HBD. I play the games purely for fun, though a championship would be nice

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: Depends on a lot of factors, but lately player payroll has taken a back seat to other areas in an attempt to try and rebuild

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: Same as above

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: I actually look at loyalty ratings, and if the coaches ratings are high in the other essential areas, I bring him back

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I tend to have a good idea who will make my ML roster before ST. That might change from here on in

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: (Lineups: A good baserunner at the top, power in the middle, and I usually put my lower averages at the bottom. Pitching: varies at each level depending on energy levels. I look closely at records and ERA and not so much at ratings)

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: For hitters and pitchers it would have to be L/R splits

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: The draft will depend on my budget. IFA's the same for the most part, but if it's late in the season and I have salary left, I may sign some marginal guys. I try and check the WW daily. Promotions and demotions are all ratings-based and sometimes have little to do with performance.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: The latter, but without the 'great' part

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: None. None of them have wowed me or the rest of the league. Though on one of my other teams I keep re-signing a pitcher with L/R splits of 22

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: At least a half hour, sometimes up to an hour. I think to keep everything running smoothly you have to spend at least that

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: Coming over from hockey, I would have to say Cam & nordique, as both encouraged me to join this league

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: The off-season. Though it needs a few tweaks, it is the most enjoyable part by far. If I actually make the playoffs in the bigs that might change

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Coach hiring. Too long a process and slightly unrealistic. You can offer a Low A coach triple his previous salary and he comes back saying it's not about $$$, but he has a family to feed. Coach hiring needs to be seriously overhauled

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: It would be hockey. I would be a goalie, I would have about a 50 stamina, a 60 saving, and would be a 60 overall, including a Ron Hextall temper

Blog Interview: Kbrick

New Orleans Pelicans (NL) kbrick View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is Kbrick?
A: A 45-year old sports copy editor from New Orleans. Married for 22 years, two teenage daughters, three labradors.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: I work with Spainard and JohnGPF, and a few members of this league, too. One of those two, I can't remember which, came in one day and organized a sim league. I was hooked.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Baseball sim leagues, one uneventful season of NFL sim, one season of NBA sim, many seasons of Gridiron and Hoops Dynasty, and of course Hardball

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Economics, politics, cooking, music (metal and hard rock mostly, a little jazz for sanity sake), good sci-fi

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: This is the toughest question of the bunch. If we're all talking about the same topic, it should be five people with some interest in common? Here's five different groups from different subject matters, you can pick one from each to get the traditional five (it's good to be the king, or commissioner in this case):
-- BASEBALL: Whitey Herzog, Bob Costas, Hank Aaron, Mel Ott, Joe Morgan
-- POLITICS: Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman
-- MUSIC: Kirk Hammett, John Bonham, Angus Young, Geoff Tate, Dusty Hill
-- ENTERTAINMENT: Rockne O'Bannon, Ridley Scott, Pen Densham, John Carpenter, James Cameron
-- OTHERS: John Paul II, Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville, Jesse Marcel, Criss Angel, Pete Maravich

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: I grew up an Astros fan. Morgan, Cesar Cedeno, Bob Watson, Larry Dierker, then Biggio, Bagwell, Caminiti, Berkman, Oswalt later on. Non-Astros would include Hank
Aaron, George Brett, Kirby Puckett, Reggie Jackson. And I have to admit, I was a Clemens fan.

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: In baseball, any of Herzog's teams in the 80s, the A's of the 70s. The '98 Astros should have gotten a lot further. In football, the Saints of '91 and '92.

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Played baseball and basketball as long as I could; was out of organized sports by my sophomore year of high school. Played in flag football and overhand softball leagues until about 10 years ago.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: First would be to witness the Saints winning the Super Bowl. Two would be to spend a year touring the country, seeing a different sporting event or facility every day.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: I've got titles in Hardball and Gridiron, but I got more of a sense of accomplishment from two second-place teams. In Gridiron, I had a team that went 7-6 in the regular season in I-AA and fought all the way through the playoffs before losing in the title game. In Hoops, my Loyola-Chicago team reached the national title game after not being ranked most of the season. In both instances, I was able to game-plan my way past better teams, and that was the most satisfying part of those games.

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: First I figure out how much I absolutely have to have in the big league payroll, and add 3 million for callups and unforseen situations. Then I try to max out on High School, college and international signing and on training. Coaching usually takes 12-14 million, depending on how many want to return. I leave 10 in medical, since even at that low level injuries seem to occur at a much slower rate than in real life. I figure on 4 million-5 million to sign draft picks, and then figure out the other budget categories after adding all the preliminary stuff.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: Obviously arbitration is changing, since some players that go to arbitration three times will now refuse to resign afterward. I think the optimal now is to go to arbitration twice, then decide if you want to commit to that player long term. Free agency, I rarely find worth the price you have to pay to land someone who will make a difference. I spend a lot of effort on developing my own prospects, so unless there's a free agent too good to be true, I usually pass. After spring training, I may sign a couple of minor-league guys to fill in holes on those rosters.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: In case no one has heard me say this before, I HATE the coach-hiring process. It seems like they loved the way the recruiting software works in gridiron dynasty and HAD to carry that over to this game. I'd be in favor of a much more realistic approach - since we're all basically serving as GMs, not managers (we don't make any in-game decisions), I think we should negotiate a contract with a manager, who could get up to 7 or 8 million. That manager would bring his staff with him, or at least offer the GM a choice of a few options, and he would also limit the ranges in the manager's settings page. That way we would be seeking to hire managers that fit our style of play - just like in real life. And you should be able to sign up to five years at a time, just like with players. If you have money left over during the season, you could fire the manager, and promote someone out of the minors. Think of the dimension that would add to the game, if they worked out the bugs.

With that rant out of the way, I used to try to hire the best possible coach at every single spot, and it got ridiculous. So now I just re-hire everyone I can, then identify a few candidates for the spots left open and try to go after them as hard as possible.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I view spring training the way NFL teams view preseason - do whatever you want, just don't get injured. I usually make most of my roster decisions before spring training begins.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: I've toyed around with a few ideas here. I like speed in the No. 1 and 2 spots, and insist on above average defense at catcher, short, second and center. I find myself platooning a lot the past few seasons, with mixed success. As for pitching, I stick with a five-man rotation. I begin the season with one pitcher set as closer, the rest as setup A, and I let Simmy pick and choose who to use in what spot. If someone is struggling, I might move them to Setup B. If they really suck (Royce Goodwin, for example), I set them at mopup. But I'm wondering about the closer setting - seems a lot of pitchers perform better in the ninth if they're called SETUP (with no one listed as closer) instead of CLOSER. I haven't done any statistical study of this, just something that seems to be the case in my franchise.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Depends on the player and the strategy. Catchers MUST have a high pitch-calling number, I'm convinced they help some pitchers who have a few poor pitches in their mix. Shortstop must be high-glove and range. Batting eye I like to be high, and I try to avoid the Rob Deer approach, so contact has to at least be a passable number. After that, the lefty-righty splits for both hitting and pitching seem to be the most reliable.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: for the draft, I have to be creative. I try to identify players my scouts rated as second or third-round picks that i think can make a difference one day in the bigs, and move them up the board. International prospects I divide into two spots - one, a player that is likely to be a big-league contributor, I'll bid on. Those are rare, though. two, at the end of the season, I empty the prospect budget on leftover internationals, and carry them on the rookie squad at least until the draft the next season.

I find waivers can have some pretty good deals if you keep your eyes open. Shooter Donatello, one of my favorite relievers in HBD, was claimed off waivers in season 1.

Promotions and demotions, I tend to be very deliberate. I believe the game has a mechanism built in to stunt the growth of players that get rushed through the minors; there are a lot of examples of this in our league. So I almost always limit a player to one, or in very rare circumstances, two levels of promotion per season. College players, since they're starting out at 22 or 23, obviously I'll be a little less patient with them, but I don't expect to see a high school prospect reach the big leagues until age 22 or later.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: I don't think there will be any dynasties in our league, there are too many good players that know what they're doing. My goal is to just make the playoffs each year, and see what happens from there. If a pitcher or two get hot, you can win the title.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Bruce Hayes always seemed to win big games. My first acquisition was Brian Sakamoto, he was the backbone of my franchise for a long time. Brandon Standridge, because he seems to pitch better than his rankings every season.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: 10 minutes per cycle, three times a day for the simple management part. It takes me about two hours to set up all the minor leagues and managerial settings before the season, and several hours to rank the draft picks. After that, you can spend as much time as you like looking for trade possibilities and the like. I find now, in my 11th season, I finally know who most of my players are, so I don't spend as much time figuring out who can play and who cant.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: I love the fact that we have such a stable league, returning 29 or 30 owners every season. I have great respect for guys like Nordique and 2U23L, who took over losing teams and proved you can build a winner on your own. And I work with Sbarroque and Philpitt, so we talk a lot of baseball anyway.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: It's like a dream career, building a major-league franchise. The detail in this game is stunning, and the fact that they update every couple of months with improvements shows they still put a lot of attention into improving it.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: One - see coaching discussion above. Two - Individual player settings more similar to sim baseball. I hate when the backup catcher gets thrown out stealing 10 times a season, just because I have the steal setting on 5, when in sim ball you just tell him to never steal. Three - In Gridiron and Hoops dynasty, the game creates "filler" players when a team comes up short in recruiting and such. I think we should have a similar concept to fill minor-league rosters left short by the owners. We haven't had that issue this season, but last season one rookie team didn't have a pitcher all year.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: In my playing days I would be a catcher, with good ratings for pitch-calling, contact and left-right splits, bad numbers for arm strength and accuracy and batting eye, and I would have the first negative number in Hardball history for speed. Today, I'd be a bench coach, with no particular area rated very high, probably a low discipline rating.

Blog Interview: Sbarrouque

Seattle Pilots (AL) sbarrouque View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is SBarrouque?
A: A 40-year old journlist from Metairie (suburb of NOLA) who should learn to evacuate for hurricanes instead of staying to work.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: Kevin Spain (aka spainard555)

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Everything but Car Racing.

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Traveling, reading, music, the American West and Ireland.

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Ronald Reagan, Sir Alex Ferguson, Michael Collins, Walter Hagen and Lewis Grizzard.

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks (never saw him play, met him..great guy), Roy Keane, Archie Manning and Guido Merkins.

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: '87 Saints (famous Mora speech 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' then went to win the NFC West for the first time), '84 Cubs, '03 and '07 LSU Tigers. '06 Saints, '07-08 Manchester United.

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Baseball, football, soccer and lawn darts.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Shoot even par or under so I can put on my tombstone 'he shot par'.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Winning a couple baseball championships (none in the HBD).

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: Try to keep payroll in the 80s or lower, budgeting extra for training and college draft. For the first time in seasons, I budgeted money for international prospects although I don't have the funds to bid on the high end players.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: I go to arb with first and second year players depending on their demands . if the long term deal seems good, I will take it. And it depends on if I have a good replacement in the minors. As for free agency, I only sign backups and minor leaguers to fill holes.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: Rehire whenever possible.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I promote my prospects to the best level for them. Spring Training plays no role in my decision making. I use it to help my players progress.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Early in the season, I set up my lineup for the best righty-lefty combo. After a week or two, the hot hand players. As for pitchers, I try to find the best RH/LH, control, stamina and pitches.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Not sure. Power seems important for hitters but it seems to vary from player to the stadium your team is playing.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: Love the draft . It took me a few seasons to figure out what I wanted in the draft. Now I spend time trying to set up my top 100 whenever possible. At worst Top 50....I always check waivers for players that could help....as for promotions, lately I have been trying to be patient with my prospects by bringing them along a bit slower.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: I hope. I made the playoffs the first 8 seasons but did not win the WS (lost to philpitt). Sometimes, I feel the need for a couple of bad seasons to get some good young pitching.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Giovanni Dawkins. If he played in a smaller stadium, his numbers would be out of this world. John Mullin is another favorite. He ratings are not good, but he is Rob Deer-like in homers.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: Depends on if I am at work!

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: kbrick, phillyfan...and the owners who have been in this league for many seasons.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: I enjoy being the GM. Making all of the decisions.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Coach hiring. Just awful. You be able to hire coaches to multi-year contracts.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: I would play CF with good speed, good fielder with a strong arm. A line driver hitter who could steal a few bases. Batting second in the order would be ideal for me.

Q&A: Phillyfan33

Pawtucket Penny Pinchers (AL) phillyfan33 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Who is phillyfan33
38-year-old man from New York, now living in Tennessee. Married 8 years, to a wonderful wife, and have a 18-month-old son we adopted when he was 3 days old.

How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
Was actually a part of kbrick's AAA league, and heard about this through that.

Which games of ours have you played?
Sim leagues basketball, and baseball, tried Dynasty basketball, 1 season of football, and now only am involved in HBD

Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
loving spending time with my wife and son, after being in a family that was not close, I vowed to be the opposite with my family.

Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Ronald Reagan, Pete Rose , and finally for comedy Dean Martin

Who are your favorite players of all-time?
Mike Schmidt, John Kruk, Steve Carlton, and Cole Hamels

Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
Phillies, long time fan since 76'

Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
played baseball for 12 years, some in college, tried football a couple years in High school, we won state title 1 year, and lost in the second.....13-0 12-1, last game of the year I got 5 ribs broke on a sandwich hit across the middle....that was enough for me to see I was not a "football" player

What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
I want to take my wife and son to a pro game, when he is old enough, experience it, and have the memories I have of being at a game.

What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
just last season in another league. I made it as a division winner, 81-81, and knocked off 2 teams in the playoffs with over 100 wins, 104 and 100 wins. than lost in the LCS....

In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
honestly it depends on my plan for that year, whether I need more for free agents, or if I try and rebuild, and allocate my money to prospects and scouting.....

How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
I honestly have a plan before the season ends, and I look at all franchises, to see who is up for free agency, and if I would be interested in pursuing a certain player.....about half way through the season, or later, I always make some "cheap" FA signings and to this point, they have been great.

What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
I try to see who wants to stay, and re-hire them, and the ones that want to change levels, I try to balance who I want where, and if I need to pursue a big time coach or not.....If I am allocating money to rebuild, I want a great coach at the levels my young guys are in

How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
before spring training was a time to play some young guys and get them the experience at the Ml level, but with the rule passed a little while ago, players ratings could be affected by not playing them, so now I try to play my starters at least half of the games, and than spot fill the young guys here and there.

What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
starting line-up really needs a speedy guy, and than a contact player to set the table for a few power hitters. After that, a couple of middle of the road hitters, followed by a good contact hitter, or sacrifice bunt guy, before the pitcher's position.

What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
batting eye, glove, and gb/fb ratio's

How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
most of the time, I see what my players at the Ml level would be doing in a few seasons, I.E. retiring, free agents, etc. I try to visualize that and then build my draft settings to help my ML team out by their departures. waivers have been great to do right as the season is coming to an end, players are cheap, and they have signed back with me at least 75% of the time the following season.

Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
I feel that someday I will get a nice system, after being so 'trade happy" early on, I am finally learning a bit on how to run a team, but I feel my team always under achieves for some reason.

Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
one of my favorites was from my early season in philly, was StuffY O'Malley. 100 power 0 contact. Ronnie Dunn was my biggest mistake, should have never traded him away. Julio Salinas is my best pitcher, keeps plugging along near the end of his career. I have a guy in Mr. October, Mel Elder, he is going to be a beast, and I would love to see how many MVP awards he will receive

How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
I think your should spend at least 15-20 minutes a day for each team you have....at least I do

Who are the users you respect the most?
many many users, included are kbrick, schlemiel, ferguson, sbarrouque, goldenboy, basilleaf, nordique, yanks21, mrploppie, blownranger, eacadca, philpitt, poconomets, koby, and many more from previous leagues

What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
no matter how poorly I do, or how bad I stink, no one can fire me, all I have to do is re-up and try it again next season

What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
coach hiring, way too long, and If I could change it, there would be 3 year deals for all coaches, and eliminate part of the frustration before the season begins. Also a button to automatically re-sign your minor league players, instead of having to submit an offer to one at a time. Kind of long if you have 30 or so.

If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
HBD baseball....third base/outfield decent power, contact, very good defense, and I am very patient.

New Britain Bombers (AL) 2U23L View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is 2U23L?
A: I am a 36-year old child in view of God's mercy, from Manchester, New Hampshire.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: I don't recall exactly, but I am positive it was inevitable.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: All simleague games, Basketball Dynasty, and this one.

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Sports is my passion. It helps pass the time in this facade. Besides sports, it would have to be everything behind the curtain.

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Michel de Nostradamus, Enoch, John Titor, king Kukulkan, and my best freind Aaron all hosted by Jesus Christ.

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Reggie Jackson, Ozzie Smith, Pete Rose, Mario Lemieux, Barry Sanders, Tom Brady, Pedro Martinez, Spud Webb, and Michael Jordan.

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: Montreal Canadiens, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and the Boston Celtics.

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: I played Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, and Tennis

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Play pro ball

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Winning the American League 3 years in a row

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: Right now it's all about signing my core players to long term contracts and keeping them healthy, and giving them the best chance to win through coaching.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: I do not haggle wth free agents. I wait until the moment the free agency period is over and sign quality players who weren't acquired probably due to a draft pick that noboby wanted to part with. Case and point Kordell Hollandsworth. As far as arbitration is concerned, if i feel a player will be a "core" player I will sign him to six-year deal. If not I may arbitrate him once, and release him the following year or try to trade him during that year.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: I try to hire the best coaches I can. Top 5 if possible. Loyalty is a key factor in how I hire.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: Best players possible, spring training play is of no importance to me.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Again best players possible

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: All of them. Different kinds of players need to excel in different ratings.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: Right now i have scrapped the entire prospect part of the game to focus on keeping my team competitive and healthy for a good length of time. I will however take for instance a number of first-round picks from previous years and try to package them for 1 good prospect that could eventually become a core player.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: I think my strategy is definitely conducive to building a multi-season dynasty.....Unfortunately the National League will not comply.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: I only have 1 team, and my favorite players are the Benson brothers, Roger O'Donnel, and John Hernandez.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: Alot!! I couldn't say how much is needed

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: I respect all the users in this league . . . but if i had to name-drop. I think nordique93 makes me angry with his ability to acquire players. As good as I think I am at this game I am always learning or being beaten to the punch by him. I also think that phillyfan33 embodies the entire soul of all the users who make up the general personality of this league.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: All

Q: What is your least-favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: None

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: I would be Todd McLain of the Cinncinatti organization - take 40 rating points from his power and distribute those points equaly between health, durability, and arm accuracy. Man would I love to get McLain on the Bombers!

Q&A: Lenbo1212

Salem Buck-Toothed Walruses (AL) lenbo1212 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is (Lenbo1212)? A: My name is Len. I'm a 44 yr old tax accountant, married, and father of two boys, ages 10 and 8.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: Saw it mentioned in a Sports Illustrated note in 2001, logged on, tried a spring training team and have been hooked ever since.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Sim League Baseball, Hoops Dynasty, Hardball Dynasty and recently Clutch Racing Dynasty.

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Astronomy (and the US Space program history in particular), orienteering and strategy games.

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Hmmm, first would be any of the astronauts who walked on the moon. I'd love to hear a first-hand account of the experience. Otherwise anyone who was a pioneer in his/her field to try and gain insight into their motivations, thought processes and inspirations - people like the Wright Brothers, Beethoven, any of the founding fathers.

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: I always had a soft spot for Jay Johnstone. Currently I'd go with Chase Utley.

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: Any Philly team will do but no season will ever compare to the 1993 Phils (although this year's edition is giving them a run).

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: I ran track until sophomore year in high school.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: I'd love to attend a World Series game involving the Phils. Short of that a Ryder Cup match will suffice

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Has to be my first World Series win with a $160M White Sox team. Ed Walsh single-handedly carried that team through the playoffs.

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: As I was too loyal in the beginning to the veterans on the team most of it goes to player salaries. I've totally bagged international scouting for all the reasons previously mentioned and used those funds for advance scouting and training/medical.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: I try to avoid arbitration if at all possible by either signing them to contracts or releasing them if the demands are totally ludicrous. I'll use free-agency to fill a hole or two where my minor leaguer is still a year or two away.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: Rehire anyone who wants to come back and then find the best value for the open positions.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: You know spring training messed me up for a few seasons and I got caught up in some gaudy numbers from some prospects only to have them bomb in the regular season. Then I remembered the words of Lou Brown regarding Willie Mays Hayes hitting off a guy who'll be "bagging groceries next week" and I took it for what it is. Give the prospects a look and avoid injuries till the season begins.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: I'll look over the sims suggestions and laugh. Then I go for speed at the top, good contact at 2 and 3 and the power at 4. If the makeup allows I'll repeat the same pattern for 5-8.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Judging from my past performances I have no clue, lol. For hitters I look for high contact and a similar rating against both righties and lefties. For pitchers I'm a control freak (Mitch Williams in 1993 taught me the value of control) and similarly the ability to get batters out from both sides of the plate.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: I just be sure to draft enough at each position to fill the rookie league. I don't do much in-season promoting except for the higher round draft choices who will hopefully be the nucleus in the near future.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: I fully expect to have to rebuild almost every year.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Calvin Cho was a favorite even though he frustrated me to no end. Currently Josh Davis would be my favorite.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: I usually get about 20 minutes a day which is probably at least half as much as is needed for sustained success in this game.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: I've always had great respect for eschwartz67. He's always been willing to offer advice to the newbies or just provide insight on something he's discovered.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: Watching the draft picks develop to the point they are ready for the bigs.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Can't find much fault with the game. I do go along with the hire coaches for multiple years idea. Or at least make loyalty rating mean something. It drives me nuts when a 70 loyalty is ready to go in one year.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: I'd like to think I'd make a decent AA bench coach.

Q&A: Vdaino

Santa Cruz Zumans (NL) vdaino View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is vdaino?
A: vdaino is a 39 year old entrepreneur from New Jersey. I am married and have a beautiful 3 year old daughter who is the center of my world.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: Bill Simmons, of course.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Everything except Hockey and Car Racing (are you kidding? CAR RACING? LOL).

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: reading, writing, guitar, music, coaching and eastern "religion"

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Muhammad Ali; Buddha; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Neil Young; and Jenna Jameson

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Pete Rose; Steve Carlton; Charles Barkley; Moses Malone; Marvin Hagler; Aaron Pryor; Evander Holyfield

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: '80 Phillies; '82-83 Sixers; '86 Penn State Nittany Lions

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: I played baseball and basketball . . . SS, 3B and pitcher (usually after a flame thrower, my painfully slow stuff would throw them off) and point guard (who liked to post up Moses-style.)

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: I want to participate in a white-collar boxing match.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: beating the heavily favored schedule1's New Orleans Magnolias in 5 games to win the L.E.G. championship

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: mid-level payroll, heavy on all scouting, medical and training, zero international

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: I usually go through arb with 1st year arb eligible players, 2nd year players I sign long term if they are core players and release/trade players with high demands. Free agency, I usually pick up bullpen help, backup catchers and OF bats.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: Re-hire as many as I can. I HATE COACH HIRING

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I do not pay much attention to the minor leagues. I just make sure my top prospects advance and that I have every position covered . . . and still my pitchers get fried.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: High OBP players at a premium, control and vs. RH and LH is what I look for in starting pitchers. I always seem to have shut-down closers.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Good question. let me know when you know the answer.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: I am spending more time on the draft as a series of poor ones have hurt me. I am ranking my top 50 - 60 now. I target 5 - 6 players at levels I think I can get them. I do not chase international players anymore, too expensive. I check waivers every so often and let Sparky handle in-season promotions in the minors.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: my strategy is to have a competitive team every year with a chance to compete for the championship every year.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Sam Rodgers; J.D. Seneca and Jake Berry from Evangeline; Adam Foster; Chad Lee (never should have traded you, Chad); Footsie Stewart; Matty Fernandez and Hal Sheldon from L.E.G.; Bosco Morton, Magglio Bennett and Bartolo Escobar from Stickball . . . no one from the Negro League yet . . . BUMS!

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: I spend too much time and not enough time . . . I am competitive but I'm no sched.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: kbrick; Schlemiel; schedule1 and bbqjason are all great owners

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: the sheer depth of the game. . . It is amazing and an incredible value at the price.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Did I mention that I hate COACH HIRING? 1) Coach hiring sucks 2) and Coach hiring; and 3) Coach Hiring

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: I would play SS in HBD. i would be a speedy great fielding SS with a great eye, a real pest at the plate; a clutch hitter who delivers in the crunch.

Q&A: Eyetoeye

Salt Lake City Steamboats (AL) eyetoeye View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is eyetoeye?
A: John, 40 year old living in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Have also lived in Ohio, California, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: I was a Strat-o-Matic freak as a kid and found their online game through the Sporting News web site (I believe). One of the owners on that site asked if I had ever heard of WhatIfSports and suggested I try it.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: Just Sim League baseball.

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Reading, TV, current events.

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Jesus, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, Hank Aaron, and Jim Tressel.

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Being a Reds fan, any of the Big Red Machine of the 70's. I also loved Nolan Ryan and George Brett.

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: The '76 Reds, the greatest lineup in the modern era. Also a Cowboys fan in football and Ohio State fan.

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Just baseball. I was a fairly good player in my younger days. I led my little league in home runs one season, and led my junior high team in batting one season, hitting over .500. It started to go downhill once I hit high school.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Attend a Game 7 Reds World Series victory, or attend a Super Bowl. I would also like to visit Wrigley Field.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: I still remember my first sim league champion. It was a very low salary cap league and every platoon I had worked perfectly. I also won a league with only players from 1985. I remember the 1985 John Tudor was pretty unbeatable.

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: I play with a low player salary, just because it interests me more. Therefore I am usually heavy into scouting. With the lower player dollars I am able to place more than average dollars in most categories.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: Arbitration is on a player-by-player basis. I don't mind paying for producers and want no part of underachievers. I am not a big player in free agency, other than filling a spot, here and there, with someone who I think I can develop.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: I rehire everyone I can. There are certain coaching spots that I won't overpay for, and I really haven't noticed any difference in my team's performances. I think if you have solid players, you win, regardless of the coaching. Although I don't despise coach hiring as much as most owners, it would be nice to sign them for 2-3 year contracts. Everything in this game is so realistic, I don't know why they haven't added that, yet.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level?
What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: I usually use spring training to determine my 24th or 25th roster spot. However, it seems that a sizzling spring training usually translates into a lousy first month of the regular season. As for minor-league promotions I make sure my major-league prospects keep on track, and moving up, based on performance.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Nothing high tech, my best players play. I do value good defense up the middle and will sacrifice a little offense for it. As for pitching, I had several years of agonizing bullpens. I made a focus of fixing that, and I finally have a group I like.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Splits for hitters and pitchers. Control for pitchers, since there is enough offense in the game, I don't need to help by walking alot of people. I like starting pitchers with three good pitches.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: I take the draft very seriously. I usually spend a few days reorganizing my draft list, and have gotten some really good 3rd-7th round picks, as a result. I enjoy trying to find the diamond in the rough. I've recently cut back on the international prospects, even though there are superstars to be had, there. . . I just don't like the huge price tags. I'll keep an eye on the waiver wire when I feel like I need to add someone at a specific postion.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: I always laugh at this question. I'm waiting for the first person to say "Yeah, I shut down my entire minor-league system to try to win this year." I like having a competitive team, but haven't quite gotten over the hump, yet.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: Wesley Jordan has been my catcher since year 1 and just produces every year. I had to let Bobby Joe Monroe go, this year, which was tough. He is my franchise's all time wins leader. I also like any player who exceeds his ratings. I root for them even if they never make it out of Low A ball.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: I check in every cycle and spend 10-30 minutes "managing." As for how much time is necessary to be competitive, I would defer to the guys who have won titles, on that one.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: Kbrick is great and has always runs a great league, even back to the AAA sim leagues. I also respect all of the owners who have won titles. It is so difficult to do and I try to analyze their strategies.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: Just managing "my team." It is such a great stress reliever to log on and disappear into the fake world that is HBD.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: I don't hate anything about the site, I really like that they are constantly tweaking the game, making it better. Three things I would like added, or changed are the multi-year coaching contracts. I wish there was some benefit to keeping the older vets on your roster; like a coaching or mentoring rating that would mirror their value in real life. And I wish 100 health rating players wouldn't get injured.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: Definitely HBD. I would be a first baseman, good glove, no speed, good eye, doubles power, and good makeup. A Mike Lowell type player.

Q&A: Johnnydancer

Santa Fe Conquistadors (NL) johnnydancer View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is JohnnyDancer?
A: My name is Johnny and I am a dance instructor by trade. I am in my early forties, married, a native Texan and am a die-hard sports fan.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: Three years ago, I was surfing the net in search of a challenging sports game to play when I came across whatifsports.com. I have been hooked ever since.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: All of the dynasty games, but HBD is by far my favorite. I currently have three squads in HBD: the Conquistadors (formerly the Texas Swingers) the Florida Mojitos in OCD World and the Los Angeles Avengers of The New Guys World

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Movies, reading and dancing.

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: Roger Staubach, Fran Tarkington, Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan and Carl Yastrzemski

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: Dallas Cowboys

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Played football, basketball, baseball, soccer and track from childhood up until my senior year in high school.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: Play one game of hockey and see what it is like.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Making the playoffs for the first time in HBD.

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: I spend most of my budget on returning players and coaches.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: In order to fill holes in my lineups, due to retirements, free-agency or injuries, I usually like to promote players from within my farm leagues first. I will only use free-agency as a last resort. I usually try to make my team as young as possible (easier said than done).

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: Besides their loyalty to the team: Wins and losses.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: At the beginning of the season, I pretty much know who is, or not, going to be on my team. Spring Training has little to do, if any, on who is going to be on my final ML roster. I rarely do trades and I use free agency to fill in gaps.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: I prefer to have a five Starting Pitcher rotation, one Mop-up, two Long Releivers, four Set-ups and one closer. I prefer pitchers with control and stamina. Having an offensive-minded philosophy for my team, I tend to favor players that specialize in power hitting.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: Pitching Control

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: Although I prefer offensive-minded team, I still try to draft the best pitchers possible and then gradually work them through my farm system

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: In my experience, my teams do pretty well for a couple of seasons and then they go into a major slump fo a couple more. At this time, I'm still looking for the right balance i order to sustain winning seasons.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: On average, I spend at least a half hour a day on my teams.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: kbrick and leecountry (OCD World)

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: The opportunity to rebuild and improve your teams over a period of seasons.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: Coaching, Coaching and Coaching. Coaches should be allowed to sign muti-year contracts with their respective teams.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: I would want to play football and be the quarterback.

Q&A: Reigny

Burlington Mountaineers (AL) reigny View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Who is reigny?
Reigny is really Jeff, a 41 yr old from Northern VA who only has two beliefs to base his life on. 1) Baseball is Life... the rest is just details. 2) I don't wanna grow up...I'm a Toys R Us kid.

How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
I played a free season of SIM baseball and got hooked.

Which games of ours have you played?
HBD, GD, Clutch Racing, SIM baseball, Soccer Dynasty, and HD

Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
I tend to read a lot, and I'm a couch potato for the History Channel and the Fox Soccer channel.

Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
Albert Einstein, Atilla the Hun, Thomas Jefferson, Ted Williams, Sarah Pallin (sorry, she's hot)

Who are your favorite players of all-time?
Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig

Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
2004/2007 Boston Red Sox, 2005 Washington Nationals, and any Green Bay Packer team

Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
Baseball from T-Ball through high school, Soccer from first walking through my scholarship at Loyola

What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
I want to finally pass my Scuba Instructor's licensing test and then open my own scuba charter company in Australia.

What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
Winning the division in the ARomano world with a team that had no chance

In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
I used to follow the Yankees.... buy buy buy. Now I keep payroll low and try to build up with IFA and draft. All scouting is at least 20 MIL per year.

How do you approach offseason events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
I've never had reliable results with FA, so I pretty much let them go. In terms of arbitration, if the player has performed well, I'll sign for the long term, if not.... I release them.

What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
I try to keep them as long as possible. But when the salary demands get too high, it's just time to hire new.

How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
Spring training decides my ML, AAA, and AA teams. The Hi-A, Lo-A, teams are made up of my Rookie team getting promoted.

What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
Strategy is pretty much going with the flow. If a player or pitcher is on a roll, they play. If they hit a wall, I bench them.

What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
The R/L splits, but also the temper and health numbers.

How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
The draft takes me about two days to evaluate who I think I want. Out of 25 picks, if I can land 5-8 of my "wish list", then I'm happy. IFA players only if their numbers look good, waivers to help my minors more than anything. Promotion/demotions are always happening in my organizations.

Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
I'm still looking for my first year of a multi year dynasty.

Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
Khoury Shaw (DH Monterrey Desert Dawgs/ Rice Not Lynn). He was my first trade and he'll retire a Desert Dawg when he wants.

How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
I spend about 2 hours a night on my teams. (After my wife and my daughter go to bed, because family is still more important)

Who are the users you respect the most?
ewd330 (allowed me to join the RNL league which got me hooked. madmuldoon -- My mother in law was diagnosed with M5 Leukemia and I was missing major time with all my teams. Patrick sitemailed me and took over all of my teams for awhile. He pretty much gave me the time needed to work through it. He was the reason why I play.... he's become my best friend (my worst enemy when we play)and I think he's the perfect example of what this game should be to us..... Friends coming together not only in game but in real life if needed.

What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
the amatuer draft

What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
1. Let's be able to hire coaches for multiyear contracts
2. We should be able to trade RL players the year they are drafted and also be able to trade away or trade for draft picks
3. Instead of FA demanding a certain amount of pay and refusing all, we should be able to negotiate more with them.

If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
HBD... third base ... and I'd be a player rated in the high 60's or low 70's at the 27 yr old mark.

Q&A: Campbell1972

Las Vegas One Arm Bandits (AL) campbell1972 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Q: Who is campbell1972?
A: I am a Winnipeg (Canadian) born high school geography and history B.Ed. graduate who is currently seeking work in Korea for a second tour. My first name is Campbell and am married without children with my wife of four years, Tiffany.

Q: How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
A: Some North American teachers were playing it in Korea to pass the time while I was there the first time. They got me hooked.

Q: Which games of ours have you played?
A: I have been into the hockey for three years now and am now coming up to 10 months in this league.

Q: Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
A: Tons. Outdoors and film, music and travel, geography and history, whatever hits me at the moment. I am currently working on designing my own home which I hope to have built within the next five years.

Q: Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
A: Gene Roddenberry, Leonardo DaVinci, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Herbert Hoover, Queen Elizabeth I, the inventors, the intiators of development and change and the ones who saw it all. King and Hoover were odd ones but they were privvy to the goods of the 20th century. There are many others I would add like Kennedy, Roosevelt, Churchill, Trudeau, Castro, Gorbachev, Reagan, Mandela etc., etc.

Q: Who are your favorite players of all-time?
A: I am primarily a hockey fan and loyal to the home team but I would have to say my favorites to watch were Wayne Gretzky and Dominic Hasek in hockey, Michael Jordan in basketball, Rickey Henderson and Nolan Ryan in baseball, Doug Flutie and Warren Moon in both CFL and NFL and Tiger Woods. Only the best here.

Q: Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
A: Winnipeg Jets, Quebec/Colorado, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings (NHL). Toronto Blue Jays (sorry Dique) MLB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL). Most other sports I am impartial. Maybe Buffalo Bills (NFL).

Q: Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
A: Hockey, soccer, swimming, diving, track.

Q: What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
A: It would have been nice to compete at a professional level but it was never quite in the cards. I am now working on the golf and curling skills. Still into rec hockey though. I have no real designs on awards or championships other than WIS now, lol.

Q: What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
A: Currently have back to back Stanley Cups in one of the hockey Dynasty leagues I created. I have created a true Dynasty team. I am looking forward to going for a third.

Q: In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
A: I am still green at HBD but I have been trying to plan for the major changes in veterans and much of the rest of it is for rookies. I would like to increase my scouting budget because I know I am missing some of the prime picks. I don't like missing out on the good ones.

Q: How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
A: I just decide whether they will be valuable to the team the next season or not. I have a tendency to be too loyal at times though. I probably should have cut ties with Eugene Morgan but signed him on this season anyway. He has been on the ML with the franchise since game 1.

Q: What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
A: Loyalty is important as is potential. I have been doing the same thing with the coaches as I have with the players, youth movement. I only have 3 coaches over 45 and they are highly skilled and highly loyal. I will spend big money on coaches who will negotiate less often. Saves money in the long run I think and reduces the PITA (pain in the ass) factor during the hiring process.

Q: How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
A: The rosters are based on many factors. Performance, price and protected list are the three main things I look at when deciding on season rosters. Who is going to put up the numbers, who is going to put up value for the money and who is most likely to do so down the line. Spring training is restricted to the ones who have the most potential to make the ML. More towards the developing players than the veterans too. This is why my preseason stats are never very good, lol.

Q: What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
A: Go with the best one with the most energy. That's it. I am hands on with this though. I hate the AI.

Q: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
A: I avoid assessing single stats. I look for the peaks and valleys. If they are lacking in one area they better have some really good stats in another area or I won't take them. From my International Signing history I am not overly picky though, lol. Some stat combos will only reach certain levels but I don't focus too hard on one stat or another. How they fit with the team is more important.

Q: How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
A: I look at everything and give them a shot if I can. The numbers can be unpredictable sometimes. You never really know what is going to work. I keep a few mobile utility players and have a system for placement, releases/waviers and substitution that seems to be working as well. I believe in building from within too so you won't see me trade very often.

Q: Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
A: nordique93 and I seem to have the hockey worked out though our styles are very different. More often than not it has been one or the other of us running the dynasties in hockey (mostly him, lol). I think I can work out a consistent strategy and perform at a high level mostly because I don't like to lose.

Q: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
A: I am not really a 'favorites' person. I enjoy the whole picture.

Q: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
A: Too much just ask my wife, lol. I can spend hours on the WIS every day. I am an addict. I like to spend at least a few minutes checking things out before every game. I have also spent 12 hours or more through both days of a weekend doing hand-picked drafts in hockey. My wife is a good one for sure. She has done a bit of both hockey and baseball on WIS herself.

Q: Who are the users you respect the most?
A: Again I am not a favorites person. I have respect for most of the users out there. The hockey guys here and in my dynasties and the rest of the owners in this league all show good sportsmanship and attitudes. Honorable mention to steveajolie in hockey. He is a real leader inside and outside the game.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
A: The extent of management and variability in strategies. Hockey, I hate to say, is far more limited in this. Most of the time I only spend a few minutes on hockey. Most of my time is spent here because there is so much you can do.

Q: What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
A: My least favorite aspect is the contract bidding and lack of long-term coaching contracts. I want to know who else is bidding how much and reduce the tedious amount of time wasted guessing how much I should be offering to land a player or a coach. I would also like to see more variety in the AI settings and heirarchies to save some time.

Q: If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
A: If I were a hockey player I would be a two-way, playmaking corner-digging, shorthanded specialist, right shooting left-winger with good skates and shoft hands or an offensive right defenseman 95 in both cases with high defense and speed and fairly high shooting. I would be a catcher in baseball because I need to be in the action all the time. I'd be about a 75 with solid fielding and a solid leadoff basestealing batting skill. Not a home run king but I'd keep the pitchers honest. I would be a point guard in basketball or a wide out or punter in football. Speed and finesse is my game no matter the sport.