Monday, February 24, 2014

18 questions with bracktacular

1. What should we call you?
Bracke (my last name), but I’ve responded to worse.

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
-Fantasy baseball, basketball, hockey, golf
-Going to concerts
-Golf
-Running up a large iTunes bill

3. How did you find HBD?
Aaron Gleeman (fantasy baseball writer from Rotoworld)

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
One. I’ve tried multiple team ownership, but I can’t develop a memory of my team’s system top to bottom. With one team it is possible to develop that after a season or two. I spend 7-8 hours a week on HBD.

5. Married? Children?
Married to my wife, Abby for 13 years. I have two daughters- Norah (10yrs old) and Ruby (5yrs old). Also have an 11-year old Boston Terrier named Lois.

6. City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
Eden Prairie/Minnesota currently. Grew up in Minnetonka/Minnesota

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
Graphic Designer. It’s a reciprocal relationship in that I check stuff at work and in turn, make logos for my HBD teams. The Pawtucket Pickleweasels have a logo.

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Joe Carter

9. What makes you laugh?
Cards Against Humanity games, Jim Gaffigan, Daniel Tosh, David Cross, Anchorman 1 or 2

10. Top 3 all-time movies?
1) The Big Lebowski 2) Fletch 3) O’Brother Where Art Thou

11. What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them?
I am a lifelong Toronto Blue Jays fan.

12. Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
I’m generally reserved, but outspoken when needed. I’m a VERY opinionated person, but try not to force my opinions on others unless provoked…repeatedly.

13. What is your GM philosophy?
Honestly I feel it’s still developing. I guess I like to shore up shortstop, center field, and starting pitching and build from there. By “shore up,” I mean a defensively and offensively sound player.

14. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
Bracktacular comes from my last name and a convenient adjective. As for my Regular Joes nickname, I have always tried to get something funny and in alliteration with my team’s city. If you’ve seen the movie “Something About Mary,” when Ben Stiller is in the bathroom and zip “himself” up in his zipper, that is called a Pickleweasel.

15. Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
I guess it would be Ford Frick because he was so integral in expanding the reach of the game. He worked with groups in Japan, Latin and Central America, Holland, Italy and Africa, introducing many of them to baseball for the first time.

16. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
- Hiring Coaches
- Can’t seem to figure out the magical amount to budget in training/medical to avoid injuries

17. What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
Allow owners to customize team logos

18. If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would…
Reinstate Pete Rose, errrr, wrong commish seat?

Friday, February 21, 2014

18 questions with reino4

1. What should we call you?
W. or Reino the Third, by the Grace of God King of this Realm and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Master Griller.

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
Bicycling

3. How did you find HBD?
I was a beta tester for the game.

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
Down to 1 team from a high of 4.

5. Married? Children?
Divorced with 3 sons ages 17, 22, 24

6. City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
Live in Rocky River, Ohio. Grew up in Cincinnati, OH

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
Paramedic. When I can sneak away I do.

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Davey Concepcion

9. What makes you laugh?
Clowns on fire. And monkeys.

10. Top 3 all-time movies?
1. The Quiet Man, There are no other movies.

11. What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them?
Cincinnati Reds. Still love them but I also root for the Indians now. Waiting for the Pan-Ohio World Series

12. Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
Depends on the league. When I was a commish I was outspoken. But now I just lay in the weeds. Waiting...

13. What is your GM philosophy?
Collect wily vets while building for the future. Or is it? Why would I tell you? Shut-up.

14. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
Reino4=Last name/Rhino + 4 in the family

15. Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
Happy Chandler. But I am bound by law not to tell you why.

16. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
Coach hiring every season. Colossal waste of time. And blatant tanking.

17. What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
Coach hiring every season. Colossal waste of time. And blatant tanking.

18. If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would…
Minimum Win Rule. And Minimum Salary Cap rule.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

18 questions with junghwaowh

1. What should we call you?
Dave

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
Baseball card Collecting and travelling overseas every year

3. How did you find HBD?
google search for online management game

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
I have 4 , heaps of spare time at work, about 4-6 hours spare every day, so far about 20 + hours spent

5. Married? Children?
Divorced, 2 adult girls 29 and 26, Beautiful Girlfriend of 8 years

6. City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
grew up Adelaide, South Australia...Live Melbourne, Australia

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
County train conductor(Government Job) yep check all the time

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Doc Gooden

9. What makes you laugh?
Anchorman

10. Top 3 all-time movies?
1.Friday Night Lights. 2. Field of Dreams. 3.Tombstone

11. What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them? 86 Mets, Still love the Mets."Lets go Mets Go"

12. Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
NO, I just want to learn the game and have fun

13. What is your GM philosophy?
Have'nt developed strategy yet,still learning

14. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
Junghwaowh is my Girlfriends name,She is from South Korea

15. Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
None

16. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
People telling other people what to do, Just relax , if you have a problem just trade chat it and resolve peacefully.

17. What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
Nothing yet, Still Learning

18. If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would…
I would sleep well knowing that I had the greatest job on Earth for 1 Day

Sunday, February 16, 2014

18 questions with torrone

1. What should we call you? 
I once asked my future father in law what I should call him. He said "Mr Jimmerson". My name is Tony.


2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
Golf, avid reader(military history and historical fiction mostly). Alsao watch a lot of TV. A LOT! Latlely here in NY, my 2nd job is shoveling snow.


3. How did you find HBD?
Used to play Imagine Baseball and somehow came across this. This is way better.


4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
I usually like to have 2, but now it's 4. Probably average a couple of hours a day.


5. Married? Children?
Married 38+ years. 2 grown kids, boy & girl. My son's wife is soon to give birth to our 1st grandchild.


6. City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
I live in Malverne NY on Long Island. Grew up about 10 minutes away in Floral Park NY.


7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
Retired over 10 years now. Formerly was a UPS driver.


8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Mickey Mantle


9. What makes you laugh?
My futility at this game


10. Top 3 all-time movies?
Gone With The Wind(yes I'm old)
The Godfather 1 & 2(counts as 1)
Carlito's Way


11. What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them?
Yankees. Yes, but not with the same fervor.



12. Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
Yes. I have a big mouth. Gets me in trouble.


13. What is your GM philosophy?
I'm not sure. I look for solid players, not necessarily superstars. Maybe I should change that. I work both the amateur draft and the IFA equally.


14. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
WIS nickname, torrone, is an Italian nougat candy. Delicious. Changed the team name from Steam, which I inherited, to the Tevinter Imperium, which comes from the great video game Dragon Age. It was either that or Turtleheads. Hope you don't need an explanation for that one.


15. Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
If you mean here,I thought goldenboy69 was a great commish for many years in Addicted Users. In real MLB, I liked Bart Giamatti. I thought he had a lot of integrity.


16. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
Would like them to institute a page breaks so you could see the header as you scroll down lists of players. Also, in some of the categories in stats they only list high to low. I don't care in League Leaders who has given up the most walks. I'd like to see the least. They do it in other areas. I don't see why it can't be done for all lists.


17. What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
Don't like that you are locked into your next game SP as soon as the last game ends. I'd like the opportunity to change SPs for a while after the last game.


18. If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would…
Award myself an honorary WS title. May be the only way I will ever get one.

Friday, February 14, 2014

18 questions with andrewfrance

18 questions with andrewfrance


1. What should we call you?
FRANCE (all caps)

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
I play most sports still (basketball, softball, soccer, ultimate frisbee)

3. How did you find HBD?
I can't remember. Too long ago

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
2 HD, 2 HBD. Not that many, depending on recruiting.

5. Married? Children?
Yes, 3 kids. My 10 year old plays HD

6. City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
Jacksonville, FL. Charleston, SC. School in Chapel Hill, NC.

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
Health Actuary. O65 Products and Health Care Reform. Not much. Occasionally recruit on phone.
Used to be high school math teacher and basketball coach

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Ben Oglivie.

9. What makes you laugh?
My 3-year old.

10. Top 3 all-time movies?
Shawshank Redemption. The Fugitive. School of Rock.

11. What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them?
Brewers. Yes.

12. Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
No. General Live and Let Live philosophy

13. What is your GM philosophy?
Always try to compete

14. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
No

15. Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
None.

16. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
1. Predicable development. 2. Predictable development. 3. Predictable development.

17. What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
Predictable Development.

18. If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would…
Hope nothing went wrong.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

18 questions with adalynch


1. What should we call you?
If you call me Francis, I'll kill you

2. Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
Softball, tennis and coaching my kids in anything

3. How did you find HBD?
Like many other here I was turned on to WIS through the Bill Simmons article. It has ruined my life ever since ; )

4. How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
Three teams, but think I will go down to 2 soon (don't worry, I am staying here). Some weeks, 20 hours; some weeks, I am lucky to get on for 10 minutes.

5. Married? Children?
Married to an awesome woman I met when we were 15. Love her. 3 kids: 9 year old boy, 5 year old girl (my angel) and a 17 month old power forward. Seriously, he's as big as his older sister.

6. City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
New York City

7. Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
Lawyer. I take the 5th.

8. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Paul Molitor and Greg Maddux

9. What makes you laugh?
I laugh a lot. Hard to narrow it to one thing.

10. Top 3 all-time movies?
Godfather I
Godfather II
Animal House

11. What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them?
I have always been a Yankees fan and still am today. The late 1990's were an awesome time to be young and living in NYC. However, for reasons I still don't understand, I was a huge Harvey Wallbanger's fan in the early 1980's. I still haven't gotten over the 1982 World Series. Those teams were awesome. Someday when I get enough cajones, I will grow a fu manchu.

12. Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
Not at all. I really just want this to be fun. Any drama turns me off immediately. I particularly dislike when people see fit to tell others how to run their teams. Or when people take themselves too seriously. This is a game. A fake game at that. With fake players. I once had an owner give me a moneyball lecture in a trade chat. I stopped talking to that guy. Forever. Let's just have fun and, did I mention this is fake?

13. What is your GM philosophy?
I have had the most success when my teams are better than the other guy's teams. Pitching and defense. A few guys with 90+ power always helps too.

14. Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
I used to be a prosecutor in New York. ada = Assistant District Attorney. 

15. Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
none

16. General pet peeves about the HBD game?
Leagues where 10 IFA's sign for $30 M or more. And owners who tell other owners how to run their teams.

17. What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
I have neither the patience nor the technical skills to properly rank players for the Amateur Draft. I really wish I could figure out how to do that better.

18. If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would . . . ask David to take over.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

18 Questions


1.  What should we call you?
David

2.  Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
I use to collect baseball cards, but as I've had kids and they've gotten older that's gone by the wayside some. I like to play xbox some, but don't have much time for that either:) My biggest hobby or pastime is probably playing with my kids. 

3.  How did you find HBD?
I'm honestly not real sure what made me look, but one day I was just looking around for sports simulations and stumbled upon WIS. I fell in love with HBD almost instantly.  

4.  How many teams do you run? How many hours per week do you pour into your team?
I currently have 6. It's probably a little too much, but I can't decide which team to give up. I enjoy each of them very much for different reasons. 

5.  Married? Children?
Yes, I am married. I have 2 children. A son who is 11 and a daughter who is 5.

6.  City/State you live in? Where did you grow up?
Lafayette, IN next to Purdue University.  Grew up a half hour north of Lafayette 

7.  Occupation? Do you check in on your teams during work?
Restaurant Manager 

8.  Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Ryne Sandberg-great hitter and even better fielder 

9.  What makes you laugh?
my kids and wife

10.  Top 3 all-time movies?
1) Billy Madison
2) Anchorman
3) Hangover 

11.  What was your favorite real baseball team growing up? Still in love with them?
Chicago Cubs! still love them and always will sadly:) 

12.  Are you an outspoken owner? Why or why not?
I would say yes. In this league I probably need to be at times just so you know I'm engaged in the league.

13.  What is your GM philosophy?
to get the best players I can. the splits for both hitters and pitchers are very important to me. I also value the 1st pitch and defense

14.  Any special meaning for your WIS nickname? For your Regular Joe’s nickname?
nope and I took over towards the end of a season in Joey belle. never changed the name.

15.  Which MLB commissioner do you admire or identify with most?
they've all had their good points and their bad points. I admire that we can now review plays. I feel it's time for baseball to step into this century and use the technology available and I believe Bud Selig deserves credit for that.

16.  General pet peeves about the HBD game?
coach hiring, coach hiring, coach hiring 

17.  What would you change about HBD if given the chance?
I would like to see them implement an Arizona Fall League for prospects. Each prospect would only be allowed to participate once and they would have to be in the minors at the time. 

18.  If I was Regular Joe’s commissioner for a day I would…
everything that I already do:)