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--- 2025_preview [2025/04/21 12:02] – admin
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+__//**Rockem 24 Preview:** //__
 For the last three years now I said this in the opening of the preview:
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-Thanks for supplying the beer on draft day Bull (my back still hurts from carrying the cases down stairs). Along with the brews you had a clear plan and that was, don’t screw it up and just take Ohtani…Honestly, if Ohtani goes 50/50 again we can just give Bull the title, he just might be a one man Rockem championship. I don’t think he quite gets there, but with Duran, Walker, and Bregman in Boston he might not need a ton from Shohei on offense and if Marte has another amazing year living up tio this draft spot, Bull should be all set on O.
+Thanks for supplying the beer on draft day Bull (my back still hurts from carrying the cases down stairs). Along with the brews you had a clear plan and that was, don’t screw it up and just take Ohtani…Honestly, if Ohtani goes 50/50 again we can just give Bull the title, he just might be a one man Rockem championship. I don’t think he quite gets there, but with Duran, Walker, and Bregman in Boston he might not need a ton from Shohei on offense and if Marte has another amazing year, living up to his draft spot, Bull should be all set on O.
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-His arms are solid as well even if Ohtani doesn’t pitch. Cease Sasaki Kirby are a pretty sick top three and his bullpen may just be the best in the league with Bautista Pressly and Estevez if he ends up closing full time. Hmm, looks like Bull may be picking out where we all pay for his eats…
+His arms are solid as well, even if Ohtani doesn’t pitch. Cease Sasaki Kirby are a pretty sick top three and his bullpen may just be the best in the league with Bautista Pressly and Estevez if he ends up closing full time. Hmm, looks like Bull may be picking out where we all pay for his eats…
 Prediction: Top Third. Scary how good Othani is and Bull gets both kinds of Ohtani, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS-zEH8YmiM&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD|Country and Western]].
 === Fatty: ===
+) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?
+Overall I’m pretty satisfied with this squad. I got the itch to load the staff early, not something over tried in lol these years. Was looking to load up on pitching stats and fill in the offense as I go. Excited to have some strong pitching but couldn’t find the right time to get in on the saves.
+) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed?
+Stoked to get Trout there but not sure why I didn’t take the Judge. Think I got caught trying to be funny.
+) Whose team are you most impressed with?
+Nephew Ben’s and A Pinch of Asian both make me chuckle when I see them, just the names fellas, not a knock on your actual teams.
+) How much does the commish like music?
+Somebody knows
+) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)
+Spring training has my vote. AZ in March would be hoot. We should plan early.
+) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?
+Bad Roman was so good and the way they went all out for us was amazing! Thanks Vig, such a rad experience. Sorry to miss tho last one. The sushi days were awesome too. Was telling Liz about it the other day and she had one question…how did they have enough sushi for you guys!
+) Anything to say to your competitors?
+Love you guys!
 __//Commish’s Take://__
-Is Fatty still in the league? Haven’t seen him in a while and his team was playing managerless since I think August…but hey maybe he is just trying a new technique to finally get over the Rockem hump. A complete hands off approach…
+Is Fatty still in the league? Haven’t seen him in a while and his team was playing managerless since I think August…but hey maybe he is just trying a new technique to finally get over the Rockem hump. A complete 'throw your hands up and off' approach…
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-I keeed, I am glad he could join us on the video chat and wish we were all closer. As for this team though…woof could use some coaching up! Witt Jr. over Judge was a small surprise as Fatty went for more well rounded and on the offense he will need Wiit to be MVP because there isn’t a whole lot there. Machado, Reynolds, Cowser, Suzuki, Arraez, Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the lucky 13th?!? Woof. Fatty needs Mike Trout to think it is 2012 again for him to have much of a chance…
+I keeed, I am glad he could join us on the video chat and wish we were all closer. As for this team though…woof could use some coaching up! Witt Jr. over Judge was a small surprise as Fatty went for more well rounded and on the offense he will need Witt to be an MVP because there isn’t a whole lot there. Machado, Reynolds, Cowser, Suzuki, Arraez, Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the lucky 13th?!? Woof. Fatty needs Mike Trout to think it is 2012 again for him to have much of a chance…
-HOWEVER! Fatty surprised everyone and went Pitcher heavy, did this work out? Results inconclusive, check back later…Wheeler is as solid as SP come, Snell can be dynamic and Framber is the real deal. A pen of just Diaz and Foley? Hmm, and a back end of Woo,Baz Berrios? Donny needs the stars to shine big time…
+HOWEVER! Fatty surprised everyone and went Pitcher heavy, did this work out? Results inconclusive, check back later…Opposite day for Donald as he never goes after arms, but he has also never won so why not change it up? Wheeler is as solid as SP come, Snell can be dynamic and Framber is the real deal. A pen of just Diaz and Foley? Hmm, and a back end of Woo,Baz Berrios? Donny needs the stars to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4v1SwngbzQ|soulshine]] big time…
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-On the O side, Power shouldn’t be an issue with the Incredible Hulk, err Judge, Vinnie Badabing Pastquatch and Eugenio. He shows some speed with Turner and Crews while the most exciting part of Moon’s team is his young OF stars with Churo and Langford. If those two put it all together this could be a very very tough squad…jesus christ did I just talk myself into liking Moon’s team?!?!
+On the O side, Power shouldn’t be an issue with the Incredible Hulk, err Judge, Vinnie Badabing Pastquatch and Eugenio. He shows some speed with Turner and Crews while the most exciting part of Moon’s team is his young OF stars with Chourio and Langford. If those two put it all together, and I think they both will, this could be a very very tough squad…jesus christ did I just talk myself into liking Moon’s team?!?!
 Prediction: Top third… I guess I did. Weird.
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-Which Olsen will he get? 50 bombs from two years ago or a barely top 100 player last year. Is this Oneil’s time to shine or will he bat .187 and strike out a thousand times? Can Hunter Greene finally pull it all together? Is Jordan Romano really a top closer? Who knows is the answer to all of these? Not me…
+Which Olsen will he get? 50 bombs from two years ago or a barely top 100 player last year. Is this Oneil’s time to shine or will he bat .187 and strike out a thousand times? Can Hunter Greene finally pull it all together? Is Jordan Romano really a top closer? Let's ask Sir Paul….
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-To be honest, I was stretching the theme a little bit up there because outside of those players, his team is pretty together, if a touch underwhelming with the likes of Santandar, Webb, Garcia, Springer and Paredes. As usual I think some of Tom's risks pay off, some crap the bed and some are inbetween…what does that add up to?
+Thanks for noting Paul. Well,thanks for the music I guess...
+To be honest, I was stretching the theme a little bit up there because outside of those players, his team is pretty together, if a touch underwhelming. The likes of Santandar, Webb, Garcia, Springer and Paredes are OK, but not boner inducing like that lady who played Joan Baez in that Dylan flick...smoking.
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+As usual I think some of Tom's risks pay off, some crap the bed and some are inbetween…what does that add up to?
 Prediction: Middle third. I think the middle feels about right with this squad.
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-What won’t turn out OK? The rest of his offense. Roberts, Yellich, Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith? Hmm…Maybe some late grabs like Winn and Wallner help out, but unless there is a Subway series on the backs of Soto and Jazz I think Wilson is in for a long season.
+What won’t turn out OK? The rest of his offense. Roberts, Yellich, Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith? Hmm…Maybe some late grabs like Winn and Wallner help out, but unless there is a Subway series on the backs of Soto, Pete and Jazz I think Wilson is in for a long season.
 Prediction: Bottom Third. Here’s hoping I am wrong and Soto is lights out…
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 __//Commish Take://__
-Since I am writing this in draft order as well, I can compare McNally to Wilson, where the Campbell soup looking kid went with what he knows, Donny went adventurous…
+Since I am writing this in draft order as well, I can compare McNally to Wilson, where the Campbell Soup looking kid went with what he knows, Donny went adventurous…
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-My initial sense from Tangled Upton Blue is all or nothing. If De La Cruz is the deal, Ju-Rod keeps it kosher, Swaggy V is the superstar we all want him to be and Crochet is a CY Young winner…woof. All of that is possible, but I am not sure it is likely. After the top three on Offense, he has some dependable, if not super exciting bats (Naylor, Siemen, Perez, Castellanos, Nimmo O’Neil) should be stable. If Arozarena gets it together that could be a great pick. Truly though the offense runs through the up and coming superstars for Don, they deliver and watch out.
+My initial sense from Tangled Upton Blue is all or nothing. If De La Cruz is the deal, Ju-Rod keeps it kosher, Swaggy V is the superstar we all want him to be and Crochet is a CY Young winner…woof. All of that is possible, but I am not sure it is likely. After the top three on Offense, he has some dependable, if not super exciting bats (Naylor, Siemen, Perez, Castellanos, Nimmo O’Neil) should be stable. If Arozarena gets it together that could be a great pick. Truly though the offense runs through the up and coming superstars for Don, if they deliver, watch out.
 On the Pitching front, he backed up Crochet with Burnes, Bibee and Perralta. Very solid. I have buried the lead here though as for the first time ever (not checking if that is accurate) McNally drafted 2 closers!!! Iglesias and Duran are top notch and Yates will def sneak a few SV’s….hmm don’t look now but Don’s team could be sneaky good.
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 __//Commish Take://__
-Ahh the old pitch-pitch!! Of course when the league zigs, Mike zags. The one year Rockem waited on pitching Mike grabbed the two top starters off the board. The weird thing is…I am not sure he has the best staff…baseball is so weird.
+Ahh the old pitch-pitch!! Of course when the league zigs, Mike zags. The one year Rockem waited on pitching Mike grabbed the two top starters off the board. The weird thing is…I am not sure he even has the best staff…baseball is so weird.
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-Sure on the arms Skenes and Skurbal may be all he needs but Gausman was down last year, May and McClanhan are coming back from injuries (EDITOR'S NOTE: SMc is hurt already pre season) and is Gore the real thing? His bullpen is also suspect with a shaky Diaz, but a solid Helsely… Is this staff better than Fatone’s, Bird’s top three, BK‘s staff or even Bull? I am not totally sold…
+Sure on the arms Skenes and Skurbal may be all he needs, but Gausman was down last year, May and McClanhan are coming back from major injuries (EDITOR'S NOTE: SMc is hurt already pre season) and is Gore the real thing? His bullpen is also suspect with a shaky Diaz, but a solid Helsely… Is this staff better than Fatone’s, Bird’s top three, BK‘s staff or even Bull? I am not totally sold…wait a second, Skenes and Skubal…
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-The first bat off the board is a recovering Acuna? Mike’s plan was certainly different this year, but if Acuna is in form, if Albies is back and if Bellinger and Bichette both smoke some herb and hallucinate themselves as MVP candidates again maybe Mike can make a run. But wow, that was a whole lot of ‘if’s”. As this team stands I don’t think all of them hit the board. Mike goes for all or nothing these days and looking much more probable one way than the other at this point…
+The first bat off the board is a recovering Acuna? Mike’s plan was certainly different this year, but if Acuna is in form, if Albies is back and if Bellinger and Bichette both smoke some herb and hallucinate themselves as MVP candidates again maybe Mike can make a run. But wow, that was a whole lot of ‘if’s”. As this team stands I don’t think all of them hit the board.
+Mike goes for all or nothing these days and looking much more probable one way than the other at this point…MIke didn't like my pick for the drafting spot, so he really isn't going to like this...
 Prediction: Bottom Third. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hNKrgD2Qag|Nothin from Nothin is Nothin’.]]
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   - About as good as the quality of this video ages ago…
-[[https://youtu.be/1M5D4jR_QGU|https://youtu.be/1M5D4jR_QGU]]
+[[https://youtu.be/1M5D4jR_QGU|https://youtu.be/1M5D4jR_QGU]].
 . Glad to have gotten tucker and harper.
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 __//Commish Take://__
-Unfortunately coaching his daughters team in a volleyball tourney forced Birdie to miss the draft. He became the first participant that drafted from a list, and thankfully answered a few texts. If he hadn’t, there would be a whole heaping amount of SP’s and C’s on this team, so thanks for checking your phone Ferrari.
+Unfortunately coaching his daughters team in a volleyball tourney forced Birdie to miss the draft. He became the first participant that drafted from a list, and thankfully answered a few texts. If he hadn’t, there would be a whole heaping amount of SP’s and C’s on this team, and you know that that spells, PU. So thanks for checking your phone Ferrari.
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-It is hard for me to say much here. We went by the list except when we could chat, so Birdie jumped on Jackson Holliday early which could be a major surprise. He also has a really strong starting staff with Gilbert, Ragans and Miller, who could all be in the top ten of SP’s when the year ends. Having one real closer in Bednar hurts, but that is where the list gets you as the closer run was so early this year.
+It is hard for me to say much here. We went by the list except when we could chat, so Birdie jumped on Jackson Holliday early which could be a major surprise. He also has a really strong starting staff with Gilbert, Ragans and Miller, who could all be in the top ten of SP’s when the year ends. Having only one real closer in Bednar hurts, but that is where the list gets you as the closer run was so early this year.
 One-two of Tucker and Harper give solid offense and if Merrill is the real deal I could see Birdie doing all right with all around contributors. Harris II and Rutschman can put up big numbers. With some managing I think John could possibly make a run….to where, I have no idea…
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-OK, I will. Here are some statements about the team. I think the middle rounds will let him down, it is probably when the Red Breast took effect. Diaz, Lane Thomas, Burleson and Pfaadt are just PfaaOk to Pfaaaabad. Late picks like Bleday, Spencer Spaghetti and Alvaerz (god I hope) could surprise though.
+OK, I will. Here are some statements about the team. I think the middle rounds will let him down, it is probably when the Red Breast took effect. Diaz, Lane Thomas, Burleson and Pfaadt are just PfaaOk to PfaaaaBad. Late picks like Bleday, Spencer Spaghetti and Alvaerz (god I hope) could surprise though.
 I am just not sure, about this squad. Going to say like most teams in Rockem history with this many questions, things rarely work out for free eats…but you never know…
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 Ahh you woke up? Nice…I can’t mess with that first swing pick from the cab though…Betts and Tatis could be a trophy winning combo (EDITOR’S NOTE: If Betts isn’t currently starring in a remake of Stephan King’s //Thinner//). Kept the vibe alive with Devers and Fried combo before kicking off our early closer run by grabbing the two best in the biz with Wiliams and Hader. Really loved your squad at that point….
-Once Vig fully woke up things got a touch squirrely…Kjersted, Roman, Goldy, not awful, but Vig rode the snake with needs and that could work, I think Volpe was pretty solid, or it could backfire, I think Bogarts was early. Going with really young guys to end may pay off for JV as Cam Smith and Drake Baldwin both made the big leagues…so there is that. Past years have shown J is on the ball more than most when it comes to hot pick-ups (in ladies and players…zing!) but not not picking up his phone when the draft had already started….
+Once Vig fully woke up things got a touch squirrely…Kjersted, Roman, Goldy, not awful, but Vig rode the snake with needs and that could work, I think Volpe was pretty solid, or it could backfire, I think Bogarts was early. Going with really young guys to end may pay off for JV as Cam Smith and Drake Baldwin both made the big leagues…so there is that. Past years have shown J is on the ball more than most when it comes to hot pick-ups (in ladies and players…zing!) but not not picking up his phone when the draft had already started….so that is a knock on him…
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-Prediction: Middle Third. I think some stuff pays off, some doesn’t. Thanks for waking up. On thanks to Glen for getting you up…
+Prediction: Middle Third. I think some stuff pays off, some doesn’t. Thanks for waking up. Or I should say… thanks to Glen for getting you up…
+Overall Thoughts:
-Got no idea with this but here you go….Overall thoughts:
+Got no idea with this but here you go….
 . Mike
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 . SPD
-. Vig
+. Bird
-. Bird
+. Vig
 . Tom