Manager Profile: Adam

Biography
• Name: Adam

• Team: Montezuma’s Revenge

• Location: North Berwick, ME

• Age: 30

• Years in High & Tight: Seven

• Education: Bachelors - UConn

• Major(s)/Focus: English and Journalism

• Occupation: Marketing Specialist for an investment consultant

• Favorite MLB team: Red Sox

• Favorite MLB player currently: Dustin Pedroia

• Favorite MLB player as child: Frank Thomas

• Highest level of experience playing baseball: Varsity High School (backup 1B)

• Why did you choose the team name you have? How many times has it changed? It was originally “Baby on Board” because my first son AJ was on the way. Then it changed to AJ’s Revenge after I lost to Dagan in the championship by way of the ERA tiebreaker. After a rather crappy season, I changed it to Montezuma’s Revenge at the end of the year as a joke because my team was so shitty. But it grew on me and stuck.

Players

1. Which player was the all-time most enjoyable to have on your team? I’d say it was probably Hanley before I traded him back to Casten. I had him in most of his really good years. Close second was Manny, who was my first pick ever taken and stayed on my team for four years--additional appeal for being on the Sox, then probably Halladay.

2. Have you grown a deep hatred for any player due to their past fantasy performance? I tend not to hold grudges, but Adam Dunn tested my patience last year. Gordon Beckham was another former keeper I thought would be good.

3. What one player do you wish you had on your roster right now? Tulo. You just don’t get that type of production from the SS position anymore.

4. What player will never be on your roster (not due their status as a keeper for another team)? I wouldn’t rule out anyone, but Ichiro is pretty close. Just don’t see the value in an OBP league.

5. Which player on your current roster are you least likely to trade? Everyone has a price, but probably Hosmer because his ceiling is so high but he’s not there yet. CSantana, JUpton and Lawrie would be difficult to get too because they haven’t quite met their potential.

6. What is your all-time best transaction (draft pick/trade/free agent pick-up)? I always like mentioning how I traded Casten JReyes for Hanley and a very effective at the time Brandon Webb. Dropping IStewart for Hosmer last year was good too. But the best was probably trading Manny to Kyle in 2009 two weeks before he got suspended for PEDs. Ended up getting a bunch of guys who helped me, including Raul Ibanez’s incredible year.

7. What is your all-time worst transaction (draft pick/ trade/free agent pick-up)? There’s been a lot, but PAlvarez in the first round last year was quite bad.

8. Any players you find yourself gravitating toward, despite their being largely unpopular? I always seem to forgive Chone Figgins.

9. Who is the worst keeper you’ve ever kept? Ultimately GBeckham is probably the winner here. I kept Mark Buehrle once too; he was good then, but it’s still embarrassing.

10. Who is the best sleeper on your team currently? I liked Samardzija before the season started and picked him up before his first start. Think he has high K upside. Scutaro could also be valuable.

League

11. How were you introduced to the league? How do you know Lars? I was one of the originals. Knew Lars from high school.

12. How many current owners did you know prior to joining the league? Which ones? Dave was in my wedding party, so he’s a long-time friend. Casten and Lars were in the grade below me, and Casten foolishly always thought he knew more about sports than I did. Pierce was a couple grades above. I knew of Troy since he and my dad are local businessmen, but hadn’t really interacted with him until the league.

13. Who would you say is your biggest rival in High & Tight? If none, who would you most enjoy pulverizing? Probably Dagan, since I’ve lost to him a couple times in the championships. I may not be his biggest rival since he beats me every time, but I still own the top all-time record! I also thoroughly enjoy beating Dave. Jason is my rival as far as total transactions in a given year.

14. Who is your favorite trade partner? Who is your least favorite? Chris and Dave are pretty level-headed and to the point when we discuss trades, so I’d go with them for favorite. Jason is probably the least because he low balls and tries to convince me they’re good. Casten may be most frustrating, but I think that’s because we value the same types of players.

15. What is your initial reaction when you see you’ve received a trade offer from Jason? Reject - I pretty much always know I’m not going to accept the first rendition.

16. Anything you’d like other owners to know about your interaction with the league (examples: “I check my email/league site at lunch time,” “I often travel and don’t have access to the internet,” “Your odds of executing a trade with me go up considerably if you send me a picture of Scarlet Johansson posing provocatively,” etc.)? I will almost always counter a trade offer. If I don’t, you know it was really off base.

17. How would you describe your pre-draft preparation? Intricate, possible overboard. Lots of Excel spreadsheets and data.

18. How often do you go on the H&T website/blog per day? Six or so. Set the lineup in the morning, check the transactions mid-day. Monitor the box scores constantly at night.

19. What is the weirdest place/situation you’ve checked your lineup? The shitter.

20. If you could make one change to the league, what would it be? I would require all managers to respond to trade offers within 24 hours or they get fined $300, which is then dedicated to a separate fund for the league scribe.