First Pitch Arizona
8:00 AM: Cage Matches
GREG AMBROSIUS, National Fantasy Baseball Championship
PATRICK DAVITT, BaseballHQ.com
DOUG DENNIS, BaseballHQ.com
JEFF ERICKSON, Rotowire/SiriusXM Radio
STEVE GARDNER, USA TODAY Sports Weekly
TIM HEANEY, KFFL.com
ERIC KARABELL, ESPN.com
LENNY MELNICK, FantasyPros911.com
NICK MINNIX, KFFL.com
JOSH PALEY, BaseballHQ.com
ALEX PATTON, AlexPatton.com
JOCK THOMPSON, BaseballHQ.com
DEREK VAN RIPER, Rotowire/SiriusXM Radio
BRANDON WILSON, BaseballHQ.com
TODD ZOLA, Mastersball.com
Watch the experts go head-to-head in a series of rapid-fire 6-minute debates. The topics are player comparison issues that fantasy leaguers will grapple with in 2012. Who is a better target - Adam Dunn or Alex Rios? Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg? Matt Wieters or Buster Posey or Carlos Santana? And many more! It's your chance to get a variety of opinions, some interaction and hilarious improv theater!
9:30 AM: Cutting Edge Defensive Metrics and their Impact on our Game
STEVE MOYER, Baseball Info Solutions
This year in Tout Wars, Steve spent an end-game buck on Casey Kotchman. He reasoned that, if Dan Johnson got off to a slow start and Kotchman could hit even a little, the Rays would be all too happy to play the guy with the dazzling defensive rep. Most fantasy leaguers ignore defense in their analysis but it is becoming more and more important to Major League clubs in determining who is going to get playing time.
In this session, Steve will explain today's cutting edge defensive metrics - plus/minus, runs saved, and defensive good plays/misplays, from the analytical philosophy to the data collection process. He will also offer a glimpse into how these metrics are influencing the game both on the field and in the broadcast booth.
10:15 AM: Kimball Unplugged
KIMBALL CROSSLEY, a former sportswriter covering the Pawtucket Paw Sox, is currently a professional scout with the Toronto Blue Jays. Kimball is also an avid fantasy leaguer and has become a regular at this event.
11:15 AM: Open Forum Q&A
Here's your final chance to pick the brains of our speakers. Toss out the names of players you'd like their opinion on. Challenge them to reveal their own secrets. No rules, no limits, just 45 minutes of hard data, coming at you fast and furious.
NOTE: SCHEDULE IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
