Anyone Ever Go to First Pitch Forums?

[Fresno Bob]

I'd say "yes, it's worth the travel time". I thoroughly enjoyed the First Pitch seminar in Phoenix and think it was worth the expense and time to go from Ohio to Arizona and back, not to mention the opportunity to meet all the RJ guys there.

Now whether that will translate into fantasy baseball success this year, who knows...

FP Arizona is a different beast than the Feb/March events. Three hours goes by very quickly, its shorter than any of the morning sessions at AFL. That being said, the focus tends to be on players that will deliver more immediate value. I wish I could drive two hours to the FP Arizona, hell, I dont know if Ron would be ready for the pile of degenerate drunk gamblers he'd get if my fantasy baseball posse was only two hours away. We'd probably RV in!

[The Dane]

Honestly, I'm really not sure if FP Arizona or any of the local FPs really have any direct effect on my fantasy success. I learn things, sure, but it's not like it's as functionally helpful as BBHQ, Rotowire updates, checking this place regularly, or any other thing I use. However, it's great to have fantasy talk with people who know what they are doing and have educated opinions. And it's great to see people you know who share similar interests. It's well worth the time and price for me, just for that.

[Todd Zola]

Honestly, I'm really not sure if FP Arizona or any of the local FPs really have any direct effect on my fantasy success. I learn things, sure, but it's not like it's as functionally helpful as BBHQ, Rotowire updates, checking this place regularly, or any other thing I use. However, it's great to have fantasy talk with people who know what they are doing and have educated opinions. And it's great to see people you know who share similar interests. It's well worth the time and price for me, just for that.

Other than getting some great minor league info, which is not part of my focus as an analyst, what the fall sessions do for me is provide a list of names for me to investigate - a list of guys where I have a different opinion than is being presented.

Sometimes I change my mind.

Others, I don't.

[pjs24]

Only been to the Arizona weekend because the one-day'ers never come to Texas!

I fully endorse in the Arizona trip in November.

[JudeBaldo]

Honestly, I'm really not sure if FP Arizona or any of the local FPs really have any direct effect on my fantasy success. I learn things, sure, but it's not like it's as functionally helpful as BBHQ, Rotowire updates, checking this place regularly, or any other thing I use. However, it's great to have fantasy talk with people who know what they are doing and have educated opinions. And it's great to see people you know who share similar interests. It's well worth the time and price for me, just for that.

More than anything it's been the camaraderie for me.

There was that one year where I was one of two Asian guys. Then the last time I went we met (dammit I forget this name now) the African American guy and I single to him to come over to the cool kids table. LOL.

[DJBeasties]

I go to Boston every year for the last three and it's great. It's great to listen to the presenters go in depth and be able to interact with guys like Ron Shandler, Todd Zola and Ray Murphy. I always try to know my stuff inside and out before I get there but they always give you stuff you haven't considered.

[Moonlight J]

Only been to the Arizona weekend because the one-day'ers never come to Texas!

I fully endorse in the Arizona trip in November.

they don't come to Florida either

[willthethrill]

I think that I'm in. Probably the Baltimore one, but possibly the NJ one instead. Any Junkies plan on attending?

[Todd Zola]

More than anything it's been the camaraderie for me.

There was that one year where I was one of two Asian guys. Then the last time I went we met (dammit I forget this name now) the African American guy and I single to him to come over to the cool kids table. LOL.

James and Daren?

[umjewman]

I went with a friend of mine a few years ago in NJ. I'd say it is worth the time. When walking in, we had the choice between following two smoking hot girls, or Judge Jude. For some reason, we chose Judge Jude. Maybe it wasn't worth it...

[Bob Kohm]

I used to love them; heck, I was on a couple of the panels at a couple of the early Dc & NY/NJ ones back int he days when I lived and breathed baseball, lol. I'm goign to try to get to the DC one this year, depending on my schedule.

[Judge Jude]

I went with a friend of mine a few years ago in NJ. I'd say it is worth the time. When walking in, we had the choice between following two smoking hot girls, or Judge Jude. For some reason, we chose Judge Jude. Maybe it wasn't worth it...

Hey, you wound up married to someone better than those two, so I did you a favor (it turns out)!

[Fresno Bob]

I used to love them; heck, I was on a couple of the panels at a couple of the early Dc & NY/NJ ones back int he days when I lived and breathed baseball, lol. I'm goign to try to get to the DC one this year, depending on my schedule.

dude, you could have been Nate Silver....

[Fresno Bob]

Only been to the Arizona weekend because the one-day'ers never come to Texas!

I fully endorse in the Arizona trip in November.

While I get that Florida doesn't seem to work, I'm stunned that at a minimum Dallas doesn't work economically for Ron.

[Todd Zola]

While I get that Florida doesn't seem to work, I'm stunned that at a minimum Dallas doesn't work economically for Ron.

I don't want to speak for Ron, but since I have heard the answer 1000 times...

They need two cities within reasonable proximity to make it work. Reasonable being LA/SF, Wash/NYC/Bos, some combo of Chi/Cle/Det/Stl

I've posted this before, but we did an extended spring conference like the Phoenix one in Tampa several years ago -- and it was in conjunction with the NFBC -- there were more speakers than attendees and we asked a couple of speakers not to make the trip.

I personally had a blast -- I'd much rather be at a spring game than a casino in Vegas where I would have been for the NFBC otherwise.