Application of Brian Almeida for CWS Opening

[meidathemenace (Brian, CWS)]

Name, age location: Brian Almeida, age 25, Massachusetts native, temporary Rhode Island resident.

Email address: [e-mail].

Favorite Real Life Team: Boston Red Sox geographically and through my parents/family, although I pretty much root for my fantasy team and players over any real life alliegance whenever the two collide.

How did you find this league?: My real life best friend and ultimate fantasy nemesis, Kyler Jesanis, told me I needed to stop playing in leagues that were too easy for me and challenge myself, and he said this was the place to do it.

I have been playing fantasy baseball since the 2010 season, when Kyler and I met in undergrad and made our own league. I have been playing fantasy sports in one form or another since I was about 8, mostly fantasy football and a little bit of basketball. However, once I discovered fantasy baseball, a fantasy sport that required every day action, I was absolutely hooked. I have played in three leagues since then, all H2H because 1. That's the format I prefer and 2. I believe that's the format I believe keeps the average fantasy baseball player most engaged. The reason for the three different leagues over that span is that Kyler and I became frustrated with the lack of "discipline" we were receiving from the other league members. I now play in one 14 team, 10 keeper H2H league that just concluded its 5th season. The league has had a lot of ownership turnover in an effort to find 14 owners who are up to actually playing fantasy baseball the way it should be played. While we have perhaps finally reached that point, I do not find the league to be a challenge anymore. I have won two straight seasons, and didn't find it to be the most satisfying experience. Kyler, who quit our league to join this one, told me this was a league where I could get the sort of quality and depth of experience I yearn for.

I am available to be contacted for this league essentially any moment that I am not sleeping or in Court. I'm a lawyer by day, which leaves me with access to my phone all day. I can either be reached by email or text, or both, whichever the league prefers.

To be honest, I have never not been competitive in a fantasy sport league I have played in, so the experience of being not in the race would be a first for me. However, I understand that I am inheriting a team I did not draft, and that growing pains are inevitable. As a League Manager who has suffered through countless owners who don't given a damn, I will not be an owner who stops trying in the event my team is out of it. In fact, that would make me try harder. Kyler, or anyone who knows me well, can tell you I am extremely determined, and will not be deterred by anything, especially a bad fantasy season.

As for additional information, I am an open book. Feel free to ask me anything else you might want to know. In addition to my season long leagues, I am an extremely active DFS player on FanDuel. Over the past two seasons of basketball/baseball, I have made about $12,000 in profit off of my DFS activities. Fantasy sports are my passion. While this format is foreign to me, I look forward to the challenge. Kyler has promised he will show me the ropes, and I have no doubt that I will be a cornerstone asset of your league if you choose to accept my application. I look forward to hearing from you, and again am happy to answer any questions at all. Below please find a link to my current league, although I am not sure what you will be able to see since it is private.

games.espn.com/flb/leagueoffice?leagueId=62465&seasonId=2017

Sincerely,

Brian Almeida

[Reds GM (Kyler)]

Brian is the best fantasy owner I know (no offense to any of you), and I can vouch that he will be a fantastic addition to our league. I think I have shown over these past two years that I am a very active owner who responds promptly to inquiries and messages, as well as harass some of you with offers of my own. Brian will at the very least be as active as me, and likely be even more active. We literally spend at least an hour each day texting about fantasy sports as it is a shared passion. I could not recommend Brian any higher, and know this league will be better with him being a part of it. As Brian said you can reach out to him with any questions, but you can also reach out to me if you would like to know any more.

[gepetto69 (Stuart, LAD)]

I suppose I am one of those owners Kyler harasses.
I feel so honored to be mentioned this way.

[Reds GM (Kyler)]

Oct 2, 2017 7:55:41 GMT -5 gepetto69 (Stuart, LAD) said:

I suppose I am one of those owners Kyler harasses.
I feel so honored to be mentioned this way.

I do feel like I harrass you sometimes , but I truly enjoy my discussions and negotiations with you Stu!

[gepetto69 (Stuart, LAD)]

Use the man.
Like you my best friend in fantasy baseball is named Brian/Bryan.
Must be something about that name.

[meidathemenace (Brian, CWS)]

Thanks for the support Stuart! Idk about any link to fantasy prowess, but the name Brian does mean "King" in Gaelic. Hopefully I get the chance to "harass" you like Kyler does, although I like to think I am a little less obnoxious and a lot more artful about it lol.

[Admin]

Welcome Brian. Thanks for the application.

High praise from Kyler is a very good thing. We’d love the chance to get to know you.

As a welcome present, I released Yolmer Sanchez back to the White Sox late in the year. The former GM never added him back. Since giving up on him, he’s been their lead off batter more days than not. Enjoy.

Thank you for the detailed information. We’ll be careful what we confess to, having a 25 year old lawyer in the league. Stephen will have a secondary questionnaire for you which is given to all applicants now. It shouldn’t be any difficulty. Once again, welcome!

[meidathemenace (Brian, CWS)]

I actually owned Yolmer Sanchez for a little bit this past season, and he rewarded me with a homer and four RBI in a doubleheader against the Twins, so I do not take that gift lightly lol. As for getting to know me, I am an open book. I await the receipt of the secondary questionnaire, and look forward to getting to know all of you as well.

[Rangers GM (Stephen)]

Secondary questionnaire sent.

[meidathemenace (Brian, CWS)]

Work is a little busier than usual today but I will try to have this thoroughly answered by the end of today.

[Pirates GM (TJ)]

I was briefly in said league with both Brian and Kyler, and while I left due to issues with how vetoes were handled there (largely related to a veto of a straight-up deal of Jose Abreu for Bryce Harper that was roundly vetoed because Abreu was "far too valuable" to be given away for Harper, even though it was a keep-forever-at-no-cost league)... those disagreements in no way affect my assessment of him as a fantasy GM.

Brian would be an outstanding addition to this league. He is knowledgeable, ruthless, driven, and has as much competitive spirit as anyone I have ever been in a league with (and I have been playing in fantasy long enough to have drafted Cecil Fielder and Mark McGwire as rookies). I have zero doubt that he would have the White Sox in in the LCS faster than anyone would suspect, and would engineer several trades that look perfectly fine at the time they are made and look terrible for the opposition five years later.

If there's an American League team available for him, he has my full support.

[meidathemenace (Brian, CWS)]

Thanks for the support TJ, and looking forward to hopefully being able to play with you again this upcoming season and beyond!

[meidathemenace (Brian, CWS)]

I answered your Second Questionnaire Stephen, and stand ready to answer any additional questions from you or anyone else to fully convince you that I will be an excellent fit.

[Admin]

Welcome aboard Brian. The White Sox are officially yours.

If you don’t mind, please use the username “White Sox GM (name)” to help us keep things straight and remember how to address you. When you get a chance, you can also set up a 2018 Roster page for your team. I’ll send the invitation to Fantrax hopefully no later than tomorrow. If you have any questions at all, especially in regards to protecting or unprotecting players, many of us here will be glad to help out. Generally, we’re a pretty friendly bunch.

I haven’t really looked over the White Sox roster, but new owners are granted the right to reduce one multi-year contract to an expiring contract. If you choose to use that option, please let Stephen or myself know within your first week here.

There is also a 7 day waiting period for new GMs to begin trading after posting their first trade block. Since we’re still a couple weeks away from opening the trade market, you can clear that hurdle in advance if you choose.

Anyway, we’re glad to have you here. Have fun!

[Reds GM (Kyler)]

Oct 2, 2017 19:57:29 GMT -5 Admin said:

Welcome aboard Brian. The White Sox are officially yours.

If you don’t mind, please use the username “White Sox GM (name)” to help us keep things straight and remember how to address you. When you get a chance, you can also set up a 2018 Roster page for your team. I’ll send the invitation to Fantrax hopefully no later than tomorrow. If you have any questions at all, especially in regards to protecting or unprotecting players, many of us here will be glad to help out. Generally, we’re a pretty friendly bunch.

I haven’t really looked over the White Sox roster, but new owners are granted the right to reduce one multi-year contract to an expiring contract. If you choose to use that option, please let Stephen or myself know within your first week here.

There is also a 7 day waiting period for new GMs to begin trading after posting their first trade block. Since we’re still a couple weeks away from opening the trade market, you can clear that hurdle in advance if you choose.

Anyway, we’re glad to have you here. Have fun!

At this point are 2018 contracts one year deals or multi year deals?