(*) MASTER NOTES: 10 reasons not to miss First Pitch Arizona

As our First Pitch Arizona site explains, the conference is three full days packed with seminars, scouting and socializing at baseball's premier off-season league. Pick the brains of the nation's top baseball analysts. Participate in fun and challenging fantasy workshops and contests. Gain an unbeatable edge in your league by scouting 2016's future stars from your own front row seat.

Here are our top 10 reasons to attend First Pitch Arizona (November 5th-8th in Phoenix, AZ):

10. Prospects. This year's rosters are due to be announced next week, and history suggests it will be another bumper crop. Last year's AFL rosters featured the likes of Francisco Lindor, Byron Buxton, Corey Seager,  Hunter Renfroe, Raul Mondesi, Aaron Judge, Dalton Pompey, Mark Appel, Archie Bradley, Roberto Osuna, Robbie Ray, and Vincent Velasquez, just to name a handful.

9. An amazing speaker roster. Quick, who are your favorite baseball analysts? Chances are, we have a couple of them on our panels: Steve Gardner, Joe Sheehan, Eric Karabell, Tristan Cockcroft, Eno Sarris, Paul Sporer, Jason Collette, and Jeff Erickson are just a few of the other names on our prolific speaker roster.

8. Expertise in your favorite game format. If you play Scoresheet Baseball, you'll be able to share insights with the game's founder, Jeff Barton. If you're an NFBC player, Greg Ambrosius would love to have a drink with you. There will assuredly be plenty of discussion of Daily Fantasy topics as well.

7. The eXperts Fantasy League (XFL) draft. Join the grandmasters of the fantasy baseball industry for the XFL's 13th annual keeper league auction, then pull them aside over the rest of the weekend to ask them what they were thinking.

6. Insider perspectives. In addition to our roster of analysts and writers, we always look to get insights from MLB insiders. Attendee favorite Kimball Crossley (Toronto Blue Jays scout) will join us again this year, plus we have some additional surprises in the works.

5. Media panel. In this new feature, a panel of beat writers, including Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twins) and Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (Diamondbacks), give insight into life in the locker room, the demands of the beat, and the challenges of baseball reporting in a 24/7 news cycle. 

4. Mastering the End Game. Listen in and interact with our 2016 mock draft exercise. In this year's version, we'll give your panel an extensive list of players who could be available in 2016's end game. Our experts will take three rounds in which they fill out their theoretical roster, searching for the perfect end-gamers with that elusive upside.

3. Facts/Flukes. Our long-time favorite Facts/Flukes panels will be back as usual, validating or disproving the breakout performances of 2015. Rumor has it that we might even be adding a third variant of the concept for this year's event. Stay tuned for details.

2. Drafts! Yes, we hold drafts in November! Apply your newfound insights right away by jumping into an auction, straight draft, or Scoresheet league to be played out in 2016. Warning: the competition is stiff!

1. The Fall Stars Game. Our event falls on the weekend of the AFL's showcase event, the Fall Stars Game. No matter which games you catch on Thursday and Friday (two games each day!), you're guaranteed to see all of the league's top prospects together on Saturday night.

Still not convinced? Take a look at the whole program (still a work in progress) here: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

November baseball, perfect Phoenix weather, and informative fantasy baseball talk all weekend long! What could be better than that? Join us at First Pitch Arizona this fall.

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