FPAZ24 CC: Breakout Session Descriptions
These descriptions are mainly for sessions that are taking place concurrently with other sessions and organized in chronological groups. Reference our main program schedule for specific breakout times and for solo Canyon Ballroom sessions.
THURSDAY BREAKOUTS
Crafting a Player Profile: Personal player evaluation in 125 words or fewer
Join industry veteran Peter Kreuzter (AskRotoman) in this interactive session with tips and examples of summarizing player skill sets in ways you can use in your preparation for the upcoming season. Note: Not just for writers!
Relief PItchers: Role Transitions and Holds
Role transitions became all the rage in 2024: Some relievers morphed into starters with various levels of success. Mike Carter (Fantrax, RotoBaller) and Rick Graham (PitcherList) will explore topics such as: What were some characteristics of 2024’s most successful transitions? Will this trend continue in 2025, including possible targets. Plus, some early names to keep an eye out for in Holds leagues.
First Time at First Pitch? A Weekend Q&A
Are you a “red-dot rookie”? Or just someone trying to get the most out of this jam-packed weekend? Join representatives from BaseballHQ as they provide some tips and tricks on planning what to take in, how to get around, and overall logistics to make FPAZ an awesome experience. Bring your questions!
THURSDAY EVENING HANGOUTS
Joey Votto and the Rotisserie Hall of Fame
Where does Joey Votto fit among the all-time Roto greats? BaseballHQ founder Ron Shandler puts the longtime Cincinnati first sacker in context with other players who are in his unique Rotisserie Hall of Fame. In addition to discussing Votto, Ron will discuss the Rotisserie Hall of Fame criteria, the current members, and which players in today’s game might be on this track for entry.
2024 Attendee Retro Draft
Can you win a league when you know the stats? In this contest (with instant prizes!), 12 teams attempt to construct a winning roster on the fly – using actual statistics from the just-completed 2024 season. This snake draft will fill the required 23 slots and “instant” scoring will be updated in real time using standard 5x5 categories. Jeff Zimmerman (FanGraphs) and Todd Zola (Mastersball) take you through this fast-paced exercise (20 seconds per pick!) to see who can come out on top. First place wins a year-long subscription to Mastersball.com; second place wins a copy of The Process. Spots may still be available; see the registration desk for more info! (Participants required to have a laptop/tablet/phone to assist in the draft process.)
Attendee Gladiator Draft 1
New to FPAZ this year, we’ve added the popular NFBC Gladiator 15-team format into our stable of attendee draft offerings. Participants draft a 23-man roster for 2025 in a true draft-and-hold competition. There are no in-season lineup moves or pickups; all MLB stats from your roster count and are accumulated into the standard 5x5 Rotisserie scoring. The end-of-season winner gets a subscription to BaseballHQ.com in 2026. BONUS FOR THURSDAY NIGHT ONLY: Play against 2024 Gladiator Overall Champion Mark Gannon! Spots may still be available; see the registration desk for more info! (Participants required to bring a laptop/tablet/phone to draft from.)
FRIDAY BREAKOUTS #1
Prospect Q&A
Eric Longenhagen (FanGraphs) and Chris Blessing (BaseballHQ) see tons of prospects throughout the season, and who they’ve not seen, they likely have scouting contacts who have. Bring your player inquiries — on overall impressions or specific traits — to this open session Q&A. Whether your focus is 2025 or further down the road, this is your one-stop shop for getting that inside track on prospects to know.
2024 NFBC Takeaways
The National Fantasy Baseball Championship stable of offerings is becoming more popular—and more difficult to succeed in—seemingly every year. In this session, successful NFBCers Toby Guevin (BatflipCrazy) and Rob DiPietro(Pull Hitter Patreon), aided by Stephen Goodwin’s visualizations, dive into some of the team-building characteristics of this year's overall winners. Plus, what trends might we see in 2025? Join them for an hour of all things NFBC.
FRIDAY BREAKOUTS #2
Bullpen Hour
Join longtime BaseballHQ bullpen writer Doug Dennis as he both looks back to 2024 and ahead to 2025 for all things relievers. With a skills-based approach, identify hidden gems among the ever-changing closer landscape that takes players, managers, and MLB team philosophies into account when looking for that next reliable source of saves (and holds, too!)
Valuation Theory
Want to get into some nuts and bolts of valuation? Don’t let the “Theory” chase you off; veteran writer/podcaster/all around good guy Todd Zola (Mastersball) knows how to keep an audience engaged and informed at the same time. In this hour, Todd will dive into the general tenets of valuation, then review the three types and talk about the strength and weakness of each.
Dynasty Discussion and Q&A
Get the dynasty scoop from a trio of industry experts in the format. James Anderson (RotoWire), Chris Clegg (DynastyDugout) and Eric Cross (FTN Fantasy) provide some tips, strategies, and new approaches for this growing format. And of course some specific player talk, too. Whether you’re a dynasty newbie or veteran, bring your questions!
FRIDAY AFTERNOON SESSION (opposite Mesa at Glendale)
Excel and Fantasy Baseball Workshop
Always wanted to take some time to learn and apply Microsoft Excel to your fantasy baseball toolbox? Here’s your chance, as Ariel Cohen (FanGraphs) will dive into some long-form discussion and examples of getting the most out of Excel. Entire session will run from 1:30 to 3:45, two one-hour blocks with a break in between. Bring your laptop and put Excel to work for you!
FRIDAY EVENING HANGOUTS
Bring-your-own Roster Analysis
A small group of BaseballHQ and industry voices will be on hand to give you a second (or third) opinion on your roster questions. Keepers, potential trades, long-term contracts—all can be on the table; just bring your roster to discuss. Yes, WE CARE about your fantasy team!
Sample Size and the Simple Stats that Matter
Dave Potts from RotoGrinders has had a wildly successful track record in fantasy baseball contests of all types: from season-long to high stakes to daily leagues. In this session, Dave examines how his process for preparing for a DFS slate can be transferred to season-long roster management and FAAB. What to look AT, and what to look FOR—and the traps for each.
Attendee Gladiator Draft 2
New to FPAZ this year, we’ve added the popular NFBC Gladiator 15-team format into our stable of attendee draft offerings. Participants draft a 23-man roster for 2025 in a true draft-and-hold competition. There are no in-season lineup moves or pickups; all MLB stats from your roster count and are accumulated into the standard 5x5 Rotisserie scoring. The end-of-season winner gets a subscription to BaseballHQ.com in 2026. Spots may still be available; see the registration desk for more info! (Participants required to bring a laptop/tablet/phone to draft from.)
SATURDAY BREAKOUTS
The Importance of Pitch Mix Changes
When is a pitch mix change “news”—and when is it “noise”? In this session, Eric Samulski of Rotoworld explores significant 2024 movers with an eye towards the true value of new pitches. How can we accurately identify which pitch mix changes are more likely to lead to fantasy success? Which pitches are best to add/subtract from a given pitcher’s arsenal? And who might be positively impacted for 2025?
Cheapers Keepers (Where'd You Get Those Buys?)
The List—in a keeper leagues offseason, that’s all that matters. But once the draft starts, inflation takes center stage. In this session, Patrick Davitt of BaseballHQ discusses how you can understand that most important factor in keeper league drafts—inflation. Use that knowledge to optimize your keeper decisions and draft strategy to take advantage before the keeper deadline, after the keeper deadline, and at the draft.
Bring-your-own Roster Analysis
A small group of BaseballHQ and industry voices will be on hand to give you a second (or third) opinion on your roster questions. Keepers, potential trades, long-term contracts—all can be on the table; just bring your roster to discuss. Yes, WE CARE about your fantasy team!
SUNDAY BREAKOUTS
Balancing Formats, Fairness & Fun
There are always some aspects of gameplay or format that league participants like more or like less. This session—led by Ariel Cohen (FanGraphs), Tristian Cockcroft (ESPN) and Jason Collette (RotoWire)— will explore the options in a thoughtful way that tries to balance the competition and “fun” aspects of the hobby. Be ready to give your two cents in helping to find the ever-elusive middle ground!
Community Conversation: When Your Season Goes South
Ever have one of THOSE years? If we’re honest; we’ve all been there at least once! In this interactive group session, Brian Feldman will lead the discussion on best (and not-so best?) practices of when you realize the season is lost. Come learn something in this session that you hope you never have to use.
Finding the Next Jurickson Profar
It’s the fantasy goldmine—that last draft pick or early FAAB pickup whose track record is shaky, but who absolutely doesn’t slow up all season long. If you rostered Jurickson Profar in 2024, you know exactly what we mean. In this panel, Steve Gardner (USA TODAY), Bubba Entrekin (BaseballHQ), Jeff Zimmerman (FanGraphs) and Peter Kreutzer (AskRotoman) attempt to give some suggestions on who might be the next Profar. No two player situations are the same, but they will discuss some traits to look for and a name suggestion or two to keep an eye on as we head into 2025.