RIP Ron Shandler Enterprises

by 07_08_World Champs on May 20, 2008 10:30 PM EDT

According to the WSJ and various other sources, Ron Shandler apparently sold Shandler Enterprises to a fantasy sports consortium earlier this year. As the owner of several fantasy baseball teams, like many others, I purchase the “Baseball Forecaster” each year. Several years ago however, I discontinued subscribing to Shandler’s website, Baseball HQ. There were several reasons I discontinued subscribing.

One of the reasons I originally subscribed to Baseball HQ was because of Shandler’s coverage of minor league players. Arguably, HQ staffer D. McKamey does a nice job analyzing young talent, but I sincerely believe John and the posters here do a much better job overall covering the minors than HQ.

Further, while the posters at that site do little to enhance information relative to minor leaguers, the information freely contributed by posters here by draft day alone, is off the charts. My hat is off to John and all of you that contribute to make this site what it is. Job well done!!!

In addition, I quit subscribing to HQ because Shandler himself got a little hard to take after a while. Over the years he (and his staffers) appeared to have grown increasing thin-skinned about criticism, and less able to tolerate dissenting opinion of any kind.

Further, Shandler constantly denigrated anyone that started a new website offering information free of charge, and would appear mortally offended by anyone who happened to use terms that he and his staff were responsible for developing.

In conclusion, while I would agree that Mr. Shandler has made some contributions to the field/industry over the years, his contributions the last few years in particular have been negligible, and his grumblings, increasing difficult to tolerate.

Any other thoughts?

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Comments

HQ

I like the site. Best Fantasy Baseball site there is. Forecaster is without a doubt the best fantasy draft guide there is. I play in many fantasy leagues that use minor leaguers and your right HQ may have some shortcomings in the minor league department but have they ever advertised that thier a heavy minor league site?

by krgrecw on May 20, 2008 10:48 PM EDT 0 recs

John's View

The original poster does not reflect John’s view regarding Baseball HQ or Ron Shandler, whom John regards as a friend.

by John Sickels on May 21, 2008 12:33 AM EDT 0 recs

BaseballHQ

Has there been any info that Baseball HQ is done? From what I read, it will remain the same with only the ownership changing.

As long as the Forecaster remains amongst the very first fantasy guides to be published, I don’t expect there to be any effect. However, if the Forecaster ends up getting published later, then I can see this move being a net negative for the buyer.

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on May 21, 2008 3:24 PM EDT 0 recs

+1

According to the official announcement or their podcast, things are to remain the same for the foreseeable future. IIRC, Ron Shandler himself is under contract with them for at least 4-5 years.

by Recon on May 21, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

HQ minors coverage

Derrick McKamey puts out a very good book rating minor league players called Minor League Baseball Analyst. He has a unique rating system that is very helpful is comparing players and their potential.

"There is no crying in baseball"

by ssASU on May 21, 2008 3:47 PM EDT 0 recs

Unique but

His rating system is a little generous at times. It seems every player is somewhere in the 9’s but just a different letter by the name.

Overall, I do like Baseball HQ, it has some good stories and little blurbs every day.

by MHD on May 21, 2008 7:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Disagree on ratings

Few of his players get 9s. He tends to have a range of 6s through the very rare 10s, but that’s because nobody cares about the 5s and below. Even the 6s can mostly be ignored. I would say most players are 7s and 8s, not 9s.

And no, that’s not prospect inflation. 1s and 2s and 3s are for players who are not even very good at the minor league level. You don’t really reach the majors until you hit the 6s and above, so that’s why the names you are interested in are the ones with the higher numbers. That 1-through-10 range is for ALL of minor league baseball and the major leagues. In such a system, it’s not surprising that you only see the upper end of the range. The lower end are not worth your time to consider. It would be like a D or F from John.

by FunWithHeadlines on May 21, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I’ve been a subscriber for years and have found Deric’s ratings and analysis very helpful. Not only does he rate prospects on a 6-10 scale, but he assigns a letter grade of A-F to indicate how close the player is to achieving their potential.

The only two players I can remember receiving a 10 are Justin Upton and Clayton Kershaw.

He is a trained scout who sees all, or nearly all, of the players he rates.

Flaxseed oil dependent

by 3Com Park on May 22, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bruce and Kershaw were the only 2 this year to get a 10.

by jfish26101 on May 22, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

McKamey

I really like him. No sense in making him sound mediocre. McKamey is really good.

"That ain't no etch-a-sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did, homeskillet."

by criminal type on May 23, 2008 9:45 AM EDT 0 recs

Business owners have a right to defend their intellectual property

Re: “Further, Shandler… would appear mortally offended by anyone who happened to use terms that he and his staff were responsible for developing.” Yes, I think I’d be mortally offended if someone was ripping me off too.

by fantasyguru on May 23, 2008 11:36 AM EDT 0 recs