BAT 2006 home/Rotisserie Picks Page



2006 Boston-Area Tournament
28-30 April 2006
Scott's Rotisserie Contest
(Click here to see the ever-growing list of Rotisserie Picks)
(Click here to see the Rotisserie standings on Saturday night)
(Click here to see the Rotisserie winners after the event)


North America's favorite Rotisserie Contest is back again! SCRABBLE® players, friends, and fans everywhere are invited to enter this popular handicapping competition in conjunction with the 2006 Boston Area SCRABBLE® Tournament. Last year we had a record 123 entries and handed out more than $1,000 in prize money. We expect another major turnout this year, so don't miss out. Join in the fun and show off your handicapping skills by picking the BAT winners!

The rules are as simple as 1-2-3:

1.	Choose two players each in the Premier, A, and B divisions for your entry, or "team."
2.	In each division, one of your selections must be from the "top portion" of the division, and one from the "bottom portion." Those portions will be clearly marked on the entrant list.
3.	For each game won by one of your players, your team earns 1 point. The team that racks up the most points wins!(New for 2006--we'll be breaking ties with cumulative spread.)

If your picks do well, you do well! The Rotisserie entry that collects the most wins will take home a generous first prize; the total number of entries will determine additional prizes (we'll announce early in the weekend how the pot is being divided up).

Pick your friends, pick your favorites, or, if you're feeling confident, pick yourself! If your selections pan out, you'll be rewarded with fame, glory,  gobs of cash, and a permanent place in the annals of BAT Rotisserie lore.

The preferred payment option is to send money via PayPal to spianow@comcast.net ( from a checking account only, as a fee is charged to the recipient of credit card transactions). You can also pay me at the site, please see FAQ #1 below for more information on that. If your payment is not received before the event begins, your entry will be voided. The sooner you send your picks in, the better, though most of the entries will filter in sometime in mid-April (you need to know who's playing, after all). Your entries should be sent to me, Scott Pianowski, at spianow@comcast.net *and* pianowski31@yahoo.com. I'll send everyone a confirmation email when I receive your picks, so be on the lookout for that--it's essentially your receipt.

Stay tuned to this page, as we'll continue to update it with details, a full list of "teams," and complete results!

Read on for answers to all the questions you've been dying to ask... and even if you've already been through this FAQ in recent years, I strongly encourage everyone to at least digest FAQ #1--which discusses some important changes to this year's BAT and Roto.

Rotisserie FAQ

1. Is there anything new about this year's Rotisserie I should know about?

Glad you asked--there are three major changes you should be familiar with. One, the event is starting earlier because the Premier field is playing a 20-game schedule that kicks off Friday at noon (while everyone else in BAT proper plays 15 games). Second, we'll have more live scoring updates than ever at the site, with the help of the amazing John Chew. And third, we'll be using cumulative spread as a tiebreak with respect to teams that finish with the same win total.

The big issue here is the earlier start time of Premier. This leaves handicappers with three options as to when they pay for their rotisserie entry.

If you want to pay in advance of the event--the method I'd prefer--send your remittance to my PayPal address (spianow@comcast.net, only from a checking account). That's the same as it's always been.

If you want to pay the day of the event, I'll be available at the playing site from 11-12 noon on Friday. I will also accept last-second picks at that time, though it's much preferred that you submit your picks prior to that.

I will also accept some payments on Friday night before the remainder of the BAT field kicks off play, but note that I will only accept these payments from people I know very well. If this is the only option that works for you, email me and we'll discuss it.

2. I'm not playing at the Boston Area Tournament this year. Can I still participate in the Rotisserie?

Yes, absolutely; we're always seeking as many "remote" players as possible, to give the pool a truly national (if not international) feel. If your friends or family want to enter, they're welcome to join us as well. Of course, you are heartily encouraged to play in the tournament if you can!

3. What is the cost and how do I pay?

Each entry costs $10, in US funds please. The strongly preferred method of payment is via PayPal, a simple and secure way to transmit funds electronically (www.paypal.com; my paypal address is spianow@comcast.net). If you will be attending the BAT, you may pay in person prior to the event if absolutely necessary. If you are a remote entry, acceptable arrangements must be made to pay in advance. We do trust everyone, but hey, good luck finding a Las Vegas sportsbook that agrees to let you pay your bet after the game.

4. How much of the entry fees are going towards prizes?

Ninety percent. The overwhelming response to this contest in recent years has made it a victim of it's own success (especially in the Rod MacNeil era). Quite simply, it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to run. Between all the planning, organizing, promoting, coordinating, e-mailing, updating, tallying, and responding to the always-friendly inquiries of concerned participants, it's a handful. This small administrative cut has the approval of the directors; it was initially instituted in 2003.

5. Do I have to pick myself?

We think it's more fun if you include yourself on your team, though you are not obligated to do so. Incidentally, you'll also find it's quite an ego boost when other people pick you for their teams; that's just one reason why this is so much darn fun.

6. Can I have more than one Rotisserie entry (sheet)?

In past years, players have often picked two sheets, allowing them to cover more bases and root for more players. Trust us, it's addictive! And even if you play twice, it's still a bargain at $20. If you want to play more than twice, we won't stop you. If you want to play five or more sheets though, we'll refer you to Gamblers Anonymous or force you to watch the Pete Rose SportsCentury piece over-and-over for 24 hours.

7. Who won the Rotisserie last year?

Ron Tiekert is our defending champion--he was just one pick off a perfect sheet last year, an amazing accomplishment. David Pearl and Jamie Ryan split the big prize in 2004, and Frank Tangredi won the 2003 BAT roto, as his fan club fondly remembers.

8. Why isn't every division included in the Rotisserie?

While we do consider all divisions important, it's a fact of life that people are most familiar with players in the higher divisions. Thus the contest has the broadest appeal this way. Besides, it's more fun to just keep this simple for everyone. It's tough enough just choosing 6 players!

9. Ok, so how will I know how my team is doing?

Regular updates at the site will be available this year courtesy of the fantastic Mr. John Chew. I'll also have results available to remote players via a CGP post after every full day of completed play.

9. When and how will the winners be paid?

Even though the scorekeeping has become infinitely more efficient with John Chew's TSH program on board (many thanks, JJC), I will maintain a 72-hour waiting period before the winners will be paid. Simply put, I want to be 100 percent sure we have the right teams and scores in place before I cut any checks (the last thing I'd want to do is pay someone mistakenly on Sunday). Past winners can attest that all payments go out immediately after this 72-hour period.

11. Why are the upper and lower halves of Division A not equal in size?

There are two goals with setting an arbitrary rotisserie line for Division A (and Division B for that matter), rather than having it be a constantly changing line that simply splits the divisions in half. . .
1, it makes it easier for people to make "early" Rotisserie picks, without worrying about if the line has changed or not with respect to new entries, and
2, it allows for us to attempt to break up the divisions in such a way that the pool will receive the most unique amount of entries. Time will tell if I've set the line in the right place (this must be how Vegas feels on a daily basis).

12. What if one of my picks drops out late or changes divisions late?

If one of your players can't make it to the event via some last-minute mishap or change of plans, that Rotisserie selection will automatically default to the highest-seeded player in that pool of players (per the April 1 ratings). However, if you learn that one of your picks has been forced to cancel and you can notify me of a re-pick *before the tournament starts*, I'll allow you to alter your team in this way. Once the tournament begins, no one will be allowed to change rotisserie selections.

The above guideline will also be followed if players switch divisions. If you pick Sally Scrabbler and she happens to move up or down divisions, your individual pick of her is no longer valid and will be deleted in favor of a default selection (or you can contact me and make an alternate pick yourself if you do it before the beginning of the tournament). Note that this rule applies no matter which direction the player in question may be moving, up or down.

13. Anything else I should know?

Void were prohibited. Should any controversy of any kind arise, the final decision of tournament director Sherrie Saint John is final. Your mileage may vary. Roto side affects may include insomnia, headaches, double vision, fever and acute endgame errors. Play early, play often, and have fun.

Questions?
Contact Scott Pianowski at spianow@comcast.net or pianowski31@yahoo.com..



BAT 2006 home/Rotisserie Picks Page