Preparing to Manage Fantasy Baseball

I woke up this morning to my Oura Ring app telling me there was an upgrade to be had, only this one required me to purchase a new ring…we’ll see if that happens. Anyway, that started out a busy day in which I played some New World and some League, read some comics and some Dune, and prepared for kicking off a season in OOTP baseball. On the whole, I think I had a good day ahead of me.


 

The Rundown

  • Taking my Ring to the Next Level
  • New Padres Manager
  • Amazing Fantasy #1
  • My Own Baseball Season
  • Hawat hates the Baron
  • There are good things about Flex
  • My First skill in New World

 

The Goods

Oura Ring’s Next Level

I was a first adopter of the Oura Ring, and in the years I’ve had it, it’s been a constant companion. I’ve always got the ring on, and it’s continually monitoring my steps. In my view, it’s the perfect fitness measurement device because it’s always with me. Kinda like the best camera I have is my iPhone because it is always at hand. Anyway, there’s a third generation of Oura rings out, and I’m looking forward to picking one up. They are supposed to provide better sleep tracking and to have better sensors, so I’m excited to see how it works out – I’ll let you know.

A New Manager

After a supremely disappointing season in which they were expected to make the playoffs…and where they finally spent the money to get key talent for the season…and well, the San Diego Padres had a real sad season this year.  They looked destined to at least make the playoffs, fighting with the Dodgers for the NL West title but instead, they fell apart and watched San Francisco win the division.  Anyway, the Padres fired their manager after the season, and today they made it official that they are hiring Bob Melvin from the Oakland A’s as their new manager.  I’m hopeful for the Padres and happy for my Angels that they don’t have to deal with such a good manager…maybe Oakland is going into a rebuilding mode?

A Jump into Amazing Fantasy #1

I saw this as a new release on Marvel Unlimited, so I figured I’d give it a look. Captain America, Spider-Man, and Black Widow are transported from different times to show up in a strange land with dinosaurs, griffins, frog and bird men, and a whole lot of questions.  Uncle Ben (yes, that Uncle Ben) says they’re all dead, but I’m wondering what really is happening in Amazing Fantasy #1. The interest is there, and I hope Kaare Kyle Andrews can keep it up.

Preparing for a New Season

With the MLB season coming to a close soon, I figure it’s time to ramp up my own little season of baseball.  In the real MLB, the season has come down to Atlanta and Houston in the Series.  I’m hoping to see my Angels at least make the playoffs, and I am pretty sure I can do better than 77-85.  As soon as things settle down in MLB, I’m gonna start my own 2021 season (which I’ll come up with a clever name for soon), and I’m not gonna let my team miss the playoffs.

More Enemies of the Baron

Chapter 39 sees Thufir Hawat and the Baron at odds.  Hawat is technically an underling of the Baron at this stage of the game, but he certainly does not like serving this master.  Of course, as a Mentat, though, Hawat is patient and conniving – he’s gonna play the Baron off against the Emperor and find the best time to destroy the Baron.  Perhaps convincing the Baron that he can best the Emperor by making the Fremen more formidable than the Sardaukar.  Somehow I doubt the Baron would be able to control the Fremen or the Sardaukar even if given a chance.

League Flex is Growing on me

Along with the reduction in negativity I’ve seen in Flex compared to Solo Q, I’ve actually seen constructive criticism in Flex. 

Yup, there are actually players in League that try to be helpful to others. And they are encouraging too, complimenting good plays and expressing thanks for saving them with a bubble or a root. I can’t believe this is the same game as Solo Q.

I am definitely going to continue playing Flex when I want to play League…it is just so much a better experience than Solo Q. Sure, the match queue might take longer, but I’d rather wait for a good game than waste my time cycling through toxicity, AFKs, and trolls in Solo Q.

Skill One

Like most games I play, I take things easy and slow, and New World is no different.  The last time I fired up the game, I created my character and made it through the queue and into the game, learning a bit about the mechanics – block, dodge, attack, heavy attack.  Today I start out on my first quest with Capybarra.

The captain of the ship I was on is not looking good, and as he accuses Capy of stealing his box, he simply dies. I think this box is essential, so I think I’m gonna try to find it somehow, but before then, I need to figure out why I’m the sole survivor of the shipwreck…or am I?

I grab the shield and food from the dead captain and pick up a makeshift wooden sword to fend off what appear to be drowned zombies that infest this beach. They don’t put up much of a fight, and soon I’m gaining better control over my sword and shield, and I learn how to use my weapon as a whirling blade to hit everything around me.

None of these zombies are gonna stand in my way now.


 

It’s a Wrap

With so many things going on today, I forgot to mention my running…oh well, I’ll get to that tomorrow, even though I did keep my streak intact. With a new manager for the Pads, a new ring to buy, interesting new comic series, new skills in a new game, and more, I feel like today was a good day. Anyway, I think things are going pretty well, and I hope you all had an interesting and enjoyable day as well.


Ramble 43 Badger 66| Preparing to Manage Fantasy Baseball