Is there a thread for newbs that explains which attributes are best for each position or on setting up your team for the first time?

Your best bet is to look at the Mentors thread and get one. It is easiest if there is one in your world and most are trustworthy or they wouldn't be a mentor in the first place. The first world I joined I did this and it helped immensely because we could talk about specific players and he could sight examples of comparably rated players and how they performed in our world. Good luck.

I liked the WKRP in Cincinnati thread when I was beginning.  Page back a day or so and you'll find it.  Also see if you can get the "Is csherwood a tanker?" debate going again.

I am a tanker if you go by the MikeT definition that says spending a ton of money on drafting and prospects when you know you wont be competitive in your first season is tanking because you could have spent that same money on a couple mediocre veteran free agents and won 74 games instead of 68.

No, you're a tanker because you say "I'm doing the best I can without damaging the future of my franchise" while cutting payroll and playing AAA players in the bigs.   Please contact your buddy harthj as he may have been the original to use that wording to explain why he couldn't compete.

e-fight!!!

Here we go again...

I may join my first league after Christmas, any ideas what league I should join. I am new at this.

Hamilton.  Because we need 3 owners and I'm a jerk that won't let vets take advantage of n00bs.

"But it's my team, I should be able to do whatever I want with it!"

But to your original question:
1)  Read the manual
2)  Find multiple mentors on the list.  As you can see from the MikeT-csherwood banter, not everyone operates their teams using the same way of thinking.
3)  Ask plenty of questions, whether in your world's world chat or here on the forums.  When it comes to the forums, questions are generally answered promptly and accurately.  However, complaining that something doesn't work like you think it should or whining that you did something which resulted in unintended consequences will only invite sarcasm and ridicule.

Good luck!

cool Sunday I will check it out, not gaurenteed to join, but its a possibility. Have a Merry Christmas all!

Posted by MikeT23 on 12/21/2010 5:11:00 PM (view original):
No, you're a tanker because you say "I'm doing the best I can without damaging the future of my franchise" while cutting payroll and playing AAA players in the bigs.   Please contact your buddy harthj as he may have been the original to use that wording to explain why he couldn't compete.

It's so easy to get him going.

Looks like my post was shorter than your post.  Who got going?

Hey mike I may try a public league first to get my feet wet, thanks for the invite though!

Posted by chisox378 on 12/25/2010 10:43:00 PM (view original):
Hey mike I may try a public league first to get my feet wet, thanks for the invite though!

If a private world will have you (being a rookie), I would recommend going that route. Public worlds are a real crapshoot in terms of quality. (You're going to want a league that doesn't have a couple of super teams built by swindling newcomers who get discouraged and quit, thus compounding the competitive imbalance.)