How Is My Roster?

[The Godfather]

Hi Everyone,

I just drafted my team and I wanted to get some opinions from the vets.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=208980

Yes, I know my catching platoon is [u:bf3b2135d6]TERRIBLE[/u:bf3b2135d6] and I'm not thrilled about my bullpen, but I think the rest of my team has nice balance. My only area of real concern is C, followed by my bullpen and 2B (because of DEF). I'm still looking to trade to improve my C (and possibly 2B). Waivers will also go through tonight.

I was going to pick Minute Maid Park for my team. Is that a bad idea?

Lastly, during the first two times that I played Strat-O-Matic I won 50 games out of division but sucked against my own division. How do you avoid that?

So to recap:
1. General opinion about my roster
2. Suggestion for ballpark
3. Pointers for doing better against your own division

Thanks!

[mbrake]

1. Too many mediocre SPs. Go with 4 *SPs
2. Add one more solid LHRP
3. Upgrade you C or at least add a competent #3 C
4. Too many OFs
5. If you are going with Furcal, you had better have a very solid #2 SS option.
6. Need a solid #2 option for 2B.
7. Go with a power hitters park such as Citizens Bank or US Cell

[The Godfather]

Thanks for the tips. I plan on taking care of the back-up SS/2B and LHRP through waivers. I would like to upgrade C through a trade to get a true #1 C, and I'm working on that. I agree that I have too many OFs but I thought I may be able to flip one or two in trades.

As far as the ballpark, I had been picking Minute Maid because it seemed like it would still let your good hitters get their numbers but it wasn't enough of a launching pad where it would excessively hurt your pitchers. Am I wrong on this? I was kind of looking for a happy medium.

[The Godfather]

Looking at my roster (hitting, pitching, and defense), should I even be looking to try to find a happy medium or should I try to find a park that emphasizes my strength? I don't think my pitching or defense is that bad.

[durantjerry]

I would go HR park and trade Ichiro and Wagner for suitable replacements. There are usually too many lefty killers for a LH closer in a hitting park. You have power at almost every position except catcher(definately needs to improve) and CF. SP's are OK. Bullpen sucks and will get killed in a live league. Kinsler is a good enough hitter IMO to play in a hitting park, especially where the rest of your IF is pretty good. There are usually too many lefty killers for a LH closer in a hitting park.

[Rant]

If you're going for a hitter's park Santana will lose much of his value. I'd look to trade him to a pitcher's park team.

[The Godfather]

What is Minute Maid considered? I thought it was a middle of the road park for pitching and hitting.

[RICHARDMILTER]

I like some aspects of your team. First off, Jason Bartlett is a very good backup for Furcal, and when Furcal can play he will tear it up! I am assuming this is a LIVE DRAFT LEAGUE WITH NO SALARY CAP. I disagree with the 1st poster about you having to go with a 4 man rotation. Since salary cap is NOT an issue, you might as well keep most of your starting pitchers. Besides Santana none of them are great, but several of them are very much adequate. And you have some good hitters. Good luck!

[The Godfather]

Correct, this is a Live Draft league with no salary cap. Thanks for the advice! My league starts Monday but I'll continue to check for pointers...

[RICHARDMILTER]

Tim Hudson has been more than sufficient for me in at least two leagues so far this year. And Sheets, Reyes, Litsch, and Lohshe are all adequate.In fact I have had very good success out of Reyes. I guess you do only need five of them. Try to trade a SP for some more bullpen help. It is a little tougher for us to evaluate a "Live Draft" no salary cap team than your standard 80 million dollar league team. There are just not as many guys doing a lot of the Live Draft leagues. My last piece of advice(for now) is; always look to improve your team through waivers. Whether you are 20 games above .500, or 10 below,.. always check the transactions and be ready to pounce if another manager gives up on a high value card(player). Good luck!