Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

Hi.

I just dropped Jason Bay and picked up Rich Harden & Carlos Lee (to replace Bay in the lineup). My team plays at Dodger Stadium.

I plan on facing righties with this lineup:
Jeter, Sizemore, Utley (1b), Kent (2b), Blalock, Carlos Lee, Posada, Soriano (DH), Suzuki

I plan on facing lefties with this lineup:
Suzuki, Jeter, Kent, Utley, Posada, Carlos Lee, Sizemore, Soriano, Pedro Feliz (platooned w/ Blalock)

I am NOT using Harden as a starter, I am using him for relief as the 7-9 inning setup man and closer (with slow hook).

Here is a link:
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2006/team/team_other.html?user_id=6859

How do you think this team will do? What should I fix last minute?

You don't need Ramon Ortiz. Drop him and you will have 1.7m to upgrade somewhere. Interesting using Harden in the pen. I have not heard of that before. Most expensive RP in history? :shock:

Well to be honest, I had the free cash and there was absolutely nothing worth to upgrade on except the bullpen...so I took the best. Plus if you consider that Harden can work atleast 3 innings then he is equivalent to a 2 inning + 1 inning reliever. The "managerial options" let me put Harden down as a closer too even though he has no "C" next to his name. I'm not sure if I should keep him as closer or not, because will it affect his performance for not having a "closer" status but being able to save games?

DO NOT USE Harden as a reliever. His value is as a starter (not a reliever). You can get the best reliever in the game (who would be much more effective than Harden) for much cheaper than Harden. Harden is one of the top starters in the game and should be used only as a starter. Also, he cannot close so he will be automatically tired in closing situations. You do not want that. I would revamp your starting pitchng staff (get rid of the some of the asterisk pitchers) and build around Harden. I think your lineup is solid against righties but you probably someone that can crush lefties.

Drop Harden,
get a 3.5-5.5 mil reliever, who will function as well or at least close. You have good pitching. Upgrade an outfield Position, C or 1B. For smacking lefties, I have Jeff Francouer, and he is currently 3rd in the mvp balloting in my league.

Okay, guys I did what you said. I added some pop against lefties and dropped Harden.

These are the changes I made:

Added Frank Thomas
Added Clay Hensley
Dropped Rich Harden

My new lineup against lefties will be:
Suzuki, Jeter, Thomas, Utley, Kent, Posada, Lee, Sizemore, Feliz

There aren't many lefty power hitters in my division, so Hensley should get the job done instead of Harden. Thomas basically is playing for Soriano against lefties. I couldnt get Francouer and wanted to get Jose Cruz Jr for lefties instead of Sizemore but fell about .1 million too short! :(

Do you guys feel this was my best option? Here's my 3 choices:

#1: Have Frank Thomas, Clay Hensley, and lose Harden
#2: Have Jose Cruz Jr, Clay Hensley, and lose Harden + Thomas
#3: Have Jason Bay, and lose Harden + Hensley + Cruz + Thomas