fish out of water, seeking opinions on this team

[PJ Axelsson]

ATG regular seeking opinions:


http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=40161



Got my hands full with toddler at the moment, will type out my thoughts later.

Thanks!

:shock:

[1crazycanuk]

Hey I'm far from an expert but I'll help you with what I do know. You need a couple of R2 pitchers. If Gordon is available you should grab him (I'm biased though).

As for your catchers, I'd get rid of Martinez. I've seen people say that Matheny is valuable to have and I've had Ausmus and was happy with him. You could upgrade elsewhere if you drop Martinez. But then, that's just my opinion and what I would do. There are others on here who know way more than I do...take my advice with a grain of salt.

[visick]

I like this team, but Wilkerson is going to suffer severely.

The BPHR's are outs for him. :?

Defense looks good too.

[MICHAELSCIANATICO]

Without know what the FA pool is like or waivers, what I think would help is dropping a starter and upgrading a relieve or two with strong ones.
Gordon is a good choice.
If too much money, you can try Scott Shields, Danny Kolb for under 4 million which give good worth for the money.
Billy Wagner is worth every penny too though some may disagree.
Also, I would try to get a lefty with more hits rather than BPHR or singles.
Maybe drop Wilkerson for Kotsay if you can. Drop Young or Everrett at SS, replace with a less expensive backup. Also drop one catcher, only need two.
I do not guarantee this advice will promote a winning tradition.
Other than that, you have a solid team.
Good luck and have fun.

[hechojazz]

I'm heading into my first 2 games of the finals tonight with a Wrigley team. I was amazed to see your team, as we have several players in common. So I can perhaps give you some pointers based on recent experience...first off, here's my team link:

ZIMBABWE BWANAS
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=22621

I'm frankly amazed I've made it to the finals, with El Duque and Halladay as my top two SPs (also), but there you go. I would strongly recommend you to grab Maddux at 2.03M if he's around, but have sufficient depth that you don't have to start him on the road (unless it is also in a park that isn't kind to lefthanded hitting). He's killer in Wrigley! And you'll be very happy with El Duque.

I have been disappointed with Mohr, and if I had it to do over I would have gotten someone else. See his stats on my team - I'd expected better production for his $$ and his R3R balance. Is Jose Guillen still available? He's cheaper and much more effective (again,check my team's numbers).

You do need more oomph in your pen though, that starting pitching won't hold up for you. Are you planning to use Ramirez out of the pen? If so, you're not looking so in need of additional help there, but even so I'd transfer some more of your $$ into the pen. Plus, you've got an awful lot of R1 guys - try to get an R2 or two in there somewhere.

Castillo's great defensively, but it is a shame that he'll be turned around to bat lefty much of the time (unless your division is heavily lefty pitching-wise). I had great luck with Ronnie Belliard.

Finally, I agree that you only need one backup catcher. You happen to have two decent ones for the price (though both are balanced lefty), and you could decide to punt on the big guy (Martinez), if you can't figure out a more compelling way to redistribute your $$ to accomplish other goals.

GOOD LUCK! :)

[PJ Axelsson]

Thanks for all the quick input. :D

I'm not planning on keeping both backup catchers. I just haven't decided on what to do here. Like you've said, I might drop Martinez and want to make up my mind before dealing with the backups.

I do plan to swap out one starter for a better reliever, just waiting for the right priced one to become available. Horacio Ramirez might well end up in the pen, with Baez closing. Bonderman looks like a serviceable starter, and if nothing else looks better, that gives me an R3 with no closer rating to go with three R1s and a C6. Not much depth, but I'm willing to take a shot with it.

Young is on the team right now as my DH. I grabbed him quickly and haven't found a more suitable option yet. He also serves as a backup SS for when Everett gets hurt.

I love Mohr and Wilkerson. Had the two of them on a previous team and they were fantastic in Fenway. My division hosts a Shea, Camden, and Tropicana, so I'd like to have him along for the ride.


How about Baez as a closer? Cheap but still looks okay. I'd prefer to swap out some money (Ramirez/Bonderman/Young) for a dominant closer. Gordon and Benitez are available right now.

[edbazo]

I'd definitely go for more righthanded power. probably in LF/DH. Good advice on picking up at least a couple of R2s; more important here than in ATG. I really like having a stud R2/Cx in the pen. You have a fair amount of obp from the left side already; I think Mohr is superfluous if you stick with Ichiro. I'd invest in more righty power instead.

[PJ Axelsson]

More righty power it is. Gonna scour the FA list for righty power and perhaps a closer/RP2 or RP3.

This fish is feeling more wet... :wink:

[genevajack]

Ive had 5 Wrigley teams-two made the finals.

You should keep Wilkerson to balance your LH power-he's somewhat backwards which is good. Id dump Konerko for a better hitting 1B with more OBP. The 2006 card will be much better than 2005.

Young is a good cheap platoon for Mohr-but if Paxton is available hes better for Wrigley and Id pick him up. Ichiro is expensive for Wrigley-but you may be boxed in on options. Moises Alou is a good RH power. A-Ram, are David Wright also very good.

Your SP is hard RH-great for Wrigley. Your relief is light though. Never tried Baez as a closer but he lacks BP HRs-a good thing.

Wrigley teams can do very well-but remember that there is an abundance of hard RH pitchers who will do well there.

[JdEarly]

Okay, I'm usually in a part like Shea or SBC, but I'll toss my pennies out there, anyway.

Victor Martinez isn't going to do you any favors. You'll probably be facing mostly right handed pitching, which would switch Martinez around to bat lefty, and weaken his chances for success. On top of that, without any starting pitchers really good at holding runners on, your opposition will be running on you all day and all night. Honestly, I would keep both Matheny and Ausmus since they bat right handed, play stellar defense, and cost so little.

At first base, is J.T. Snow available? He has little to no power, so he won't be sacrificing much by being a lefty in Wrigley, and his .429 OBP would fit nicely behind Ichiro and in front of your big boppers. Since he does have a poor injury rating, I would back him up with a cheap first baseman who can hit, regardless of defense. Can't think of any serious right handed power on the cheap, but that is the direction I would look.

Second base, Luis Castillo might be wasted. His defense is great, and you might be able to snag something nice in a trade since he is a top tier second baseman in a weak group - I just think that since he's balanced 3L, will be facing mostly righties, and batting mostly lefty in a right favoring park, he won't come close to approaching his card's numbers. Just a thought. With that Shea in your division, Ronnie Belliard or even Bret Boone would be a better fit for your team, in my opinion.

Melvin Mora might make a few too many errors for your liking, but he should mash in Wrigley.

Michael Young or Adam Everett at short stop? If you get a guy like Snow for first base, I would stick with Young. If you keep Konerko or grab someone else with a '1' injury rating, I would go with Young. I just think that injury ratings should really be watched if you're looking at more than one serious part of your lineup that could miss significant time due to injuries. Most people wouldn't use an SS-3, but what do I know?

Ichiro, Brad Wilkerson, and Dustan Mohr make for a great defensive outfield, and one that should produce solid numbers for you in Wrigley. I agree, however, that Mohr might need to go so you can grab more right handed power. Moises Alou? Carlos Lee?

Armando Benitez would be great for you, as he is strong enough to both set up AND close for you, leaving your other relievers for different match ups throughout the game. I agree that you need a couple of R2's in your pen... what about Neal Cotts?

Just my thoughts. I hope I help at least a little bit.