Wrigley team fresh off waivers...constructive criticism?

[hechojazz]

Feeling pretty good about this team, but can always use some pointers, if you've got any to spare...

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=41501

C.....SCHNEIDER/TORREALBA...LE/R5L
1B...DUNN...............................L2R
2B...BELLIARD.........................R3L
3B...MORA...............................R1R
SS...CROSBY...........................R2R
LF....FIGGINS...........................S1L
CF...A. JONES...........................RE
RF...BURNITZ...........................L1L
DH..M. CABRERA......................R1R

I've got a Petco in my division (unfortunately), but the other two teams are also in righthanded batter-friendly parks like mine, Camden and Minute Maid. There is a lot of lefthanded pitching in my division, including the Big Unit at Petco. Glad I snagged Torrealba.

I've got strong starting pitching and both Gordon and Hoffman in the pen. Any comments on the pitching?

[visick]

Both Dunn and Burnitz will suffer somewhat in your park.

I'd grab Nevin to play 1st base if I were you... :lol:

[hechojazz]

I looked at him, and I realize Dunn's being lefthanded is not ideal, but Nevin's D is scary...should I try to get him instead of Cabrera as my DH? Is there a righthanded 1B instead of Dunn in his price range that makes sense? I suppose I could try to swing a deal for Konerko, but another team in my division's got him...

[hechojazz]

Okay - Nevin for Dunn, then K. Greene for Crosby...

[LMBombers]

I would swap out Dunn for someone like Overbay or Casey. You have to have some balance even in unbalanced parks. However that balance doesn't have to loose BP HRs to your park. Overbay and Casey fit the bill. I think Newhan plays 1B too. He might be an OK 3rd choice.

I would deffinately dump Burnitz for a RH power bat. Burnitz is a slight reverse lefty, 1L. You are going to see less LHP and he looses to many BPHR in your park for his value. You need one more RH slugger IMO. You can put Miggy back in the OF and have your choice of players to play DH for you. A reverse RH like Bagwell, Thomas or Sweeney might be nice.

[worrierking]

I agree that you need another RH bat with max BP HRs. There are some cheap alternatives there like Thames and Jacobsen if you want to move Cabrera back into the field, although you probably need one more RH who mashes Righties. Bagwell is a good suggestion.

I would also check to see how many SB threats there are in your division and decide if Schneider is worthwhile. There may be alternatives to upgrade offense there if SBs are not too prevalent.

[hechojazz]

First off, with the moves I made yesterday, against lefthanded pitching my lineup will now feature only one lefthanded bat - Burnitz. He is also my only positive clutch player among intended starters. There are LOTS of lefthanded SPs in my division, so I'm not too worried about my lineup's prevalent left-leaning balance. Mora and Cabrera are the only right balanced starters, with Schneider and A. Jones being balanced even. Could be a problem I imagine against nondivisional foes, but I haven't really analyzed those teams yet.

As far as SB threats go, Pierre is in my division, plus some lesser lights of the larcenous sort. My SPs have great hold ratings (except for Clemens), so I guess Schneider's -3 arm isn't absolutely required. Not sure who to look for with the limited $$ available to replace him though...Both Schneider and Torrealba are 2 injury guys, maybe I should look for a 1? Harder against righties?

[Coffeeholic]

Hey Hechojazz... looks like you're getting hooked! 8)

My rule of thumb for Wrigley:

5 RH power types; 1 SH OBP type with power vs LHP; 3 LH OBP types.

Some ideas:

A nice platoon at DH in Wrigley is Bagwell/Phelps;
Cora or Kennedy at 2B instead of Belliard;
Estrada at C;
Casey or Overbay at 1B;
Damon or Kotsay in CF instead of Andruw;
Upgrade Buerhle/downgrade Gordon.

[hechojazz]

Hey Coffee - thanks for the input. Unfortunately, decent *SPs are long gone, and are being held on to by their owners religiously. The hitters you mention are all taken as well...I lost the playoffs in Game 6 of the finals with my last Wrigley team, and Belliard was great for me at 2B. I had Kotsay on that team too, so I know you're right about his value. But I lost him in the autodraft. I'm pretty happy with the team, although I recognize I'm terribly righthanded hitting-wise, and fairly left balanced hitting-wise. However, in my division that turns out to be okay, but for the vulnerability I'll have against righty pitching generally.

I dropped Schneider for Buck by the way...

[LMBombers]

Here is my Wrigley team that has many of the players being discussed.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=38361