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I've got a team starting tonight and i have a quick question for all you strat masters out there.

I'm playing in a super home run friendly division. I'm in Coors, with Great American, US Cellular, and AT&T in the division.


My current outfield looks like this:

LF - Brett Gardner
CF - Carlos Gonzalez
RF - Andre Ethier


Available free agents that fit in my price range:
Chris Young
Dexter Fowler
Alex Rios
Delmon Young

Here is my question and thanks in advance for your thoughts:

Do I go for the improved Defense by selecting Fowler or C Young to play CF (giving my a 1 at all three positions when CarGo moves to RF) but lessening my power (especially against rhp which I'm already weaker against than lhp). And if you go here do you take the better arm in Fowler or the better slugger in Young?

Do I reverse the defensive hole by taking D Young and moving my 3 in the OF to LF and put the better defender with the better arm in RF, once again weakening my bat against rhp, just not as badly.

Do I go for the middle of the road option and put Rios in CF and settle for a middle of the road bat?

Do I stand pat and keep the big bat against rhp and live with the defensive hole in RF?

You don't seem to consider this option, but I think Gardner is a bad fit for your park and division, so I'd look to replace him. Chris Young seems to make the most sense, since you can then move CarGo to LF (don't think he can go to RF with Ethier there). Fowler and Rios are also bad choice to fill in there with their limited power. Delmon Young won't be bad either, but obviously you're trading in defense for bat.

I like Ethier's bat, but he'll probably need a platoon partner out there, or you'll just have to suck up that difference between RHP and LHP.

Not too worried about Gardner (wouldn't have drafted him originally but he was part of my initial complement in a theme league) I like his OBP against both righties and lefties and I've got lot's of power hitting behind him to knock him in.

Unfortunately I just can't afford a platoon for Ethier, the theme league set me up with some great hitters, but i'm already a little thinner than i'd like to be at pitcher.

Here are my current projected lineups for the start of the season:

against LHP:

LF - Brett Gardner
2b - Will Rhymes
1b - Adrian Gonzalez
CF - Carlos Gonzalez
DH - Vlad Guerrero
3b - Ryan Zimmerman
ss - Alex Gonzalez
RF - Andre Ethier
c - Lou Marson

Against RHP:
LF - Brett Gardner
2b - Will Rhymes
CF - Carlos Gonzalez
RF - Andre Ethier
3b - Ryan Zimmerman
1b - Adrian Gonzalez
DH - Vlad Guerrero
ss - Alex Gonzalez
c - Yadier Molina

Don't know what sort of theme this is, so I'm not sure what your player availability is like ...

I guess we have different philosophies, but I just try to avoid singles hitters with "weak" ratings in power parks and vice-versa. So for me, Gardner, Rhymes, and Molina all would probably have to go (or at least two of them).

Also, why is Adrian Gonzalez batting 6th vs. RHP? He's 7.55M!! I wouldn't have him hitting any lower than 4th, maybe 5th. I hate batting cheap guys high in the order and expensive guys down lower. You paid the big bucks for those boppers, get them the ABs you paid for!!!

Thanks for the input Dave, I love looking at the way managers apporach their teams.

I don't usually run with a Hitters Park so i appreciate the help.

Young has shown good power for me. I would go with Young and the improved "D".

[quote:572f3e5697="durantjerry"]Young has shown good power for me. I would go with Young and the improved "D".[/quote:572f3e5697]

Agreed...I like Young ALOT for your park/division

And I agree with Aerodave on Molina, Rhymes, Gardner...

I like Gardners OBP too...but 7 mill is a lot to pay for if you only like him for his OBP. W-Power vs Righties in your park and division....you could use the $$ elsewhere.

I'd like to know what there is available @ Catcher and 2B...

if someone like Buck, Soto, Castro is available I'd grab one of them.

I like Gardner (for this set) even in a HR park. You need some guys on base when the HRs are hit. Good luck whatever you decide.