Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

Hi guys,

I just finished my draft and waiver wire deals for my second team for the 1986 rosters. My first team started great but I screwed it up pretty bad and it is slowly falling apart. I'm hoping I learned some lessons but I want to keep getting better. Let me know what you think about my roster.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=362364

I am using a four man rotation of:

Gooden
Higuera
Youmans
Oil Can

My lineup as of now vs LHP:
1. Gwynn RF 1 (-1) e4
2. Randolph 2B 2 e30
3. Knight 3B 3 e21
4. Dale Murphy CF 1 (-3) e6
5. Horner 1B 3 e10
6. Canseco DH
7. Ozzie Smith SS 1 e 17
8. Sierra LF 2 (-1) e10
9. Sundberg C 2 (-1) e1

Vs RHP I bat Ozzie 2nd, Randolph 3rd, Larry Sheets C's and bats 7th, Ray Knight 8th and Sierra 9th.

My bullpen isn't that bad I don't think with Lee Smith and John Franco probably pitching most bullpen innings. I have a 1 at SS and CF and a 2 at 2b which everybody says is important. I'm a little concerned about Randolph's e30.

I have a decent lefty specialist out of the pen in Powell. Nate Snell and Dan Quisenberry have pitched well in my other league so I'm hoping they will do the same for me. Dave Stewart has pitched effectively for me as a starter in my other league with QS's in like 14 out of 18 GS so I'm hoping he can be effective as my mopup guy.

My main concerns are using Sheets catching against RHP because of his 4 defense. I am also concerned about hitting RHP a little bit. I don't like having Ruben Sierra as my LF but I can't afford anything else without sacrificing pitching or defense.

I have Terry Pendleton to PR late in games and possibly stay in games at 3b to improve defense. My pinch hitting is pretty weak but in a DH league I'm not as worried except when I have a starter injured. I focused on having value cards batting 5th and 6th in the batting order that can hit for power but also have great Clutch Ratings given my high OBP at the top of the order.

What advice do you guys have? Where do you see holes in my roster or possibly holes in my strategy?

Merry Christmas.

There is no way you should have Sheets ever catching for this team. Four of your five starters have +3 or higher holds. Sheets arm is +2 and his T rating is 20 (the worst). Teams are fast in '86 and will steal you blind and Sheets will throw it into the outfield at an alarming rate. Even with a good catcher, that many + holds are dangerous in 1986.

Ozzie can go down for 15 games, so he needs a decent backup.

Randolph is fine, he'll make up for those errors. I would bat him 1st (NOT 2nd) in the order or he'll hit into a zillion double plays behind Gwynn who will be on 1st a lot.

You are spending too much on pitching. All four of your starters are 5.3 million or higher, I probably wouldn't have more than two at that price. I like smith and franco, but after that, you really should have "cheapies" in you pen. Those other guys won't pitch enough to be of value (if you setup your pitching strategy right). So downgrade those relievers.

Use that money to upgrade your offense. I think the spots that need the most work are catcher, then third base, then backup ss, then maybe LF. (Although I've actually seen Sierra used fairly effectively)

Needs a few tweaks, but not a bad effort.

thanks, I'll keep looking at the F.A. today and see if I can make some of those changes

maybe too much bullpen with SP*s that are all at least S7's especially since 86 doesnt use closer ratings.

U will face rh pitching 70% of the time but u seem more prepared to hit vs lefties. the edge in cleveland only slightly favors righty hitters. get some lefty or switch hitters who can rake against righty pitching.