Lineup Feedback Request

[MtheB]

Havent played ATG6 for awhile, and am playing in Griffith 57 for the first time.
Griffith 57
Singles Homeruns
1-15 1-2 1-1 1-16

It is still pre-start time, so I can still change my lineups. Here is my current lineup against RH pitching.

1. Collins, E. (L) 2B 1e12 1R .319 .400 .405
2. Lloyd, P. (L) SS 1e24 2R .357 .407 .470
3. Bonds, B. (R) RF 2(-4)e7 2R .283 .370 .530
4. Mays, W. (R) CF 1(-4)e8 1L .319 .400 .659
5. Santop, L. (L) C 2(-2)e5 4R .323 .372 .453
6. McGwire, M. (R) 1B 3e10 1L .260 .352 .478
7. Leach, F. (L) LF 3(-1)e6 E .304 .336 .469
8. Robinson, B. (R) 3B 1e13 2R .269 .333 .444

Decent RH power, VG defense, good LH BA hitters.

I could do this instead: (getting Bench and Tobin to replace Bo. Bonds and Santop)

Collins
Tobin
Mays
Bench (his 40 HR, 600 PA+ AB card)
Lloyd
McGwire
Leach
Br. Robinson.

This lineup gives me a full lineup of 600 PA+ players, better catcher defense and arm, RH power about the same, marginally better LH BA hitting.
The current lineup has better speed (Bo bonds), an injury risk catcher, albeit one that hits righties quite well.

The real issue to me seems to be the very large number of gbA's that Bench has on his card, and that most of the walks on Bench's card are vs lefties. Bo. Bonds has slighting better power, but as he is a 2R, he is a better hitter than Bench against righties.

Here is the breakdown of LH starters in the division and in the league.

Division: 5 LH starters
In other Divisions: 9 LH starters
Total LH Starters in league: 14 LH starters on 11 teams

Looking at this low total of LH starters in the league, I am leaning toward what I currently have, as Bobby Bonds is a 2R against RH pitching, and Stantop is a 4R. And I am very leery of Bench's high DP's on his card, particularly against RH pitching.
Stantop's injury factor is one downside (my other catcher is Lake a 3L), the other question is if Bench's superior defense (a 1 (-4) arm, a significant different to Stanhope's 2(-2) ?

Thoughts?

[emart]

What's the salary cap for the league?

[MtheB]

80 mill

[motherscratcher]

I've played Griffith 57 once and won 69 games so take this for what it's worth (not much).

I like your original linup better. I'd hate to give up Bonds under any circumstance.

[emart]

That's Bobby, not Barry.

[emart]

There are so many choices these days in ATG, its difficult to nail down any single strategy. That said, I've had best results in these heavy slant parks by having at least 6 hitters (in no DH leagues) that are well suited for the park (RH bphr). In DH leagues at least 7, and sometimes all nine.

I don't build 80 mil teams much any more, but Bench, Lloyd and Bonds would probably fall away for other choices. IMO, Bench is too expensive with not enough OB for his position. In that price I'd be looking for Hafey, Colavito or cheap Hank Aaron (or two of the 3), and I'd settle for the 3.9 version of Parrish at C for #8 instead of Robinson. I think Tobin is your LF option instead of Leach, and at #7. I'd be looking at Donnie Bush 5.59 instead of Lloyd.

I appreciate trying to get a bulletproof lineup but I honestly don't think at 80 mil you can build a competitive team without taking some injury chances. I use the 6.48 Evers regularly at leadoff, its a risk but it pays off.

I also prefer the 10.8 version of Mays. 3B is tough, I'd probably be looking at Bando or Rosen in the 5-6 price range for the #6 spot, though Stan Hack would be a good call in exchange for another RH hitter at another position, batting #7 (with Tobin out). If you downgrade to Bush and Evers you could upgrade from the 3.7 version of McGwire.

Evers - 2B (Collins)
Bush - SS (Lloyd)
Mays - CF
Hafey - LF
Colavito - RF
???
Hack - 3B
Parrish - C

[MtheB]

thanks.

The problem with Tobin is he has terrible clutch, not a good #7 hitter. Leach is cheap, and though does not have high OBP, he has excellent clutch and has good EXBH and decent BA.
Colovito and Aaron aren't available unfortunately.
Have just had bad luck with Hafey, I know others have fared well with him, but not I.

Bush has almost the same on-base chances against RH hitters that Lloyd has, good call. that saves almost 2 mill.
I like Foxx over Evers, only thing Nellie lacks is stolen bases, but everything else is there--BA, OPB, defense.
Its just hard to not play Eddie Collins. :-), always performs well.

[emart]

Must be the new Fox?

[MtheB]

Made some changes. Here is the lineup vs RHP.

Bush 1909 SS
N. Fox 1957 2B
V. Guerrero 2002 RF
Mays 1955 CF
Stantop C
McGwire 1988 1B
Leach LF
B. Robinson 1966 3B

vs LHP.

Bush 1909 SS
N. Fox 1957 2B
Mays 1955 CF
McGwire 1988 1B
V. Guerrero 2002 RF
Leach LF
B. Robinson 1966 3B
Lake C

[jlt53]

You probably don't need more suggestions at this point, but I have had some decent teams in that park and two of the guys I like there are the expensive Carew (no injuries, OK at 1b, great speed, hits for high average) who I have batted third and Gary Carter (the old one, not the new one, who I haven't tried yet) who is a great fielding catcher and hits a lot of homers.
Despite being listed as 1R, Carew seems to end up pretty much balanced. If you play Carter, of course, you might have to shift another one of your players (Mark M?) to avoid being too LHP oriented, depending on who else is in your league.
I also like both Bando and Rosen. I seem to remember trying Decinces in that park, who I liked in real life, and he sucked.
My two cents. Good luck.