Sophomore Requests Expert Feedback... Huntington '03 Team

[Proverbial Psalms]

My first attempt at building a "slugger ballclub", decided to try Huntington Ave Grounds '03 (8-8-20-20) rather than at the more popular (Baker, Polo, Fenway). I believe I may have overdone it on offense, but I am in a division with two Yankee'27's and other divisions have a Yankee'56 and a BakerBowl'15 (along with the mandatory 4 Forbes, 1 Griffith). So the extra offense may be fruitful on the road... or will it?

(It's also no coincidence that four starting pitchers all have "N" power)

[url=http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=113283]Sophomore Slugger Team Roster[/url]

Before the season starts tonite, I wanted to ask for any advice from the experts... I appreciate all the help everyone offers, so I'm wondering... how bad is the pitching selected... should I downgrade any offense to fix it? My lineup lacks speed, but I'm thinking it doesn't matter as much... what about my proposed lineup below, any adjustments?

1. Selkirk (L) RF
2. Mathews (L) 3B
3. York (R) 1B
4. Wilson (R) CF
5. Campanella (R) C
6. Banks (R) SS
7. Oglivie (L) LF
8. Gordon (R) 2B

(Against lefties I swap Banks/Campanella at 5/6 and have Roenicke in place of Oglivie). I know Selkirk isn't traditional leadoff, I'd had Dykstra in CF, but couldn't resist picking up Hack when he was released.

Help please... anyone and everyone!
And thank you very much.

[sschu]

You need MUCH higher OBP for this to work and Hack Wilson's D will kill you in CF.

Here are your numbers:

OBP vs RH 0.392
SLG vs RH 0.462
OPS vs RH 0.854
HR Rate vs RH 5.9
BPHR vs RH 62
OBP vs LH 0.414
SLG vs LH 0.498
OPS vs LH 0.912
HR Rate vs LH 6.2
BPHR vs LH 61

Vs RHs these numbers need to be above .900 at least. Suggest:

1. Gorman or Mantle for Hack Wilson

2. Campy is great, but a key hitter at catcher with the injury risk is not good. Would consider Hegan/Steinbach platoon at C and consider it a throw away spot in the batting order.

3. Get Clark or Jimmie Foxx (50 HRs, 430 OBP) on the team.

4. Cleon is a terrific leadoff hitter on sluuger teams.

5. I would go cheap on the SPs, Drucke, Lea, Byrne, Carlson, Coffman are out there, pretty picked over.

6. Pen has some problems, get to Riddle, Hughes, Lyle, Tincup(must have) or Humps. Orosco and Lavella should get the boot.

Mantle with Foxx and Banks wrapped around him will cause HAL lots of headaches, he will make mistakes and the Mick will see some RHs with Foxx and Cleon on base in front of him.

Selkirk would not be my choice if you are looking for who to drop. Keep Banks and Eddie for sure. Maybe Doerr for Gordon.

Best of luck, sschu

[Proverbial Psalms]

sschu... thanks, I am digesting your feedback and checking free agents as we speak...

I definitely struggled with Campanella... my other thought was a guy like Freehan, a negative arm with injury on 2/12 and 600+ AB/W's, which would help on the in jury front... of course his OPR is below .800. Is Freehan a better route than a platoon?

Also, a clarification, when you say "Selkirk would not be my choice if you are looking for who to drop"... does that mean he would not be your choice to keep.. or not be your choice of a guy to drop? It wasn't clear.

Foxx and Mantle are pricey, but I'm sure worth it... if I did that, I guess I'd have to squeeze $$ out of C, RF and 2B since I'd be keeping Banks/Mathews?

Thanks again, more comments appreciated.

[sschu]

Here is what I would do, but you are late to the game, some of the preferred pitchers are taken.

Hegan/Steinbach
Foxx
Gordon
Eddie
Ernie
Cleon
Mick
Clark

SPs:
Drucke
Byrne
Coffman
Cox
Lea

RPs:
Humps
Cup
Morgan
Anderson
Pedro

What is the SP count in your division and league (RH/LH)? Brett is out there and very tempting.

Selkirk has usually disappointed me, but others like him. You could take him in RF over Clark and get a better RP.

FWIIW, sschu

[Proverbial Psalms]

My division foes have 5 L's, 9 R's in expected rotations.... other divisions combined are 15 L's, 17 R's.... so woth the heavy division impbalance, Brett would be viable?

[sschu]

Those are not Brett numbers, 75% league RH is a good rule.

Any Hard RH like Boyd, Drysdale, Gibby, Seaver, Garcia, Grant, Catfish in your division? With my suggestion you have 6 RHs, which exposes you to these type of RH killers somewhat.

sschu

[Proverbial Psalms]

None of those righty-killers are in division.... am considering selkirk/clark right now.

[Proverbial Psalms]

ok, sschu... made a ton of changes, got most of the pitchers you suggested, agree i should've been more active earlier there.

On hitters, I picked up Cleon, Foxx, Mantle, and catchers... dumping Campy, Hack, and my LF platoon. A question... I can either go with Selkirk in RF, or Gwynn... is there a need for Gwynn's slap-hitting high OBA on this team, to bat second behind Cleon, or should I go with Selkirk? I don't think I can carve enough $$ to get Clark in RF, unless I downgraded Gordon, Mathews, or my sparse bullpen.. thoughts on that?

[sschu]

Selkirk over Gwynn everyday at Huntington.

Gallego and Belardi should go for nickle guys and you should have enough for Selkirk.

Bat them

vs LH/RH
Cleon
Foxx
Mantle
Banks/Eddie
Eddie/Selkirk
Gordon/Banks
Selkirk/Gordon
Catcher

or alternate LH vs RHs in spots 4-7.

Just remember that patience is key with this type of team, DO NOT drop/add, you will be toast if you do so. Sometimes these teams can get streaky, fiddle with the lineup if they get in a bad streak or start slowly.

Best of luck, sschu

[boss_of_um]

All I can say is look out for when you have to play the Central. With Petrosian, Frank Bailey, and myself, just in the Central, this is a solid public league.