Thornton or Horner at 1B in Riverfront?

[Outta Leftfield]

I've never used either Thornton or Horner but want to try something a little different for me at 1B and am thinking these two would fit a HR park like Riverfront. I never liked Horner's 4e29 at 3B but just noticed that he's an acceptable 4e15 at 1B.

In Thornton's favor, as I now see it:
1. More durable
2. More walks, so higher OBP
3. Better defense: 3e10
4. Kills lefties

In Horner's favor:
1. More balanced, platoon-wise
2. Seems like he has a lot more BPHR (odd, because he's in Atlanta and Andre's in Cleveland, but there it is.)
3. More HR per at bat.

Neither seems to have a really bad year on their card, though I find that both tend to be dropped pretty quickly if they don't hit right away, maybe because there are so many 1B options at this price level. Thornton has two big years, Horner just one. Horner's years seem more even, though--solid all around.

I think I'm leaning toward Thornton but have already changed my mind a couple of times. Your advice/experience would be welcomed. Here's the team if you want a look. Should score some runs if I get decent years:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=80865

One other factor in Thornton's favor is that there are currently five LH *SPs in my division and my team has a bit of a lefty-hitting tilt, with Straw, Whitaker, Nettles and Daniels in the lineup. Even RHB like Fisk and Murphy and switchhitters like Singleton can favor RHP. A couple of times I've had teams where even the righties hit righties better, and it's really hard to get a team like that to balance. So having a guy who kills lefties might be good.

Also available at the moment is my usual cheap 1B standby, A Davis, plus Simmons, who can play first with OK def, and Bonilla, who is starring for me at DH on another team. Simmons at 1B and Fisk at C is an interesting idea, though, again, I sort of like Thornton's durability. (Taken, currently, are all the usual 5M+ 1B suspects, plus Durham, Kruk and G Davis.)

I'm still chewing on this, obviously. Any ideas or comments would be much appreciated.

[Outta Leftfield]

Jeez, it looks like I've written a gol-durn term paper on the topic of Thornton vs Horner. Why should you trouble yourself to say anything more? :oops: :lol:

Still, if you've got a preference either way--or love or hate one of these guys--I'd love to hear about it.

[Ducky]

I tend to like Thornton. Not much of a Horner guy. Thornton will generally give you a high OBP with 20-30 home runs and even though he hits lefties better, he will hold his own against right handed pitching as well.

Mike

[Outta Leftfield]

Thanks, Mike. I continue to lean toward Thornton, and the league starts tonight. The OBP is definitely a factor--and as I was looking more closely at his platoon tilts, his 4L years (the ones with the biggest tilts) are also his best years offensively (.871 and .892), so he should hold his own both ways. I like the durability because I may go with Fisk as my only backup 1B, and I'd like a 600 PA guy if that ends up happening...

Any Horner fans out there? In his favor, he seems capable of hitting 50 HR in Riverfront if you give him a full season.

[cplake]

Definately Thornton. No brainer.......

He has more natural power (non # HRs) because he played in a canyon (Cleveland Stadium). He will also produce a better OBP than Horner and you already mentioned the DEF.

[jsam9801]

as long as you have a balanced attack favoring RHP with someone else. I have learned the hard way that Dwight Evans and Andre Thornton are not great teammates. My latest Andre season:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team.html

[Yellow_Dog]

Your link didn't work jsamia. I imagine this is the Thornton performance you are touting?

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=79143

That Thornton/Rice/Baines 3-4-5 in the 1981 league is just plain murderous.

My only experience with either was Bob Horner. Eh.
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=28883

[Outta Leftfield]

Ooooh...nice numbers for Thornton, jsamia, on a great looking team that seems to be cruising. Wicked team name, too.

And YD, those Horner numbers would be fine except for the OBP. I guess the lack of walks is the problem.

I think I've got the hitting vs RHP covered with Straw, Whitaker, Daniels, Nettles, Singleton...and maybe even Fisk.

Are there any Hargrove fans out there??? He just got dropped....I've never used him because of the lack of power at a power position, but I do have lots of HR potential at the other positions (even Ripken at SS.) How is Hargrove as a leadoff or #2 man. Defense is pretty much equal and he's 1M cheaper...

[jsam9801]

Hargrove is slow and clogs the base paths...if you are committed to OBP, try a platoon of Willie "I am no speed demon like the Say Hey Kid" Aikens (only 1 bad card), Jason Thompson or Mike Greenwell and Carmen Castillo/Zisk/insert here.

See this team:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/playoffs/team.html?stats=sim

or in case I screwed up again (Aikens platoon stats):

[b:ba3d050537]SIM WAT 99 365 54 106 24 0 20 63 34 72 2 0 .290 .521 .357 .878 [/b:ba3d050537]

Problem with Hargrove is that he is generally terrible against LH and he has no power to boot. Even his best year 1979, you risk long injury and complete ineptitude against LHP.

js

[Outta Leftfield]

I'm convinced to stick with Thornton, at least till I see how he performs.

I could go with, say, Alvin Davis or Thompson (Aikens is gone), but then I've got to carry a platoon guy/backup. Thornton more or less stands alone, because of his durability and ability to hit LHP, which works well for this team. So, we'll give him a try. Having decided to keep Thornton, I just dropped Ron Jackson (who I was keeping around in case I wanted to platoon with a LHB) and upgraded one of my SPs. I'll try to be patient with Andre because hitters like him often seem to get off to slow starts for some reason.

Thanks again for all the advice, and fingers crossed about my new season! :D :D