Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

I ended up with four starting LHP in the autodraft draft (one is a token, non-* SP taking up a roster spot). It's a given I try to get two LHP's, two RHP's in my rotation. My third best LHP, though, is Flanagan. He's not a bad pitcher, and I'm tempted to gamble on the 3 lefty rotation just to see what happens. Thing is, I can only see it going either really good, or really bad for me. Soto, Doc, and Blyleven are still out there, too, and I can afford any of them. If I ignore them, though, I'll have about 5M to add another good bat to the lineup (perhaps even a superior bat). I'm in the Astrodome, here's the lineup:

1B: Drl Evans/Martinez (if I get a subpar Evans card)
2B: Herr
SS: Fernandez
3B: Madlock
LF: Downing
CF: TBD (I am NOT using Shelby there all year)
RF: Barfield
DH: Matthews

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=63799

Higuera is great, Key can be OK and I'd look for better options on Flannigan. Soto, Bert, etc.

Ditto what YF said. I would not worry about too many LH SPs unless you think the teams in your division are set to tee off against LH pitching. Hoyt could be a nice option to Flannigan if you want to save the money. Higuera and Key can be awesome.

The thing about Hoyt and Flanagan that I have trouble with is the hits-inning. Soto and Blyleven are going to give up HR's, even in the Astrodome (I have Soto in the dome in another league, and he allowed 40+ -- I keep getting that same card of his -- HR's on 5-9, 5-10 v. LH). Soto's WHIP is good, though, so he doesn't allow the big 3-run bomb too often. Plus, he's always available, it seems. I've never used Doc, but his price is way up there for what are seasons that can be approximated by other pitchers. I thought about going cheaper, perhaps picking up another RH without an * and letting HAL choose between him and Allan Anderson (or whomever I dump Anderson to get later). That would give me flexibility in the 4th spot. I think I can get Rozema as a spot starter, for instance. He's not too bad. Anderson would be a gamble, of course, but, again, I could go cheaper and improve my O, particularly in CF (I think Puckett got passed over, though someone is bound to get him in the waiver phase).

Only one thing to watch out for with all of the LHSP. Be sure your division mates don't stock up on the lefty killers. There are many still on the FA market. I'm in this autoleague with you, so just keep a look out.

I don't think I can stick with Flanagan. Too much "balance" on the brain. I like 2 R's, 2L's. If I run a semi-five man, I like 3*'s, then 2 non*'s, a lefty and a righty for the computer to choose from in the four hole.