Dunn 2b Quandary?

[nels52]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=87066

I am trying a Dunn Field team for the 1st time. I have a lot of good LH hitters on my roster, but I think maybe I should beef up by pitching some, esp. the bullpen. If I’m to do that, I need to free up cash. I’m thinking of cheapening up at 2B. I like Fox, but with the other guys I have he’d probably wind up batting low in the order – not the best use for him. SO, I was thinking of Doran or even the immortal Max Bishop as alternatives. Switch-hitting Doran is great on defense and is speedy – decent OB. Bishop has a surprising OBP for his low average, but he’s a plowhorse on the bases – so as a 7th or 8th hitter he’s kind of just a lineup-filler. (I’m probably overthinking this.)

Here's a tenative lineup:

Keller LF
Robinson 1B
Brett 3B
Snider CF
Ott RF
May C
Fox 2B
Peckinpaugh SS

Anyway, any opinions on whether I should keep Nellie and the pitching staff I have or try to make a change? Any other general opinions? (Other parks in division are: Forbes, Baker, and Fenway '67.)

Thanks.

[The Last Druid]

This is a joke right?

If not, just consider yourself real lucky to have Nellie. On your team he is fine either 2nd or 6th. May should bat lower in the order IMHO. I would bat Fox fifth before I would bat Ott there. If I were to use Ott it would be in the leadoff or second slot. Robinson might be better replaced by Mincher and Knight. You need someone to discourage people from feeding you an exclusive diet of lefthanders.

A fair question is should you keep Peckinpaugh. Fernandez, Bowa or Wills are better options for your park. Surely one of the three is available. Even if not, then I prefer Aparicio or Concepcion. Much of Peckinpaugh's limited value is his walks which aren't much help in the 8th slot, which is the only logical spot to bat him with your team.

[Rob55]

keep Fox...he has few DP's and makes a good #2 hitter..... he also has decent positive clutch as well as a good BA...so will do okt at 5 or 6. You want your OBP toward the top of the order. A lefty killer somwhere will help you also ..

[nels52]

All right, all right, I'll keep Nellie -- it was just an thought...

Petrosian, you don't seem that keen on Ott (I about busted my budget grabbing him.) You recommend a good RH hitter to offset LH pitching somewhat. Cuyler and Furillo are FA RF's who could do that, but would their talents be somewhat minimized at Dunn? But swapping Ott for one of them (I would lean toward Cuyler I think) would free up a bit of money for pitching that I think I need.

What about that pitching?

[gamiam]

Grab Cuyler by all means! Here he is on my latest Dunn team.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=63467

Starting pitching is fine. Might want one more good RP that can handle RHH. You do play 81 games on the road.

Watch those 15 game injuries. Your team is VERY injury-prone.

[Frank Bailey]

I'd like to take your team to Yankee '56. My experience with Dunn is that it is a pitchers park that favors LH hitters.

Ott is outstanding in the right situation. But I don't think this is that situation. Keller mostly the same.

If it was my team, I'd prefer a little stronger starting pitching.

But it's not my team.

Good luck, and enjoy.

[MEAT]

not gonna argue with petrosian, his record's impeccable, but Ive played a number of seasons in dunn and here's just another voice. agree ott has to leadoff to have any value, and since you already have snider, don't need him in cf, so in rf i'd go for an ennis, valentine, roenicke type to keep lh's honest. you've also got two extreme hitter's parks in your division, so you need some pop. cleon jones another possiblity for lf if you keep ott. if bennett, or merrit is out there, would be a great/cheap add to mix into rotation for home games. I like nolan, but don't have much use for eastwick. could really use a hard r reliever, even a cheap one. personally, I think fox will frustrate you with his lack of power in that division, frye's almost ideal, or someone who hits from leftside with N power. maz is a great backup to have. with brett and jackie r your only corner infielders, you're screwed when they eventually go down, simultaneously, with LONG injuries. agree with petrosian, a platoon with a hammer like mincher/knight or cey is better, or if norm cash isn't taken, he thrives in dunn and would love the other parks in your division. upgrade the bullpen a bit. 3 cents worth. lol.

[The Last Druid]

C'mon, I like it when people argue with me. :lol: That's why I make inflammatory comments like, "This is a joke right." Otherwise the boards tend to get real boring.

Losing Snider is worse than losing Fox. Keep 'em both. They are the heart of your team. You build the rest of the team around those two guys in Dunn.

You don't need homerun hitters to be successful on the road either, you just need to have your opponents score less than you. But you do have to keep your opponent's pitching honest when you're in Dunn.

I like your Valentine idea. He works in Dunn too since he doesn't lose much vs. righties and has enough natural hr's vs. lefties to be effective there. With Valentine and Knight in the lineup you make lefties pay and you protect Brett too.

I agree about Merritt also. He is like a fish in water in Dunn.

[The Last Druid]

Yeah, Cuyler works anywhere. So if he's available...

Also listen to Frank. He's one of a handful of managers with a universal style who can manage anywhere and win with unpopular players, and does so as a matter of course.

[nels52]

Alright, Ott is a goner and Cuyler is my new leadoff man with, I guess, Keller batting 2nd. I like Keller a lot; he seems to hit everywhere – and a great OBP. But now, where to bat Robinson? Maybe 5th? The fact is: in the course of a season the 5th hitter leads off more innings than anyone except the 1st hitter.

What, no love for Eastwick? Hmm.

I think I’ll stick with the starters I have – I hope they can handle it. Right now I’m gonna take my new windfall and shop for a fireman or two.

Thanks for all the comments – and any more are still appreciated.