New to Strat, 1st team ever

[gkamens]

Finally decided to get into this game.
My 1st team just drafted about 20 minutes ago. Sadly I got most of the players I targeted, being that I'm extreamly new at this I'm guessing it means my stategy is WAYYYY off.

I chose Petco park. I figured trying to get (at least what I consider) deep pitching rotation would really allow me to take advantage of the park. I think (althought I know nothing) that the pitching on my team should be strong. My main worry is the 5th starter slot. I feel good about the Starting 4 and think I have a good mix of pitchers who are good againt both lefties and righties.
With positional players I tried to bring in solid/good defensve players who get on base and hit doubles. Where I know I'm going to struggle is against LH pitching.

http://members.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2007/team/team_other.html?user_id=5082&stats=actual


Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance
GK

[cummings2]

1st of all welcome to strat. No matter what enjoy the game, hope it brings you lots of fun.

Interesting team you have there, fairly different than my usual bunch. I go a bit more for Studs and scrubs types of team than for the more evenly balanced makeup of your team. Will be interesting to see it in action.

Personally I'd look to increase the pop in the lineup. Your sluggers are a bit on the tame side for my taste.

Pitching looks fine, remember you don;t need the full set you have right now. Usually I like stronger closers but I think you drafted the basis for a good 1st team.

I am sure you're up to speed but if you haven't take a look at the newbie advise thread and basically any post by Marcus Wilby, J-Pav, DeanTSC, Jerlins and Play by the rules, they're the best of the best here.

Once again, good luck.

C2

[gkamens]

[quote:df854b9c33]Personally I'd look to increase the pop in the lineup. Your sluggers are a bit on the tame side for my taste[/quote:df854b9c33]


Don't think I really have any sluggers.


lol.
Thank you very much. Def need to find that thread. Still have tons to learn.

[gkamens]

1 specific question I forgot to ask.

If I have a pitcher who is an S6, am I correct in assuming that if not used as a starter he won't be used out of the pen?

IE. Ted Lilly-S6 if I chose not to start him will he just be a waste? or would he pitch out of bullpen?

[Mean Dean]

If he isn't being used as a starter and doesn't have an R rating (and Lilly does not), then he would only be used out of the pen in the most dire of emergencies, like 16-inning games or something; it wouldn't be too shocking to see him not get into a game all year.

The only reason to carry such a player is if you have a 4-man rotation and are just taking up the spot, since you are required to carry 5 pitchers capable of starting. Some managers with 4-man rotations like to have a starter/reliever in the 5th spot, so he can contribute something as a reliever. But others would rather the guy just sit on the bench and not get in the way, so they take a starter-only pitcher. That would be the only reason to do it.

Even if you do have a 4-man rotation and you do opt to make the 5th starter a season-long benchwarmer, naturally you should use a $.5M player since the guy is never going to pitch, rather than a $2.5M player like Lilly.

[LMBombers]

You should dump either Hensley or Lilly so that you only have 5 SP. RPs with a closer rating of C4, C5 or C6 are priced higher than similar RPs with a lower closer rating or no closer rating at all. Most people go with only one RP with a closer rating of C5 or C6. What I am saying is that you are paying for the high closer rating on some of your RPs that won't be used in closer situations. If it was me I would only keep one from the Nelson, Cordero, Ray group and use him as my full time closer. Remember those # symbols can get nasty in HR parks. Look to get another R2 or better RP. You could use a lefty or two.

Chavez is a bum. I have not seen him hit at all in the 2007 game. There are many good options at 3B this year but Chavez isn't one of them IMO.

I love the Red Sox but I am not a Youkilis fan of his 2007 SOM card.

It is your team. The best way to learn is to read the boards, look at successful teams in other leagues and by just plain old experience in the game. Go to your league statistics and click on your team. Notice the URL now has a number at the end? That is your team number. Have some fun by changing that number and looking at other teams that have already completed seasons or are still in the middle of one. Play close attention to the teams with good records and look at the makeup of their team and what kind of park they are playing in.

Have Fun!

[Palmtana]

[quote:c6be342644]Def need to find that thread.[/quote:c6be342644]

[url=http://forums-beta.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=9842]Newbie Advice Thread[/url] (It's about 1/3 the way down this page)

[gkamens]

thanks for all the advice. this seems like it should be fun.