Newbie Here - Help Appreciated

[Ben Grimm]

This is my first BTT80s league I've been in. I'm new to SOM - with 2 teams recently started in GOTG2 (not faring all that well)...

We're coming up to the beginning of the season, and I'm not really sure where I might be weak at. Everything looks good heading into the season, but I haven't come close to mastering the cards and the odds of a player's ability to be decent if not good.

This is my team here...
[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team.html[/url]

My base lineup I think would go like this:

Raines LF
Randolph 2B
Mattingly 1B
Mitchell DH
Van Slyke CF
Barfield RF
DeCinces 3B
SD #33 C
Owens (vs LH) / Stillwell (vs RH)

Starting 4-man rotation...

I don't currently have much financial flexibility (about $0.25M). All info and help is greatly appreciated. Thanks![/url]

[Panzer ace]

The link you posted doesnt work. It looks like its missing your team id#
If you check the post by Fitch a couple spots down, you will see how he posted his team. You just need to substitute your team id# at the end. You can get that by going into 'statistics' on your team and put your cursor over your team. You will see the id# at the bottom of the screen.
PS
Welcome. You're going to enjoy this.

[Ben Grimm]

Thank you Panzer for showing me how to post the link...

Maybe this will work better.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=67321

[Panzer ace]

Your rotation looks good. I think you may have over spent on the pen. I dont think there will be enough innings to go around for Gott, Sutter and Lavelle. I would drop Lavelle for a cheaper option to free up some money. I might try to upgrade SS with the money. See if you can get a '2'. There are a few in that price range. The rest of the team looks fine to start the season with. You may want to keep an eye out for a CF who can hit lefties. Van Slyke can be weak against LH. How important that is may depend on how many LH SP you will see in your division.
What are the other parks in your division?

[Ben Grimm]

Took your advice and degraded Lavelle for a .75M LHP. Used the money to upgrade to one of only few 2s at SS available - Greg Gagne. Dropped Spike Owens. I haven't been around this long enough to realize that a player's range is so important. Is a 2/25 better than a 3/15? Don't know how that breaks down.

As to Van Slyke, I primarily went after him based on his defense and arm. Granted, I'm hitting him 5th but that's mainly because I'm light at LH hitters. The other teams in my division play at Kingdome, Kaufman (KC) Stadium and Jacobs Field (CLV).

Thanks again for your help. I'm having a ball just making swaps and looking at the other teams in the league. Can't wait 'til the season actually starts next Monday.

[Panzer ace]

IF defense up the middle is very important. (just like real life). If you look in that other thread, you will see that YF(and outstanding manager who is very helpful) posted a link to a web site with info on the game. It has some good info to read over. It has a chart that helps figure the difference between a 2e25 and a 3e15. It can differ between the positions. There are several threads from people who posted their first or current teams. I encourage you to read over those. You will get many of your questions answered (including ones you haven't thought of yet). You will find lots of managers who will help answer your questions as you go along.
You have a nice mix in your division. I think your team looks pretty good to start the season.

[Ben Grimm]

Thanks a million. I'll check out all the info out there over the weekend prior to the start of the season.

Have a great holiday!

-Ken

[Outta Leftfield]

Your team looks really promising.

You probably don't want to drop Van Slyke-- I don't think Panzer Ace meant to suggest that--he's a top player: a great fielder who kills RHP. But look for a way to platoon him since he usually doesn't hit RHP at all. It can be hard to platoon in CF since cheap RH hitters who can field well in CF are hard to find. You can do it now however with some loss to your defense--e.g. move either Raines or Barfield to CF (both are 3's there--less range) and put somebody else (you could use Mitchell) on the the OF corners vs LHP. That would hurt your defense but help you a lot vs lefties. You could also look around for a cheap option with less defensive impact.

[YountFan]

I would drop Gagne can get Griffin. Ourside of a few homers they'll hit abiut the same. Consider moving Barfield and taking a chace on Lezcano. He has 3 year were he could be the MVP.

[Ben Grimm]

Just wanted to thank everybody for the help. I've taken and used as much of the advice as I could. Now it's just sit back and wait for the season.

Have a great holiday everybody!