What to do at 1b

[tersignf]

funny...I think you're weaker vs righties! Especially since you have no real LHB on RHP boppers. Tough righties will be tough for you to beat at home which is bad.

Remember that the balance ratings are a first guess, but just like in estimating if an asteroid's orbit will intersect with Earth...it's a first guess only.

As you move on with the game, the best way to see this is to use the CDROM version of the game to sim your team or to use the lineup analysis features (I have a Mac so I'm out of luck--but it's well worth it if you have a WIN machine).

In the absence of that, here's a general rule or two on balance:
1. It is non-linear in its application...that is is becomes significantly less important as salary goes up. e.g., Randy Johnsons's 3L really doesn't matter--he's better against righties than most other pitcher's too. It's only relative to that player's individual performance. Same with Vlad Guerrero etc. But with a Davanon or a Merloni it makes a difference.

2. Balance rating should not be considered gospel on player capability vs that side. Depends on your park, N or W power, usage patterns in your lineup etc. Look at Mark Loretta...shows as a lefty slant--maybe so with all those OBs and TBs--but he has more individual XBHs vs righties with N power, so he may have a higher slugging % vs righties etc. Then there's folks like Surhoff and Klesko--shaded to LHP but W power--they need to be used accordingly depending on park etc.

3. Although I have no proof except an anecdotal claim, RHBs who are shaded toward RHPs (ie Jack Wilson, Frank Thomas) don't always do as well against their strong as you might expect. It may be because there are lots of tough RHPs who handle RHBs, so that the combined chance of getting a hit is less than a LHB who kills RHP. It depends on park and matchups very much, but don't expect Aramis Ramirez to hit righties as well as a comparable LHB such as Carlos Delgado (depends on park of course but all things equal).

4. Almost forgot--remember you'll face righties 2 out of every 3 plate appearances...it's OK to be slightly weaker vs lefties in most cases (park, matchups etc notwithstanding).

It's all about crafting a roster for value--getting the most from the money you spend--meaning using player's cards in the most favorable situations a majority of the time...not paying for good D out of your DH, not paying for BPHRs if you play in Petco, etc

Absolutely agree on Freel--everyday player that allows you to spend elsewhere. He's a value for his OB. Most other high OB options (who have it both ways) are more money (Mora, loretta, suzuki, posada, Kendall, etc)

Cheers GL and have fun

[Coffeeholic]

Looks like you're doing some platooning where you don't need to Halo Don.

Kennedy and Chavez should go both ways also.

As is, I'd go:

Closser - C
Konerko - 1B
Kennedy - 2B
Jeter - SS
Chavez - 3B
Freel - LF
Rowand - CF
Vlad - RF
DaVanon/Merloni - DH Platoon

Kennedy and Chavez are injury prone, so Neifi makes decent sense as a back-up here.

You really don't need another RH'er with power, so that trade of Peavy for Guillen doesn't make alot of sense.

Peavy is one of the most sought after SP's in the game, and could net you a nice SP* in return.

I agree about Konerko being miscast on this team. You could use a nice lefty 1B to give you some more strength from that side of the plate. An idea might be to offer Peavy and Konerko for Casey and an SP.

Hairston isn't really necesary on your team, and his salary could be used to upgrade somewhere else.

Buehrle should do fine as an every 4th day SP... he's a pretty good fit for your park. Not your #1 guy, but adequate as the #3 or #4 guy. He and Escobar will do well vs. that Shea team in your division.

[Coffeeholic]

I just looked through the teams in your league. One team has Pedro (SP*) mixed in with a batch of SP's, and another has Lilly (SP*) mixed in with a batch of SP's. A trade with either of these teams might make sense for both of you.

[Halo Don]

Coffeeholic,
Ok, I see trading Konerko and Peavy for Thome and who? I am not thinking they would part with anything else. Need to make up around $3.05M pulled from them.

Probably won't part w/Smoltz. Estrada? Bradley?

[Coffeeholic]

That looks like a good team to try to work a deal with as he is struggling about a dozen games below .500.

Like I said, Peavy for Pedro looks to make sense for both of you. He'd be getting a bit of an upgrade in Peavy, so perhaps you could get an upgrade somewhere else. Thome's not really the best fit for your park, but Eric Young would be a nice fit as your platoon partner for Davanon and he's not really using him. My first choices on his team would be Pedro, Young and Estrada, perhaps for Peavy, Closser and Amenzaga. That's a bit one-sided, but maybe he'll go for it. If not you can always fall back on Peavy and Amenzaga for Pedro and Young.

I wouldn't just flash him a trade offer however. Send him an e-mail and present your arguments and see what he thinks about possibilities.

Who is available on the FA wire? You have some extra cash spent at positions you don't really need to...and some condensing may be able to net you a nice upgrade somewhere.

[Halo Don]

At one time he sent me the following offer.

You give up:
Hairston Jr., Jerry (3,520,000)
Chavez, Eric (4,870,000)
Buehrle, Mark (3,440,000)

Other team gives up:
Mora, Melvin (7,410,000)
Martinez, Pedro (4,390,000)

Maybe I should have jumped on it. I thought I was losing too much. About two weeks ago when I was not willing to make many trades.

[tersignf]

yeah a little secret--Mora and Pedro are generally keepers. Especially Mora--50+TB vs righties I believe...50 OBs both ways...30+ hits vs RHPs and one of the best DH options going--can lead off, hit 3rd...4th...can steal.
No use worrying about it now, but gives you an idea of what he may be willing to deal. I'd send him an email like coffe said and just lay out some folks youd move and ask him about folks you're interested in.

[Halo Don]

Waiting for reply to message I sent.

As for FA list here are hitters.
Helton, Todd 12.18M
Beltran, Carlos 9.16M
Guillen, Carlos 6.78M
Snow, J.T. 5.99M
Wilkerson, Brad 5.94M
Broussard, Ben 5.84M
Walker, Larry 5.82M
Rollins, Jimmy 5.55M
Varitek, Jason 5.21M
Hunter, Torii 5.20M
Mohr, Dustan 5.15M
Gload, Ross 5.14M
Wilson, Craig 5.12M
Wright, David 5.12M
Byrnes, Eric 5.10M
Giles, Brian 5.10M
Wilson, Jack 5.09M
Durazo, Erubiel 5.07M
Mirabelli, Doug 5.07M
Pickering, Calvin 5.01M
Posada, Jorge 4.95M
Bay, Jason 4.74M
Mabry, John 4.70M
Mench, Kevin 4.62M
Morneau, Justin 4.62M
Quinlan, Robb 4.54M
Uribe, Juan 4.44M
Taguchi, So 4.40M
Kent, Jeff 4.37M
Pena, Carlos 4.30M
Belliard, Ronnie 4.23M
Cantu, Jorge 4.16M
Glaus, Troy 4.15M
Hernandez, Ramon 4.15M
Griffey Jr., Ken 4.12M
Feliz, Pedro 4.11M
Sweeney, Mike 4.11M
Koskie, Corey 4.10M
Millar, Kevin 4.09M
Durham, Ray 4.07M
Patterson, Corey 4.06M
Lane, Jason 4.03M
Hollandsworth, Todd 3.99M
Easley, Damion 3.98M
Jacobsen, Bucky 3.95M
Pena, Wily Mo 3.91M
Ojeda, Miguel 3.85M
Cairo, Miguel 3.83M
Thomas, Frank 3.82M
Sizemore, Grady 3.81M

Pitchers
Gagne, Eric 6.39M
Gonzalez, Mike 5.97M
Rincon, Juan 5.86M
Calero, Kiko 5.80M
Foulke, Keith 5.38M
Ryan, B.J. 5.36M
Takatsu, Shingo 4.98M
Moreno, Orber 4.97M
Mendoza, Ramiro 4.93M
Bush, Dave 4.73M
Rusch, Glendon 4.60M
Wise, Matt 4.55M
Miller, Wade 4.48M
Francisco, Frank 4.31M
Halladay, Roy 4.15M
Hoffman, Trevor 4.14M
Bottalico, Ricky 4.07M
Carrara, Giovanni 3.88M
Aquino, Greg 3.85M
Madson, Ryan 3.71M
Linebrink, Scott 3.69M
Torres, Salomon 3.68M
Otsuka, Akinori 3.67M
Kolb, Danny 3.65M
Mercker, Kent 3.64M
Looper, Braden 3.55M
Stanton, Mike 3.30M
King, Ray 3.23M
Romero, J.C. 3.21M
Urbina, Ugueth 3.20M
Ramirez, Erasmo 3.13M
Burnett, A.J. 3.10M
Remlinger, Mike 3.08M
Colome, Jesus 2.95M
Adams, Mike 2.86M
Osuna, Antonio 2.67M
Cordero, Chad 2.51M
Cruz, Juan 2.50M
Ayala, Luis 2.48M
Brocail, Doug 2.35M
Thomson, John 2.32M
Bruney, Brian 2.28M
Baez, Danys 2.15M
Brazoban, Yhency 2.08M
Wright, Jamey 2.07M
Williams, Jerome 2.05M
Tomko, Brett 1.99M
Harikkala, Tim 1.90M
Choate, Randy 1.89M
Alvarez, Wilson 1.83M

Sorry didn't know of a better way to post it these FA lists.

[Halo Don]

Well, he has responded with:

JD Drew and Pedro
for
Vladdy and Peavy.

I don't think this is a good trade for me to pick up JD Drew for Vladdy. I think that Pedro for Peavy is closer, but, I have countered for a much bigger deal.

Peavy, Buehrle, Closser, Chavez, Amezaga
for
Pedro, Estrada, Mora, Young

Thoughts?

[tersignf]

I would personally take Drew over Vlad in your situation--you have no strong LH hitters and are slanted toward hitting lefties even though you're facing 60-70% righties. Don't get me wrong--I'd almost never release Vlad if he's a DH, but if he's playing RF I think you improve with Drew.

Yes he only has a few XBHs vs righties, but he has 50+OBs each side with 8 BPHRs just like Vladdy--just a few less natural hits and XBHs. But your defense looks like it could use the boost and you'd benefit from asolid lefty batter.

Drew is consistently in the top 10 in RC/27 (likely 75% of the leagues). You already have a few solid RH hitters in the lineup to compliment and I'd bat him anywhere from 1st to 3rd both ways, depending how your lineup is set up.

Just my quick opinion--may want to see what coffee thinks