how is this 1st shea team

[DAVIDLEE 2]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=20547
What can i do to make this team better? Am trying to get Glavine for Garcia.

[LMBombers]

I don't like Berkman for Shea at all. You can get more for your money by getting someone else. How about Vernon Wells for CF and play Wilkerson in LF? If not I would suggest getting a different CF or LF for Berkman anyway, someone who is not so slanted towards RHP. I know you have several reverse RHP on your staff but I still think you need some more LHP. Eddie G, BJ Ryan or Wagner ought to be lights out as a closer in Shea. For a cheaper SP I love DuBose pitching at Shea.

[JdEarly]

I agree with LMBombers at first glance at your team, but what other parks are in your division? Lance Berkman is a very hot commodity, and I think that you would be able to get a very nice player or two in return for him. People drool over his .450 OBP, but he's weaker against lefties and would be batting right handed against them - Shea would make his weakness against lefties even worse.


Catching - Instead of Joe Mauer with his high price tag and high injury rating, I would go with a cheap platoon. Javier Valentin (8R) and Yorvit Torrealba (5L with power) might make a little bit more sense in your park, if they are available. That would save you a few million dollars.

First Base - Brad Wilkerson is a very good defensive first baseman and he gets on base like crazy. He will do very well for you in Shea, especially if you bat him lead off in front of Bobby Abreu. But I think he would be better suited as you left or even centerfielder, right if Abreu ends up being your DH. A -3 arm is just a waste at first base, especially since the guy is a 2e7 in the outfield. And I see you have Adam Dunn... maybe you were thinking of putting him at first base (3e10)?

Second Base - Ronnie Belliard might be a really good fit for you here. He hits lefties better, plays good defense, and won't be penalized based on power by Shea, because he doesn't hit a lot of homers anyway. His doubles will help you move runners around the bases.

Third Base - I hope you're not planning on starting Ryan Freel or Russell Branyan at third. Neither of them is all that great with the glove, and Branyan is going to be hurt big time by Shea. With your roster in its current state, I think Freel would benefit you most in left field.

Short Stop - Christian Guzman hits lefties better than righties, but even that is deceiving. He doesn't hit anyone particularly well, and I think he's overrated. Purely for defense, he's a good fit. If you expect any sort of offense, you will be disappointed.

Leftfield - Right now you have Lance Berkman probably out in left field. I love his card, but not in Shea. He'll kill right handers when they come to visit, and if you have a Wrigley team or two in your division I would recommend keeping him. Otherwise, I would try to find someone with a neutral park who needs an offensive upgrade, and try to get a better shortstop and/or some pitching.

Centerfield - Vernon Wells would be a solid fit, since he would add a right handed bat with pop to an otherwise lefty heavy lineup. Add that to a gold glove in centerfield, and you've got yourself a strong defensive team up the middle.

Rightfield - Abreu looks like the best option out there with his arm, but you could always DH him and stick Wilkerson in right.

Pitching - Your pitching scares me. Mad Dog and Escobar should be solid in your starting rotation, but Freddy Garcia will probably get lit up like a Christmas tree. Any chance you could pick up Doug Davis, or, preferably, Glendon Rusch? They've both done well for me. I also don't really think you want Keith Foulke closing for you, or any right hander for that matter. I would look into either Billy Wagner (lights out) or B.J. Ryan (just a notch below). Wagner's card is so good that, despite his R1 rating, you could make him set up and close from both sides - even when he's tired, he's still better than most of the other relievers you'll find.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

[Coffeeholic]

Hey jdl... welcome to Shea! 8)

Have to say I agree with JDEarly on many points.

#1 is that Berkman is out of place in Shea and that he is too valuable a commodity to just drop... use him for trade bait!

You have some excellent Shea players... just need to fine tune this puppy.

Looks like first priorities are 3B and the bullpen.

My personal favs in Shea are Lidge and Mahay... I believe both are still available in the FA pool... get both of them and your bullpen is almost home.

3B is a no brainer here... Blalock still available? He gets a bad rap, but I have found that he does very well in Shea.

The best Shea SP's (RJ, Lilly, Glavine, Davis) are gone, but I've found that Escobar performs very well in Shea. I think you have the right idea in shopping Garcia for either Lilly, Davis, Glavine however. Madritsch will be good, but expensive for a 5 day starter. All those cheap reverse RHP could go though.

Dunn, Belliard, Freel, Wilkerson, Abreu are all very good fits for Shea.

Guzman may be your best option for now, but watch post waivers... something better may come up.

I do disagree regarding Wells. I would play Wilkerson in CF for now, Dunn at DH, Abreu in RF, Freel in LF. With Belliard, Guzman and Freel, you'll have 3 RH bats... all you want in Shea.

Gload or Broussard could finsh off your line-up at 1B. Gload is a monster in Shea, perhaps a Berkman for Gload trade? If not, better grab Broussard.

Mauer is a stud, but very injury prone... need an adequate back-up for him.

Good cheap SP's in Shea are Ledezma and Maroth (both also effective in all those hitter's parks in your division). These guys should be available with late waiver picks.

Last, 1 team has both Damon and Finley. He may drop one. Keep your eye open for Finley as he will be a good fit in your line-up and would allow you to shift Wilkerson to RF and Abreu to DH.

[DAVIDLEE 2]

other teams in division are 2 coors and great american

[DAVIDLEE 2]

Renteria is available at SS. Will see if i can fit him in cap

[DAVIDLEE 2]

Got gload for Berkman

[Coffeeholic]

jdl, I sent you a private message regarding this (the walls have ears :wink: ).

Coffee

btw, nice pick-ups!

[MoCrash]

I was glad to do it, djl. Auto-draft killed me on position players, especially corner outfielders (only 2 of 8 projected starters).

[DAVIDLEE 2]

I've been burned a couple times by auto draft. Starting to get the hang of it though. Seem to be getting more of the players i want.