1st-time user...and I didn't even check the cards

[MARCPELLETIER]

Adamkatz,

lots of very valuable info in your post. I agree with you that I need power even if I play the Royals field. My plan right now is to pick a dh to be my next clean-up, and perhaps get a cf with some pop to go along with Hendrick.

In my opinion, this should be sufficient. Thus, I consider to free Decinces and Thompson to get the most on-base I can. How's that sound?

BTW, I have one question: let's suppose I can get (what appears to me as) a very good centerfielder via a trade. Is it worth giving up one of my pitcher? or is there still lot of depth in the cf-pool so far (McGee, VanSlyke ) to keep my valuable pitching and take a chance for the waivers.

[LMBombers]

If you think you can get Van Slyke I would get him. There are not many better vs RHP. Some of his cards are so slanted you have to platoon him however. If you get him make sure you keep Gerald Young just in case you need a platoon mate. Van Slyke might add the additional power you are looking for and his defense is outstanding. I remember watching him play. He used to throw his body after balls like Jim Edmonds does (or used to) today.

Soto, Key and Hoyt should be excellent in Royals Stadium. Don't throw them away if you can help it. If you can add Blyleven to these 3 you should have one of the best rotations in the league considering you will play in Royals.

If you try for Van Slyke in waivers but don't get him you probably will still be able to make trades to improve yourself at CF.

[AdamKatz]

On the Decincess question: If Madlock, Molitor or Boggs become available (unlilkely) go for it. Harrah is very often available and is excellent. Other than that I can't, off the top of my head think of any good OBP 3Bs other than Oberkfell, who does not have that much of an upside. Switching Decincess for Oberkfell would not be a bad idea but I dont think it should be a high priority. Decinscess has a decent OBP. Mulliniks, Ready and Seitzer are cheap options but they all have 4 Def, which is acceptable at 3B for most players, but, I think, should be avoided if you don't need the funds.

Van Slyke is good but cant hit lefties and only one of Youngs years is very good (but that year is amazing against lefties). To be honest, in my experience, Van Slyke usually starts the season as a free agent but always gets picked up by someone before the 41st game. 6.2 million is a lot of money to spend on someone who hits in the 8 or 9 spot against lefties. That might not be a problem during the season (depending on the pitchers in your division) but it will be if and when you hit the playoffs.

CF is, in my opinion, the hardest position to fill. You "need", according to most players much better than me, a "1" or "2" in CF, SS and 2B. There are alot of cheap SS and 2B that fill the bill, but not alot of CFs.

I would trade a pitcher for Murphy, Pucket, Gwynn, Rickey, Davis and Dawson and Butler but not much else (by way of CF). After those guys, CF takes a dip. Dykstra is good, but can't hit lefties much better than VanSlyke (OK, he hits them better than alot better than VanSlyke but still needs to be platooned most of the time). Murphy, Moseby and Bradley are about as good as the rest. If you end up short on cash, Pettis is the only playable cheap CF in my opinion.

[MARCPELLETIER]

Thanks a bunch again Adamkatz.

Just curious...you don't have Lynn or Lemon in that list of cfs? You wouldn't trade, say, Jimmy Key for one of these two?

[rookssa1958]

some fear the injury factor, but every card is productive....

Lemon has some fans, like YountFan, his one range is a plus, his 7L year a minus?

[AdamKatz]

Key is one of the better LH pitchers. Unfortunately he is heavily slanted to LHB. The problem with Lynn is that he gets injured alot and only has one great year. He doesn't have a bad year but he is overpriced for 4 of them. I wouldn't trade Key for him but it is not an unfair trade. Lemon is good but I think Key is at least a notch better.

[AdamKatz]

optimally, I think, you want 2 LH SP and 2 RH LP and there aren't that many good LH pitchers. Alot of the most expensive ones, like Carlton and Fernando, have too many bad years for the cost (but their good years are amazing). Your RH pitchers, Soto and Hoyt, are too good in Royals to trade. Both have several BPHRs on their cards which brings their cost down. In Royals, though, those BPHRs are extra outs! It will be harder to replace one of your pitchers with one as good as Key, I think, than find a CF as good as Lynn or Lemmon.

[MARCPELLETIER]

[quote:cf16305f5f]some fear the injury factor[/quote:cf16305f5f]

You mean, that little thing aside #11??? LOL That doesn't scare me!!!

Still, I think I'll keep my hand on Jimmy Key...until the waivers, at least.

[MARCPELLETIER]

thanks again, folks (special thanks to LMBomber and AdamKatz)

Bomber, I was to release to Young, but thanks to you, I'll wait to see what season I am having 8)

[DOUGGRAY]

[i:90afaec5db]If you can add Blyleven... [/i:90afaec5db]

He cant ;)