Bought 1st '69 Team - Now I'm Scared!

[bleacher_creature]

I have done some minimal scouting of other teams in my brand new '69 league (in the waiver period), and I'm scared to death.

I was happy to get Seaver, Koosman, and Blue Moon Odom, but I can see that other teams are loaded with starters and relievers who have great looking CHEAP cards.

I am trying to put together a lineup that is pretty solid 1-6, B. Robinson at #7, then OBP @ 8, and a .300 hitting leadoff to drive in my #8 man after the pitcher bunts.

My offense is centered around W. Davis leading off, with M. Hegan in front of F. Robinson so far. I need to fix the 5 and 6 holes to generate some RBIs there.

Otherwise, is there anything else I need to know about '69 besides the obvious?

[bleacher_creature]

Here's my team as of now post waiver draft:

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/1969/team/team_other.html?user_id=22542[/url]

Tiant will mainly pitch on the road, where I will see alot of SD Stadium (1-2 HRs), Forbes (1-1 HRs), and some Comiskey (1-7 HRs).

vs RHPs

[b:3d9f526976]Davis CF
Fregosi 2B
Hegan 1B
F-Rob RF
Jones LF
Sanguillen C
B-Rob 3B
Popovich 2B
Pitcher[/b:3d9f526976]

I figure if Brooks makes the 3rd out, Popovich makes a good lead-off, and the pitcher can bunt.

[b:3d9f526976]Davis CF
Fregosi 2B
Hegan 1B
F-Rob RF
Pagan 3B
Sanguillen C
Sizemore LF
Popovich 2B
Pitcher[/b:3d9f526976]

Now I would have never dreamed of putting a 4(0)e15 at C, but Manny is positive clutch, hits .300, and CATCH-X comes up somewhere less than once a game. I didn't see better options for the 6 hole, which I needed to fill with a SS or C. The other option is Duke Sims, and I'm sick of WALKS when I need a SINGLE**.

edit: Jake Gibbs is the defensive replacement at C.

[Risden]

Generally speaking, I would throw a few more dollars into your bullpen. Lyle & Abernathy might need a little more help.

F-Rob is fantastic. Bat him 3rd if possible to maximize his at-bats during the season.

Fregosi is OK, but not at the top of a lineup. His OBP is pretty poor for that spot; I like his defense and durability, but check to see if you can get a better value like Cardenas or Kessinger.

Sanguillen is a good value: a "4" at catcher means nothing. Let him play until he gets hurt.

Seaver is a very good value, but I have seen both great and terrible numbers for Koosman - hopefully, you get the right one. :wink:

Bob

[pedakrla]

A lot of guys who've used Fregosi, including myself, think he's a dog. Way over-priced. There's a thread on this board somewhere "Does Fregosi just suck?"

Campaneris, though, is a good value at 65 cents. Stick him in the 8 hole, get someone like Money to back him up and maybe start against hard righties. Use the Fregosi money to beef up your pitching staff, bullpen especially.

Just my 2 cents. :)

[bleacher_creature]

dave,

What about batting Fregosi 2nd behind Davis? I'm kinda' stuck, as all 2 shortstops are gone. Plus, its against my religion to play a 3 everyday there.

My thought with him 2nd, is that he will single Davis home every few games or so. If the lineup turns over, and he ends up making the last out due to low clutch, Hegan leads off in front of Robby.

Thanks for the concern about the pen. One solution is to try to use Rooker as my primary reliever/closer. The question would be, if I list an R7/R4 as set up both ways, and/or closer, will HAL respond okay? Seems like HAL would be able to understand what is going on there.

[pedakrla]

I respect the longstanding tradition of using 2's at SS. A key defensive position, as a general rule you want to have a very good glove there.

In the 1969, game, though, 2's at SS are few and expensive. IMO, there are times when you have to deviate from the general rule, and I believe your situation is one of them.

I'm a number-crunching, statistics-loving engineer by training so I'll ask your forgiveness in advance--but if you crunch the numbers, you'll find that Fregosi will save you about 20 singles per year vs. Campaneris. At the plate, give a slight edge to Fregosi. Give the edge to Campaneris in speed. So, the question is, are you willing to spend apx $4.5 million to get a smidge more offensive production and save 20 singles for your pitching staff? Especially when Campy's speed will make up somewhat for the extra 20 singles he lets through? You know where I stand.... :)

Your call, though--there's certainly a case to be made for playing a 2 at SS. In any case, let me know how it turns out.

About using Rooker as a reliever, I used an S7/R3 as a setup man once and HAL didn't have any problems with it. That would make El Tiante your regular #4 starter....Still think the pitching needs a little help.

Good luck! Welcome to 1969.

[bleacher_creature]

Now is the time to consider ths, so I appreciate it, and you've got me thinking... :shock: If I'm going to cut Fregosi loose, now is the time to do it.

Both are .260 hitters, hmm... :roll: Campy will steal all those bases, and bunts well... :?

One thing Dave, did you notice how many games I'll be playing in low HR parks? Still, I'd probably use Rooker for some starts too, which means he's on the bench for the next 4 games.

In addition, I have had good success getting HAL to operate a pen in the manner I'd like with the various settings, contrary to popular sentiment. In other words, a stretch of games (depending on parks, teammates etc...) where Rooker is set up both ways, don't come in before 6th, with Abernathy set as closer, don't come in before the 8th, is suddenly a pretty deep pen adding in te other specialists.

[pedakrla]

I see where you're coming from in the pen. If you can free up any salary at all, you may want to consider Hoerner, Locker, or Segui in place of Abernathy. Abernathy could struggle as a closer, even in pitchers' parks. Ideally, someone like Marone, Drabowsky, Roland, or even Don McMahon as closer, but they're more expensive.

[pedakrla]

bleacher creature, you're off to a great start. I'm standing by to eat crow if your trend continues. :oops:

I haven't figured out how to manage a bullpen yet. The best I can say is I've gone from miserable to poor. :?

Good luck. I hope you don't mind if I check your team occasionally, hoping to learn something. :)

[bleacher_creature]

Got spanked good last night. 153 games to go though.

I think Odom will be better at home (Shea), where his high WHIP will be less of a factor. Tiant on the road in low BPHR parks.

Time to ask Rooker for some starts, and hope Abernathy & Co. is up to the task.

I think the offense will be pretty consistent. The sweep was due to bad pitching.