Rookie Question: How important are bench players?

[jmgreer]

I'm trying to determine if it is advisable to maximize the potential of your starting line-up/rotation/pen at the expense of a proper bench/def replacements.

I have just drafted in a '04 league and I have been riding the wire hard and think I have pretty much maxed out the potential of my 80m. As a result I have 11P / 13 H and the following as a bench:

Mientkiewicz, Doug covering 1B
McDonald, John covering 2B,SS,3B (decent rating at SS)
Glanville, Doug / Hawpe, Brad covering LF,CF,RF
My DH V-Mart has a base position of C but that would be last resort.

What would happen if you were in season and didn't have the right type of player to field a position?

Should I carry more players and or more quality back-ups?

I would have posted the team but I forget how to get the team ID URL. Thanks in advance for any input.

[Ragnarokpc]

Hmmm, I guess some of it is personal preference . . . I think a lot of managers tend to think that defense isn't overly important, although SS and 2B see a lot more action than the other positions. If you have multiple injuries (like for example, if your starting SS and 2B were to be hurt) then HAL will put whomever in that slot, probably the best hitter . . . but they will be rated the worst possible fielding at that position. In the case of SS, that's 5e88! Or the OF, would be like a 5e25(+5). I believe you're safe at C, as HAL won't allow your last C to get hurt, but he won't spare any other position.

So to get to the point, it's kind of your personal preference . . . multiple injuries don't happen everyday, but they do happen . . . don't forget that if your starters can play other positions, HAL will move them if he has to. As for me, I carry a team like yours most of the time, and only carry extra bench players when I have the luxury of a team that is playing well for once ;)

[Rant]

[quote:3af1d4bb48="jmgreer"]I'm trying to determine if it is advisable to maximize the potential of your starting line-up/rotation/pen at the expense of a proper bench/def replacements.[/quote:3af1d4bb48]

It's always advisable to maximize the potential of your starters, they are the guys who get the majority of ABs. But the answer to your question depends on how injury prone your starters are. If you have a 600 PA guy at 2b, the need to have a decent backup is very low. If you have a 6 injury guy, you'll want to spend some of your cash there. Usually you try to pick up value for your park at a low price, who could fill in at multiple positions.

[quote:3af1d4bb48="jmgreer"]Should I carry more players and or more quality back-ups?[/quote:3af1d4bb48]

Depends on your team make-up and park. For instance, if I'm in a pitcher's park, very rarely would I carry more than 10 pitchers. I'd rather have more quality back-ups than a bunch of guys who can't play as a rule, though. Scratch that, I'd rather have better starting players than either.

[quote:3af1d4bb48="jmgreer"]I would have posted the team but I forget how to get the team ID URL. Thanks in advance for any input.[/quote:3af1d4bb48]

Go to your schedule click on an opponents team, click their schedule, find your team and click (you'll know you're in the right spot if you can't add/drop players), copy the address, and post.

[jmgreer]

Here is my team so far. :D

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=74721

Any input is appreciated and thanks again for the previous replies; since I play in Comerica Park I might look in Rant’s idea of only 10 P. I think it would involve offering a trade for Perez, Odalis. I think he is too good to drop but Lilly can go every three days so he wouldn’t get many starts anyways. Then Lima for Mop-Up. Can a SP come in as mop-up relief? (i.e Perez as mop-up and deal Lima)

Do you think this team looks competitive overall?

I did draft speed in some quality players for the top of my line-up as all my prior baseball knowledge would dictate. I read a post that advised using speed at the bottom of the line-up because it was too risky to possibly get thrown out stealing when the heart of the order could be up. Is this a legitimate Strat-o tactic or is it some sort of Blue Jay / A’s money ball approach (walk , walk , bomb and be scrappy at the bottom)

[Ninersphan]

Not to make your head explode with to much info but read this thread:

[url]http://forums.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=9842[/url]

TONS of quality info for first timers in there...