good SSs for 2008

[daniel_j]

I've used Drew and Zobrist for the 2008 season (in Wrigley), and they've been pretty bad (under .300 OBPs). Have I just been unlucky, or are they always this bad? How well does Scutaro's card play? Any under the radar SS values?

[daniel_j]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=242802&stats=sim


This has been my first SOM online experience and I think I made many rookie mistakes. Better luck next time, I guess (though, believe it or not, I may still make the playoffs).

[artie4121]

Hey Daniel,

You did a LOT better than I did my first go-around (I was 68-94). Good luck on that.

This is my sophomore (hopefully not [i:b0fe446f4e]sophomoric[/i:b0fe446f4e] perspective.)

Right off, one thing I notice is your injury ratings. Crede is a 4; Upton and Zobrist are 3s; and Wise, Buck, Moeller and Hawpe are 2s. That will kill any momentum and lineup structure, as you have HAD to have lost a bunch of them for extended periods. Look at the injury ratings early.

Also, Zimmerman and Zobrist should never play infield positions with their 4e30+ errors at 3rd and short. Crede is not much better with his 2e35. I would bet that you have among the most errors in your league.

You also should make better use of cheaper players a fill-ins. You should put as much money "on the field" as you can (This I got from AeroDave and J-Pav among others). This is easier if you pick players without the high injury ratings, as they won't need as much extended coverage. Your starting 9 (in DL leagues) should be where most of your money is spent. Unless you find a cheap platoon (The Holy Grail), you shouldn't spent more than a .5 - 1 mil on a reserve (barring backup for an injury prone star such as Chipper.

Your spending balance seems to be well thought out between pitching and hitting. Your SPs look good, but you didn't get enough mileage out of Broxton vs. Howell.

As for "under the radar" SSs? I wouldn't go any less than 2 at SS, and there, Gonzalez and Cabrera are good buys and have "ok" bats. Theriot is a 3-rated SS, and is a very good hitter, but you lose in the field. (Furcal and Itzuris are traps. Each have VERY high injury ratings and can spend dozens of games on the DL)

Keep your eyes open and check the ratings (It's too late for you this season anyway, but good luck in your next 08 team).

You done good your first time out. I wish I had hit .500 in my league.

Artie

[daniel_j]

Thanks Artie, you basically hit the nail on the head.

I have tons of errors and unearned runs. Broxton is not very good against lefties, but I think I may have overcompensated for that weakness. Also, Lester is not a great fit for Wrigley Field.

Mistakes, I've made a few...

[STEVEPONEDAL]

look at the thread on the ratings book and download. It will be quite helpful to you on the '09 set.

sponedal

[apolivka]

You've probably heard this before, but I'll say it anyway. You had 4 * pitchers and yet had another 3.76 million dollar starter on your team. That's a HIGHLY non-optimal setup. You could have had 3.25 million more for your relief staff or your offense had you just dumped Baker for a .50 cheapie starter and pitched on 3 days rest. (To add insult to injury, Baker is 5-12!) Even at a 20% penalty, this is something I might still do.

I actually like some of the imagination your showed in the rest of your team. The Reynolds/Crede platoon probably should have produced a bit more.

Playing injury prone guys is not always a bad strategy, if you plan your team around them. But to have both bad team Defense and lots of injuries makes it really tough. You really want to "manage your weaknesses" so you don't have to plan for so many contingencies.

[MARCPELLETIER]

I actually believe that targeting injury-prone players is an optimal strategy.

Raison simply put: they are bargains.

[pcbaseballsims]

[quote:a8faaa8f14="marcus wilby"]I actually believe that targeting injury-prone players is an optimal strategy.

Raison simply put: they are bargains.[/quote:a8faaa8f14]
[u:a8faaa8f14][u][b:a8faaa8f14]
"JPav"[/b:a8faaa8f14][/u:a8faaa8f14][/u] in his "state of the union/TSN" msg rated Raphael Furcal his #1 pick.

Well hes a 6 inj, the max, & I wouldnt call him a bargain at $7M!

Every time I looked up he was injd & little power/slugging in neutral park Dodger St.

[STEVEPONEDAL]

I have had really good success with a combo of Furcal/ Aybar and Keppinger.

Keppinger and Aybar play several positions and are cheap insurance for when Furcal does go down.

it just depends on your risk-aversion.

sponedal

[MARCPELLETIER]

Well, what about "stud" instead of "bargain" for a player who, for my teams, never finished below the top 5 in OPS?

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=212143

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=222090

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=237966