First 2009 team

[BeltranFebles]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=261679

Hi all,

Opening night is tonight. What do people think of this team? Are there any areas I should shore up before the season gets underway? Bullpen seems a bit shaky. You'll note that I took the leap with Mauer.

Thanks,
TVF

[AeroDave10]

It looks like the starting lineup is:

C - Mauer
1B - Prado
2B - Cano
3B - Lowell
SS - Jeter
LF - Holliday
CF - Ellsbury
RF - Choo
DH - Coghlan

Is that right?

Prado is a better value at 3B, and Uggla is a solid DH. I'd drop Lowell and Coghlan, pick up a fairly cheap 1B (Casey Kotchman?) and a super cheap OF that can fill in at LF and RF. After moving Prado to 3B, use the leftover $$ to pick up a better R2 than League. I think a good R2 is critical for success.

[BeltranFebles]

That is correct. Although I was going to DH Uggla in HR parks and DH Coghlan at home and other non-HR parks.

Planned lineup:

Jeter
Prado
Mauer
Holliday
Choo
Cano
Coghlan/Uggla
Lowell
Ellsbury

[ROBERTLATORRE]

Cut Uggla and spend it on RP. Use Coghlan as a full time DH (great value).

Personally I love using Lowell, also terrific value.

[apolivka]

I doubt the DH platoon will pay off. Your bullpen is very weak. With 2 fairly weak S6* guys, your bullpen will see a LOT of innings and as your pen sits right now, those will turn into losses pretty fast. I think you'll need 4 million at least to shore up the pen. Cordero is actually a decent value (IMO), but as someone else said you need a good R2 guy out there.

[AeroDave10]

As apolivka and latorrer alluded, a DH platoon is not the best solution. Stick with one or the other. Your bullpen is extremely fragile right now, so you'll have to sacrifice somewhere to beef it up. You've got to take something out of the offense, and perhaps get a cheaper 4th starter (Garland, Blackburn?) to help the 'pen bankroll out.

[quote:63964d1a29="latorrer"]Cut Uggla and spend it on RP. Use Coghlan as a full time DH (great value).

Personally I love using Lowell, also terrific value. [/quote:63964d1a29]

Cutting Uggla won't save you enough cash, and he's better anyways since he's got 600+ PAs. Lowell's ok, but again, you need to save $$. He's also a liability defensively and has a lot of bpHRs that won't be as effective in your park. I know Uggla does, too, but the lost value increases exponentially with salary on things like that.


I'd consider dropping Prado down in the order. I want my most expensive hitters getting up as much as possible, and besides, Prado also grounds into a lot of DPs. That's not a good attribute for a #2 hitter. Among the possible candidates, Mauer, Jeter, and Choo hit into the fewest DPs. Prado would make a good 6 or 9 hole hitter.

How about:

Jeter
Choo
Mauer
Holliday
Cano
Uggla
Kotchman??
Ellsbury
Prado

[BeltranFebles]

Which starter would you drop for Blackburn? Jackson or Pettitte?

I really like Coghlan but I also realize Uggla is a nice value for that price. I think Coghlan is a better fit -- at&t, busch, tropicana and yankee are parks in my division. But not sure how much of an upgrade I can get with Uggla's $1.4M.

I just can't sign up for the Casey Kotchman experience. I'd rather go with a Chase Headley if I decide to part ways with Lowell and/or Coghlan.

And I'm not all that enamored with the R2 options that are out there. Feliz and Bailey are both gone. I haven't been able to find a ton of value in a shutdown R2.

I'm also kicking around the idea of moving Holliday or Jeter to free up some cash.

The preseason is arguably the best time of the season but as you guys have alluded to -- some tough decisions -- have to be made.

Thanks for the insight - it is much appreciated.

TVF

[AeroDave10]

I'd say drop Pettitte. One lefty starter is plenty.

I understand the hesitation on Kotchman. He's not my favorite, either, but he's the option of what's available in that price range. Headley's glove is horrendous. Don't be lulled into the myth that 1B defense is unimportant.

I'd definitely recommend moving Jeter over Holliday. I've seen Jeter hit pretty well in every 80M league, but because he's so expensive, the team really suffers. Every one of his teams (3 seasons) has also finished with about 90 losses. Pick up Elvis Andrus or a platoon of Reid Brignac / Alexei Ramirez. Or you can drop Choo for Ryan Sweeney.

In my opinion, the two best "super-relievers" are still out there in Vargas and Guzman, so I'd get one of them. They've both dominated for me, especially in parks that give up a lot of bpSIs.

[BeltranFebles]

Cut Pettite, Jeter, N Green and Tracy.
For Blackburn, Andrus, Alexei Ramirez and A Guzman.

Right now I have 11 pitchers and 13 hitters. I prefer to go with 10 and 14.

Which bullpen arm goes? Fuentes, T Miller, Bard, League, Cordero, Guzman?

James Loney at 1b for Lowell? Move Prado to 3b? And for a backup 3b I was thinking of Keppinger?

[AeroDave10]

Alexei Ramirez is too expensive as a backup SS who doesn't have 600 PAs. Get someone cheaper and/or with 600 PAs (Ryan Theriot?), or who has more flexibility (Nick Punto?).

The bullpen arm that goes is either League or Fuentes. I'd lean towards cutting League. Fuentes might be good as a secondary closer and secondary lefty specialist.

Loney might work out alright at 1B. For sure Prado needs to be over at 3B. Keppinger may be decent as a backup at 3B. Blalock might be decent, too, as a lefty power hitter off the bench.

I know it's a bit late, but have you given any thought to a L/R platoon somewhere?