First 2005 team, advice please?

[JIMDAKE]

Just got into this, it's my 2nd team & 1st 2005. Couldn't resist the opportunity to pickup Steroid Boy in the waivers but sure puts a crimp in the ol' budget!

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=57573

Playing in Camden Yards. Still in preseason. Any comments appreciated, but especially....
-- How to do starting pitching on a budget? I went 0-4 in the draft so looked for value.
-- With so-so SP, my thought is to get a stud setup (Lidge) in early & often. Would KRod or Gagne be better (still available). In my division, RHP will see about 48/52 and LHP will see 15/85 (lots of switchies).
-- Rolen is available for a mil less than Helton. Got a preference?
-- How best to set up this lineup for the run machine I think I'll need? Currently looking at: Crisp-ARod-Bonds-Helton with Uribe-JCabrera-Encarnacio behind for their clutch. Thanks guys. This is fun. Sleep is overrated.

[Palmtana]

I'm a new player also but have had some early success due in no small part to these two threads.
[url=http://forums-beta.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=9842]Newbie Advice Thread[/url]
[url=http://forums-beta.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?p=23031&highlight=secret+formula]The Secret Formula[/url]

I'll leave answers to your questions to the pros (although I can say you don't want a 3 or 4 at SS), but check these out while you're waiting.

[LMBombers]

I think you have a nice team even with some really expensive players eating up your cap. I would tweak your team with the following:

Scrap Reyes & Rogers for 1 higher priced SP (non *SP). Neither Rogers or Reyes will be good in Camden Yards.

Scrap Helton for a better suited 1B. You don't want your two most expensive players to be LH hitters in Camden Yards. Look for a RH hitting 1B with power. Is Derrick Lee available? You will probably save several million $$ with this move. You can use the savings for some of the other moves I am suggesting. Sweeney would be awesome with a platoon mate. Is Phelps available to platoon with him?

Scrap Jolbert Cabrera (one of my favorite 05 players) for an upgrade at 3B. You need someone who is around E or 1R. I love Cabrera in a platoon role but not as full time starter. Maybe you can keep Cabrera if you can find a suitable 2B or 3B that hits RHP better. If you find a 2B then you can have Uribe play 3B vs RHP and 2B vs LHP.

Scrap Cordero for an R2 or better RP. You really don't need two closers. His closer rating is factored into his salary so you are overspending for Cordero. You also need less R1 guys since you have Franco and Witasik who may only pitch to 2-3 batters in a game.

It is good to have some hitters that are slanted towards LHP (which you already have in Crisp, Michaels and ARod) but you need more slanted towards RHP when playing in Camden Yards.

If this is a DH league I can't figure out what you are doing for that position. Are you DHing Bonds and playing Encarnacion?

Anyway I don't think you are very far from having a good team. I really like your top 4 SP for the money.

BTW, when I say "scrap" that could mean trade or cut.

[JIMDAKE]

Great ideas, LMB. In for a "2 pennies", in for a pound!
Given the power theme this team has turned into, not only did I pick up both Sweeney & Phelps (hadn't seen that one) but Glaus was also available within the $$ freed up. Makes the 'D' kinda shaky at the corners but I hope to outscore that. :lol:
Able to keep Cabrera who will probably get plenty of starts when Glaus hurt and also be (sorta) def replacement for the stonehands at first. Seems I might have use for another leftie for several away parks (Shea, Turner, 2 Petco's). Part of putting this team together has been to try to build around the injuries.
-- I do plan to DH Bonds and use Encarnacion. Would you put him in CF as a 3 with that arm? He would flip with Michaels; I'm using Coco in LF.
Thanks for the ideas. This team is turning out a lot different than I drafted, but what the heck, now I want to see how many taters they can smack!

[MARCPELLETIER]

Your team is better, but personally, I wouldn't use the Sweeney/Phelps combo, particularly not if they play D. I find that Sweeney isn't worth the money. With the injury and the one-sided card, he will play barely 90 games, and the card is not good enough for paying 4M for 90 games. For 1M more, Mauer, at the catching spot, has a much better card, and plays solid defense.

Personally, I would choose a 3-4M first baseman (unless you turn to Rolen, see bottom). There are several good bargains, like Huff, Franco, T.Martinez, Bagwell (with Phelps), Palmeiro (with Phelps also) in that range.

Don't play Encarnation in cf. He has more value in rf, with Micheals in cf.

Actually, Encarnation's card vs lhp is pretty thin. What would be clever is to limit Encarnation vs rhp. Vs lhp, you could use Bonds in lf, Crisp in cf, Micheal in rf, and use Phelps in dh, with an everyday first baseman.

What appears to me important is that you better the quality of your third reliever. With your SPs (some S5, lots of S6), I would expect a lot of short outings.

That being said, I am a true Rolen fan, so if he's still available, I would jump on him!!! In that case, I would cut Glaus, Sweeney, Cabrera, Raines, and one reliever for Rolen, cheap 1st baseman, a cheap middle fielder who can steal.