A Minute Maid in a world full of Lefties...

[ShakeyBoomer]

Since my lineup is so strong vs LH pitching, how about dumping the platoon entirely for someone like the 5.33 Elmer Fick and play him both ways?

I could also drop Gibson down to Piaza to free up 3.4m to upgrade my starting staff.

[visick]

You're also a few injuries away from having a M*A*S*H unit (15 gamers)

visick

[ShakeyBoomer]

I know its anathema in ATG to use anything but a 1 at 2b/ss but has anyone thought about using Buddy Myer at 2b? The OBP is amazing, he is 680, and especially in my situation with all the lefty parks in my division, perhaps makes lots of sense?

[BDWard]

Shakey:

I've had some teams at $100 mil no DH in Minute Maid and have never failed to make the playoffs there at that cap. I hope I didn't jinx myself! A picture is worth a thousand words.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=309918

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=335421

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=340406


from a 24 team league

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=346271


In progress teams:

The team below, at 44-43, is just 4 games out of first and two games out of a wild card spot, which is fabulous considering that due to injuries Lajoie has missed 25 games, Dimaggio has missed 12 games, Gibson has missed 10 games, Guerrero has missed 7 games, Aaron has missed 2 games and the now departed Deron Johnson missed 10 games before he was cut, and the season is barely half finished! The team is healthy now for the first time in a long time and is ready to make a playoff run:

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=365234


DH team

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=362678


A couple of Hilltop teams at $100 mil, no DH. My Hilltop teams at $100 mil have never missed the playoffs either.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=292773

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=347658

Most, if not all, of the above teams had at least 1 lefty park in the same division and a couple of more lefty parks in the rest of the league.

A few notes:

1. I would not have cut Gibson. He is the best righty hitter in the best righty hitter's park. Plus, he ANNIHILATES lefties and you've got plenty in your division. Gibson hits lefties, even in lefty parks, better than lefty batters in those parks. Why would you get rid of him? Gibson has been league MVP or runner up at least half the times I've had him. Piazza is great, but only Bagwell compares to Gibson against lefties. If you decide to keep Piazza, get pitchers with good hold ratings so that "smallball" teams don't run wild.

2. Look at my teams. How many lefties do you see in the starting rotation? The point is that your home field will help get those lefty hitters out. The key to winning in Minute Maid and Hilltop is to get the other teams' righty hitters out. A lefty starting pitcher, even a reverso one, just gives the visitors a chance to load their lineup with righty batters. You don't want that. Instead, find a strong lefty relief pitcher with a long endurance factor for the road games and put your righty starting pitchers on a "quick hook" in those lefty parks.

3. You don't need stud starting pitching to win if you have the right hitters. If you feel you need more starting pitching, consider cutting Foxx and replacing him with cheap Frank Thomas or expensive Tony Perez, both of whom give good bang for the buck in Minute Maid/Hilltop.

4. I personally think that Barker and Blass give more bang for the buck in Minute Maid/Hilltop than Higbe.

5. I usually have a lefty stud (Mantle, Williams, Ruth) to "protect" my righty hitters from cheap one way righties like Sutton, Andujar, Hensley, Wickware and the like and throw in a cheap little lefty stick or two who can field like Templeton or Serrell.

6. If you're worried about your righty SP not being able to get out lefty hitters and those lefty teams are starting 6 or more lefty sticks, consider a cheap lefty spot starter like Gibbon or Bertaina and set them on F blank, quick hook and no more than 6 innings so that you can get your lefties from the pen into the game as early as possible.

7. I also like Rickey Henderson in Minute Maid, but if I need pitching, I go with Guerrero, who's $2 mil cheaper, has good power and OBP and will occasionally steal a base. I also like Riggs Stephenson as a poor man's Henderson, but would consider going with $7 mil Joe Jackson in LF under the right circumstances. I've wanted to give Rogan a shot there, but haven't had a chance. I also like Joe Kelley, but he's W against righties and I like my LFers to have some pop in Minute Maid.

8. This might sound strange, but I rarely use defensive replacements, as there is so much offense in this game and late inning comebacks are so common that I don't want Luis Salazar batting for Torre when my team blows a late inning lead.

I hope this helps.

[sdajr76]

PICK GIBSON BACK UP! (if you can).

also greenberg kills in that park.

-steven

[macnole]

yes get gibson back if you can
still dont like the harper heathcote platoon. thats about 6 mil for which you can convert to a cheap righty like mondesi who is a great value in your park.

4 mil for heathcote...maybe youve used him with good results or something.

[BDWard]

I've been wanting to use Mondesi, just haven't gotten around to it, but have used Baker and Sosa in RF with good results. All 3 are good values in Minute Maid.

[ShakeyBoomer]

BDward/Steven/macnole -

I hear and understand everything you are saying about tailoring to your home park. The problem, however, is that I have built numerous MM/Hilltop/League 34/Penmar teams that were completely tailored to their respective home parks and ALL missed the playoffs or were under .500 because they got DESTROYED on the road. It is my belief that (especially to your division road parks) you need to tailor slightly to the road as well.

IMHO, an all RH staff just tailored for MM will get ANNIHILATED in the 3 lefty power parks in my division. In a normal 12 team league, you play 72 division games. Making a staff just built for MM puts me at a severe disadvantage for 36/161 games or 22.2% of the season. That's a huge chunk of the season that you are basically throwing away.

Just my 2 cents. I in no way claim to be right about this - just how I feel based upon my experiences so far...


On a complete tangent, has anyone used or considered using Buddy Myer at 2b yet?

[ShakeyBoomer]

Mondesi is a terrible fit for this team given all of the LH's I am facing. According to diamonddope (which I use religiously), Mondesi creates 6 runs/27 against LH's - that is beyond putrid...

I don't know how you guys create lineups but unless I am just punting a position (like SS for the 1 defense), I refuse to have anyone in my lineup (at $100m or above) with less than 40 OBP chances on their card. To do so puts you at a severe disadvantage given all the offense in these leagues.

[nevdully's]

[quote:f2359f7213]IMHO, an all RH staff just tailored for MM will get ANNIHILATED in the 3 lefty power parks in my division. In a normal 12 team league, you play 72 division games. Making a staff just built for MM puts me at a severe disadvantage for 36/161 games or 22.2% of the season. That's a huge chunk of the season that you are basically throwing away.
[/quote:f2359f7213]

By my quick count there are 4 other righty parks in this league and only 1 other lefty park. Also two of the three lefty teams in your div aren't loaded to kill righties....I don't see the severe disadvantage you see... Just my 2 pennies.

My team however might score 10 a game....and give up 12 :x