Could use advice, (edit:thanks won title)

[MrHacktastic]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=377584

Any feedback is appreciated. I know Whitaker isn't an ideal choice but I really wanted a lefty in my lineup and I also really need the defense I think due to some weaker pitching.

I am platooning Chili Davis and Corey Snyder. Pendleton will sub defensively for Knight late in games.

I am testing utilizing specialists more in my bullpen. I haven't messed too much with that in the past. I have Powell/Havens as my lefty specialists and Crawford/Clutterbuck as my righty ones.

My waiver and free agent additions were: Browning, Eric Davis, Chili Davis, Snyder, Guillen, Gagne, Whitaker, Garber, Clutterbuck, Crawford, Howell, Sundberg, Pendleton, and Joe Johnson.

As you can tell by that list I didn't get many original draft picks and had to adjust my approach based on availability.

I have until Monday to finalize my roster before the season starts if you guys notice anything. I only am gonna win 60 games or so in my current 86 season and I don't want to botch this team as well.

Edit: Thanks to all those who helped me. I won the title last night. I ended up going for speed, defense, and a bullpen of specialists at Fenway. I will miss these boards as the vets have been very helpful when I am putting together a team.

[MrHacktastic]

Completed waivers and frenzy today. Might make changes if people notice any red flags.

[visick]

I'm not sure I like Sweet Lou (Whitaker) in your park.

You pay alot for his defense and some of his HR's will be negated by your home park.

I think u could get the same production from a Gantner/Garcia platoon.

visick

[MrHacktastic]

I agree about Whitaker. Gantner isn't available as he was drafted.

Best options available are:

Johnny Ray
Bernazard
Barrett

[MrHacktastic]

I switched to Robby Thompson. That also allowed me to add Morrison to platoon at 3B with Ray Knight.

Is that better for my park you think?

[visick]

Yeah, I like Thompson as he's a good value guy.

But,

I do think you are too right handed.

Who is available that is lefty and/or a switchie?

[visick]

I also don't think you need a platoon with Morrison.

How many LHSP's are there in your division?

[visick]

Here's my '86 Fenway team...

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=61297


And another,

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=61302

(This team was a theme league, using players with under 600 PA's) I led the league in hitting... :)

[MrHacktastic]

hmmm, I hate to dump Ray Knight. He really crushes lefties and I like that he can play 1B when Horner misses his 5 to 15 games he will likely miss. But I see your point. Morrison is capable of playing against both hands so I have some thinking to do. Problem is there isn't a SP worth a damn available so my plan was hoping I can move Knight or Morrison via trade and if that didn't happen just platoon them.

LH Batters available:
Baines
Van Slyke
Kal Daniels (his 4 defense scares me at Fenway)
Pasqua
Whitaker (I originally had him as my 2B but people said bad idea)
Griffey Sr (I avoid 2 injury guys other than C when I can)
Spillman (probably most tempting to me but is it worth releasing somebody else? Tough call)

I don't really see a way to get more LH. I don't want to move Carter or Horner under any circumstances. Love Carter's clutch hitting and Horner is a beast for his $ at Fenway. 2B and SS have nothing available. Knight and Morrison are my 3B options and I don't see a LH free agent worth replacing them with. An Eric Davis and Rickey are too valuable to release. I already have Chili Davis batting LH vs RHP platoon with Snyder.

That just leaves the DH spot with Tracey Jones. I think Jones real value lies in his OBP vs RHP. He should get on base close to .350 against RHP and absolutely destroy LHP so I plan to bat him leadoff vs RHP especially given Rickey's power vs RHP which I plan to bat 3rd.

I looked at stats you provided and I liked what I saw from Correa so I dropped Howell and Johnson to sign him. That just slides Dave Stewart into the long relief and backup middle relief role. I was given feedback that I was way overpaying for a platoon of 40 starts from Johnson/Stewart and I thought they were right when I looked at it. Those 40 starts wouldn't have been worth close to $4.

[MrHacktastic]

To answer the questions about LHP SP in my division here are the projected LHP SP I will face regularly.

Valenzuela
Candelaria
Knepper
Mike Mason
Deshaies
Tommy John or Greg Mathews (not sure who he will start in his platoon)

League wise I see 7 of 11 other teams with projected rotations with at least 2 LHP. 3 with 1 LHP. And 1 with 0.