Doran or Avila at 2b in Dunn?

[modmark46]

At 2b, do I go with Avila's excellent offense, and to help counter the expected LH pitching I will face, or Doran's much better defense, and spotty (at best) offense? I have good D with Bowa at SS (Bowa & Doran at MIF is great D but lousy production :shock: ) now, and two lefty killers [i:ec4698bd33]without[/i:ec4698bd33] Avila in Carter and Dawson. Here is my team:
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=111049
I love Avila at the plate, but hate the D. I am really on the fence here. Thoughts? :)

[Munich_Man]

Well, I would never use Avila except as a DH, but that's just me.

With the lineup you already have, I would get Frank White and upgrade Vuck and your RPs

[cirills]

If it's a question of just the two of them then I would say that Doran is a better fit for your park, and thus the better value.

[Munich_Man]

Here's what I would do.. White's not available, so I would take Doran and use the cash to upgrade Vuckovich to Sanford and swap out Blue for Knepper now! Knepper is MUCH better than Blue for around the same price.

With your pen, you need the best SPs you can afford and Sanford/Knepper will be MUCH,MUCH better than Blue/vuckovich.

Not much options left for RPs at all, but if HAL uses yours somewhat correctly, you should be OK. That lineup is going to score a lot of runs. I like it! Your pitching staff will hate you if you keep Avila, and without Alexander/Brown/Camnitz-type studs, they will need all the help they can get.

(_)ß

[modmark46]

Did the Doran for Avila switch. Never had any success with Doran, but even if he hits .220, I figure his D will help out my SP, like you guys mentioned. Also swapped Blue for Knepper. Kind of funny, because I had Knepper originally, but went to Blue instead. Have never used Blue. Thought his 3L balance would be better for Dunn, and Knepper's BP HRs on his left side kind of worry me. But, I will defer to MMs much greater wisdom here and Knepper it is. Really unsure about my #4 starter. Sanford really scares me for some reason. What about Mathews, Smith or Rau as cheap LHs? Or, downgrade Garcia and use the extra money to get a #4 starter somewhere in the $4.5-5.5m neighborhood? (Although Garcia is usually money for me when I use him).

[BassballJG]

[quote:5761ce5d01="modmark47"]Did the Doran for Avila switch. Never had any success with Doran, but even if he hits .220, I figure his D will help out my SP, like you guys mentioned. Also swapped Blue for Knepper. Kind of funny, because I had Knepper originally, but went to Blue instead. Have never used Blue. Thought his 3L balance would be better for Dunn, and Knepper's BP HRs on his left side kind of worry me. But, I will defer to MMs much greater wisdom here and Knepper it is. Really unsure about my #4 starter. Sanford really scares me for some reason. What about Mathews, Smith or Rau as cheap LHs? Or, downgrade Garcia and use the extra money to get a #4 starter somewhere in the $4.5-5.5m neighborhood? (Although Garcia is usually money for me when I use him).[/quote:5761ce5d01]

Good looking team, so far.

I like Doran, and he was a good move for you, the 1 is worth it and even when not hitting, he walks and has speed.

I like Vuck, too, but you do have the cash to upgrade without dropping Garcia; you need that ace at the top of the rotation. I've never used Mathews, Smith or Rau, but Rau and Mathews have seemed attractive to me in the past, and Mathews did well in a league I was in once. Sanford looks like a batting practice machine to me. But if it were me, I'd put the money into the bullpen. Your cash on hand plus Taylor gets you into some good arms, like Orosco, Peranoski, and Lyle as lefty closers, and Fingers, whose backwardness would be deadly at Dunn if you're willing to accept the HR risk v righties. Of course, Fingers lacks a closer rating, and I am convinced that the closer rule is turned on. My point is that I don't think you have the depth for a bullpen by committee, so you should think in terms of who would be best at closing.

Trivial sounding, but possibly important: With Rolfe being indestructable, you don't need Salazar, so you should swap him out for a better defensive backup shortstop, like Belanger or Templeton. Gallego is fine for 2b defensively, but I like Javier, Bernazard and Mazeroski better. You're safe from major injuries, so you're right not to put a lot of money into backups. However, having the right bench guys still matters.

Good hunting.

[sschu]

Doran should hit OK in Dunn, the park advantage when he hits LH and his better numbers vs LHs evens things out a bit. With Carter and Dawson you have sufficient power vs LHs IMHO.

Consider a downgrade of Garcia and get a good closer, Nelson does well in Dunn in my experience.

FWIIW, sschu

[modmark46]

Not much for closers left. I could afford Taylor to McKain right now. Schiraldi and Schultz are out there, but I would have to take a big hit from Garcia, down to somone like Willett (for Schiraldi) or Blass (for Schultz), to afford them. :?:

[UrbanShockers]

You've got some cash laying about as of now. If you're not going to upgrade Vuck, check if Lamp or Murphy are available to upgrade from your cheaper relievers. I've had good luck with both in Dunn (tho' Lamp is more reliable, Murphy's not bad).

[sschu]

Mark,

Hmm, not sure about this team, but no one stands out for upgrade, and there is not much on the wire. Issues IMHO:

1. Closer, how about Konstanty?

2. Garcia - not a great Dunn fit, is your division loaded with RHs?

3. Ran the numbers, concerned about your OBP for a Dunn team

OBP vs RH 0.388
SLG vs RH 0.461
OPS vs RH 0.850
HR Rate vs RH 3.0
BPHR vs RH 29
OBP vs LH 0.398
SLG vs LH 0.495
OPS vs LH 0.893
HR Rate vs LH 3.6
BPHR vs LH 32

4. Not sure about Vuck as 4th SP.

Do not have a lot of suggestions, but you may want to downgrade Garcia, upgrade Vuck and get Konstanty.

FWIIW, sschu