A little advice for a rookie, please

[The Conndor]

I've had a few teams before, with limited success so far, but I have never had the first pick in the waiver draft before. Better yet I have $6.2 mill to spend. Oh, it gets better: R. Henderson, Mattingly, and Gary Carter are all available.

Here's the question: with the team I have, who do I target? I know I have to upgrade at C, 2b, and ss. I have no use for Gagne, R. Thompson, or Bradley, all of whom I have had multiple bad experiences with. Other than that, I kind of like who I have, especially the rotation. However, any and all advice is welcome (playing in Memorial for first time, also).

Thanks

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=76321[/url]

[YountFan]

You need to correct the link. Get the URL friom the stats page. clecik on your team name and copy and paste the URL.

But Gary Carter never lets anyone down...ever.

[Jimmy_C]

Conndor...your link doesn't work. You need to go to the statistics page, then click on your team, then copy and paste that address (it will have a team ID number) to this thread...

[The Conndor]

Sorry, I'm new to this computer too :oops: I hope that fixed it. Thanks.

[Jimmy_C]

Conndor...Yountfan is absolutely right about Carter...he is solid. However, after viewing your team I'd offer the following:

1) Ricky...primarily because you need a leadoff batter. Even his worst OPS year will give you .400 OBP. He's a very big upgrade from Bradley.

2) Mattingly...because you won't have to spend the $8.54 you have invested in Davis/Oliver. Mattingly's bad year...is a reallybad year though. I have him as second choice because 1st base is a very deep position.

3) Carter...can't go wrong here. He can be the type of player that can carry a mediocre team on his shoulders. I have him as third choice primarily because Stearns does not suck, and there are a ton of catchers cheaper than Stearns that can perform as well or better than Stearns so you have lots of options there.

I like your pitching staff a lot. I don't like your shortstop and second base players very much. Good luck.

[bjs73]

Interesting FA market too.

Personally, I think you could use another prime LH bat in your lineup. I'd go with Mattingly.

Unless you strike it rich with Lynn's golden year, you'd be asking alot of him to carry the load against RH pitching. None of your other upgrades at the positions that you mention can give you that LH bat.... 80% chance for a .900 OPS from Mattingly? Gotta do it.

The only downside with Mattingly is it sometimes is difficult when you pull his bad card when all you have is stats to go by.

[bjs73]

[quote:180b6ce776]Mattingly's bad year...is a reallybad year though.[/quote:180b6ce776]

.288 BA? 40 Doubles? 14 HR? If I was stuck with a stinker year, I'd rather have his than Brett's.

I agree that Mattingly's bad year is not a good one for the price though.

All I'm saying is that in the first 36 games, his '84 card can look quite a bit like his worst card if he's been getting some bad dice.

Or if he's been hot, his worst card can look like something it isn't also in the short sample size.

[YountFan]

Consider Henderson (LF) and Hayes (RF) at the top of the order. That gives you

You don't need both Oliver and Davis, consider Durham
Consider Oester/Royster at 2b and use the $$$ on pitching
Consider Concepcion at ss
Simmons, Porter or Brenly at C

Ricky lf
Hayes rf
Lynn cf
Horner dh
Durham 1b
Gaetti 3b
Simmons, Porter or Brenly c
Concepcion or even Guillen/Schofield
Oester/Royster 2b

Try for better cheap RP (Carman, W Fraser, Mirabella, etc).
Replace Kison/Pastor with an RP who cannot start and a SP that cannot relieve (like LaPoint)

Upgrade Langford for Reuschel, Martinez or Rhoden. Take McDowell over Gott.

Just some ideas.

[YountFan]

On further review take Don Mattingly and h\\get Lonnie smith to lead off and DH or LF I'd still take Hayes over Hendricks, Get G Young/Castillo to platoon if needed. or keep Hendricks and play Hayes in LF.

No one likes Bradley, Gagnes or Thompson

[The Conndor]

Thanks for all the input. I had a feeling that the feeling about Bradey, Gagne and Thompson was general. I am trying to acquire Kal Daniels as one possible solution to lefty power drain. I was offered Burleson for Polonia straight up, but declined because I think I can spend my available money more wisely. I don't want to go super cheap at 2b/ss; with Concepcion, Oquendo, Herr and others out there, I may not have to. Hayes and Durham are 2 guys I have been looking at as well.