Ted Simmons?

[LMBombers]

I believe Lou Pinella was thrown out at every base in a game when he was with the Yankees too.

[Outta Leftfield]

Getting back to the original question, I'm intrigued by LMB's idea of using him as a 1B or DH + backup catcher--in a HR park. That way you avoid the defensive hit and get a backup catcher to boot. His 1B defense isn't too bad at 4e12.

The other question for me, looking at him as a catcher, is how he stacks up to Fisk. Fisk has lately been my catcher of choice in HR parks. Fisk costs an extra million, but for that money you get a better defensive catcher with a higher OPS. My experience is that Fisk will hit in any HR park in any year. There are a LOT of BPHR on his cards. So, I guess my question when looking at Simmons is, why not Fisk instead? Fisk is harder to draft, but in my experience not extremely so.... A Fisk/Simmons C/DH combo might be highly effective, by the way.

[sphilipp8]

I'd shy away from using him as a 1B/DH - too many injuries for such a key offensive position. Plus he only has one year where he can avoid the long duration injuries.

[LMBombers]

One thing about using Simmons and Fisk, Carter or other good hitting C, as starters at 1B and C is that you are guaranteed of not losing both of them to injury at the same time. If Fisk goes down Ted Simmons is an Iron Man until Fisk's return. Also if Simmons goes down fill in with a Jim Morrison (or other low cost good value 1B) and Fisk is an Iron Man. It is easier to find a backup 1B that can hit rather than a backup C.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=73386

Here is a team where I used this strategy in Wrigley. I used Porter at C and Simmons at 1B. You won't find too many 1B that would have done better offensively. As Porter's BA fell off later in the year I went more and more to using a Morrison/Aikens platoon at 1B and having Simmons catch but you get the idea.

[Mean Dean]

Ted ('80) allowed 196 SB for me, but he hit 288/341/489 (in County); 49 doubles, 28 HR, 122 RBI, 95 runs scored. I won 92 games and the World Series. Basestealing just is not that important.

[YountFan]

[quote:7d155ee45b="DeanTSC"] Basestealing just is not that important.[/quote:7d155ee45b]

That's a fact jack.

[AdamKatz]

thanks for all the responses

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=76522

Im goingto stick with Simmons for the moment. when i initially posted the message I was thinking f going for Whitt, but someone took him in waivers. Kennedy is still there and I will probably switch for him if I end up with a bad simmons year.

Outta, I would trade Simmons for Fisk anytime. I wasn't trying for Simmons (I was tring for Carter)

Weird league. Just about everyone is in Wrigley, Kingdome or Rioverfront. As a result, there are alot of good pitchers still on the FA wire and guys like Carew stayed on the FA wire for hours. Offensively, I think my team is pretty week for this league. Dykstra, Molior and Larkin are not optimal. I need more power.

My choices are between JCarter, Gaetti, Baylor, Thornton, JThompson, Lezcano and Decincess, McRae, McReynolds and Parrish. I wouldn't mind improving my LF defense but this choice really comes down purely to offense. I dont have any experience with these guys (other than Gaetti and Parrish when I needed a 3B) and I am not sure I can afford a platton. Any advice?

[honestiago1]

What I like to do, but hardly ever works that way, is to have one of my platoon players be my backup catcher (this assume I have sort of an iron man catcher, of course). Wockenfuss, for example, can fill the platoon versus LHP's AND fill the backup catcher slot behind a good receiver. Sheets has a catcher's rating (albeit horrible). The advantage here is that you have a player holding down a backup slot without just sitting on the bench all the time. It gives you rosetr flexibility. A similar advantage occurs with guys who can play several IF positions very well, i.e., Vance Law and Oberkfell. Both guys can play 2b/3b without much loss at the plate (depending on the year, of course). Makes it easier to carry 13 players and better pitchers.

[YountFan]

Keep Dykstra and Molitor and try Sixto in LF. He can be very good and plays better D than Luzinski.

DeCinces and Gaetti are good bets in a league like this also.

You may as well keep Larkin and hope for the best. If it don;t work out go cheap.

I spend some extra cash on the bullpen. Clear is a great small park reliever. His WHIP may be a bit high, but he'll keep it in the park. Scurry can be light out and is worth a gamble. Wilie Fraser is betetr than all the guy you got. Parrett too I also think McDowell can be good because he keeps it in the park also. Consider starting the seaosn with 6 rp. You can lways drop the worse one for cash. HAL makes better selections with more choices.

Drop comer for Loller or other non s/r so you dont have to worry about he blowing a save. Or trade him

[AdamKatz]

cant sfford Sixto. Why Decincess over Thornton? Both are 3Ls.