Net Value at 3B? Wagner or Lindstrom?

Hello, Strat wizards,

I've got a team (http://365.strat-o-matic.com/team/1447207) getting ready to hit the field Monday (Royals Stadium 1980 — 17/20 singles; 3/3 HRs), and I like where I have everyone slotted, but I am undecided at third base.

I was planning on rolling the dice with the $6.55 Honus Wagner (http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/42481/1900/3/281/432810) and his stone-handed 3e38 at the hot corner. But now I am waffling and considering the $6.46 Freddie Lindstrom (http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/37075/1928/1/281/432810) and his more palatable 2e20. All things considered, given the runs Honus will cost versus the runs he will generate, which player would you choose?

(And I know Wags would be less of a liability at 1B, but I don't want to shake up the roster there.)

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

— Jeff

I'd go with Wagner. Lindstrom didn't produce for me the couple times I used that card. I also think 3b is a position you can get away with bad defense a little (at least they're one base errors, as opposed to the extra base hits and errors the outfield gives up on X)

Gotta agree with STEVE.

Wagner ALWAYS seems to hit, whereas Freddie has been hit or miss for me.

Keep Wagner. That card is a gem. I don't like him at 3B, though. I'd play him at 1B, if not, then DH.
If not, I guess 3B, but his defense makes him less of a value at 3B.

Wagner is a stud, esp. when facing a lot of lefties. When I use Lindstrom, he always get his 200 hits and 100 rbi's batting 5th or 6th, but Wagner is a difference-maker. Why not put Wagner at 1st, swap out Suttle and get a power hitting LF with natural HRs if you have to (like Foster)? Wagner & Suttle are injury risks so you eliminate that risk by one.

Wagner is a stud, esp. when facing a lot of lefties. When I use Lindstrom, he always get his 200 hits and 100 rbi's batting 5th or 6th, but Wagner is a difference-maker. Why not put Wagner at 1st, swap out Suttle and get a power hitting LF with natural HRs if you have to (like Foster)? Wagner & Suttle are injury risks so you eliminate that risk by one.

Excellent advice from everyone, as always. The reason I am reluctant to swap out Suttles is I love his card—it always delivers for me, and it's a nice fit for my lineup and for the way the league is structured (heavy-ish on RH pitching and RH parks). And I already have a cheapo left fielder I like in Joe ("the triples machine") Evans, so I worry that too much tinkering will hurt the offense more than it helps the defense.

I'll keep Wags and let him boot the ball around a bit, and I'll keep a solid backup in reserve at 3B (insuring against Suttles or Wagner going down, since Wagner can move to 1B).

Thanks, folks!

Wagner is the clear favorite in that matchup. His adjusted NERP is 30.10 vs LHP and 24.07 vs RHP as opposed to Lindstrom's 20.32 vs LHP and 19.52 vs RHP. This takes into account defense. My advice: pick up Tannehill as a defensive replacement.

- The Sheik

Wagner is the clear favorite in that matchup. His adjusted NERP is 30.10 vs LHP and 24.07 vs RHP as opposed to Lindstrom's 20.32 vs LHP and 19.52 vs RHP. This takes into account defense. My advice: pick up Tannehill as a defensive replacement.

- The Sheik

Awesome, Sheik. Thank you. Where can you find that NERP data? Is it on diamonddope?

Right now I invested a bit more to have a viable bat as a backup at 3B (although not a great fielder) in Pinky Higgins at 0.99. My thinking is that he can back up Wagner, who in turn will back up Suttles at 1B and Parker in RF. So, in essence, if my right fielder, first baseman, or third baseman gets hurt, Higgins is getting the shoulder tap. With that triple backup duty, I decided to spend a bit more than on a Tannehill type.

Not a great defensive backup for Wagner, a better option is 1905 Bill Bradley. He's Clutch, a 2(e18) has a fair amount of doubles and better speed than Higgins. I use Wagner at 3rd almost as often as I can get him and Bradley as his backup quite often.

Mike

Also the defensive NERP can be found at:

http://www.mfooz.com/bblog/wp-content/uploads/offense-vs-defense.pdf