Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365

Have both Mantle and Mays in a 200M league. Playing in Ebbets Field '57.

Which of their cards should I be using.

FYI, Mantle will be DHing.

It hugely depends on the makeup of the rest of your team, and your division, and league. This is especially true for Mantle, because his top 2 cards are very close in performance but heavily tilted in opposite directions. Mays' high dollar card is probably the best option no matter what.

But the following issues have bearing on the decision.

What ballpark mix will my team play in?

What improvements can I buy elsewhere by saving money with these two guys?

Does the rest of my lineup need help against RHP or LHP more?

What cheaper DH can I trade Mantle for to upgrade another position significantly?

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/816706


Here's the team, if I pressed the right buttons.


Other division stadiums are Sportsmans 41 AL, County Stadium 78, and Griffith Stadium 41.


Thanks.
BTW, sort of have a '50s All-Star theme to the team, so trying to keep that intact as much as possible. I know my pitching's not the strongest, but of who I have - who should I keep and which cards should I use. One team in division is loaded with LH power, so probably want to lean towards keeping the lefties.

If you are in a $200 million league with any objective other than to put the most competitive team on the field that you can, you have just wasted a credit IMO.

Alrighty then, so much for trying to have a little fun with this at the same time.

No soup for me then, eh?

Bah, such negativity.

I don't play either player too much, but I would go with the '56 Mantle and the '54 Mays.
(Okay, I would try to trade Mays, but that wasn't an option).

The reason for these chioces is that you are in a bombers park at home that leans
slightly right and they are two of your top hitters. In $200 mill, you can always cover
an injury risk and with 2 CFers, its already a lesser issues -- just their best hitting
cards should do it, as you are getting all their ballpark HRs at home. These cards
won't be as effective on the road in your division, but you have 7 other hitters.

Your team is going to be an offensive force. Your pitching is going to hurt.

Your lineup is great and you have a LOT of wasted $ on your bench

I would DH KINER (not Mantle)
try to trade Mays or Mantle for elite pitching

if you can't, you can still use this kind of lineup -
Campy/Yogi c
Stan THE MAN 1b
Jackie R 2b
Boudreau ss
Schmidt 3b
Heilman lf
Mantle/Mays cf
Gwynn/Hafey rf
Kiner DH


Banks backs up ss, but you could use the cheaper version to backup 3b also
you can use Hodges to get $ for pitching (Stan is bulletproof)

consider some nonconventional pitching options since all the elite will be gone....folks like Keefe, Mort Cooper, Jack Taylor, Feller, Hershiser might be okay - (the highest priced Wynn, and Spahn already on your team are pretty passable options) ---- pricey SP/RP in platoon RP roles ($1.91 Bennett, 8.36 Caldwell vs LH, Garcia or Darwin vs RH)

also you may get some legs out of the likes of Lanier or Russo, Hall (non star SP) if available and used situationally or in long relief


Mantle if offered could get you not only a elite SP, but might help with a 2b upgrade (or different position)

AND you really need to buff up your RP corps too

I would platoon gentile and hodges at first and play Musial in RF. DH kiner and trade Mays for pitching. Mantle will hit so much better than Mays you should keep him unless you got a heck of a lot for him. I would use the 56 mantle by the way.

In 200m thereis no one pitcher worth either Mays or Mantle. If you are going to trade one of them go for a package of
players. I am no fan of Heilmann in this park. I would play Musial in left. IMPROVE YOUR RIGHT HAND RELIEF PITCHING.
Your starting pitching may just be adequate if you are clever with them, and lucky. I have used Narleski with some
success in $200m and some failures also but he cannot be your main man.

I would platoon gentile and hodges at first and play Musial in RF. DH kiner

If you are going to have Kiner on team he has to be DH. Even at 200 mil you cannot afford that kind of value wasting on bench. Use Kiner at DH or trade him. I would say trading Gentile or Hodges and playing Musial at first but at 200 mil these are platoon players with limited trade value. Kiner, Mantle, Mays on the other hand would be valued by any team in a hitters park.

I have seen teams go slim on starting and win. Have seen them go slim on bullpen and win. Not too often you can go budget on both.