Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:50 am
I'm about done playing small ball so I'll give you my full and open opinion on this. Also, keep in mind that I'm Not sure about 100 as I only play 80 NoDH.
Dahlen(6.60), Bush(5.59), Wagner(7.92)- in that order. (stats based on Forbes '09)
Bush is great for lead off, and that's it. (I've seen successful teams use him at other spots- but those kinds of teams make my head hurt). His OBP is very good and his stolen bases are nice, he hits into alot of DP's, which is why I would never use him anywhere other than the 1 hole.
I'll get 100 runs out of him, but he'll still hit into 15 double plays. He's a great value though. My favorite option if Dahlen is off the books.
Wagner can exist almost anywhere in the line-up. High 800 to low 900 OPS. Wagner has big injury issues, but he's still worth it. Good xtrabase hits, high average, stolen bases. He's not over the top great at anything, but he's very good at everything. An injury year 85/85(runs/rbi), a regular year 105/105. He'll hit about 60 xtra base hits, steal about 40 bases and try to steal home 4 times, making it once.
Dahlen is by far the best value. High 800 to low 900 OPS. He'll get you 95/95 every year(in the 7 hole), 120+ runs if you put him the 2 hole. (my last team he got 132 runs and 82 ribi's in the 2 hole-)He'll hit 60+ extra base hits every year. To me he's almost as good as Wagner for 1.5 less. Which means he's tons better. His 40 errors will lose you about 20 runs, but that is more than offset with his versatility in the batting order and his price- He makes all my teams much better.
I like Appling, but he's a bit pricey for a lead-off- which is all I see him for. He'll rock it there. Great average and OBP. Anywhere else he'll hit into 30 DP's, which, when added to his 2 fielding is prohibitive.
For 7.50+ there are a crap ton of lead off shortstops, but I refuse to spend that much on a lead off hitter. I try to save money on my lead off hitter.
All the other SS live in the 8 hole, and if that's the case, I might as well get O'leary and make a bunch of players really great.
A 1 at SS is pretty crucial, but I do like the idea of experimenting with a 2 and opening up my options.