Fantasy Baseball Dilemma

[Hi, I'm VALUE!]

Was hoping that some of you with more experience in fantasy BB could provide some advisement on my newly-minted team.

 

First, league setup:

 

Weekly H2H League

 

Batters Stat Categories:    Runs ®, Home Runs (HR), Runs Batted In (RBI), Stolen Bases (SB), Batting Average (AVG)

Pitchers Stat Categories:    Wins (W), Saves (SV), Strikeouts (K), Earned Run Average (ERA), (Walks + Hits)/ Innings Pitched (WHIP)

Lineups lock for the week on Monday

 

Second, my current lineup.

 

 

C    Mike Napoli ©

1B    Prince Fielder

2B    Ian Kinsler

3B    Brett Lawrie

SS    Danny Espinosa (2B)

OF    Adam Jones

OF    Desmond Jennings

OF    Alex Gordon

Util    Paul Goldschmidt

BN    Ike Davis

                         

SP    Justin Verlander

SP    Adam Wainwright

SP    Brandon Morrow

SP    Jon Lester

RP    Glen Perkins

RP    Grant Balfour

RP    Bobby Parnell

RP    Jose Veras

 

So some initial problems I'm having:

 

1) Brett Lawrie is going to start the season on the DL.  I don't currently have anyone on the roster that's 3B-eligible.  I've been offered a deal of Youk/Rivera for Fielder/Perkins, but I'm of the opinion that he's trying to fleece me, and I'm tempted to counter with Davis/Balfour (though he won't accept).  Opinions? Notable FA 3B-eligible (star denotes no ML team or DL):

 

Mike Moustakas

Todd Frazier

Jedd Gyorko*

Trevor Plouffe

Mark Reynolds

Lonnie Chisenhall

Juan Francisco

Matt Carpenter

Nolan Arenado

Alex Rodriguez*

Jordan Pacheco

Chris Johnson

Ryan Roberts

Jeff Keppinger

Donovan Solano

 

2) If I choose to tell this guy to go pound salt, who on my roster can I choose to drop for a 3B?  Ike Davis is projected to be a 28HR/80 RBI guy, but he's 3rd or 4th in the 1B pecking order.  I can't drop Napoli, as he's my only C.  I tend to like Keppinger as a temp fill-in to boost my team AVG, and I'd love to take a stab at someone like a Moustakas or a Solano, but I feel like any drop would be a mistake.  Plus, I would want to, ideally, pick up Frank Francisco to ensure that I have the Mets' closer all year (as there are NO closers on the wire).

 

I have 2 DL spots, but I need for the team to officially place Lawrie on the DL before I make that move.

 

3) General opinions on the team and spots I can improve?

 

Appreciate any advice that can be provided, and thanks for reading through.

[Devils Dose]

In all likelihood you will have Lawrie back very soon, so that should not be an impetus for you to make a trade you wouldn't make under ordinary circumstances.

[NJDevs4978]

I'm not an expert but it'd probably help out to point out how many teams are in your league for context.

 

I gotta do some more research tonight cause my own draft is tomorrow.  I wouldn't mind just waiting to put Lawrie on the DL (still got a couple days to do that) and picking up Frazier.   With a full season he could do .270-20/25-75/80.

[Hi, I'm VALUE!]

12 team league, 1 bench spot available on each team.

 

Frazier is intriguing too with the friendly confines of Colorado.

[NJDevs4978]

Cinci, but same difference with Great American Ballpark lol

 

That's pretty rough to have 'one' bench spot, two DL slots and have to start four relievers.

[nmigliore]

I'm absolutely NOT a fantasy baseball guy. Love the sport with all my heart, but other than goofing around with some friends in a league years ago, I've just never liked it very much. With that out of the way: Frazier is probably the top offensive 3B in that group. The Moose isn't a bad upside gamble but I'd just stick with Frazier. Stay FAR away from Solano, huge regression candidate (.357 BABIP last year, terrible minor league track record). Lawrie was officially put on the DL yesterday, so I think that opens up a free spot for you (or did I read that wrong?). I noticed you had a star next to Gyorko? He's starting for San Diego.

As far as weaknesses, I guess Veras? Espinosa isn't a good hitter but he probably carries good value for fantasy considering the homeruns, stolen bases, and runs.

Edited April 1, 2013 by nmigliore

[Hi, I'm VALUE!]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

See, the reason I hate Yahoo is that they're late in changing designations.  At the time I posted, Gyorko was marked as "demoted to minor leagues".  

 

Also, this league is crazy in that the league locks for the week on the first day of the week.  So because Yahoo didn't put the "DL" designation on Lawrie until well after the Astros/Rangers game started, I'm stuck with Lawrie at 3B for the week even though he isn't playing.  It's kind of what I thought would happen, but rather than pull the trigger on a crippling deal to have one week of Youk at 3B, I'll take my hit in whatever stats Lawrie would have given me to make sure I don't compromise my roster for the season.

 

I've already DL'd Lawrie for next week and picked up Frazier.  I just need to hope that Parnell holds on to the closer's job...I may preemptively drop Davis or outfielder of choice and pick up Frank Francisco to ensure I get whatever saves the Mets get.

 

I agree that 1 BN spot is rough, especially with 4 relievers required to start...that number should be halved, and I'll bring that up next year.

[Hi, I'm VALUE!]

Just an update on how this went so far...here's my current team:

 

C Mike Napoli

1B Prince Fielder

2B Ian Kinsler

3B Brett Lawrie

SS Jean Segura

OF Adam Jones

OF Alex Gordon

OF Darin Ruf

Ut Paul Goldschmidt

BN Anthony Rendon

DL Desmond Jennings

 

SP Justin Verlander

SP Adam Wainwright

SP Justin Masterson

SP Jon Lester

RP Francisco Liriano

RP Glen Perkins

RP Grant Balfour

RP José Veras

DL Bobby Parnell

 

I am currently in 1st place in my league and in good shape for a playoff spot (18 games ahead of #5 guy with 6 weeks to play including this week, which I'm leading 6-3).  I've pretty much dominated pitching, finding saves in unlikely places.  And aside from Batting Average, which has been dismal, and a revolving door at 3B in the first half, I'm doing at least League Average or better on HR, SB, RBI, and Runs.

 

I'm eyeing Brad Ziegler, thinking of dropping Lester for him to cover the loss of Parnell.  But aside from that I like the way this team has played so far (knock on wood).