Need advice

[ChiCubsFan]

Okay, i wasn't able to make the draft so my friend had to draft for me. He did alright i guess. But this is a league for money so I want to make it in the top 6. It's a 16 team league and here are the categories:

 

R, H, 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, SB, BB, K, TB, E, OPS, IP, W, CG, SV, ER, K, HLD, ERA, K/BB

 

No idea why he has errors in there. I think it's quite ridiculous for a fantasy team, but nonetheless, here's my team:

 

C-Victor Martinez

1B-Justin Morneau

2B-Ryan Freel

SS-Edgar Renteria

3B-Aramis Ramirez

OF-Pat Burrell

OF-Jason Lane

OF-Moises Alou

Util-Travis Hafner

Bench-Brad Wilkerson

Bench-Orlando Hudson

 

SP-Johan Santana

SP-Joe Blanton

RP-Brad Lidge

P-Armando Benitez

P-Derek Lowe

P-Scott Eyre

Bench-Matt Clement

Bench-Jarrod Washburn

Bench-Chad Orvella

 

Its a weekly changes league. I've never done a league that doesnt have daily changes so any advice on that department would be good. For instance, how many closers/middle relievers should I start? I was thinking of punting holds or punting saves (trading Lidge and Benitez) or punting both. There's a ton of categories and I think trading Lidge and Benitez for another SP or hitter would be beneficial. Anyone have any ideas though? I'm pretty weak, obviously, at 1b, 2b, ss (kind of), of, and SP. I think Morneau and Wilkerson can do the job for me at 1st base. I know its not a stud team, but for a 16 team league, it might be good enough if I can make some changes. Ray Durham is a FA so I was thinking of picking him up instead of Orlando Hudson. Not sure though. So what do you guys think I should do to improve this team? And any advice about the weekly changes would be helpful.

[Mark_R]

Orlando Hudson is a pretty useless player. Nice balance on the offense. Don't mind Lidge, seems like he would have been taken in an appropriate value round based on who else you have.

 

I like your team a lot for a league that deep.

[cubbyblue]

Holds is a bad stat with a league that has weekly lineup changes. Unless an extra pitching spot has been added, doesn't look like it was in your league. Have to set the lineups for a week you really need to use starters and closers only, don't really have the room to waste on a setup guy. You can do this in daily change leagues because you can pretty much have them in every day just shuffling him between the starters...really don't like that cat in a weekly league

[ChiCubsFan]

Holds is a bad stat with a league that has weekly lineup changes. Unless an extra pitching spot has been added, doesn't look like it was in your league. Have to set the lineups for a week you really need to use starters and closers only, don't really have the room to waste on a setup guy. You can do this in daily change leagues because you can pretty much have them in every day just shuffling him between the starters...really don't like that cat in a weekly league

 

Thanks for the input. I really don't understand why he made it weekly changes and then made that few positions for pitching and then included holds. Doesn't make any sense to me. I think the best approach would be to punt holds and/or saves. Not sure yet though.

[ChiCubsFan]

Orlando Hudson is a pretty useless player. Nice balance on the offense. Don't mind Lidge, seems like he would have been taken in an appropriate value round based on who else you have.

 

I like your team a lot for a league that deep.

 

Thanks. I was planning on dumping Hudson, but there's really not anyone jumping out in my mind to pick up. Do you think I would be better off trading Lidge for a good bat or good starting pitcher and either punting saves or depending on Benitez/Orvella? Or do you think I'm better off staying put?

[Mark_R]

I'd see if I could get someone who really needs/desires a closer (Orvella) to give you a top setup man. Someone like Scot Shields, Justin Duchescher, Rafael Betancourt, etc.

[ChiCubsFan]

I'd see if I could get someone who really needs/desires a closer (Orvella) to give you a top setup man. Someone like Scot Shields, Justin Duchescher, Rafael Betancourt, etc.

 

I just traded Lidge for Jeff Kent. Now I'm very happy with my offense. I'm very strong in every category except steals. There's 13 offensive categories though, so I'm not worried about being weak in only one of them. Now I'm pretty much going to punt saves. Betancourt is a FA so I'm probably going to pick him up and drop Orvella. I really want Shields, but someone took him in the 11th round. I could probably get him straight up for Benitez, but I would prefer to trade Benitez with one of my other SP to upgrade to a better SP. Any opinion on what I should do with Benitez/Orvella/Betancourt?

[Mark_R]

See if someone will give you something better than what the waiver wire can (pretty likely in a league that deep...) for Orvella.

 

Orvella, despite his apparent troubles, will be picked up in a heartbeat.

[MarkPrior]

Who would you pick up off the wire? Rich Hill or Gavin Floyd?

 

nm, as I see Rich Hill was optioned today

[ChiCubsFan]

Who would you pick up off the wire? Rich Hill or Gavin Floyd?

 

nm, as I see Rich Hill was optioned today

 

Gavin Floyd, as great as he has pitched this spring, is also expected to start the year in the minors.