On each Sunday we’re going to try and answer your 2008 fantasy baseball questions. Is this every fantasy baseball question we receive? No, but it’s a few of the better ones that were emailed directly to us at info[at]razzball.com. So if you want some fantasy baseball advice that can’t get answered in the comments section, then there you go. Please ask the minor questions i.e. Should I drop Chad Cordero for Santiago Casilla? (yes, you should) in the comment section. It’ll be a quicker answer there from Grey or I (or even a regular commenter). Thanks, we really do appreciate your support and feedback. (But if you try to hug me, it might get weird.)
QUESTION:
Thanks to Rudy for your advice in the comments on Sunday; this query’s a bit bigger, thought I’d submit it to Ask the ‘Perts. Any thoughts appreciated, sorry I tend to go on a bit.
I’ve got a pretty simple question, but it’s a like a Russian doll that keeps opening up more questions: What do you think of Jimmy Rollins’s speed value coming back?
If you think he’ll be fine, you can stop reading.
If not….
I’ve built my offense for balance, with Weeks, Rollins, and Markakis providing regular steals, Berkman(!) and Hermida chipping in occasionally, and Ellsbury & Pierre giving me options if I’m in a tight spot. Is it worth trying to maintain that balance when one of my biggest SB-threats may be reduced to a power-hitting SS?
I can probably still flip Markakis + Weeks for David Ortiz and Robinson Cano (and maybe a SP upgrade, say DiceK to Felix), use Ellsbury as a chip to upgrade power or pitching as necessary, and try to own HR/RBI/XBH (plus maybe AVG + R if I’m lucky).
In terms of pitching, depending on how many good starts I’ve got, I’m currently flipping between trying for L/ERA/WHIP, and (if that doesn’t work) throwing everything I’ve got against the wall and hoping W’s, SV’s and K’s stick. I figure if I can upgrade to one more top-tier starter and another closer, I can own L/ERA/WHIP, with saves a little better than a coin-flip (This league uses 3 pitchers/day, no differentiation between SP/RP, 25 inning minimum). One advantage to getting rid of my speed-options on the bench is having more space for speculative RPers, and space to stream should my elite starters shit the bed, or if I’m facing the team that starts Peavy/Beckett/Halladay.
So, what are your thoughts on focusing on dominating certain categories (plus a little roster flexibility) vs. overall strength (but no flexibility)? It seems easy on paper to take 6 categories each week and hope for at least one tie, but it’s a pretty damn slim margin of error.
Full details:
12 team daily mixed league, 20 player roster, 25 innings minimum/week, no limit on player moves; 1 player/position on offense plus Util; 3 Pitchers (SP or RP).
R/HR/RBI/AVG/SB/XBH
W/L/ERA/SV/WHIP/K
Current ‘Balanced’ roster:
C Victor Martinez
1B Adrian Gonzalez
2B Rickie Weeks
SS Felipe Lopez
3B R. Zimmerman
OF L. Berkman
OF N. Markakis
OF J. Hermida
Util Conor Jackson
Bench
J. Dye
J. Ellsbury
J. Pierre
[J. Rollins DL]
D. Matsuzaka
C. Zambrano
Javier Vazquez
C. Buchholz
J. Weaver
R. Betancourt
B. Wilson
S. Casilla
Proposed Lineup:
Victor Martinez
David Ortiz
Robinson Cano
Zimmerman
JRoll
L. Berkman
J. Hermida
J. Dye/upgrade
C. Jackson/Adrian Gonzalez (whoever isn’t traded)
Backup power bat (Votto, M. Bradley, M. Alou currently available)
C. Zambrano
F. Hernandez/B. Webb/C. Hamels (via trade)
J Vazquez
Betancourt
Brian Wilson
Closer (via trade)
S. Casilla
C. Qualls (FA)
Streamer/speculative RP
Streamer
RUDY’S ANSWER:
I don’t think there’s one way to build a team. My goal is to be competitive in all stats (too hard to win and punt a category – at least in non-H2H leagues). So I just look for best value and, if i find enough of it, I end up w/ some flexibility.
Markakis/Weeks for Ortiz/Cano is a good trade in my book. Tough to give up Markakis but OF are devalued in a 3 OF vs. 5 OF league more than 1B w/o a CI. Ortiz ranks higher on my Point Shares – in draft terms, Ortiz is a high-2nd round in my book and Markakis is a 3rd/4th round pick. Cano hasn’t looked good this year but seems to be a solid bounceback candidate. And he’s ranked higher than Weeks. So, yeah, I’d make that trade and move A-Gonz to UTIL (Conor Jackson is bench-worthy).
I’m not sure I mentioned it in my first reply/post to you, but I wouldn’t worry too much on SB. You just need enough to stay competitive in it. With the addition of XBH, it makes an SB-specialist that much more debilitating. I’d definitely pick up Votto if he’s available (probably not anymore) as he could play OF and has 15 SB potential.
While it wouldn’t hurt to pick up another starter, it isn’t imperative. I don’t think you have much else to offer if you trade Markakis. I’d stick w/ that move and then play the FA wire. You don’t need both Ellsbury and Pierre. Dump or trade one for a usable arm. Dump Weaver too – there should be better options out there.
Hope this helps…
