Sorry I'm jumping in a bit late on this, but I was out in the field for the last week and a half so I didn't have much internet access. I'm all for expanding the number of starting players, but I think we might want to drop the limit on the number of moves. With a weekly line-up and a limit on the number of innings pitched I don't think streaming is an issue.
Also, I'm going to have to disagree with Caleb's statement that there isn't pitching on the waiver wire. There isn't solid starting pitching that will do everything for you (and this is right after a waiver wire run on starting pitching), but there are guys like Petitte that will get you strike outs, but might hurt you a bit on WHIP or ERA, guys like Meche who started out well but have struggled some lately, and guys who are on good teams that happen to pitching well right now (Gabbard and DiNardo). That doesn't even address the middle relievers who would help WHIP and ERA while piling up as many strikeouts as some of the lower level starters. In deeper leagues these guys would be played and it would be up to the managers to decide how to balance the various weaknesses a player has. Right now there isn't much pressure to roll the dice on marginal players, which I think is part of the game. Guys who are playing well end up as free agents forever (look how long Carlos Pena was available for absolutely nothing).
Carrying two catchers is the only spot where I could see some pretty shitty players ending up starting on rosters, but I'm not sure that it would put tons of extra value on the position.
6 comments:
I agree with what Bill said. Part of the strategy is to figure out how to balance your team to maximize the value of "shitty" players. The only lineup changes people make are rotating a pitcher here or there or moving someone into the outfield/utl spot. My team is pretty much on auto-pilot right now, which isn't as fun as it could be. If I had to think about starting Meche or Pettite right now that might give me an ulcer, but it'd be more interesting.
The 2 catchers would be tough b/c it would only leave 2 starters as potential free agents. When looking at how the teams are constructed it makes sense to me to put in a more pitching, corner infield, middle infield, and another outfield spot. This would put more 2b,ss,3b, and pitchers into the mix. I definitely think we would need to increase the number of moves or not have a limit at all.
I think for the most part it doesn't really matter how good the players are, you still have to make the same decisions. The only difference to me is that it is more fun with good players than it is with bad ones.
The better the player is the less you need to think about how that player is performing, who he is playing this week, who might be better on the waiver wire, who might I be able to trade, etc. Travis Hafner could be in an 0-30 slump and I'm still going to put him in my lineup every week without even thinking about it. However, if Ryan Garko or Andy Phillips is going 0-30 in my corner infield spot, I would have to weigh my options (looking for someone on waivers, making a trade, or moving someone up from my bench).
For me, the fun is not whether or not my lineup is filled with mlb all-stars, it in whether or not I can draft and manage a lineup better than the rest of you.
I'm not sure if that's true. I think there is still just as much marginal decision making to make no matter what the size of the rosters is. Even if you only have 1 man rosters, then you have to decide between David Ortiz and Travis Hafner, which is just as hard as deciding between equally matched crappier players. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for increasing the size of starting rosters, I just think we should simultaneously decrease the size of the benches by the same amount or by more. I have found it annoying how many players there are on my bench who don't get used, and also how difficult it is to find waiver talent. It would make it more interesting to have more players in circulation rather than sitting on the bench taking up space.
Bill has talked me into expanding the pitching rosters. I also agree with the final points of Luke's last post, though I think most of us do. If we expand the starting roster, there should be a corresponding decrease in bench positions.
And if we go with two starting catchers, so help me god, I'm selling my team to Ruth.
Otherwise, I'm all for it.
Ok, so we are all for expanding the size of the rosters but decrease the bench. 2 catchers in an AL only league would be too tough. How does this look:
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF x 4
CI (1B or 3B)
MI (2B or SS)
UTL
SP
SP
RP
RP
P
P
P
P
BN x 5
DL x 2
Unlimited moves.
1 "virtual" prospect spot. Each team can reserve one prospect off roster so long as he is eligible as a prospect pick (<100 AB, < 50 IP). If the player becomes ineligible during the season, the owner must either move him to a regular bench spot or drop him. The owner can choose a new prospect to occupy the vacated spot. This player can come from the bench, the waiver wire, or through a trade.
If anyone wants to propose any other lineup configurations, go ahead and we can have a vote over the off season.
Post a Comment