Posted by schwarze on 2/14/2020 3:42:00 PM (view original):
$70M - The Wrath of Kang
Dodger Stadium
The only time I ever play in low cap leagues (<80M) is in this tournament. I have learned a few things though. I do not waste any roster spots with 200K players. Every player has to contribute. As usual, I start with pitching. Although there is a minimum of 1.0 HR/9, I can still get better normalization by taking modern day pitchers. Eleven of my thirteen pitchers played in 1997 and later. My four starters (02 Moyer, 97 Mussina, 00 Schilling & 16 Sale) all have low walk totals to prevent multiple-run HRs. Eight of my nine relievers have between 25 and 50 innings. I drafted Dodger stadium to help me manage my 1279 innings.
Offensively, I tried to get as close to .260 as possible (every batter is between .250 and .260). In order to not waste roster spots, I am platooning at a couple of positions. I did not draft speed, but did roster a total of 242 HRs, including 2019 Pete Alonso, although I expect 63 Killebrew to lead my team in HRs. The batting lineup includes 'C: 73 Tenace (.259, 24 HRs), 1B: '19 Alonso (.260, 53), 2B: '89 Whitaker (.251, 28), 3B: '16 Kang (.255, 21) & '04 Youkals (.260, 7), SS: '76 Smalley (.259, 3), OF: '63 Killebrew (.258, 45), '89 V.Hayes (.259, 26), '65 Mantle (.255, 19) & '19 McCutcheon (.256, 10). The defense isn't great. Oh, the team name obviously references Star Trek, plus the fact before this theme, I never even head of Jung Ho Kang.
Hitting: 5379 PA, .257 avg, .366 obp, .467 slug, 242 HRs, $36.5 million
Pitching: 1279 IP, .236 oav, 1.11 whip, 1.10 hr/9, 6.9 k/9, 2.0 bb/9, $33.5 million
End of season recap:
Record 89-73 .549, 1st place in division (48-33 at home, 41-40 road)
Exp Win% = .563 (3rd best overall), 27-24 in 1-run games
Ranks: 3rd in offense (runs scored), 12th in pitching (runs allowed), 6th in fielding%, 16th in + plays
Individual Performances
Good:
Roy Smalley - the only non-HR hitter I drafted finished 2nd in the league in batting average (.280)
Harmon Killebrew - finished 2nd in the league in RBIs (145) and 4th in HRs (61) and 7th in OPS (.905). Plus, his OF defense didn't hurt (3 errors, 2 minus plays)
Lou Whitaker - was one of the better defensive 2B in the league (only 6 errors and 3 minus plays). Finished 10th in OPS (.888).
Mickey Mantle - His .919 OPS would be ranked 6th among players with at least 400 AB. Hit 39 HRs in only 422 AB.
Chris Sale - He was my best SP (18-8, 3.39) but didn't finish in the top 25 in ERA.
Bad:
Pete Alonso - He was pretty bad. 49 HRs, 87 RBIs, but a .206 avg and .281 obp. There was one Pete Alonso that was worse, but he played in Petco.
My pitching wasn't that great, but nobody was terrible.... just mostly everybody was a little below expectations.
Maybe I should have spent a little more on range (we were below average on both plus and minus plays). That certainly would've helped the pitching staff.
General comments
Overall, I can't complain. I don't play in low cap leagues and I had zero expectations that this team would do anything. I wasn't sure if I went too low on IPs and I was constantly juggling the staff to avoid fatigue (I didn't use a 200K mopup). But the fact this team made the playoffs was a huge bonus. Of course, over half my pitching staff is at 88-92% fatigue so we could have trouble against a rested staff.
2/14/2020 4:09 PM (edited)