I'm still fairly new to this game and may be prone to massive misconceptions in terms of player analysis.  I'm trying to determine if my team building was just waayyyyyyy off base or if I'm getting unlucky.  I had thought that the Smokin' Aces would be quite competitive this season.  Obviously not so thus far... we're 12-24 and getting routinely rocked.  So my basic question is whether I should try to weather this storm and see if we can right the ship or if it's time for me to sell off some veterans to restock a depleted farm system.

I've received inquiries about Piper and Benjamin and could probably move Herrera and Frank Jackson as well.  My rotation is built around 4 young starters who are all under organizational control for at least the next 3 seasons, so selling off a few bats doesn't necessarily destroy our future.  Masao and Piedra were just signed to 5-year contracts before this season, Benes is in his first year of arbitration, and Saitou isn't even to arbitration yet.  So can I compete with the team that I have, or should I start to move assets?  And if so, which ones? 

I'm pretty sure if I don't think I have a shot to make a run I'm going to move Piper.  He's under contract through next season but he's in decline and his stamina started at 70, so he's becoming a part-time player in a hurry.  I'm not sure if Benjamin is worth holding onto or not.  He doesn't hit much, but more than a number of other SS's in the league.  There's nobody in my system to replace him, so if I think I can build around this pitching staff and compete in the near future I should probably keep him.  Cristobal Herrera is a solid 3B/RF bat for me who I'm thinking I could move if the deal is right or resign if I don't see an offer I love.  As of right now he's only asking for $6.3 million a year for 4 years to come back.  Frank Jackson is an aging SP that I would likely trade for the right deal as well.  Anybody have any thoughts?

There are a millon answers. I only took a quick look, but you've got 2 young starting pitcher that look like the start of a solid staff.  I didn't really see much else, other than averagish players or decent relievers.  I'm not sure who the other young 2 starters are that you're talking about.

You've got some decent bats, but nothing that stands out as a regular all star.  Some guys w/ a ton of power, but mediocre contact.  Those guys tend to have more variation in their stats from one season to the next.

Overall, unless I missed something in my quick glance, it looks kind of like a .500ish team depending on the world.

So what to do about it?  I'd move the vets if possible, try to clear out future contracts that may not make much sense.  Do you have much in AAA?  It didn't appear so at first glance, but perhaps picking up some young role players and relievers could be easier to obtain for aging vets.  What does the offseason FA class look like?  If you plan accordingly, move enough players, keep some of the right ones, add a solid bat or 2 and another starter, you could jump into the playoffs next year.  If the FA crop class sucks the next couple of years, you may want to start looking at a 3 year plan and trying to get that built around the two young pitchers.

Posted by tecwrg on 2/17/2011 5:07:00 PM (view original):

Run-on paragraphs are very hard to read.  Why don't you try reformatting that post.

Yep.

Taz, I haven't figured out exactly why he's been so solid even in a new world, but Piedra has a career 3.35 ERA.  So that's the 3rd guy.  Gerald Masao is the 4th; he's nothing special, but he's an innings eater and an above-average 4th starter in this world.

Now it's 3 paragraphs.  Happier?

Much easier to read, yes.

Switch your 3B and RF.

Posted by dahsdebater on 2/17/2011 5:28:00 PM (view original):
Taz, I haven't figured out exactly why he's been so solid even in a new world, but Piedra has a career 3.35 ERA.  So that's the 3rd guy.  Gerald Masao is the 4th; he's nothing special, but he's an innings eater and an above-average 4th starter in this world.

I did miss him, vR is a little low, but control & pitches are solid.  I can see why he's been productive.  So that's 3 solid pitchers to work around moving forward.  Looks like you free up some cash in season 6, and a little in season 5.  Personally, I'd attempt to keep those 3 pitchers, move whatever salary you can, and aim for season 6 as your year.  Perhaps front load a contract next season for a solid piece, then if there's something top shelf in season 6 (I imagine any solid young FA in season 1 got a 5 year deal, so there should be some good players available I assume)

Thanks.  I'd still appreciate some more answers, just for perspective.  Another question: if I do stick with the guys I have for now,  would it be worth playing Piper at SS against lefties?  I know he's not even close to being up to snuff defensively, but it would let me upgrade from Benjamin's bat to Nomar Milton's, which is a huge difference against lefties.  Thoughts?

Well, looking at your lineup, you have 3 or 4 bats that are vastly under performing right now. Its still early in the season, I would bet they turn it around eventually. The pitching staff is decent, especially for a newer world. Aaron Ingram needs to hit the road, those pitches are gonna get him killed often. Other than that, you have 3 or 4 pitchers who have high era's right now due to a couple of bad outings, but they will eventually turn it around too. Try switching up the batting order and changing some rolls on your pitchers and see if that gets things rolling.

A lot of this is personal style. There is more than one road to HBD success, although there are many more roads to nowhere. So my reply is necessarily "what I would do" as much as "what you should do." To me, your team looks old with a few really bad contracts. You mention Herrera asking for $6.3m for 4 years ... he'll be 31-34 years old during that contract, his HEALTH is only 62, and while awards in HBD are a bit goofy, he's only grabbed one All-Star appearance and nothing else for his career. I wouldn't want him back, and would consider trading him even if you are playing for this year.

There's nothing wrong with waiting to decide if you'll be playing for next year. Contending owners will be more desperate to deal as the trading deadline approaches, so it's likely you'll get offers that are as good or better than what you'd get now. So I'd keep fighting for now, but be ready to look to the future.

Again, this is my personal take. My current ML roster has only one player 30 or over, and he's 30. I also have one 31-year-old at AAA. But that's me. I've made the playoffs many years in a row, although my league tends to be a bit lopsided, and I've never won the WS. YMMV.

What's YMMV?  You Make Me Vomit?

Posted by shobob on 2/19/2011 4:44:00 PM (view original):
What's YMMV?  You Make Me Vomit?

Only if you're a Dodger fan.