Team: Fantasy Baseball Sherpa (Scott Swanay)
Year in League - 2nd
Previous Finish - 5th.
Projected 2010 Finish (Sportsline Projections): 11th
The Roster
Catchers: Geovany Soto $9, J.R. Towles $1.
Corner Infield: David Freese $7, Lance Berkman $28, Aubrey Huff $12.
Middle Infield: Skip Schumaker $13, Alcides Escobar $15, Brandon Phillips $26, Kaz Matsui $4.
Outfield: Carlos Lee $28, Ryan Ludwick $21, Scott Hairston $7, Aaron Rowand $4, Nate Schierholtz $1.
Pitchers: Wandy Rodriguez $19, Ryan Dempster $17, Chad Qualls $14, John Maine $7, Octavio Dotel $10, Angel Guzman $2, Ian Kennedy $7, Madison Bumgarner $5, Bud Norris $3.
Reserves: Mike Fontenot, Eric Hinske, Tyler Greene, Angel Salome, Fernando Nieve, Scott Elbert, Sean Gallagher.
Hitting/Pitching Split: $176/$84
Categorical Strengths: None.
Categorical Weaknesses: Home runs, RBI, SB, Runs, Wins, WHIP.
Here is a case where I think the CBS projections really undershoot the potential of the team that was actually auctioned. I can nitpick and find players that I don't like on this team, but across-the-board I feel like Swanay did what I did, particularly on offense. He bought a balanced squad, and while I might like some of his buys less than he does, he might be able to say the same thing about my team. He certainly doesn't have any of those $40+ players who almost definitely aren't going to earn what they were paid in the 5x5 format barring a miracle season.
The offense is depending a little bit on young players like Escobar and Freese, but not overly so. Most of the team is an exercise in Stage Three balance, with a few potential bargains picked up toward the end. Rowand, Matsui, Hairston and Schierholtz are obviously not the sexiest players to own, but they should all move the chains and keep this team at least in the middle-of-the-pack in runs and RBI. There might be some big boppers missing from this line-up, but I think Swanay should be able to move the chains.
On the pitching side, he's a little thinner. There isn't a bonafide ace here...though Rodriguez certainly has the talent and is at the age where he could take a step forward. Behind him and Dempster are a number of high risk/reward guys who aren't necessarily bad picks at these prices but maybe could have been swapped out for cheaper pitchers with similar profiles. Maine, Kennedy, and Bumgarner all could certainly shine in '10, but probably two of them and/or Norris are going to have to be solid contributors if Sherpa is going to beat the poor wins projection and middle-of-the-pack numbers elsewhere on the hill.
The low $ closing strategy could work, even though right now it may seem like Qualls and Dotel are two of the riskier names in the N.L. pool. Keep in mind that paying big bucks for closers last year wasn't a winning strategy and some of the lower-end closers were not only more profitable but more successful in general.
So I reject the 11th place projection for Sherpa and think this team looks more like a middle-of-the-pack squad. If the arms with upside work out and he avoids injury on the hitting side, Swanay may have actually bought more than just middle-of-the-pack.
No comments:
Post a Comment