HELP!!! Need IMPORTANT Roster Advice!!!

[sreem]

HELP!!!

Scenario: Closing in on the end of June, my team is currently in last place of a 6 team division, with a 36-33 record, 4 games back of the leader and 2 GB of the wildcard.

Last offseason I made a couple of trades that weakened my Starting rotation and bullpen to beef up my offense. I have now lost my top 2 starters to season ending injuries!!!

Up till now I've filled in with some minor leaguers who have performed below average.

I feel like I have a real chance at making the playoffs if my pitching can hold together.

I have one STUD prospect at AAA who I've been reluctant to call up cause I'm just not sure he's ready yet (and I don't want to start his arb clock), and another Above Average prospect, same situation.

I have trade difficulty on Hard, so if I go to the market to try and get a decent replacement, it's gonna cost me, and I don't want to sacrifice my offense or mortgage my future. (My stadium favors pitching, so I feel like I really need most of the bats I have just to stay offensively competitive at home).

There are a few veteran arms on the free agent market still, who MIGHT be able to get the job done on a 1 year deal, most of them look to be average to slightly above average based on my scouting, average to slightly below average based on last years stats.

I'm looking for opinions on what I should do, what you would do, in this situation. Feels like I need to make a decision quick, cause I'm playing in such a strong division, and can't afford to give too many or any games away!

[pgjocki]

Wow, losing your top two pitchers is going to be difficult to overcome. I suppose some other factors include how much salary space you have available and how active is the waiver wire.

I wouldn't be willing to go all in on mid season pick-ups if I was in last place unless you have just been extremely unlucky with run support. What are you ranked in defense? If you can't score 3+ runs a game with your current offense then it might be best to trade 1 bat with a really good glove guy and a medium arm.

[Orcin]

It sounds like you don't want to trade your best prospect(s) and go all in for one year. If you can get a quality pitcher in trade that will be with you for several years, it might be worth the price. Otherwise, I would sign the best of the free agents and take my chances. You might catch lightning in a bottle with a veteran free agent.

[sreem]

Originally Posted by pgjocki

I wouldn't be willing to go all in on mid season pick-ups if I was in last place unless you have just been extremely unlucky with run support.

It's not run support issue, I'm 7th in runs scored out of 16. The issue is my division. 6 Team division and the records are

St. Louis 40-29
Milwaukee 38-31
Pittsburgh 37-32
Cincinnati 37-33
Chicago 37-33
Missoula 36-33

I'd be in first place if I played in the Western Division.

[olivertheorem]

I find it amusing that a team in Missoula is in with those other teams. Talk about small market!

Anyway, if you REALLY don't want to start those arb clocks, roll the dice on two of the FA's and hope you get lucky. If you don't, you get a better draft pick.

[sreem]

Originally Posted by olivertheorem

I find it amusing that a team in Missoula is in with those other teams. Talk about small market!

He, the league wanted to get some exposure to the more....rural areas.

[JMDurron]

Originally Posted by sreem

It's not run support issue, I'm 7th in runs scored out of 16. The issue is my division. 6 Team division and the records are

St. Louis 40-29
Milwaukee 38-31
Pittsburgh 37-32
Cincinnati 37-33
Chicago 37-33
Missoula 36-33

I'd be in first place if I played in the Western Division.

I think this is an argument for holding onto your bullets until next year when your prospects might be ready AND you should get your top 2 starters back. Try your luck with the best FAs available and/or some of your AAA dreck and see if half of the rest of your division collapses.