Centerfield Suggestions that aren't Mike Trout

enuttage · 03-16-2019, 09:14 AM

I know it seems silly, but I like the idea of having a unique set of fellas on my team. Trout is the easy way out. And I'm not a huge fan of LIVE cards, since there is all this history I can play with.

I've got a Gary Maddox/Shane Victorino thing going in CF right now, and it's one of two weak points I have. Since reaching Diamond, Maddox's production has dropped like a rock.

I have about 25K to spend (less if possible - I need one good reliever, too) and would prefer someone who isn't a horrible fielder (now I'm getting picky).

Looking at 96 Mantle ('61), a Griffey Jr. card (if one ever shows up), but wondering about what's out there that I don't know about. César Cedeño keeps popping up. I'm an Astros fan and remember him playing, but I'm not sure if he can hang.

Any suggestions are very welcome.

Orcin · 03-16-2019, 09:36 AM

I've had good luck with 96 Duke Snider. You could use him in Perfect leagues too if you keep Maddox for a platoon and late-inning defensive replacement. The 92 Griffey Jr. is good too with more speed and better defense, but lacks the power of Snider.

I had the 96 Mays for a long time and it is a good balanced card that will give you 2-3 WAR every year. I sold him and bought Snider only because my lineup needed more lefties.

The cheap alternative is the 75 Ashburn in a platoon with your Maddox. Great defense and speed between the two but not much pop.

pgjocki · 03-16-2019, 09:37 AM

I don't remember if Matty Alou has CF rating but he's a high average and obs guy.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

enuttage · 03-16-2019, 09:58 AM

Thanks, y'all.

Orcin, I looked at that Mays card, but actually you were the one that convinced me to hold off due to his underperformance for your team not long ago. Hehe.

I am chock full o' lefties. I might be TOO lefty-heavy, honestly.

Minus Victorino (platoon with Maddox) and Kennedy (platoon with Javy Lopez, which may win the job over him soon), those guys are FT for both lineups.

I plan to replace Klein with Hank Aaron (87) sometime soon when I have the funds, but he is producing just fine now despite fairly dismal defense.

I will check out Alou and Snider, but leaning toward Junior, as he was always a personal fav of mine as a kid/teen.

Still open to other suggestions. I love this community.

atabakin · 03-16-2019, 10:07 AM

97 Lynn has been solid for me. But he's another lefty and really needs to be platooned.

mcdog512 · 03-16-2019, 10:10 AM

I think Cesar Cedeno's diamond card looks pretty solid.

Dunzie · 03-16-2019, 10:13 AM

I run Trout on one of my Perfect League teams and find he is very hit or miss. He usually finishes with a decent WAR somehow, but more because of a plethora of walks than it is actual run creation. He is a balanced player who doesn't wow you with his BA that's for sure.

My other two teams I am running Jacoby Ellsbury 90 and for a reasonably priced alternative you could do worse. He actually competes with my Trout for WAR - again a balanced guy who may not win triple crowns but doesn't do anything poorly either.

Keep in mind this is a TOUGH Perfect league too (Orcin's cap league)... so pitching and competition are tight. Trout is better, but not infinitely. In most years their actual offensive numbers are fairly comparable.

Dunzie · 03-16-2019, 10:17 AM

I have just started running the 95 Cesar Cedeno on one of my teams full time in LF and off to a rocky start at the plate - hitting .183 with 1 dinger in 90 plate appearances. Small sample so don't judge much by that. But despite the great wheels his defense is sub par in center (58 max). Better in left or right if you train him up.

Orcin · 03-16-2019, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enuttage

Orcin, I looked at that Mays card, but actually you were the one that convinced me to hold off due to his underperformance for your team not long ago. Hehe.

I now regret having sold Mays. I wish there were a feature to turn off the AH so I can't rage-sell cards that are off to a slow start. I guess the feature is called self-control but there must be a bug in my brain that prevents this feature from working properly.

mess · 03-18-2019, 08:03 AM

Devon White has won me 5 or so Great Gloves in a row.

absurddoctor · 03-18-2019, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunzie

I run Trout on one of my Perfect League teams and find he is very hit or miss. He usually finishes with a decent WAR somehow, but more because of a plethora of walks than it is actual run creation.

I knew his walk rate was good, but I don't think I realized just how good until I was looking at league leaders in walks for the first time ever in PT this season. In my perfect league, he was leading with 96 walks at the time, while second place had 47.

Westheim · 03-18-2019, 08:47 AM

Why would you want anything less than the best?

zrog2000 · 03-18-2019, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunzie

I run Trout on one of my Perfect League teams and find he is very hit or miss. He usually finishes with a decent WAR somehow, but more because of a plethora of walks than it is actual run creation. He is a balanced player who doesn't wow you with his BA that's for sure.

Walks have a big effect in run creation. That's why OBP is about 10 times more important than BA.

chazzycat · 03-18-2019, 12:35 PM

It comes down to park factors IMO. Trout is a beast with high HR/low AVG modifiers which play to his offensive strengths (power & walks). He just won MVP for me in diamond with that park setup. But his contact rating is not really elite for the higher levels, so he is not quite as dominant if you reverse the factors. I think only if your park is set to extremely favor AVG/GAP over HR would you want to consider other CF. Otherwise he is indisputably the best.

MistaD72 · 03-18-2019, 12:46 PM

I've heard good things about Ty Cobb

chazzycat · 03-18-2019, 01:16 PM

Cobb's bat & legs are ridiculously good, like best in the game. But he is a poor defender (and his cards are super expensive). I think if I somehow managed to afford that card he would play a corner OF spot or maybe even DH.

stl jason · 03-18-2019, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgjocki

I don't remember if Matty Alou has CF rating but he's a high average and obs guy.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

another plug here for Alou (only a 64 rated card but plays well above that)... had him as my CF on my pack-only team for 10 seasons until I pulled, ironically enough for the thread, Mike Trout

see this post for Alou's career batting for my squad:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...&postcount=116

humboldt1498 · 03-18-2019, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chazzycat

Cobb's bat & legs are ridiculously good, like best in the game. But he is a poor defender (and his cards are super expensive). I think if I somehow managed to afford that card he would play a corner OF spot or maybe even DH.

The 96 Ty Cobb card completely transformed my offense. He was putting up 6+ WAR a season in CF and now 7+ WAR a season in LF. Guy hits .300 with .400 OBP and 100+ steals every year in perfect. Great card if you dont mind the defensive shortcomings. Even better if you can stick him in a corner OF spot.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

Dunzie · 03-18-2019, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrog2000

Walks have a big effect in run creation. That's why OBP is about 10 times more important than BA.

No I don't disagree and think I may have worded that wrong... what I mean is his actual numbers outside of walks (BA, HR, RBI, Runs, Steals) are not usually all that stellar.

03-16-2019, 09:14 AM	#1
enuttage Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hill Country Posts: 2,409	Centerfield suggestions that aren't Mike Trout I know it seems silly, but I like the idea of having a unique set of fellas on my team. Trout is the easy way out. And I'm not a huge fan of LIVE cards, since there is all this history I can play with. I've got a Gary Maddox/Shane Victorino thing going in CF right now, and it's one of two weak points I have. Since reaching Diamond, Maddox's production has dropped like a rock. I have about 25K to spend (less if possible - I need one good reliever, too) and would prefer someone who isn't a horrible fielder (now I'm getting picky). Looking at 96 Mantle ('61), a Griffey Jr. card (if one ever shows up), but wondering about what's out there that I don't know about. César Cedeño keeps popping up. I'm an Astros fan and remember him playing, but I'm not sure if he can hang. Any suggestions are very welcome. __________________ The former GM of the WHBL Managua Four Roses "When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self." Last edited by enuttage; 03-16-2019 at 09:19 AM.

03-16-2019, 09:37 AM	#3
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,483	I don't remember if Matty Alou has CF rating but he's a high average and obs guy. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

03-16-2019, 09:58 AM	#4
enuttage Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hill Country Posts: 2,409	Thanks, y'all. Orcin, I looked at that Mays card, but actually you were the one that convinced me to hold off due to his underperformance for your team not long ago. Hehe. I am chock full o' lefties. I might be TOO lefty-heavy, honestly. Minus Victorino (platoon with Maddox) and Kennedy (platoon with Javy Lopez, which may win the job over him soon), those guys are FT for both lineups. I plan to replace Klein with Hank Aaron (87) sometime soon when I have the funds, but he is producing just fine now despite fairly dismal defense. I will check out Alou and Snider, but leaning toward Junior, as he was always a personal fav of mine as a kid/teen. Still open to other suggestions. I love this community. Attached Images __________________ The former GM of the WHBL Managua Four Roses "When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self." Last edited by enuttage; 03-16-2019 at 10:31 AM.

03-18-2019, 08:03 AM	#10
mess Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 202	Devon White has won me 5 or so Great Gloves in a row. __________________

03-18-2019, 08:47 AM	#12
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 11,903	Why would you want anything less than the best? __________________ Portland Raccoons, 83 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.

03-16-2019, 09:36 AM	#2
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,798	I've had good luck with 96 Duke Snider. You could use him in Perfect leagues too if you keep Maddox for a platoon and late-inning defensive replacement. The 92 Griffey Jr. is good too with more speed and better defense, but lacks the power of Snider. I had the 96 Mays for a long time and it is a good balanced card that will give you 2-3 WAR every year. I sold him and bought Snider only because my lineup needed more lefties. The cheap alternative is the 75 Ashburn in a platoon with your Maddox. Great defense and speed between the two but not much pop.

03-16-2019, 10:07 AM	#5
atabakin All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 762	97 Lynn has been solid for me. But he's another lefty and really needs to be platooned.

03-16-2019, 10:10 AM	#6
mcdog512 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Pack Robert Gibson; November 9, 1935 – October 2, 2020 Posts: 2,339	I think Cesar Cedeno's diamond card looks pretty solid.

03-16-2019, 10:13 AM	#7
Dunzie All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Guelph, ON, CAN Posts: 588	I run Trout on one of my Perfect League teams and find he is very hit or miss. He usually finishes with a decent WAR somehow, but more because of a plethora of walks than it is actual run creation. He is a balanced player who doesn't wow you with his BA that's for sure. My other two teams I am running Jacoby Ellsbury 90 and for a reasonably priced alternative you could do worse. He actually competes with my Trout for WAR - again a balanced guy who may not win triple crowns but doesn't do anything poorly either. Keep in mind this is a TOUGH Perfect league too (Orcin's cap league)... so pitching and competition are tight. Trout is better, but not infinitely. In most years their actual offensive numbers are fairly comparable.

03-16-2019, 10:17 AM	#8
Dunzie All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Guelph, ON, CAN Posts: 588	I have just started running the 95 Cesar Cedeno on one of my teams full time in LF and off to a rocky start at the plate - hitting .183 with 1 dinger in 90 plate appearances. Small sample so don't judge much by that. But despite the great wheels his defense is sub par in center (58 max). Better in left or right if you train him up.

03-18-2019, 12:35 PM	#14
chazzycat All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,685	It comes down to park factors IMO. Trout is a beast with high HR/low AVG modifiers which play to his offensive strengths (power & walks). He just won MVP for me in diamond with that park setup. But his contact rating is not really elite for the higher levels, so he is not quite as dominant if you reverse the factors. I think only if your park is set to extremely favor AVG/GAP over HR would you want to consider other CF. Otherwise he is indisputably the best.

03-18-2019, 12:46 PM	#15
MistaD72 Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 13	I've heard good things about Ty Cobb

03-18-2019, 01:16 PM	#16
chazzycat All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,685	Cobb's bat & legs are ridiculously good, like best in the game. But he is a poor defender (and his cards are super expensive). I think if I somehow managed to afford that card he would play a corner OF spot or maybe even DH.