My team, where should I focus on upgrades?

[acclaim99]

EDITED 6/30 - ADDED NEW PACK PULLS (added Gibson, Kershaw, and Moore to SP - all pack pulls)
Changed it around a bit since last time.

SP:
Bob Gibson 95
Clayton Kershaw 95
Wilcy Moore 93
Walker Buehler 92
Roy Halladay 89


RP
CL Ardolis Chapman 97
Dellin Betanes 89
Keone Kela 80
Charlie Morton 89
Kerry Wood 83
David Price 86
James Paxton 86

Lineup - Starter/Backup

C: Mike Piazza 88 / JT Realmuto 83
1B: Pete Alonso 88 / JT Realmuto 83
2B: Gleyber Torres 91 / Trevor Story 92
3B: Vladamir Guerrero Jr 98 / Freddie Lindstrom 85
SS: Carlos Correra 91 / Trevor Story 92
LF: Jose Altuve 88 / Dale Murphy 82
CF: Lenny Dykstra 91 / Dale Murphy 82
RF: Bryce Harper 96 / Dale Murphy 82
DH: J.D. Martinez 83 / Dale Murphy 82

Gold reserves: Elroy Jimenez LF, Charlie Morton SP, Kerry Wood SP, Rhys Hoskins 1B, Trevor Bauer SP, Stan Musial RF

I think I need another out fielder, the only person I can send down would be Lindstrom, who has been decent (21.1 war, .300+ career avg). I can have Story back up 3b. Should I do that and bring up either Elroy or Musial?

Should I even keep Murphy? Who is another good back up OF if not,

For pitching, Nola's overall has taken a beating. Last season he went 6-13 with a 6.35era. Now that I look at it, he's been pretty bad for me, 49-55 with a 5.09 era. I can either try out Charlie Morton or Ryu?

Now that I look at it, my staff career numbers are pretty bad.
Buehler 94-70, 4.28
Roy 111-82, 3.89
Paxton 153-131 3.87
Bauer 53-52 5.16

Should I use Morton, Ryu, or Robertson in the pen and take out someone like Hader or Williamson? I have a bunch of silvers and stuff I could sell, but only have 900pp right now.

[OMGPuppies]

Originally Posted by acclaim99

Changed it around a bit since last time.

SP:
James Paxton 92
Walker Buehler 92
Roy Halladay 89
Trevor Bauer 80
Aaron Nola 77

RP
CL Ardolis Chapman 97
Dellin Betanes 89
Keone Kela 80
Edwin Diaz 80
Justin Anderson 80
Scott Williamson 76
Josh Hader 73

Lineup - Starter/Backup

C: Mike Piazza 88 / JT Realmuto 83
1B: Pete Alonso 88 / JT Realmuto 83
2B: Gleyber Torres 91 / Trevor Story 92
3B: Vladamir Guerrero Jr 98 / Freddie Lindstrom 85
SS: Carlos Correra 91 / Trevor Story 92
LF: Jose Altuve 88 / Dale Murphy 82
CF: Lenny Dykstra 91 / Dale Murphy 82
RF: Bryce Harper 96 / Dale Murphy 82
DH: J.D. Martinez 83 / Dale Murphy 82

Gold reserves: Elroy Jimenez LF, Charlie Morton SP, Hyun Jin Ryu SP, Rhys Hoskins 1B, David Robertson CL, Stan Musial RF

I think I need another out fielder, the only person I can send down would be Lindstrom, who has been decent (21.1 war, .300+ career avg). I can have Story back up 3b. Should I do that and bring up either Elroy or Musial?

Should I even keep Murphy? Who is another good back up OF if not,

For pitching, Nola's overall has taken a beating. Last season he went 6-13 with a 6.35era. Now that I look at it, he's been pretty bad for me, 49-55 with a 5.09 era. I can either try out Charlie Morton or Ryu?

Now that I look at it, my staff career numbers are pretty bad.
Buehler 94-70, 4.28
Roy 111-82, 3.89
Paxton 153-131 3.87
Bauer 53-52 5.16

Should I use Morton, Ryu, or Robertson in the pen and take out someone like Hader or Williamson? I have a bunch of silvers and stuff I could sell, but only have 900pp right now.

Defense seems really bad.

[Findest2001]

Why is Altuve in LF?

[Matt Arnold]

Don't know all the ratings off-hand, but would agree that defense is going to hurt. I would probably suggest dumping JDM, moving Vlad to DH, and finding a better defensive option. Even just someone like Andrelton Simmons to slot in at SS, and move Correa to 3B would go a long way to help that roster.

[atabakin]

Originally Posted by Findest2001

Why is Altuve in LF?

He'll train up to about a 70 there.

[acclaim99]

Originally Posted by Findest2001

Why is Altuve in LF?

Because, at the time, I didn't want JD Martinez's bad defense in the OF. Someone recommended putting Altuve in the outfield. Seems to have worked out, his LF rating is 71, his 2b rating is 55.

Martinez's OF ratings are like 18, and 8.

It's early, we have 9 team errors, and 5 are from Gleyber and Vlad Jr combined.

[acclaim99]

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

Don't know all the ratings off-hand, but would agree that defense is going to hurt. I would probably suggest dumping JDM, moving Vlad to DH, and finding a better defensive option. Even just someone like Andrelton Simmons to slot in at SS, and move Correa to 3B would go a long way to help that roster.

You think moving Vlad to DH, Correra to 3b, and Story at SS would work? I just had Simmons a few days ago, and auctioned him off before trying him out too... :/

[chazzycat]

I think you could benefit from consolidating your team more towards a particular strategy. Your players skills are very diverse. Like some are contact, some are power, etc. That means you can't gain any synergy from messing with your ballpark modifiers and collecting one type vs. the other. Experience has taught me that is key to success in this game (check out my thread for evidence of such).

Vlad & Dykstra are your best cards IMO so I would probably rebuild around them as a contact & defense team. That will help your pitchers immensely...as others have noted your defense looks real bad and that in turn, is making your pitchers look bad.

Oh and if you are looking at errors to determine how your defense is doing...don't do that. Errors are such an antiquated stat, and for really good reasons. Chiefly, you can't get an error on a ball out of your range. So having the lowest amount of errors probably means your defense has horrible range. It's not good. ZR is a much better gauge for how your defense is doing.

[Ty Cobb]

Defense should always be your primary focus. Remember Casey Stengel's words of wisdom: "I don't like them fellas who drive in two runs and let in three."

[acclaim99]

Well my all over strategy, just won the world series lol.

New additions:

SP Bob Gibson 95 ovr
SP Wilcy Moore 93 ovr

Got rid of Williamson and Hader from pen, added David Price and David Robertson

Right now lineup is the same.
Gold reserves: Elroy Jimenez, Charlie Morton, Kerry Wood, Rhys Hoskins, Trevor Bauer, Stan Musial

Are any of them worth keeping, or should I sell them to upgrade my lineup?

[bphilb]

Moore is great, but his stamina is something like 42. He should be in middle relief or an opener. If you start him it can get taxing on your bullpen. I have him in middle relief for my Perfect team and he has been really good and helps out a ton when my starters have a bad day.

[acclaim99]

Originally Posted by bphilb

Moore is great, but his stamina is something like 42. He should be in middle relief or an opener. If you start him it can get taxing on your bullpen. I have him in middle relief for my Perfect team and he has been really good and helps out a ton when my starters have a bad day.

I'm keeping an eye on him. Last season I had him for 8 starts, and he only averaged 6 ip per start. In the 8 starts, he was 3-2 with a 2.18 era. Also was 4-1 in the post season.

I do have Charlie Morton, David Price, Kerry Wood, and James Paxton in my bullpen that can go long distances. Worst case, I swap him for one of them. But he has been solid so far.


I'm going to start working on my lineup next.

[acclaim99]

Ok, lets work on the lineup... I'll list what I have gold+, I do have a lot of silvers - too many to list...

C:: Mike Piazza , JT Realmuto
Since I don't have much of a choice right now, they'll both make the team. Realmuto can back up 1B if I don't have one. So, they both make the team.

1B- Pete Alonso, Rhys Hoskins, Goldschmidt
I think Alonsos power rating keeps him in the middle of the order. Haven't used Rhys or Goldy. I can keep them both off the team and use Realmuto as the back up 1b.

2B- Gleyber Torres, Trevor Story
I've had Story for 6 "seasons" and he only has 455 abs. He's been basically a back up, and his batting hasn't been great. Torres has been so-so. Do I keep Story, or sell and find an upgrade and move GT to back whoever up?

3B- Vlad Jr, Lindstrom
Vlad, good with the bat...His 3b rating is 40 tho. Maybe a move to DH? Who should I start then? Lindstrom has a great defense at 3b, or story...

SS- Correa
Don't have any other options... could be Correa, Story, or Torres.

LF- Altuve
Been fine in LF, seeing as i don't have a 4th "star" think he stays.

CF- Dykstra
Amazing defense and have a 6.7 war in his 1st year. He stays.

RF- Harper
Locked in, so can't sell him... would prefer him to be back up, hitting hasn't been all that great.

OF- Elroy Jimenez, Dahl, Dale Murphy, Stan Musial
I'm using Jimenez as my backup for all 3 OF spots. Never used Dahl or Musial, Murphy was just ok.

DH- JD Martinez
OF ratings are 20> so can't play in the field. Averages 25hr/95/.260. A basic DH.. only other options are the backups listed.

So where do I upgrade? Which piece should I move around?

[waittilnextyear]

I'd suggest you focus on becoming less redundant on offense. Meaning that you don't have a whole lot of platoon options, but will have a whole position group that is the same handedness. Try adding a switch hitter or two and giving yourself options to make lefty/righty platoons. Right now your entire infield is right-handed.

[acclaim99]

Originally Posted by waittilnextyear

I'd suggest you focus on becoming less redundant on offense. Meaning that you don't have a whole lot of platoon options, but will have a whole position group that is the same handedness. Try adding a switch hitter or two and giving yourself options to make lefty/righty platoons. Right now your entire infield is right-handed.

My only two lefties are Dykstra and Harper.

Any recommendations? I'd have to sell off some people... I have the extra golds listed and some other pitchers, and a ton of other cards I still have to list in the AH. Don't recommend any crazy 20k players lol

[waittilnextyear]

Originally Posted by acclaim99

My only two lefties are Dykstra and Harper.

Any recommendations? I'd have to sell off some people... I have the extra golds listed and some other pitchers, and a ton of other cards I still have to list in the AH. Don't recommend any crazy 20k players lol

No specific player recommendations. Just a general one about getting some platoon options as you are able. Gives you some versatility and makes you less vulnerable to righty pitching.

[diamond3017]

What level are you at on the pyramid? Gold?

[Goliathus]

Originally Posted by acclaim99

't recommend any crazy 20k players lol

There will eventually be a time where your only upgrades are 20k players and looking at your lineup, I think you will hit that wall relatively soon. Personally, I am in favor of just upgrade to the 20k players right away instead of doing something like "5k....10k....20k" cuz the 5k and 10k players will be gone real soon anyway.