Should I give up

[ricky151]

I participated in my first al only auction draft and well I drafted what i think is a garbage team. I have no closers and i drafted drew smyly who will be out for at least 2 months.
anyhow this is my lineup and roster going in to a standard 10 team 5x5 roto league.

C Gattis, Evan (C,U)
1B Davis, Chris (1B,UI,U)
2B Altuve, Jose (2B,UI,U)
SS Semien, Marcus (SS,UI,U)
3b josh donaldson
UI Gurriel, Yulieski (3B,UI,U)
U Smith, Seth (U,OF)
OF Bradley Jr., Jackie (U,OF)
of kole calhoun
of brett gardner
OF Joyce, Matt (U,OF)


P Casilla, Santiago (P)
P Darvish, Yu (P) TEX
P Dull, Ryan (P) OAK
P Gausman, Kevin (P)
P Harris, Will (P)
P Manaea, Sean (P)
P Shields, James (P)
P Shoemaker, Matt (P)


bench billy burns.. who i will drop for h.kim or rex grossman
yoan moncada
colby rasmus
eddie rosario
drew smyly

I do not like my chances with this team and maybe i should save my time and just forget about this league?

[2014olympicgold]

Baseballs a long season, and injuries to top players (especially in 1yr leagues) can sink teams. Don't give up in baseball.

[ricky151]

thanks how do i win with this team???

[2014olympicgold]

Focus on batting, optimizing players played, throw Saves/Holds out the window unless you can quickly pick up promoted closers, find starting pitchers with RP designation and use them on your roster if you don’t have any closers. This allows you to get more Ks and wins from a spot that’s usually taken up by guys getting 1-2ks a night.

Steam stream stream pitchers. You should get a couple of free bench spots with Smyly on the DL and Moncada going down to AAA (NA slot hopefully). Use those as your stream options. And I personally would drop Gardner, he’s bottom of the order now in NYY. He’s not going to help you much.

[GSD]

Focus on batting, optimizing players played, throw Saves/Holds out the window unless you can quickly pick up promoted closers, find starting pitchers with RP designation and use them on your roster if you don’t have any closers. This allows you to get more Ks and wins from a spot that’s usually taken up by guys getting 1-2ks a night.

Steam stream stream pitchers. You should get a couple of free bench spots with Smyly on the DL and Moncada going down to AAA (NA slot hopefully). Use those as your stream options. And I personally would drop Gardner, he’s bottom of the order now in NYY. He’s not going to help you much.

I would add to the above, watch closer situations closely, Oh had a bad outing as did Melancon. Move out some of the weak starters and see if their are good relievers that could become closers or that will help you with era and whip. If no one in your draft went this route there may be a lot of good pitchers out there that can help you. Look to make some two for ones with your batters. Have all or most of your bench spots at pitch.

Finally where you are weakest the draft is deepest. If you cannot trade for a good third baseman ( see a hurt beltre which may be gotten for cheap) it is very deep. Franco? Same at outfield ( Broxton, Santana)and middle Inf (Ceasar Hernandez?)

Good luck

[ricky151]

Ok so all back up closers were drafted. Aside from maybe xavier cedeno. I decided to stream starters. I dropped sheilds and billy burns . I picked up griffin and gonzalez. I like their match ups. I don't think I can win with this strategy but I will try.

[GSD]

If all the potential closers were drafted, it is only a 10 team league so there have got to be good starter streaming options. On the pitch side focus on k's and wins.

[ricky151]

True. But it being al only there are less sexy options, but if i can win wins and K's and not completely fail whip I might fair well