So far, so good with this strategy, and I'm really enjoying the "different" aspect of it. Since my values for guys on offense are very different from the rest, I've found it a bit easier than in the past to do trades to improve my team (I hope), and have found a few decent FA values in this large league.alleyoops wrote:I'm employing the same strategy in a 16-team h2h (draft, not auction). I read about it somewhere, and it intrigued me. This is a slow-draft league, and we're in round 18. Obviously with 16 teams I'm not going to be as strong as the team at the start of the thread. I found it challenging to balance the need to have the best or near-best pitching with the need to have good stats in SB, R, and AVG. We start 11 on offense and 8 pitchers (1C, 2 UT, no CI, no MI, 4 OF).
By round, drafting 4th:
Crawford
Cliff Lee
Jered Weaver
Hanson
N Feliz
Andrus
KRod
BRoberts
Pagan
AJackson
Bailey (hope he's OK)
KSuzuki
Nishioka
Polanco
Cueto
Lowe
DelaRosa
1B will be a challenge, and I'm a little nervous about saves. If Bailey's OK, I'll be fine there, but that's a big if right now. The starting pitching isn't as dominant as I would have hoped. Will be helped if Feliz is a starter. I still need a 4th OF, but one of the good things about this approach is there are still a few useful guys out there.
I've never done a "gimmick" strategy before, but think this will be a lot of fun.
Trades completed so far: DHudson for ABailey (to get an extra SP as I'd drafted Feliz expecting him to start). And just today JPierre and Bumgarner for Pineda and Cueto (pitching has been dominating, but not doing quite as well as I hoped in SB, R, and AVG). I hope Pierre soon remembers how to SUCCESSFULLY steal a base, and Bumgarner soon remembers how to win. Pretty happy with the trade, though, as I think it's good for the strategy I'm employing, and a potentially a classic sell high/buy low.
Decent FA adds: Damon, AEscobar, MIzturis, Melancon. Melancon was the only one with a sizable FA bid.
Currently in 2nd place (out of 16) at 21-5-4, 1.5 games back. Top 6 go to playoffs, top 2 get byes. I've been very lucky on the pitching side (Pineda, Lowe, Weaver, no busts), but not so on offense (Crawford, Pagan, Gomez, Jackson). Only significant injury has been Pagan, unless you count Bailey, who I knew about when drafted in round 11.
I know it's early, but at this point I'm thinking this is an effective strategy, and I'm really enjoying the differences between this league (h2h) and my other 5x5 roto leagues.
Curious how your friend's team is doing in his league, bahamamike? I'd guess very well, as most of his guys have performed as expected or better, and not a lot of injury issues.