Rate my fantasy team/suggestions?

[dickay]

I drafted Ramirez in our draft, but when it comes down to it Crawford is the better bet.

Ugh...i already said if it were as simple as ramirez or crawford, then craw is the safer bet...but he's already drafted a team. its about who is going to be replaced...and figgins replaced with ramirez is much more of a team upgrade than ibanez replaced with crawford...especially considering his team is OK in SB's already. To be honest, considering his current roster and assuming its a 5x5 league, i'd probably want ibanez over crawford though its close.

[5dodgers5]

Ramirez's Stats minus Figgins' Stats: -7 runs, 20 homers, 55 rbis, -21 steals, .014 batting average
(because crawford only had 443 at-bats last year i'm going to extrapolate out to 600)
Crawford's Stats minus Nady's Stats: 17 runs, -15 homers, -20 rbis, 31 steals, -.032 batting average
Crawford's Stats minus Ibanez's Stats: 8 runs, -13 homers, -33 rbis, 31 steals, -.020 batting average

Crawford wins in runs and steals, which we've already discussed to be my strengths. Ramirez wins out by a lot in homers and RBIs, my lacking areas. Ramirez seems to be the better idea, maybe not the safest bet, but fits my team needs.

[200tang]

You're going to take a 30+ year old Xavier Nady who isn't guaranteed a spot in the Yankees starting lineup who had a career year over one of the best outfielders? Even if you don't need Crawford you can trade him away for someone better than Alexei Ramirez.

[dickay]

You're going to take a 30+ year old Xavier Nady who isn't guaranteed a spot in the Yankees starting lineup who had a career year over one of the best outfielders? Even if you don't need Crawford you can trade him away for someone better than Alexei Ramirez.

its my understanding that Nady isn't a starter on his team. Ibanez is the starter and Nady is his backup although maybe he's lookin at Nady as the starter and Ibanez as the backup??

[dickay]

Ramirez's Stats minus Figgins' Stats: -7 runs, 20 homers, 55 rbis, -21 steals, .014 batting average
(because crawford only had 443 at-bats last year i'm going to extrapolate out to 600)
Crawford's Stats minus Nady's Stats: 17 runs, -15 homers, -20 rbis, 31 steals, -.032 batting average
Crawford's Stats minus Ibanez's Stats: 8 runs, -13 homers, -33 rbis, 31 steals, -.020 batting average

Crawford wins in runs and steals, which we've already discussed to be my strengths. Ramirez wins out by a lot in homers and RBIs, my lacking areas. Ramirez seems to be the better idea, maybe not the safest bet, but fits my team needs.

and if you're extrapolating Craws stats, you should do the same with Ramirez's who didn't have a full season either if i'm not mistaken. There has been nothing but positive comments coming from camp about him and he's likely to be moved up to the middle of the lineup whereas last year I believe he was at the bottom.

[200tang]

Just out of curiosity who is left in the 2B pool? And also is Daniel Murphy left?

[HoustonGM]

LOL, and your concluding that Ramirez IS going to have poor plate discipline and that pitchers are going to be able to adjust to him.

Players with terrible plate discipline like Ramirez rarely ever just magically sprout it over the course of an offseason. It took Jose Reyes three years once he debuted to develop solid plate discipline, and he's the exceptional case. Plate discipline isn't something easily taught.

Whatever...the stats are clear. With all factors reviewed, figgins and his horrific RBI potential has to go. Ramirez replacing Figs gives much much more than Crawford replacing Ibanez.

You're basing "horrific RBI potential" on one injury-shortened season. From 2004-2007, he ranged from 57-62 RBI.

Ugh...i already said if it were as simple as ramirez or crawford, then craw is the safer bet...but he's already drafted a team. its about who is going to be replaced...and figgins replaced with ramirez is much more of a team upgrade than ibanez replaced with crawford...especially considering his team is OK in SB's already. To be honest, considering his current roster and assuming its a 5x5 league, i'd probably want ibanez over crawford though its close.

So I already averaged out Ramirez's and Crawford's projections. Let's do it for Ibanez and Figgins too.

Ibanez first, Figgins second.

AVG: .284/.282
HR: 23/5
R: 82/85
RBI: 99/49
SB: 2/37

And here's Crawford/Ramirez:

AVG: .293/.289
HR: 11/19
R: 79/65
RBI: 65/74
SB: 36/12

So, let's see.

Ibanez + Figgins = .283 AVG, 28 HR, 167 R, 148 RBI, 39 SB
Crawford + Figgins = .287 AVG, 16 HR, 164 R, 114 RBI, 73 SB.
Ramirez + Ibanez = .287 AVG, 42 HR, 147 R, 173 RBI, 14 SB

Holding steady might actually be the best decision. However, if I had a chance to give up Huston Street and a choice between Carl Crawford and Alexei Ramirez, which was the original situation, the only way I wouldn't choose Crawford is if my entire team was full of top-flight speedsters or my outfield was loaded.

Also, I would never want Ibanez over Crawford. Ever.

[200tang]

You're also forgetting that Carl Crawford is the better trade chip of the two if you really decide you don't want Crawford.

[5dodgers5]

Ibanez is starting, Nady is not.

Available in the 2B pool: Placido Polanco, Aki Iwamura, Kelly Johnson, Marco Scutaro, Kaz Matsui.

The other team has stated the Crawford is not available.

And Daniel Murphy is available.

[HoustonGM]

Available in the 2B pool: Placido Polanco, Aki Iwamura, Kelly Johnson, Marco Scutaro, Kaz Matsui.

Pick up Kelly Johnson. His projection is .282, 14 HR, 79 R, 65 RBI, 9 SB, which is basically equivalent to Ramirez, with a little less power...but for free.

[200tang]

I'd pick up Daniel Murphy over Nady personally, he's been talked about as taking over 2B and if he were to log a few days and get 2B eligibility that would skyrocket his value not to mention he's still a fine 4th OF. Batting second behind Jose Reyes should mean he sees a high amount of fastballs and many R/RBI in the Mets lineup.

Also Yahoo came out with an article that I somewhat agree with

http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog...fantasy,149860

Mike Fontenot is probably buried deep in the players left, but hitting in the Cubs lineup at the #5/#2 slot with his great plate discipline will probably yield some nice results. You may want to grab him as a backup.

Pick up Kelly Johnson. His projection is .282, 14 HR, 79 R, 65 RBI, 9 SB, which is basically equivalent to Ramirez, with a little less power...but for free.

another fine choice as well.

[dickay]

Also, I would never want Ibanez over Crawford. Ever.

This is why people lose at fantasy, because they put personal opinion of player value over actual fantasy value. Crawford is a much more valuable MLB player, however just using your "projections"

Ibanez first, Crawford second.

AVG: .284/.293
HR: 23/11
R: 82/79
RBI: 99/79
SB: 2/65

Ibanez now in the NL, on a team surrounded with more talent is likely to go up in his numbers, but even with the projections you provided IMO Ibanez is the better choice. I don't value SB much in fantasy as they can often be found throughout the season, and I definetly wouldn't give them much value with players like Ichiro and Furcal already on my team. That said, I do feel Crawford will produce numbers close to or even slightly better than your projections (except for SB which he hasn't hit 60 in quite a few years), and would take Crawford before Ibanez in a draft in which my team wasn't already set.

Ibanez's fantasy value has been grotesquely undervalued for years. Crawford has been overvalued.

curious...how do you come up with 65SB for Crawford when he's coming off injury and hasn't had over 60 in at least 3 years. ** check that...he's NEVER had over 60??

[200tang]

What about Encarnacion? All this talk about Ibanez over Crawford but Encarnacion isn't anything amazing.

[HoustonGM]

This is why people lose at fantasy, because they put personal opinion of player value over actual fantasy value. Crawford is a much more valuable MLB player...

Crawford is a MUCH more valuable fantasy player. Crawford's ADP is 28 on Mock Draft Central. Ibanez isn't in the top 75. You're greatly undervaluing stolen bases.

Ibanez now in the NL, on a team surrounded with more talent is likely to go up in his numbers

Factor in age, and he's not likely to go up. If anything, he's more likely to go down.

That said, I do feel Crawford will produce numbers close to or even slightly better than your projections (except for SB which he hasn't hit 60 in quite a few years), and would take Crawford before Ibanez in a draft in which my team wasn't already set.

65 was runs. 36 was SB.

[HoustonGM]

What about Encarnacion? All this talk about Ibanez over Crawford but Encarnacion isn't anything amazing.

I like him. He's poised for a breakout soon.