H2H categories with unique setup and strategy

Mvand  5/9/2013 3:03 PM

I'm in a 12 team H2H categories league with 10 hitting categories (R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, SB, BB, K, AVG) and 6 pitching categories (W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP). The hitting roster positions are pretty standard (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF, UTIL, UTIL) while the pitching roster positions aren't (SP, SP, SP, SP, RP, P, P)

Obviously, hitting categories are more important and I drafted that way. I've decided to go even further and ditch starting pitching altogether. I've sold Matt Moore and RA Dickey and I'm trying to move Jordan Zimmerman, Wade Miley and Kevin Slowey now. My strategy is as follows:

- 3 closers (at RP and the 2 P spots)

- 4 SP-eligible relievers at the SP spots (already started that process by picking up Drew Smyly and Brett Cecil)

My reasoning is:

- I'm definitely punting Ks and most likely punting Ws most weeks but I think this strategy optimizes my chances to win the other 4 categories (L, SV, ERA, WHIP).

- There is only a 7 IP minimum and I like my chances for 7 closers/relievers to reach that over a week.

I'm already too far in to go back now but I'm curious what others think of this strategy? I'm the only one doing it so I think it might give me a distinct advantage.

12 Teams | [10 Active = H HR RBI SB R BB 2B 3B K BA] |  [6 Active = W SV ERA WHIP SO L]

	Own	Round	Rank	Value	PosV	ValueC	Name	Injury	Team	Pos	g	News	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	BA	HR	SB	2B	3B	HV	HRV	RBIV	SBV	RV	BBV	2BV	3BV	KV	BAV
		1	5	1.05	0.00		Votto, Joey		CIN	1B	117		412	81	133	73	87	89	0.322	19	4	38	1	0.71	0.61	1.01	-0.69	1.65	3.40	2.58	-0.83	-0.28	2.36
		1	7	0.97	0.00		Gordon, Alex		KC	OF	128		520	84	156	64	60	113	0.300	15	12	40	5	2.04	0.02	0.39	0.09	1.95	1.35	2.94	0.71	-1.24	1.42
		2	13	0.64	0.00		Zobrist, Ben		TB	2B/SS/OF	124		455	74	124	67	69	85	0.273	16	13	34	5	0.25	0.13	0.57	0.26	1.09	2.01	1.83	0.85	-0.15	-0.44
		2	18	0.61	0.00		Aoki, Norichika		MIL	OF	117		497	76	144	44	39	43	0.290	9	26	37	1	1.37	-0.91	-0.98	1.64	1.22	-0.18	2.42	-0.67	1.52	0.68
		2	20	0.59	0.00		Harper, Bryce		WAS	OF	123		464	74	130	75	54	103	0.280	26	14	25	5	0.56	1.58	1.18	0.29	1.09	0.91	0.08	1.11	-0.86	0.00
		2	24	0.50	0.00		Markakis, Nick		BAL	OF	123		481	72	143	66	47	57	0.297	13	4	30	2	1.30	-0.33	0.51	-0.71	0.90	0.40	1.15	-0.31	0.98	1.12
		3	29	0.46	0.00		Beltre, Adrian		TEX	3B	115		444	66	133	93	28	53	0.300	26	1	25	1	0.75	1.58	2.33	-1.10	0.40	-0.99	0.20	-0.89	1.13	1.21
		3	32	0.44	0.00		Carpenter, Matt		STL	1B/3B/OF	119		477	75	137	54	55	93	0.288	10	2	35	5	0.98	-0.71	-0.28	-0.91	1.16	1.02	2.06	1.01	-0.45	0.52
		5	57	0.13	0.00		Hill, Aaron		ARI	2B	102		404	57	117	62	32	55	0.289	16	10	27	3	-0.18	0.15	0.29	-0.11	-0.31	-0.72	0.53	0.12	1.05	0.50
		6	61	0.10	0.00		Craig, Allen		STL	1B/OF	106		407	58	122	77	32	77	0.299	19	3	29	0	0.10	0.60	1.25	-0.84	-0.27	-0.75	0.94	-1.23	0.19	1.06
		6	64	0.09	0.00		Cabrera, Melky		TOR	OF	112		457	67	132	52	32	66	0.288	9	10	22	6	0.66	-0.96	-0.43	-0.11	0.53	-0.73	-0.48	1.31	0.61	0.50
		8	92	-0.14	0.00		Konerko, Paul		CHW	1B	117		412	61	117	62	47	63	0.285	20	1	17	0	-0.14	0.75	0.28	-1.09	0.00	0.39	-1.36	-1.23	0.72	0.28
		8	93	-0.14	0.00		Martinez, Victor		DET	C	111		409	50	120	65	33	38	0.292	11	0	24	0	-0.02	-0.54	0.48	-1.12	-0.89	-0.63	-0.06	-1.03	1.73	0.67
		10	120	-0.41	0.00		Cabrera, Everth		SD	2B/SS	115		471	59	115	27	51	118	0.245	2	37	21	6	-0.25	-1.86	-2.10	2.78	-0.17	0.67	-0.65	1.15	-1.45	-2.26
	Own	Round	Rank	Value	PosV	ValueC	Name	Injury	Team	Pos	g	News	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	BA	HR	SB	2B	3B	HV	HRV	RBIV	SBV	RV	BBV	2BV	3BV	KV	BAV
				4.90	0.00	0.00	Avg Stats/Total Values				1628		6,311	955	1,823	881	665	1,053	0.289	213	138	404	40	8.14	0.12	4.51	-1.63	8.36	6.15	12.17	0.06	3.48	7.63
				3.97	0.00	0.00	Avg Stats/Total Values (active)				1167		4,537	690	1,309	636	484	786	0.288	153	121	294	30	6.18	0.25	3.72	1.18	6.61	5.06	9.79	0.48	1.18	5.22

mbuser   5/9/2013 4:09 PM

Makes all kinds of sense, particularly if you are the only one doing it. Those starting pitching spots do complicate it, but I would consider leaving one or two blank. Your SV are coming from RP/P and there's probably more added value in the extra bat (depending on who is available) than someone like Tommy Hunter giving you a few innings here and there. I can't imagine five pitchers won't get you to the 7 IP limit every week, and you aren't hurting your chances to win SV, ERA, WHIP by shorting your staff. I guess what it comes down to is best bats on the wire.

Constantine9  5/10/2013 9:58 PM

Agree with the master Matt. This is actually a setup where I think the overinflated value of non-closing relief pitchers makes sense. With what you're doing, I don't see Wade Miley and Brett Cecil being valuable unless you could trade them, even for an RP who had good ratios and would get the occasional save. Unless they have outstanding ratios, what good are SPs with your strategy anyway?

Constantine9  5/10/2013 10:03 PM

The three Sps that you're trying to ditch (especially Zimmermann), I'd look for one of the following in return, even if you have to give 2 of the pitchers: another closer, a 1B with power, or an OF with power.