McLouth or Wang? Keeper decision.

[duckmonkey]

Last year, I inherited a dead (bad) team in a very competitive 12-team roto Keeper league. I actually made it into a decent team with a lot of strategy by year-end and finished 4th.

It's time to pick my 8 keepers for this year and I'm stuck on the final player to keep.

I have decided to keep Granderson, Atkins, Uggla, R. Martin, Beckett, Billingsley and F. Rodriguez for sure. My 8th and final keeper, I can't decide between Wang (lock for 18ish Wins if healthy, plus he's only 29) or Nate McLouth. I had Nate last season in all of my leagues and was rewarded. His steals should still be there this season, but I'm concerned about his HRs after looking over his minor league stats.

If I choose Wang, I have a great rotation of 3 pitchers doing into the draft and I should end up being set on pitching this season. If I choose McLouth, I am doing well on Steals and should end up with a good OF after choosing two more.

Atkins is the one keeper I've already picked that I'm not entirely sold on, but his position eligibility helps.

Even the idea of Sandoval as a keeper crossed my mind, but I wouldn't want to use him anywhere but catcher and Martin is not someone I'd want to let go as a top-3 catcher. I also like Ibanez' numbers, I've had him in many fantasy teams over the years, but he's getting older and I'll just target him in the draft instead of using a keeper spot on an older player.

So...McLouth or Wang? I can't decide...I was leaning towards Wang, but have been debating it in my mind all morning. Or Ibanez? (probably not)

Nelson Cruz has huge potential too, but I should probably target him in the draft, right?

Here's the roster from the end of last year, I get to keep 8:

Garrett Atkins (Col - 1B,3B)
Orlando Cabrera (Oak - SS)
Nelson Cruz (Tex - OF)
Rafael Furcal (LAD - SS)
Jason Giambi (Oak - 1B)
Curtis Granderson (Det - OF)
Carlos Gómez (Min - OF)
Raúl Ibañez (Phi - OF)
Derrek Lee (ChC - 1B)
Russell Martin (LAD - C,3B)
Hideki Matsui (NYY - OF)
Nate McLouth (Pit - OF)
Pablo Sandoval (SF - C,1B,3B)
Luke Scott (Bal - OF)
Willy Taveras (Cin - OF)
Dan Uggla (Fla - 2B)

Josh Beckett (Bos - SP)
Rafael Betancourt (Cle - RP)
Chad Billingsley (LAD - SP,RP)
Ryan Madson (Phi - RP)
Gil Meche (KC - SP)
Mike Mussina (NYY - SP)
Rafael Pérez (Cle - RP)
Francisco Rodríguez (NYM - RP)
Ben Sheets (Mil - SP)
Scot Shields (LAA - RP)
Chien-Ming Wang (NYY - SP)



Thanks. WHIR!

[converge241]

Have to go Mclouth I think

easier to get pitching again post keepers and all especially non strikeout guy like Wang

viewtopic.php?t=370138

[Tenacious D-Store]

McLouth, not even a question for me.

[Texas Flats]

McLouth easy.

[ThatDude]

Yeah. McClouth is the way to go here.

[duckmonkey]

Wow, didn't think it would be this one-sided.

Notice that I did NOT keep D. Lee. I see a lot of threads on here with people keeping him, but he's only half the HR-hitter he was before his wrist injury and it what. 33 now? I had him last year and he was thoroughly frustrating.

So McLouth is the way to go it seems?

Is Wang keeper worthy at all?


Thanks to all for the replies, they've been very helpful in making this decision.

[jmurphy_j]

Garrett Atkins (Col - 1B,3B)
Orlando Cabrera (Oak - SS)
Nelson Cruz (Tex - OF)
Rafael Furcal (LAD - SS)
Jason Giambi (Oak - 1B)
Curtis Granderson (Det - OF)
Carlos Gómez (Min - OF)
Raúl Ibañez (Phi - OF)
Derrek Lee (ChC - 1B)
Russell Martin (LAD - C,3B)
Hideki Matsui (NYY - OF)
Nate McLouth (Pit - OF)
Pablo Sandoval (SF - C,1B,3B)
Luke Scott (Bal - OF)
Willy Taveras (Cin - OF)
Dan Uggla (Fla - 2B)

Josh Beckett (Bos - SP)
Rafael Betancourt (Cle - RP)
Chad Billingsley (LAD - SP,RP)
Ryan Madson (Phi - RP)
Gil Meche (KC - SP)
Mike Mussina (NYY - SP)
Rafael Pérez (Cle - RP)
Francisco Rodríguez (NYM - RP)
Ben Sheets (Mil - SP)
Scot Shields (LAA - RP)
Chien-Ming Wang (NYY - SP)


There's no way I would keep Wang. His lack of K's can be brutal. And there's too much luck involved with wins, so even if he is healthy I don't think you can guarantee any more than 13 or so wins (sure, he might get 17+ wins, but you certainly can't count on it). I barely have Wang in my top 200 overall. You should be able to get much better pitchers than Wang in the draft.

I also think McLouth is a no-brainer. It looks like he's the real deal, and you can't pass up the opportunity to lock him up in a keeper league. McLouth is much more likely to be a "no-brainer" keeper in the years to come than Wang.

If trading is an option still, I would try to package Russell Martin with D. Lee or Ibanez (both of which would be legit keepers) to pick up a better bat........or package Martin with Beckett for a better starting pitcher.....I just hate using a keeper spot (or high draft pick) on a catcher.

[converge241]

I would keep Meche over Wang..I know that might sound crazy but look at Meches numbers past few years consistent..might not get the wins Wang will get but the K's..I like Wang..have him on a dynasty team kept even after missed all that time but just have other pitchers on the same team higher in the heirachy

while Furcal is risky after the back problems in 08 he deserves some keeper consideration too I would say ..actually I might kep Furcal over Atkins for the position but sounds like you already made up mind in that regard..Atkins has been going so late in drafts think you could get him back easily

[duckmonkey]

No trades until after the draft in this league.

I normally would not keep a catcher, but there are really only 4 or so elite catchers and there's a huge drop-off after them...so already having Martin, I'm locking him up.

You can see from the rest if my roster that there aren't many other YOUNG players left to keep anyways, if I'd choose not to keep Martin.

Nelson Cruz would be the best gamble.

I'd likely have to keep an older player like Lee (declining, don't want him anymore), Ibanez...that's about it. Like I said, this team was a disaster when I took it over at the beginning of last year, but still manages to finish 4th somehow. I think they finished 10th/12 teams the year before.

[duckmonkey]

I would keep Meche over Wang..I know that might sound crazy but look at Meches numbers past few years consistent..might not get the wins Wang will get but the K's..I like Wang..have him on a dynasty team kept even after missed all that time but just have other pitchers on the same team higher in the heirachy

while Furcal is risky after the back problems in 08 he deserves some keeper consideration too I would say ..actually I might kep Furcal over Atkins for the position but sounds like you already made up mind in that regard..Atkins has been going so late in drafts think you could get him back easily

Like I said, I"m not sold on Atkins. He does have a problem hitting on the road, but his totals have been consistent.

I'll consider Furcal, but his BACK SURGERY scares me, plus he's getting old and I don't like older players as keepers. Maybe I'll look to target him in the draft for his steal potential.

I looked at Meche actually, but I chose Wang over him...so I can't see keeping him instead of McLouth. That's an easy one for me.

I really think now I'll go with McLouth over Wang as keeper #8, but I'll still look at any other suggestions.