Streaming Offense Strategy???

[rayfan4life]

ESPN Re-Draft H2H 5X5 10 team league. Standard lineup, 5 OFs

We have a back-to-back champion in our league. Last year he made over 1,000 transactions. At first, that seemed insane to me. However, looked a little deper into it, here's what I found:

Loads up on core offensive starters - makes sure he gets all-around Kemp types.

Drafts no SPs - all CPs. Has 7 o 8 of them.

Streams SPs.

Streams CI, MI, 5th OF, and bench offense.

Basically, rotates in and out of his lineup 5-7 players dialy based upon favorable hitting matchups and games that day. Over the course of a season, the gains he makes in 4 accumulation stats (HR, RBI, R, SB) makes up for whatever he may lose in BA.

I think I'm going to try and mirror this strategy, with a twist. I'm going to draft 2-3 stud SPs. The two categories he go crushed in on pitching side were ERA and WHIP. If I could land Lince, Halladay etc., plus Nolasco, Anderson, or Hamels later would help offset the increases in ERA and WHIP from streaming.

Here's what I plan on doing:

First 7 picks, 2 stud SPs, 5 offensive stars
Picks 8-9 picks, either a stud SP and offense, or 2 offense
Picks 10-17, alternating closers and offense
Picks 18-24, offensive players from teams playing at least first two games of the week (ANA, ARZ, COL, HOU, MIL, MIN, OAK, SEA, SD, SF)
Pick 25 - First streaming starter. Good choice is Correia facing ARZ second day of week.

So, any thoughts?

[rayfan4life]

Bump - please tell me what you guys think. Is this crazy, stupid, or smart?

[philaphan]

The way I see it is there is no 100% correct strategy. That strategy seems to be efficient. The leagues I am in all have a max cap on transactions (60 moves max).

So to me there is no 100% correct answer but if you have studied this stratgey and feel it can work for your team than I would say go with it.

Sorry if this isn't the answer your looking for but I really feel that there is no 100% right or wrong answer.

Thanks for the help with mine!

[GreenMtn!]

I think you'd be at a disadvantage if you take starting pitchers with your first 2 picks. I would either mirror his strategy exactly or forget streaming at all.

[sigriffey]

I am not the best person to ask because I am somewhat philosophically opposed to these sort of strategies. That said, I am a firm believer that if the rules are what they are, you gotta do whatever you can to win. So given the circumstances, I think you could have a solid strategy on your hands. Just make sure you grab some power because it is hard to stream consistent power hitters, as well as reliable K's.

[John Bonzo]

The problem with mirroring his strategy is that you will be competing with him for the players to stream each day, which will limit the effectiveness for both of you (probably allowing for someone else in the league to win). I would do a traditional balanced strategy, except for your bench spots. I would use them to try to block the most effective players that the other manager would be trying to stream. Basically, stream your bench to reduce the pool that the other manager has to choose to stream from, without you actually playing the people you pick up.

How many bench spots do you have?

[rayfan4life]

The problem with mirroring his strategy is that you will be competing with him for the players to stream each day, which will limit the effectiveness for both of you (probably allowing for someone else in the league to win). I would do a traditional balanced strategy, except for your bench spots. I would use them to try to block the most effective players that the other manager would be trying to stream. Basically, stream your bench to reduce the pool that the other manager has to choose to stream from, without you actually playing the people you pick up.

How many bench spots do you have?

Really, it will only be two of us competing for streaming pitchers. I will have an advantage over him in two ways. Number 1, he doesn't pay for saves, and while I will not pay a premium, I will at least start to fill in with second-tier closers that aren't going to destroy my WHIP and ERA (think guys like Soriano and Wagner - good second and third tier options). Second, I will have two front-line starters, including either Lincecum or Halladay. My goal is to get one of them within the first 2 rounds, depending on my draft slot. I've decided to go with 2 SPs instead of 3, which will allow me to make offensive selections with 7 of my first 9 picks. There are always plenty of streaming options, there have been the last two years that I've played in this league.

Regarding bench spots, I have 3. Total roster spots is 25, bench can be hitters or pitchers. So, on the days there is a full slate of games, mos of my main starters will be playing, and I will be able to bench my less effective closers and stream 3 or 4 SPs (since there is a full slate of games, my options should increase for qualirty pitching matchups). On the travel days where there are only 4 or 5 games, I take advantage of my roster flexibility and use my 3 bench spots, my MI spot, my CI spot, my 5th OF spot and my utility spot t pick up guys that are A. playing that day, and B. have good hitting splits.

Since every other team is drafting 23-25 "rostered" players that they aren't looking to move in and out of the line-up, even if this other owner and I are competing for the same streaming offesnsive and defensive players, there should be more than enough to go around. And I should have the edge on him in pitching if I draft correctly.

I see a roster w/ McCann, A-Gon, Kinsler/Phillips, Tulo, Reynolds, Sizemore, B.J. Upton, Car-Gon, and maybe McClouth. SPs of Lincecum and maybe Nolasco / Hamels, 5 decent closers, and roster flexibility for the other 9 positions.

Whaddya think?