[fifawcs]

This is a little unrelated to betting. However, it is related to baseball and making money. My fantasy team is in the league championship for the MLB 08 Open. I need to win this week to compete with other league winners for the $10,000 grand prize. I've got a good team, but my issue is knowing who to bench or put in for the week since there is so much talent on my team. I'm gonna list my lineup below and I was wondering if you knowledgeable SBR members could help me choose who to put in for the week. Just so you all know, points are calculated based on offensive production only. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lineup:
C Joe Mauer
1B, 3B Kevin Youkilis
2B Chase Utley
SS Michael Young
1B, 3B Aubrey Huff
OF Xavier Nady
OF Ryan Ludwick
OF Manny Ramirez
P Tampa Bay Rays

Bench:
SS Hanley Ramirez
OF Carlos Quentin
2B, OF B.J. Upton
1B Jason Giambi
P Chicago White Sox
P Milwaukee Brewers

[fifawcs]

and the pitching is based on the pitching statistics of the entire team for the week.

[VegasDave]

Zero excuse for Young in over Hanley... Quentin should be in there too, but Hanley HAS to be...

[fifawcs]

Michael Young is facing the Yankees and the Orioles this week. He has absolutely killed those two teams this year. He is also playing all 7 days this week. Hanley is only playing 6 days and is away against the Phillies and the Mets, two teams he has struggled against.

Quentin is the least hot of my outfielders. Ludwick has been on an absolute tear. Manny has been dominating since he became a Dodger. And Nady has been great as a Yankee and dominates Angel pitching. Nady has also found a niche as a fantasy player behind Abreu and Arod. He has a lot of RBI opportunities.

[ryanXL977]

dude, i dont care what young has done vs the yaNKS AND orioles, you are going to bench the best player in baseball bc young has hit in the past vs new york


not wise, and i am a huge rangers fan

[fifawcs]

Young is also playing 7 games this week, while Hanley is only playing 6. Both players have been hitting about the same recently. So I am going with the past history to determine who will play.

Michael Young Versus:
Yankees .545
Orioles in camden yards .444

Hanley versus:
Mets in Shea .083
Phils in Citizen's Bank .417

So Hanley is good in citizen's bank. My opponent this week has Ryan Theriot at the Shortstop position. So I think either of these guys is good.

Do I go with the guy who is playing 6 games and is away or the guy playing 7 games and hits his opposition well?

[fifawcs]

I have until 6 to decide.

[ICE-BLOOD]

i always like getting the extra game

[fifawcs]

Alright Ryan, you talked me out of it. I subbed Hanley for Michael Young. If Young has a huge week and Hanley does nothing, it's ur ass.

[ryanXL977]

hanley is the best player in baseball
young doesnt really homer or steal bases. you are basically playing him based on past numbers
has he ever faced joba?

[fifawcs]

He was 1-3 against Joba. What ultimately changed my mind was thinking about how Young is playing through a broken finger.

[BadBeatBodog]

What are the cats?

[Kingctb27]

Good thread. I have 4 pay leagues right now and am in 1st, 2nd, 2nd and 1st, for what it's worth.

That said, no way I bench my studs in BJ Upton and Hanley. Bench Young and Ludwick.

And if it was my team I would put in Q over Nady as well, although it might be hard after that huge game yesterday.

Gotta go with the more talented players, IMO.

[fifawcs]

Since my team has so much talent, I am basically going with whoever is hot. Although Quentin and Upton are hot, Ludwick is hotter. In fact, he is the hottest player in baseball. Followed by Huff.

Are you doing MLB's Open?

[fifawcs]

Damn you Ryan. Young just hit a 3 run hr.

[ryanXL977]

1 game dude
1 game
did you thinkm joba would get knocked out by young?

[fifawcs]

I know. But Hanley isn't playing today. So that is 9 points that Young has over Hanley for this week.

[ryanXL977]

wait till the end of the week then yell at me
hanley si the best player in the league dude!

[fifawcs]

Fair deal.

[fifawcs]

Booya!!! Nady hits another homer as a Yankee.