My experience is that starting pitching is the key ot success. Especially if you are high on the draft list. Getting Martinez or Johnson, for example, can be huge, relative to getting say McGwire, Jeter, Piazza. (To see my point, see how badly the Beta Testers in RT2 did with great offense and lousy pitching).

Yes, parks do make a difference. For example, I had several teams in Yankee Stadium, a leftie-power hitters' paradise and rightie graveyard. I ended trading away McGwire because his power numbers did not work there. Also, in Colorado you don't wnat flyball pitchers (see the GB/FB) pitcjing stat, no matter how good their ERA's.

Finally, I suggest you not worry too much about PB Ratings (which are heavily weighted by Plate Appearnaces and Innings Pitched). With 35 players you can go for many platoon hitting situations where there may be low PA's but good batting averages.

Also, stay away from using valuable early draft picks on heavy closers like Rivera, Nenn etc. It's better to close by committee, and you can get a bunch of short relievers in Rounds 15-22 with low era's and 50-70 IP's.

Similarly for catching. Unless you can pick up one of the top 2 or 3 catchers, catching by platoon is a good strategy. Getting 3 or 4 catchers with great stats vs. LHP or RHP and about 680 total PA's will work. Yu can also use them as PH in close situations.

Some of these guys should be good defensively since you will want to bring them in to help close out games you are ahead in. I have found the TH(rowing) rating to be the best indicator of catching ability. Try and get at least one catcher with TH rating of 6.5+.

Finally, the most important defensive positions are the ones "up the middle": SS, 2B, CF. Thease have always been my defesnive priorities and having high ODR's is a good idea. You can then afford to platoon at 3B, 1B, LF, RF.


Some less than obvious names to think about in late draft rounds include Alberto Castillo, Tom Lampkin (C); Luis Sojo (IF), Tony Gwynn (RF), Dave Berg, Dave Magadan (IF), Bobby Chouinard (P), Trace Coquillet (PH), Darryl Strawberry (DH vs. LHP), and my all-time favorote DH, Harold Baines.

Good luck!