One thing that jumps out is how young this team is, only 10 players are 30 or above and half of them are on the pitching staff. Only 5 are older than 34. While the front office is refusing to release contract details you can surmise from the structure of the lineup and relative youth that this team is going to have some cap space and development funds to work with going into the year. While they may be served by pursuing a power hitter in free agency to address a potential lack of slugging, as constructed this is a team with the potential to get a lot of baserunners. The open question is whether they'll be able to send them home. Notable is the shortage of left handed bats and complete lack of switch hitters in this lineup.
Lineup:
1. Kitty Kaufman (2B)
2. Beefcake McStevens (3B)
3. Herra O'Wuggliems (RF)
4. Muffin Studwick (LF)
5. Scooter Sandbrick (1B)
6. Charley Lopez (SS)
7. Willy Bacon (CF)
8. Tugboat Thomas (C)
9. Pitcher
Catcher: Tugboat Thomas and Chase Tabuhle will start the season competing for the starting role. At 41 Thomas is likely on his last legs on the pro level but can still work a count and has some pop in his bat. His declining defense remains well above average as well. Tabuhle has outstanding defensive traits and one of the better arms in the league but struggles offensively and will likely never be a franchise starting catcher with that bat. This will be a position to look at in free agency following the season. Herra O'Wuggliems is also an optional third string but she's likely going to be starting in RF most games.
First Base: Scooter Sandbrick is the lone dedicated first baseman on this crew, though the roster is flexible enough that this isn't a major issue even over a long season. Sandbrick is a left handed power bat in a lineup starved for both lefties and power, however his struggles with RISP are notable. Still a solid all around starter and key bat in this inexperienced lineup.
Second Base: Kitty Kaufman is a tremendous offensive talent who will hit a lot of ground ball singles with his speed and bat control. Not particularly strong and no better than average defense, but he should be on the basepaths a lot and will create chaos for opposing pitchers. Kaufman also rarely strikes out but may hit a lot of fielder's choice and double play grounders. At 24 years old he is a piece worth holding onto.
Backing him up is Kerry Cartman, one of the team's few veterans. A right handed line drive hitter who hits for average, Cartman is absolutely a starting caliber player and is defensibly half a step above Kaufman. While he obviously lends the team a lot of depth at an important infield position it seems wasteful to leave a bat of that quality wallowing on the bench. While Kaufman is the better player, a smart coach will either find ways to get Cartman in the lineup or find a better use for that cap money, like a solid infield utility man or more left handed lineup options. At 40 years old Cartman isn't going to be starting quality much longer and may be better off with a franchise who needs a good second baseman.
Short Stop: Charley Lopez is a veteran of the position with proven hitting skills, good speed on the bases, and gold glove level defense. At 33 years old he still has some years of prime production and can be a pillar even if he doesn't quite make the top of the order. Yet another right handed bat, Lopez lives on the line drive single or gap grounder and will punish sub-par infield defense. He also offers superb range and glove skills at a vital defensive position and can effectively fill in at lead-off.
Kerry Cartman is again the shortstop backup, and many of the same benefits and drawbacks still apply. Personally were I managing this team I would release Cartman to a team that needed a starter and give him a chance for the spotlight in his golden years. This team needs a utility bench player and developmental money for its young talent, you have a chance to get both if the right free agent's there. Sever and give him a chance to screw us guys and go home.
Third Base: True to his name Beefcake McStevens is the absolute package at third. 29 years old, a right handed 5 tool athlete with incredible offensive numbers and defensive talent, Beefcake is head and shoulders the best player on this team and will eventually be in the hall of fame discussion. Beefcake McStevens is an obvious superstar player and the Platypi aren't winning squat without him anchoring this lineup. One of two players on this entire team with the ability to rip the cover off the ball.
Sky Rodriguez is the third base backup and the other player who can absolutely demolish the ball. He has phenomenal numbers against left handed pitching with good power and low average against righties, and would be a fantastic option at DH except that the Platypi only need that option in cross conference play. He could also be a good option to platoon but has no experience anywhere but third (where he's defensively a liability) and McStevens should be a fixture in this lineup. Still a good backup and at 22 years old a good developmental project to eventually succeed McStevens as long as he can be kept on team friendly deals, but the lack of secondary position skill limits his utility off the bench.
RF: Herra O'Wuggliems is your starting right fielder. Even though Linda Hand hits and throws the ball much harder, Wuggliems' high potential OBP and solid defensive stats make this a no-brainer. One of the few left handed bats in this lineup, O'Wuggliems' only weakness in her game is a lack of pop to her bat but with good speed and bat skill she should still produce a lot of bloop singles and walks.
Linda Hand is going to be the utility outfielder for this team with good power but low average. Hitting from the left side, Hand is a gold glove defensive talent with superb speed and range. Due to her limited offensive skills and the team's generally strong defense, Hand will most likely not be starting any games barring an injury but will make an important fixture on this bench with her ability to cover the entire outfield.
CF: Willy Bacon is a solid right handed bat. Another contact specialist with good speed and solid defensive skills, Bacon will be able to effectively work pitchcounts and generate walks. Not a standout player by any stretch but a good starter and at 27 years old has some time to grow.
Linda Hand yet again stands as the outfield backup. Left fielder Muffin Studwick is also capable of filling in but that requires slotting Rory Crowds in at left, not a huge offensive drop off in an emergency but not the ideal situation either. Hand also happens to be one of 3 left handed bats on this roster so that alone gives her an argument to start against right handed pitching, though poor bat skill makes for a powerful counterargument. I'm left handed, should I bat against Ace Von Acesson?
LF: Muffin Studwick is a great veteran presence in the outfield with no serious holes in his game. At 35 he is nearing a potential drop off but for now boasts great defensive range and skills, an adequate enough outfield throwing arm, and one of the better power bats on a team starved for power. Though not an outstanding player he is one of the better all-rounders on this team and has a proven ability to make contact with RISP. Studwick is a fixture of this team, a leader in the clubhouse, and will be absolutely vital to any championship run.
Rory Crowds is a solid backup for Studwick with slightly more power at the plate though far worse contact skills. At 31 years old you won't have much time to work on that weak throwing motion but with some work he could potentially bridge start for Studwick when he's ready to retire. Until then Crowds is a solid backup option or a good power bat to bring off the bench late. Of course you can also bring Linda Hands in for her defensive talent but in an emergency start situation you're going to want Crowds for his superior offensive skillset.
Bench: That leaves a bench of Linda Hand (OF), Kerry Cartman (2B, SS), Rory Crowds (LF, 1B), Sky Rodriguez (3B), and Chase Tibuhle ( C). The main issues here are only one left handed bat in Linda Hand, a lack of defensive depth in infield backups, and 2 starter quality players in Cartman and Rodriguez (who should absolutely be platooned) who will be pulling starter contracts, if not now then soon. Still this group gives a lot of offensive options late in games with speed and power off the bench and features an outstanding utility outfield backup in Linda Hand.
A GM may be smart to find a new home for Kerry Cartman or even Sky Rodriguez and use the cap space to find a left handed bat and utility infielder (even if they don't have the utility trait) and build some developmental funds.
Thoughts: This was a tough lineup to build. Most of the players are remarkably similar offensively and only a few are able to hit with serious power. Extra base hits and home runs are going to be a challenge for this group but on the other hand getting on base is going to be their strength. The lack of left hand hitting may be worth addressing and depending on how big his contract is, it may be worth signing and releasing a replacement for Charley Lopez. I also dislike the idea of Kerry Cartman taking up space on the bench when he should be starting and you could likely save a lot of money by trading him for a gold glove infield defender or switch hitter to bring off the bench.
Ultimately this is a young, exciting group with good pitching, a flexible bullpen, and tremendous on base potential. They certainly have depth concerns in the infield and are going to have to address Catcher sooner than later, and the lack of left handed hitters and power bats is concerning, but this is a team that could do something special in the inaugural SMB 3 season.
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