February 16, 2005
RotoCentral -- 2005 LIMA Picks
By Mark Washburn
LIMA is a rotisserie strategy that allocates a higher than customary proportion of a team's salary pool to
hitting. This strategy was developed and successfully utilized by Ron Shandler of Baseball HQ to compete in expert leagues.
LIMA stands for Low Investment Mound Ace and also recognizes pitcher Jose Lima, who earlier in
his career was a prime LIMA candidate pitcher. This strategy is more effectively used in a 4 x 4 league and harder to execute
successfully in a 5 x 5 league.
Salary Allocation
The salary allocation using LIMA is $200 for hitting and $60 for hitting, which represents a 77/23 split. Most rotisserie
players utilize a split of approximately 65/35.
Hitting
The goal is to maximize each hitting category with the extra allocation. In particular focus on getting solid every day
players at each hitting position. Particular attention should be paid to avoiding part-time or high-risk hitters that are
usually available towards the end of a draft.
Pitching
The pitching allocation of $60 should be invested to maximize points in saves, ERA and WHIP. $30 should be
allocated to maximize the save category. This could consist of a single stud closer or a couple of mid-tier closers. The remaining
$30 is utilized to purchase highly effective middle relief pitchers that meet the following 3 criteria:
1. K/BB ratio of 2 or higher
2. K/9IP ratio 6 or higher
3. HR/9IP ratio of 1 or lower
In summary, these are pitchers that have good control, throw hard and don’t give up too many homeruns.
Our Lima picks for 2005 include 19 AL pitchers and 21 NL pitchers and are based on 2004 actual performance in these 3 criteria.
|
2005 AL LIMA Picks |
|
|
|
Player |
Team |
K:BB |
K/9 |
HR/9 |
|
Balfour |
MIN |
2.00 |
9.67 |
0.92 |
|
Betancourt |
CLE |
4.22 |
10.33 |
0.95 |
|
Brocail |
TEX |
2.15 |
7.43 |
0.35 |
|
Calero |
OAK |
4.70 |
9.38 |
1.00 |
|
Colome |
TB |
2.22 |
8.76 |
0.88 |
|
Cruz |
OAK |
2.33 |
8.75 |
0.88 |
|
Francisco |
TEX |
2.14 |
10.57 |
0.70 |
|
Gordon |
NYY |
4.17 |
9.69 |
0.50 |
|
Gregg |
ANA |
3.00 |
8.67 |
0.62 |
|
Harper |
TB |
2.57 |
6.79 |
0.92 |
|
Kline |
BAL |
2.06 |
6.29 |
0.54 |
|
Miller |
CLE |
2.39 |
8.98 |
0.16 |
|
Miller |
TB |
2.87 |
7.90 |
0.55 |
|
Nunez |
TB |
2.00 |
12.35 |
0.88 |
|
Rincon |
MIN |
3.31 |
11.63 |
0.55 |
|
Seay |
TB |
3.40 |
6.89 |
0.81 |
|
Shields |
ANA |
2.73 |
9.33 |
0.51 |
|
Timlin |
BOS |
2.95 |
6.62 |
0.95 |
|
Yan |
ANA |
2.16 |
7.14 |
0.83 |
|
2005 NL LIMA Picks |
|
|
Player |
Team |
K:BB |
K/9 |
HR/9 |
|
Alvarez |
LA |
3.29 |
7.64 |
0.90 |
|
Ayala |
WAS |
4.20 |
6.29 |
0.60 |
|
Carrara |
LA |
2.40 |
8.12 |
0.17 |
|
Eischen |
WAS |
2.13 |
8.45 |
0.99 |
|
Fox |
CHC |
2.13 |
15.00 |
0.88 |
|
Gonzalez |
PIT |
9.17 |
11.48 |
0.42 |
|
Linebrink |
SD |
3.19 |
8.89 |
0.86 |
|
Lowery |
SF |
2.57 |
7.04 |
0.98 |
|
Madson |
PHI |
2.89 |
6.43 |
0.70 |
|
Mecir |
FLA |
2.58 |
9.34 |
0.95 |
|
Moreno |
NYM |
2.64 |
7.63 |
0.00 |
|
Osuna |
WAS |
3.27 |
8.95 |
0.75 |
|
Otsuka |
SD |
3.35 |
10.16 |
0.70 |
|
Qualls |
HOU |
3.00 |
6.55 |
0.82 |
|
Rauch |
WAS |
2.00 |
6.19 |
0.28 |
|
Remlinger |
CHC |
2.19 |
8.70 |
0.75 |
|
Reyes |
STL |
5.50 |
8.25 |
0.00 |
|
Seanez |
SD |
2.42 |
9.00 |
0.59 |
|
Simpson |
COL |
2.30 |
10.62 |
0.92 |
|
Tavarez |
STL |
2.53 |
6.74 |
0.14 |
|
Torres |
PIT |
2.82 |
6.07 |
0.59 |
