Pro Tip: water-type starter. You can easily catch Fire and Grass-type pokemon early-mid-game (Mt. Pyrous and Azurine Islands/Beryl/Jasper), but Water Pokemon? I have not seen a single one (outside of Corey's Skrelp). They also help clear out some of the later Gyms, and have decent STAB moves overall.
Might I suggest Froakie for that broken Protean?