Small Ball vs Station to Station

[bleacher_creature]

Let's assume you have a semi-neutral park. Yankee Stadium might be a good example, since obviously you are free to wait for the 3-run, the 4-run, the 2-run, and back to the 3-run HOME RUN in Ameriquest or Coors.

I guess what I'm after is to take a poll of vets on station to station ball. Most sabermetricians on the net devalue the SB, the bunt, and the hit & run.

My current lineup (vs RHPs) is a mixture of speed, on base and power:

Freel LF
Vizquel SS
Dunn 1B
Rolen 3B
Gload DH
Posada C
Floyd LF
Wells CF
Harris 2B

vs hard righties, I will start Davanon at the lead-off spot. This lineup is just for the sake of example, because it has a little power, and plenty of small ball potential.

I am beginning to think that setting players to "steal more", "bunt more", etc... is practically useless in your overall run performance. I am almost wondering if the key formula is:

WALKS
+ HRs
--------
MANY RUNS SCORED

I know this is simply Moneyball. Does it work in Strat if taken to extreme?

[durantjerry]

I have a Yankee team with sluggers and it's near the top of the league(only 5th in offense though). However, my sluggers stats are very bad averagewise. I guess I don't have much advise, but I'll post my team. I don't like Gload, Harris or Floyd much.
[url][url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=49261[/url][/url]

[chase1918]

i went against conventional wisdom and disregarded obp, spent only half my payroll on hitting but picked up a bunch of cheap hitters, giambi, hidalgo schneider, torrealba, sanchez and put them around carbrera, beltre and tejada. my team hits hr's doesnt walk is only hitting .270 and i couldnt be happier. i dont get many hits but with 30 games left i have 30 hrs just from the catcher spot and potentially will have 8 guys with 20 or more homers. i have been in the top 3 in runs scored all season (us cellular doesnt hurt). its a fun team to have b/c i have 3 platoons going and am currently 27 games over .500.
i also have some small ball wit roberts and sanchez up their in with the leaders in sacrifices.

[bleacher_creature]

Interesting chase. Can you link us to your team bro?

It sounds like you are succeeding with HR/SLG hitters with less regard for OBP than the typical "Moneyball" approach.

[chase1918]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=43003

i started the season w/ tony clark but cut him for g. anderson

here it is

[bleacher_creature]

[quote:32f000e352="chase1918"]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/2005/team/team_other.html?user_id=43003

i started the season w/ tony clark but cut him for g. anderson

here it is[/quote:32f000e352]

This team makes me wonder if OBP is not a little over rated as compared to SLG or total bases.

I have always leaned toward high OB teams, with the thought that when someone gets an XBH, you want 1 or more guys on. Simple.

But what good is a walk with runners on 1st & 2nd & two out? Not much.

A double with only 1 guy on is better.

a .325 OBP guy is on roughly 20 fewer times than a .360 OBP guy. If their OPS IS EQUAL, perhaps the guy with the greater SLG is a more productive player?

What say you now?

[1crazycanuk]

"a .325 OBP guy is on roughly 20 fewer times than a .360 OBP guy. If their OPS IS EQUAL, perhaps the guy with the greater SLG is a more productive player?

What say you now?"

this makes sense to me.