New Guy Looking for Tips

[leavesograss]

Hi all I am currently playing my first Strat-O team and I seem to be running into some issues. Now the other guys in my division aren't on the boards looking for help so I am not looking for specific guys to pick up drop etc.

However, I started the season 8 and 1 - ive only won 3 games in the last 12 or 15. It seems my guys stopped scoring and my relief pitchers are giving up a bunch of runs late. Short of swapping guys at a 20% penalty, what kinds of things do I need to be looking at to improve?

I haven't used the bullpen 2.0 a whole ton as I don't want to place guys in roles they arent suited for. Any tips on what to do to analyze my players and make sounder decisions would be helpful.

Again, I don't want a competitive advantage or anything of that nature I just want to learn the game a bit.

Thanks

EDIT: For Ref - I've read the newbie post in strat forums http://forums-beta.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=9842

[Detroit-Tigers]

1) Don't panic 20-30 games in is nothing
2) Post a link to your team for specific feedback.

[leavesograss]

Sorry I was not trying to panic. I am trying to figure out how to use Bullpen 2.0 effectively.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team_switch/switcharoo.html?href=/stratomatic/home_good.html&team_id=241470

I cant figure out an easier way to link to my team - hopefully that works.

[Palmtana]

This works.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=241470

[daniel_j]

It looks to me like you've just got a couple of guys off to a slow start (e.g., Fielder). They'll probably come around over time.

I have a newbie question, too: HAL allowed my SP to bat w/ 2 runners on base in the bottom of the 6th inning last night, but then started the top of the 7th with a RP, anyway! Should have input a PH for the pitcher if he wasn't going to start the 7th inning. Did I screw up, or is just something HAL does?

[AeroDave10]

leavesograss,

One very good simple tip I've learned is to always have the most amount of money on the field at all times. You have too much cash spread around to the 24 players; it should be concentrated more on the starters and less on backups. What role do Burriss, Cano, Anderson, Schumaker, and Kotsay serve? I would rather have some $.50M-$.75M guys and a $4-5M starter. However, I do like to have one or two platoons, so that should be a consideration as well.

As for the pitching, either have a straight 5 man, a straight 4 man, or a stud SP* or two and a few lower priced non SP*. If you do that third option, make sure the SP*s pitch every 4th day and rotate the other guys during the open days. Remember, on average a $3M SP is much better than a $3M SP*.

In the bullpen, I like to have a decent closer, a great set up guy, a lefty specialist, a righty specialist, and one or two other guys to mop up and fill in. If you're in an unbalanced park (e.g. PNC), perhaps have a second specialist. You don't have any BAL R guys (Lidge doesn't count), and too many BAL L guys unless your division has 90% lefty hitters.

Overall, the team's not that bad, but it's not that great either. You have very average to below average defense across the board. Fielder is a bad fit for the park. Oliver is not the kind of set-up guy I'd want, though he's not terrible. Either Reyes or Shouse should go. They're the same guy.

Hope this helps.


Dave