What I'm Learning

[kimkrichbaum2]

I am starting my third league. At first I analyzed the players, and figured out which players were a better value for their cost. And then make some allowances to get players that fit my ball park. I thought that gave me the edge, and I sort of had things figured out. WRONG!

Now I see nowt is that this is where the real strategy begins. A player's real value has to do with the environment in which he is playing. That has to do with not only the park they play in, but with what type of pitchers and hitters dominate the league, and especially the division. On My first team, I chose Minute Maid for my park, and chose a bunch of guys who were good values, and whose skills fit Minute Maid. I picked nasty anti-righty pitchers like Chris Carpenter, Brandon Webb, Dustin Hermanson, and Francisco Rodney. They all have gotten shelled pretty consistently. What I didn't pick up on til recently, was that my league, and especially my division was filled with lefty parks, and lefty hitters. My great anti-righties were facing two righties per lineup, and getting beaten up by lefties. I just finaly traded Hermanson for Will Ohman, which looks like a dumb trade on paper, but I think will finally give me some sorely needed set-up against lefties.
On my second team I noticed my team was a little weak against lefty pitchers, and decided to put Jeff Francouer in my outfield to balance that. Francouer is top choice for MVP in my league at this point, leading the league in Total Bases by a significant amount, at first I thought it was just luck. Then I looked around, and relaized that my league was way overbalamced toward pitching, especially lefty statters on the strong teams. Francouer's numbers made sense.
So I am finally learning, that I can't just draft the best players. I have to draft the best plyaers for my environment, which means intelligent tinkering after the draft.
I'd love to hear some confirmations or reflections from other managers.

[BRADSANDBOTHE]

I have never played at Minute Maid, but that being said:

I started out luckily last year with a Busch team that went to the Finals and unfortunately lost.
I dind't look at anything at all, I drafted more from the gut than anything.

I ended up with (remember this is '05) Pedro, Schilling, and J. Santana on my roster with Pujols and Beltran Hitting. Turned out great.

So I thought life is good and I am smartest man alive.

Then I tried a Petco team...........Big Mistake........My draft was horrible, didn't get anything I wanted and there wasn't enough to get on waivers either.

I didn't know anything about Pure Homers or Obp, good lead off hitters, players that don't hit into many Double Plays and so on.......

My ego was returned to Earth with a 47-115 record.

It just takes time and also pay attention to the boards and see what successes others are having in certain Ball Parks. Also pay attention to the division and make sure you don't play into the other manager's hands.

But also don't give up on your advantages to cater to the other teams either. A balance or quick fixer (a pitcher only used against certain teams)

I pick up Kerry Wood on the off chance someone will have a Righty balanced team (like a MM team) and spot start him against such a team.

Usually works for me.

That's my 2c :)

[durantjerry]

One simple thing I like to do after the draft is write down the parks in each division. I then look at where the games will be played and do some simple analysis. Am I playing a significant number of games in environments that will enable certain players to have more success than they would otherwise have and try to get them. Generally, I use 2/3(108 games) as a benchmark. I see many teams where it looks like players don't do this. Regarding the pitching, as a rule of thumb, even if pitching is lopsided in your division, it will generally even out league wide to about 30/70 + or - 3% LH/RH SP's IMO, unless the league is unusual. You have to do the schedule math to find out about the number of games you can expect to see a LH or RH starter. If the %'s are higher or lower than I mentioned for SP's, I again consider it significat. Knowing the above facts is basic strategy to vets but may help newcomers.

[worrierking]

[quote:e4668bfeab]Now I see nowt is that this is where the real strategy begins. A player's real value has to do with the environment in which he is playing.[/quote:e4668bfeab]

Absolutely correct. Start with your home park, that's the most important thing. Then your league and division parks. Then look to the L/R components of your opponents pitching and hitting in the division and in the league. Make adjustments accordingly. Then look for things like opponents catcher arms, reverse pitchers, etc. I am in a league right now where a division opponent in a l/r neutral park has four hard l/r starters. That means he will be exceptionally vulnerable to Switch hitters. If my opponents have a lot of switch hitters in their lineups, I'm looking for reverse guys.

I am in a league in US Cell, in which almost every park is a HR park. Several MMs, several BOBs and a couple Coors. Marcus Thames is starting for that team and near the league lead in HRs and RBIs. I wouldn't normally play him everyday, but under these circumstances I can get much more than $.58 from him and have money to spend elsewhere. It's the only environement where he can really play.

Trying to squeeze every tiny drop of efficiency out of a team is a heck of a lot of fun and it helps win games and titles.

Good luck.

[KEVINEHLE]

Nothing has gone right for me in the '06 campaign. It's the only game I have a losing record. I should go ahead and post all of the things I've been doing, and have you guys do the opposite!!! :shock: :shock:

My overall record is 6991-6644 (.513)
My 2006 record is 787-860 (.478)
The '06 game is dragging my winning pcg down. However, I keep playing it!! :? :? :?
Good news is my 5 current live teams are cumulitively playing over .500. :D

Kev

[fred_1_15301]

your record was 47-115? Ouch I don't think I've seen one that bad before....

[BRADSANDBOTHE]

Check out the '05 records for Most Losses in a season......

I am 3rd. I don't know how someone could be worse, but there were 2 others.

I try not to think about it much.....nightmares. If It was a real team, I wouldn't be able to get another job. :lol: