Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

I signed Barfield after somebody else dropped him. I am spending a ton on him but he never even makes contact or moves runners and is batting below the mendoza line. Can I expect him to come reasonably back towards his 1986 numbers? For those who have played the 86 set a lot how does he usually perform? Should I cut my losses, it is a 10% penalty at this point if I do.

I could probably get two players for his salary but I hate taking the penalty. I am not sure how long I can bat him 4th. The K's are really what are wrecking me. He kills all my rallies without ever moving runners.

I have never played this game online before but I don't really like the layout of his card but I assumed over the long haul it would somehow work out. Am I just being impatient or does Barfield suck? I read that you guys warn newcomers not to unload guys who start real slow and take big penalties so I am trying to be smart about it.

I appreciate any insight you guys have to offer.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=358554

[quote:019cb29cbf]I have never played this game online before but I don't really like the layout of his card[/quote:019cb29cbf]

I don't like it either but I see in looking at his stats over the last few days he must have had a big road series to bring his stats up. My feeling is that his card is a bit over valued and I really wouldn't use him in a non-HR park, where his value is less. However, IMO he may fit on your team. By the way, great job on this team. I say he may fit because you have built a winning team in a moderate park but your biggest weakness is lack of power. If you can maintain your success with Barfield, I would keep him because he provides a constant power threat that you will need for long term success. If you hope to win a league championship, you most likely will have to beat a team or two that is powerfully built. In my experience, the pitching and defense type squads usually end up being over powered if they don't have the capability to slug with the big boys on occasion. The game in the semi's where Barfield hits two HR's in Riverfront and you win 6-5 is why you want to keep him.

thanks, I want to trade him but nobody is biting really. I think he should be worth about 8.5 million based on his card. But if I release him I only get 9mill for his 10mill salary. I will likely be riding this team the rest of the way no matter what.

I have obvious weaknesses in my lineup at SS and 2B. I thought perhaps I had a steal in Grich at 1.99 mill but so far he has pretty much been an automatic out with RISP.

Baylor has been nice. He is exactly what I hoped for a DH for only 2 mill with maybe not quite the HR's I would like so far but still decent. He keeps innings alive with his BB's and HBP's. Bob Horner has sucked but I bat him 4th or 5th most of the time and with Boggs and Raines on so much he has so many RBI opportunities that every time Horner does get a hit he drives in 2 it seems. I keep thinking how terrible he is and then he has stayed near the top of the league in RBI's most of the way.

I know my bullpen will get exposed. It has overperformed so far and I think I'll have a long losing streak at some point where I cough up a bunch of games late. My goal was .500 for my first ever season. That is still my first goal. But after a hot start I'm hoping to make the playoffs. I can't help but get excited and have my expectations rising.

I really didn't look at clutch hitting at all when building this team and I think that was stupid and something I need to learn from when building this type of team. I am CONSTANTLY in two on two out situations and I have several terrible clutch hitters. I also didn't draft or sign 4 or 5 hitters that move runners when they don't homer. I'll be better at some of this next time.

I like 80's baseball because of the lack of HR's. I don't like how some teams are built in the league though to play like steroid ball using rosters full of bench players with limited at bats but high slugging percentage because of it. I tried to just build a team that was balanced vs LHP or RHP. It wouldn't feel right to league the league in HR's with a utility player that probably shouldn't even be usable like Ralph Bryant. Bryant is leading the league in HR's with 19 through 57 games and has been pretty steady the whole way. I don't even remember him lol.

SS is a very hard position to fill with the 1986 roster. As bad as Templeton is offensively some of the more expensive cards at SS don't seem to play much better and at least Templeton doesn't cost any money.

I've also noticed a bunch of the better performing pitching cards are surprisingly pitchers I don't even remember after not seeing there names for so long. David Palmer is 10-0 with a 1.76 ERA for example. Stratomatic is awesome and even if anobody reads this I'm bored and rambling so sorry this post has no real focus lol.