trying to get into playoffs for first time (Will I make it)

[MrHacktastic]

Double Edit: Here is the first round of the playoffs. I am now in the championship. I didn't deserve to win my first playoff series so why not see if I can get lucky one more time. I literally stole 3 of my 4 wins in this round and should have lost 5 of 6. My opponent was a really cool guy that has helped me learn a lot about online Strato. I was down 8-5 in the bottom of the 9th and a weird HAL substitution for my opponent led to me getting a cheap comeback after the out of position sub made an error in the bottom of the 9th.

Game 1: http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=152849&g_id=973

Game 2: http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=152849&g_id=975

Game 3: http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=152849&g_id=977

Game 4: http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=152849&g_id=979

Game 5: http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=152849&g_id=981

Game 6: http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/playoffs/boxscore.html?group_id=152849&g_id=983

Edit: I clinched my division last night. 6 games left and I have a 1 game lead for home field advantage. I play 3 games vs a team that still can get the wild card so for integrity reasons I'm not going to rest starters and screw people in other divisions. I think I'm going to rest starters with high injury rates on the final day though.


I am very anxious each morning before I watch the video of my games the night before without knowing the result. I got smashed in my first season of Strato and missed the playoffs by a wide margin despite at one point being almost 20 games above .500 (finished 81-81).

I have 21 games left and I'm up by 7 games. I have 9 games left head to head vs the 2nd place person. I have lost a game lead each of the last 2 days. Tonight is huge as it is head to head with the 2nd place guys. Tomorrow I will have a 4,6,8, or 10 game lead.

I am not willing to look ahead to the playoffs unless I can successfully clinch them. If I could catch a few lucky breaks I would love to rest high injury players down the stretch. However, my team is much better at home than on the road.

How much stock do you guys put into going after home field advantage? Do you align starters for the playoffs? Do you rest high injury players to make sure they are healthy for the playoffs? Once again I am going to go full throttle until I know I am in the playoffs because I don't want to have regret. If I miss the playoffs I don't want it to be because I rested people.

I ask because I currently have a 2 game lead for home field advantage. Is it worth going for that in your experience? Obviously with a bad night or two things can quickly change and this question might not be an issue.
I would love to hear some strategies around these issues from some vets.
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=362364

[visick]

WHile it's nice to rest a starter or 2 down the stretch, HAL sometimes will use them to pinch hit and then, for me, they get hurt.

I know u have a nice lead, but I have a question. You're seeing 2:1 righties to lefties. And you're hitting lefties better.

How many LHSP's are there in your division?

[DAVIDWILHELM]

Don't worry about homefield or anything like that. Just get in. I had a seven-game lead with 19 to play and lost out by one game. So win as many games as you can and let the postseason take care of itself.

[Jimbo123]

Don't let up until you absolutely know you're in the post-season. In my opinion, the same reasoning applies when you're trying to secure home field advantage.

The only time that I would rest a player is if you have things locked up. In my experience, that usually doesn't occur until the last or next to last series in the regular season. If you get things locked up, then you may want to consider resting an injury prone player or juggling your pitching rotation so as to get a more favorable piching matchup in your first playoff series.

You obviously have a good team, and you've had success because you generally put the same lineup on the field. Why change now? You've got to have faith in the players that took you this far. Don't over-manage your way out of the playoff like poor Gene Mauch did.

Strat-O-Matic is always fun. But it gets really fun when you're in a pennant race. Good luck.

[MrHacktastic]

thanks guys. I definitely won't let up until I have clinched which is never a sure thing with so many head to head games.

[MrHacktastic]

I am in a Red Sox like swoon. Looks like I might choke it away after all. Got swept last night by the last place team. Probably gonna come down to the last day.

[MrHacktastic]

12 games left, up by 6 games. I have 6 games left head to head vs the 2nd place team though including 3 tonight.

[MrHacktastic]

[quote:e131884a48="socalchiro"]WHile it's nice to rest a starter or 2 down the stretch, HAL sometimes will use them to pinch hit and then, for me, they get hurt.

I know u have a nice lead, but I have a question. You're seeing 2:1 righties to lefties. And you're hitting lefties better.

How many LHSP's are there in your division?[/quote:e131884a48]

In my division their are 9 RHP starters and 3 LHP starters. The second place team's closer is also left handed. I agree I am a little out of balance but nobody in my lineup is a complete waste vs RHP. And it eliminates the ability of an opponent to use a LHP specialist for the most part.

My team's AVG and OBP is much better vs LHP but my key power sources hit HR's vs RHP much better.

For example here are the splits for HR's vs LHP/RHP for Bob Horner and Canseco which I believe more than counters their BA splits:
Horner: 4/27 .286/.261
Canseco: 2/30 .275/.209

Also my leadoff hitter Willie Randolph has been much better against RHP. The only hitter I count on that can't hit RHP is Ray Knight but his OBP is still .348 against RHP. I generally don't believe in platooning unless I have too. I would have liked to platooned Ray Knight because of his extreme #'s but I have been happy overall with how he has done vs RHP. I just didn't find a reasonable person available out of the Free Agents to do that with.

[MrHacktastic]

I clinched my division last night. 6 games left and I have a 1 game lead for home field advantage. I play 3 games vs a team that still can get the wild card so for integrity reasons I'm not going to rest starters and screw people in other divisions. I think I'm going to rest starters with high injury rates on the final day though.

Really fun season. I really hope I win a free credit because no way my wife is gonna let me throw down $100 for a new bundle of teams right now lol.

[chasenally]

[quote:63ac94bd01="Hackdog99"]I clinched my division last night. 6 games left and I have a 1 game lead for home field advantage.[b:63ac94bd01] I play 3 games vs a team that still can get the wild card so for integrity reasons I'm not going to rest starters and screw people in other divisions.[/b:63ac94bd01] I think I'm going to rest starters with high injury rates on the final day though.

Really fun season. I really hope I win a free credit because no way my wife is gonna let me throw down $100 for a new bundle of teams right now lol.[/quote:63ac94bd01]

Don't even worry about that. Everyone does it. You worry about YOU and let the rest take care of itself. You keep in your starters and they get hurt, you will be feeling pretty stupid losing in the first round.