Are we really talking about "Smallball"?

[RiggoDrill]

This [url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=114166[/url] is a team that I basically built over and over again. The [i:c4c864d670]Snakes [/i:c4c864d670]are 2nd in league in scoring, batting .296, and have stolen only 6 bases in 114 games. This isn't a "smallball" team - its [b:c4c864d670]concentrated firepower[/b:c4c864d670] in a pitcher's park and its a guaranteed winning approach because of the bizarre pricing of ATG2.

I've spend under 20% of my budget on pitchers, but I'm effective at keeping opponents from scoring because my pitchers vulnerability to BP homers is negated by playing in an extreme pitchers park (Dodger Stadium). I'm playing five gold gloves in the field which makes those cheapie pitcher cards far more effective.

I spent a lot of time trying to build effective Fenway Park teams in ATG2, but the pricing structure (unlike ATG1) simply wouldn't allow that to be effective.

I actually think we'll see a lot more true smallball teams in ATG III. By that I mean teams that feature stud starting pichers and offenses build around players who can use speed to take extra bases and score without the benefit of homeruns.[/url]

[PJ Axelsson]

I think we all need to play out some leagues before passing judgement. I think a lot of us are trying to be bold predictors in the clever disguise of complaints. Why don't we all see what happens in a few leagues, then we'll have some real ammo for our distaste with the new pricing structure.

[Hack Wilson]

I disagree with the proposition that hitting teams could not win consistently in ATGII. Sure, it's a tough nut to crack, but I've built a formulaic approach to Baker Bowl teams that have light starting pitching, good defense and a deep bullpen. Here are some examples:

Bethel Park Blackhawks 97-65 (scored 1013 runs, won title)..... [url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=111489[/url]

Davis Blue Devils, 89--73 (,scored 1019 runs, lost finals).... [url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=112017[/url]
Black Sabbath Paranoid 94-68 (scored 1101 runs, lost semifinals..... [url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=12363[/url]

Having said this, I do like Riggo's Zen-like approach of using offense to win in a pitching environment -- one too often typically thinks they have to "shrink down" their offense and put all the money into pitching and defense to win in such environments, and it is clearly not the case. The opposite approach -- scoring runs -- spreads out the run differential, and that is what winning is all about.

[Quincy Wilson]

RiggoDrill - Interesting. I made some of the same assumptions as you
and created a number of teams using some of the same pitchers.Dobson,
Ceccarelli, also Merritt but did not carry it out to it's logical conclusion as far as you did and therefore was probably not as successfull. I will have
to rethink my drafting strategy now. Thanks !

[Munich_Man]

I took this approach to the extreme with my Dream Team. Putting an extreme offensive team in an extreme pitcher's park, I just emphasized the speed as well with Collins, Cobb and Honus. A "smallball" team with power and defense. Smallball with Joe D., Brett and Simmons? Is it really smallball?

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg2/team/team_other.html?user_id=43147

(_)ß

[RiggoDrill]

You gotta love that 4.65 ERA from a pitching staff that cost less than 8.00M. 8) ...and yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about - you drafted all of my favorite players. :P

[Jablowmi]

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/atg3/team/team_other.html?user_id=366[/url]

OK, I'll try it! My division has another Griff, a Forbes and Crosley. There are also 2 more Griffs and a Candlestick in a league waited heavily to small ball. Expensive #1s up the middle in Yount, Gehringer and Speaker, plus Cobb and Boggs from the left side. Can Speaker and Yount drive 'em all in?