Turning Double Plays

[Ducky]

No matter what, no matter who I use at short and second, my teams do not turn double plays. Part of it has to do with the fact that most of my teams are at the top or very near the top in strikeouts by pitchers. But what I cannot figure out is why, when my team strikeout totals are average, I cannot turn double plays.

Current example is this team with Trammell and Randolph.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=79341

League average is 101 double plays. This team has turned 89, second last in the league.

Another of my teams that is currently in action has turned a league low 49 double plays. Average is 49. Dejesus and Oquendo are the DP combo.

My other current team has Ripken and Herr trailing the league average of 25.5 while turning a mere 17 double plays in 27 games.

I don't seem to get better or worse results based on 1's or 3's at either position, but I do seem to end up at the bottom of every league I compete in.

As a disclaimer, the Ripken/Herr team is averaging 7.5 strikeouts per game to a league average of 5.5.

Any ideas, or is it the strikeout factor that causes my teams to not turn DP's.

Mike

[Paul5757]

Lack of Gb(x)'s off the pitcher's card? DeLeon and Scott are KO/flyball pitchers, I think. (I'd go through some boxscores and see if you're getting more flyball outs that other teams.)

Or maybe you're in leagues with players who try to avoid gb(a)'s on batter's cards?

Could also be just a freak occurrence. It happens.

[Ducky]

When I have some time, I am going to go back and review all 27 of my teams and see if the double play situation is real or if it is a recent phenomenon with my teams. It will be interesting to see what I find.

Your comment about fly ball/KO pitchers may be relevant. I was thinking about that as well. Many KO pitchers are not ground ball pitchers.

Mike

[Yellow_Dog]

I thought that all strat pitcher cards had the same gb(x) chances, so K rate wouldn't matter. At some time there were gb(a)'s on pitcher's cards, but I don't think that's the case nowadays (or in the 80s).

Maybe you choose pitcher's that don't put guys on base, or give up lots of extra base hits? I bet it is just a coincidence...

[Jimmy_C]

What is your Intentional Walk setting...other teams in your league may be using a more liberal setting. Are others in your league base-stealing (and perhaps even getting caught base-stealing) against your team?

[Ducky]

Jimmy,

Intentional walk setting is always at conservative. Base stealing varies from team to team, but generally in the middle of the pack.

Mike

[Jimmy_C]

My thought was if your intentional walk is set at conservative, first base will be left open more therefore the gba doesn't turn the 6-4-3 double play unless I'm missing something.

Averages are a funny thing...Your league average is at 101. You've turned 89. You have 12 less than average...therefore...someone has 12 more than average (as an example). Averages are funny because there's a possibility that 6 teams have 89 DP's (like yours) and 6 teams could have 113 DP's. In fact...there may not be even 1 team that hits the average dead on.

Lets say (for a guess) if your intentional walk was turned to normal you might have pulled a few more double plays...It pushes you closer to average. What if guys steal second base less against you than the other teams...it would also push you closer to average.

Does that make sense Mike? Double plays have a lot to do with the players defense (and you have 2 good ones fo sure), but there are other factors involved. I won't even touch on the luck-of-the-dice factor.

[Panzer ace]

I would suggest that your pitchers are doing a good job. If guys are not on base...no DP. I have seen teams with great pitching be quite low in DPs turned. Another possible variable is your catchers arm. If you usually go with a Simmons or Hassey with a '+arm', the steals remove the chance of the DP. I think that is one of the overlooked values of guys like Santiago and Boone. They hold the runners and let the infield '1's pay a higher dividend.

[honestiago1]

Guys who put more people on base allow more DP opportunities. I didn't check your pitchnig staff's WHIP, but maybe they just have fewer opportunities because they keep men off base. DP's turned is not something to worry about, I wouldn't think, not if your fielders are good.