Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

Beside another quality starter which just isn't available in free agency. This team started of smoking hot with a high watermark of 18-12 before it's inevitable tank job. I've given them up for dead, but somehow they backed their way back into first with a 54-60 record. :? Now I need help.

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=73343[/url]

Look at your splits...I think you need to improve your offense vs. RHP somehow. Unfortunately, the only obvious position is 3B, but there are a lot of LH hitting 3B out there. (Nettles or Jack Howell?) So far, the only really succesful hitter you have vs. RHP is Hayes, and maybe Cruz. Murray and Puckett are OK (but even their OBPs are low). It could just be that there is an abundance of good RHP, because Murray should be doing better vs. RHP. But you're lacking someone who can bash RHP.

You might try to figure out if someone in your league had the opposite problem and try to work a trade.

I wouldn't bother with trying to upgrade at SS at this point. In fact, if Dejesus, Schofield, or Guillen are available, I'd downgrade for cash.

Looks like you may match up better against teams in your own division. Do they have more LHPs than the other divisions, because your offence (BA & OBP) against RHPs leaves a lot to be desired and you're facing three RHPs for every LHP, which is a really high ratio. Checking with some of my other teams and a range between 1.5:1 or 2:1 seems to be typical.
You have nice power, but while you hit one dinger every 23 at bats versus LHPs, you have one every 31 at bat against RHPs. Combine this with your poor OBP versus RHPs, and the fact you are facing way more RHPs than normal and it could explain your slide after leaving divisional play and going against the other divisions.
The good news, if you are in first now, with only 16 games to play before you get back to your own division, you should be in a position to finish first.
Then, as everyone knows, the playoffs can be weird and wonderful, so you may want to stand pat and tough it out until then.

Mitch Williams has gotta go. You need the cash to help with offense.

Thanks for the advice. I made few changes based on the pointers received. We'll see how it goes.

Jeez.... I've never, ever had the experience of being in first place with a record like 54-60. In fact, I've never even been in a division with less than two .500 teams, and most have had three--some four until the final intradivisonal crush pushed one of them down.

In one division, I'm currently two games out of first even though I have a 71-43. Sometimes the old ballgame just doesn't seem fair. Sigh.... :?