Has anyone used Billy Koch successfully

[apolivka]

I've played him 130+ games into a 99 season, and he has been getting absolutely rocked. I play at Tigers which is 3/3 for singles and 13/18 for homers.

Koch, Billy R R1/C6 5 9 17 13 94.0 108 74 65 49 79 21 6.23 1.67 4L 3.82M

I'm almost always a believer that over time the cards play pretty much like they should. But, he has never shown any inclination to turn it around. Almost double his carded ERA, much worse WHIP, and 21 dingers in 94 innings!!! Is he anywhere near this terrible for anyone else?

He is doing worse than cheapies costing 1/4 his money!

[padrenurgle1]

Never played the 1999 game...but I looked at Koch's card. First thing I see is that his card WHIP (1.34) is just not competitive. Like I said I know nothing about the season stat curves, but that ranks him 49th AMONG CLOSERS in 1999. ERA is a very deceptive card stat, because it relies on factors (like his actual team's defense and the park he played in) that have no bearing on your own team. He's got a good card for a homer park, with no ballpark homers, so most of those bombs he's given up are on hitter cards. Homers aren't the biggest problem for him, walks and hits are.

Also, the reverse BAL pitchers are always a little wierd. Not necessarily bad, but...he does better against the guys who do better against him. And he does worse against the guys who struggle against him. I've never had success with them in the 70s game.

[apolivka]

Well, he's certainly competitive in 99 for closers in the 4 million dollar price range. It's a real tough year for mid priced relievers that don't have a ton of BPHRs. Guys near his price have either worse WHIP (like Hernandez) or give up a ton of bombs (like Matthews Agularia, Percival). If you go up market, you can get Shaw at 4.54, but he's even more extreme at 7L.

I think if you are going to play in a bomber park, you need to get one of the elite relievers to be competitive. In a non-DH league, you chew up your relievers at an alarming clip, so having a Wagner/Foulke/Rivera/Williamson/Hoffman type closer is key _plus_ a pretty decent #2.

In a pitcher's park, there are a lot more mid priced guys that can be effective, so its an entirely different ballgame there. Plus, if you have decent starters, they won't get knocked out in the early innings nearly as much.

[The Senators]

I have been in 3 leagues and Koch has been my closer twice. The first time I took him out of the pool because he was better than the one that got dealt to me out of the draft. He finished with 42 saves and 15 blown saves. His ERA was 3.89 and his WHIP was 1.31. I got beat in the finals so he was good enought to get me there....so I made the mistake of taking him again...
Far different story. This time 34 saves and 11 blown saves. ERA was 6.62 and his WHIP was an equally astronomical 1.87. In other words....he sucked. I did however win my division and the playoffs start tonite so further gas-can-itis could ensue. I played both seasons at Veterans so that is not a factor in the difference of the two seasons. I'd give him a B- in the first season and an F in his second. My recommendation would be....punt.

[apolivka]

Well, I never dropped him because what was left on the waiver wire seemed even worse. He never turned it around, but amazingly I did make the playoffs as well. So, it is kinda interesting that despite horrible performances by Koch, we both made the playoffs.

He stunk for me in the playoffs too, with a 2.00 WHIP and 4+ ERA, but he did pick up two saves and I won the championship. Go figure.

But, for anyone reading this thread, I won't ever have him on one of my teams again.

Here was his final line:
Koch, Billy R R1/C6 7 9 23 14 116.1 125 85 76 62 100 23 5.88 1.61 4L 3.82M