Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

The 1969 board is so quiet. I always enjoy hearing about favorite strategies, evaluations of different players, etc. on the ATG board. Not much of that here.

So just to try to get a little conversation started:

My favorite pitching bargain in 1969 is Wegener. At $2.5 million he pitches better than the Perrys, Stottlemyre, Jenkins, Osteen, etc. Mostly walks on his card, and he shuts down right-handed batters, who predominate in this game. Also really like Culp. On the higher end, I've had good success with Hands--anybody had a bad season from him?

I think Howard is the best hitting bargain, hands down. Produces as well as the $10+ mill guys but for 3 mill less. Always seems to be around .300, 50 homers, .400 obp.

Most frustrating player: Reggie Smith. He's been all over the map for me. A couple terrific .300+ seasons, but just as capable of hitting .240.

I still can't decide if I like Fernandez and Dietz. 150 walks, 150 strikeouts, 25 dingers. I've tried Fernandez a couple times batting second--the fact that he doesn't have gbas makes him potentially excellent there, I think. But I haven't won with him there.

Still don't know if defense is that important in this game--at least to the extent it is in ATG. Pitchers seem to still pitch well even with some 3s and 4s behind them. Which reminds me--I want to try Stanley at SS sometime, but haven't worked up the nerve to go with a 4 there.

Well, maybe this was a lame attempt to talk a little 1969 strategy. Anybody want to throw some ideas around???

Tom

Check out the thread where we go for another round of the COMBO Theme.

I thought that in most parts star players acted like their salaries indicated they would regardless of the ballpark. A Willie McCovey actually hit 50+ hrs in Candlestick where in ATG so many studs would hit under .300 in a pitching ballpark.

I agree with Wagener. I had good luck with Downing.

I loved 1969 but boy it got quiet. I actually understand and more than ever I wish that they would give up individual years and go for the DECADE.

You need more players capable of starting on the 12 teams so as to avoid becoming stagnated.

I love Dietz and Smith and Allen and have never used Weener or wegner or whatever his name is. And I refuse to use a 3 at SS.

[quote:2246faf0f5="genegrid"]And I refuse to use a 3 at SS.[/quote:2246faf0f5]

I think Campaneris (a 3 at SS) is one of the best values in the 1969 set at $0.65M. And once I actually make it into the playoffs, and win a few rings, and everyone jumps on the bandwagon, you can say that you heard it here first! :wink:

Haven't used Wegener yet, but he's shut me down a few times. Other sleeper pitchers I like (I say sleeper because they've been easy to pick up on waivers after the draft): Maloney, Taylor, Moose, Kilkenny.

Kirkpatrick has always produced for me in a corner OF spot. He needs a platoon mate though. Lou Pinella works great!

Rick Wise is an excellent value *SP.

Drabowsky, on the other hand....

I've heard a couple of the old pros praise him to the heavens, but I've had him for a season and a half in Anaheim Stadium, and he hasn't been as dominant as I hoped. ERA around 3.00, lots of HRs, lots of blown saves. I have him designated as my setup man against RHBs and LHBs, and I left "Closer" blank. I'm thinking about making "setup" blank as well, and just let HAL run the bullpen. HAL seems to do OK for me. :shock:

Just some random observations from the few teams I've played.

1. I think the $7-8M pitchers are some of the best values: Reed, Seaver, McLain, Jenkins, Hands, Perry.
2. I like Clay Kirby as a #4. Although, I'm going to try Gary Peters for the first time.
3. I think there are some excellent sub $1M relief bargains: Secrist, Face, Lyle, Wilson, Womack.
4. I'm not sure I know what makes a good offense. But, for the best bargain, I have two words: Angel Bravo.

I've been lucky enough to win two championships and make another finals. But when the credits run out, so do I.

Kudos to the guys still playing, but 69 is dead. It has been for awhile, takes leagues forever to fill. It was a nice bridge between 2005 and 2006.

It was a different experience than usual for sure, with the paucity of decent hitting.

I remain a big fan of the game. From my experience over the past few weeks and months, it only takes less than 4 days to fill an "open" league and there are several good theme leagues built around the 1969 game.

Drafting is a key component to this game. Unlike ATG/ATG II, there are not 12-20 great players at every position. Not all teams are loaded - it is more realistic in that sense.

However, the records that are being broken (offensive records) are quite unrealistic. It's as though the 1969 sluggers are all juiced... :(

What Risden said. I haven't played 1969 all that much (on my 4th season now), but it seems that you can build a winner in several different ways. Pitching and speed can play a big role.

I think the longest I waited for a league to fill was 6 days.