Pushing across runs

[STEVEPONEDAL]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=67360

First of all, this back to the eighties is a blast. This is my second team and I am learning new things all the time. Also, what a great community is out there for helping us rookies.

In the league I am in now, less than 2 weeks into the season, I am in second place in the league and first in my division but only by a game. I have a couple of other teams in my division hot on my heels. One of the reasons is that I am having trouble pushing runs across the plate.

I am playing in Dodger Stadium. Most of the other parks in the league favor the hitters. Thus far I am doing well both at home and on the road.

I am currently in sixth place in the league in run scores. There is a gap of about 30 runs between me and the bunched up top five. Now I am in the top 3 in hits and top 4 in BA. In several of my losses I outhit my opponent.

Recently, I have had my managerial settings at aggresssive to conservative depending upon the arms in the outfield for baserunning. Normal to aggressive depending upon my opponents OCS%. I am always on conservative for hit and run since I don’t really have the personal to use it often. In the last 3 games, I had no steal attempts against a good catcher. I did have a couple of ballplayers thrown out trying to score from 1st and one from 2nd. My opponent did have some strong arms in the outfield.

My lineup against lefties is: Molitor DH, Grich 2B, Brett 3B, Cabell 1B, Matthews LF, Pena C, Burleson SS, Lemon CF, Lowenstein RF

My lineup against righties is: Molitor DH, Cabell 1B, Grich 2B, Brett 3B, Lowenstein RF, Lemon CF, Pena C, Dwyer LF and Burleson SS.

I believe I have Grich’s .294 year and Molitor’s .270 year and Jim Dwyer’s .285 year.

Overall, I feel good about the offensive players that I have at this time. I think I may need to shakeup the order of my lineup against righthanders so I don’t leave as many men on base. You would think I was the Oakland A’s.

Anything else that I may be missing here?

Thanks

Steve

[Jimmy_C]

Hey Steve...the team looks like it's in pretty good shape overall. I see two things though...

1. You are without a leadoff hitter vs. righty's. Felder isn't it as he tends to do better vs. lefty's. All the traditional on-base guys are probably already locked up...so...your going to have to trade for one, or find a non-traditional leadoff hitter. Rose or Bochte would be good choices as they could play 1st base (I think a real 1st baseman would also help this team). Dilone is worth a look. Or just tryout Dwyer there.

2. Grich is just not gitn-r-done. His OBP is awful on this team so far. I play a lot in Dodger, and I think OBP is more important than SLG there. Perhaps you could advertise him for trade?

There's my 2-cents...good luck and have fun!

[STEVEPONEDAL]

Jimmy C,

Yes, you are not the first to tell me about Grich. I was thinking he might come out of it based on his card.

Steve

[honestiago1]

Lowensetin needs a platoon partner versus lefties (he's only hitting .200 against them for your team, and, unless I'm way off, none of his cards is very good against them).

You might have Cabell's 1980 year (though doubles seem low). He has quite a few homers for his AB's, which leads me to believe he's got that 16 HR year.

Your pitching WHIP is great (1.30), but those start ERA's are sure high. Watch Drabek. You might have his really weak year.

[yak1407]

Before you move on Grich, or any player,check his splits.
I have a Grich who is hitting .140 with a .275 OBP against lefties.
But against righties, he's .322 and .430. So I've been platooning him with Royster who is .375 and .431 against lefties. Lucky me.
Since you face more righties than lefties, I'm not sure anyone can sacrifice that much production.
So my point is that the splits tell more of a tale than the overall average.