Winfield, Dawson and Reggie--and LAST in OF assists!

[Outta Leftfield]

I've never paid too much attention to getting top OF arms, but for one current team I ended up with Winfield (-5), Dawson (-4) and Reggie Jackson (-2) in my outfield and I though--"This is a team where I'm really going rack up some outfield assists." But no way Josè. I'm tied for dead last in the league in that category. At game 135 the league leader has 43 assists and I have 20. :roll:

I guess the moral of the story is that if you fill your OF with great arms, nobody is even going to try to take the extra base?

Ironically, although Dawson and Winfield were both great RFs, Reggie is there because that's his only position. All three are hitting great--esp. Reggie (1.047 OPS)--so I have no real kicks. Just thought I'd mention it--and see if others have had the same experience? :D

[Jimmy_C]

When I play an opponent with outfield arms like your team has, I select conservative or extra conservative in the manager settings. I suspect that the managers in your league are probably doing the same thing.

[LMBombers]

Low OF assists is not a bad thing in your situation. What you don't see is the number of base runners that have not attempted to advance a base due to your OF arms.

That is like saying I am dissapointed in Gary Carter's arm because he doesn't lead the league in caught stealing. Your opponents will attempt to steal much less against Carter than someone with a more average arm.

The success % of the runners who do try to advance on your OF arms is is probably much lower than other teams in your league.

[Outta Leftfield]

Yes, I'm guessing that a lot of baserunners are not advancing due to the arms. Still, it would be nice to see some direct stats on that. Like a lot of fielding events in strato (except errors) you've sort of got to take it on faith. Still, the results probably show in the ER allowed. This team is second in the league in ER allowed despite being in Riverfront and giving up (I think--I haven't checked all teams) the 2nd most HR in the league. The OF arms have got to help with that--also great up the middle defense.

I guess we could assume that success % of baserunners advancing could give us a kind of hint as to how many baserunners hold up or try to go on. E.g. if we figure that baserunners will try to advance when they have a minimum 2/3 potential success rate, then maybe 40 successfully advanced vs my outfield whereas with the 43 assists team it might be 86 or even much higher (since sometimes the success rate will be well over 2/3). So the tough OF might be preventing the advance of something like 25 to 50 runners (50 because it's cutting some 1-16 chances down to 1-11 or 1-12 and thus turning a great chance into a hold chance.) That would measure up to a lot of runs over a season, in runners held at 2nd or 3rd.

I'm usually a "set it and forget it" manager when it comes to steals and baserunning. How many guys redo these settings for each series?

[Ducky]

Baserunning I very rarely change once I figure out where it best fits my team, but base stealing I change series to series.

Mike

[Jimmy_C]

[quote:916afb0365] I'm usually a "set it and forget it" manager when it comes to steals and baserunning. How many guys redo these settings for each series?
[/quote:916afb0365]

I check the settings for evey team...every game.

[Jablowmi]

I have too many friggin' teams to check in each series. Plus, I'm not certain that I would make any changes based on the arms of my opponents. For stolen bases, I think it is common wisdom to be around 75-80% successful. I leave my SB setting at normal and I'm generally around that range (although, frankly, I haven't checked my current teams). I think if you move to aggressive b/c you're facing, say, Ted Simmons, your %s will go down. Take a look at guys like Simmons in your leagues - I bet his %s are less than 75%, perhaps much lower. That's b/c people are attempting steals when they shouldn't. I'll check my teams and report back.

I agree w/ Outta LF, set it and forget it.

[Jablowmi]

I checked a few and there were a # of seasons where Simmons finished at less than 70% (.678, .692, .562 - there were others where he wasn't in the top 10, which means he was over approx .700). In the .562 league, Gary Carter was at .654. Anecdotal only, but I think Simmons gets 67% of would-be stealers because the team he is playing against is sending Bs or guys that are being held (is there a "hold" roll in the online game)?

[honestiago1]

Big guns in the OF or behind the plate slow the other team down. If your baserunning is set on normal, as it is with most people, I'll bet, the computer isn't going to take an inordinate number of chances to advance on a -4 or -5. Where does your tream stand in runs allowed? That's where these guys really help.

[Outta Leftfield]

[quote:54212ce32a="honestiago"]Where does your tream stand in runs allowed? That's where these guys really help.[/quote:54212ce32a]

The team is second overall in fewest runs allowed, as well as 2nd in fewest ER, despite playing in Riverfront. The team is also tied for 1st in WHIP--which is partly, at least, the result of good overall defense, including the OF.

As I said above, I'm not complaining, believe me. I have no doubt I'm getting my money's worth from these guys. They're all hitting a ton, anyway (lowest OPS of a starting OF is .904!). This is my best team ever. I just find the low assists very interesting, is all. :wink: