[quote:81d81f6c9d]You mean to say that some (many?) of the Strat superstars are purchasing performance-enhancing ratings? Are their wins and titles aided by their use of those performance-enhancing ratings and not due to their own skills and abilities? It must be pretty tempting to purchase them in order to win a few more games.
I wonder how many out there are using them? I wonder how many could have won just as many games and titles without them? I wonder how many are winning only because they use them? I wonder how many should be excluded from the Strat Hall of Fame due to the use of these performance-enhancing ratings?
Can someone who plays it straight using only their own baseball knowledge and analytic skills really compete with those on performance-enhancing ratings? Could they win Barnstormers or the Tourney? I wonder.[/quote:81d81f6c9d]
My earlier post on this thread (above) was quite tongue in cheek and meant to echo some of the arguments often heard about the steroid using superstars. Although I have never used his ratings I have played in leagues with Joe the Jet and have enjoyed it when he has rated the league's teams for us at no charge. I actually admire someone with the ability to develop such advanced methods for analyzing the game. I find nothing illegal or unethical about the use of his ratings. I was trying to be funny, in a way.
As Petrosian mentioned earlier many times teams are tossed together quickly based on prior experience and a feel for what might work together rather than a well-thought out analysis. Whichever way it's done I continue to find it fun and challenging. I enjoy playing against the best players and hope to continue to gain more insights as I see what really works.