Getting Waxed on a Daily Basis

[dalekeener]

I know it is early (10-17), but man I really thought I would be better than this. Any thoughts on why I am sinking like a rock?

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=362759

[MrHacktastic]

wow, David Wright has 10 errors through 27 games? That sucks. His rating is better than that so that shouldn't continue at that rate anyway.

I notice your starting pitching lacks endurance. Your bullpen is pretty thin. Make sure you are using correct settings for Miller and Rodriguez out of the pen and don't let them face the handed batters they can't handle.

I don't like spending 6 million for a DH in general, especially an inning killer like Adam Dunn because of his high K total but that's just me. A lot of people disagree with me about clutch hitting but I think it is important in certain spots in the lineup. It worries me that Dunn, Wright, Phillips, and Werth anchor the power spots in your lineup and all are worse in clutch situations than they are normally.

I like your defense up the middle which is excellent. One thing you could try is switching Victorino to first in the order because Pierre is such a good bunter as well as solid with the hit and run if you bat him second it gives you some managerial options.

I guess I'm really hung up on your clutch hitting overall considering it looks to me like you are building this team around offense in a pitcher's park. Your four best hitters in clutch situations:
(number of dice rolls lost vs LHP and RHP in clutch situations)
Phillips: -13, -12
Wright: -5, -5
Dunn: 0, -4
Werth: -8, -8

Another lineup option is to bat Brandon Phillips 2nd to avoid the clutch spots with him. His OBP takes a huge hit in those situations of -.120 vs LHP and -.111 vs RHP. I am not overly concerned with Wright's or Dunns clutch factor but even Werth's bothers me a little bit considering how much you pay him. Not only are all those possible hits turning into outs in big spots but they turn into popouts and don't move runners.

Given how Andrus, Pierre, and Victorino are meant to run the bases hard and not just wait for the 3 run homer I think it kind of wastes some money by not putting clutch hitters behind them.

I don't know man, I would consider dropping Dunn and looking for a value player or platoon to DH instead and putting some money into another pitcher.

Those are just opinions and efforts to help. I'm new at this game and still learning myself. Don't take any offense if I wrote something poorly as I'm not a good writer.

Most people here don't agree with me about clutch hitting but I watch every one of my team's games play out and the situations are non-stop for me and my team is built like yours. If you put speed guys at the top of the order that steal bags you will constantly have a man on second base when your middle of the order is up in two outs creating a ton of clutch situations.

[visick]

You're really lacking OB on this team.

Playing where u are, u are gonna need more OB than SLG.

Barajas/ Dunn/ AGonz are maxed out with BPHR's, and you're NOT in a SLG park.
Pierre is much better vs. LH's, as is Victorino.

In parks like yours, I prefer guys with 30+ hit chances and guys with 40+ OB chances. AGonz and Wright meet those requirements, but to the left side. Problem is you're gonna see more RH's.

Guys I like in your park:
Aviles
Ichiro
Infante
Prado
Butler
Beltre
Rhymes
Dejesus
Castro
Gardner
etc...

[chasenally]

Look to see who could use Dunn and Varitek and see if you can grab a high avg OBP guy or 2 from them. They will need to be in a hitters park but they will need them if they don't have much power.

Look at the glitter all over Varitek's card. Looks like Christmas at the Griswold's house doesn't it. I love Eddie he made the movie. "Yea Clark that is the gift that keeps on giving" or something like that. Keeping in the season here. Now take all those # in front of the HOMERUN and what do you got. You got inlaws for Christmas and that is not pretty! Don't drop him like Aunt Edna because someone will grab him up faster than the dog gets ground up on the Interstate. Those are great movies!

If you can't trade Varitek don't drop him ever! He will be great bait for any team in a HR park and they will toss you someone good for him and Dunn.

Mike

[dalekeener]

[quote:911e203b4c="chasenally"]Look to see who could use Dunn and Varitek and see if you can grab a high avg OBP guy or 2 from them. They will need to be in a hitters park but they will need them if they don't have much power.

Look at the glitter all over Varitek's card. Looks like Christmas at the Griswold's house doesn't it. I love Eddie he made the movie. "Yea Clark that is the gift that keeps on giving" or something like that. Keeping in the season here. Now take all those # in front of the HOMERUN and what do you got. You got inlaws for Christmas and that is not pretty! Don't drop him like Aunt Edna because someone will grab him up faster than the dog gets ground up on the Interstate. Those are great movies!

If you can't trade Varitek don't drop him ever! He will be great bait for any team in a HR park and they will toss you someone good for him and Dunn.

Mike[/quote:911e203b4c]

Love the movie references....great advice..

[dalekeener]

[quote:f12ceed366="Hackdog99"]wow, David Wright has 10 errors through 27 games? That sucks. His rating is better than that so that shouldn't continue at that rate anyway.

I notice your starting pitching lacks endurance. Your bullpen is pretty thin. Make sure you are using correct settings for Miller and Rodriguez out of the pen and don't let them face the handed batters they can't handle.

I don't like spending 6 million for a DH in general, especially an inning killer like Adam Dunn because of his high K total but that's just me. A lot of people disagree with me about clutch hitting but I think it is important in certain spots in the lineup. It worries me that Dunn, Wright, Phillips, and Werth anchor the power spots in your lineup and all are worse in clutch situations than they are normally.

I like your defense up the middle which is excellent. One thing you could try is switching Victorino to first in the order because Pierre is such a good bunter as well as solid with the hit and run if you bat him second it gives you some managerial options.

I guess I'm really hung up on your clutch hitting overall considering it looks to me like you are building this team around offense in a pitcher's park. Your four best hitters in clutch situations:
(number of dice rolls lost vs LHP and RHP in clutch situations)
Phillips: -13, -12
Wright: -5, -5
Dunn: 0, -4
Werth: -8, -8

Another lineup option is to bat Brandon Phillips 2nd to avoid the clutch spots with him. His OBP takes a huge hit in those situations of -.120 vs LHP and -.111 vs RHP. I am not overly concerned with Wright's or Dunns clutch factor but even Werth's bothers me a little bit considering how much you pay him. Not only are all those possible hits turning into outs in big spots but they turn into popouts and don't move runners.

Given how Andrus, Pierre, and Victorino are meant to run the bases hard and not just wait for the 3 run homer I think it kind of wastes some money by not putting clutch hitters behind them.

I don't know man, I would consider dropping Dunn and looking for a value player or platoon to DH instead and putting some money into another pitcher.

Those are just opinions and efforts to help. I'm new at this game and still learning myself. Don't take any offense if I wrote something poorly as I'm not a good writer.

Most people here don't agree with me about clutch hitting but I watch every one of my team's games play out and the situations are non-stop for me and my team is built like yours. If you put speed guys at the top of the order that steal bags you will constantly have a man on second base when your middle of the order is up in two outs creating a ton of clutch situations.[/quote:f12ceed366]

Thanks, I never quite understood how the clutch works

[Jerlins]

Dunn may not be right for this team, but he's certainly no rally killer. Strikeouts are a GOOD thing in SOM. Would you prefer a few more GBA's on the card on his out roles?

[visick]

Good point Jerlins.

I've actually used Dunn in a pitching park. He did very well, mainly because the other divisional parks were hitting parks.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=351184

And I kept him away from LH's as well...

[Jerlins]

[quote:a207085cd8="socalchiro"]Good point Jerlins.

I've actually used Dunn in a pitching park. He did very well, mainly because the other divisional parks were hitting parks.

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=351184

And I kept him away from LH's as well...[/quote:a207085cd8]

Nice numbers for a Busch team. I wouldn't be hesitant using him in a pitcher's park either.

[apolivka]

In general however, DON'T PANIC! You played 6 of your first nine series on the road. Your pitchers gave up 42 HRs in 30 games, which is very unlikely to continue at that rate. Wright won't lead the league in errors.

A lot of the advice above is good, but don't turn that into dropping a bunch of guys. Try trading (Veritek, for instance, should be starting both ways for someone, which makes him good trade bait). You are better off keeping most of these guys rather than doing any dropping. Your park is pretty much completely neutral, so nobody is really "horrible" for your park.

Clutch...meh... I don't think it really makes any meaningful difference. Certainly don't make any moves to improve clutch! Dunn is fine for your park, not ideal but good. Ks better than double plays. I've seen much worse teams do well.