Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365

I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion but I think the ballpark effects make too much of an impact on the game.

Let's take the '15 version Petco Park as an example. It's a pitchers ballpark but has 1-12 BP HR for lefties. So, you'd likely see a roster full of lefty pitchers and an all lefty lineup on the home team. This is not really something you would see IRL unless Petco had a really really short porch in right field.

I just think it's cheap to see an owner stock-up on an all one side roster. Ballpark effects should have less of an impact.

Just FYI, this post is NOT directed towards anyone specific in my recent leagues. I just finished my first '15 season where Petco was used but have also played BTT90's where Skydome '93 & Shea Stadium '98 are always popular choices.

At a lower cost per team credit, you might see managers experimenting more. For me, the price per team puts a much bigger emphasis on going with a known strategy that works reliably instead of building rosters with a variety of strategies. Does it get boring? A little bit...

ATG = Shea and lh sluggers and pitchers, 70s = Fulton County with sluggers and low HR pitchers.

The game is set up for parity. We have a set salary and players are priced according to an algorithm to ensure that even the computer should be able to draft a competitive team. It is a game of inches so folks look for whatever advantage they can get. I play one season at a time. Being non-competitive is murder.

I am in Petco this season, the autodraft just happened and waiting for waivers. This is my first team this season so I drafted by feel.

I don't use the ratings book - Strike One.
I haven't played this season before and assume my competitors have - Strike Two

Strike three would be playing against those that are utilizing a true home field advantage when I don't.

I obviously don't begrudge those that look for an advantage......... I would like the game to make a few adjustments though so it isn't an option. I'd also be willing to play in a league where Chase field is the only field we can use.

Joe

wavygravy2k wrote:I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion but I think the ballpark effects make too much of an impact on the game.

Let's take the '15 version Petco Park as an example. It's a pitchers ballpark but has 1-12 BP HR for lefties. So, you'd likely see a roster full of lefty pitchers and an all lefty lineup on the home team. This is not really something you would see IRL unless Petco had a really really short porch in right field.

I just think it's cheap to see an owner stock-up on an all one side roster. Ballpark effects should have less of an impact.

Just FYI, this post is NOT directed towards anyone specific in my recent leagues. I just finished my first '15 season where Petco was used but have also played BTT90's where Skydome '93 & Shea Stadium '98 are always popular choices.

To play devils advocate the only "strength" you're talking about is LH's and SH's who hit RH's for HR's: show me your dream lineup assuming you get every pick with "all lefty lineup on the home team". Plus an all LH SP rotation would be very challenging.

JT

wavygravy2k wrote:I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion but I think the ballpark effects make too much of an impact on the game.

Let's take the '15 version Petco Park as an example. It's a pitchers ballpark but has 1-12 BP HR for lefties. So, you'd likely see a roster full of lefty pitchers and an all lefty lineup on the home team. This is not really something you would see IRL unless Petco had a really really short porch in right field.

I just think it's cheap to see an owner stock-up on an all one side roster. Ballpark effects should have less of an impact.

Just FYI, this post is NOT directed towards anyone specific in my recent leagues. I just finished my first '15 season where Petco was used but have also played BTT90's where Skydome '93 & Shea Stadium '98 are always popular choices.

It may be unrealistic, but strategically wise, owners are WAY too immobile when an opponent goes with 9 lefty hitters in Petco. You should attack that opponent's strength and make it a weakness, which is being vulnerable against hard-throwing lefties, but I never (or rarely) see other teams adjust. My wild-card team just eliminated last week in 4 straight games a 96-win Petco team that had 9 lefty hitters. Narveson (0.5M) beat Kershaw 1-0 with a no-no. 9L Bergman, pricetag under 1M, had a 3-hit game. Of course, I had a few rolls on my side, but we would win that series 75% time, I'm confident. In fact, my real luck came during the season, when it became obvious that my team would play the Petco if it were to make the playoffs. Before game 144 struck, We set up our rotation just like we wanted it.

But most owners don't react to an owner building up the Petco strategy. It's no different in real-life.Take Dusty Baker. When it was obvious that Harper wouldn't have anything to hit the whole weekend, why stick with R-L-R-L lineup--and thus have the weaker Zimmerman instead of Murphy protecting Harper? I understand the logic of avoiding two straight lefty bats, but with your opponent exploiting the weakest link, shouldn't coaches leave "the Book" aside and take another strategy?

bbfan wrote:
To play devils advocate the only "strength" you're talking about is LH's and SH's who hit RH's for HR's: show me your dream lineup assuming you get every pick with "all lefty lineup on the home team". Plus an all LH SP rotation would be very challenging.

JT

Hi JT,

Granted it is ATG (back to ATG VI), not 20xx, but an all LH rotation, with LH sluggers at all positions except 2b and ss resulted in:

Teams - 19
Average Wins - 91.4
Over .500 Teams - 17
Playoff Teams - 15
WS Appearances - 8
Champs - 5

The one sided BP strategy works pretty reliably.

Joe Morgan wrote:The game is set up for parity. We have a set salary and players are priced according to an algorithm to ensure that even the computer should be able to draft a competitive team. It is a game of inches so folks look for whatever advantage they can get. I play one season at a time. Being non-competitive is murder.

I am in Petco this season, the autodraft just happened and waiting for waivers. This is my first team this season so I drafted by feel.

I don't use the ratings book - Strike One.
I haven't played this season before and assume my competitors have - Strike Two

Strike three would be playing against those that are utilizing a true home field advantage when I don't.

I obviously don't begrudge those that look for an advantage......... I would like the game to make a few adjustments though so it isn't an option. I'd also be willing to play in a league where Chase field is the only field we can use.

Joe

You can always set up a league that uses 1 park. Just mention that in the comments when you start a league.
I might be up for that.

alchamps wrote:

You can always set up a league that uses 1 park. Just mention that in the comments when you start a league.
I might be up for that.

Could be interesting. When I am done with my current season I will set one up. Would Citi Field be the one to go with or ...................?

Joe