- Posts: 4252
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 2:08 pm
Does anyone else get the uneasy feeling that when everyone runs to one side of the boat, maybe there’s some opportunity on the other side?
So let’s discuss a counterpoint.
My personal feelings include the desire for a simple explanation as to how the black box pitching rules work. But my motivation is completely selfish. Once I know what the exact rules are, I will launch a boatload of teams to find out just how I will exploit the weaknesses. HAL, who is all knowing, Peace Be Upon Him, cares nothing about my feelings, and He apparently will not make my goal of finding his self-destruct button an easy task.
What I’m hearing quite a few managers say, to me, sounds like “return the game to the way it was easier for me to win.” My hand is up too! I’m a comfort zone person as much as the next guy. I never clamored on about super relievers or changing the pitching rules.
Having said that, I want to try and reframe the argument from “Take away my uncertainty” to “How do we figure this out?” I mean, in my opinion, the joy of finding things out has to be one of the larger reasons I’ve been playing this game for 20+ years.
So, (believe me, strongly against my better judgment), let me throw out a team that HAL will most certainly lead down the path of greatest difficulty, having posted it mid-season.
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/team/1678710
This isn’t a Hey Mom, look at me! thing. It’s just one attempt to crack the new code, violating many sacred held beliefs about what you can and can’t do with a pitching staff along the way (the forum boards inspire me like that). I’m pretty sure it won’t end up this way, so I’ll mention it here at Game 51: Team first place, +46 run diff, third in pitching, fourth in offense.
For counter-counter pointers, naysayers and Karens, I will announce loudly:
I AM NOT SAYING I HAVE FOUND THE WAY.
But I hope we can agree, it kinda sorta is A way.
With so many great managers making so many great teams, shouldn’t we at least try to figure this out a little more before throwing up the white flag? I have at least a half dozen more ideas I want to pursue. This is such a great opportunity, I find it hard to imagine that so few out there can’t be convinced to be of a similar mind.
And I now look forward to days ahead when we’ll all complain about cheap starters and “totally unrealistic” R1 relievers!
(Okay, probably not, but I hope I made a small point at least! )