Trying to learn

I have played the basic card game since the sixties. I recently decided to try the online Mystery sixties game. I have a decent lineup but have a ridiculous high ERA. I have dropped well over 20 pitchers I. My ERA is more than a run higher than every other team in the league. I have tried setting roles, not setting roles, changing team strategy, etc. I am stumped completely. I thought I knew this game but evidently I don't.

I have been shut out more than any other team (about 25% of the league total shutouts in a twelve team league. I know the game compensates for ballpark and weather effects. I don't see how this can be a significant factor in my losses since both teams should be affected by these conditions.

I lose 2 out of every three games, I have been swept 12 or more times only a hundred games into the season. My good pitchers lose 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3 and every once in a while get rocked for 6-8 runs in 5 innings. My middle or low end pitchers get creamed.

I am beyond frustrated. My batting average, power, and all around offense is right in the middle of the league averages or slightly better.

Here is what I think I did wrong. All my starters are a 3 or 4 defensively. I do not lead the league in errors but I am one of the worst which I expected. I'm wondering if I can give up a ridiculous amount of hits from the pitchers card from the fielding charts.

I have reviewed the player lists a little closer and I see most of the better fielders tend to be more expensive than the below average fielders. Can fielding make this much difference?

Please shed some light or advice, I clearly need it.

Thanks!

Hey Mwpkd3...I may be able to help.

The key to success in the mystery card game is to identify which year your players card is as early as possible and finding and keeping the good years. If you have a team loaded with players in their best year, you are going to win a lot. The opposite also applies if you have a team loaded with players in their worst year.

If you haven't read the post "Help reading the cards..." then scroll down a bit on the boards here and read it. Then go back to your team and see if that helps you identify which years your players cards are.

Regarding defensive range...Your players with a 3 or 4 range won't make as many errors as players with a better range, because they couldn't get to the ball hit to them so it goes through as a hit. As a general rule...try to have 1 and 2 range players up the middle (cf, ss, 2b). At the corner positions, I worry less about range but try to keep the error number as low as possible. Of course a 1e4 player in right field will never hurt you defensively.

Hopefully this helps.
Jimmy

I have dropped well over 20 pitchers

Don't make the rookie mistake of dropping tons of guys as every time you do so you lose salary cap. Be patient, drop the guys you know are on a bad card but be judicious in doing so.

I am a big believer in good defensive ratings and low error numbers. They definitely have an impact on opponent scoring. On the pitchers card there are 108 possible outcomes - of these, 7 are ss(x), 6 are 2b(x), 3 cf(x), 3 3b(x), 3 C(x) and 2 each for 1B, P, LF and RF. I also think a good arm in RF is important. My teams are almost never near the lead in hitting but my teams are often near the lead in allowing fewest runs. On the other hand, I think it may depend on which game; my early read on the 60's is that good fielding is over-priced as compared to the 70s or 90s.

I once tried to organize a theme league where one division had the best fielding and one division had the best hitting and one division had the best pitching, but I wasn't able to attract enough signups to play the league. Maybe I'll try that again.

Franky kicks my butt most of the time but I'm not a big fan of great defense. I'll go with a ss 3 a lot or a 2b 3 but try to have a 2 or 1 at the other side. A 3 has to hit well. At third I usually play a four and I don't think first matters much. I've had a lot of CF 3s but prefer a two. I do like big arms but don't always have them. Just out homer your opponents by a whole lot and you'll be fine

Hey Mwpkd3...I may be able to help.

The key to success in the mystery card game is to identify which year your players card is as early as possible and finding and keeping the good years. If you have a team loaded with players in their best year, you are going to win a lot. The opposite also applies if you have a team loaded with players in their worst year.

If you haven't read the post "Help reading the cards..." then scroll down a bit on the boards here and read it. Then go back to your team and see if that helps you identify which years your players cards are.

Regarding defensive range...Your players with a 3 or 4 range won't make as many errors as players with a better range, because they couldn't get to the ball hit to them so it goes through as a hit. As a general rule...try to have 1 and 2 range players up the middle (cf, ss, 2b). At the corner positions, I worry less about range but try to keep the error number as low as possible. Of course a 1e4 player in right field will never hurt you defensively.

Hopefully this helps.
Jimmy

Thanks Jimmy, I will look for the post Help reading the cards. I have figured out two players for sure but they are my only two players that have been injured. They are not their best years but they are also very productive. My pitchers are the main problem but those hits out of a defensive players range can't be seen from the game summary and could possibly alter game results. I like your idea of 1 & 2's through the middle.

Franky kicks my butt most of the time but I'm not a big fan of great defense. I'll go with a ss 3 a lot or a 2b 3 but try to have a 2 or 1 at the other side. A 3 has to hit well. At third I usually play a four and I don't think first matters much. I've had a lot of CF 3s but prefer a two. I do like big arms but don't always have them. Just out homer your opponents by a whole lot and you'll be fine

Thanks, I have five homerun hitters, Dick Allen is my best player, I also have Tom Haller, Boog Powell, Billy Williams and Frank Howard. All have 45+ RBI's but Frank Howard only has 9 homeruns 111 games into the season. His low year on his cards is 21 or 22. I have Boog's worst year but I don't see anybody better available. He has 17 homers and 45+ RBI's. His average in the league is 20+ points higher than his card .249. I have alow average from Haller but his best homerun slugging year. He has 17 homers and 45+ RBI's. My pitching has stabilized but I'm still losing close games. I just lost 4 out of 5 I run ball games. Very frustrating, but I'll keep tweeking. It's in my nature.

I have dropped well over 20 pitchers

Don't make the rookie mistake of dropping tons of guys as every time you do so you lose salary cap. Be patient, drop the guys you know are on a bad card but be judicious in doing so.

Good advice but too late. My cap is now below $69,000,000. The good news is I'm not giving up double digit runs as often, in fact rarely now.

I am a big believer in good defensive ratings and low error numbers. They definitely have an impact on opponent scoring. On the pitchers card there are 108 possible outcomes - of these, 6 are ss(x), 5 are 2b(x), 3 cf(x), 3 3b(x), and 2 each for C, 1B, P, LF and RF. I also think a good arm in RF is important. My teams are almost never near the lead in hitting but my teams are often near the lead in allowing fewest runs. On the other hand, I think it may depend on which game; my early read on the 60's is that good fielding is over-priced as compared to the 70s or 90s.

I once tried to organize a theme league where one division had the best fielding and one division had the best hitting and one division had the best pitching, but I wasn't able to attract enough signups to play the league. Maybe I'll try that again.

That sounds really interesting and would be a great experiment. I'm getting a friend or two involved after this league and I know at least one of them would join in that kind of league with me. It could produce some very good info about what works or doesn't and could help in selecting future teams. Keep me in mind if you try again.

I once tried to organize a theme league where one division had the best fielding and one division had the best hitting and one division had the best pitching, but I wasn't able to attract enough signups to play the league. Maybe I'll try that again.

This sounds like a fun theme league