Re-pricng of players

I don't think you'll get much agreement about Larkin being overpriced, but many people are going to disagree with you and everybody else about who should have their prices reduced, lowered, or left alone. This is going to be the inherent problem with price-changing. We'll be giving up prices and price structures to which we're accustomed for a new pricing system that will continue to vex and stupefy, if not anger, many players, only to please the likely minority who actually agrees with most of the re-pricing. So, we'll still have a bunch of players who want re-pricing, but now they will have to also learn a new pricing system they don't even like. It won't be pretty.

Yeah and that's a problem SOM is going to face regardless of what they do. They're never going to be able to please 100% of the people with whatever pricing structure they use. Even theoretically perfect pricing will still leave people unhappy about certain players. That's part of the reason I wish they would leave pricing alone for the 70s and 80s. I'm not calling for change in the 60s and 90s either, but I would like to know what others think about what I said.

The 70s needs to be changed. There are players like Roger Repoz who even in his best year is way overpriced. As a result, these players never get picked. This, in effect, makes for a smaller pool of players.

(The same can probably be said of the 80s, but I have never played that set.)

The 70s needs to be changed. There are players like Roger Repoz who even in his best year is way overpriced. As a result, these players never get picked. This, in effect, makes for a smaller pool of players.

(The same can probably be said of the 80s, but I have never played that set.)

I never thought Roger Repoz going unpicked was that much of a problem. I'm sure even he'd be surprised by the attention...

Every set has had overpriced players who almost never get picked, and SOM has priced every one of those sets. Unless people think SOM is suddenly going to get a re-pricing absolutely right, and I sure don't, they can't expect a re-pricing is going to change that. Many players are going to stay underpriced, many are going to become underpriced, and some will seem underpriced because of the new structural salary values.

So, a re-pricing may get poor Roger Repoz finally picked. However, it is most likely not going to keep players from being under- or over-priced, and it is not going to prevent the formation of a group of players who rarely get picked.

The 80s (very first mystery card game) player pricing is way too low compared to the other mystery games. I suggested to SOM that there be a repricing of that game at least. Also that game has the lowest player pool.

I went through every team’s roster from 1982-1987 and looked at every player looking for prospects to add to the player pool. I used the following arbitrary criteria. Must have at least 5 years with at least 100 AB or 40 or so IP for a RP or 100 IP for a SP. If the player had 4 or 5 of such years within 1980-1989 that met this criteria I listed him in group A. If the player had 3 years in the 80s and 2 years in the 70s or 90s I listed him in group B. I only wanted players that had at least 3 qualifying seasons in the 80’s. These limits are not SOM’s but simply mine for use in compiling this list.

Some players had more than 5 seasons that met the minimum playing time criteria I used so for those players other years could be substituted for ones I have suggested. I tried to stay away from unusually good or bad seasons where possible. If all players in group A hitters and pitchers are added that would bring the player pool up to 731. That is on the low end of what I propose as the target range for the player pool. Maybe we add some of the group B players and/or don’t use all the players from group A. This post is simply to start a discussion and is not meant to be a final answer. I put a lot of work into researching these players because I love the mystery card games (all four decades) and want them all to be as much fun as possible and because I enjoyed doing it.

The players below are simply listed alphabetically within each group and not in any order of preference. There are not many superstars. They are largely ageing vets at the end of their career, young players that would be superstars in the 90s or bench players for the most part. Anyway I submitted this to SOM several years ago and they considered adding players and repricing the 80s but decided the return would not justify their time and expense.

HITTERS (Group A)
Bench, Johnny – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Bonds, Barry – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 (the pre PED years)
Bosley, Thad – 80, 81, 85, 86, 87
Burroughs, Jeff – 80, 81, 82, 83, 85
Butera, Sal – 80, 81, 82, 85, 86
Cangelosi, John – 86, 87, 88, 89, 94
Coles, Darnell – 84, 86, 87, 88, 89
Cotto, Henry – 84, 87, 88, 89, 90
Dent, Bucky – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Galarraga, Andres – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Gross, Greg – 80, 83, 84, 85, 86
Hairston, Jerry – 83, 84, 85, 86, 87
Harper, Brian – 83, 84, 88, 89, 90
Harper, Terry - 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
Hebner, Richie – 80, 81, 82, 83, 85
Javier, Stan – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Jeltz, Steve – 85, 86, 87, 88, 89
Jones, Lynn – 79, 81, 82, 84, 85
Krenchicki, Wayne – 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
Kuiper, Duane – 80, 81, 82, 83, 84
Lefebvre, Joe – 80, 81, 82, 83), 84
Lyons, Steve – 85, 86, 87, 88, 89
Meacham, Bob – 84, 85, 86, 87, 88
Monday, Rick – 78, 80, 81, 82, 83 (then again maybe that ’81 season is just too good?)
Money, Don – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Moore, Charlie – 80, 82, 83, 85, 86
Morales, Jerry – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Morgan, Joe – 80, 81, 82, 83, 84
Nicosia, Steve – 79, 80, 81, 82, 84
Nixon, Otis – 85, 86, 88, 89, 90
O’Malley, Tom – 82, 83, 86, 87, 90
Ortiz, Junior – 83, 87, 88, 89 (the 5th year could be [84/91 - bad] or [86/90 – good])
Otis, Amos – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Perez, Tony – 80, 81, 82, 83, 86
Picciolo, Rob – 79, 80, 81, 84, 85 (possibly use ’77 for ’84 but that would throw him down into the next group with only three 80’s seasons)
Piniella, Lou – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Ramos, Domingo – 83, 85, 86, 89, 90
Reed, Jeff – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Russell, John – 84, 85, 86, 89, 90
Sakata, Lenn – 81, 82, 83, 84, 85
Sierra, Ruben – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Simpson, Joe – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Skinner, Joel – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Squires, Mike – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Thomas Derrel – 79, 80, 81, 83, 84
Thompson, Scot – 79, 80, 81, 84, 85
Venable, Max – 80, 82, 83, 85, 86
Washington, Ron – 82, 83, 84, 85, 88
Watson, Bob – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Wellman, Brad – 83, 84, 85, 88, 89
Wohlford, Jim – 79, 80, 82, 83, 85
Woods, Gary – 77, 81, 82, 83, 84
Wright, George – 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
Yastrzemski, Carl – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83

HITTERS (Group B)
Allenson, Gary – 79, 81, 82, 83, 84 (only 4 seasons of over 100 AB)
Anderson, Jim – 78, 79, 80, 81, 83
Ayala, Benny – 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 (only 4 seasons of over 100 AB)
Bell, Jay – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Bevacqua, Kurt – 78, 79, 82, 83, 85
Biittner, Larry – 78, 79, 80, 82, 83
Bilardello, Dann – 83, 84, 85, 86, 89 (only 4 seasons of over 100 AB)
Bochy, Bruce – 78, 79, 84, 85, 86
Burks, Ellis – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Candaele, Casey – 86, 87, 88, 90, 91
Cruz, Todd – 79, 80, 82, 83, 84 (can’t hit a lick, do we really care?)
Eisenreich, Jim – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Essian, Jim – 79, 80, 82, 83, 84 (only 4 of these seasons over 100 AB, you would have to go back further in the 70’s for another 100+ season. The 1983 season is close though.)
Gallego, Mike – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Garcia, Kiko – 78, 79, 80, 81, 83
Geronimo, Cesar – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Hill, Marc – 79, 80 , 82, 83, 84 (only two seasons of 100+ AB in the 80’s)
Hodges, Ron – 76, 77, 82, 83, 84
Johnson, Lamar – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Johnstone, Jay – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 (1981 has below 100 AB)
Karkovice, Ron – 86, 88, 89, 90, 91
Kingery, Mike – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 (1989 has 76 AB, you could substitute an awful 1991 season.)
Lake, Steve – 83, 85, 87, 89, 91 (1983 has only 85 AB)
Larkin, Gene – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Lee, Manuel – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Liriano, Nelson – 87, 88, 89, 90, 94
Magadan, Dave – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Mayberry, John – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
McBride, Bake – 78, 79, 80, 81, 83
McKay, Dave – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
McLemore, Mark – 87, 88, 89, 92, 93
Milbourne, Larry – 79, 80, 82, 83, 84 (1983 only 66 AB)
Murcer, Bobby – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Narron, Jerry – 79, 80, 81, 84, 85 (can’t hit, does he really matter?)
Palmeiro, Rafael – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Perkins, Broderick – 78, 79, 81, 82, 83
Pujols, Luis – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 (he is so awful does it really matter?)
Quinones, Luis – 86, 87, 89, 90, 91
Rayford, Floyd – 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 (1987 only 50 AB)
Revering, Dave – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Rudi, Joe – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Stanley, Mike – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Staub, Rusty – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 (His 80, 81 & 83 cards may be too good for a part time player)
Surhoff, BJ – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Tenace, Gene – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
White, Jerry – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Williams, Matt – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91


PITCHERS (Group A)
Beckwith, Joe – 80, 82, 83, 84, 85
Bird, Doug – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Castillo, Bobby – 80, 81, 82, 83, 85
Easterly, Jamie – 81, 82, 83, 84, 85
Fingers, Rollie – 80, 81, 82, 84, 85
Forster, Terry – 82, 83, 84, 85, 86
Franco, John – 85, 86, 87, 88, 89
Garrelts, Scott – 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 (another player who mixes RP only with mostly SP seasons but the difference here is that his best season was as a SP so I think it is OK to list him as a S/R.)
Havens, Brad – 81, 82, 83, 86, 88
Hooton, Burt – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Howell, Ken – 84, 85, 86, 87, 89
Jenkins, Fergie – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Koosman, Jerry – 79, 80, 82, 83, 84
McGraw, Tug – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Monge, Sid – 80, 81, 82, 83 and either 79 or 84
Morgan, Mike – 82, 86, 87, 89, 90
Niekro, Phil – 80, 82, 83, 84, 85
Palmer, Jim – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Perry, Gaylord – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Plesac, Dan – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Reed, Ron – 80, 81, 82, 83, 84
Renko, Steve – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Seaver, Tom – 80, 81, 83, 84, 85
Sosa, Elias – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Tidrow, Dick – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Tobik, Dave – 80, 81, 82, 83, 84
Torrez, Mike – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Underwood, Tom – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
Witt, Bobby – 86, 87, 88, 89, 90

PITCHERS (Group B)
Aguilera, Rick – 85, 86, 87, 89, 90 (only 4 years as a SP & one dominant RP card makes it difficult I think. Maybe he is better left in the 90s as a RP?)
Augustine, Jerry – 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 (he is not very good so it might not matter)
Fisher, Brian – 85, 86, 87, 88, 92 (3 seasons as mainly a SP but 1 season as a dominant RP might be crazy if listed as a S/R and is able to start with those stats. Very much like Aguilera in that respect.)
Fryman, Woodie – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Henneman, Mike – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Hood, Don – 78, 79, 80, 82, 83
Hrabosky, Al – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Jackson, Michael – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Jones, Doug – 87. 88. 89. 90, 91
Lancaster, Les – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
LaRoche, Dave – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Maddux, Greg – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Magrane, Joe – 87, 88, 89, 90, 93 (These are the exact cards he has for the 90s game. Even though 3 years are in the 80s would we really want a duplicate?)
Matlack, Jon – 77, 78, 80, 81, 82
May, Rudy – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Medich, Doc – 78, 79, 80, 81, 82
Myers, Randy – 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Owchinko, Bob – 79, 80, 81, 82, 84 (1981 he only had 39 IP. Maybe use 1978 in place of 1981?)
Rijo, Jose – 86, 88, 89, 90, 91
Roberge, Bert – 79, 82, 84, 85, 86 (maybe he didn’t really play enough)
Sanchez, Luis – 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 (all the seasons in the 80’s but his first season only has 33 IP. Is it enough?)
Searage, Ray – 81, 85, 86, 87, 89 (Similar to Luis Sanchez but he has two seasons of only 30 something IP instead of only one.)
Thomas, Roy – 79, 80, 83, 84, 85 (He has a few starts in these 5 years. If he would be listed as RP only then I would move him into Group A.)

Good work LM, they should add all those players. Looks like you did half the work for them. How hard can it be to add some players?

Larkin is a definite miss pricing-wise.

Good work LM, they should add all those players. Looks like you did half the work for them. How hard can it be to add some players?

How can you NOT have such names as the below who have 4 or 5 viable seasons in the 80s. These might not be their best seasons but it would still be fun using some of these names in the 80s game:

Rollie Fingers
John Franco
Fergie Jenkins
Tug McGraw
Phil Niekro
Jim Palmer
Gaylord Perry
MLB network's very own Dan Plesac
Tom Seaver
Johnn Bench
Barry Bonds
Joe Morgan
Tony Perez
Ruben Sierra

In fact every player in Group A are no-brainer additions and there are plenty of nice players in Group B with 3 80s seasons as well.

I also agree that the 90s Larkin is overpriced. I don't use him outside of a theme league.

It shouldn't be too hard (for IT guys) to calculate use and reprice players based on usage. Set some sort of standards and reprice base upon those - like every 20 leagues that are formed if a player is picked in every league his price automatically increases 10%; if he is picked in 18 or 19 leagues his price increases 5%; if he is picked in 0 leagues his price decreases 10%; if he is picked in 1 or 2 leagues his price decreases 5%.

Above is just an example but if something like this could be agreed upon by us players and given to SOM it would be a continual price fix and stop the 'player X was overpriced and SOM repriced and didn't fix him' statements. Of course this also assumes we come to an agreement and SOM actually listens to us which is a huge assumption.