Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:08 pm
Here's an example of a manager letting go of someone too soon. In this case, Reggie Smith:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS
21 89 14 17 6 2 4 11 8 11 2 0 .191 .258 .438 .696
Looks grim. However, based on little more than his homerun total (his two bad years have low HRs) and my desperation to fill a hole I had in centerfield, I picked him up. I was just hoping he didn't have one of his two worst years. To my surprise, a later injury reveal showed I had his very best card!
Here is his line with me:
70 270 36 81 18 4 15 45 26 48 8 2 .300 .357 .563 .920
Of course, it's very possible Rocky does have his worst card. Here are some things to look at before pulling the trigger:
1. How many rolls have been off his card versus the pitcher?
2. Every year except his worst, he gets a walk for every five at bats. How is the ratio looking?
3. How has he done with ballpark homeruns and, to a much lesser extent, ballpark singles?
4. How much do you like his potential replacement. Alternatively, how much can you use the dollars for other needs?
You may think I'm suggesting you hold onto Rocky for a while longer. I probably am. However, what makes this game so interesting is the sooner you dump him if he does have his bad card, the better. So, really, there is no right or wrong answer here. Or, at least, the right answer won't be revealed until the season is over!