what does this mean / imply?

Scumbyjr,

What number are you referring to again, and where?

There are 2 columns for both sacrificing and squeezing, but 3 for H&R, My team is PIK and shows a 17. Not sure what that refers to. I understand the other columns that H&R advanced the runner 39 times out of 53 attempts.
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/le ... ers/426777

I believe the first number is hits (the result is a "hit", not a ground out). So you had 17 hits when HAL attempted to Hit and Run.

Incidentally, there was a time where you could win big with all A-B Hit and Run guys. I think SOM cooled that off when they realized you could basically roll dice all day off a very favorable H&R chart and circumvent rolling pitcher/hitter card numbers!

I believe the first number is hits (the result is a "hit", not a ground out). So you had 17 hits when HAL attempted to Hit and Run.

Thanks.

Fun With Conventional Wisdom

1. HAL sucks with platoons and pinch hitting.
2. Do not use Very Aggressive runner settings.
3. HAL steals home and third too much.
4. Don't use 3s up the middle.
5. You need a big bat to stir the drink.
6. A $0.53 backup has no place in the everyday lineup.
7. Don't overspend on pitching, $32 mil is plenty.
8. Catcher's who are 4s with a +1 arm are probably good to avoid.
9. High injury guys are also good to avoid.
10. Sit high injury guys prior to beginning the playoffs.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1391740

1. HAL sucks with platoons and pinch hitting .
* Except I used eight full platoons and pinch hitters batted .397 with three HR.
2. Do not use Very Aggressive runner settings.
* Except I used that here. Stole 152 bases and runners advanced over 40% of the time and were out just under 12%.
3. HAL steals home and third too much.
*I stole third 26 times and was caught 15. Stole home four in eight tries. I'm okay with this.
4. Don't use 3s up the middle.
*Owings and Gennett vs RHP.
5. You need a high $ big bat to stir the drink.
*That is, if Yelich is a high $ "big bat".
6. A $0.53 backup has no place in the everyday lineup.
* Unless he's Delmon Young and second on the team in HR and RBIs (and the ONLY non-platoon guy).
7. Don't overspend on pitching, $32 mil is plenty.
* $42.77 earns five 15 game winning non-* SPs.
8. Catcher's who are 4s with a +1 arm are probably good to avoid.
* Jaso did okay here.
9. High injury guys are also good to avoid.
* Jaso and Pena are Inj-6, Ross and Revere are Inj-4, Norris, Baker and Dyson are Inj-3, Konerko and Young are Inj-2.
10. Sit high injury guys prior to beginning the playoffs.
* That's 290 total injury days, 29 of which occurred during the playoffs. I never sit anybody at anytime.

None of this mentions zero in-season changes in settings either. Why, you could accuse me of not even TRYING, because I never replace injured guys with subs, sit players, drop salary or do ANYTHING (other than tweak line-ups out of boredom) to make my team better once the season starts.

Now, I'd be lying if I said I set out to build an iconoclastic anti-Secret Formula team. I set out to win the net runs game (and got 233 to the positive). I just did not let a lot of the nonsense I see on the boards that passes for good
"conventional wisdom" stop me from trying something different. So let the buyer beware what they see in a forum.

Incidentally, I am still very pro-Secret Formula. I think it's absolutely the best guide to veteran best practices around, and it has stood the test of time. However, like all things Strat, there are no absolutes. Go ahead and do it your own way.

"Wait...he just got lucky...do it again and this time mix *SP and non-* SPs!

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1394516

"You could never do that three times!!!"

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1394759

"You can't do that with the NEW card set!!"

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1396894

"Hah! No ring, try again Chump!!"

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1397892

Hmmm. Crazy lucky, eh?

4. Don't use 3s up the middle.

I've never understood this one. I've been using 3's at all three middle position since I've started and done just fine. Four of my first 8 teams this year have made the finals with (3's) middle infielders:

1. The White Malice with Negron at 2b and Peralta at SS
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1396900

2. The Ravagers with Rendon at 2b
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1397202

3. The Dark Seraphim with Walker at 2b and Castro at SS
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1398783

4. The Cool Scoundrels with Walker at 2b and Reyes at SS
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1398946

So, the conventional wisdom against 3's up the middle is definitely flawed.

It depends what you mean by "definitely flawed".

After 10 years of Secret Formula posts with links to over 200 Championship teams, the percentage of teams who won rings using 1s or 2s at 2B, SS and CF was consistently in the very high 90% range.

To me, ten years of Championship teams showing repeatable data is very strong "conventional wisdom", unlike the more anecdotal conventional wisdom (ie, HAL sucks at ____________).

I think Strat may be navigating away from these defensive "edges" although I have no proof other than what I think I am seeing. I like having a deeper pool of players to work from, so I would like to see more 3s get used (and 4s for that matter). But...

While your examples provide very good teams, none of them won rings, either. So whether or not that means your four examples disprove the "conventional wisdom" is still to be determined, in my opinion. So far, it actually supports it, does it not??

It depends what you mean by "definitely flawed".

By "definitely flawed," I mean it is flawed and definitely so. You asserted that before I did in your penultimate post. Are you now recanting your assertion? If I can produce four teams out of 8 that make the finals with 3's in the middle infield, then the assertion you can't win with 3's in the middle infield is flawed. That is clear.

While your examples provide very good teams, none of them won rings, either. So whether or not that means your four examples disprove the "conventional wisdom" is still to be determined, in my opinion. So far, it actually supports it, does it not??

Actually it doesn't. All my example shows is you can clearly make the finals with 3's in the middle infield. It's hardly enough of a sample size to show you can't win a title with them. Also, if you think it is, you must think there is a substantial difference between a team that makes the Finals and one that wins it. What exactly do you see that difference to be, and how much luck do you see involved in that separation?

P.s. I'll check out my older teams to find some champs with 3's

Here's my 2010 team the Black Fire that won the championship with Jeff Keppinger at 2b.
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/364479

My 2011 championship team the Seraphim with Jason Kipnis at 2b
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/386123

My 2013 championship team the Wicked Tengu with Hanley Ramirez at Ss
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1128412

My 90's championship team the Sly Libertines with Jeff Kent at 2b
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1386346

Settings for my worst team ever in a 1986 game (72-90) and link to team:
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/strategy
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1378310

Settings for my 1999 game championship winning team (91-71) and link to team:
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/strategy
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1394524

After that result with the very aggressive running/base stealing settings I became more conservative and those settings have worked better for me. Personal preference based on how you want to play and what works well with your team.