Coors Field- 2014

Greetings,

Just curious what others experience has been using Coors field? What worked? (if anything)..... Thanks!

I know the urge to load up on Big Bats in Coors can be overwhelming, but I'm here to tell you, pitching and defense works pretty well.

Because of the huge amount of ballpark singles, I like to put emphasis on middle defense--of course, if you can get the hand on Tulowitski, you get the perfect fit of power and defense.

As J-Pav said, you could go with a strong pitching squad with low BP, ideally low on-base, so Kershaw is an obvious choice, I also love Sanchez for Coors, despite having low gbA, but he fits the low on-base/no BP category. His hold doesn't hurt as much in Coors as opposed to Fenway, for example. Same argument for Arrieta.

But personnally, I like going with really cheap pitchers in the 1M-2M range, pitchers who have 12 chances of DP and no ballpark (to give a few names: Y.Flande, Treinen, D.Hale) and load a dream-team bullpen of at least two 4M/5M relievers and a third string of quality around 3M---ideally reliever with no ballpark singles (like Betances, for example).

But my strongest recommandation is that you don't play middle ground for Coors, either you go with a real strong pitching squad, and limit yourself to one reliever/closer, but if you don't like your staff, drop it all and go with a staff with no one higher than 3M and build a very strong bullpen. Say you have Kershaw, Fiers and three cheapies. Coors is merciless with cheap starters, so you really to invest in super relievers, but most often these two relievers will be useless when Kershaw and Fiers are on the mound, so you don't optimize your strength.

Many years ago, I read a book called Always Bear Left that had all kinds of cool tips on the best way to do things. Most of the information was practical and made sense but by now long forgotten. However, I still remember the entire "chapter" on taking the train. It read:

"Never take the train."

Along the same vein, here is my advice for Coors Field success:

"Never take Coors Field."

There are exceptions to every rule---here a 5M starting staff and a more or less normal bullpen--this was 2012 Coors but same theory applies---- Hi BP HR and Hi BP singles.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/sim/1111043

I only have played Coors twice--so little experience overall--the other team not as successful (a 2012 team also) but spent quite a bit more on pitching.

I have seen a number of Coors teams with pitching and defense be successful though.

I miss that 2012 Ian Desmond card. Power, speed, sold hitting on both sides, and plus defense all for under 6 mil. They don't make many middle infielder cards like that anymore.

when pitching keep the ball in the ballpark with sp that have low bp hr, a decent hold rating plus

a catcher with a good arm

keep the runners at first so u can max dp's and have strong defence up the middle and decent every else

reduce the other teams at bats

it sounds so simple doesn't it.

Milleram, your team goes in the sense I suggest, perhaps I would spend more on bullpen, but the overall idea is that the bulk of what you spent on pitching lied on the three relievers.

For memory, cristano is the one who had very succesful teams 95 wins +, with the pitching strategy, but I'm too lazy to look for his team.

Toronto50, coors is so run-scoring oriented, do you really mind about catcher's arm? We're not playing 1-run game there. I prefer seeing my opponent taking a chance and getting caught stealing, thereby reducing "the other team at-bats", to quote you. Outs are gold in Coors when playing defense, so I like taking my chances on caught stealings and not care too much about negative hold.

I would go with a good but not elite 4- man rotation:
1. Greinke
2. Roarke
3. Zimmerman
4. Hughes

Or similar. With something like Betances, Carlyle and Storen in the bullpen. At least solid defense . And look for a lot of 7-8 BP hr guys on offense.

I have had good success in balance at Coors: good SP, relieving, hitting and D. Not great or extreme in any but evenly spread, all positions players under $7 mil, just all solid players. Slurged on 2 starts and the rest again al 2-3 million.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1399002

JT