Small Ball 101

I think if any thread I participated in should be sticky, it would be this one about building a quality small ball team.

Generally, stickied threads are temporary. So in order that it won't be forgotten, I'll add this one to the Strategy Forum/Newbie Advice thread that I maintain in the General Strategy forum.

This is all very helpful—thank you! One question: does your recommended steal setting (team conservative, individual players set on steal more) minimize the attempts to steal third? Have found this aspect extremely frustrating when trying to use “speed” teams.

Conservative team will definitely reduce the attempts at 3rd & Home. If you set a team for very aggressive, guys are gonna get caught stealing 3rd and home on a pretty regular basis. That's why I do it the way I do.

Thank you!

My small ball team I had previously posted in this thread won 107 games which is my most ever and is waiting for the other semifinal to finish. I used egvrich's and Frankie T's suggestions in the Small Ball...advice, criticism etc. post to create this team. Thank guys!
Here is the link to the league: https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/464363
Here is the link to the roster: https://365.strat-o-matic.com/team/sim/1718015

Tom

Tom, that is a monstrous result--congrats!

And you swept the semis, whew.

Wow the baserunning advances success rate up at around 90% is incredible.

Good luck in the Finals!

Here's a question that I don't see much information on:

What are the upper limits, league salary wise, that the small ball philosophy would be effective?

i know it works wonders in the lower caps, 100M and less ... has anyone tried it at 200M and above?
Any links you'd care to share?

I'd love to try it in a high-$ league, but I don't want to waste time if it's not likely to be an effective strategy

Love the insights, and I'm trying my hand at some teams right now.

Gets dicey above 120 or so unless you begin to make adjustments for added power.

125M (you were in this one) lost semis
team: https://365.strat-o-matic.com/team/1662171
league: https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/457819

140M (hybrid team)-won finals
team: https://365.strat-o-matic.com/team/1646902
league: https://365.strat-o-matic.com/league/456146

For me, small ball at caps higher than 120 and without power adjustments was 75-79 win teams.