[bgeno]

I have no idea what happened to my team.

I started a fictional league with a 54-game season and was just a few games under .500 in the first season. I had a ton of money left, so I decided to go ahead and buy some free agents and make a big trade.

I signed one of the top pitchers available. He went 7-2 the previous season with a 2.40 ERA and gave up just 4 HRs. So far in the second season, he is 0-2 in 3 appearances with a 12.35 ERA and has given up 3 HRs. I've yanked him after he gave up 10 earned in 4.1 one game and loaded the bases after giving up 3 earned in the 2nd inning.

I traded for the 09 Outstanding Hitter Award winner as well. I gave up some prospects and a relief pitcher. He hit .385 with 15 homers in 34 games the first season. So far, through 13 games and 54 ABs, he's hitting .196 and is just 3 K's away from tieing his total from all of last year.

One of my best hitters from last year is WAY down. He had a great season... hit .341 with 14 HRs... was pretty consistent. Now he's hitting .190 with 1 HR. After the season last year, his scouting report went south. His power plumetted.

I've got a guy that hit .284 last year hitting .196 (though, I'll admit, he's 8-for-22 in the last 5 games, so he could be coming around) and a guy that hit .258 hitting .180.


My pitching isn't terrible... I'm basically middle of the road in everything. I can't expect much more considering my starters dont grade well by my scout.

But...

My batting is just AWFUL... last in AVG, OBP, SLG, HR, hits, and Runs per game (not even close on runs per game... I have a 2.6 average, next lowest is 4.1).


What could have happened here? I realize guys can have down years and cold streaks, and I expect that, and I did lose my leadoff hitter to injury (he hit .350 last year and was 5-for-10 before getting hurt), but this just seems ridiculous.

What am I doing wrong and different from last year?