Thanks for the condescending attitude.
If you check the OP, you'll see one of my leagues I had Bob Gibson starting four years (1967-70). My team made the WS every year, and every year Gibson got blown out every game he started except one (as did my No. 2 for two of those years, Fergie Jenkins).
Gibson's real-life ERA in 3 World Series? 1.89 ... 9 starts, 8 CG, 2 shutouts, 7-2 record. Possibly the single greatest post-season pitcher ever.
Gibson's OOTP ERA in 4 World Series? 9.23 ... 9 starts, 0 CG, 1-7 record.
If it's not cheating, it's doing a lousy job reflecting reality.
Yeah, it's supposed to be hard. It's supposed to be hard getting to the playoffs too, but it's not (I have to handicap my teams to not win 110 games a year, like play in a tiny market. Despite that, most teams I play, most years I win about 95 games and make the playoffs).
It is ridiculously hard to win them unless you stack your team. Don't take my word for it, go look at the
Desperation in Denver thread ... his experience, season after season (18 playoffs, 13 in a row, often w/ the best team in baseball, zero WS titles), is what I see in most of the leagues I start in OOTP. It's gotten real old ...