[balt77]

I have played 2.75 seasons now and each year I have been in first place and all players have played very well, meeting expectations for the majority of the season. However, each year my team has faded dramatically late in the year, to the point where I get ticked off because it is not even realistic year-in and year-out. See examples below and let me know if you have any ideas how to stop this maddening trend of 2nd half fades:

My first season, I was up by about 7 or 8 games starting in September, I was up by 5 games with 5 to play and lost all five then lost the one game playoff (to add insult to injury, my best offensive player was suspended for 6 games covering the last 5 games of the season and the one-game playoff game).
My second season, I was in first place by about 6 games hitting mid-August and ended up finishing about 10 games under .500 nowhere near playoffs.
This season, I was in first place or close to it for the entire first half and now a week after the trading deadline I am 7 games out losing game after game after game.

I keep an eye on rest (although might players need a day off even if rest says 100%?) and manage the same way for most of the games. I tend to play each game but simulate some innings in each game, stepping in when I feel like it or when a game is tight or the other team is catching up after a large lead.

The biggest thing I notice is that my offensive production tends to PLUMMET after the all-star break and I don't know what to do. Just getting frustrated and considering stopping playing the game all together.

Thanks for your help.