What do you value the most in players?

koolkerns101 · 06-16-2005, 01:43 AM

I started thinking a while back about how to build a team with people who are rejected from other teams. My main study was using the KC Royals, a small market team. I traded off basically everyone who had any trade value and that made over 1M...and I brought in people who arent great, but have certain features about them that I liked. For batters, it was Gap/Avoid K's...and for Pitchers it was Groundball Rate/Command. I brought in a batter whose Gap rating was 77 and Avoid K's was 75. However, his batting skills were 55 (both power and contact) Needless to say the player batted .280 and K'ed less than he walked. So, I decided to run with the idea and it has appeard to work. I took a team that usually loses 100 games..to a team who won almost 80.

My pitcher studies, were pretty simple. Build around guys who can get the job done. I brought in a guy with a Groundball rate of 73% and Command rate of 81. His Stuff and movement was a mere 60 and 59. The man ended up with a 3.27 ERA. Could this style of play really continue? As a small market team, I do have a limited amount of cash, so I think this is a perfect way to beat the system. Similar to the "Moneyball" effect the A's use.

Thoughts? Or want to share what you guys use to win?

sebastian0622 · 06-16-2005, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koolkerns101

Similar to the "Moneyball" effect the A's use.

Thoughts? Or want to share what you guys use to win?

Yes, similar to moneyball. Find effective players who are undervalued in the market and scoop 'em up.

I also value gap highly. Let's take a look at two guys and assume they have ratings that would consistently produce the following:

Player A: .270 avg, 10 HR, 43 2B
Player B: .270 avg, 15 HR, 22 2B

A lot of managers (either human online managers or computer AI) looking at these guys might not look at their doubles totals and may value these players near equal. They might wonder why their SLG%'s are so different for otherwise "similar" players, but you can generally get these Marcus Giles-types for cheaper than they are worth. The computer would probably trade you Player A for Player B in most cases.

sfgiants · 06-16-2005, 06:36 PM

Hitters: 25% Contact
25% Power
10% Gap
30% Eye
10% Misc stuff like stealing, defense (especially up the middle), and stuff like that.
0% Avoid K, Bunting

Pitchers: 40% Stuff
20% Control
40% Movement
0% All the Other Stuff

I also take Endurance into consideration but that depends on whether or not its an SP I'm dealing with.

Basically the opposite or what u're saying. I'm pretty sure groundball rate has no effect on anything, its just eye candy. Avoid K's does have some affect but in my opinion it is negligible.

William4192 · 06-16-2005, 06:45 PM

This is a very interesting topic.

I find, at least in my league, players with contact in the 70's, but all other areas is low are undervalued. These guys usually bat .270 and if they have power around 60, I can get 15-20+ homers.

billethius · 06-16-2005, 06:49 PM

I get a lot of satisfaction from picking up guys with good contact ratings and good defense, but little else. I can usually grab one for about $300k, and throw them out in CF or SS and have get a solid contribution out of him both offensively and defensively for cheap.

In one of my solo leagues, I had a guy who I signed to a 1yr contract. He had just average ratings all around and good defensive ratings. He provided adequate offense for a 2b and won a gold glove. I didn't extend him. The next free agent period, nobody picked him up and so I grabbed him for cheap again. In the end, I signed him to 6 straight 1yr contracts (using extensions towards the end), and he provided the same offense every year and won the GG every year until he retired after his age 42 season.

06-16-2005, 01:43 AM	#1
koolkerns101 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 147	What do you value the most in players? I started thinking a while back about how to build a team with people who are rejected from other teams. My main study was using the KC Royals, a small market team. I traded off basically everyone who had any trade value and that made over 1M...and I brought in people who arent great, but have certain features about them that I liked. For batters, it was Gap/Avoid K's...and for Pitchers it was Groundball Rate/Command. I brought in a batter whose Gap rating was 77 and Avoid K's was 75. However, his batting skills were 55 (both power and contact) Needless to say the player batted .280 and K'ed less than he walked. So, I decided to run with the idea and it has appeard to work. I took a team that usually loses 100 games..to a team who won almost 80. My pitcher studies, were pretty simple. Build around guys who can get the job done. I brought in a guy with a Groundball rate of 73% and Command rate of 81. His Stuff and movement was a mere 60 and 59. The man ended up with a 3.27 ERA. Could this style of play really continue? As a small market team, I do have a limited amount of cash, so I think this is a perfect way to beat the system. Similar to the "Moneyball" effect the A's use. Thoughts? Or want to share what you guys use to win?

06-16-2005, 06:36 PM	#3
sfgiants Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 34	Hitters: 25% Contact 25% Power 10% Gap 30% Eye 10% Misc stuff like stealing, defense (especially up the middle), and stuff like that. 0% Avoid K, Bunting Pitchers: 40% Stuff 20% Control 40% Movement 0% All the Other Stuff I also take Endurance into consideration but that depends on whether or not its an SP I'm dealing with. Basically the opposite or what u're saying. I'm pretty sure groundball rate has no effect on anything, its just eye candy. Avoid K's does have some affect but in my opinion it is negligible. Last edited by sfgiants; 06-16-2005 at 06:45 PM.

06-16-2005, 06:45 PM	#4
William4192 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,625	This is a very interesting topic. I find, at least in my league, players with contact in the 70's, but all other areas is low are undervalued. These guys usually bat .270 and if they have power around 60, I can get 15-20+ homers. __________________ What is this about Rhode Island? It is neither Road or Island. Come check out the PBA. http://www.pioneerbaseballassociation.com Or email at pbacommish@pioneerbaseballassociation.com

06-16-2005, 06:49 PM	#5
billethius All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 822	I get a lot of satisfaction from picking up guys with good contact ratings and good defense, but little else. I can usually grab one for about $300k, and throw them out in CF or SS and have get a solid contribution out of him both offensively and defensively for cheap. In one of my solo leagues, I had a guy who I signed to a 1yr contract. He had just average ratings all around and good defensive ratings. He provided adequate offense for a 2b and won a gold glove. I didn't extend him. The next free agent period, nobody picked him up and so I grabbed him for cheap again. In the end, I signed him to 6 straight 1yr contracts (using extensions towards the end), and he provided the same offense every year and won the GG every year until he retired after his age 42 season.