Strategy for Small Parks

kevrock · 03-25-2015, 10:35 AM

Hey all,

My online team has a small park, and a porch in right field. (HR LHB 1.2 for example). What is the best roster building strategy for playing in a bandbox like I am?

Would it be unwise to focus on groundball pitching (high movement) and defense first in this situation? My thought was that if I can keep the ball in the park I could win.

My focus on power bats and trying to out slug opponents hasn't worked.

One other thing I noticed is that the groundball pitchers I've targeted in the past have been pretty volatile. The most successful pitcher I've had was actually a control guy (60-55-70 on the 80 scale). Is this a fluke or is there a reason why control guys excel in smaller parks?

Thanks!

kackle85 · 03-25-2015, 01:07 PM

I would be focusing on the same things as you are. Maybe your talent level is just not high enough? Also how good is your infield defensively? In the past i haven't had much luck with GB pitchers without a very good infield.

DustinthePOWERHOUSE · 03-25-2015, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevrock

Hey all,

My online team has a small park, and a porch in right field. (HR LHB 1.2 for example). What is the best roster building strategy for playing in a bandbox like I am?

Would it be unwise to focus on groundball pitching (high movement) and defense first in this situation? My thought was that if I can keep the ball in the park I could win.

My focus on power bats and trying to out slug opponents hasn't worked.

One other thing I noticed is that the groundball pitchers I've targeted in the past have been pretty volatile. The most successful pitcher I've had was actually a control guy (60-55-70 on the 80 scale). Is this a fluke or is there a reason why control guys excel in smaller parks?

Thanks!

Control guys are definitely beneficial because they can keep the ball down and thus out of the park. Good defense also would be a big factor, smaller park less room for error, so you want people who are sure handed and won't allow a guy to get into scoring position who shouldn't be.

Power bats make a lot of sense, or single hitters...hitting shouldn't be your focus though since you need to keep the ball in the park on defense so you're offense probably will win a lot of low scoring games.

tyrionbro · 03-25-2015, 04:59 PM

Offensively, focus on contact/eye guys over power guys. Power guys are gonna try to hit it out too much and waste outs, not to mention they strike out more. Must have a catalyst of some sort, someone who gets on base a lot at the top of the order.

In my experience, high control guys tend to do better in any environment. My guess is that his above avg (but not elite movement) does well because balls don't fly out of your park and the fact he doesn't walk many guys means fewer runners on base who can score.

Another thing I've noticed is that if the HR rate in your park is low, flyball pitchers do just fine. Generally I avoid flyball pitchers like the plague.

03-25-2015, 10:35 AM	#1
kevrock Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 159	Strategy for Small Parks Hey all, My online team has a small park, and a porch in right field. (HR LHB 1.2 for example). What is the best roster building strategy for playing in a bandbox like I am? Would it be unwise to focus on groundball pitching (high movement) and defense first in this situation? My thought was that if I can keep the ball in the park I could win. My focus on power bats and trying to out slug opponents hasn't worked. One other thing I noticed is that the groundball pitchers I've targeted in the past have been pretty volatile. The most successful pitcher I've had was actually a control guy (60-55-70 on the 80 scale). Is this a fluke or is there a reason why control guys excel in smaller parks? Thanks!

03-25-2015, 01:07 PM	#2
kackle85 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 71	I would be focusing on the same things as you are. Maybe your talent level is just not high enough? Also how good is your infield defensively? In the past i haven't had much luck with GB pitchers without a very good infield.

03-25-2015, 04:59 PM	#4
tyrionbro Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 46	Offensively, focus on contact/eye guys over power guys. Power guys are gonna try to hit it out too much and waste outs, not to mention they strike out more. Must have a catalyst of some sort, someone who gets on base a lot at the top of the order. In my experience, high control guys tend to do better in any environment. My guess is that his above avg (but not elite movement) does well because balls don't fly out of your park and the fact he doesn't walk many guys means fewer runners on base who can score. Another thing I've noticed is that if the HR rate in your park is low, flyball pitchers do just fine. Generally I avoid flyball pitchers like the plague.