is there a trick to winning in the playoffs?

saml00 · 03-26-2002, 03:03 PM

I have finshed the regular season with between 95 and 105 wins for 5 straight years but have yet to make it out of the first round of the playoffs . . .is this just bad luck or is there something structurally different about a good playoff team?

Killebrew · 03-26-2002, 03:13 PM

I'd look at your top 3 SP's and your bullpen 1st of all. Those area's can put many teams over the top, and if you do not have a few obvious standout SP's and relievers it can really hurt you in those short series. Some good luck is always useful too

.

Falcon52 · 03-26-2002, 03:17 PM

I'm with you. I am always at the top, or near the top of the entire league each and every year, but then in the playoffs, I always lose to a mediocre team, usually in the second round.

I too would like to know what I'm doing wrong. I've got a starting staff whose scouting report for 2-5 are "..will be a good 2nd or 3rd man in the rotation", plus my ace is usually someone who "is in a class all his own". Plus my closer is listed as "one of the best in the league..", and about three of my relievers are rated as outstanding.

It seems too often, it's not about talent, but just about luck. I'm starting to think the computer just randomly chooses a winner, not based on skill, but on mathematical numbers which only the computer would understand.

blmeanie · 03-26-2002, 03:34 PM

Not everybody will be a dynasty...not everybody can be the Yankees of late.

Atlanta Braves - 10 straight division titles, one world series win (although this year looks good...ok you Mets/Yankees/Diamondback fans...bring it on!)

I had a team in a solo league that was winning the division each and every year and getting to the Series about 40% of the time. I won one world series in something like 12 years of making the playoffs. If I had won it 6-12 times I might have walked away from the game. Frustrating? Yes...Fun? Yes...

Now image being John Shureholtz...ok, bad example...and please lose the suspenders...ugh...

Tarkus · 03-26-2002, 03:43 PM

Well, I've played about 95 years now and almost always made the playoffs in some fashion and what I've found is that I will often win it all but there are times when I will lose to teams with far inferior records. With that being said I will win more often then I lose. Remember, this is a simulation and as such in based on probabilities. Now if you toss a coin 8 times in a row you might get 4 heads and 4 tails, or you might end up with all heads. In the long run you'll probably average around a 50/50 split but in the short term anything can happen; meaning you could easily lose 4 or 5 playoff series in a row. In the long run that won't be the case, but anything can happen short term. For example, one of my teams won a ridiculous 120 something games one year and then lost in the first round of the playoffs. Now if they'd played that team in a 100 short serious they'd win a lot more than 50%, maybe even as high as 80% or more. But again this is just a sample size of one and they lost. This is all just probabilities and you've had a bad run of luck.

Also, keep in mind that if you have the best team and won every year would that really be any fun?

Hope this helped a little.

Tarkus

SoxWin · 03-27-2002, 04:29 AM

I find it helps to score more runs then the other team. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers

Rich

MizzouRah · 03-27-2002, 07:00 AM

The Arizona DB are a perfect example of this. Did they have the best record last year? Nope. What they did have, however is 2 great pitchers who, once the playoffs started - could use on 3 days rest, which is a HUGE advantage.

You might have 5 good starters who allow you to beat other teams' medicore 3,4, and 5 starters, but when the playoffs start these teams might just have the best 1-2 punch.

At least in the first round of the playoffs, where it's only best of 5. The computer does a good job of using the best pitcher available.

Todd

Peter Bergstrom · 03-27-2002, 07:02 AM

[quote] It seems too often, it's not about talent, but just about luck. I'm starting to think the computer just randomly chooses a winner, not based on skill, but on mathematical numbers which only the computer would understand.
<hr></blockquote>

One factor may be that the game doesn't model home field advantage. So having the better record and starting the series at home doesn't get you anywhere.

(Sorry, can't let this go)

marioh · 03-27-2002, 10:58 AM

I agree with previous posters about starting pitching and bullpen.
You better have at least 2 ace starting pitchers, 2 great middle relievers (preferably a R/L combo), and 1 great closer.
I've only played (in reality, simmed) 4 seasons so far in OOTP4 and have won the WS twice and lost in the LCS twice.

I'm a firm believer that pitching and solid defense is what wins playoff games, and my OOTP experience only enhances that belief.

GiantsRule · 03-28-2002, 02:14 AM

"I'm a firm believer that pitching and solid defense is what wins playoff games, and my OOTP experience only enhances that belief." Marioh

Right on dude. I am a newbie at this game but my first season I took the Giants (Using Rolen's Rosters) to the world series. The catch is I traded for Mussina who helped in the postseason. However I lost to the yanks in the world series. So go with pitching.

[ March 28, 2002: Message edited by: GiantsRule ]</p>

03-26-2002, 03:03 PM	#1
saml00 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 19	is there a trick to winning in the playoffs? I have finshed the regular season with between 95 and 105 wins for 5 straight years but have yet to make it out of the first round of the playoffs . . .is this just bad luck or is there something structurally different about a good playoff team?

03-26-2002, 03:13 PM	#2
Killebrew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 3,326	I'd look at your top 3 SP's and your bullpen 1st of all. Those area's can put many teams over the top, and if you do not have a few obvious standout SP's and relievers it can really hurt you in those short series. Some good luck is always useful too . __________________ FOBL Capital City Metropolitans CDL Minnesota Twins

03-26-2002, 03:17 PM	#3
Falcon52 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 615	I'm with you. I am always at the top, or near the top of the entire league each and every year, but then in the playoffs, I always lose to a mediocre team, usually in the second round. I too would like to know what I'm doing wrong. I've got a starting staff whose scouting report for 2-5 are "..will be a good 2nd or 3rd man in the rotation", plus my ace is usually someone who "is in a class all his own". Plus my closer is listed as "one of the best in the league..", and about three of my relievers are rated as outstanding. It seems too often, it's not about talent, but just about luck. I'm starting to think the computer just randomly chooses a winner, not based on skill, but on mathematical numbers which only the computer would understand. __________________ "D-FENCE! D-FENCE!"

03-26-2002, 03:34 PM	#4
blmeanie All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,044	Not everybody will be a dynasty...not everybody can be the Yankees of late. Atlanta Braves - 10 straight division titles, one world series win (although this year looks good...ok you Mets/Yankees/Diamondback fans...bring it on!) I had a team in a solo league that was winning the division each and every year and getting to the Series about 40% of the time. I won one world series in something like 12 years of making the playoffs. If I had won it 6-12 times I might have walked away from the game. Frustrating? Yes...Fun? Yes... Now image being John Shureholtz...ok, bad example...and please lose the suspenders...ugh... __________________ blmeanie email me at blmeanie Above link works for some email client programs but not all, email me at blmeanie33@earthlink.net

03-26-2002, 03:43 PM	#5
Tarkus Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 93	Well, I've played about 95 years now and almost always made the playoffs in some fashion and what I've found is that I will often win it all but there are times when I will lose to teams with far inferior records. With that being said I will win more often then I lose. Remember, this is a simulation and as such in based on probabilities. Now if you toss a coin 8 times in a row you might get 4 heads and 4 tails, or you might end up with all heads. In the long run you'll probably average around a 50/50 split but in the short term anything can happen; meaning you could easily lose 4 or 5 playoff series in a row. In the long run that won't be the case, but anything can happen short term. For example, one of my teams won a ridiculous 120 something games one year and then lost in the first round of the playoffs. Now if they'd played that team in a 100 short serious they'd win a lot more than 50%, maybe even as high as 80% or more. But again this is just a sample size of one and they lost. This is all just probabilities and you've had a bad run of luck. Also, keep in mind that if you have the best team and won every year would that really be any fun? Hope this helped a little. Tarkus __________________ Winning may not be everything, but losing isn't anything.

03-27-2002, 04:29 AM	#6
SoxWin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Blissful ignorance Posts: 3,315	I find it helps to score more runs then the other team. Your mileage may vary. Cheers Rich __________________ It's called partying. When you do a lot of it, you're bound to be places where the police show up. I smoke a lot of pot and drink a lot of beer. I also graduated Suma Cum Laude. ****ing sue me. - Luis Rivera

03-27-2002, 07:00 AM	#7
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,266	The Arizona DB are a perfect example of this. Did they have the best record last year? Nope. What they did have, however is 2 great pitchers who, once the playoffs started - could use on 3 days rest, which is a HUGE advantage. You might have 5 good starters who allow you to beat other teams' medicore 3,4, and 5 starters, but when the playoffs start these teams might just have the best 1-2 punch. At least in the first round of the playoffs, where it's only best of 5. The computer does a good job of using the best pitcher available. Todd

03-27-2002, 07:02 AM	#8
Peter Bergstrom Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 27	[quote] It seems too often, it's not about talent, but just about luck. I'm starting to think the computer just randomly chooses a winner, not based on skill, but on mathematical numbers which only the computer would understand. <hr></blockquote> One factor may be that the game doesn't model home field advantage. So having the better record and starting the series at home doesn't get you anywhere. (Sorry, can't let this go)

03-27-2002, 10:58 AM	#9
marioh All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 1,162	I agree with previous posters about starting pitching and bullpen. You better have at least 2 ace starting pitchers, 2 great middle relievers (preferably a R/L combo), and 1 great closer. I've only played (in reality, simmed) 4 seasons so far in OOTP4 and have won the WS twice and lost in the LCS twice. I'm a firm believer that pitching and solid defense is what wins playoff games, and my OOTP experience only enhances that belief. __________________ RZA - "I'm me and the me that's me is me and is going to continue to be me"

03-28-2002, 02:14 AM	#10
GiantsRule Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fargo,ND Posts: 85	"I'm a firm believer that pitching and solid defense is what wins playoff games, and my OOTP experience only enhances that belief." Marioh Right on dude. I am a newbie at this game but my first season I took the Giants (Using Rolen's Rosters) to the world series. The catch is I traded for Mussina who helped in the postseason. However I lost to the yanks in the world series. So go with pitching. [ March 28, 2002: Message edited by: GiantsRule ]</p>