For those that play as the Rockies...

Cod · 03-30-2016, 03:10 PM

Do you spend a lot of money trying to bring in big name pitchers? Or do you spend 80% (or more) of your budget on bats? My initial thoughts are that spending lots of money on pitchers is a waste with the ballpark factors you deal with for 81-games.

I'm thinking about starting a Rockies franchise because I feel like it may be a pretty tough challenge.

DJP53916 · 03-30-2016, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cod

Do you spend a lot of money trying to bring in big name pitchers? Or do you spend 80% (or more) of your budget on bats? My initial thoughts are that spending lots of money on pitchers is a waste with the ballpark factors you deal with for 81-games.

I'm thinking about starting a Rockies franchise because I feel like it may be a pretty tough challenge.

I've actually never played as Colorado, but after I run the Brewers for a while, Colorado was next on my list.

I'd probably use my free agent money on position players myself, and try to draft, develop, and trade for young pitchers that can adapt to altitude, or at least have pitches in their arsenal that suggest they might not be as affected by it.

I always wondered what having high velocity sinker ballers with extreme ground ball profiles in the rotation could do.

Colorado seems like a very fun team to try.

TwinsGuy11 · 03-30-2016, 03:35 PM

Here's another way to look at it. Most people will do well at Coors Field. Maybe you can get away with going cheap at some positional players and invest in a staff with the expectation that their ERA may be a bit inflated.

SirMichaelJordan · 03-30-2016, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinsGuy11

Here's another way to look at it. Most people will do well at Coors Field. Maybe you can get away with going cheap at some positional players and invest in a staff with the expectation that their ERA may be a bit inflated.

This, in my Padres save I did the opposite. Invest in bats and get good enough pitchers.

David Watts · 03-30-2016, 04:37 PM

I've found storing my mouse in a humidor helps a little

Syd Thrift · 03-30-2016, 04:38 PM

There's no need to figure out the magic formula of pitching in Coors the way there is IRL. Every pitcher is going to be adversely affected, so try and find guys who don't give up a ton of HRs (because that will be magnified) and otherwise just grab a lot of OK arms and prepare to use your bullpen a lot, would be my philosophy.

Mike D · 03-30-2016, 04:44 PM

Look for 12 Power arm Middle Relievers and invest in defense.

Hammercraft · 03-30-2016, 05:31 PM

Groundball pitchers and defense ftw

hjrrockies · 03-30-2016, 05:59 PM

I would say: don't seek out GB pitchers exclusively, as many of them tend to have very poor stuff and will give up plenty of extra-base hits.

Go for the same types of pitchers you would normally, but be wary of extreme flyball guys, and use GB-tendency as a tie-breaker between otherwise equivalent players.

One other consideration: when playing as the Rockies, you start with Bill Schmidt as scout, who heavily favors ability. So, he's going to hate, and I mean truly hate all amateur pitchers and most minor league pitchers. So, if you see a MiLB guy with a 2.5-star potential, realize that's actually a big deal, coming from Bill.

monkeystyxx · 03-30-2016, 07:24 PM

In my Rockies save I'm ignoring any Extreme Flyball pitchers completely, regardless of stats. Well, not completely, I'll draft them but only as trade bait for later on. I don't sign any though.

My 5 regular starters are all either XGB, GB or Neutral (the Neutral guy is my ace, because he has fantastic movement and stuff), and good movement is essential to get in my Rockies team. I've also got two relievers with decent stamina who are, on the whole, better pitchers than my #4 and #5 rotation guys but have a flyball tendency, so if I've got an extended road trip I move them to the rotation. They always pitch out of the pen at Coors though, and are both on Use Less Often instructions.

I generally spend most of my money on bats though, in a score-one-more-than-you philosophy. It's working reasonably well so far. Been to the playoffs twice (currently in 2022). Not sure it's any better or worse than any other strategy really but I like it.

oriolesmeep · 03-30-2016, 09:09 PM

Having achieved some success with the Rockies in OOTP 17 (that said - didn't take them over until 2026 - no real Rockies players were still with the team), I've found that pitching performances don't seem to translate year to year.

For example, SP Joey Vander Zanden won the Cy Young award in Coors, with a 2.69 ERA and a 3.09 FIP. He's been mostly a 3.70 ERA pitcher since, fluctuating anywhere from 3.50 at his best to a 4.30 in his worst season, FIP fluctuating as well (almost always implying that that year's performance was the real Joey). Just in this case, trust in ratings and overall road success as to making your rotation. With the exception of Vander Zanden and one other pitcher, the 3-5 spots in my rotation have changed almost every year.

Your pen is going to suck. End of story. I haven't built a successful middle-relief corps, regardless of how much I invest in it. I have 3 or so pitchers who could close, and I just roll with whoever's hot, which is a huge pain but that's the only way I've been able to close down games. My middle relievers are basically a bunch of failed starters who fail at relieving too, just less so.

That said, groundballers are a must. A fly ball pitcher is going to get torn to shreds. Even a neutral pitcher is likely to pitch to a 5+ ERA.

The other key that I've found is building an overpowering offense. A lot of high contact/gap power hitters are nice. Speed isn't as important in Coors, as taking the chance on doubles/homers to drive in guys is even more worth it. Likewise, the bunt should only be used for pitchers.

Obviously, since it's Coors, power bats are a key, but don't overinvest in them. Guys with high contact/gap power have enough pop to fill the lower half of the lineup.

If you're going to invest big in a free agent, I tend to lean toward the bats, since pitchers are so volatile. Develop and draft for pitching first, trade/invest $$$ in bats.

In closing - if you can finish middle of the pack in runs against, you should find a lot of success with the Rockies. Just try to outhit the opposition and pray for the baseball gods to smile on you in the playoffs.

Cod · 03-31-2016, 12:25 AM

Interesting strategies. Thanks for sharing!

03-30-2016, 03:10 PM	#1
Cod All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,177	For those that play as the Rockies... Do you spend a lot of money trying to bring in big name pitchers? Or do you spend 80% (or more) of your budget on bats? My initial thoughts are that spending lots of money on pitchers is a waste with the ballpark factors you deal with for 81-games. I'm thinking about starting a Rockies franchise because I feel like it may be a pretty tough challenge.

03-30-2016, 04:44 PM	#7
Mike D Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: In a van, down by the river Posts: 2,802	Look for 12 Power arm Middle Relievers and invest in defense. __________________ Sometimes the best laid plans will never get you laid the way you plan.

03-30-2016, 05:59 PM	#9
hjrrockies Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 81	I would say: don't seek out GB pitchers exclusively, as many of them tend to have very poor stuff and will give up plenty of extra-base hits. Go for the same types of pitchers you would normally, but be wary of extreme flyball guys, and use GB-tendency as a tie-breaker between otherwise equivalent players. One other consideration: when playing as the Rockies, you start with Bill Schmidt as scout, who heavily favors ability. So, he's going to hate, and I mean truly hate all amateur pitchers and most minor league pitchers. So, if you see a MiLB guy with a 2.5-star potential, realize that's actually a big deal, coming from Bill. Last edited by hjrrockies; 03-30-2016 at 05:59 PM. Reason: Bill Schmidt is the scout

03-30-2016, 03:35 PM	#3
TwinsGuy11 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 216	Here's another way to look at it. Most people will do well at Coors Field. Maybe you can get away with going cheap at some positional players and invest in a staff with the expectation that their ERA may be a bit inflated.

03-30-2016, 04:37 PM	#5
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 10,161 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	I've found storing my mouse in a humidor helps a little

03-30-2016, 05:31 PM	#8
Hammercraft All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 728	Groundball pitchers and defense ftw

03-30-2016, 07:24 PM	#10
monkeystyxx Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 293	In my Rockies save I'm ignoring any Extreme Flyball pitchers completely, regardless of stats. Well, not completely, I'll draft them but only as trade bait for later on. I don't sign any though. My 5 regular starters are all either XGB, GB or Neutral (the Neutral guy is my ace, because he has fantastic movement and stuff), and good movement is essential to get in my Rockies team. I've also got two relievers with decent stamina who are, on the whole, better pitchers than my #4 and #5 rotation guys but have a flyball tendency, so if I've got an extended road trip I move them to the rotation. They always pitch out of the pen at Coors though, and are both on Use Less Often instructions. I generally spend most of my money on bats though, in a score-one-more-than-you philosophy. It's working reasonably well so far. Been to the playoffs twice (currently in 2022). Not sure it's any better or worse than any other strategy really but I like it.

03-30-2016, 09:09 PM	#11
oriolesmeep Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 103	Having achieved some success with the Rockies in OOTP 17 (that said - didn't take them over until 2026 - no real Rockies players were still with the team), I've found that pitching performances don't seem to translate year to year. For example, SP Joey Vander Zanden won the Cy Young award in Coors, with a 2.69 ERA and a 3.09 FIP. He's been mostly a 3.70 ERA pitcher since, fluctuating anywhere from 3.50 at his best to a 4.30 in his worst season, FIP fluctuating as well (almost always implying that that year's performance was the real Joey). Just in this case, trust in ratings and overall road success as to making your rotation. With the exception of Vander Zanden and one other pitcher, the 3-5 spots in my rotation have changed almost every year. Your pen is going to suck. End of story. I haven't built a successful middle-relief corps, regardless of how much I invest in it. I have 3 or so pitchers who could close, and I just roll with whoever's hot, which is a huge pain but that's the only way I've been able to close down games. My middle relievers are basically a bunch of failed starters who fail at relieving too, just less so. That said, groundballers are a must. A fly ball pitcher is going to get torn to shreds. Even a neutral pitcher is likely to pitch to a 5+ ERA. The other key that I've found is building an overpowering offense. A lot of high contact/gap power hitters are nice. Speed isn't as important in Coors, as taking the chance on doubles/homers to drive in guys is even more worth it. Likewise, the bunt should only be used for pitchers. Obviously, since it's Coors, power bats are a key, but don't overinvest in them. Guys with high contact/gap power have enough pop to fill the lower half of the lineup. If you're going to invest big in a free agent, I tend to lean toward the bats, since pitchers are so volatile. Develop and draft for pitching first, trade/invest $$$ in bats. In closing - if you can finish middle of the pack in runs against, you should find a lot of success with the Rockies. Just try to outhit the opposition and pray for the baseball gods to smile on you in the playoffs.

03-31-2016, 12:25 AM	#12
Cod All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,177	Interesting strategies. Thanks for sharing!