Change of scenery

sfaustin3 · 08-11-2007, 09:29 PM

Hi

Is there any credence to the theory that an underperforming player might start performing better if he changes teams?

\begin {long explanation}

I had a superstar first baseman named Arturo Valenzuela (MVP three years ago, consistent 1.1+ OPS) who went from OVR/POT 74/74 to 70/70 to 66/66 (I have scouting turned off) in the last couple of years, but still put up MVP-type stats. Last year (age 33) he had a 10-month injury which put him out until this year's spring training. He had a terrible ST (hit .174 with 1 homer) and by the start of the season he was down to 63/63.

Since Arturo was earning $24M this year (and due $26M next year) I kept an eye on him, and if he descended any further I'd have to unload him while there was still a market for him. He's Extremely Popular so I was hoping he'd pull himself out of it.

My Oakland team played 5 games over .500 in April and was in first place at the end of the month. Arturo started the month in his usual #3 hole in the lineup but I dropped him to 5th after two weeks because he was barely over the Mendoza line.

I also have morale turned off so (I guess) there wasn't any kind of an attitude thing bothering him. It said his expectation was middle of the lineup and that's where I was batting him anyway.

At the end of April Arturo Valenzuela was hitting .200 with 2 HR and .700 OPS, and had slipped to OVR/POT 62/62, so I figured it was the inevitable end-of-career slide and I shopped him around, hoping I didn't get the "Nobody wants to trade for your overpaid aging veteran" response.

The Dodgers very generously gave me their starting 2nd baseman (who I needed) and their AAA closer (and $450K) so I said thanks for the memories, Arturo, and went from being $2M in the red to being $18M in the black.

\end {long explanation}

Back to my question about a player needing a change of scenery - it's the end of June now and Arturo has been in L.A. for two months so I went to check on him. Since he joined the Dodgers (who are also in first place) he's hitting .371 with 11 HR and 1.3 OPS. He's dropped to 56/56 but seems to have regained his hitting stroke.

Looks like I gave up on him a little early (he DID have a terrible March/April), but since he was hurt most of last year I developed a good young 1B and I'm doing OK without him (and certainly OK without his salary).

My point is, does anyone think there's a change-of-scenery factor built in that might re-energize a guy who's just been sent to a new place after being somewhere for a long time? It sometimes happens IRL so it would be cool if it was in the game, too.

1998 Yankees · 08-12-2007, 07:33 PM

I'm thinking one of two things.

First, he may have just been in a slump. See this recent thread for some discussion on that:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=151976

Second, and more to the point of your thread, my speculation is that a player moving from one team to another may benefit from being with other players who have strong ratings for leadership. Or, the player may benefit from having a better manager, batting coach, or doctor, even.

I cannot tell you for sure, obviously, but I would bet that this is a part of the game. I have seen it happen myself a number of times in my leagues.

Honolulu Blue · 08-13-2007, 07:55 AM

Another possible explanation is morale (if that's on). Perhaps he didn't like Oakland for some reason and his performance suffered because of it. There could be a spiral effect here - something PO'd him, he got angry, got into a minor slump, making him more angry, and causing him to slump worse.

08-11-2007, 09:29 PM	#1
sfaustin3 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: May 2007 Location: St. Louis Posts: 22	Change of scenery Hi Is there any credence to the theory that an underperforming player might start performing better if he changes teams? \begin {long explanation} I had a superstar first baseman named Arturo Valenzuela (MVP three years ago, consistent 1.1+ OPS) who went from OVR/POT 74/74 to 70/70 to 66/66 (I have scouting turned off) in the last couple of years, but still put up MVP-type stats. Last year (age 33) he had a 10-month injury which put him out until this year's spring training. He had a terrible ST (hit .174 with 1 homer) and by the start of the season he was down to 63/63. Since Arturo was earning $24M this year (and due $26M next year) I kept an eye on him, and if he descended any further I'd have to unload him while there was still a market for him. He's Extremely Popular so I was hoping he'd pull himself out of it. My Oakland team played 5 games over .500 in April and was in first place at the end of the month. Arturo started the month in his usual #3 hole in the lineup but I dropped him to 5th after two weeks because he was barely over the Mendoza line. I also have morale turned off so (I guess) there wasn't any kind of an attitude thing bothering him. It said his expectation was middle of the lineup and that's where I was batting him anyway. At the end of April Arturo Valenzuela was hitting .200 with 2 HR and .700 OPS, and had slipped to OVR/POT 62/62, so I figured it was the inevitable end-of-career slide and I shopped him around, hoping I didn't get the "Nobody wants to trade for your overpaid aging veteran" response. The Dodgers very generously gave me their starting 2nd baseman (who I needed) and their AAA closer (and $450K) so I said thanks for the memories, Arturo, and went from being $2M in the red to being $18M in the black. \end {long explanation} Back to my question about a player needing a change of scenery - it's the end of June now and Arturo has been in L.A. for two months so I went to check on him. Since he joined the Dodgers (who are also in first place) he's hitting .371 with 11 HR and 1.3 OPS. He's dropped to 56/56 but seems to have regained his hitting stroke. Looks like I gave up on him a little early (he DID have a terrible March/April), but since he was hurt most of last year I developed a good young 1B and I'm doing OK without him (and certainly OK without his salary). My point is, does anyone think there's a change-of-scenery factor built in that might re-energize a guy who's just been sent to a new place after being somewhere for a long time? It sometimes happens IRL so it would be cool if it was in the game, too.

08-12-2007, 07:33 PM	#2
1998 Yankees Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yankee Stadium, back in 1998. Posts: 8,645	I'm thinking one of two things. First, he may have just been in a slump. See this recent thread for some discussion on that: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=151976 Second, and more to the point of your thread, my speculation is that a player moving from one team to another may benefit from being with other players who have strong ratings for leadership. Or, the player may benefit from having a better manager, batting coach, or doctor, even. I cannot tell you for sure, obviously, but I would bet that this is a part of the game. I have seen it happen myself a number of times in my leagues.

08-13-2007, 07:55 AM	#3
Honolulu Blue Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 241	Another possible explanation is morale (if that's on). Perhaps he didn't like Oakland for some reason and his performance suffered because of it. There could be a spiral effect here - something PO'd him, he got angry, got into a minor slump, making him more angry, and causing him to slump worse.