Anyone have any tips?

spec138 · 06-11-2009, 07:44 PM

So I'm horrible at OOTP apparently :\
Usually end up about 25 GB at the end of a season, and I have no idea why! My personnel is pretty decent, scout is a 10 in everything.

My lineup is as follows:
1. 2B - Marco Scutaro (Why he starts at 2B I dont know? I have Kazuo Matsui on my team and the AI sets him as a utility player...)
2. SS - Miguel Tejada
3. 1B - Lance Berkman
4. 3B - Kevin Kouzmanoff (3.5 stars)
5. RF - Rick Ankiel
6. CF - Ryan Ludwick
7. C - Yadier Molina
8. LF - Travis Buck

I think that's a pretty decent lineup in my opinion, yet I can't score more than 3 runs a game.

Pitching is decent, usually give up around 4 runs a game, however, my O can't score at all.

Any tips? And can anyone answer why the AI starts Scutaro over Matsui when Matsui is much better?

Kelric · 06-12-2009, 03:47 AM

The most important thing to remember is that the AI has absolutely no idea who Scutaro, Tejada, Molina or Buck is. Focus on ratings, not names.

From what I recall of the ratings your lineup, it really isn't anything special. You might luck into some HRs from Ankiel, Berkman will be solid, Ludwick can get hot... other than that, the '09 ratings are not going to favor your club. Remember: ratings, not names.

spec138 · 06-15-2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelric

The most important thing to remember is that the AI has absolutely no idea who Scutaro, Tejada, Molina or Buck is. Focus on ratings, not names.

From what I recall of the ratings your lineup, it really isn't anything special. You might luck into some HRs from Ankiel, Berkman will be solid, Ludwick can get hot... other than that, the '09 ratings are not going to favor your club. Remember: ratings, not names.

Thanks for your reply Kelric.

Yeah I mostly look at ratings not names. Buck is like 4.5 stars in my league

. Anyways, I figured that would still be a solid lineup, I have a few high (300 +) averages and many mediocre (270s) as well. I really thought this lineup should be able to put up over 3 runs the majority of the time.

Doe OOTPX favor anything when building a team (POW, CON, EYE, etc.)?

JWay · 06-15-2009, 01:29 AM

Hey, don't forget about defense. 4 runs a game requires a really strong line up. Also if we're looking at 2009 here, I would assume that your scout may be wrong on somethings here. I don't remember Ludwig being a stud CF, so maybe unload Buck if you can for some defensive specialist CF and move Ludwick to LF. Also Tejada is known as a butcher at SS too now isn't he? Of course I don't know the ratings, so who knows.

But defense can be that 1 run a game you're missing. Speed too, your roster looks slow to me. While they don't mean much, there's hundreds of factors to consider. Injuries, slumps, scouts, situations, lack of Ross Gload in your line up, who are are your pitchers, what ball park are you playing in, among many many other things. Sometimes bad luck costs you 10 games. It happens =/

spec138 · 06-15-2009, 01:36 AM

Yeah I think I just need to keep playing the game and try to figure some things out. This happens on a consistent basis though.

JWay · 06-15-2009, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spec138

OOTPX favor anything when building a team (POW, CON, EYE, etc.)?

When I build a team I generally look for balance. Eye is always my favorite rating, but the ratings are not everything. OOTP is very deep if you really want to know. However its not a bad idea to build a traditional line up.

Leadoff - Good Eye/Speed
#2 - High contact guy
#3 - Best well rounded hitter
#4 - The most power guy.
#5 - Next well rounded hitter left.
etc. etc.

Using the 6th 7th and 8th spots for high defensive premium positions isn't a bad choice, especially if they do a thing or two hitting pretty well. SS, C, and CF are the most important defensively, if you have a stud hitter who plays one of those spots well, that gives you more room to have a better hitting 6,7,8 guys.

But for your example, if Tejada is a below average SS rated, it might be worth trying to trade him for something. Defense is valuable.

In my personal game I take the roster I have and try to do my best with what I'm dealt. If I have a pitching heavy team so be it, I try to maximize them with defense. If I have a hitting heavy team that may not be so great defensively I try to maximize them with high stuff guys.

I guess what I'm saying is you want guys who do lots of things well. But that's probably pretty common. So reverse it and get guys who don't do to many things bad, and do your best to find great holes for those flawed players. If they don't fit, lose them.

Good luck!

spec138 · 06-15-2009, 01:49 AM

Thanks. One problem I had was I started with the Astros. They have decent talent but it's mostly overprice and too old, and makes it really hard to trade away.

Also, I seem to think reverse of you and I'm going to try it your way. If I, for example, have a pitching heavy team, I generally try to trade away a little talent for a big bat. I'm going to start a new game with the Pirates and hope for the best. Thanks a ton!

JWay · 06-15-2009, 01:52 AM

Well my best tip is that in OOTPX with all the scouts on, and without cheating, its not like most games, its closer to real life where a 3-5 year plan should be in order to compete. Takes time to wash out the old failed regime, and start your own.

Best of luck!

bigMatt · 06-15-2009, 02:12 PM

'course, if you are going with a 3-5 year plan and start with a really crappy team, make sure to click that "Do not fire" box. Otherwise, you will likely experience walking papers long before that team realizes your dream.

Every league I've started with OOTP I've taken an expansion team and drafted my own crappy '61 Angels or '69 Padres. No matter who I draft, I will always have one of the 3-4 worst teams in baseball. The first couple of times, I was fired by the All-Star break.

Now, I just make clicking the cannot fire box as part of my league setup.

spec138 · 06-15-2009, 04:34 PM

Haha I learned that the hard way and got fired in the second year of my Astro's league.

I have another Q. If I have a pitcher rated around 3 stars in AAA, should I keep him there or send him up to the bigs? If I send him up will his rating go down compared to the pitchers in MLB or what?

06-11-2009, 07:44 PM	#1
spec138 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10	Anyone have any tips? So I'm horrible at OOTP apparently :\ Usually end up about 25 GB at the end of a season, and I have no idea why! My personnel is pretty decent, scout is a 10 in everything. My lineup is as follows: 1. 2B - Marco Scutaro (Why he starts at 2B I dont know? I have Kazuo Matsui on my team and the AI sets him as a utility player...) 2. SS - Miguel Tejada 3. 1B - Lance Berkman 4. 3B - Kevin Kouzmanoff (3.5 stars) 5. RF - Rick Ankiel 6. CF - Ryan Ludwick 7. C - Yadier Molina 8. LF - Travis Buck I think that's a pretty decent lineup in my opinion, yet I can't score more than 3 runs a game. Pitching is decent, usually give up around 4 runs a game, however, my O can't score at all. Any tips? And can anyone answer why the AI starts Scutaro over Matsui when Matsui is much better?

06-12-2009, 03:47 AM	#2
Kelric Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Greater Boston Area Posts: 3,992	The most important thing to remember is that the AI has absolutely no idea who Scutaro, Tejada, Molina or Buck is. Focus on ratings, not names. From what I recall of the ratings your lineup, it really isn't anything special. You might luck into some HRs from Ankiel, Berkman will be solid, Ludwick can get hot... other than that, the '09 ratings are not going to favor your club. Remember: ratings, not names.

06-15-2009, 01:29 AM	#4
JWay Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,031	Hey, don't forget about defense. 4 runs a game requires a really strong line up. Also if we're looking at 2009 here, I would assume that your scout may be wrong on somethings here. I don't remember Ludwig being a stud CF, so maybe unload Buck if you can for some defensive specialist CF and move Ludwick to LF. Also Tejada is known as a butcher at SS too now isn't he? Of course I don't know the ratings, so who knows. But defense can be that 1 run a game you're missing. Speed too, your roster looks slow to me. While they don't mean much, there's hundreds of factors to consider. Injuries, slumps, scouts, situations, lack of Ross Gload in your line up, who are are your pitchers, what ball park are you playing in, among many many other things. Sometimes bad luck costs you 10 games. It happens =/

06-15-2009, 01:36 AM	#5
spec138 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10	Yeah I think I just need to keep playing the game and try to figure some things out. This happens on a consistent basis though.

06-15-2009, 01:49 AM	#7
spec138 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10	Thanks. One problem I had was I started with the Astros. They have decent talent but it's mostly overprice and too old, and makes it really hard to trade away. Also, I seem to think reverse of you and I'm going to try it your way. If I, for example, have a pitching heavy team, I generally try to trade away a little talent for a big bat. I'm going to start a new game with the Pirates and hope for the best. Thanks a ton!

06-15-2009, 01:52 AM	#8
JWay Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,031	Well my best tip is that in OOTPX with all the scouts on, and without cheating, its not like most games, its closer to real life where a 3-5 year plan should be in order to compete. Takes time to wash out the old failed regime, and start your own. Best of luck!

06-15-2009, 02:12 PM	#9
bigMatt Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,378	'course, if you are going with a 3-5 year plan and start with a really crappy team, make sure to click that "Do not fire" box. Otherwise, you will likely experience walking papers long before that team realizes your dream. Every league I've started with OOTP I've taken an expansion team and drafted my own crappy '61 Angels or '69 Padres. No matter who I draft, I will always have one of the 3-4 worst teams in baseball. The first couple of times, I was fired by the All-Star break. Now, I just make clicking the cannot fire box as part of my league setup.

06-15-2009, 04:34 PM	#10
spec138 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10	Haha I learned that the hard way and got fired in the second year of my Astro's league. I have another Q. If I have a pitcher rated around 3 stars in AAA, should I keep him there or send him up to the bigs? If I send him up will his rating go down compared to the pitchers in MLB or what?