Katrina needs some more help:)

Katrina · 04-23-2002, 04:27 PM

Ok I've been reading some books and I got some good advice from all of you nice people. Thanks for the kind message Steve

I read the baseball fan's companion, a book my boyfriend has lying around the house, and I think that's really helped me understand the game a bit better. My team is doing a lot better in our second season but I've been noticing that my players have many errors

I understand the range rating but what is a good fielding percentage for the different players. I noticed outfielders tend to have higher percentages, is that a fair statement? What should I be looking for? Also in my research I noticed that left handed pitchers are really valuable so should I be going that route? I have a couple of left handed guys right now and they both have good stats. Another factor I wouldn't have thought of a couple of weeks ago was my ballpark. My team is the Angels, by the way, so is there a particular type of player suited to their park? I did make some money last year and I'm on pace to make a few million this season so should I just stockpile my money for a few years? I traded a high priced player because I figured it would take me a few seasons to get my team in tip top shape. I'm going with the advice of a previous poster who helped, forgot his name, and building my team through the draft with young players. How will I know when my young players are ready for the show? Is that the correct term, I just watched Bull Durham the other night

What a fun and addicting game!! My boyfriend is impressed that I've learned this much already, thanks to you guys. We watched a game on espn the other night and I understood it a lot better. Ok back on topic. So what do you guys think, Steve or anybody? I need those diamond earrings

lschaef · 04-23-2002, 04:41 PM

Katrina. Welcome to OOTP and the great game of baseball!

It's sometimes hard to figure out how to judge a players defensive ability. As you mentioned you have to look at the player's range rating and his fielding percentage. Normally what is considered a good fielding percentage varies based on the position they play. Outfielders will normally be pretty high (.980+ is pretty good) and firstbasemen should have very few errors. Shortstops and thirdbasemen normally a lower fielding percentage since they have a longer throw to first. Both those positions might have a percentage around .960 and still be pretty good.

The big trick though is that a player with a high range rating might get his glove on the ball and get charged with an error, while a player with less range might not even get to it and it will be a hit.

The basic rule in baseball is to be strong defensively up the middle (CF, 2b, SS, C). I normally try to get players with at least B range at those positions and at least an average fielding percentage.

Your right that good left handed pitchers are very valuable...especially in the bullpen. Often late in the game a manager might bring in a left handed pitcher just to face one left handed hitter.

Teams do try to build their team based on their home park. I don't know much about the Angel's stadium though.

Sounds like your learning quickly. Hope I've helped!

Carplos · 04-23-2002, 08:05 PM

Edison International Field is a hitters' park, but not by much, so it's not a bad idea to just get a well rounded team.

taffarel · 04-24-2002, 08:44 AM

Hi Katrina

Ischaef's made some good points there. It's difficult to build a team that excels at everything. Take Texas for example: Great hitters (when they're fit), horrible pitching. This is gonna happen everywhere. Just try to make the best of what you've got by making good draft choices.

As said above, the core defensive positions are up the middle, and taking out the real superstars (A-Rod, Piazza, etc), most of these guys are employed for their defense. It's becoming more common now though, that some clubs can build their franchise around a big hitter at one of those positions. (See A-Rod, Piazza, Garciaparra, Jeter & Williams...etc). If you can get a prospect from the draft in Catcher, SS or 2B that is gonna be a big hitter, bring him on and build you franchise around him.

RF, LF and 1B, and to some extent 3B, are the 'standard' big hitter positions and you should be able to get some guys for those positions fairly cheaply that'll do a god job for you with the bat. Especially if you platoon some guys (This means if you have 2 Left Fielders and one bats Left and one bats Right, you can alternate them against the pitching that you face) 'cos these guys will be cheaper because of their weaknesses. Teams like Seattle do this. They've got a lot of role-players who come off the bench and perform around Boone, Edgar and Ichiro. A lot of them are switch hitters and can gain a slight advantage over the pitching because they bat from both sides.

Also mentioned is the value of good lefties. A couple in the bullpen will really help you out in some tight spots. Starting lefties are useful as well, but not as much as the releivers, because a team will base their starting line-up against the pitcher thats due up next in the rotation.

Finally, try to have some decent bench guys. They could be there solely for defense late in the game, pinch running or a contact hitter for bunting/putting the ball in play.

I built my OOTP team based on the Mariners. They have what seems to be an almost complete package. They have speed, contact hitters, great bullpen, reliable starting pitching and a very good bench. Their best (arguably) player Edgar gets injured, and they continue on like nothing happened. Maybe the only slight weakness they have is a lack of power. You might want to try to do what seattle have done, by picking up a lot of role-players from free agency, and combine them with the good young prospects you're bringing through your system (Seattle brought through their pitching).

Hope I've helped a bit.

Ragin Cajun · 04-24-2002, 10:19 AM

As far as your young players, you can track their progress in the minors on your TRANSACTION screen. If you see the green arrows, they are ready to move up a level; on the reverse, red arrows mean move them down and consider trading or releasing them.

You have to make the call to move guys from AAA to the show. A good rule of thumb is a 5 in Hits for a batter and also a 5 in ERA for a pitcher. This is just my opinion. Pay attention to their statistics in the minors also, a guy may have a 4 in ERA, but is just tearing it up- 15-1, 1.75 ERA-..he probably deserves a shot. Also, there is only so much development in the minors. By the time a guy is 25-26 ? he's either going to make the majors or he's just wasting space in the minors.

For fielding, Baseball follows Football in that Defense wins championships. If you can't can't catch the ball, or throw the ball; all the hits in the world probably won't matter much. I look for guys with nothing lower than a C rating. Try to get a B or A for 2B and SS. Same thing in the OF.. an A in CF, B if you have to. B or C in LF and RF. The Fielding Percentage is the number of times out of 100 that he will field the ball without an error. Naturally, the more you can do this the better. I hate guys in the <.900 range. The errors they allow and the runs that score because of them far outweigh any production they give me at the plate. Try to keep everyone at .950 or higher. In the same 3 main positions -2B, SS and CF try for a .990 or higher.

Keep enjoying.

Katrina · 04-24-2002, 05:15 PM

Thanks for all of your posts, you guys are the best

Ok, so let me see if I understand this correctly, for fielding the percentage should be highest for the catcher, second baseman, and center fielder? It can be lower for everyone else? Also they should have the best range, at least a B, right? Everyone else isn't as important but still their percentage should be .950 or higher? I checked my players and I noticed that their range and percentages are low

Also now that I know about left handed pitching does that mean I should get left handed batters? As I said before I've been reading a lot and I'm starting to understand the stats much better but some of them are still confusing. For pitchers what does HP, CI and CERA stand for? For batters what does ISO, TAVG and OPS stand for. Also if someone could give me a way to use those stats in evaluating my players. I never realized there were this many stats in baseball!! Everyone has been great, thank you. I'm sure it'll take some time but I'm getting the hang of it

I'm even playing a league on my own so that I can practice. This might even be more fun then the sims

Did I mention how much I like the cute little Graemlins...

Steve Kuffrey · 04-24-2002, 05:26 PM

<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/" target="_blank">Try here...as this should help you with some of the stats.</a>

General Mike · 04-24-2002, 07:56 PM

Katrina,

For evaluating baseball players, there are some formula's that are pretty highly rated as far as evaluating players goes. The key ones for hitters are OPS (Onbase Plus Slugging) and RC/27(Runs created per 27). For pitchers you'll have to look at ERA, Walks per 9 innings and hits per 9 innings. A good article about component ERA can be found <a href="http://www.baseballstuff.com/fraser/articles/erc.html" target="_blank">Here.</a>

As far as fielding ratings go, I'll say it's about 20% of the importance of a team, with 40% going to hitting and the other 40% going to pitching. With C being the average range rating for players, If you have a team where your worst fielder is a C you're going to be in pretty good shape. Range can be sacrificed tho, as a guy with D range, but a .990 fielding percentage will probably have comparable defensive stats to a player with a C range and a .970 rating. The defensive arm ratings only affect catchers and OFer, so its best to try to find a catcher with a good arm, and good range/fielding %, to cut down on opponents stolen bases. OF arm rating is most important in RF, and least important in LF, but its nowhere near as important as a Catcher's arm.

I hope I could be of some help, and good luck in your league.

Mike

04-23-2002, 04:27 PM	#1
Katrina Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 221	Katrina needs some more help:) Ok I've been reading some books and I got some good advice from all of you nice people. Thanks for the kind message Steve I read the baseball fan's companion, a book my boyfriend has lying around the house, and I think that's really helped me understand the game a bit better. My team is doing a lot better in our second season but I've been noticing that my players have many errors I understand the range rating but what is a good fielding percentage for the different players. I noticed outfielders tend to have higher percentages, is that a fair statement? What should I be looking for? Also in my research I noticed that left handed pitchers are really valuable so should I be going that route? I have a couple of left handed guys right now and they both have good stats. Another factor I wouldn't have thought of a couple of weeks ago was my ballpark. My team is the Angels, by the way, so is there a particular type of player suited to their park? I did make some money last year and I'm on pace to make a few million this season so should I just stockpile my money for a few years? I traded a high priced player because I figured it would take me a few seasons to get my team in tip top shape. I'm going with the advice of a previous poster who helped, forgot his name, and building my team through the draft with young players. How will I know when my young players are ready for the show? Is that the correct term, I just watched Bull Durham the other night What a fun and addicting game!! My boyfriend is impressed that I've learned this much already, thanks to you guys. We watched a game on espn the other night and I understood it a lot better. Ok back on topic. So what do you guys think, Steve or anybody? I need those diamond earrings __________________ OOTP5 Beta Tester OOL Rockford Peaches Anaheim Angels Fan MSN-girlprincess1@cox.net

04-24-2002, 10:19 AM	#5
Ragin Cajun All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Atascosita, TX Posts: 1,173	As far as your young players, you can track their progress in the minors on your TRANSACTION screen. If you see the green arrows, they are ready to move up a level; on the reverse, red arrows mean move them down and consider trading or releasing them. You have to make the call to move guys from AAA to the show. A good rule of thumb is a 5 in Hits for a batter and also a 5 in ERA for a pitcher. This is just my opinion. Pay attention to their statistics in the minors also, a guy may have a 4 in ERA, but is just tearing it up- 15-1, 1.75 ERA-..he probably deserves a shot. Also, there is only so much development in the minors. By the time a guy is 25-26 ? he's either going to make the majors or he's just wasting space in the minors. For fielding, Baseball follows Football in that Defense wins championships. If you can't can't catch the ball, or throw the ball; all the hits in the world probably won't matter much. I look for guys with nothing lower than a C rating. Try to get a B or A for 2B and SS. Same thing in the OF.. an A in CF, B if you have to. B or C in LF and RF. The Fielding Percentage is the number of times out of 100 that he will field the ball without an error. Naturally, the more you can do this the better. I hate guys in the <.900 range. The errors they allow and the runs that score because of them far outweigh any production they give me at the plate. Try to keep everyone at .950 or higher. In the same 3 main positions -2B, SS and CF try for a .990 or higher. Keep enjoying. __________________ Former NBSL Commissioner: 16 years Former Online League Owner; six time champion

04-24-2002, 05:15 PM	#6
Katrina Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 221	Thanks for all of your posts, you guys are the best Ok, so let me see if I understand this correctly, for fielding the percentage should be highest for the catcher, second baseman, and center fielder? It can be lower for everyone else? Also they should have the best range, at least a B, right? Everyone else isn't as important but still their percentage should be .950 or higher? I checked my players and I noticed that their range and percentages are low Also now that I know about left handed pitching does that mean I should get left handed batters? As I said before I've been reading a lot and I'm starting to understand the stats much better but some of them are still confusing. For pitchers what does HP, CI and CERA stand for? For batters what does ISO, TAVG and OPS stand for. Also if someone could give me a way to use those stats in evaluating my players. I never realized there were this many stats in baseball!! Everyone has been great, thank you. I'm sure it'll take some time but I'm getting the hang of it I'm even playing a league on my own so that I can practice. This might even be more fun then the sims Did I mention how much I like the cute little Graemlins... __________________ OOTP5 Beta Tester OOL Rockford Peaches Anaheim Angels Fan MSN-girlprincess1@cox.net

04-24-2002, 05:26 PM	#7
Steve Kuffrey Administrator Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: S.E. TN - Georgia born and raised Posts: 17,023	<a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/" target="_blank">Try here...as this should help you with some of the stats.</a> __________________ Steve Kuffrey DABS Atlanta Braves - 2008 Eastern Division Champ *DBLC Atlanta Braves - 2011, 2014 East Division Champ, 2012, 2013 NL Wildcard Baseball Maelstrom-Montreal Expos-2013 Tourney winner, 2014 WC Team Sparky's League - Tampa Bay D'Rays Epicenter Baseball League - Astros 2014 The CBL Rewind - Phillies '95

04-24-2002, 07:56 PM	#8
General Mike Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Somerset, NJ Posts: 255	Katrina, For evaluating baseball players, there are some formula's that are pretty highly rated as far as evaluating players goes. The key ones for hitters are OPS (Onbase Plus Slugging) and RC/27(Runs created per 27). For pitchers you'll have to look at ERA, Walks per 9 innings and hits per 9 innings. A good article about component ERA can be found <a href="http://www.baseballstuff.com/fraser/articles/erc.html" target="_blank">Here.</a> As far as fielding ratings go, I'll say it's about 20% of the importance of a team, with 40% going to hitting and the other 40% going to pitching. With C being the average range rating for players, If you have a team where your worst fielder is a C you're going to be in pretty good shape. Range can be sacrificed tho, as a guy with D range, but a .990 fielding percentage will probably have comparable defensive stats to a player with a C range and a .970 rating. The defensive arm ratings only affect catchers and OFer, so its best to try to find a catcher with a good arm, and good range/fielding %, to cut down on opponents stolen bases. OF arm rating is most important in RF, and least important in LF, but its nowhere near as important as a Catcher's arm. I hope I could be of some help, and good luck in your league. Mike __________________ ACL - Houston Astros SHIBA - Los Angeles Dodgers [url=http://baseball.slammedia.net]BL2[/url - New York Mets BTTF - Florida Marlins

04-23-2002, 04:41 PM	#2
lschaef Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 242	Katrina. Welcome to OOTP and the great game of baseball! It's sometimes hard to figure out how to judge a players defensive ability. As you mentioned you have to look at the player's range rating and his fielding percentage. Normally what is considered a good fielding percentage varies based on the position they play. Outfielders will normally be pretty high (.980+ is pretty good) and firstbasemen should have very few errors. Shortstops and thirdbasemen normally a lower fielding percentage since they have a longer throw to first. Both those positions might have a percentage around .960 and still be pretty good. The big trick though is that a player with a high range rating might get his glove on the ball and get charged with an error, while a player with less range might not even get to it and it will be a hit. The basic rule in baseball is to be strong defensively up the middle (CF, 2b, SS, C). I normally try to get players with at least B range at those positions and at least an average fielding percentage. Your right that good left handed pitchers are very valuable...especially in the bullpen. Often late in the game a manager might bring in a left handed pitcher just to face one left handed hitter. Teams do try to build their team based on their home park. I don't know much about the Angel's stadium though. Sounds like your learning quickly. Hope I've helped!

04-23-2002, 08:05 PM	#3
Carplos Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,847 Infractions: 1/0 (0)	Edison International Field is a hitters' park, but not by much, so it's not a bad idea to just get a well rounded team.

04-24-2002, 08:44 AM	#4
taffarel Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 26	Hi Katrina Ischaef's made some good points there. It's difficult to build a team that excels at everything. Take Texas for example: Great hitters (when they're fit), horrible pitching. This is gonna happen everywhere. Just try to make the best of what you've got by making good draft choices. As said above, the core defensive positions are up the middle, and taking out the real superstars (A-Rod, Piazza, etc), most of these guys are employed for their defense. It's becoming more common now though, that some clubs can build their franchise around a big hitter at one of those positions. (See A-Rod, Piazza, Garciaparra, Jeter & Williams...etc). If you can get a prospect from the draft in Catcher, SS or 2B that is gonna be a big hitter, bring him on and build you franchise around him. RF, LF and 1B, and to some extent 3B, are the 'standard' big hitter positions and you should be able to get some guys for those positions fairly cheaply that'll do a god job for you with the bat. Especially if you platoon some guys (This means if you have 2 Left Fielders and one bats Left and one bats Right, you can alternate them against the pitching that you face) 'cos these guys will be cheaper because of their weaknesses. Teams like Seattle do this. They've got a lot of role-players who come off the bench and perform around Boone, Edgar and Ichiro. A lot of them are switch hitters and can gain a slight advantage over the pitching because they bat from both sides. Also mentioned is the value of good lefties. A couple in the bullpen will really help you out in some tight spots. Starting lefties are useful as well, but not as much as the releivers, because a team will base their starting line-up against the pitcher thats due up next in the rotation. Finally, try to have some decent bench guys. They could be there solely for defense late in the game, pinch running or a contact hitter for bunting/putting the ball in play. I built my OOTP team based on the Mariners. They have what seems to be an almost complete package. They have speed, contact hitters, great bullpen, reliable starting pitching and a very good bench. Their best (arguably) player Edgar gets injured, and they continue on like nothing happened. Maybe the only slight weakness they have is a lack of power. You might want to try to do what seattle have done, by picking up a lot of role-players from free agency, and combine them with the good young prospects you're bringing through your system (Seattle brought through their pitching). Hope I've helped a bit.