Hints and Tips Thread

[boomboom]

Originally posted by jrmiedzinski

who would like to see a hints and tips section in the forum? i love to see how other people approach the game and what things they do to make the game even more enjoyable to play. the beauty about this...

jrmiendzinki gave me an idea, i know we wont get a forum for it, why not start a thread!!!

To start off, just wondering how you make a lineup?

for example, who do you have leadoff,

Person A. .425obp, 0 steals, 4 cs, 111 runs
Person B. .340obp, 60 steals, 15cs, 100runs

or the best combination of EYE, and Speed on your team?

and so on with your 2nd, 3rd, 4th person in your order and so on.....

[OhPhilly54]

i agreed the first time with jrmiedzinski and I'll agree again. I would check that out.


I usually go for speed so I would say the second guy is the one I go with. But b/c of your post boom, I will now try the other. :D

[boomboom]

my line up--

#1- High OBP, with at least B in speed.
#2- High contact, with little power...
#3. Best comination hitter, with, best Contact, Power, EYE, Speed
#4. Best Pure Power hitter, with at least a C+ in contact.
#5. High contact, 2nd best comination hitter on team.
#6. 2nd best pure power hitter on team.
#7. HIGH obp...with Speed, at least a b- in speed
#8. (pitcher) or Average player with C's across the board..
#9. High Contact and eye...speed anything.

I have used different lineup orders....also the help files, uses some stragies...

[jrmiedzinski]

i would go with the player b because of his 60 steals. that would mean he gets himself in scoring position and that is what you need on top of the order. if there is a guy on base in front of him it makes his exceptional speed useless.

[OhPhilly54]

my usual line-up:

1. speed speed speed. And contact. I try to keep the eye up there ,but...
2. Usually a good contact hitter, decent speed.
I love having two speedy guys to start off tho.
3. I like to put my power hitter here so pitchers have to pitch to him
4. best everything type guy, contact, power, eye.
5. Here comes the next best everything guy
6. I'm usually stocked with power so here comes the decent power guy
7. Here is for the edgar renteria type. Good average, ok power, some speed, just your all around good player
8. Usually my catcher b/c i focus on defense with him. ;) Like you said boomboom, not the best player here
9. I like the idea of speed 9, 1, and 2. Contact too and eye is nice.

Obviously things change and I have had an all power lineup in Colorado. It really depends on who is in the system. Also, I'd like to mention that I usually don't play someone without defense above a C+. I like my defenders. :rolleyes:

[seedpied]

a speedy player bats first then a player with a good average batting second

[OhPhilly54]

what kind of pitchers do u like? Like, power? Control? Both? I like power pitchers but believe u need some less powerful ones to counter the power pitchers. How bout you?

[boomboom]

if a player doesnt have at least a B in movement, he has no place on my team....but will, if i have no other person...

I judge a lot of players by the movement rating.... I dont really care about power, i try to have a good defense up the middle...

Range on SS, 2b, CF....all other players must be at least a B on range...and catcher should have great fielding skills...

[dismaldream]

#1 &2 hitters: hit singles and triples...stealing some bases would be nice. but the priority here is getting on base. a knack for scoring runs is a big plus. a pretty good 1-2 punch is Seattle's Ichiro-Winn/Spiezio

my #3 and 4 hitters dont necessarily have to hit HRs. depending on the ballpark, ill take either HRs or 2Bs. the #3 hitter, following most formulas, should be the best overall hitter on the team. no need for speed here really. i just prefer both these guys to display some power. the #3 sets the table for the cleanup hitter. if #3 gets on base, its #4s job to drive him and anyone else home. run producing is the primary aim of the cleanup hitter.

as is with the #5 and 6 hitters. #5 is your backup run producer. i loved the rockies 1997 lineup of #2 ellis burks #3 dante bichette #4 larry walker #5 andres galarraga #6 vinny castilla and i think todd helton came later. the 2004 rockies #3-4-5-6 isnt too shabby either: helton, castilla, burnitz, chatles johnson. so the #6 hitter should have some power.

the #7-8-9 in my lineup, i like to treat like a backwards top-of-the-lineup, as if it goes 3-2-1. i love for my 7&8 (in the NL) hitters to be able to get on base and score runs and set the table for the top of the lineup. in the AL, where there's a DH, id like my #7-8-9 hitters to do the same, just with a bit more power, since the AL usually has more offensive production than the NL.

for the best batting lineup this season, i have to go with my own hometown anaheim angels... its beautiful, esp with chone figgins playing a little bit more as a 4th OF and an middle infielder.




SS David Eckstein
1B Darin Erstad
CF Garret Anderson
RF Vladimir Guerrero
3B Troy Glaus
LF Jose Guillen
DH Tim Salmon
C Bengie Molina
2B Adam Kennedy

[boomboom]

http://baseball.msn.com/articles/676670.armx

[jrmiedzinski]

that's a pretty neat article. i used pierre and castillo at the top and had aramis ramirez behind in either 3 or 4 and both the top guys got consistantly over 100 runs and ramirez always got 100 rbi and often 130 or more. it was one of my most effective batting orders ever and it helped me keep the marlins as winners.

[OhPhilly54]

Does Luis Castillo get really bad for you quickly in the mogul 2k4 game? For some reason, he slows waaaay down every time I have him after like 2-3 years. hmmm

[jrmiedzinski]

he worked pretty good for me for a couple years but then he got old and didn't do much. he and pierre were amazing for me though because if one didn't get on base the other would and then they often stole a base to get in scoring position and ramirez drove them home. a lot of early leads for dontrelle and beckett to take and run with.

[BubbaDrew]

For those in leagues:

Don't have untouchables. Period. It's stupidest thing you can do.
Ask yourself this question "What do i do to get my team better?"
Sign Fa's and trade. but theyr arent always good FA's are theyr? no. Theres always good poeple to trade for. Im not saying trade guys like Hudson or Prior for absolutely nothing, but trade them for other great pitchers and maybe a respectable hitter. also, know the kind of ballpark and team you choose when u pick them(Hitting(Orioles, Yankees, etc.), Pitching(Cubs, Oakland), Speed(Marlins), Power(Colorado's field)

I hate seeing poeple who i can trade better players for, but they're untouchable because of the person being afraid hes going to lose without the player.

[boomboom]

I have noticed even if i make the offense suffer a little, if I have a good Defensive team, my team wins more....

So having great Defense, up the middle with Catcher, SS, 2b and CF, all with great Range, your pitchers will lose up to a run on there ERA but usually a half a run that i have noticed....

[OhPhilly54]

I am interested in how you guys go about putting together your bullpen. Just a few questions. How do u pick your closer? Set-up man etc. Alternate starter? have you ever placed a starting pitcher as your closer (like a John Smoltz or Gagne experience)?

I could use a little help in this department I think. I also need help picking a new team to play with. Just throw one out there and I'll use it. Thanks!
phil

[Jeff Olsen]

My closers are guys with at least A- in Control & Movement, B- in Power and not too many blown saves. If I'm trying out a new closer and he starts blowing too many opportunities, he's moved down to set-up man and I give someone else a shot at closing.

I have put veteran starters approaching retirement in reliever slots but never as a closer.

My alternate starters and long relievers are guys with either a higher ERA than the regular rotation or around C Endurance.

[drball]

I have usually gone with traditional leadoff qualities - speed and contact - and done well. But I've seen exceptional performance when putting a power hitter with decent contact in #1 slot. Lots of opportunities to drive in runs. When I've moved that player to 3 or 4 hole performace has not kept pace.


Also a question on closers: I just started a season with Gagne as my closer, and he is getting rocked. ERA over 11; giving up almost 1 HR per inning. Any similar experiences?

[boomboom]

.

[jaykno14]

I was wondering how you guys on here go about rebuilding a small market team. I have tried a number of times with Montreal and Milwaukee in BBM2K5 and I hav never been sucessful. I have tried cheap free agents and tried through the draft but it never works.

Thanks....

[bobbym]

bump.......

[robinhoodnik]

I like the idea of this thread. Gets you thinking.

[dolfanar]

I think you have to seperate "ideal" and "minimum" setups. Most times when I take over a team I never have all the right "ingredients" of the kind of team I like. I usually end up playing the best 8 (or 9 in AL) players I have and arrange them in the best spots possible.

Minimum Lineup

At minimum defensively I try to get the best players possible to play each position, though I'm willing to risk errors by playing players out of position if their ratings warrant it.

C - HANDLING! HANDLING! HANDLING! This is by far the most important stat for a catcher I've found, and can shave many, many runs off over a season. I'd rather have a catcher hit .230 with less than a half dozen homers if I know he'll handle my pitchers correctly. A backup with high handling is gold as well.

1B - Power hitter, or if my team is depleted I'll try to atleast get someone there who will hit .300, even if he has minimal power. I don't really look at defense much, and I have no problem sticking a poor fielding 3B, C, LF or RF there.

2B - I look for range mostly when it comes to 2B, arm is much less important. I like a decent fielder if possible though (low errors). I will gladly move a SS or 3B to 2B if they have good fielding and range but a poor arm. Hitting is a bonus at 2B, I don't really look for power, but if he has it it's a plus, I do like good contact and speed.

3B - I really want a 3B who has a canon arm. Range isn't as important. I will move a SS with a canon arm and average range to 3B in a heart beat. For hitting I like my 3B to have atleast contact hitting or good power. If they have both then they will stick around a good while.

SS - At shortstop I expect good range AND a good arm. I can live with average fielding. Hitting isn't a big concern, though I like a SS who can run.

LF - Almost identical to my requirements for 2B, though less stringent. I don't mind having a LF with a C arm at all. I do want him to atleast have average range though. Offensively I want him to hit for average and either give me power OR speed.

CF - Like a SS I want my CF to have the whole defensive package, Arm and range, and atleast average fielding. Offensively I like to have a CF who can give me Contact and Speed. Power is always a nice bonus though.

RF - Like 3B I'm looking for a strong arm, but I also like my RF to have either above average range or fielding. Offensively I like to have a RF who has some contact and power with atleast decent speed.

my minimum team lineup

#1 - decent hitting, decent eye, good runner. Usually 2B, SS, LF or CF
#2 - good hitter, decent eye, decent speed. Usually 2B, LF or CF.
#3 - good hitter, good power, ok speed. Usually RF, CF or LF.
#4 - good hitter, good power. Usually RF, 3B or 1B
#5 - decent hitter, good power. Usually RF, LF, 3B or 1B.
#6 - good hitter, decent power. Usually 3B, 1B or C
#7 - good hitter with either ok speed or power. Usually C, 2B or SS.
#8 - usually a defensive specialist who can't hit for beans. Almost always a SS or C.

IDEAL Lineup

C - Ideally I want a catcher with a canon arm, great handing and decent fielding. Offensively I'm looking for a guy who can hit at or near .300 and provide some good pop as well. I don't usually look for speed or eye at all. Oddly enough though in a recent game I ended up with a Jason Kendall like player who hit for high average, NO power and stole 15-20 bases a year. He was a god send to pitchers though with his handling rating of 96. My team ERA went up .70 when I lost him. Idealy I want a C to hit 7th. Gary Carter is my model of an ideal Catcher I guess.

1B - I like to have a player with good range and very good fielding. I want someone who can hit .270+ and pop in a monstrous amount of HR's. A good eye is a plus, but I don't mind a lot of K's. Idealy I want a 1B to hit 5th. Mark McGuire would be my idea of an ideal 1B, though I'm always keeping an eye out for a Jeff Bagwell type who can add a little speed into the equation.

2B - I want someone with great fielding and range and a ok arm. I'm looking for good speed (20-30SB or more), good eye, and someone who can consistently hit well above .300. A little pop is nice as well. Ideally I like my 2B to hit second. Paul Molitor would be my model for an ideal 2b.

3B - I generally look for former SS who have good but not great defense (just shy of a gold glove). I want someone who is a good all around offensive player (contact, power, speed, eye) but he doesn't have to be a league leader. Ideally I like my 3B to hit 6th. ARod would be my ideal third baseman.

SS - I'm basically looking for Ozzie simth. Good to greall all around defence. Offensively someone who won't be too emabarassing at the plate, who will hit for some average and steal some bases, and maybe fill in in the #1 or 2 spot, but will usually hit 8th.

LF - Rickey Henderson. Period. I want someone who will be ok defensively, with good fielding and range, maybe a former CF with a weaker arm, someone who will hit near .300, and get his fair share of extra base hits, I want someone who will walk *ALOT* as in 100+ per year, and I want an olympic class sprinter who can be counted for atleast 80, but as many as 120 steals a year (challenging for the record if possible).

CF - I'm looking for an all around super star, a la Griffey Jr in his best years. I want a guy who can hit well above .300, hit for power, have a pretty good eye at the plate, and steal a bunch of bases every year while playing gold glove defense. I found this type of super player once and it was awesome, only player I ever had who got 70 steals (rookie season) and 80 homers (much later) and hit .400 in the same career. Idealy my CF will hit 3rd.

RF - I'm looking for a Vladimir guerrero type. A lesser CF in terms of defense and speed, but a better eye at the plate and a better throwing arm. Ideallyhits 4th.

[gbwisc]

I was wondering how you guys on here go about rebuilding a small market team. I have tried a number of times with Montreal and Milwaukee in BBM2K5 and I hav never been sucessful. I have tried cheap free agents and tried through the draft but it never works.

Thanks....
It's tough, but doable. The Brewers have some good young talent (Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, etc.), so in 2-3 years, you can make the playoffs. My advice is to always trade your veterans if they are asking too much money. I don't have anyone over $8,000,000 on my roster. If so, just trade them for a youngster making $316,000. So in summary, my roster is all 18-30 years old guys. You're not going to get the budget much over $60 mil., so you've gotta be willing to constantly turn over your team.