Suffering Through Mediocrity

[KG Erwin]

How does one find a positive note in a team that seems determined to descend to the cellar? Two of my best pitchers are on the DL, and one of my best hitters is going through an extended slump. It's not even the end of May, and the fans are already saying, "wait 'till next year".

This is when the love of the game has to rise above the bad times and celebrate the rare good plays. My team has a core of winners, but we unfortunately have a majority of average-to-poor players.

As a Dodger fan, I suppose it is the proper way to start a managerial career. It IS tough to manage every game and hope for the best, but frequently it's frustrating.

To you guys who have gone through it, I feel your pain.

[Frozen Stiffer]

When I started my 2006 Marlins as a dynasty, our first year ended at 76-86 when the real team ended with a 78-84 record. It was a bummer to lose, but interesting that our actual process nearly matched ACTUAL history. Anyway, it was crushing to lose, and making it to the World Series but losing to Baltimore in game 7, was no walk in the park. However, we won it all for three of the next 4 seasons. Why? Because we stuck at it.

My current dynasty, taking over the 2006 Royals, was ugly the first season, but we were redeemed winning the Series the following year. Now, starting off year 3, we're struggling. Am I crushed? Naw, that's how it goes KG- you've lived it enough. If they say wait until next year, then PLAY like it's already next year. If you're going to go down, go down swinging...

[Wrathchild]

I get completely disgusted. The team I'm managing for an online association is just completely horrible. So far this season we're 28-54 and that's one of our better seasons. I'm seriously thinking about taking each player out and shooting him.

[LetsPlay2]

This is probably why I do not like to manage a single team. [;)]

I have no patience ! I even get flustered simming a season when a player or team, who i know should be performing well, does not !!

[Bustoff]

Wrath, I had a pennant-winning team come out of the gate almost comatose the following season. After a month, the team's BA was a criminally pathetic .217. That they had won any games at all was due to a pitching staff that was playing well beyond what their ratings indicated. They lost so many low-scoring games by one run...well, it was just ludicrous. My marquee hitter, Pedro Cerrano, wasn't even batting his weight, so I busted him to the minors for 30 days. He came back improved, but still way below what he should be ("Bats are sick" is NOT an excuse!). Meanwhile, the rest of the team picked up a little bit, and managed to get from 8th place (last) to 5th. They still suck canal water, and I don't know why. [&:] I tried trading some of these boneheads, but nobody wanted them. Ah, the joys of winter baseball...

[Wrathchild]

Yeah, it's definitely very frustrating when you are doing everything you think you can and your team just continues to perform much worse than they should. Ah, well. I guess it wouldn't be any fun to win every game (though I'd like to try it some time!).

[GNDN]

I can't answer since my results have been the polar opposite.  I started with the 2007 Collapsable Mets (for easy off season storage) and am currently 12 games into 2015.  I have managed every Mets game over that span.  My results have been interesting, to say the least:  I have won the NL East every year, I have 5 NL Pennants and 3 World Series rings.  I have won as few as 88 games and 107 at the most.  I average 100 wins per season. 
 
I will admit I have kept a core of players:  Wright, Reyes, Beltran, & Maine are the last from the 2007 roster.  I have solid homegrown talent that includes a rookie of the year and a 2 time Cy Young winner.  The AI, however, makes some bizzare choices, these are just a few examples - Pujols is with the A's, Jimmy Rollins is a Ranger, Ryan Howard is a bench player, A-Rod was not re-signed by the Yankees.  Others stay the same:  my bullpen is a complete wreck and I have just re-built it through free agency.
 
What I like most about my Association, though, is not the winning.  It is the fact I am at about 60-40 real to computer generated players (and the scales tip more each year to CG) and that Washington has been a thorn in my side for 3 seasons now.  It is the lack of expectations surrounding the CG players and teams.  Player affinity is off and not everything goes by history, so to speak.  Even though the choices seem odd, the unexpected makes my asssociation fascinating and exciting. 

[Max 86]

I have been running a fictional league with real players starting in 1950. It is now 1961, the 12th season. I have been to the championship 6 times, winning 4. The other 5 seasons I have finished 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 1st. I am happy to report that I have seen  a little of everything except last place.[8D]
 
Its those bad seasons that I end up simming week at a time instead of managing day to day. Its less painful that way![:D]

[Taz0713]

I give you guys that stick with it a lot of credit, as I tend to get frustrated and start over.  I realize that you can't win them all, but as it goes south I begin to wonder what I should be doing differently.  So as an early new year's resolution I have started a 2007 Dodgers association and have told myself that I have to see it through.  It does help that I have started 3-0 (a three game sweep of the D-Backs).
 
I would be interested in hearing what you guys tell yourselves to help get through the tough times.

[Bustoff]

ORIGINAL: Taz0713

I would be interested in hearing what you guys tell yourselves to help get through the tough times.

Me? I just repeat The Big Lie over and over. "It's only a game, it's only a game, it's only a game, it's only a..."

[Wrathchild]

ORIGINAL: Taz0713

I would be interested in hearing what you guys tell yourselves to help get through the tough times.

It's hard to say anything while I'm crying myself to sleep....

[GNDN]

ORIGINAL: Taz0713


I would be interested in hearing what you guys tell yourselves to help get through the tough times.

I have found that with the proper application of certain beverages, you tend to forget tough times. And your name. And where you live. And how you got on the floor.

[Wrathchild]

ORIGINAL: GNDN

I have found that with the proper application of certain beverages, you tend to forget tough times. And your name. And where you live. And how you got on the floor.

[:D] I discover that in those situations you tend to forget about the game completely, whether you're winning or not.

[KG Erwin]

As a Brooklyn Dodger fan, I can rely on the historic battle cry, "Wait till NEXT year!" That indomitable spirit (and a few other spirits) keep me going.

[Taz0713]

I appreciate the humor.  As you can see my avitar that I am a glotton for punishment and the wait tell next year is starting to get a little old (101 years old).  I have promised myself that I will continue with my 2007 LA Dodgers association (which by the way is off to 4-0 start).  Not many games, but I just started it yesterday.
 
Any more tips or humor is greatly appreciated.  [:D]

[KG Erwin]

Seriously, Taz, the idea is to maintain until the amateur draft. This is the chance to begin the rebuild. Season ONE is always the toughest. In season TWO, some positive results should start manifesting themselves.

With trades, the fact is that most transactions in the reserve clause era were cash deals. Unfortunately, PureSim's game model doesn't provide for this. So, the path to success is through the farm system, NOT through bidding for free agents.

The trade model is kinda screwy, so there aren't many player-for-player deals.

However, players maintain a team loyalty bordering on indentured servitude. Right or wrong, that's the way it was.

[Max 86]

In addition to what KG said, I also take this oppurtunity to take a very close look at my players.  The little stats that I usually don't pay too much attention to.  You find some interesting things.
 
Age is a big one.  After several successful seasons I sometines forget that my pitcher is now 38 yrs old instead of 33 when I traded for him. Also look at all ratings thru the years to see what has decreased.  The big ones for pitchers seems to be loss of Stuff and Control. Velocity does not seem to have as big an impact if the others stay relatively OK.  Sometimes I get rid of a pitcher just because he doesn't win regardless of his ratings (though if he is young, I have more patience). I had Bob Friend in my fictional league, had good ratings, era around 4.0 or high 3s, but he just would not win games.
 
For position players, besides age and ratings history I look at number of GIDPs, Ks on offense and errors on defense. Get rid of any that are excessive, especially if over 30 yrs old.
 
If you take the time there are all kinds of team reports and player stats to sort through to figure out why your team is sucking.
 
I would have to disagree about the trading model. It is screwy but it can be easily taken advantage of as witnessed by my starting lineup. 1B Bob Hale (never heard of him but he hit 300+ this season [:)]), 2B Mazaroski, SS Banks, 3B Eddie Mathews, LF Clemente, CF Mays, RF Kaline and I just replaced Yogi at catcher with a guy named Retzer (never heard of him but he hit 300+ this season [:)]). I traded for most of these guys. I gave up good players to get them too, like Bob Friend, Ted Klusewski (sp?) at the end of his career, et al.
 
I know I am wierd but I like the down years almost as much as the good years with this game. To be able to dive into a pile of baseball statistics is one of the most enjoyable parts of PS. This game, like few others, stokes an emotional response within me and I just get all happy with myself when my team climbs back into first place after spending hours pouring over stats, free agents, possible trades and rookies.

[KG Erwin]

Yes, it is easy to take advantage of the trade model. I found that out in my 1947 Dodger season. That's why I deliberately chose to make my job tougher by establishing house rules on trades. This forces me to look closer at the farm system, and how to distribute players amongst the three levels.

A common problem in the modern era is the propensity to advance players too quickly, thus stunting their development. In the reserve clause era, Branch Rickey deserves his accolades as a brilliant GM. To follow his model in PS terms, you would have 60-man rosters. However, given PureSim's limitations, I think 40 is optimal for a long-term real player association during the reserve clause era.

[puresimmer]

KG,

What house rules do you apply?

[KG Erwin]

Hello, Shaun.

I follow four simple rules on player transactions:

1. All trades must be player-for-player, e.g., no 2-for-1 or 3-for-1.

2. I can initiate trades during the off-season.

3. After a season begins, I can NOT initiate a trade. I can only respond to offers received from the AI GMs.

4. I can only replace injured players through callups or FA signings.