Strategy for slow team with high contact ratings Topic

AllSox
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One of my teams is thrid in the league in OPS but third from last in runs scored.  They have the highest average contact rating in the league but are the slowest and nearly the worst base runners.  Any suggetions to get more out of the offense?  Should I hit and run more or less?  Obviously base stealing is out of the question.
12/2/2010 2:04 PM
MikeT23
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Sadly, for you, that's a poorly built team.    I'm assuming double plays are killing your offense.   Since there's nothing you can do to "fix" the team part way thru the season, I'd hit and run frequently.   Since you have good contact, you'll have fewer swing and miss but, if they do, you're dead meat on a steal. 

12/2/2010 2:08 PM
csherwood
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Improve your pitching. Win 1-0.
12/2/2010 2:29 PM
dedelman
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If this is your Boston team, sit tight and wait it out; you're only a third of the way through the season.  Last season you were 4th in OPS and10th in scoring; the runs will probably come, although the GIDP (200 last season) will keep the runs and OPS from ever truly matching up.  Also, for a small improvement, turn basestealing completely off; the 15 SB in 30 tries you're headed for is 30 tries too many.

I don't know enough about the hit and run logic in HBD to comment on Mike's suggestion. 

12/2/2010 3:23 PM
iain
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Posted by MikeT23 on 12/2/2010 2:08:00 PM (view original):

Sadly, for you, that's a poorly built team.    I'm assuming double plays are killing your offense.   Since there's nothing you can do to "fix" the team part way thru the season, I'd hit and run frequently.   Since you have good contact, you'll have fewer swing and miss but, if they do, you're dead meat on a steal. 

For the sake of argument, I'll say the opposite: H&R less, and you'll run into fewer outs should your guy swing and miss.

Double plays are more about the 2nd runner than the first, anyway, right?

The advice to turn base stealing "off" is sound

Station to station baseball with baserunning aggressiveness turned "off", too.
12/2/2010 5:40 PM
MikeT23
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I'll assume you've never watched baseball up in Canuckada.   If you can't get the lead runner, you can't turn a double play.   If he's halfway ot 2nd when the ball is hit, you're not getting him.
12/2/2010 5:57 PM
kneeneighbor
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Trade 2 contact guys for one slugging guy.

Stick slugging guy behind 2 other contact guys.

A double after 2 singles works quite well.

12/2/2010 6:00 PM
duece112
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I'd try to stack my lineup based on OBP, obviously your best hitter 3rd still, and your next best/best power hitter cleanup, and continue on the OBP path.
12/3/2010 12:35 AM
boogerlips
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Mike is correct that that is a poorly designed team. Slower guys benefit from a low contact rating, that way their out-types are strike outs rather than double plays.
Mike is incorrect that the Hit and Run is a good idea. It is one of the worst plays in all of sports. Even  teams that draw zero walks and never strike out don't benefit from it. As stated, I'm sure if you're third in OPS that the runs will catch up to some extent.
12/3/2010 1:34 AM
MikeT23
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Yeah, I guess I wouldn't want my slow guy to get an extra couple of steps when the guy at the plate will put the ball in play.
12/3/2010 8:00 AM
iain
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Posted by MikeT23 on 12/2/2010 5:57:00 PM (view original):
I'll assume you've never watched baseball up in Canuckada.   If you can't get the lead runner, you can't turn a double play.   If he's halfway ot 2nd when the ball is hit, you're not getting him.
Did you miss the part about the players being slow as ****?

They won't be halfway anywhere, except to the buffet line.
12/3/2010 9:17 AM
MikeT23
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Nope.  That's why they need the extra 25 feet in order to prevent the double play. 

Seriously, I don't know exactly how it works in HBD(since there is no pitch by pitch action) but if you have a slow runner and a slow batter who seldom swings and misses in the real world, it's a really good idea to send him on a 2-0, 3-1 count.     Worst case scenario(excluding a liner to 1B), the batter hits a worm burner to the 2B who attempts to get the lead runner.  However, the turtle is on top of the SS and he can't make the throw. 
12/3/2010 9:22 AM
tmantom3285
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Posted by boogerlips on 12/3/2010 1:34:00 AM (view original):
Mike is correct that that is a poorly designed team. Slower guys benefit from a low contact rating, that way their out-types are strike outs rather than double plays.
Mike is incorrect that the Hit and Run is a good idea. It is one of the worst plays in all of sports. Even  teams that draw zero walks and never strike out don't benefit from it. As stated, I'm sure if you're third in OPS that the runs will catch up to some extent.
Hit and Run is the worst play in sports?????

You ever watch baseball?
12/3/2010 9:23 AM
moy23
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Posted by kneeneighbor on 12/2/2010 6:00:00 PM (view original):

Trade 2 contact guys for one slugging guy.

Stick slugging guy behind 2 other contact guys.

A double after 2 singles works quite well.

I like this idea.
12/3/2010 9:25 AM
iain
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Posted by MikeT23 on 12/3/2010 9:22:00 AM (view original):
Nope.  That's why they need the extra 25 feet in order to prevent the double play. 

Seriously, I don't know exactly how it works in HBD(since there is no pitch by pitch action) but if you have a slow runner and a slow batter who seldom swings and misses in the real world, it's a really good idea to send him on a 2-0, 3-1 count.     Worst case scenario(excluding a liner to 1B), the batter hits a worm burner to the 2B who attempts to get the lead runner.  However, the turtle is on top of the SS and he can't make the throw. 
I can see your point (and certainly agree in real-life), but I just don't think that the few cases where this will help in HBD will outweigh the strike 'em out-throw 'em out you're setting yourself up for in the SIM.

I just don't think that they have "how close the runner going to 2B is to the thrower" as a variable for DPs.
12/3/2010 9:32 AM
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