Isn't the formula builder available to everybody, regardless of experience?

Velocity shouldn't be ignored completely. It should be considered a secondary attribute. If two pitchers are close enough with their primary attributes (control, splits and pitches), use velocity as a tiebreaker.

Also, don't disregard GB/FB. If you play in a home run park, or have a lot of home run parks in your league, you'll want to factor it in.

First, everyone has opinions. You have to weed out the good/bad. As schedule said, there's more than one way to build a team. Worlds are not identical. What works in World A may be a failure in World B.

Second, and this is opinion, control is overrated but control in the 30s or less will never cut it in the bigs. A lot of owners will say "I have to have 70 control." I've had success with upper 40/low 50 control pitchers. That said, everything else that's "bad" can be overcome with other exceptional ratings.

Third, I'd never leave a stud hitter on the board to pick up a 2nd rate SP.

Fourth, your pitchers will be a lot better with a good defense behind them. And the most recent update really changed the way bad defenders hurt their team.

Many GMs say that G/B ratio and velocity are meaningless for pitchers. While I agree that control is far and away the most important rating for pitchers, I disagree with most on G/B, velocity, to a certain degree P1-P5.

Orlando Romero is a good example of how important pitches are. Control and splits are pretty mediocre, but he has 5 pitches rated 52-89 and he has a career ERA under 4.00 with a .255 OAV. Not an ace by any means, but good, solid starting pitcher.

Ricardo Cornejo is an example of how important velocity and G/B are. Splits are only in the 50's (also has very good control). Career ERA of 3.88 and 1 All-Star appearance as a lock down closer. I picked him up off the scrap heap for $1.5mil after FA period ended.

For me, I pay special attention to Control, velocity, and G/B for my closers because 3 things I don't want in a close game in the 9th inning are walks, balls in play, and home runs.

Nigel Alexander is my current closer. If you couple velocity and P1 both over 90 for a relief pitcher you've got a strikeout machine. Think 2004 Brad Lidge.

i value splits>pitches>control.

My opinions:

1) As Mike points out, you can get away with mediocre control (very high 40's to low 50's) provided you have very good splits (70+) and no bad pitches (less than 50). Walks are less "harmful" than hits, but you want good stamina to make up for the higher pitch counts a guy who issues a lot of walks will incur.

2) Having four (or five) pitches that are 50+ will make up for mediocre splits (high 50's to low 60's).

3) Velocity is secondary, but should not be ignored completely. The best outs (when you're on defense) are the ones that are not put in play.

Here's how I look at it. Low velocity doesn't necessarily make for a bad pitcher (if other ratings are good). But high velocity can bump a bad pitcher up to mediocre, a mediocre pitcher up to good, and a good pitcher up to very good.

Here's some more examples.

GOOD: Bartolo Miranda. Only 51 control, decent splits, but look at his G/B and pitches (and decent velocity). Career WHIP of 1.14 and OAV of .204 plus the added ability to throw 140+ innings as a SuA. He's almost invaluable to my pitching staff at the moment.

BAD: Louie Navarro. Pretty good control, splits, and even velocity, but look at his pitches. Career ERA of 5.67 and WHIP of 1.56.

I like my starters to have at least 1 pitch over 75 and my relievers to have at least one pitch over 85.

By the way, for anybody who disagrees with me on the importance of Pitch Quality, G/B, and velocity, I had the lowest runs allowed in my world last season and dominated my world with a .366 SLG% allowed. The second lowest was .381 and that team was San Diego (Petco Park vs Tropicana Field). The average in my world was .437. That's what a team of good G/B pitchers can do for you.

As a new owner, I'm sure you look at OVR much more than more experienced owners. In order to rank the best RPs, Cs, and DHs as high as they should be ranked, they will need to be ranked among players at other positions that have much higher OVRs. Do not be alarmed at this. It's okay to have a Catcher with a 72 OVR projection in your top 5 or 10, ahead of 80+ OVR guys at other positions, if his bat and glove merit it. Focus on core ratings.

Late in the draft, make sure you draft 2 C, 2 SS, 1 each of 2B, 3B, and CF, plus an extra guy at one of those 3 positions. This will make managing your minors easier. Also, at least 5 each of SP and RP, maybe a bunch more.

A fine example of "Be careful whose opinion you believe".

Quality of worlds is something that can't be overlooked. Just because someone is throwing out numbers doesn't mean they "know" more than others.

I'm not saying jimmystick is in a bad world, I don't know what world he's in, but his use of numbers to "support" his opinion may not mean a thing. I heard some dude in Foxx is winning 135 games every season. If that's the case, he must know more about HBD than anyone.

i was first in slugging with a .355 we can wear different colored shirts and have a tug of war to see who is right.

Quote: Originally posted by tecwrg on 1/26/2010The best outs (when you're on defense) are the ones that are not put in play.

Unless you need a DP.

navarro doesn't have great control, and his pitches aren't just bad... they're flat-out awful. he's an extreme example of bad pitches.

Jeez. I just checked, I allowed .367 in MG last season. So listen to me, I know what I'm talking about!!!

Quote: Originally Posted By hartjh14 on 1/26/2010

Quote: Originally posted by tecwrg on 1/26/2010 The best outs (when you're on defense) are the ones that are not put in play.

Unless you need a DP

Don't put anybody on base and you won't need a DP.

I allowed .346 in Mattingly playing at Wrigley. I allowed .357 in another league in the middle of the "steroid" era, so I must be an expert, right?

I can honestly say I never look at groundball ratings for my pitchers. I find good pitchers. I only look at the secondary ratings for below average pitchers to see if there is a strength that I can take advantage of or a weakness I need to try to protect him from.