where did I go wrong? Topic

I would appreciate some advice and suggestions on where I went wrong. I made slow gains with my Los Angeles team but decided I could help it by changing ballparks. Last season we were 33-48 at home (Arizona) and 45-36 on the road. We had a 5.57 ERA at home and led the league with a 3.99 ERA on the road. Our OPS away last year was .727, 5th worst in the league. At home it was .732, 6th worst in the league so neither my batters nor my pitchers were benefitting from my home ballpark.
I did some more analysis of my anemic hitters and saw that in most offensive categories, I was 24th-29th in the league. The only bright spot was that our singles batting average (total singles/Total AB) was 8th highest in the league. Not a good thing to build on but it was the only good batting stat we had. Based on the teams I had beaten on the road and the info above, it appeared to me that my pitchers could do better if we had a pitcher's home field and that my batters couldn't be that much worse. I looked at all available fields and Dodger Stadium is +2,-4,-3,-1,-1 so it should help my puny singles hitters and also help my pitchers.

It's not working. We're now 6-17 at home and 11-8 on the road. I realize we still have a relatively small sample but it's 25% of the season. Despite pitching in a pitchers ballpark we have a 4.79 ERA at home and 4.43 ERA on the road. Our OPS at home is .633, the lowest in the league by .063. On the road our OPS is .711, 24th in the league.
I added a solid first baseman and right-handed hitting catcher, which should have helped although the catcher is just warming up now.
I'm wondering if I got it backwards and should have gone to a hitters ballpark? We're not fast and don't steal a lot of bases (although we're 16th in the league right now) so maybe we aren't actually built to take advantage of Dodger Stadium? Has anyone had success in Dodger Stadium? If so, what did you do?
Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.
11/27/2009 12:39 PM
Your pitchers are only ok, and your hitters are below average. I would expect them to perform much how they have.
11/27/2009 12:53 PM
My best advice is you should focus on getting the best hitters regardless of ballpark. I know that sounds obvious but it appears you're trying to make your ballpark work some magic for your offense. Forget it. Other than Green, your hitters are nothing special and won't hit much no matter what park.
11/27/2009 1:05 PM
Haven't looked at your team so I'll offer what I have figured out from the teams I have moved. Don't do it. Typically I try to pick up teams that are in neutral parks but when I acquire the team I leave it there. Like you I tried to move teams to compensate for their shortcomings and like you it didn't work. It is much better to build your team to fit the park then moving to find the right park. As Contracted said increase the talent level of your team so that it can succeed in any environment. If you have figured out the ratings and know the type of players you want then that is what you need to add. Solid pitcher & hitters can perform anywhere, you're looking for a quick fix that won't work. Even if it did what happens once you make the playoffs? Pray that your opponent has a similar park? I would stay in Dodger Stadium now that you are there and find good players. If you do then the park won't matter.
11/27/2009 2:06 PM
I've found better luck in acquiring players whose flaws are muted or covered up by park factor, rather than the other way around.

Your awesome hitters don't need Coors, but your mediocre pitchers will get killed.

Think about it the other way around.
11/27/2009 2:20 PM
I've found that you can build your line-up to fit your park but you just need to get the best pitching possible.

Other than that, you're trying to draw conclusion on 23/19 games. Or, if you prefer 200 innings/600 outs. 10 hits over that time period would raise your batting average almost 17 points.
11/27/2009 2:25 PM
where did I go wrong? Topic

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