Just curious, are there some players in HBD that are always slow starters? I've got a guy who is a career .290 hitter but each of the last 3 seasons has taken about 30 games to get above .200. I'm wondering if there's something in his DNA that causes this or it's just small sample size.

Small sample size.

Oftentimes the schedules are nearly the same season-to-season. Maybe he plays the same quality teams in the early going?

Quote: Originally Posted By tecwrg on 12/01/2009Small sample size

How come they ALWAYS say that??? The second answer is a far more reasonable and understandable answer. Also makes far more sense!

1/2 of your team's first 20 games are against your divisional opposition. If a batter has a low LH split and these teams have a lot of ies pitching.... Or their parks are not favorable to the type of hitter he is....OR they just have strong pitching staffs.... etc. To say 'small sample size' when it happens every season, is too simple of an answer and wrong. I've got on my teams players just like what is described... solid hitters yet slow starters every single season.

To figure out why... I just looked at their ratings and my division opposition rosters and ball parks etc. Solution found.

So you have 2 choices - Live with the slow start OR sit them when situation doesn't favor them...

20 games is a small sample size. Over any 20 game period, you'll see some guys hitting lights out, and other guys hitting .120. If you're going to micro-manage your lineup based on results of a small percentage of your schedule, you're probably going to hurt yourself in the long run.

That said, it is smart to manage your lineup against individual opponents and ballparks. So if you're playing a road game at Coors, you might want to sit your slap-hitting speedy fielder and put the big power bench guy in the lineup in his place. Or if you're playing a game at Petco with a ground ball pitcher on the mound for you, maybe go for a more defensive minded speedy "small-ball" lineup.

Yes of course 20 games is a small sample size.. BUT!!!! If the same player season after season after season.....etc ALWAYS gets off to a slow start THEN IT'S NO LONGER A SMALL SAMPLE is it??

I've got a guy who is a life time .300 hitter AND he's always struggles at the start of the season - 5 straight seasons. So 20+ games times 5 equals 100+ games...I don't think you call that a small sample would you???

So it most likely has to do with who he's up against. Well the common factor is a lot of those games are against divisional rivils... maybe that has something to do with it??? When I looked into things... geez low behold, he seems to always struggle against those 3 teams (especially in their parks) and some of the others that team usually starts the season playing.

tecwrg I agree. To micro manage your team to that level... you most likely will mess yourself in the long run. Like I said "You have choice......"

In this particular case, the player has a low durability rating. So he's going to have to sit a fair # of games during the season.. so I sit him when playing in my divisional rivals parks...