I am a longtime SLB vet, mostly under my other username, timlan2057.  I am a newbie, first season, first franchise, in HBD.

In HBD, hitting seems to be ramped up quite a bit more than in SLB.  I am using Vancouver's Nat Bailey Stadium, a totally neutal park--zeroes straight across.  It seems to play like Coors Field in SLB.

From what I've observed so far, I think the best chance to consistently win in HBD would be in a "pitcher-friendly" park. This may just be based on my personal preferences. No doubt championships are won in hitters' parks, but on the whole, I think a pitchers park, especially in the AL with DHs, would keep your Ps from getting beat all to hell and still allow room for decent hitting, since the hitting factor seems to be juiced up in HBD.

I'm just looking for some feedback here, in an attempt to learn the game better.

What sort of feedback?

You can win in any park.    Ramped up hitting could be due to poor defense, poor pitching or the simple desire to acquire players who mash.    For the most part, I think most HBD players will play the stick over the glove.  So hitting is more prevalent.

Mike is right that you can win in any park. For what it's worth, I've found it considerably easier to win (across different Worlds) in a slight hitters' park than in an extreme pitchers' park. I'm also one that, as a rule, values the glove over the stick, which is less well-suited to the pitchers' park.

"For what it's worth, I've found it considerably easier to win (across different Worlds) in a slight hitters' park than in an extreme pitchers' park."

So very true.

Looking at your team, your SP4, and LRA pitchers are absolutly horrible, and your SS needs to have atleast 80 range and 85 in glove, accuracy, and arm strength. ratings to be effective. You need a great up the middle defense in a pitchers park or else the benefit is lost. Your pitchers at the very least need to be above 50 on the splits to be average, the good ones have splits above 65.  You did a pretty good job finding guys with high control. that is important to minimize walks. If you can find adequate replacements for those positions I metioned, your team will be A LOT better.

And i find more success in pitcher's parks. Not to contradict zbrent, just to make the point that while park factor has some impact on your success depending on your team's strengths/weaknesses, i don't think your generalization will serve you well. Most owners with less than a few seasons under their belt should probably prioritize player evaluation, acquisition of talent and budget management before worrying about park effects. Just one opinion of course.

You lost me as soon as I saw Alfredo Blasco in the majors.  He's High A material.

Posted by a_ersberg on 1/16/2011 2:59:00 PM (view original):
You lost me as soon as I saw Alfredo Blasco in the majors.  He's High A material.

Wow.  Tough crowd here.

Okay guy, once again, I'm learning. It's one-quarter way through my first season.  And I can see I haven't paid as much attention to splits as I should.

Is it safe to say a player's splits pretty much trump his hitting (or pitching) attributes?

Or is it vice-versa?

They're pretty relevant, but not the whole story. Best thing to do is to find players in your league that are top producers and see what ratings they have in common.

Posted by dwoolery on 1/16/2011 2:27:00 PM (view original):
And i find more success in pitcher's parks. Not to contradict zbrent, just to make the point that while park factor has some impact on your success depending on your team's strengths/weaknesses, i don't think your generalization will serve you well. Most owners with less than a few seasons under their belt should probably prioritize player evaluation, acquisition of talent and budget management before worrying about park effects. Just one opinion of course.

By all means contradict. That's part of what I enjoy about HBD - different strategies work for different owners; there is no one way to do it.

I've had more success one way; you (and others) have had it another. The trick (if there is one) is trying to figure out what works best for each, and what works best overall, so you can win both at home and on the road.

Posted by bagwellbuff on 1/16/2011 3:49:00 PM (view original):

Posted by a_ersberg on 1/16/2011 2:59:00 PM (view original):
You lost me as soon as I saw Alfredo Blasco in the majors.  He's High A material.

Wow.  Tough crowd here.

Okay guy, once again, I'm learning. It's one-quarter way through my first season.  And I can see I haven't paid as much attention to splits as I should.

Is it safe to say a player's splits pretty much trump his hitting (or pitching) attributes?

Or is it vice-versa?

I think the best way to look at splits is this: a batter's contact and power ratings are an indication of how a player would fare against a pitching machine. So if it was just fastballs down the middle every pitch, a 100/100 contact/power guy would hit a 500 foot homer every time. The splits are an indication of how the guy would do versus actual pitching. So if a guy's contact/power/vLH/vRH ratings are 100/100/0/0, then when the guy actually steps into the batter's box against a real pitcher he'll look like Pedro Serrano trying to hit curveballs.

Personally I think great splits can be the best attribute for a hitter. If a guy has ratings of 100/100/40/40, I'd expect very erratic play. But if a guy has ratings of 40/40/100/100, I think he'll prove to produce consistently each year.

Posted by prezuiwf on 1/17/2011 9:40:00 AM (view original):

Posted by bagwellbuff on 1/16/2011 3:49:00 PM (view original):

Posted by a_ersberg on 1/16/2011 2:59:00 PM (view original):
You lost me as soon as I saw Alfredo Blasco in the majors.  He's High A material.

Wow.  Tough crowd here.

Okay guy, once again, I'm learning. It's one-quarter way through my first season.  And I can see I haven't paid as much attention to splits as I should.

Is it safe to say a player's splits pretty much trump his hitting (or pitching) attributes?

Or is it vice-versa?

I think the best way to look at splits is this: a batter's contact and power ratings are an indication of how a player would fare against a pitching machine. So if it was just fastballs down the middle every pitch, a 100/100 contact/power guy would hit a 500 foot homer every time. The splits are an indication of how the guy would do versus actual pitching. So if a guy's contact/power/vLH/vRH ratings are 100/100/0/0, then when the guy actually steps into the batter's box against a real pitcher he'll look like Pedro Serrano trying to hit curveballs.

Personally I think great splits can be the best attribute for a hitter. If a guy has ratings of 100/100/40/40, I'd expect very erratic play. But if a guy has ratings of 40/40/100/100, I think he'll prove to produce consistently each year.

Thanks Pre. 

That was very helpful.

In DevChats, you will often see the developer refer to what we all call "splits" as "effectiveness".  Just a good way to consider what the rating means.  Personally, I think of it as a %age modifier for the rest of their ratings when they face a lefty/righty.  This applies to pitchers OR hitters.