Posted by brianp87 on 2/13/2020 5:50:00 PM (view original):
Looks like there was/is another AL team who did a better job tanking and has possibly better pitching then his team.

Franchise Profile: Red Roses - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

In my opinion there is a difference between tanking and rebuilding. I took over an old, expensive team with literally zero ML talent in the minors and did a rebuild in 4 years. I put in a lot of work making a lot trades that made my franchise incrementally better. I didn't just put out a crap team to get the #1 pick. I didn't let my best players sit in the minors so I could still be crappy and get a good draft pick and then call them all up at once and have cost savings etc. I also didn't have a team full of min salary players so I could have $40M+ for IFA's.

I know everyone thinks they are right on what is considered tanking, but I know I did a lot more work than a normal "tanker" would do, but maybe that doesn't matter and what I did is still considered tanking to some.

I don't care if you tanked at all. I just saw you had a good team and haven't won chit so looked and saw a guy who tanked harder. People tank all the time. Just not my thing.

I'm not saying this to start an argument. I think it just brings up an interesting point. This league is a great example of how important a strong MWR is if you want parity. Neither of the 115 win teams would have survived the MWR in some of the more competitive worlds.

Posted by brianp87 on 2/14/2020 6:46:00 PM (view original):
I don't care if you tanked at all. I just saw you had a good team and haven't won chit so looked and saw a guy who tanked harder. People tank all the time. Just not my thing.

With how this game is trending with the lack of interest I’d take people who want to tank and stick with the team for the long haul over team cherry pickers that hop world to world.

IMO, the problem with this philosophy is that tankers lead to super teams. Worlds with super teams end up with 12+ openings and wind up folding anyways. This is why it's not good to have tankers in the world and to have tough MWR's.

Big fan of MWR's in every World.

I have only been playing since late 2017, but you can still build a decent team and win 70+ games every season. Every now and then, a great player will fall to you in the draft or in the INTL market. These owners that come in and only win 50 to 65 games in order to get the best INTL players or the best draft picks are not that impressive. As stated above, I am much more impressed by the guy that wins 70+ games every season and has a few really successful seasons sprinkled in.

To me, if I were to rank the three previously mentioned type of owners, I would rank them -- best to worst -- in the order below.
1. The owner that puts a competitive team out every season and almost always wins 70+ games and stays in the World for the long haul.
2. The owner that takes over a franchise and tanks (even if it is just barely staying above the MWR), and then has a great team after a handful of seasons
3. The cherry picking owner that only takes over franchises with uber talented rosters. The owner runs the team for one to four seasons and then leaves the World.

Posted by tlowster on 2/15/2020 2:53:00 PM (view original):
Big fan of MWR's in every World.

I have only been playing since late 2017, but you can still build a decent team and win 70+ games every season. Every now and then, a great player will fall to you in the draft or in the INTL market. These owners that come in and only win 50 to 65 games in order to get the best INTL players or the best draft picks are not that impressive. As stated above, I am much more impressed by the guy that wins 70+ games every season and has a few really successful seasons sprinkled in.

To me, if I were to rank the three previously mentioned type of owners, I would rank them -- best to worst -- in the order below.
1. The owner that puts a competitive team out every season and almost always wins 70+ games and stays in the World for the long haul.
2. The owner that takes over a franchise and tanks (even if it is just barely staying above the MWR), and then has a great team after a handful of seasons
3. The cherry picking owner that only takes over franchises with uber talented rosters. The owner runs the team for one to four seasons and then leaves the World.

Again, I’m not sure I want to reveal ALL of my secrets but I have noticed that the fuzzy ratings for the draft for players have helped this. In one of the worlds I’m in I’m thinking (hoping) that I will be able to sustain my team and keep in the middle (15th or better) season to season.

if I do that I’d switch my scouting back again form College to HS. I’ve noticed that from picks 1 to 10 ish you will get a serviceable good to very good player in college. And occasionally (the top guy every season or 3 guys every 5 years) will be an all star. Where as with HS it’s hit or miss. You may get an all star in pick 24 or you may get guys that never make the majors.

BUUUUT if you are picking mid 20’s it’s worth the lottery pick. My best guy for my SD team Johan Butcher (i’m too lazy to link) was picked 24th. This is including my minor league guys that are coming up that I picked top 15.

so it is possible to not tank and win. Just have to be smart and have a strategy.

Back on topic..... The playoffs are nothing but luck and mine has been all bad for a long time. I have got a still active run of almost 40 playoff appearances since my last WS title. I've lost with strong pitching teams. I've lost with strong hitting teams. All my teams have above average defense. I put my worst SP and worst RP or 2 (ERA and/or WHIP) on rest. Doesn't matter what I try, at some point I will get kicked out of the playoffs. Even teams with 20 fewer wins in the regular season have knocked me out of the playoffs.

1 example of my crazy bad luck: I once had a closer who gave up 6 runs total the entire season and never more than 1 run in any appearance. First game of the playoffs he gives up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and take the loss. Just crazy and so frustrating! Maybe instead of using my 20 best players (benching the other 5) in the playoff I should use my 20 worst. That is about the only thing I have not tried yet.

Posted by dyoungquist on 2/18/2020 12:51:00 AM (view original):
Back on topic..... The playoffs are nothing but luck and mine has been all bad for a long time. I have got a still active run of almost 40 playoff appearances since my last WS title. I've lost with strong pitching teams. I've lost with strong hitting teams. All my teams have above average defense. I put my worst SP and worst RP or 2 (ERA and/or WHIP) on rest. Doesn't matter what I try, at some point I will get kicked out of the playoffs. Even teams with 20 fewer wins in the regular season have knocked me out of the playoffs.

1 example of my crazy bad luck: I once had a closer who gave up 6 runs total the entire season and never more than 1 run in any appearance. First game of the playoffs he gives up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and take the loss. Just crazy and so frustrating! Maybe instead of using my 20 best players (benching the other 5) in the playoff I should use my 20 worst. That is about the only thing I have not tried yet.

I have more respect for the 40 straight playoff appearances then the WS titles. In my opinion that shows and owner that can build a good team.

As everyone has mentioned here, the playoffs are a mix between luck and a hot team getting hot at the right time.

Posted by hockey1984 on 2/18/2020 7:51:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dyoungquist on 2/18/2020 12:51:00 AM (view original):
Back on topic..... The playoffs are nothing but luck and mine has been all bad for a long time. I have got a still active run of almost 40 playoff appearances since my last WS title. I've lost with strong pitching teams. I've lost with strong hitting teams. All my teams have above average defense. I put my worst SP and worst RP or 2 (ERA and/or WHIP) on rest. Doesn't matter what I try, at some point I will get kicked out of the playoffs. Even teams with 20 fewer wins in the regular season have knocked me out of the playoffs.

1 example of my crazy bad luck: I once had a closer who gave up 6 runs total the entire season and never more than 1 run in any appearance. First game of the playoffs he gives up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and take the loss. Just crazy and so frustrating! Maybe instead of using my 20 best players (benching the other 5) in the playoff I should use my 20 worst. That is about the only thing I have not tried yet.

I have more respect for the 40 straight playoff appearances then the WS titles. In my opinion that shows and owner that can build a good team.

As everyone has mentioned here, the playoffs are a mix between luck and a hot team getting hot at the right time.

To clarify.... It is not 40 straight playoff appearances in consecutive seasons with one team. My streak is the last 40 times I have been in the playoffs with various teams in various worlds. In other words.....My owner profile shows I have been in the playoffs a total of 48 times and have 2 World Series wins. Those 2 wins came within my first 9 or 10 playoff appearances. No World Series titles since.

Posted by dyoungquist on 2/18/2020 12:51:00 AM (view original):
Back on topic..... The playoffs are nothing but luck and mine has been all bad for a long time. I have got a still active run of almost 40 playoff appearances since my last WS title. I've lost with strong pitching teams. I've lost with strong hitting teams. All my teams have above average defense. I put my worst SP and worst RP or 2 (ERA and/or WHIP) on rest. Doesn't matter what I try, at some point I will get kicked out of the playoffs. Even teams with 20 fewer wins in the regular season have knocked me out of the playoffs.

1 example of my crazy bad luck: I once had a closer who gave up 6 runs total the entire season and never more than 1 run in any appearance. First game of the playoffs he gives up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and take the loss. Just crazy and so frustrating! Maybe instead of using my 20 best players (benching the other 5) in the playoff I should use my 20 worst. That is about the only thing I have not tried yet.

Man. I feel your pain on that closer situation. As I read that, it reminded me of the Gary Anderson situation in 1998 with the Minnesota Vikings -- didn't miss an extra point or field goal all season, but with less than five minutes to go in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship, he comes in and misses a 38-yd FG that probably would have put the game out of reach for the 98 Dirty Birds.

Honestly I guess I feel different then the majority. I feel like the playoffs are not much different then the regular season if anything its easy to take advantage of matchups if there are any. If your team is good its good. Now if you have a bunch of tankers in the world and skate through then possibly your record is misleading to begin with.

Posted by tlowster on 2/18/2020 4:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by dyoungquist on 2/18/2020 12:51:00 AM (view original):
Back on topic..... The playoffs are nothing but luck and mine has been all bad for a long time. I have got a still active run of almost 40 playoff appearances since my last WS title. I've lost with strong pitching teams. I've lost with strong hitting teams. All my teams have above average defense. I put my worst SP and worst RP or 2 (ERA and/or WHIP) on rest. Doesn't matter what I try, at some point I will get kicked out of the playoffs. Even teams with 20 fewer wins in the regular season have knocked me out of the playoffs.

1 example of my crazy bad luck: I once had a closer who gave up 6 runs total the entire season and never more than 1 run in any appearance. First game of the playoffs he gives up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and take the loss. Just crazy and so frustrating! Maybe instead of using my 20 best players (benching the other 5) in the playoff I should use my 20 worst. That is about the only thing I have not tried yet.

Man. I feel your pain on that closer situation. As I read that, it reminded me of the Gary Anderson situation in 1998 with the Minnesota Vikings -- didn't miss an extra point or field goal all season, but with less than five minutes to go in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship, he comes in and misses a 38-yd FG that probably would have put the game out of reach for the 98 Dirty Birds.

Wow, didn't think I'd have to relive one of the most painful days of my life on the Hardball Dynasty Forum.

Posted by mtanton07 on 2/19/2020 4:06:00 PM (view original):

Posted by tlowster on 2/18/2020 4:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by dyoungquist on 2/18/2020 12:51:00 AM (view original):
Back on topic..... The playoffs are nothing but luck and mine has been all bad for a long time. I have got a still active run of almost 40 playoff appearances since my last WS title. I've lost with strong pitching teams. I've lost with strong hitting teams. All my teams have above average defense. I put my worst SP and worst RP or 2 (ERA and/or WHIP) on rest. Doesn't matter what I try, at some point I will get kicked out of the playoffs. Even teams with 20 fewer wins in the regular season have knocked me out of the playoffs.

1 example of my crazy bad luck: I once had a closer who gave up 6 runs total the entire season and never more than 1 run in any appearance. First game of the playoffs he gives up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to blow the save and take the loss. Just crazy and so frustrating! Maybe instead of using my 20 best players (benching the other 5) in the playoff I should use my 20 worst. That is about the only thing I have not tried yet.

Man. I feel your pain on that closer situation. As I read that, it reminded me of the Gary Anderson situation in 1998 with the Minnesota Vikings -- didn't miss an extra point or field goal all season, but with less than five minutes to go in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship, he comes in and misses a 38-yd FG that probably would have put the game out of reach for the 98 Dirty Birds.

Wow, didn't think I'd have to relive one of the most painful days of my life on the Hardball Dynasty Forum.

Yeah. It didn't get better from there. We continue to hold the burden of heartbreak over and over. I often wonder if it would be better for my health if I were a Browns or Lions fan.

2009 NFC Championship -- despite six turnovers, the Vikes were in OT against the Saints, but never received a chance to score due to OT rules at the time. (Bountygate deserves an honorable mention).
2015 Playoffs -- despite the close score, the Vikings totally dominated the game against the Seahawks. Yet, they had to kick a 27 yd field goal in the closing seconds to win the game. Only problem is that the kicker missed the kick.
2017 Playoffs -- things like the Minneapolis Miracle never happen, that is why reaction videos went viral. Then, the following week, the Vikings get demolished by the Eagles.
Most recent playoffs -- beat one of the better teams of 2019 (Saints). Then the offense doesn't show up the following week.

Try living in GA. Our Falcons decided to blow a 4 TD lead in a SB.