Spring Training Strategies: Season 8

I am going to open this one up for complete interaction and discussion.

What are your Spring Training strategies?

To get started, I try to run with 30-35 pitchers and 30-35 hitters. I also like to ensure I have at least 3-4 players for each key position (SS, 2B, 3B, CF and C). As far as pitching goes, I generally run a staff of "Tandem" Starters 1-4 giving 8 SP plenty of IP over the course of the spring. The "locks" for the rotation usually make up the "a" portion of the tandem, while the prospects generally make up for the "B" part of the tandem. Every other pitcher on my roster gets designated a Setup A. As they accumulate innings, they get benched untill all members of the staff have a roughly equal amount of IP. For example, after 2-3 games I will go through and rest any RP that has pitched at least 1-2 innings, ensuring that those who haven't pitched yet will get their chance. With 30-35 pitchers on hand (22-27 of which are RP), each usually gets between 3-6 IP over the course of 3-8 outings or so. As far as hitters go I let my starters start the first game or two, then I try not to play any of my ML starters again until the last few games of the Spring. I like to run lineups out there consisting of my best prospects and some fringy-types to see how they play out. I used to think it would help one of my lesser players catch a DiTR, but I have since learned that playing time during Spring Training has nothing to do with DiTR's. This is just a rough overview on how I approach the dreaded Spring Training games. What's your approach?

Mike Piazza Award

Voting Criteria - Please vote based on relative value of the pick (so consider round/pick), his success at varying levels (the higher the level the better), and his long-term prospects to contribute at the Big League Level.

Without further ado, here are the candidates submitted for the first Mike Piazza Award (covering seasons 1 - 6).

In Alphabetical Order:

Livan Baez - Season 3, Round 4, Pick 127, New York Mets, trooperbud

Oswaldo Concepcion - Season 2, Round 22, Pick 708, Minnesota Twins, zbrent716

Jake Howington - Season 4, Round 3, Pick 76, Nashville Sounds, tonywin33

Oswaldo Lee - Season 4, Round 8, Pick 251, Colorado Rockies, mr_stickball

Chris Leverton - Season 6, Round 3, Pick 92, Chicago White Sox, pfontaine

Tiny Towers - Season 4, Round 6, Pick 193, Boston Red Sox, Stewart_UK

Michael Urich - Season 4, Round 3, Pick 80, Houston Astros, coachdeal10

Power Ranking Results

Rank - Team - Votes - Record as of 4/16/09 AM game (Winning percentage)

#1 - Minnesota Twins - 9 - 42-18 (.700)
#2 - Houston Astros - 3 - 42-19 (.689)
#3(T) - Milwaukee Brewers - 2 - 32-29 (.525)
#3(T) - Oakland Athletics - 2 - 41-20 (.672)
#3(T) - Pittsburgh Pirates - 2 - 37-23 (.617)
#6(T) - Detroit Tigers - 1 - 39-21 (.650)
#6(T) - St. Louis Cardinals - 1 - 35-26 (.574)
#6(T) - San Francisco Giants - 1 - 30-30 (.500)

Owner Interview: tonywin33

1. How did you get into whatifsports?

I think I saw it on CNNSI.com. Always loved sim type games so I figured I would check it out. Been hooked ever since.

2. What is your favorite thing about HBD?

Trying to build the exact team I want; through draft, free agency, and trades. The only thing is, my ideal team keeps changing the more I learn about this game. More specifically the draft is what I spend the most time on. I'm a sucker for a good draft.

3. Least favorite thing about HBD?

So far, the playoffs. I know that sounds dumb, but let me explain. I have 6 real seasons (the other 3 were as a replacement owner for horrible teams) under my belt. I haven't been to the playoffs since my first season. When you're not in the playoffs, they seem to drag on forever. Hopefully that will change this year.

4. How did you find out about Major Leagues?

I think I saw an ad pnut posted in the classifieds. Looked like a good league at the time. Luckily, I was right. Best league I've been in by far.

5. Who is tonywin33?

A stay at home Dad by day and retail Loss Prevention at night. I was a Manager a couple of years ago but seeing my son about two hours a day didn't cut it. So when my daughter was born I went part-time and stayed home with both of them. I'll never be able to complain about not seeing my kids enough, that's for sure.

6. What are your favorite sports and/or sports teams?

Favorite sports are NFL (Carolina Panthers), MLB (Atlanta Braves), and Mixed Martial Arts

7. All-time favorite sports moment?

Toss up between watching the Panthers in the Super Bowl (on TV) and going to my first MLB game as a teenager. My parents, best friend, and I made a road trip to Shea Stadium to see the Reds (my favorite team before moving to Atlanta) play the Mets. Jose Rijo pitched a 3 hitter against the Mets that day.

8. What other baseball games have you previously played? (tabletop, fantasy, video, computer, i.e. anything from Strat-O-Matic to Baseball Mogul to RBI Baseball and everything in between)

Fantasy and Playstation mostly. Played some Front Office Football too.

9. What player, in your minor league system, has the most potential to be a star and why?

Vince Borbon SP in AA. My 1st ever pick with the Sounds. Should be an All Star pitcher at the ML level one day.

10. Who is your Franchise Player and/or team MVP?

The league leader in batting average right now, A.J. Hemingway. He just seems like he's built to play in the Nashville ballpark.

11. What are your team's prospects in the short, medium and long-term?

I've been able to improve my big league team without trading away all of my future prospects so I feel good about the medium and long term. Short term, this feels like the year for me to finally finish in something other than 2nd.

12. Who is your biggest Major Leagues rival?

Since Kansas City beat me for the division lead two of the last three years, I would probably go with them. Unfortunately, grissom left the league so it feels a little different this year.

13. What do you look for in a Hitter?

Good eye and splits. Depending on what I need at the time, power comes into play.

14. What do you look for in a Pitcher?

Control, Splits, Pitch #1,#2, and GB/FB. Playing in Nashville and against Texas all the time does not bode well for flyball pitchers.

15. What is the best move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

Nothing great yet. Best of the rest was probably signing 3B Glendon Stein a couple of season ago. He's been exceeding any expectations I had of him.

16. What is the worst move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

Probably putting P Darby Scott on the waiver wire last season. It's not that he was that great, but I essentially gave him away to the Yankees and then had to spend money to replace him with a free agent. Scott's been pretty decent for the Yankees the last season or so.

17. What is your most memorable HBD moment, any world?

I think winning my first playoff series will be my most memorable moment (when it happens). So until then, probably moving up to Division II in Hoops Dynasty. That was pretty cool even though I've dropped Hoops Dynasty altogether in favor of HBD.

18. What is your team’s #1 strength?

This team's strength has almost always been hitting. That seems to have continued this season, though I would like a few more home runs.

19. What is your team’s #1 weakness?

Pitching, pitching, pitching, followed by fielding. This team has had issues with pitching since I got here. I'm making some progress, but not enough yet.

20. In what ways, if any, do you think Major Leagues could improve?

Overall, it's a great league. Would like to see a couple of the powerhouses fall out of the playoffs though. Nothing personal pnut and zbrent.

Tonywin33 also offered up this nugget:

Bonus question: 21. Favorite all time movie? Cool Hand Luke

Steal of the Draft - AKA Mike Piazza Award

With the Amateur Draft coming up, I thought it might be interesting to see who the very best player was out of those who "slipped through the cracks" in the first 6 seasons and was drafted in Round 3 or later.

So here's how we can do it - Go to World Office-->Reports-->Draft History. Set Season to "All", Franchise to your own Franchise, and Round(s) to 1-5, then 6-10, then 11-15, then 16-20, then 21-25. Check to see who you think was the very best prospect and/or the very best value pick your franchise drafted in Round 3 or later. As a shortcut, you can see the Current Level of the player all the way to the right. Odds are, if a player drafted Round 3 in S1 hasn't made the ML yet, he's not going to.

Post your Franchise's best value Round 3 or higher prospect and/or your franchise's best value pick in the comments. I'll collect them all, link them in a post, and we can vote for the winner of the Mike Piazza Award.

Power Ranking Poll

Please vote to the left for the one team you think is the best in the World right now. Voting closes on 4/14/09. Only teams with a .500 record or better were eligible.

Owner Interview: basilleaf2

1. How did you get into whatifsports?

I don't remember exactly. I'm sure I was just surfing the web sometime and stumbled across the site. Been a member for about 8 yrs. now.

2. What is your favorite thing about HBD?

Watching the younger players progress and make it to the ML level.

3. Least favorite thing about HBD?

I really can't stand spring training. I try to get my players a little playing time, but more worried about fatigue and injury. I almost never depend on ST to determine any of my starters.

4. How did you find out about Major Leagues?

I actually received a credit for a free season for playing one of Fox's web games. Been in Evangeline league for 11 years now but with a free season, I needed to find another league & I liked the Major League theme.

5. Who is basilleaf2?

A 35 year old warehouse manager who is married with 3 wonderful kids, leaving in Indiana. An avid sports fan. Football - my first love, followed by hockey, baseball & basketball.

6. What are your favorite sports and/or sports teams?

Die hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan, great year this season. Also Die hard fan of The Ohio State University. Love the Reds (one of these years), Blackhawks, and Celtics.

7. All-time favorite sports moment?

The 2002 OSU Buckeyes beating Da "U" for the championship.

8. What other baseball games have you previously played? (tabletop, fantasy, video, computer, i.e. anything from Strat-O-Matic to Baseball Mogul to RBI Baseball and everything in between)

Played them all on Nintendo, but when Sony came out with Triple Play, that ended any free time I had. Madden, etc lost all my interest for seasons at a time of Triple Play.

9. What player, in your minor league system, has the most potential to be a star and why?

Luis Contreras is probably my best prospect in the minors. My ML lineup have a couple young guys that could be a potential all stars.

10. Who is your Franchise Player and/or team MVP?

Mark Blum has been on my ML squad since day 1 and has endured the many losing seasons. Hopefully this team is turning the corner and he will see a playoff run in the near future.

11. What are your team's prospects in the short, medium and long-term?

Right now I'm pretty excited about short, medium & long term. Hopefully this team will make a run next year at a playoff spot. With the draft picks and international prospects, the minors have a good amount of talent for several years to come.

12. Who is your biggest Major Leagues rival?

When you haven't come close to winning since the birth of the league, It's hard to have a big rival. I guess I'd say Natic Empire since he's dominated the NL West division.

13. What do you look for in a Hitter?

I'm a big splits guy. Need either contact or power with good splits. Eye, and speed are nice additions, but want good well rounded hitters.

14. What do you look for in a Pitcher?

All 4 of the main categories. Stam, control, & splits. Don't pay much attention to FB/GB, put some weight into the pitch ratings.

15. What is the best move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

I haven't made many moves since I want to believe I have most of the pieces to the puzzle, just need them to all get to the ML level and mature.

16. What is the worst move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

No particular move, but a couple of international prospects that I signed and then an even better one comes along, and I've already blown my load on other players.

17. What is your most memorable HBD moment, any world?

Still waiting on a signature moment. I've made it to the division championship series in my other league, but nothing noteworthy.

18. What is your team’s #1 strength?

Youth and salary flexibility. While they are young and getting the ML minimum, easy to spend money on the draft, training, international prospects.

19. What is your team’s #1 weakness?

Again...youth. Just not quite there yet. Trying to be patient, but the time has come when this franchise should start to make some playoff runs, or ownership should be questioned.

20. In what ways, if any, do you think Major Leagues could improve?

Considering where this league was just a couple of seasons ago, great strides have already been made. A solid group of owners who have been through some bickering and turmoil, just would like to see a solid group of 30 owners who keep coming back year after year.

Owner Interview: overeasy

1. How did you get into whatifsports?

I originally signed up in December of 2001 where I did nothing but 10 game spring training sessions of SBD, one right after the other. I never paid them anything until a couple of years later when I started playing Hoops Dynasty with the dream of someday coaching my alma mater of Pacific in the Big West Conference of Division 1. I didn't start playing HBD until I was invited to join a new private world being formed by a member of my HD world who apparently respected my accomplishments over my 20+ season HD career. Once I started HBD, I knew I was done playing HD.

2. What is your favorite thing about HBD?

Honestly, its hard for me to pinpoint any one item at this point as it is a very thorough and complete simulation game. It's the ultimate stat geek's wildest dream.

3. Least favorite thing about HBD?

If you would have asked me a few months ago, I would have said coach hiring or the time consuming transaction process. Since then, I've adapted my approach to coach hiring which has made it tolerable and the advanced roster moves page has greatly expedited team setup. Now I would have to say spring training as it has become pretty tedious trying to make sure your current and future ML players get enough action to see benefit and prevent skill degradation. But ultimately, you just spend the entire time praying no one important gets hurt in a meaningless game.

4. How did you find out about Major Leagues?

I was invited to join with a personal invitation from the league commissioner, pstrnutbag44. He had just recently become a replacement member of the league I created and commish, Kinsella.

5. Who is overeasy?

I'm a 34 year old married man with two young boys, almost 3 and almost 1 year old. I live in Portland, OR and work as an electrical engineer with a small consulting firm.

6. What are your favorite sports and/or sports teams?

I have always been a fan of the three major American sports. For baseball, my first ever Little League team was called the Braves and with daily access to games via Superstation WTBS, I became an Atlanta Braves fan with my favorite player of all-time being Dale Murphy. This was despite the fact that I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, but the Giants were our Little League rivals, so I just couldn't like any team with that name.With the 49ers conducting their Summer camp in a nearby park (and in those days they didn't even put up anything to stop you from watching right through the fence), I became a big fan of the team.In those same years, the NBA was all about two teams, the Lakers and the Celtics. I was one of the many kids who was mesmerized by the things that Magic Johnson did on the court. But honestly, with the changes in the way that the NBA game is played over the last 20 years, I would rather watch college than the NBA, where all of the players actually put out total effort for the entire game.

7. All-time favorite sports moment?

Watching on television, I would have to say "The Catch." It was my first season following football where I actually understood what was going on and so it seemed pretty magical that my team was going to the Super Bowl. Of course, it also made me expect it to happen every season.In person, it would definitely be my senior year of college (1997) when the Pacific Tigers defeated Utah State for the Big West Conference Tournament title. It was their first NCAA basketball tourney appearance since 1979 and their first ever Big West title since joining the conference in the 80s. I was among those that rushed the floor to celebrate with the team.

8. What other baseball games have you previously played? (tabletop, fantasy, video, computer, i.e. anything from Strat-O-Matic to Baseball Mogul to RBI Baseball and everything in between)

The first baseball game I played was simply using my baseball cards to simulate seasons in my head and track things using notebooks. This started shortly after I first started collecting cards, with my first ones being 1983 Donruss cards. How the players performed was sometimes based off of my knowledge of the players, but many times it came from how they looked in their pitcher. The most notable player who was a stud in my games but didn't actually become one in RL until later was Dave Stewart. He sure did look like a bad ass in his picture while playing with the Texas Rangers. The most notable RL dud who shined in my mind was Glenn Bragg. Man that guy looked like a monster that should have been hitting 40+ homers a year. I simulated about 25 seasons over the course of 1983-1989 when I had other priorites being in high school.I did play in a fantasy baseball league freshman and sophomore years of high school. It was a lot of work in those days compiling stats from the league stats in the newspaper on Sunday.As for video games, I played the ultra-realisitic baseball game on the Atari 2600 with the three fielders, including the pitcher. I didn't own another baseball game until I bought a used copy in 2004 of EA Sports' MVP Baseball 2003 for my PS2. I'm still playing the same franchise season that I originally started and I'm somewhere around Game 120.

9. What player, in your minor league system, has the most potential to be a star and why?

While I've got a couple of potential ace starters in my minors, I think there is nothing that is more of a sure thing in this game as power. The 18 year old kid I drafted this season, Butch Reed, with $20M projections looks as follows: Con 83, Pwr 96, vL 100, vR 65, BE 74. He is going to flat out rake, especially against lefties. He is even a passable catcher with a 70 PC projection. The reason he dropped to my draft position is probably because of his only 69 Dur projection. So I might only get 120-130 games out of him, but he could very well still hit 40 homers a season.

10. Who is your Franchise Player and/or team MVP?

I don't really think a last place team has an MVP, so my franchise player at this point for the ML team would have to be Charles Mann. The 21 year old has played a passable 2B and has been great at the plate since his mid-season call-up. In 44 games, he has a .383 OBP and a .576 Slug. Pct with 12 homers and 9 SB.

11. What are your team's prospects in the short, medium and long-term?

My major league team does not currently possess the talent to compete. Between the farm and the ML team, I think I have the makings of a pretty good pitching staff once everyone has developed. So in the short term, I need to keep payroll down in order to bring in some more quality position prospects, as this area is severely lacking. I'd like to be able to have a team that can annually compete within 4-5 seasons.

12. Who is your biggest Major Leagues rival?

It takes time and a competitive team to develop a rivalry, of which I currently have had neither.

13. What do you look for in a Hitter?

I don't really look for any one particular style but try to find guys with the right combination to be successful. A lower power player better have very good scores in the other four categories, as power really does seem to be the primary attribute that can overcome other shortcomings.

14. What do you look for in a Pitcher?

I haven't had much success with starters with less than 60 control so I typically use that as a minimum, but like most the goal is for as many numbers to be 70+.

15. What is the best move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

Since I haven't done too much other than trade away some veterans that I wasn't going to resign for some cheap ML role players, I would say my best move was joining the league.

16. What is the worst move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

Since I haven't traded away anyone of consequence yet, I don't think I have one.

17. What is your most memorable HBD moment, any world?

This past season, it was a special moment to win the World Series in the world I created. The team was truly "my team" as only 2 players on the playoff roster were in my franchise at world creation, a RH hitting specialist 1B/LF/DH and the #5 SP assigned as a long reliever for the playoffs who didn't pitch at all.

18. What is your team’s #1 strength?

Young starting pitching: With Arlie Gant and Junior Gil on the ML team, Byron Watson and Luis Cruz in HiA, and Felix Tyner in LoA, I've got potentially a very good future starting rotation.

19. What is your team’s #1 weakness?

Hitting: Right now I am in short supply of quality hitters, because outside of Charles Mann (ML), Bo Hines (AAA), and Butch Reed (RL), the only other ML quality bats I have are going to put up decent homer totals, but with a low OBP.

20. In what ways, if any, do you think Major Leagues could improve?

I think the league could use more parity. I don't know what happened here in the early seasons, but there is a wide talent gap between the haves and have nots. So hopefully with time and stable ownership, the talent will eventually become more equally distributed.

Power Rankings: Comments

Feel free to comment/discuss votes below!

Owner Interview: coltonrocks

1. How did you get into whatifsports?

I can't remember exactly but I belive I saw it mentioned in SportsIllustrated a while ago and figured I would give it a try.

2. What is your favorite thing about HBD?

I think I would have to say the fact that you can control every aspect of the team and make all the decisions to help the team win.

3. Least favorite thing about HBD?

Like most people probably coach hiring. Losing sucks too though ;)

4. How did you find out about Major Leagues?

I was looking through the classifieds for a league that would take a rookie owner with absolutely no experience and this was one that caught my attention being modelled after the real major leagues. I came in season one and was able to get my Jays which also drew me to this league.

5. Who is coltonrocks?

I am actually an 18 year old first year Commerce/Business student at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. I have played just about every sport out there and am currently playing University football here for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies which makes coming up with the time and money to play this something of a challenge. That is the main reason I am only in this one world but it has definately been worth it so far.

6. What are your favorite sports and/or sports teams?

I played football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and just about everything else you can think of when I was younger. I have to go with mostly Canadian teams being from there. I will say the Toronto Raptors and Blue Jays, Calgary Flames, and for football I would have to say the Baltimore Ravens with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Football and basketball are my two passions though.

7. All-time favorite sports moment?

Although I dont remember much about it as I was very young, the Jays winning back to back World Series' in the early 90's was huge for everyone in Canada and is incredible to watch old highlights of it. The Joe Carter home run specifically was a huge moment in sports for me. More recently and probably unknown to most here would be my hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders winning the CFL's Grey Cup in '07.

8. What other baseball games have you previously played? (tabletop, fantasy, video, computer, i.e. anything from Strat-O-Matic to Baseball Mogul to RBI Baseball and everything in between)

I haven't played much for baseball games other than just the MLB series on PS2 and I usually have one or two fantasy teams every year in baseball.

9. What player, in your minor league system, has the most potential to be a star and why?

This is an easy one. For sure I will go with Willie Fernandez my AAA Shortstop. I have been really trying to get a SS for the past couple of year and the deal I was able to swing with the Mets to get Fernandez and Victor Gabriel will hopefully work out great for both teams. Fernandez has a good combination of defense and offense and should be an all-star calibre SS for a long time.

10. Who is your Franchise Player and/or team MVP?

Aurelio Manuel is fast becoming our Franchise Player and team MVP. He was picked up in a deal with the A's in season 3 and has been very good so far hitting at least 20 HR's and 100 RBI's in each season here in Toronto. I am hoping that Eddie foxx can take over part of this role as well and he seems to be on his way with a solid season going here in season 6.

11. What are your team's prospects in the short, medium and long-term?

I had thought that we would be making at least a run at a playoff spot this season but I have been terribly disappointed with the way we are playing right now. I feel we have a great pitching staff and our starters are all young and cheap at least for the time being so I see our medium term prospects as being pretty bright. In the long term things get a little more grey. We have a few solid prospects but many are close to being ML ready, so refilling the minors is my biggest concern for next season.

12. Who is your biggest Major Leagues rival?

Who else can I say other than my division mates especially zbrent. Everyone just seems to be getting better so it looks like this division will continue to be one of the toughest in the world for a long time.

13. What do you look for in a Hitter?

In hitters, splits and eye are the most important for me. I like to have both over at least 60. I dont pay as much attention to power as some people but I will take it if I can get it.

14. What do you look for in a Pitcher?

In pitchers its control, splits, then pitches in that order. They have to have one of good splits or good pitches though. I probably would not take a pitcher with control less than 50 unless they were an absolute stud in every other rating.

15. What is the best move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

Getting Manuel and Doug Duran in season three has been a solid trade for both myself and the A's in my opinion. I belive that getting Fernandez and Gabriel this season will be a great deal in the future but giving up Byron Watson for them was tough to swallow.

16. What is the worst move you’ve ever made in Major Leagues?

There are so many where do I start. Signing Neil Torres this year hasn't seemed to have panned out very well but I had the cap room and he has a mutual otion for next year which will most likely be picked up. Another poor move was signing Ajax Kaline to a 4 year deal worth 8.13 million per season and Zip O'Donnell to a 2 year deal worth 12.5 million per season in season 1. Then trading R.J. Wood and two others for Lucas Jones and two others. I pretty much destroyed my first season with those three moves.

17. What is your most memorable HBD moment, any world?

As this is the only world I am or have ever been in I guess te most memorable moment was making the season 3 playoffs. Hopefully I can improve on that and make a WS run in the next few seasons.

18. What is your team’s #1 strength?

I thought it was pitching but they haven't been as good as I thought they were.

19. What is your team’s #1 weakness?This season it has been my bullpen. It has been made up of mostly the same pitchers for the last couple seasons but has really struggled so far this season.

20. In what ways, if any, do you think Major Leagues could improve?

It has been very good and stable since pstrnutbag took over as commish. Maybe me winning a playoff game would make things better but I don't have any real beefs with the way things are running right now.