All my players suck

[Rman3349]

Ok, so I'm pretty new to the game but here's the situation

I started a regular MLB game with my beloved Red Sox. I'm a little past the all-star break in my first season, and my team is doing ok (11 games over 500). The problem is that all my players (especially hitters) totally blow. Here's a summary

Jason Bay, 296 AB: 4 HR, 37 RBI, .213 AVG, .288 OBP, .301 SLG, -12.1 VORP

J.D Drew, 306 AB: 3 HR, 24 RBI, .232 AVG, .351 OBP, .343. SLG, 5.5 VORP

Kelly Shoppach (Trade), 257 AB: 7 HR, 31 RBI, .206 AVG, .271 OBP, .358 SLG, -5.9 VORP

Kevin Youkilis, 241 AB: 5 HR, 37 RBI, .266 AVG, .354 OBP, .424 SLG, 5.9 VORP

This is just a sample. The only guy having a decent year is Mike Lowell. As a team, we're 12th in the AL in AVG, 10th in OPS and 10th in runs scored.
The pitching has been better. Not great but certainly within the realm of possibility.


So here's the question: Am I doing something wrong (I know this is hard since I could be doing any number of things wrong) or is this really just me getting super unlucky and will these players come back to normal. I guess the main point here is this: as a total noob, what's the best way to get the most out of your hitters? Thanks a lot to anyone who ventures to answer this loaded question

[TribeFanInNC]

Trade for Manny?

[KGrob]

I'm still somewhat of a noob myself. And I play only in fictional leagues. So this is only an idea...it might not be applicable at all.

But, some Sims that use real players will randomly modify actual players' skills to some extent when they are generated so you don't get the same "exact" situation over and over. Games that offer this feature will often allow you to turn the modification feature on or off or even adjust how much the actual players are randomized/changed.

Again, I play only in fictional leagues with fictional players. So, first, I don't know of OOTP-X does that. Second, even if it does, I don't know if that is what happened.

Just FYI.

Good luck.

[Kelric]

Originally Posted by Rman3349

So here's the question: Am I doing something wrong (I know this is hard since I could be doing any number of things wrong) or is this really just me getting super unlucky and will these players come back to normal. I guess the main point here is this: as a total noob, what's the best way to get the most out of your hitters? Thanks a lot to anyone who ventures to answer this loaded question

On the surface, I'd just say your hitters are having down years and you probably won't be able to do much. A few things that might help....

1) Are they tired? Make sure your guys aren't playing when tired or with day-to-day injuries. You want your depth charts to be fully fleshed out.

2) Platoon them. Is Drew doing okay against righties but dismally against lefties? Can you put Baldelli or some other player in RF against left-handed pitchers?

3) Trade the bums and watch them rebound nicely with another team and hit .400 whenever they play you.

[Rman3349]

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

Trade for Manny?

Haha, well I think I'd need to clear some salary first. If only I could unload Nancy on someone

[TribeFanInNC]

Sorry, I had to get the joke post in first.

My real answer would mirror Kelric's post. Sounds like they are just not hitting. Try the things he suggested or wait it out and hope they start hitting. OOTP can be cyclical, so patience may work also, especially if you are not at danger of missing the playoffs just yet.

[bebop]

The Red Sox and their fans never learn...
You have to spend $500 million every offseason to have a good club!

(this is coming from a yankees fan. wish we had theo epstein.. think we
can get him if we offer him a 7/$110 million deal? )