Complete self destruction in season two... help!

bgeno · 07-01-2009, 03:44 AM

I have no idea what happened to my team.

I started a fictional league with a 54-game season and was just a few games under .500 in the first season. I had a ton of money left, so I decided to go ahead and buy some free agents and make a big trade.

I signed one of the top pitchers available. He went 7-2 the previous season with a 2.40 ERA and gave up just 4 HRs. So far in the second season, he is 0-2 in 3 appearances with a 12.35 ERA and has given up 3 HRs. I've yanked him after he gave up 10 earned in 4.1 one game and loaded the bases after giving up 3 earned in the 2nd inning.

I traded for the 09 Outstanding Hitter Award winner as well. I gave up some prospects and a relief pitcher. He hit .385 with 15 homers in 34 games the first season. So far, through 13 games and 54 ABs, he's hitting .196 and is just 3 K's away from tieing his total from all of last year.

One of my best hitters from last year is WAY down. He had a great season... hit .341 with 14 HRs... was pretty consistent. Now he's hitting .190 with 1 HR. After the season last year, his scouting report went south. His power plumetted.

I've got a guy that hit .284 last year hitting .196 (though, I'll admit, he's 8-for-22 in the last 5 games, so he could be coming around) and a guy that hit .258 hitting .180.

My pitching isn't terrible... I'm basically middle of the road in everything. I can't expect much more considering my starters dont grade well by my scout.

But...

My batting is just AWFUL... last in AVG, OBP, SLG, HR, hits, and Runs per game (not even close on runs per game... I have a 2.6 average, next lowest is 4.1).

What could have happened here? I realize guys can have down years and cold streaks, and I expect that, and I did lose my leadoff hitter to injury (he hit .350 last year and was 5-for-10 before getting hurt), but this just seems ridiculous.

What am I doing wrong and different from last year?

hrd12 · 07-01-2009, 09:23 AM

I don't really think you are doing anything wrong from what you described. It's just one of those years when things don't go right for you. I'm not expert, but I had a similar problem in my second season where I think I ended up with only 67 wins in a 162 game season. I also signed a couple big ticket free agents who bombed, so I just benched them and played other guys who came up through my system. The next couple seasons I just signed free agents who I needed to fill in some holes, but I've never tried to sign one of the top free agents again. I'm sure this is just an anomoly, and there good FA's out there who produced, but not for me so far.

Raidergoo · 07-01-2009, 11:15 AM

What are the ages of these Free Agent acquisitions?

bgeno · 07-01-2009, 01:18 PM

Well, the pitcher is up there... so that could be a problem. He's 35.

The batter is just 26.

I do realize that signing these guys to big money contracts after just one successful year was pretty risky. I wont do that again. But I was trying to make a run for the championship since I had decent success last year and had TONS of money left for payroll. They're only on two year deals... and the pitcher has the option for the second year of his contract.

Also, though I'm 2-11, 6 of my losses are by 2 runs or fewer, so with a little luck it could be a different story. In fact, I started by losing my first four games by just one run each.

Bottom line is that I learned from this: it's risky to sign a guy to a big contract after just one good season.

RchW · 07-01-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgeno

Well, the pitcher is up there... so that could be a problem. He's 35.

The batter is just 26.

I do realize that signing these guys to big money contracts after just one successful year was pretty risky. I wont do that again. But I was trying to make a run for the championship since I had decent success last year and had TONS of money left for payroll. They're only on two year deals... and the pitcher has the option for the second year of his contract.

Also, though I'm 2-11, 6 of my losses are by 2 runs or fewer, so with a little luck it could be a different story. In fact, I started by losing my first four games by just one run each.

Bottom line is that I learned from this: it's risky to sign a guy to a big contract after just one good season.

Well 2-11 may mean nothing. I started 6-24 one year, then went something like 36-8 and coasted through the second half to 105 (memory?) wins for the season. If you are 10 games under .500 at the all-star break then your concern is justified.

Raidergoo · 07-01-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgeno

Bottom line is that I learned from this: it's risky to sign a guy to a big contract after just one good season.

This makes you smarter than several current GM's.

07-01-2009, 03:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
bgeno Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Complete self destruction in season two... help! I have no idea what happened to my team. I started a fictional league with a 54-game season and was just a few games under .500 in the first season. I had a ton of money left, so I decided to go ahead and buy some free agents and make a big trade. I signed one of the top pitchers available. He went 7-2 the previous season with a 2.40 ERA and gave up just 4 HRs. So far in the second season, he is 0-2 in 3 appearances with a 12.35 ERA and has given up 3 HRs. I've yanked him after he gave up 10 earned in 4.1 one game and loaded the bases after giving up 3 earned in the 2nd inning. I traded for the 09 Outstanding Hitter Award winner as well. I gave up some prospects and a relief pitcher. He hit .385 with 15 homers in 34 games the first season. So far, through 13 games and 54 ABs, he's hitting .196 and is just 3 K's away from tieing his total from all of last year. One of my best hitters from last year is WAY down. He had a great season... hit .341 with 14 HRs... was pretty consistent. Now he's hitting .190 with 1 HR. After the season last year, his scouting report went south. His power plumetted. I've got a guy that hit .284 last year hitting .196 (though, I'll admit, he's 8-for-22 in the last 5 games, so he could be coming around) and a guy that hit .258 hitting .180. My pitching isn't terrible... I'm basically middle of the road in everything. I can't expect much more considering my starters dont grade well by my scout. But... My batting is just AWFUL... last in AVG, OBP, SLG, HR, hits, and Runs per game (not even close on runs per game... I have a 2.6 average, next lowest is 4.1). What could have happened here? I realize guys can have down years and cold streaks, and I expect that, and I did lose my leadoff hitter to injury (he hit .350 last year and was 5-for-10 before getting hurt), but this just seems ridiculous. What am I doing wrong and different from last year?

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07-01-2009, 09:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
hrd12 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	I don't really think you are doing anything wrong from what you described. It's just one of those years when things don't go right for you. I'm not expert, but I had a similar problem in my second season where I think I ended up with only 67 wins in a 162 game season. I also signed a couple big ticket free agents who bombed, so I just benched them and played other guys who came up through my system. The next couple seasons I just signed free agents who I needed to fill in some holes, but I've never tried to sign one of the top free agents again. I'm sure this is just an anomoly, and there good FA's out there who produced, but not for me so far.

07-01-2009, 11:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Raidergoo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 8,403 Thanks: 104 Thanked 78x in 52 posts	What are the ages of these Free Agent acquisitions?

07-01-2009, 01:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
bgeno Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Well, the pitcher is up there... so that could be a problem. He's 35. The batter is just 26. I do realize that signing these guys to big money contracts after just one successful year was pretty risky. I wont do that again. But I was trying to make a run for the championship since I had decent success last year and had TONS of money left for payroll. They're only on two year deals... and the pitcher has the option for the second year of his contract. Also, though I'm 2-11, 6 of my losses are by 2 runs or fewer, so with a little luck it could be a different story. In fact, I started by losing my first four games by just one run each. Bottom line is that I learned from this: it's risky to sign a guy to a big contract after just one good season.