Strat-O-Matic Online, 1986 Baby!

[Suicane75]

So I decided to give SOM Online another chance. They had a special, $14.95 for two seasons, and given that the seasons last a while I figured it was a decent bang for my buck.

I remember playing a few years back and was not blown away by it, but everyone deserves another chance.

There were a number of roster sets to choose from, from recent seasons, to all-time greats, certain eras and select years. I decided to go with 1986. Memories of coming home from school to watch the Astros/Mets playoff games filled my head.

My first impressions of round two with SOMO were not that great. The draft setup is a little silly. You pick a team of 25 from a budget of $80 Million and then rank those 25 in a priority.

From the site....
If a player was selected by only one team, that team gets him.

If a player was selected by more than one team: The team that ranked that player highest gets him.

If more than one team tied for ranking that player the highest:That player is randomly awarded to one of those teams that ranked him the same.

For each team that lost out on a player:The team receives the next highest-priced player that is the same primary position of the original player, that was not selected by any team.

Now I'm sure this system is fairly easy once you get used to things, but as a first timer it was a little daunting. If you were actually able to enter a draft room and participate in a real live auction draft it would be, and I'm not exaggerating much here, a MILLION times funner. It just seems like so much more a crapshoot the way it's set up, with a real potential to kill immersion. There are references to live drafts in the rules, but nothing that indicates when/where/how you do it, which is annoying. Anyway, this is the team I drafted.


There's a 2 day lull between the draft and the first waiver wire processing, which I imagine will be kind of hectic. For my league that happens at 5pm tonight so I'm kind of anxious about it. After the initial processing it's a first come, first serve deal.

So yeah, I'll be posting about the trials of Martins Maulers, who play their games in the Astrodome. I was looking for a slash/run type team with a couple big power hitters in the heart of the order so we'll see how we do.

[Suicane75]

WTF. Why wont it let me post.

[Suicane75]

Pitchers (11) min. 10, max. 12 (total min. 24, max. 28)
Name	T	End.	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	Hold	BkR	WpR	Bat	ERA	WHIP	BAL	Salary
Clemens, Roger	R	S8*	24	4	0	254.0	179	77	70	67	238	21	-3	4	9	1WR	2.48	0.97	1R	11.25M
Ojeda, Bob	L	S7*	18	5	0	217.1	185	72	62	52	148	15	+4	0	2	1WL	2.57	1.09	5L	8.77M
Tudor, John	L	S7*	13	7	0	219.0	197	0	71	53	107	22	-6	2	2	2WL	2.92	1.14	5L	4.44M
Sanderson, Scott	R	S6/R3	9	11	1	169.2	165	0	79	37	124	21	-5	2	4	1WR	4.19	1.19	1R	3.07M
Saberhagen, Bret	R	S5/R3	7	12	0	156.0	165	0	72	29	112	15	0	3	1	1WR	4.15	1.24	2L	.97M
Mathews, Greg	L	S7	11	8	0	145.1	139	0	59	44	67	15	-5	17	7	1WS	3.65	1.26	1R	.94M
Kerfeld, Charlie	R	R3	11	2	7	93.2	71	32	28	42	77	5	+3	9	15	1WR	2.69	1.21	5R	2.23M
Worrell, Todd	R	R2	9	10	36	103.2	86	0	24	41	73	9	-1	0	2	2WR	2.08	1.23	5R	1.83M
Hernandez, Willie	L	R2	8	7	24	88.2	87	0	35	21	77	13	+2	4	4	1WL	3.55	1.22	7L	1.76M
Hoffman, Guy	L	R3	6	2	0	84.0	92	0	36	29	47	6	-6	5	12	1WL	3.86	1.44	2L	.67M
Speck, Cliff	R	R2	2	1	0	28.1	25	0	13	15	21	2	+9	14	14	1WR	4.13	1.41	7R	.65M

Hitters (14) min. 13, max. 17 (total min. 24, max. 28)
Name	B	P	Def.	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	Stl	Run	BA	OBP	SLG	Inj	BAL	Salary
Laudner, Tim	R	C	3(0)e12	193	21	47	10	0	10	29	24	56	1	0	E	1-9	.244	.333	.451	2	6L	1.46M
Ray, Johnny	S	2B	3e6	579	67	174	33	0	7	78	58	47	6	9	D	1-15	.301	.363	.394	1	3R	5.59M
Herr, Tom	S	2B	2e10	559	48	141	30	4	2	61	73	75	22	8	A	1-15	.252	.342	.331	1	4L	2.04M
Schmidt, Mike	R	3B	1e8	552	97	160	29	1	37	119	89	84	1	2	E	1-12	.290	.390	.547	1	6L	11.05M
Madlock, Bill	R	3B	4e47	379	38	106	17	0	10	60	30	43	3	3	D	1-12	.280	.336	.404	1	3L	1.43M
Guillen, Ozzie	L	SS	2e24	547	58	137	19	4	2	47	12	52	8	4	C	1-15	.250	.265	.311	1	E	.57M
Dunston, Shawon	R	SS	3e36	581	66	145	37	3	17	68	21	114	13	11	C	1-17	.250	.278	.411	1	1R	.50M
Maldonado, Candy	R	LF	2(-2)e6	405	49	102	31	3	18	85	20	77	4	4	D	1-11	.252	.289	.477	1	1R	4.69M
Smith, Lonnie	R	LF	4(+2)e13	508	80	146	25	7	8	44	46	78	26	9	A	1-17	.287	.357	.411	1	2L	1.67M
Collins, Dave	S	LF	4(+1)e2	419	44	113	18	2	1	27	44	49	27	12	A	1-17	.270	.340	.329	1	1R	.66M
McDowell, Oddibe	L	CF	2(-1)e4	572	105	152	24	7	18	49	65	112	33	15	A	1-17	.266	.341	.427	1	3R	4.15M
Moreland, Keith	R	RF	4(-1)e6	586	72	159	30	0	12	79	53	48	3	6	D	1-10	.271	.326	.384	1	3L	1.88M
Incaviglia, Pete	R	RF	4(+1)e23	540	82	135	21	2	30	88	55	185	3	2	D	1-10	.250	.320	.463	1	5L	1.33M
Jackson, Reggie	L	RF	4(-1)e25	419	65	101	12	2	18	58	92	115	1	1	E	1-12	.241	.379	.408	1	2R	1.04M

Injury chance color coding (hitters only):
0 - cannot be injured
1 - cannot be injured for more than the remainder of a game
1 - cannot be injured for more than 3 additional games
1-6 - Visit this page for more information

[Suicane75]

Ok then. So that's my team. Still getting used to the insane amount of data you need to look at. I should note that this league is using a DH.

[JonInMiddleGA]

If typical SOM usage rules are in effect, you better find another catcher to go with Laudner. And I assume that Inky & Moreland are splitting time at 1B.

[stratonascar]

Okay, and what happened to Rickey Henderson?

[Breeze]

I hope our SOM league inspired some of this...

[Suicane75]

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I hope our SOM league inspired some of this..

Indeed it did.

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

If typical SOM usage rules are in effect, you better find another catcher to go with Laudner. And I assume that Inky & Moreland are splitting time at 1B.

Heh, already gone. Lot's of movement.

Originally Posted by stratonascar

Okay, and what happened to Rickey Henderson?

Not sure what ya mean? Why I didn't I try and get him? Just didn't have the cap space/idea to do it.



Ok, so the waivers were processed and it........really isn't a lot of fun. At exactly 5 O'clock it just becomes a feeding frenzy with some guys who seem to know exactly what they're doing. Maybe if I played enough/studied it I'd get there, but it just seems to be an exercise in who knows what cards best.

Anyway, the big moves I made were dropping Clemens and Schmidt to free up room and/or get more pieces. I ended up getting Clemens back. There were like 100 transactions in about 10 minutes.

I browsed through the forums early trying to find an answer to the live draft question and apparently new management took over at some point last year, promised a lot of things and haven't been heard from much since. Many of the posters who seem to be long timers complain to what appear to be deaf ears.

Anyway, I'm starting to remember why I only played 1 season in the past. It's set up rather poorly as far as constructing a team goes, the reading of the cards is difficult for a newbie but that can be overcome. Even still, there are die hards who know exactly how and when to use players to maximize their teams that can only be learned through watching/playing and at the price it costs, I don't find it worth it. I'll play the two seasons I've bought but unless something major changes my mind I can't imagine buying any more teams.

Anyway, here's my team now.

[Suicane75]

Pitchers (11) min. 10, max. 12 (total min. 24, max. 28)
Name	T	End.	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	Hold	BkR	WpR	Bat	ERA	WHIP	BAL	Salary
Clemens, Roger	R	S8*	24	4	0	254.0	179	77	70	67	238	21	-3	4	9	1WR	2.48	0.97	1R	11.25M
Witt, Mike	R	S8*	18	10	0	269.0	218	0	85	73	208	22	-4	0	4	1WR	2.84	1.08	1L	8.26M
Hough, Charlie	R	S7*	17	10	0	230.1	188	0	97	89	146	32	+3	0	14	1WR	3.79	1.20	4L	6.04M
Morris, Jack	R	S8*	21	8	0	267.0	229	0	97	82	223	40	+1	0	9	1WR	3.27	1.16	5L	5.74M
Tudor, John	L	S7*	13	7	0	219.0	197	0	71	53	107	22	-6	2	2	2WL	2.92	1.14	5L	4.44M
Eichhorn, Mark	R	R3	14	6	10	157.0	105	0	30	45	166	8	+3	3	3	1WR	1.72	0.96	9R	5.51M
Guante, Cecilio	R	R2	5	2	4	78.0	65	0	29	29	63	11	-3	5	5	1WR	3.35	1.21	8L	2.76M
Kerfeld, Charlie	R	R3	11	2	7	93.2	71	32	28	42	77	5	+3	9	15	1WR	2.69	1.21	5R	2.23M
Worrell, Todd	R	R2	9	10	36	103.2	86	0	24	41	73	9	-1	0	2	2WR	2.08	1.23	5R	1.83M
Hernandez, Willie	L	R2	8	7	24	88.2	87	0	35	21	77	13	+2	4	4	1WL	3.55	1.22	7L	1.76M
Nelson, Gene	R	R3	6	6	6	114.2	118	0	49	41	70	7	-2	0	5	1WR	3.85	1.39	2R	.81M

Hitters (14) min. 13, max. 17 (total min. 24, max. 28)
Name	B	P	Def.	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	Stl	Run	BA	OBP	SLG	Inj	BAL	Salary
Hassey, Ron	L	C	4(+1)e6	341	45	110	25	1	9	49	46	27	1	1	E	1-8	.323	.406	.481	3	4R	5.95M
Fisk, Carlton	R	C	3(+2)e6	457	42	101	11	0	14	63	22	92	2	4	D	1-11	.221	.263	.337	2	E	.50M
Davis, Glenn	R	1B	4e13	574	91	152	32	3	31	101	64	72	3	1	D	1-10	.265	.344	.493	1	E	7.04M
Perez, Tony	R	1B	4e25	200	14	51	12	1	2	29	25	25	0	0	E	1-8	.255	.333	.355	4	E	.66M
Herr, Tom	S	2B	2e10	559	48	141	30	4	2	61	73	75	22	8	A	1-15	.252	.342	.331	1	4L	2.04M
Russell, Bill	R	2B	4e23	216	21	54	11	0	0	18	15	23	7	0	B	1-13	.250	.302	.301	3	4L	.50M
Molitor, Paul	R	3B	3e27	437	62	123	24	6	9	55	40	81	20	5	A	1-17	.281	.340	.426	3	1R	2.60M
Guillen, Ozzie	L	SS	2e24	547	58	137	19	4	2	47	12	52	8	4	C	1-15	.250	.265	.311	1	E	.57M
Dunston, Shawon	R	SS	3e36	581	66	145	37	3	17	68	21	114	13	11	C	1-17	.250	.278	.411	1	1R	.50M
Smith, Lonnie	R	LF	4(+2)e13	508	80	146	25	7	8	44	46	78	26	9	A	1-17	.287	.357	.411	1	2L	1.67M
Collins, Dave	S	LF	4(+1)e2	419	44	113	18	2	1	27	44	49	27	12	A	1-17	.270	.340	.329	1	1R	.66M
McDowell, Oddibe	L	CF	2(-1)e4	572	105	152	24	7	18	49	65	112	33	15	A	1-17	.266	.341	.427	1	3R	4.15M
Incaviglia, Pete	R	RF	4(+1)e23	540	82	135	21	2	30	88	55	185	3	2	D	1-10	.250	.320	.463	1	5L	1.33M
Jackson, Reggie	L	RF	4(-1)e25	419	65	101	12	2	18	58	92	115	1	1	E	1-12	.241	.379	.408	1	2R	1.04M

Injury chance color coding (hitters only):
0 - cannot be injured
1 - cannot be injured for more than the remainder of a game
1 - cannot be injured for more than 3 additional games
1-6 - Visit this page for more information

[Suicane75]

180 transactions in the past hour and 15 minutes. Too much of a free for all for me.

[Suicane75]

I guess I should add a 12th pitcher. The learning curve here is pretty daunting.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

I guess I should add a 12th pitcher. The learning curve here is pretty daunting.

don't think you should need a 12th pitcher. You have way more than enough innings to get through a season...(of course it has been years since I played SOMO so I may be wrong)...

I also didn't play because I hate the "aquisition phase"...it seems so forced...

[Suicane75]

Even with the DH rule? I figure I don't need all those batters so adding a mop up guy couldn't hurt. I may be over thinking it though as their seems to be a disconnect between real baseball and the SOM game.

[Suicane75]

Two series down so far and I'm an even 3-3. Clemens has been dominant in winning his two starts. I'm last in the league in runs by a good margin. The computer wanted to start Clemens in game 4 after he threw a complete game in the season opener so I'm thinking maybe I made a mistake in going with a 5 man rotation. Also, my offense probably just isn't very good.

[Suicane75]

Mad some changes after going 1-2 in the next series. Dropped Tudor and McDowell and added Keith Hernandez to be my DH. Don't really know what I'm doing yet but by the small sample size I've seen, 5 SP's aren't really needed. Hopefully this will give my offense a boost and if the comp wants me to have a 4 man rotation, so be it.