I'm working on only my 4th team ever - 80mil OL. I've read all I can find in the forums about choosing a home park, and I found a few threads where other rookies got some good advice - so I figured I'd ask the experts!

I have some ideas about where to put this team, but I'd love some more experienced players to chime in with their opinions, hopefully to validate what I'm thinking. You don't have to name specific parks if you don't want to - if you just want to give a general description of the park attributes you'd look for, it would still be helpful. Thanks.

defense: very strong up the middle with both fielding and range. Also strong on the 4 corners. One player with C range, that's the lowest fielding or range rating in my starting eight. Catcher has A- arm.

pitching: $39 mil, around 1,320 IP - all quality. Very low walks, very low HR/9, low K/9, WHIP just over 1.00, OAV around .230. I know the total IP may be a little higher than some might like, but I hate to rely on the luck of the draw for AAA arms.

bats: $41 mil, I think the starting eight has a decent power/speed blend. Around 35AB/HR with four guys RL between 17 and 35 HR, AVG in low .290s, OBP in mid .360s, SLG nearly .450, four guys between 27-46 SB all over 77% success rate. Should be a good doubles-hitting team. SO / BB should be about 480/490.

Where should we play?

In my opinion I would play in a park that suppresses HRs. In all honesty those 15-35 HR guys never seem to hit as many any way so I would try to play in a HR negative park and just throw a wet blanket over the power teams in the league.

My 2 cents: pick a park and then model a team for it, not vice versa.

Thanks neighbor! Frankly, my initial thought was that my low HR/9 (it will be around 0.16) would be enough to limit HRs, but maybe your idea of enhancing that strength even further via ballpark selection is a good one.

In my VERY limited experience, though, I find myself being worried about the high AVG singles/speed teams more than the power teams.

Who else wants to help?

If you are worried about speed teams then you need to get a catcher with an A+ arm, that should shut down the running game. The difference between A+ and A- is substantial in my opinion.

Also is you HR/9 that low because of dead ballers? If so take that with a grain of salt.

I also agree with inkdskn and would in the future tailor your team to a park rather than the other way around.

Quote: Originally Posted By inkdskn on 1/21/2010My 2 cents: pick a park and then model a team for it, not vice versa

Thanks, and yes, I know that is usually a good idea. I did have a "park type" in mind when I constructed the team, and still do. Just curious to see what others think. I'm finding that these forums are loaded with great information.

Quote: Originally Posted By kneeneighbor on 1/21/2010Also is you HR/9 that low because of dead ballers? If so take that with a grain of salt.

Yes - primarily deadballers. I know they probably won't live up to RL when it comes to quashing HRs, but they are still generally pretty stingy, right? From what I've seen/read so far, aren't deadballers more likely to get singled to death?

I'd be more worried about your OAV than your HRs.

I'd be looking at something like Ebbets Field.

Thanks JFranco - that is actually pretty much the direction I had in mind - something like Ebbets.

In fact, I was even thinking about maybe going -2 for singles. And maybe even +2 for doubles and/or HR (e.g. Kingdome, Rogers, Riverfront). I haven't been around long enough to have a feel for the difference between +/-1 and +/-2. Any comment?

And, on the topic of Riverfront, I know that overall park factor is meant to be just a guide, but I have to admit that I find it weird that Rogers and Riverfront can be SO far apart (1.03 - 0.90) when they are both -2, +2, 0, +1, +1. I know there are ranges within each effect rounded to whole numbers, but wow. Does Rogers really play like a hitter's park and Riverfront like a pitcher's?

COORS FIELD

Assuming you're serious, why Coors?

low walk lowHR higher oav pitchers belong in a park that suppresses singles. the HR debate hinges on one key question: do you expect to give up more HR than you hit? if Yes supress HR, if No dont suppress them. doesnt matter wether you hit 50 or 500, you're looking to gain more advantage than you give up.

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thanks for the good info eastvanmungo

I would likely put a team like that in the Rogers Centre. Your team OBP doesn't blow me away for how much you spent, but it sounds like you spent quite a bit on fielding. That is certainly a viable way to go. Not for me - I recently won a world series in an OL with a team that was 2nd to worst in the league in FLD%, had 0 + plays and I think led the league in -. Lots of ways to win in the current version of the game...