Ken Griffey Jr's Major League Baseball
In this version of the game, it really doesn't matter which team you choose, as you are allowed 16 trades. Taking advantage of this will fill most of a team's 25-man roster with your desired players. However, one you've selected your team, here are a few things to keep in mind. These will help create a winner:
- When selecting players to fill your starting lineup, it isn't necessary to place them in their proper places. But keeping the infielders in the infield and the outfielders in the outfield adds a touch of realism.
- The most important ratings for pitchers are CON (control) and FAT (fatigue). SPD (speed) isn't as important, as most computer controlled batters can easily hit fastballs.
- Your default closer is generally the pitcher who appears on the bottom on your bullpen screen, but you may want to instead use someone with a higher CON rating as your closer. Use your primary closer in close games; use any reliever if you're winning by a bunch.
- Use your relievers accordingly. For instance, if your starter gets rocked or runs out of gas early, use the reliever with the highest FAT so that you don't have to switch pitchers too much. If your starter goes eight, but can't go any farther, throw in the guy with the lowest FAT.
- Pitch soft curves. As stated before, the computer can launch fastballs.
- When selecting which position players you'll use:
- 1B, 3B, C, DH: The most important rating is POW (power) followed by SPD (speed). BAT (batting prowess) isn't important to a human player. DEF (defense) won't be used by the DH, and the other three positions won't get the ball hit to them much.
- 2B, SS, LF, CF, RF: These guys are the meat of your defense, so the DEF rating takes top honors, followed by POW and SPD.
- Dive (control pad direction + B) to field grounders as often as you need to (it's actually faster than picking up a ball) and dive to start a fielder's run to catch a fly (it's faster than starting from a dead stop).
- Swing at anything in the strike zone. Anything in the range of your bat will be hit, and you don't want to take the chance of striking out. However...
- Lead everyone off base, even if you have to take a strike to do it.
- Put on a hit and run if your lead runner has a SPD rating of 8 or above, if the pitcher is throwing changeups, or if you have two outs.
- Make sure not to overexert your pitchers. If the pitcher starts "panting" (trust me, you'll be able to tell), he's out of gas, and won't throw as effectively...so get him out of there immediately. You can also pre-emptively take a starter out between innings if you remember that a hurler's pitchcount limit is about nine times his FAT rating.
Team Overviews
AL East
New York Yankees
STRENGTHS: Strong rotation that can eat up innings. A great power source from the middle of the lineup (Williams through Strawberry). Stellar closer in Rivera. Great outfield defense.
WEAKNESSES: Weak hitting from the other half of the lineup. Relievers can't throw many innings before tiring. Subpar infield defense.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Short of trading for better position players, one could move Boggs to short and put Hayes at third for more power.
Baltimore Orioles
STRENGTHS: Good hitters. Alomar and Anderson are maniacs in the field. Pitching is excellent.
WEAKNESSES: Surhoff can't play D. Bordick is an inadequate fielder for his position.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Switch Alomar and Bordick, even though Alomar has never played short in the majors, and sub Hammonds or Berroa in left, moving Surhoff to the bench or to DH.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox
STRENGTHS: Deep rotation. Power available for every position. Great defense up the middle. Strong closer.
WEAKNESSES: Not many. The fast guys don't have much power. Belle is slow in the outfield.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Not much needs to be done. Pinch-hit with appropriately-placed power hitters if you need a late run or two.
AL West
Seattle Mariners
STRENGTHS: Griffey. Griffey. Griffey. And did I mention Griffey? Outstanding D from him and a great all-around supporting cast. Plus the Big Unit.
WEAKNESSES: Griffey can't pitch.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Replace Amaral in left with a better hitter. Then sit back and watch the magic.
NL East
Montreal Expos
STRENGTHS: A decent amount of power top to bottom (especially the bottom half of the order, Rodriguez through Fletcher). Solid defense all around. Deep bench.
WEAKNESSES: The only problem with this team is that it's incredibly average. No one stands out in any category outside staff ace P. Martinez.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Short of trading for superstars, the only thing to do is switch Grudzilanek and Lansing in their fielding positions. Then pray that either your pitching or offense shows up every day.
NL Central
Cincinnati Reds
STRENGTHS: Power from top to bottom. Great infield defense. Deep bullpen. Outstanding bench players.
WEAKNESSES: Outfield defense is terrible. Rotation isn't very deep.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Replace D. Sanders in center with Goodwin, and only use Sanders when you need a speedy pinch-hitter. Or better yet, trade Sanders for an outfielder with a higher DEF rating. You'll lose some power with Goodwin, but you won't miss it....the other seven will pick up the slack.
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers
STRENGTHS: Stacked with power from Zeile to Mondesi. Overall strong rotation. Deep bullpen.
WEAKNESSES: Weak defense overall. Park lasts for about an inning and a half, at best.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Trade away Park. Substitute Fonville for Gagne when you need some extra D at short. Use Ashley for extra power.
San Francisco Giants
STRENGTHS: Outstanding defense (Kent notwithstanding) and good hitting overall, plus a deep bullpen.
WEAKNESSES: Starters don't last long, and Kent's defense is terrible, especially for a second baseman.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Swap Kent and Lewis, and make good use of your bench.
San Diego Padres
STRENGTHS: Stacked with good hitters, and a great bullpen.
WEAKNESSES: Unimpressive starting pitching and a shortstop who throws like a girl.
HOW TO IMPROVE: Find a shortstop who can play the field.
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