Tie-breaker

[Nationals GM (Preston - Old)]

It seems that people have really had an issue with the new tiebreaker. Regardless, a change is being made. We've chronicled the reasons. The purpose of this thread, however, is to ask about which categories should make up the tiebreaker. We're going to go with four categories, two offense, two pitching.

I continue to suggest HR, SB, W, HD. I think it promotes the balance, but what do you guys think?

No matter what though, this is going to be the system moving forward. Commissioners of leagues make decisions like this without soliciting everyone, it's just how it works, but I'm definitely willing to discuss with everyone what categories would be best.

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

I think the categories should be-

HR, SB, ERA, K

Each of these categories are fully controlled by the players in the fantasy team.

Whilst a pitcher gets a win, or a batter gets a run, they usually rely on other players within their actual teams. Similarly a relief pitcher could have an amazing season but fail to get the most holds or saves, because their team either losses, or is usually too far ahead to qualify for many holds and saves.

[Guardians GM (Matt)]

I agree that ERA and Ks should be the pitching categories, both are stats that all pitchers regardless of role will be accumulating. They also balance each other out because going for strikeouts could hurt your ERA, it should be the least unbalanced by creating a certain pitching staff.

As for offensive categories, steals seems reasonable, I would suggest OPS instead of HR because it promotes having good all round hitting for a week rather than one single event.

With SB, OPS, ERA, K as the tiebreaker it gives you who had the better week without having any "luck" type categories involved, it forces you to have a more balanced team that has to be good players.

[Rangers GM (Victor)]

Except that if they are doing a points system as described before, doing ERA brings your points down so defeats the purpose. I do like the OPS and SB, Ks and probably Ws. The OPS being a decimal will keep it from being tied anymore, I think. Unless you get a point for winning ERA and zero for not.

[Royals GM (Mac - Retired)]

How bout wins, holds, runs and home runs with the 2nd tie breaker as ERA (lowest) or average (highest)

[Rays GM (Donavan)]

I don't like wins and holds being used, as it doesn't necessarily reflect the performance of your player. You can get a win and pitch poorly (in fact how times have you seen a blown save turn into a win), and you can pitch 0.1 of an inning, concede a run and still get a hold.

I would prefer to workout how we can use ERA and K's.

[Royals GM (Mac - Retired)]

tough to use era and avg because we are going to be totalling the four categories together. one of those is a fantastic 2nd tie breaker

[Rangers GM (Victor)]

Hell, I have always believed in the old saying, "If it aint broke, dont fix it".

I have never to this point heard anyone complain about Wins being a problem as a tiebreaker. All of a sudden a rule change is announced. Doesnt make a lot of sense to me.

[Nationals GM (Preston - Old)]

Jan 7, 2013 8:02:36 GMT -8 Rangers GM (Victor) said:

Hell, I have always believed in the old saying, "If it aint broke, dont fix it".

I have never to this point heard anyone complain about Wins being a problem as a tiebreaker. All of a sudden a rule change is announced. Doesnt make a lot of sense to me.

People have complained, just not publicly.

[Nationals GM (Preston - Old)]

Jan 7, 2013 5:33:24 GMT -8 Royals GM (Mac - Retired) said:

tough to use era and avg because we are going to be totalling the four categories together. one of those is a fantastic 2nd tie breaker

Agreed. With the format we're proposing, we simply can't use any of the average statistics. The reason I proposed the other four, is that the offensive stats are different and defensive are different, in the sense that they promote different kinds of players and therefore a more balanced team. For example, guys who hit HRs often don't get SBs, and vice versa, and same with Ws and HDs. Again, this is for a tiebreaker; each weekly matchup isn't determined by these four stats unless there's a 6-6 tie.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

every offensive player gets Runs/RBIS and OPS would work too and best offensive TEAM indicators.

every pitcher combined Whip and K's is the best pitching TEAM indicator.

if you use HR's that favors the power hitters
if you use SB's that favors the speed teams
If you use ERA that favors the stronger starting pitching (more innings)
if you use W that favors the stronger starting pitching
if you use HD that favors the stronger middle relief teams
if you use S that favors the stronger closing teams

Just food for thought.

Hold it, I am ok with HD's being a category over S, lol...don't change that one.

[Former Twins GM (Robin)]

I second the Indians' proposal.

SB, OPS, ERA, K

SB and OPS balance speed and power lineups. HR would be fine but OPS does represent power teams more completely. ERA and K does the same balancing act for pitching. W at best is a necessary evil and is fairly random. I'm usually against using it as a category at all, but you have to do something and QS isn't much better. Regardless I'd prefer not to use it as a tiebreaker.

[Deleted]

I would agree with

SB, OPS, ERA, K's

[Rangers GM (Victor)]

Dont think this was every finalized. So are we still going with Wins as first tiebreak for this season. Just wonder as I hit my first tie of season. LOL. So now this has my attention.

[Former Twins GM (Robin)]

I'll be going through score tomorrow and I want to be sure that this is still the tie breaks we are playing with this season. I'd appreciate confirmation from the commissioners ASAP!

Jan 4, 2013 18:45:32 GMT -8 Nationals GM (Preston - Old) said:

It seems that people have really had an issue with the new tiebreaker. Regardless, a change is being made. We've chronicled the reasons. The purpose of this thread, however, is to ask about which categories should make up the tiebreaker. We're going to go with four categories, two offense, two pitching.

I continue to suggest HR, SB, W, HD. I think it promotes the balance, but what do you guys think?

No matter what though, this is going to be the system moving forward. Commissioners of leagues make decisions like this without soliciting everyone, it's just how it works, but I'm definitely willing to discuss with everyone what categories would be best.

[Former Angels GM (Mike C.)]

simplist tie breaker on the planet, home team gets 0.1 of a point lead before the week begins....... works ESPECIALLY well for the playoffs, home team should/would have the advantage in real MLB. It a big leap to the future but this league is ready for it, then tie breakers will never be an issue again.

There are always going to be advantages to type of pitchers or type of hitters to determine a tie breaker. The way we finally came up with is giving the home team in football got 10 points before the week started...baseball H2H tie goes to the home team or gets 0.1 point before the week started...baseball roto was the hardest to come up but with a 5x4 league was easier than a 5x5 league, the current tie breaker in this league is set up similar to the roto 5x5 tie breaker, the worst one to come up with a fair solution.

[Pirates GM (Hollar)]

Until we can come up with a better mousetrap, I believe we should go with what PB posited before the season began. This is a topic that must be revisited in the offseason.