Who is Dawgfan1974?
I am a 34 year old husband, father and businessman residing in the NE GA mountains.
How did you learn about whatifsports.com?
Through an internet search for sports fantasy simulators
Which games of ours have you played?Sim baseball, basketball, football, clutch racing, gridiron and hoops dynasty, and of course HBD.
Besides sports, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?
Drawing and architecture, reading (mostly Ayn Rand), and a renewed interest in video games with the Wii
Which five people, past or present sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
Ayn Rand, Ty Cobb, Warren Buffett, Andrew Jackson, and the most odd man out Willie Nelson
Who are your favorite players of all-time?
Ty Cobb, Greg Maddux, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert
Which are your favorite teams of all-time?
die hard Braves and GA Bulldog fan.
Did you play baseball or basketball (or other sports) growing up?
baseball, basketball, football
What is the top sports-related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?
a hole in one.
What would you consider your greatest WIS moment?
Recently my HBD team in sharkey's world won 102 games and took our lcs to 7 games, but lost. not much, I know, but the season before I took over they won 47 I think and their minors were decimated. The 5-season plan worked.
In Hardball Dynasty, how do allocate your budget?
I like to keep player payroll below 85 and ideally around 60-70M. Of course I have not had a team that was worth 100 M yet. I'm usually moderate on training and medical and try not to go over 15 on coaches which is a lot easier since we can retain them now. I have spent more on scouting recently which seems to have improved my drafts at least.
How do you approach off-season events with players such as arbitration and free agency?
I have learned many hard lessons in both. In free agency I try to weigh who is leaving us against who I have coming up and who may possibly be available. I don't mind paying for consistent talent, but have had to overpay to get by. I usually go through arb. with every eligible player once, then go long term with core players, and either trade or release the backup types.
What is your general strategy for hiring/re-hiring coaches?
I try to rehire as many as possible as long as they are quality to begin with, then try to scoop up some blossoming minor league talent where possible.
How do you finalize rosters at each level? What role does spring training play in your decision making?
I promote future ML talent every season, and fill out the rosters with whatever I can get. Some may spend 2 yrs in AAA waiting for someone to leave. ST plays very little role in my ML roster unless I have two good players at the same pos. that I am considering putting on the ML squad.
What is your basic strategy for setting your starting lineups and pitching rotation?
I like to have 5 starters, 3 LR, 3 SU, 2 CL in the rotation. in the lineup I just basically try to start w/good eye or contact and speed, then contact/power, then fill it out with your weaker guys. It just depends on what you have I guess.
What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?
For hitters i like good contact and a good eye above all, and for pitchers good splits and gb/fb.
How do you approach in-season player events like the draft, international prospects, waivers and promotions/demotions?
I have learned to build through the draft, look for superstars in international. I will try to go all out for 1 or 2 intl. guys a season but that's about it. I don't really do much with waivers, although I probably should. I like to keep the future ML'ers on a steady rise and rarely demote anyone except the "fillers".
Do you think your strategy will be conducive to building a multi-season dynasty? Or, do you feel that your team may be great for a couple seasons, but then must rebuild?
Apparently not at all effective here. This was my first team and I really screwed up some things, but my other team, the 2nd team, is starting to look somewhat like a dynasty type team.
Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
In Evangeline it would have to be John Hernandez from a few seasons ago, and in the other league I currently have a great young trio at 2nd, SS, and 3rd.
How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?
not enough. probably 15 min. each day. would like to double that at least to be more competitive.
Who are the users you respect the most?
I have been fortunate to be in two very good worlds w/a lot of good long-term owners. for the most part I respect all of them. It's only occasionally that I run across someone I have a problem with. GD and HD brought out the worst in people when it came to recruiting. But in HBD there seems to be enough continuity with owners that most co-exist very well.
What is your favorite aspect of HBD?
The complexity. the ratings that make the players and trying to fit them all together under a salary cap to produce a winner.
What is your least favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty? As it is still a relatively new game, if you could change three things about HBD, what would they be?
Of course I would like to be able to sign coaches long-term, fire them etc., more flexibility to transfer budget, and would like to see the pitching/hitting balanced a little better. The game has always seemed to me to favor offense. but understand for a guy who used to buy games (sports only) just to sim. them over and over HBD is great. no real complaints here.
If you were in one of our games, which sport would you play? At which position? And, what would you be rated?
I would probably be a AAA, possibly ML, backup 1B with a good glove, good patience, makeup, avg. durability/health, 15 speed, 70 contact, 30 power, 50 rhp, 70 lhp, 80 eye. yeah a definite rule 5 journeyman type.
