First of all, straight pitch is stupid.
Second of all, if you're playing curve pitch Houston is the best team in the game. Reasons why:
- You get a lot of infield singles because the speed guys also have low power ratings and great contact ratings
- Almost every single is actually a double since Houston has so much speed you can steal successfully almost everytime
- 3 out of 4 games my pitchers will combine for a shutout against you
- MScott and Nolan both have a 50 on stamina so you have a deeper bullpun in case the game goes into extra innings
- Nolan is the best pitcher in the game
- MScott is easily top 5 and has the best drop ball in the game
- D.Thon is the must clutch player in the game
- GG
First of all, welcome to the boards
Second of all, have you ever played against a person and not the computer?
- have you ever played the drinking game?
- do you know the secret to throwing out baserunners?
- you have a built-in friend here at these boards and his name is "strassy"
- have you ever played a series with 1sp (one starting pitcher)?
- gg
I second TBG's welcome. We haven't had any good discussion of the merits of the teams lately, so thanks for stirring it up.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
You get a lot of infield singles because the speed guys also have low power ratings and great contact ratings
Contact rating doesn't help you here. The actual function of the rating is to reduce power, not to improve how well a player makes contact - if anything, that hurts your point, as a guy with a good (low) contact rating will hit balls harder more often.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
Almost every single is actually a double since Houston has so much speed you can steal successfully almost everytime
Against the computer, maybe, but I can steal most of the time against the computer with 3/4 of Minnesota's lineup. Against a human who knows how to throw out baserunners, Lopes is the only guy on Houston who can steal bases regularly (although you might be able to get a few with Hatcher, depending on the opponent).
- TY for the welcome.
- Who plays the computer?
- I don't drink.
- There's a secret to throwing out baserunners? Last time I checked the NES controller still only had two buttons so I'm not sure what you're talking about.
- Good point about the contact rating-- got me there.
- Bill Doran's nickname should be "Doran the Explorer"
- 3 IP w/ Scott, 1 IP w/ DSmith, 4 IP w/ Nolan, 1 IP Kerfeld, GG.
and obviously if you go 9 innings w/ one pitcher or play straight pitch detroit = best team in game b/c of their offense
the secret to throwing out baserunners is that you throw the ball toward home with your catcher and the opponent fails to slide into second base... most of the time resulting in an out.
what in the world are you referring to with "gg"?
Greg Gagne?
goose gossage?
GG allen?
Dude(or dudette if your a woman), kefeld is the fucking shit...he needs more than an inning of work. ive found it to be no secret that people just dont like batting vs a european handjobber sidearmer (myself included).
Anywho, Houston was better than St louis last thursday in the finale of the bootleggers bar RBI session. KEVIN FKN BASS WALK OFF 2 RUN SHOT in the 10th off a very tired Todd Worrell.
gorman gthomas?
This is complete insanity. Here's why:
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- You get a lot of infield singles because the speed guys also have low power ratings and great contact ratings
Not if your opponent knows how to pitch at all. If you are Ho and I'm anybody else, I'm going to bust a lot of your high speed/low power guys inside to take the infield hit away from you. Sure, I'll also bust you outside enough to keep you off guard, but that's exactly what you'll be, as you ground out to my ss over and over. Moreover, even if you do squeeze one between the 3b and ss, I'm still in control, as realistically, you're going to have to do that 3 times an inning to score 1 run (so unlikely).
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- Almost every single is actually a double since Houston has so much speed you can steal successfully almost everytime
See TBG/Beef's responses. Beef even gives too much credit...Lopes can still be thrown out more often than not.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- 3 out of 4 games my pitchers will combine for a shutout against you
Honestly, this has more to do with the level you're playing against. If you can routinely shut your opponent out with Ho, then your opponent isn't that good. I'm not saying that Ho's pitching isn't that good, but you should be able to score a few runs pretty regularly, at least. And the problem is, even if you can keep your opponent to a few runs, you're still in trouble because Ho's offense is so weak.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- MScott and Nolan both have a 50 on stamina so you have a deeper bullpun in case the game goes into extra innings
True, but even so, you have to be perfect at all times because you're offense is so deficient.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- Nolan is the best pitcher in the game
Highly debatable. I personally think Tudor is the best, but your point stands--Ryan is one of the top SPs in the game. For the record, I regard the following SPs as better than Ryan: Tudor, Fernando, Clemens...
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- MScott is easily top 5 and has the best drop ball in the game
I doubt it. The four SPs listed above are better than Scott...as are Gooden, Ojeda, Key, Krukow...and you're correct, Scott has a great drop rating, but it's almost too good. It's too easy to lay off because it almost always drops.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
- D.Thon is the must clutch player in the game
okay...(but he's probably not on my list of top 20 clutch hitters).
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 05:33:30 PM
Good game?
Also, despite my complete disagreement with the very premise of your claim, it is very fantastic to have a legit RBI debate again!
How do you make bullets?
The beautiful thing about MScott's drop ball: I'm going to throw four of them at you once I have you at an 0-2 count. You can either sit there and watch one of them go for the strikeout, or you can swing at one of them and strikeout. Take your pick. My buddy is a pretty good player, but the other day i had 6K in 2 IP with the Scottsman. I like to start MScott and not really worry about draining him quickly b/c I got 50 stamina Nolan and one inning wonder Kerfeld waiting in the wings.
Also, my buddy was going to "the secret throwout" the other day when we were playing and I was still swiping bags off of him with everybody... then again, he wasn't too great at getting the throw in quickly.
I think the key to winning with Houston is waiting on pitches and draining the other guys pitching staff.
All I can say about DThon is that it was the bottom of the 12th in a 0-0 game and I brought him in. He hit the walk-off homer to preserve my undefeated record against one of my buddies. Since then he's actually done nothing for me. But that one instance alone makes him the greatest clutch player ever.
GG
I love using the Astros in Hou/STL matchups, growing up played this matchup almost exclusively (much like Strassy/Nacho), using 1 SP in 7 game series. But Houston is the worst team in RBI, it makes it so fun to win with them.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 08:33:32 PM
The beautiful thing about MScott's drop ball: I'm going to throw four of them at you once I have you at an 0-2 count. You can either sit there and watch one of them go for the strikeout, or you can swing at one of them and strikeout. Take your pick. My buddy is a pretty good player, but the other day i had 6K in 2 IP with the Scottsman. I like to start MScott and not really worry about draining him quickly b/c I got 50 stamina Nolan and one inning wonder Kerfeld waiting in the wings.
Also, my buddy was going to "the secret throwout" the other day when we were playing and I was still swiping bags off of him with everybody... then again, he wasn't too great at getting the throw in quickly.
I think the key to winning with Houston is waiting on pitches and draining the other guys pitching staff.
All I can say about DThon is that it was the bottom of the 12th in a 0-0 game and I brought him in. He hit the walk-off homer to preserve my undefeated record against one of my buddies. Since then he's actually done nothing for me. But that one instance alone makes him the greatest clutch player ever.
GG
Good luck consistently getting to 0-2 on me with Scott. I'll take most of the drop balls that you want to use to get me to 0-2 in the first place...
Yeah, aren't like 90% of MScott's drop ball's 'balls'
Our strategy used to be to just ignore them constantly (easier in theory when you rarely play against Hou)
i like the cut of this guy's jib...but he is clearly insane.
Look, this is all I'm saying:
a) Houston is the best pitching team in the game
b) If you know how to pitch there is a pretty good chance you can throw a shutout with Houston
c) If you know how to hit there is a pretty good chance you can score a run with Houston
d) GG
Or you can look at it this way:
a) Houston is the best pitching team in the game
b) If you know how to pitch there is a pretty good chance you can throw a shutout with Houston
c) Even if you're lame and can't score a single run with Houston you can take the game into extra innings whereupon your opponent's pitching stuff will run out of gas first.
d) GG
Conclusion: Houston Astros = Best Team in the Game
go-go's?
they lose a lot of steam if you play ethically...and by that, i mean using only one SP unless the game goes into extra innings. and even if you do that, it's a risk because we usually play series play.
houston is my favorite team, but they are by no means anything but the worst team.
Quote from: Gerlost on 10/22/07, 08:54:25 PM
Quote from: Attezzobal on 10/22/07, 08:25:47 PM
How do you make bullets?
Gunpowder?
When a male bullet loves a female bullet, the male bullet fucks the female bullet in the ass puts on lipstick and fists himself. Then he forces the female bullet to eat his own shit.
That's how they make baby bullets
Gordon Gekko?
Quote from: Strassy on 10/22/07, 11:19:19 PM
they lose a lot of steam if you play ethically...and by that, i mean using only one SP unless the game goes into extra innings. and even if you do that, it's a risk because we usually play series play.
True - Scott loses a lot of his value in 1SP, because the drop ball drains his stamina to the point that he won't last any longer than the guys with 40 stamina.
George Gershwin?
Galloping Ghost?
Gargle Gonads?
This is reminding me of the whole MBYC fiasco.
Quote from: GDavis on 10/23/07, 08:12:00 AM
Gordon Gano?
(http://www.rhino.com/RZine/images/femmes2.jpg)
I think it's pretty arguable that Houston has the best pitching staff in the game, especially when playing against high-level human opponents. Personally I would take San Francisco, but I think you could make a strong case for the Mets as well.
I would like to humbly submit that your friend my not be as great of a player as you think he is. I thought I played against good players until I played in the RBI Championships in Columbus...completely different ballgame. At the highest level, I think you really need to be able to take advantage of any mistake the other team makes pitching, and that means hitting home runs - which also means you need guys who can mash. Elite players aren't going to give up three or four hits in one inning, so you need to take that one time that he leaves a curve ball a little over the plate and take advantage of it.
For that reason alone, Houston is not a good choice at all.
Also, Dickie Thon the most clutch player? Nope.
(http://dee-nee.com/rbi/pics/wilfong.jpg)
what is this 1 SP garbage? and straight pitch? if you don't make up stupid rules houston is the best in the game. period.
Well, if you don't make up stupid rules (that go against the spirit of the game), it's in your best interest to play 1SP.
Quote from: The Express on 10/23/07, 02:50:09 PM
what is this 1 SP garbage? and straight pitch? if you don't make up stupid rules houston is the best in the game. period.
How do you make it through Game 2 of the series if you use both Starting pitchers?
RBI was meant 2 be played best of 3 (or 5, or 7) with 1 starting pitcher. This needs to be incorporated some day in the national tourney.
Houston is tough if used by a jedi knight. I love using Houston and saving Ryan to close the game for the last three innings and bring it with some hard stuff and off speed stuff. Scott is not bad and his knuckle or drop ball can be hard to take with two strikes or even with none or one strike if there are some ducks on the pond.
JoeDirt mentioned something about pitching inside to the Astros. Well, I consider myself to be a great hitter in rbi. And I do know that the Astros do have some pop and are not to be underestimated. If Joe Dirt ever threw me inside for the most part, he would pay dearly. I would win that chess match. You should never throw me inside. I work, most of the time, from swinging inside to out and keeping my opponent off balance by setting up up or down in the box....or in the middle. The Astros work best from the middle of the box to maximize their contact rating.
BeefMaster's theory regarding contact-power has a huge hole. I have a formula about factoring in the contact-power rating and how it effects the hitters. I have numbers and examples to back me up. I shall start a thread on this once I get everything in order and coherent.
I still standby my Giants as the best team. I love the movement of Reuschel and Krukow, and the bullpen gets it done.
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 06:42:07 PM
There's a secret to throwing out baserunners?
my advice is to avoid the early throw when attempting the quick throw
Quote from: broiler on 10/23/07, 09:17:56 PM
Quote from: The Express on 10/22/07, 06:42:07 PM
There's a secret to throwing out baserunners?
my advice is to avoid the early throw when attempting the quick throw
tell him about the bop
DS...in regard to jamming in, I'm specifically talking about when you're trying to poke the ball though the infield or even at an infielder, but in such a manner where you'll be able to leg it out.
I think Houston is the second worst team in the game, next to Minnetonka.
I play 1 SP, so your Scott argument is bunk. I will wait him out.
Other than GDavis, KBass and DLopes, the lineup blows.
I like Doran the Explorer as a nickname.
Kerfeld is great, but I'll have a low scoring game with a tired DSmith in the ninth, and I'll take my chances with that matchup.
Quote from: The Dark Side on 10/23/07, 09:06:10 PMI have a formula about factoring in the contact-power rating and how it effects the hitters. I have numbers and examples to back me up. I shall start a thread on this once I get everything in order and coherent.
I just want to see this thing.
So, we need the Express in here again to update us on whether Houston is still the best team :-P
after dropping three games in a row to detroit, detroit, and san fran my confidence in astros has definitely been shaken. i will get back to you after "playoff night" this saturday.
After losing 5 out of last 6 to San Fran what do you think of Houston?
Last Sunday I took the family to the Polish Air and Space museum...
It was an empty warehouse.
nyuk nyuk nyuk......
the only thing houston is good for is demoralizing your opponent if you can actually pull of an upset with them.
oh... i thought i posted here already about how bad houston is... guess i didn't hit submit? i'm on dial-up at work...
anyways... mscott isn't as elite as i thought he was and good defense generally marginalizes speed. i will admit that i did not know about the "secret" to stopping stolen bases nor did i know about tapping the direction and a at the same time to throw faster.
in conclusion, i was only a grookie when i thought i was a pro. humble pie has been eaten. foot is in mouth.
season 2 i get detroit... though i'm trying to trade with brandon for st. lou if he's interested
I'm really happy to hear the excitement and passion from this new contingency, but I acknowledge that there have been several indicators that the group is at the beginning stages fully understanding/learning/mastering RBI...
Although, I now rank Houston last in the team rankings I still believe that they aren't that bad. But due to all the complaining from last years Houston (Express), and the feedback from the boards, we're going to do a 9 team league for Season 2 and bring in Na and Am.
Does anybody think that Am/Na are unfair teams to play with in a league setting like ours?
For the most part people will agree that Boston and in some ways Detroit match-up well with NL. perhaps NL would be a good team for a newbie or someone whos just not very good to help em out.
AL is clearly not an elite team(NL/Bos)...very good team though.
We had a 5 man all day tourney a year ago and I had Houston and faced a couple guys with very comparable skills With Houston(1 starting pitcher series) I lost a best of 3 series to SF, 2 games to 0. scores were something like 1-0 and 3-2. had the arms to compete but not he bats.
In the loser bracket Houston faced Detroit in a single elimination game. 2 starting pitcher game that i won in extras 2-1(i think). Then i manned NY vs Houston and swept 2 games of 1starting pitcher. Scores werent blow outs but they werent 1 run games either. IIRC i won fairly comfortably by maybe 3 runs each contest.
Houston finished 1-4 that day.
I think most here will agree the pitching will keep you in most games, but the bats will prevent you from wining most games.
i think houston in better than new york