Good post, Fred. Please keep the forum updated on the progress of Baradur, I'd be very interested.

I think another factor influences runs scored pretty heavily - the quality of pitching in your division. I had a very good offensive LL team (and the effect is magnified by the LL schedule, of course)2 years ago that scored 453 runs - and better offensive teams subsequently, that scored way fewer runs. The difference was that the 453 runs team faced inordinantly poor pitching from all division opponents.

If you're looking for offensive teams for comparison purposes, last year's Austin Capitals of 00 Trad 1 scored around 1400 runs, I think. I know they topped 400 dingers. They also faced pretty weak divisional pitching.

The only somewhat unusual team I'm trotting out this year is my Louisville Houdinis of K17. A completely different strategy than your Baradur. Starting rotation with grades 7.2 (Mulder), 6.9 (Ortiz), 8.4 (Escobar), 9.1 (Dotel), 9.1 (Pineiro), sterling infield defense, and leadoff man Ichiro will have the absolute max 91 SB attempts. It will be decent offensively (Berkman, Drew, Sanders, Biggio, Grace, Durazo, Suzuki), but if it wins anything it'll be due to pitching. Needless to say, I grabbed the best abailable pitcher's park available - DET.