As I read about halfway through your post I could empathize with your frustration. I have been with PB since the beginning and have witnessed a variety of odd plays/outcomes. I was about to reply something to the effect that just a few series is far too small a sample from which to draw any conclusions and that these sorts of unusual outcomes typically even out over time. Then I got to the last sentence which I think is the true source of your frustration, namely that it seems as if the same managers win all the time. Although I have not gathered any data to test this claim I suspect there is some validity to it. In order for that to occur, however, there must be some accuracy/consistency to the way the game generates outcomes. If the outcomes were random and lineups/strategy did not matter then you would see league standings and championships change on a regular basis. The fact that certain managers win regularly suggets that to a large extent this is a game of skill and that frankly some are just better at it than others. Does the best team always win? Of course not! Do the better teams win more than the poorer ones? I believe so. The game itself could use some improvement, I won't argue that. However whatever shortcommings are in the game apply equally to all. The computer program is certainly not capable of rewarding some managers and punishing others. Over a large sample the robot manager "screws up" equally often for all PB owners. I think the question that remains is how do I build and maintain a winning team? The answer to that is complex but probably includes things like general baseball knowledge as well as time devoted to drafting, trading, scouting opponents, setting lineups, and actively managing your home games. Sure good or bad "luck" will occasionally play a role but I firmly believe that as Branch Rickey once said "Luck is the residue of design". Building and managing a winning team is the most fun part of PB. Don't let the frustration of the occasional "odd" outcomes spoil it.