Terry Dell's Strato Guide Review
by Will Kolodzie

I'll admit I approached this product with great trepidation when I first heard of it.  Terry Dell has produced a guide that doesn't crunch numbers, but instead proposes that he can help you become a better Strat player.  After playing Strat for 21 years, Dell's claim gave me quite a chuckle.  What could Terry Dell possible know that I don't?  Well, it turns out that Dell's Strato guide has a little something for everyone, hints and suggestions that will benefit the beginning and advanced Strat gamer.
 
For beginners, the guide helps with understanding everything from understanding the card layout to the fielding X chart.  Tips for catcher selection and evaluating hitter cards are informative and concise.  Needless to say, some aspects of the guide will be familiar to the experienced Strat player.  My bet is that there are some things in it that you've forgotten or just haven't thought of in years.  I know this was the case when I read Terry's comments regarding the range ratings for infielders.
 
The biggest surprise is that this guide is a print publication.  Web-based publications or e-mail newsletters is certainly an easier way of presenting information in the Strat community.  On first glance, you might think that print publications are a thing of the past.  This isn't so.  SOM print publications are thriving nicely.  In fact, the demand for them has never been stronger.  John LaManna's SOM baseball bulletin is one of the biggest.  I haven't bought it but I know many people swear by it.  There's also Steve Frediani's "The Statman," a personal favorite that analyses the current card sets by tournament, card, season values, etc...  The SOM Ratings book is very successful in its own right.  It sells out a few months after its release. 
 
What makes the guide really unique is that it offers a comprehensive look at how to play the game.  Terry takes you from reading the cards to drafting your team, from playing your games to making personnel decisions.  In essence, Terry's guide is a "How to Play Strat" manual.  The real bonus of it's success is that NO ONE has ever tried to put all of this information together.  Various SOM endeavors have written about the same topics, but Terry is the only individual who has attempted to put everything into a single publication.
 
The guide is divided into 11 sections:  2000 card set, drafting information, drafting strategy, during the draft, basic strategy, basic managerial decision-making, advanced strategy, advanced card scouting, stadium selection, setting a team goal, and setting lineups.  The largest portion of the guide is devoted to the advanced strategy suggestions.   There are nine different topics in it.  Some of these topics are really good.  His discussion of the "unbalanced theory" will probably add a couple of wins for your draft league team.  The stadium selection section isn't as long as the other parts of the guide; it only runs one page in length.  It doesn't need to be any longer.  Terry gets a lot of mileage out of a few words.  There are 5 solid strategies for stadiums that are worthy of reflection for any SOM manager. 
 
Needless to say, there are a couple of items in the guide with which I don't agree.  I don't necessarily agree that your team has to have players with great stealing ratings.  Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having Luis Castillo at the top of your lineup.  Personally, I tend to put a greater emphasis on more OBP and fewer DP chances at the top of the lineup.  I think if you have a lead-off hitter who can get on base regularly and go from first to third on a SINGLE (RF), then you're probably not losing very much.  As with most things, Strat guys love to argue baseball, strategy, and card ratings.  Most strategical options are context-related.  You have to be careful with formulating general rules about certain topics.  This is something that Terry does well in certain areas of the guide.  He'll give you two or three strategy options for approaching a particular issue.
 
This is particularly evident in the section about setting lineups.  Terry offers a number of suggestions for those having problems in the area.  It's also a nice refresher for those of us who think we have this skill down perfectly.  Setting a lineup is often more a matter of taste than anything else.  I remember an ongoing discussion about the topic in STRAT FAN a couple of years ago.  I thought both individuals brought out valid arguments.  Even if you still have those old STRAT FAN issues, the comments in the guide are very useful and entertaining. 
 
The guide costs $12.  It's worth the money.  I'll go on the record and say that Terry has made a valuable contribution to the hobby.  The 2002 version, which can be ordered next February, promises to be even better as Terry is going to have a rating section that will include every major player in the card set.  I hope that Terry will offer a special upgrade price, say $10 for existing customers, the next time around.  I'd also like to see the guide divided into specific sections for overall strategy and strategy regarding specific card sets, plus extended discussions on the use of probability and utilizing unbalanced hitters and pitchers.  Terry has a great sense of humor.  We'll rate it  PG-13 to give you an idea of what to expect.  
The Dell Strato Guide is invaluable for beginners to the game.  Experienced players will also find the guide a worthy companion.  Terry has promised email updates for his subscribers so be sure to include your address when contacting him. 
 
Information:  Terry Dell's 2001 Baseball Strategy Guide.  $12.  37 pp.


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