“Walker luck”

I play in a simulation fantasy league called IBL, the Internet Baseball League.  My team is, of course, the Carolina Cajuns.  What “Simulation” means is that we actually play out the games.  Each player that qualifies is given a card with a set of numbers on it for different outcomes.  We use a private IRC server that generates random numbers to determine the outcome of the play, the batter from 0-499 and the pitcher from 500-999.

So I played my first series earlier this week.  Actually, I played my home and away games (3 games each), and I had a very difficult time getting a win.  I only won 2 out of the 6 games, which is very frustrating because I am supposed to have a good team this year according to some of the other owners.  The problem is that I have what we call in our family “Walker luck.”

“Walker luck” is somewhat like Murphey’s Law applied to randomness.  My dad is probably the founder of “Walker luck,” and I probably inherited it from him, so he is to blame. :)  The idea is that when you need to roll/generate a random number, and you need it to be anything but a 4, you will roll a 4.  There isn’t any question or doubt in our minds, it will happen.

So, this translates to my fantasy baseball league in several ways.  The most frustrating is when I need to roll a 3-digit number between 265 and 332 for a positive outcome (home run or walk), I will generally roll a 264 (high fly to right field) or a 333 (strike out).  Same goes for my pitchers.  When I need to roll a 763 to 920 for a strike out, I’ll roll a 762 (deep fly, possible home run) or, more likely, 921 (walk).  That is what Walker luck is all about.

I was grateful to roll well enough in two of my games to win them, but I didn’t keep that much luck in my week 2 games that I played on Friday (just home games).  I lost all three of those, and “Walker luck” was in full force.  I rolled a “wild play” which means we have to consult a special chart with an additional roll, and it will often end up in an injured player.  Well, it did, and it wasn’t my player.  Sounds like “Walker luck” was not hurting me, right.  Well, that is how “Walker luck” works; it strings you along so you can fall farther or harded with the rub comes.

Yes, it was the other guys player who was injured.  Unfortunately, it was his pitcher, and it was only for one day.  That means the lineup that I had set up to bat strong and well against a left handed pitcher was gone when he brough in a right handed pitcher for long relief.  Not only that, it was the worst of his starters for the series.  Even worse, it was my best pitcher throwing.  So, “Walker luck” gave my opponent a chance to bring in a better pitcher, who my lineup wasn’t ready to face, all when my best hurler is on the mound.  Well, 10 long innings later, we lost 3 to 2.

That is what “Walker luck” is all about.  It is a very good thing that I enjoy the fantasy baseball league I am in because otherwise the frustration generated would drive me away from it permanently.

CC