Using Fictional Players in the Modern Era

[KG Erwin]

Just for fun, I set up a 30 team fictional association, matching the MLB setup, with modern-day parks. The first thing that struck me was the number of strikeouts vs the number of home runs -- both seemed high, but is this what the modern game has come to? I've had pitchers getting 7 or 8 SOs in one game, but yet giving up 2 HRs in the same game. Every batter seems to want to hit it out of the ballpark or go down swinging.

It seems to me that the default XML is better for earlier eras, and using real players -- I'm prejudiced towards the 16-team classic era of 1903-1960. Fictional players are OK, but I'm still leaning towards using real players.

Am I reading it wrong? -- for those of you who start in the 21st century with fictional players, does gameplay seem to lean towards extremes in player performances?

[BryanK]

Yeah. I've done a good deal of play testing, and found that purely fictional leagues, regardless of being in the modern era or not, produce some extreme stats. I too noticed homeruns and strikeouts as coming in high, as well as innings pitched. I went back and tweaked the xml, and was able to tweak things to my liking... but now my leagues lack dominant players. I have home run leaders in the mid 30's each year, but after 80 years of simming (with roughly the same xml settings each season) I don't have a single player with 400 career HR.
I think the player generation algorithim is too centric, but I honestly don't know.

It's probably worth noting that I use a 24 team league real mlb stadiums.

[KG Erwin]

OK, this tells me that an "all things to all eras" approach will not work. What we need are alternate XMLs designed to work within particular historical periods. This is a task for the modders.

[lynchjm24]

I'm playing a ten team fictional league and offense is a little low, but it's not extreme in any sense with the default XML.

[SirWolf1960]

I have an 8-team league, and am seeing low power totals with fictional players. After about 30 years, my all-time HR record is 53.

Steve

[BryanK]

what year did you guys start?

[KG Erwin]

I started in the year 2000. I suppose the stats would average out over a season, so this is why I asked my original question.

[SirWolf1960]

I started in 2005

[BryanK]

I'm going to run a test sim this weekend:
Default XML
16 Teams
Started in 1900
Run Until 2006 (hopefully)

We'll see what happens...
Based on the testing that I've done, which isn't super extensive, I've found that in order to get league leaders in line, the league totals get too high. I think that's related to a lack of differntiation among the mid to top players.

In any event, the test should be done by tomorrow or so...