Questions from a rube

[baseballfan5]

I am an old time baseball fan who used to play statistically-based games--statis pro and the like. I like to manage the entire games for my team. I recently downloaded the demo of PureSim and enjoyed it save for few "issues" to use a tired word. For those who own and have played the game, would you please respond to the following questions (I am hoping my issues were only a part of the download and not the actual game):

Are there as few passed balls, wild pitches, and balks as it appears?
Are there any negative repercussions for choosing a pitch out every time?
Are there any two-base errors?
Why is it so rare for a runner to take two bases on a base hit? Especially with two outs?
Is there a suicide squeeze play?

Thanks for your help--I want to know if I should purchase the game or not.

[PadresFan104]

1) Yes - I agree that this needs to be addressed in a future patch/version
2) Good question, not sure
3) Yes, I believe there are. At least I think I saw one. Or maybe not. Hmm.. how's that for an answer!
4) At some point in the releases, this got better. Not sure if this was tweaked after the demo was created or not.
5) No, but I think you can call for a bunt with a man on third, can't you?

As for your last question, yes, you should purchase the game. [:)]

[KG Erwin]

1. In my recently completed season, one guy had 4 wild pitches. A couple of others had 2. Dozens had just one. Balks are not simulated. No stats on passed balls are kept, so I have no idea. I didn't see one all year for my team's games.

2. Calling for the pitch-out too often isn't a good idea. You are liable to throw your pitcher off his stride, thus giving up more walks and base hits.

3. Yes. Two-base errors happen.

4. You are more likely to see a baserunner advancing two bases if you call for the hit & run, and if the guy has a very good speed rating. This is a tactic to use somewhat sparingly, too, or else you'll find yourself hitting into a double play.

5. No, the suicide squeeze is rare, and is not available as a playcall.

That being said, playing "gamey" and trying to take advantage of the AI will get you in trouble. Over some 300+ GBG (game-by-game) sims, I learned that you must manage in a realistic way. Not all of us are wizards like Casey Stengel or Tony LaRussa.

Buy the game, man. You won't regret it.

PS dang it, Al, you type faster than I do LOL!

[jeremy7227]

I have played all of the stat based games like Statis Pro. I have thousands invested in APBA and Strat o Matic and I can honestly say this is a more enjoyable game with realistic outcomes for the season replayer. If you are a "what-if" simmer or a fictional league player, which I tend more towards, the results and player progressions are the best you will find anywhere.

It isn't perfect but this is the best game around for the money.

[KG Erwin]

One other thing, baseballfan5. Check out the PS Ning community : http://puresimmers.ning.com/

[Frozen Stiffer]

Here is my input as someone who has GBG managed over 2000 games:

1a)I've never seen passed balls, but I have seen hitters reach on an error by the catcher- call this what you will, but that's about as close to a passed ball as you get.
1b)There are wild pitches, and having lost games to some, it can happen. Certainly not as often as in the real major league, but it does happen.
1c)There are no balks at all.

2) re: pitch-outs, read what KG said... and I swear, the AI will catch on and improvise.

3) I've seen two-base throwing errors, but never a two-base misplay; i.e. the 1st baseman miscalculates the ball and it zips by him, rolling slowly into RF while the runner slides into second.

4) As KG said, but I must add that I have often seen the hitter "take an extra base on the lead runner", so I'm supposing they tried to throw out the runner and failed- so the hitter took advantage and swiped an extra base. Hit-and-run calls also increase the odds of this happening (but by no means guarantee it).

5) You lose the Bunt command when there's a runner on third, so you cannot initiate the play. In fact, only recently was bunting for a hit included as an option.

But to mirror the great words of KG Erwin, "Buy the game, man. You won't regret it."

[Crapgame54]

Having played through 4 seasons I have observed:

1. - While too rare, there are wild pitches. I think I once saw a balk, but am not sure. I do not think there are passed balls.

2. - I'm not sure if there is a disadvantage - I just never seem to guess right ...

3. - There are 2-base throwing errors by infielders.

4. - Runners often take two bases on a single, especially to score from 2nd base. This is VERY dependent on the speed of the runner - if you have slow guys they will go station-to-station, while speedsters take two bases routinely. With two out runners are more likely to advance - 2-out doubles often score runners from first.

5. - Actually, this hadn't occurred to me, but I guess you can't squeeze a run home.

For the price this is a great game, and improvements keep coming. It is really only for solitaire play though.

[baseballfan5]

Thanks to everyone for their responses. Thanks too for the websites--they are impressive and it is clear that you feel passionate about this game; you do a fine job of selling it as well. To further the discussion--and hopefully someone who helps create/update this game will read this--it seems the following adjustments would make the game even better.

1. Wild pitches and passed balls are important aspects of the game and it seems that it would be easy to quantify these and include them in the game. A pitcher has a "wild pitch rate" and therefore a probability for throwing a wild pitch. The same applies for a catcher and passed balls. The more I think about balks the less palatable it seems to include them. Do you remember when they decided to "crack down" on balks a few years ago? They were calling them left and right. The balk does not seem to lend itself to being quantified as much as WPs and PBs. Leave them out.

2. It would seem that there is no negative repercussion for choosing pitch out with men on base every time. This does not seem right. Since you are not making an actual pitch selection in this game, it would make sense that choosing this option would increase your chance of walking the batter or of him getting a hit. I do not know the mathematics of the game but a little "bump" in favor of the batter would make sense. This would prevent a manager from shutting down a running game by selecting pitch out every time.

3. If an outfielder misses a ball there will often be a two-base error--I don't care how slow you are.

4. Runners should be advancing two bases with greater frequency. With two outs and a ground ball (unless it is absolutely scorched) even the slowest better go two bases. A secondary lead gets the runner at least fifteen feet off the bag and they are running with contact. I cannot remember the board game but one "old time" board game had a "taking the extra base" chart. Based on the runner's speed and the outfielder's arm strength, the probability was given of whether the runner was safe. Perhaps some manifestation of this could be an option in the future.

5. PLEASE put the suicide squeeze in--best play in baseball.

Thanks again to all and I'll probably buy the game.

[puresimmer]

Now that I think about it the demo is a much older verison than the current one, so maybe in the demo some of what you are saying is true, but I'll answer your comments. BTW, thanks for taking the time to make such a thoughtful post 0 always appreciated!

ORIGINAL: baseballfan5

Thanks to everyone for their responses. Thanks too for the websites--they are impressive and it is clear that you feel passionate about this game; you do a fine job of selling it as well. To further the discussion--and hopefully someone who helps create/update this game will read this--it seems the following adjustments would make the game even better.

1. Wild pitches and passed balls are important aspects of the game and it seems that it would be easy to quantify these and include them in the game. A pitcher has a "wild pitch rate" and therefore a probability for throwing a wild pitch. The same applies for a catcher and passed balls. The more I think about balks the less palatable it seems to include them. Do you remember when they decided to "crack down" on balks a few years ago? They were calling them left and right. The balk does not seem to lend itself to being quantified as much as WPs and PBs. Leave them out.

I'll do some analysis on this. You're right it appears they are a bit low.

ORIGINAL: baseballfan5

2. It would seem that there is no negative repercussion for choosing pitch out with men on base every time. This does not seem right. Since you are not making an actual pitch selection in this game, it would make sense that choosing this option would increase your chance of walking the batter or of him getting a hit. I do not know the mathematics of the game but a little "bump" in favor of the batter would make sense. This would prevent a manager from shutting down a running game by selecting pitch out every time.

There is absolutely a negative repercussion to this. It increases the likelihood of walking the batter. This ia ll factored in already.

ORIGINAL: baseballfan5

3. If an outfielder misses a ball there will often be a two-base error--I don't care how slow you are.

~95% of outfield errors should be 2-base.

ORIGINAL: baseballfan5

4. Runners should be advancing two bases with greater frequency. With two outs and a ground ball (unless it is absolutely scorched) even the slowest better go two bases. A secondary lead gets the runner at least fifteen feet off the bag and they are running with contact. I cannot remember the board game but one "old time" board game had a "taking the extra base" chart. Based on the runner's speed and the outfielder's arm strength, the probability was given of whether the runner was safe. Perhaps some manifestation of this could be an option in the future.

I think from the analysis I did comparing to real-life, PureSim should be extremely realistic here. The runner's speed number out outs and outfielder's arm all play a role. There are also areas in the game where you can adjust this tendency.

ORIGINAL: baseballfan5

5. PLEASE put the suicide squeeze in--best play in baseball.

Thanks again to all and I'll probably buy the game.

Noted and thanks again. I think PureSim may be a lot close to what you are looking for than you even think!

Shaun
(Developer)

[Frozen Stiffer]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer

ORIGINAL: baseballfan5

2. It would seem that there is no negative repercussion for choosing pitch out with men on base every time. This does not seem right. Since you are not making an actual pitch selection in this game, it would make sense that choosing this option would increase your chance of walking the batter or of him getting a hit. I do not know the mathematics of the game but a little "bump" in favor of the batter would make sense. This would prevent a manager from shutting down a running game by selecting pitch out every time.

There is absolutely a negative repercussion to this. It increases the likelihood of walking the batter. This ia ll factored in already.

As a side-comment to you both, please be aware that even a pitchout is no guarantee to take out a runner. I am willing to state in a court of law where I have called for a pitchout and the runner STILL takes the base.

By that same token, I have seen where a runner with an embarassingly low speed (in the 10's) has beaten a fielder with a powerful arm (high 90s). Scenario: default PS stadium, left fielder catches a fly ball (generic fly, it was not specified as DEEP or VERY DEEP), runner on 3rd (speed 14) tags up, left fielder (arm 97) throws, runner scores.

With speed 14, I'd say he's either got a woden leg or carries an anchor on his back- either way, a 97 arm should take him out in the above-mentioned scenario. Hell, the left fielder should be able to jog home and still make it before the runner.

Okay... maybe THAT'S pushing it a bit. [:D]

[SirWolf1960]

Maybe the throw from 90+ outfielder did beat the runner, but it was offline. The catcher had to go up the first base line to field the throw and the runner slid around the tag. I have seen that many times in real life.
 
A similar thing often happens with pitchouts. Everything goes right, except that catcher bounces the throw to 2nd. I think the game takes these things into consideration.
 
Steve