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Imagine, if you will, a top-notch team who loses their first four games of the season. Before game 5, I take my virtual team into a closed-door chewing-out session (see my latest locker report for the text). Believe it or not, we win the game by a score of 8-0. Pure luck, or did my players actually take my words to heart?

I think some of you others may sometimes suspect you've entered some kind of PureSim Twilight Zone. Occasionally it's cool, but at other times it's borderline creepy. [X(]

One more thing: does this mean I need to turn into a baseball version of Vince Lombardi to keep my players motivated? [:D]

KG ... I and the rest I'm sure has experiences in regarding to PureSim Twilight Zone from time to time ... in an example, whenever I see a player that has performed well during the season - nothing changes in regarding to his ratings - suddenly gone into his poor streak of not hitting or pitching - then as manager, put in a young upstart - everyone start winning again - alas the poor guy take a sabbatical leave - BUT isn't this what makes this game so real, so pure, so attached and so addicted that we all get (whoops) into trouble with our own family -

KG, I have had many similar experiences, and yes, it sometimes borders on the creepy. My favorite has to be a game where my team was losing 12-4 going into the bottom of the ninth. I had a little virtual clubhouse meeting and told the guys, "Well, all you have to do to win this game is score 9 runs. Now get out there and KICK SOME BUTT!" I watched in amazement as they put on an unprecedented offensive display, pushing 6 runs across before the first out, and finishing with a three-run dinger.

I raced downstairs to tell my wife this amazing story. She smiled and nodded, but I could tell she just didn't feel the same way I did. [8|]

Would this have happened without my pep talk? I'll never know, but I would like to think that somehow our deep involvement in the game enables us to--very slightly--cross over that line between real and not-real...even if it's only for a few seconds.

Or maybe Shaun is a sorcerer.

I love it! I have also told my wife about amazing comebacks and heartbreaking losses. She just humors me and continues watching TV. Thanks, Bustoff. [;)]

I tell my wife about the stories you guys tell. She just smiles and says she is watching a good TV program. They just don't get it!!
Don

It gets worse. I increasingly find myself muttering under my breath or using a bit of body english : "It's gonna back, back, back" (as I wave my arms to WILL the ball over the wall).
Tell me this game's immersiveness doesn't turn us older grumpy guys into little kids again. It isn't early dementia, it's baseball! [:D]

KG, it would be interesting to list some of the things we mumble/scream as we play the game. It's probably a good representation of what spectators and managers have been thinking and saying for generations.

What were you thinking????
Steal on my catcher, will ya? I don't think so!
Go! Go! Go! Get outta here! Into the seats!!!
Does anyone want to win this thing? (Usually around the 14th or 15th inning.)
You pitched your way into this mess, now pitch your way out of it.
Holy #&^*@!!!
Okay, Sparky, the whole game's riding on you. Base hit, we win--strike out, we lose. No pressure...
Well, that sucked.
Great catch, Hayes. Don't ever ^&*(#@% do it again. [:D]
You swung on a 3-0 pitch? You idiot!
Woo-Hoo!
and...
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS???

I find myself stamping my feet when my team blows something for me.

When something goes awry, my most common muttered phrase is "I don't f---in' believe it!" [:@]

[8|] ... Alrighty now, here's my confession - when I had a team that had a nice score of 12 - 0 in the bottom of the ninth . .. then within a twilight zone of minutes - 2 grand slams along with 4 doubles and triple after replacing my star starter with four relievers (that had a combined era of respectable 2.85) - I couldn't stop this onslought of scoring from a last place team that had a batting average of .221 ... I was so mad [:@] that I screamed - and like any temper tantrum kid would do - I shut of the ($#$%&*) pc ... I felt better though ... [:D]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

When something goes awry, my most common muttered phrase is "I don't f---in' believe it!" [:@]

I think I usually find myself saying aloud, 'You have to be f---ing kidding me.' And then I usually curse at my pitcher as if he's actually in the room with me, threatening him or whatever it takes. I'm a hateful, hateful man.

ORIGINAL: Wrathchild

I'm a hateful, hateful man.

They don't call you Wrathchild for nothin', right?[;)]