THE TALK SHOW

Host: Glenn Guzzo

 

You can submit your question or insight on any Strat-O-Matic game to SOMTalkShow@aol.com. When you do, kindly include your name and town. Other gamers like to see that. And the display format below works better that way.

 

 

Reminder: Send us your “Great Moments in Strat” – your playing experiences that you just have to share.

 

Shea Stadium, Then and Now

I am in the process of replaying every season of New York Mets baseball with the computer version and have a question about the stadium screenshots.  In the midst of 1964 (of course, the Mets are horrible) it’s a bit odd having Ron Hunt hit with a picture of Shea Stadium circa 2004-2005 in the background.  Shea in 1964 was quite different than its current state.  Is there any thought to adding a feature that would allow the user to import a different picture of a stadium?

Thanks and keep up the great work!

Hal Koplin, Wethersfield, CT

            With the same ballpark today (albeit modernized) as they had when Shea Stadium opened in 1964, the Mets are like the folks who cling to their homestead when the whole neighborhood is transforming around them. About the only parks older than Shea are those considered national treasures – especially Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Most National League teams playing in 1964 have changed ballparks twice since then. You can use your own pictures in Strat-O-Matic’s baseball game, although it is a little tricky.  A good web page that might help you with this is: http://gsimonds.tripod.com/somBPF.html

Rules to Live By

In my solitaire league, called AFBL (Adam’s Fantasy Baseball League), I set ground rules that may help other solitaire players when making tough decisions. I also incorporated a couple ideas for those who enjoy organizing and running solitaire leagues:

 

1.) Stealing:  Asterisked base stealers get held automatically.  The only time I steal with C players is in desperate situations – when trailing and in later innings. D and E never steal.  I will not steal with one out unless the player is an A or AA rating. 

 

2.) Sac bunting: I will sacrifice bunt in close games where there is a difference of 1-2 runs.  Usually these are batters with C or better bunt ratings and who are lower in the batting order (7-9). I also only sac with 1 out.

 

3.)  Hit and run: I use this strategy when there is a weak batter at the plate, the pitcher has a + hold rating and there is a relatively good base stealer on first (A-C) rating.

 

4.) Defensive strategy:  Since I play very conservative, any time one of the above situations occurs, I use the appropriate defensive strategy.

 

5.) The Draft: I performed the draft by best available rather than by trying to go for speed on a team or build a team around sluggers. This required careful inspection of the cards and ranking players by OBP, and how balanced their hitting was against L and R pitchers.  Vlad Guerrero was taken first overall for the 2005 card set. Also, to avoid too much All-Star baseball, I stuck with the AL batters who had more than 300 AB. For pitchers, the lower their ERA and home runs, the higher they ranked.

 

6.) Team finances: This is a very crude model, but for teams to make profits, I multiplied wins by 30 and losses by 15.  At some point I will incorporate a penalty or award system for winning streaks and losing streaks.  The better teams do profit – the more quality free agents they areable to sign in the off-season.

 

7.) The Draft: At the end of the season, I will have a one-round draft from players chosen at random from the NL.  The retirees from the league will be those at each of the positions who underperformed their real-time stats the most.  

 

8.) Why the league works for me:  I hear about a lot of guys starting a league but then giving up because it takes too long or because they have too many teams.  I suggest you keep it simple.  I play with 6 teams in two divisions.  I play 24 games for each team, so I must play 72 games overall.  All stats and standings are kept in a Microsoft Excel file. And all scoresheets are kept in a folder and tucked away for later record-keeping.

 

I hope some of these ideas help out fellow solitaire players.  

 

Adam Kisailus, Buffalo, NY  

 

            Thanks, Adam. I hear the same thing about unfinished projects from board-game players – and book writers! At some point, it’s Just Do It! time.

 

I have been playing SOM in both card-and-dice and computer format for almost 10 years.   Being a baby boomer, I guess you could call me a late bloomer to SOM.  I love the game and have purchased every card set of the past-season deluxe sets that are still in print and even those now out of print. I have been playing the super-advanced version of the game in manual mode on the computer.  I like the tactile aesthetics of handling everything myself while letting the computer record the stats. Would Strat consider upgrading the Manual Mode?  The problem is that Gold Glove stats, many manager decisions (hit-and-run for instance), which fielders made the put outs, and whether a play was an X-chance go unrecorded.  Could such information be included?  I wonder whether enough gamers would be interested to make it worthwhile for the programmers to do this upgrade.

            What do you think? SOM is great!       

Roger Hines, Kosciusko, MS

            As usual, it’s a matter of priorities. SOM must weigh which new features would be used and appreciated by the most people vs. the time it would take to program the features. I am especially fond of noting X chances on my paper score sheets and looking up the X-Pct stats in my computer leagues. I miss that in Manual Mode, too. But I’d have to guess that fielding stats are pretty far down the list of priorities for most gamers.

 

Shining Examples

I would love to see an expansion set released for the Hall of Fame 2000 card set, preferably in the “glossy” card format (the greatest set of cards in Strat history). I also suggest that SOM include a card for Satchell Paige based on his MLB stats. Perhaps it would be a good idea to add cards for Hall of Famers Al Lopez and Clark Griffith, as catchers and pitchers are in somewhat short supply when trying to organize a Hall of Fame draft league.

My personal bias would be to also include cards for Goose Gossage (should be elected in 2008) and Thurman Munson (one of the greatest catchers to ever play the game, both defensively and as a big-time clutch hitter).

Bill Canero, Sarasota, FL

            Pitchers, catchers and third basemen are all in short supply in the HOF set. Paige and Griffith as pitchers, Lopez and Wilbert Robinson as catchers and John McGraw as a third baseman would be interesting roster-filler additions. We’ll get some help at these positions with the next update set (whenever that is), since it would include pitcher Bruce Sutter, catcher Gary Carter and third basemen Wade Boggs and Paul Molitor (who played all infield spots). But there are no other retired catchers or third sackers who are close to enshrinement. Munson looks unlikely to me. He didn’t have the big season or fast pace of other short-career players in the Hall and he didn’t much sympathy support within a few years of his death.

            If I had a ballot, Gossage would be on it, no question. We probably can guess that we’ve already seen the best seven seasons of lock Hall of Famers Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux, plus likely selections Tom Glavine and Randy Johnson. Paige heads a list of 11 Negro League pitchers in the Hall. There are three catchers and three third basemen from the Negro Leagues in the Hall as well.

 

Learning History from SOM

An interesting anomaly for your attention: The Orioles won their third consecutive league championship in 1971 with their usual outstanding outfield of Don Buford (.290, 19 HR, 99 R) in left, Paul Blair (.262, 10 HR, Gold Glove) in center, and Frank Robinson (.281, 28 HR, 99 RBI) in right.  Question: Which outfielder led the team in plate appearances?  Answer: Merv Rettenmund (.318, 11 HR, 75 RBI, .422 OBP).  He finished second in games played at all three outfield positions to the regulars (LF-115/47, CF-139/40, RF-91/72), yet wound up leading the team in most OF defensive innings.  I think when you look at the team’s success that year, more credit should be given to Rettenmund than has usually been the case.  And it might not be too much of a stretch to see Rettenmund as the very first example of Earl Weaver’s legendary “deep depth,” which culminated later in the decade with outfielders John Lowenstein and Gary Roenicke rotating throughout the season as semi-regulars.

P. Sean Bramble, Dazaifu, Japan

You’re exactly right on all counts, Sean. When my friends and I played the 1971 Orioles with SOM back then, Rettenmund was always in the lineup.

 

A Long Ride on Empty

            Among long-term players, do you know anyone who has neither had a no-hitter nor even come close?  I have been playing this game 12 years and if I’ve made it farther than the 5th inning with a no-hitter it doesn’t ring a bell, and I’m sure it would.  I’ve had numerous 1- and 2-hitters, but the hits in those games came in the early innings (just had one by Josh Johnson where the two hits came in the 3rd and the 9th).  Admittedly, the pitching staffs I use don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of opponents (think Marlins, Orioles, Rockies and Pirates), but still, can any long-term player challenge me for the Least Likely to See a No-Hitter?  Speaking of the Rockies, could you put a call out for someone who actually has succeeded playing a C&D Rockies Replay?  If not the Rockies, some other team with a relatively small fan base.  In fact, I’d be most impressed with the man (or woman!) who would play a Devil Rays C&D Replay. 

Scott Dicken, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

            Based on others’ laments about their lack of no-hitters, I’d say you have company and your letter probably will prompt some of them to write. I’m glad I don’t share your misery and I’ve had several no-hitters disrupted by weird circumstances in the 8th and 9th innings, too. As you can see from the letter above, there’s a gamer replaying the woeful 1964 Mets and I’ve encountered someone replaying the 2006 Rockies. In my STRAT FAN days we heard regularly from a gamer who replayed the full season of expansion Ottawa and other teams that are tough enough to coach for a single game!

Tinker’s Shop

I am no fan of the default SOM ruling on gb()B with an infielder in, a runner on 3rd and no force play at the plate.  SOM basically decides to send the runner for you and he is automatically out.  In real-life, if the runner was not forced with less than 2 outs, he would not go for home on a routine groundball with the infield in.  I have modified the rule on gb()B situations with the infielder to whom the ball was hit playing “in” defensively.  I wanted your opinion on the rule.  Here it is:

In situations where the defense chooses to bring the infield in when the runner on 3rd base is not forced, refer to appropriate chart for gb()A, gb()C and gb()X. However, in the case of gb()B, refer to the following rule:

On a gb()B hit to a fielder positioned “in” defensively:

 

If the ball is hit to the 3rd baseman or pitcher:

-- The runner MUST hold.  The out is automatically made at 1st.  A trail runner on 1st advances to 2nd on the play.

 

If the ball is hit to the 1st or 2nd baseman or to the shortstop:

-- The offensive manager may choose to send the unforced runner on 3rd, or he may choose to hold the runner.

-- If the offensive manager chooses to hold the runner on 3rd, the out is automatically made at 1st.  Any runner on 1st advances to 2nd on the play.

 

-- If the offensive manager chooses to send the runner on 3rd home, the defensive manager MUST throw home.  The calculation for the safe range is Running Speed + Infielder’s Range Rating - 7.  If the ball is hit to the 1st or 2nd baseman, add 2 for the longer throw to the correct side of the plate.  The maximum safe range is 1-19.

 

-- As always, use the “Catcher Blocking the Plate” Rule as it applies.

 

-- If the trail runner is on 1st, he ADVANCES one base in this situation.  If the trail runner is on 2nd, he HOLDS, so as not to force the runner on 3rd off his base.

I find that this rule much more accurately depicts the real situations in baseball as well as gives the human manager more control.  What do you think?

Scott Dicken, Fort Lauderdale, FL

            This lessens the value of bringing the infield in, which already has a high penalty (more hits and fewer double plays). With the likelihood that a runner on third would seldom be thrown out at home, I think I would play the infield in only in desperate late-game situations. Your rule gives benefits to the offense without adding compensating benefits to the defense, which SOM usually tries to avoid. But if this works for you, have fun with it. Thanks for offering this to others who may be of like-mind.

 

AWOL Pitchers

            I suggest that SOM prints cards for any pitchers who started at least one game.  The reason is because as a C&D player, I really get thrown off when trying to do “as-played” replays when a team's starter is not available.  Several examples I have come across in the last few games:

Yusmeiro Petit (FLA): 26.1 IP, 1 start
Kerry Wood (CHC): 19.2 IP, 4 starts

            There are more but that’s a general idea.  I’m sure SOM wants to reduce costs as much as possible.  However, I feel these players could easily be included in the “Extra Players” set.  In the case of the Marlins, for instance, Petit is the ONLY extra card that would need to be printed.  I know that several teams would require NO extra cards to be printed up (extra beyond the ones that currently are printed).  My estimations would be roughly 20 or so extra cards would need to be printed for this each year.  If it is more, say 30-40, I would be willing to pay $3-5 extra for this.  I fully understand that SOM cannot afford to print every single player that played in any game.  However, it is easy to work around not having a certain reliever or a certain fielder.  When not having the appropriate starter, there are only a few choices:

--Pitch a reliever who is on the team, has a starting rating, but is not slated to start at this point of the season (this is the best option WHEN IT WORKS – in the case of Petit, it is not an option)

-- Pitch a starter who is not on the team at that time.

--Pitch someone who has thrown recently on an unrealistic amount of rest.

--Mess with the pitching schedule to make sure that the game is covered and that everyone maintains the appropriate rest period.

            Some of these options can be challenging to pull off.  All of these options eliminate the entire purpose of playing an as-played replay, which is to play as-played.  I have to admit, I’d pay TEN extra dollars if I had to, in order to have cards for starters all
of the time.  It’s also not just the principle of having the right guy, it’s the effect it has on stats.  For example, Petit’s ERA was 9.57.  I don't have anyone else even close to that.  What that means is, I might find myself winning a ball game that I should lose, or giving up far fewer hits/runs than I should.  It also means that come season’s end, at least one
guy on my team will have an extra start.  Either way, I think it would be much easier to just print the card.

Scott Dicken, Fort Lauderdale, FL

            Looking up the 2005 non-carded players (just because that season was handiest), I found 39 pitchers with starter ratings. Twenty-three had made 2-4 starts each. I agree it’s more frustrating not to have the correct starting pitcher in a replay than, say, the correct left fielder. There’s another work-around, though it can be unsatisfying. Find a pitcher on any team (but, preferably, the same team) whose stats are similar to the missing pitcher. Use that card, but credit the stats to the real starter whose card doesn’t exist. At least this doesn’t disrupt your usage of other pitchers.

 

Not Fair! – HAL Plays to Win

            I was just wondering if anyone else out there is unhappy with how HAL responds in certain batter-pitcher matchups.  To me it seems that HAL pays much more attention to the “balance” rating than simple left-right matchups.  I have seen HAL summon left-handed relievers to face some RHB, such as 1978 Jim Rice or 1983 Dale Murphy, who were actually better versus RHP those particular years.  Alternatively, some LH starters are left in to face such batters when the game is on the line.  In neither situation, I would suggest, would an actual major-league manager respond in such a way.  Although there are instances in which managers might forego the traditional platoon edge against certain pitchers (for example, LHP Fernando Valenzuela was actually easier for LHB to hit because of his famous screwball), I believe the overwhelming number of managers since Casey Stengel and Earl Weaver would follow standard practice on lefty-righty matchups.  Yet HAL doesn’t seem to pay attention to this fact, and as a result it always seems to me that the “reverse-platoon” sluggers always fall short of their real-life stats when I do season replays.  Your thoughts?

P. Sean Bramble, Dazaifu, Japan

            Because player-use practices vary so, many gamers find that HAL manages differently than they would. What’s interesting about your experience is that it differs from most of the comments, which usually complain that HAL is managing replay usage at the expense of better game-winning strategies. Looks like no matter how the computer-manager handles it, HAL can’t please ‘em all.