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.
If You Love to Watch …
I saw the cool new feature for NetPlay spectators in football. Will this be a feature added to other leagues as well? I think it is awesome. Great job. You guys have really done a wonder with the innovations this year in different sports.
Yes, this should be cool, especially for
leagues. Typically, when a new computer feature in one Strat-O-Matic becomes
popular, the game company tries to add it to its other
computer games as well. However,
The Best Hockey Set Yet
I played the new computer version
of STRAT Hockey today for the first time, utilizing the Goldberg Passing
system. I have to say that the passing system, along with the statistical
tweaks have made this game perfect. I may be off about this, but it seems
like even more consideration has been given to a player’s teammates and other
factors when putting his card together? Regardless, the playability of
the game is unmatched in a positive way compared to any other point in the
game’s history. Congrats on a job VERY well done.
Barry, Bronx, New York
I agree with you,
Barry. I don’t know that more consideration has been given to the influence of
teammates, but you can sure see that the influence is meaningful. Some hockey
gamers look only at the scoring chances and fail to understand why a forward
can have a scoring card nearly as strong as another player with 10-15 more
goals. Before concluding that something is amiss, it’s important to look at all
the ways a player gets his shots:
n Higher Offense and Breakaway/Penetration ratings earn more
shots from the split deck and the “Any Player” options.
n Higher defense ratings earn more shot-producing takeaways.
At defense 3 or higher, some of those shots are Inside shots.
n Better J-K-L passing from linemates
produce Inside Shots instead of no shot at all.
n If a forward is likely to be playing with his team’s No. 1
defensive pair most of the game, that can be a huge benefit in the passing
columns. The drop-off in J-K-L passing from the first defensive pair to the
next often is substantial.
Time
Well Spent
First let me express my gratitude
for taking up so much of my time since 1972. Dad taught me the baseball and
football games when I was 10 years old and card arrival day has remained a
special day all these years. I know the pressure is on, and I’ll get slammed
for suggesting it, but perhaps we could all feel that holiday spirit again if
we did not get advance reviews of the cards/ratings.
While it’s
human nature to question the cards from time to time, let me be clear that I do
not care. If used realistically, more often than not things will work out close
to how they should. The fact is there will always be the element of luck as
long as random factors like dice are involved. No way around it and it works
just fine.
At 46 years of age, I am still a
cards-and-dice player and do not anticipate switching to the computer version.
I am certain they are fine and have several friends who like them. Personally I
prefer the feel of the dice in my hand, if for no other reason than to throw
them across the room when the player fails to do as expected. Of course this
happened so often from day one that I soon tired of walking to the end of a
room to retrieve the dice. But … the option remains.
I am now involved with a football
keeper league entering its 18th season and
going strong. I hope to do this for at
least another 18 and more. The eight of us do play the baseball game on a more
occasional basis and without the same intensity. Usually we do it for therapy.
I replay the full season for the Mets combining solo and whoever stops by.
Again, thanks for the 30+ years and
keep doing exactly what you do.
Jeff Konstant, Elkton, VA
Very nicely said, Jeff. Many of us can feel your joy.
Yes, the advance info on card ratings is a bit like knowing
what you are getting for Christmas weeks before the big day. But for every
several who lament this each year, many more crave it. In the days of STRAT
FAN, and before that, the Strat-O-Matic Review, the card-ratings issue was the
most sought-after of the year. Most of this demand comes from gamers in
competitive leagues and STAR tournaments. Some is from the “just-can’t-wait”
crowd. And yet, just like the Christmas present you really, really want, the
new cards and computer disks are a thrill to behold the day we unwrap them.
That’s why hundreds line up outside Strat-O-Matic on Opening Day and thousands
more post lookouts waiting for the big brown truck.
Everything you said about the cards-and-dice version is
true. Nothing tops the experience of rolling the dice and engaging in the
chatter with an opponent in head-to-head play. That’s the STAR tournament
experience. And as great as head-to-head play is for baseball, it’s even more
intense in Strat-O-Matic football. This is why NetPlay
was such a breakthrough with the SOM computer games. The new features for
computer football – spectator mode and the Strat-O-Matic Gaming Lobby – should
multiply that excitement.
Ripken Will Improve Third Base Stock in HOF
Set
No other third sackers close to enshrinement? What about Cal Ripken this year? He played both shortstop and third base.
Bill Donnelly, Indio, CA
All
of Ripken’s best seasons were at shortstop, and it
will be a waste not to have his plus offense there. But with the paucity of
regular third-basemen in the Hall of Fame, an update edition with Ripken probably will result in him playing there. As it
stands, middle infielders Billy Herman, Tony Lazzeri
and Joe Sewell end up playing third. So does Pete Rose, who was a much better
outfielder than third baseman. And so does Jackie Robinson, who played third
base less than any of his other carded positions.
Speaking
of Third Basemen
Is it possible to see the 1980
George Brett card?
Comparing Pitchers
When you are evaluating pitchers, what specific stats or numbers from the ratings do you focus on? Which categories do you add up or evaluate when comparing pitchers?
Teun Fetz
I begin by adding on-base chances and total base chances. Don’t forget
that the difference between an e0 and an e51 is worth a couple on-base chances
and a couple of total base chances. Ballpark diamonds matter a lot. But I’m
also looking at other ratings that work in combination with card chances. If a
pitcher is wild, has a poor hold rating and a high wild pitch rating, that’s a
combination that will deny him many double-play opportunities. I’m definitely
looking at the pitcher’s double-play chances, especially if he’s in a ballpark
with high single chances.
Dodger Diehard Trades Koufax – and Wins
Harold Richman
was kind enough to autograph my copy of your book. I believe his gesture was because of my long
tenure with his company, having first purchased his game in 1963. I have been hooked ever since. Your fine
writing truly captured the passion with which we “fanatics” pursue our
fantasies and sports dreams through the amazing features and details that
empower us in the SOM fantasy world. You
excel at your craft, and you really bring the joy of this game to the people.
I play in a wonderful SOM baseball
retro league called GARBO. It starts
with the 1955 season, and will continue indefinitely. The commissioner screened
applicants for their passion for the team/city they would be selecting. My credentials as a Dodger fan won out. My
dad spent a lot of time in New York in the ‘30s and ‘40s, and although I was
born in Connecticut, I moved to LA when I was 3 years old. However, growing up in the ‘50s, Dad always
spoke of those legendary Dodgers. I
fell in love with them 3,000 miles away.
When they moved to LA in 1958, my dad took me to see them at the
Coliseum the first week they were in town.
The Dodgers have been my sports passion ever since.
The Chicago Cubs owner in GARBO
quickly realized he was going to have to be in a “building mode” for a few
years. I quickly realized this, and
noticed an opportunity for each of us to get our wish. I have always loved the attitude and
abilities of Ernie (“Let’s Play Two”) Banks, and he certainly would be an
immense upgrade at SS from Pee Wee Reese.
I also knew playing in Ebbets Field would be
great for Ernie, so I constructed the ultimate deal. Since Sandy Koufax
was not going to develop into the “greatest pitcher of my time” until 1960/61,
this exchange would be beneficial for both of us. Koufax for Banks
happened.
I batted Banks 3rd all season. I won
the NL, and the Yankees (oh, shock of shocks) won the AL. Ernie had 68 homers and 182 RBI. He was MVP
in the World Series, and the Dodgers won it all in six games. During the
season, Banks had a game where he hit 4 HRs and a
DOUBLE. It was a remarkable game, in a
remarkable season, and maybe the most perfect trade ever.
I am celebrating
my 60th birthday and I know I am among the oldest SOM Fanatics on the
planet. Thanks for the memories.
Dave Siemienski
Ahh,
the memories. As a Reds fan, I can’t say I share your affection for the real
Dodgers, but that’s quite some run the real Brooklyn/LA teams had from 1946-66.
In addition to 10 pennants, they were runners-up seven times, including playoff
losses in 1946, 1951 and 1962 and a final-day loss in 1950. The ’55 Dodgers had
one of the strongest lineups ever.
I can relate to starting with Strat-O-Matic in 1963, which
was my first year (the 1962-season card set). And I can relate to making a
trade for Ernie Banks in his prime. When I traded SS Woodie
Held, a No. 4 starting pitcher and a fourth outfielder for Banks, that sealed
the pennant for my team in a 1959 draft league. Though Banks was league MVP for
me, too, he wasn’t in the class of your 68-HR, 182-RBI man.
I’m pleased you enjoyed the Strat-O-Matic Fanatics book.
Thanks to support from fanatics like you, the book is now in its second
printing.
Help Wanted for “Last Minute of Play in
This Period”
For years
I played the most realistic football game on the market (SOM) only to get down
to the last 2 minutes of a tight game and have a totally unrealistic
finish due to the timing rules. Finally the “tic clock” rule was added which
was much more realistic. Every year I hope to see this improvement to
basketball and hockey. It seems to be a glaring omission that could easily be
addressed. What do you think? I am glad to see Judy Goldberg’s passing system
added this year and bet that she has a realistic “tic clock” idea for that last
minute when the goalie heads to the bench.
Mike, Arizona
The hockey game can end abruptly when the last action card
or two has a result such as “Lose to Opponent.” But remember that each action
card represents 40 seconds of play and the reading is the key result of what
was like several sequences of action. In an NHL game, 40 seconds is a full
shift. Since it takes only about 9 seconds for a team to move the puck from
behind its own net the length of the ice and get off a shot, a lot can happen
in 40 seconds. A lot can happen in a one-action-card sequence of Strat-O-Matic
hockey, too.
Gamers have many hockey innovations, but I don’t recall
seeing an elaborate tic-tock innovation for the final minute of the game. For any
number of ideas, however, check out these playing tips from Goldberg, Rob Gallamore, Kent Lundahl, Gord Franklin, John McTernan and
others:
http://members.shaw.ca/wgallamore/strathockeyrules.htm
Return to the Tinker Shop
This is in response to the Tinker’s Shop issue with the gb()b with a runner
of third and the
infield in. We have addressed this in
our face-to-face league in the following way:
a.
With a runner on third with less than 2 outs, the offensive manager has
the option of holding the runner if the defense is playing in. The runner is not out on a GB(b); instead
read as batter out, runner at third holds.
The penalty is that the runner does not
score on a
SINGLE*.
b. The
offensive manager must announce the runner on third is not going on contact
before rolling. For the purpose of
this rule, we assume a SINGLE* is a ball that was knocked down by an infielder
allowing the batter to reach. However,
since the runner on third was not going on contact, he can not score.
Tom Pierson, Boston
I like this. If your penalty applies to all the SI* results
on split chances and ballpark-single chances, the tradeoff is significant
enough to make the manager think twice about playing it safe. The tradeoff
needs to be significant. When any strategy option becomes automatic, there’s
not much strategy involved.
Missing in Action
I started to
replay the 1930 MLB season on computer, when I noticed the Detroit Tigers had
less than 400 AB at the Catcher position.
So I did some digging, and there seems to be a number of players who had
a decent amount of time on two squads. I
did not include the trade of Hall of Famers, Goslin for Manush.
How can I have
the players play the correct number of games, or close to it, for each
squad? I attempted to make a trade that
occurred during the season, only to be rejected by HAL. I assumed that when I bought the 1930 season
“as played,” it would automatically take care of the trades for me. Below are examples of players and the team
they were traded from with their stats on that team before the trade. The team they were traded to is in
parentheses, and on the computer that team has the full season stats for that
player.
Detroit
Bob Fothergill: 55 games, 143 AB OF
(CHW)
Pink Hargrave: 55 games, 137 AB
C (WSH)
Harry Rice: 37
games, 128 AB INF/OF (NYY)
New York Yankees
Mark Koenig: 21
games, 74 AB INF/OF (Det)
Cincinnati
George Kelly: 51
games, 188 AB 1B (CHC)
Hughie Critz: 28 games, 104 AB
2B (NYG)
Ethan Allen: 21
games, 46 AB OF (NYG)
New York Giants
Pat Crawford: 25
games, 76 AB INF (CIN)
Any help is
appreciated.
Henry
Roman New Egypt, NJ
When you install a roster file “as played”
it should move the players to their correct teams the day of the move. I’m not
sure why these traded players would open your season on the rosters of the
teams they played for last. I do know that for seasons older than the
mid-1980s, the as-played feature often determines roster moves by the dates of
games players started, rather than the actual transaction date. I know this
because I track transactions closely for the Baseball Replay Guides I produce.
Unfortunately, I know of no source
for 1930 Opening Day rosters. But I have these dates for the moves that sent
the players above to different teams:
Fothergill: from DEA
to CHA on July 18
Hargrave: from DEA to WAA on Sep 10
Rice: from DEA to NYA
on May 30 ... Koenig from NYA to DEA same date
Goslin: from WAA to SLA on June 13 ... Manush from SLA to WAA same date
Critz from CIN to NYN on May 21
Crawford from NYN to
CIN on May 27
If anyone wants more info about
purchasing my Baseball Replay Guides, email me at somtalkshow@aol.com.
Sudden Death for the Canadiens
I have been impressed over the years with the quality of your baseball products, but none of your products impresses me more than Strat hockey. I think it is simply amazing. Of course, I still prefer the cards and dice. It has a certain charm and quality that, in my view, the computer doesn’t possess. I have put together an eight-team league of 100-point teams and, so far, I have enjoyed it immensely. The eight teams are as follows: 77 Montreal, perhaps the greatest team of all time; 71 Boston, maybe the best team in franchise history; 96 Pittsburgh, the most explosive of all Mario Lemieux-led teams; 80 Philadelphia, with that 35-game unbeaten streak; 02 Detroit, one of the best in franchise history; 01 Colorado, the best team in that franchise’s history, 75 Los Angeles, definitely the best in that team’s history (sorry, Wayne); and 07 Anaheim, the best team last season.
I have a standard set of action cards, with a little tweaking to reflect a home-ice advantage, which seems to work out pretty well. The most memorable moment was in a game between the Kings and the powerful Canadiens. This particular LA team seems to be one of those teams that are always hanging around. Dan Maloney scored the tying goal with only seconds left and then won it in overtime off of the last action card on a SHORT-HANDED outside shot. I have played four games for each, and many have been very good, but this one was the best.
J. Cost, Wellsburg, WV
I will be very interested to see who wins
this league. I won’t be surprised if it’s Boston. The depth on the ’77 Canadiens and ’02 Red Wings is amazing, but depth often
means less in a league of great teams, where every team has stars who can
dominate the best second-tier players. The ’75 Kings have fine depth, too, but
maybe not enough star power to contend in this group.
They’ve Got Those No No-Hitter Blues
I will add my lament to those of Scott Dicken and others who may be responding to his note about the lack of a no-hitter. I started playing SOM in 1968 and, through seasons of varying duration, through replays and Old-Timer teams, I’m still waiting. (Carl Hubbell taking one to the ninth is the only time I’ve come close.) Hey, just another reason to keep playing.
Gibson Smith, Duncan, S.C.
I have been a Strat player since 1964 and have never had a no-hitter to show for it. I have come close many times with pitchers such as Koufax, Gibson and Ryan. I think mostly it is due to the fact that I play short seasons of my leagues in C&D format. The best I could do was a Tom Seaver one-hitter with two outs in the ninth against the Pirates in my 1971 league. My favorite player, Roberto Clemente stroked a two-out double to the right field wall to break it up. Of course, I was managing the Pirates.
Alan L. Dehn, Schenectady, NY
In response to Scott from Ft.
Lauderdale’s lack of a no-hitter: I have been an avid Strat card and dice gamer
for over 20 years and have yet to toss a no-hitter. I have played over 2,000
games and once in 1987 Bert Blyleven of the Twins had
one broken up by George Brett in the top of the 8th. Since then I haven’t
gotten close. A couple of one-hitters with Randy Johnson in 1995 and 2001 but
never late enough for drama. I also realize some of the best pitchers of
all-time have never thrown one either. Keep rollin’.
Joe
Dorsa Flushing, NY
Speaking
of Seaver, I once had him tossing a no-hitter through
eight innings. But when he was up to bat in the bottom of the eighth, he was
injured and couldn’t finish the game! At least all-time greats like Clemente and Brett broke up your no-hitters with clean
hits. Though I’ve had many no-hitters in replays and draft-league play, I’ve
had them broken up by a) a fielding-chart hit in the 9th against SS
Craig Reynolds and b) a rare-play pop up that fell safely between infielders
for the only safety.
No-Hitter Drought? Have You Pitched John Halama?
I have always read how people go decades without having a no-hitter. I experienced a no-hitter pretty quickly. Even though I just started when my dad bought the 2001 season, I only played the 2001 version minimally, so I started my first replay with the 2003 season. On April 24, John Halama of Oakland no-hit an injury-depleted Detroit Tigers team that lost 119 games during the regular season. The only base runner was Craig Monroe, who walked in the 5th inning. Oakland scored 13 runs in that game against Jeremy Bonderman.
Also, I recently started my own solitaire league. It has 16 teams, 2 leagues, one division per league. I drafted the teams using the Yahoo! Fantasy Sports rating system. Even though it was not perfect, and did not include retired players such as Brad Radke, it enabled me to draft non-biased. All teams drafted 50 players, though I never attempted to play the minor-league season. I play a 52-game schedule, including a mid-season All-Star Game which ended in extra innings with a Scott Spiezio two-run homer. I just finished about 3/4 of the season, but may need to wait until December to finish because I am just about to start school at UConn in the fall.
John Garcia, Oakdale, NY
Not taking your SOM league with you to
college? That’s discipline. But it might be a wise move for the sake of your
grades. I know plenty of Strat-O-Matic fanatics who play a series, then get to
the homework. When it the series is so good that it leads to another, and
another … well, you get the idea.