I just want a simple normal schedule, 30 teams 162 games

[Baseballman2K5]

Entering season 2 of my offline franchise mode, the season started again with two teams playing on March 20 and the rest of the league starting on March 28. It's using the same schedule from the season before, but this time now March 28 is a Friday. Now all Tuesdays and Fridays are the off-days throughout the season.

Is there a schedule that has all teams start on the same day with Mon and Thur the off-days?

I have adjusted nothing...there are 30 teams, normal divisions and normal 162 games. Normal playoffs, etc.

[Le Grande Orange]

Sounds like you're using an MLB schedule in which there was an early overseas opener (2014, 2019, and 2024 in the 15-15 league years, and 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 during the 16-14 league years).

[Baseballman2K5]

Yes, it is using the same schedule from before. The same schedule as MLB in real life this season...where it had opening day in Korea on March 20. Rest of league started March 28. It did that same thing again in year 2 but with the days pushed back it made the off-days all Tuesday/Friday. with Saturday Sunday Monday 3 game series.

I just want a regular schedule where everyone starts on the final Thursday or Friday of March with the series ending Sunday. I want to get back to Monday/Thursday off days.

Thanks. I'm looking at the schedules posted but just not sure which one to use

[Baseballman2K5]

link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), interleague, rotating interleague opponents, posted 2015/07/19
link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), posted 2016/07/12
link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), posted 2016/08/12
link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), interleague, ten versions, posted 2017/06/08
link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), interleague, six versions, posted 2017/08/01
link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), interleague, 15 versions, posted 2020/10/12
link - 30 teams, 162 games, (2S/3D/5T), interleague, two versions, posted 2022/03/07

Do I want to use one of the above? And what is the difference between rotating interleague and just interleague? Thanks

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

Yes, it is using the same schedule from before. The same schedule as MLB in real life this season...where it had opening day in Korea on March 20. Rest of league started March 28. It did that same thing again in year 2 but with the days pushed back it made the off-days all Tuesday/Friday. with Saturday Sunday Monday 3 game series.

Yes. By default once a schedule file is in use OOTP will reuse it in subsequent years but will swap around the teams within the schedule slots to provide different match-ups. That's why you have an early opening series each season, because the schedule file has it.

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

I just want a regular schedule where everyone starts on the final Thursday or Friday of March with the series ending Sunday. I want to get back to Monday/Thursday off days.

If you want to keep the same 'balanced' format with 46 interleague games played by each club, the easiest solution would be to import and use the 2023 MLB schedule which used the same format but without the early overseas opening series.

The reason the series slide through the days of the week in subsequent years has to do with a specific setting regarding the starting date and day of the week both in-game and in the schedule file. Try using the 'Force Start on Certain Weekday' option in the schedule options section in the schedule settings. Select 'Thursday' if you are going to use the 2023 MLB schedule (that season opened Thursday, March 30th). This should result in future seasons starting on the first Thursday on or after March 30th. The actual start dates would be:

Thu. Mar. 30, 2023
Thu. Apr. 4, 2024
Thu. Apr. 3, 2025
Thu. Apr. 2, 2026
Thu. Apr. 1, 2027
Thu. Mar. 30, 2028
Thu. Apr. 5, 2029
Thu. Apr. 4, 2030
Thu. Apr. 3, 2031
Thu. Apr. 1, 2032
Thu. Mar. 31, 2033
Thu. Mar. 30, 2034

And so on. The opening date would range from March 30th through April 5th, and would end from October 1st through 7th.

[Baseballman2K5]

Thanks. I still have a few questions.

In the image attached it shows that it was checked, to start on a certain weekday, Thursday. Using the same 2023 schedule won't it still start an "overseas game" on March 20? Do I need to force start on certain weekday and also change the date?

If I use the 2023 schedule, won't it always try to start it with an "overseas game" a week before the others start?

Thanks again, I'm trying to get these changes lined up for the upcoming offseason

EDIT: I realized the same schedule is 2024, not 2023. If I click the ">" button next to the schedule, will it give me an option for 2023?

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

Thanks. I still have a few questions.

In the image attached it shows that it was checked, to start on a certain weekday, Thursday.

The checkbox to the left of 'Force Start on Certain Weekday' is not checked.

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

If I use the 2023 schedule, won't it always try to start it with an "overseas game" a week before the others start?

No, because there was no such series in 2023. That year all 30 teams started play on March 30th.

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

Thanks again, I'm trying to get these changes lined up for the upcoming offseason.

I would suggest making a copy of your league and running your tests on that until you are satisfied with the results. Then you can apply the steps to your real league.

I'd also suggest reading the OOTP online manual section about schedules, which hopefully will clear up some questions.

[Baseballman2K5]

The box is checked but it's grayed out, you have to look closely.

If I click the > next to the schedule file, will I be able to select 2023's schedule?

I'll definitely backup my league and run tests first.

Thanks again

[Baseballman2K5]

Ah I answered my own question by just starting a new game to see how playing around with schedules work.

Yes I can use 2023's schedule and it seems as easy as just selecting it.

Do you happen to know the difference between the two files in the image? I tried both schedules and the only difference i found was a scheduled double header in september. I'm curious what the ap means?

You've been a lot of help thanks again

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

Do you happen to know the difference between the two files in the image? I tried both schedules and the only difference i found was a scheduled double header in september. I'm curious what the ap means?

'ap' is the as played schedule, meaning all the real-life postponed and rescheduled games are in the file. For example, while ten games were scheduled for Apr. 6, 2023, four were postponed, so the 'ap' file would only have six games on that date, with the four other games appearing on the dates they were actually made up on.

Note that if you use 'ap' schedule files you should turn off 'Allow Rainouts' since these are built into the file.

[Baseballman2K5]

I see. Thanks so much!