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NYY #23 · 07-06-2012, 08:16 PM

"Statistics are the lifeblood of baseball." - Leonard Koppett in A Thinking Man's Guide to Baseball (1967)

One thing that always bothers me when doing a 'history of baseball' from the beginning is the different eras, the different game lengths, and being able to measure things in a consistent manner. Not to mention that this is really attempt number three at doing this dynasty after doing:
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...00-3000-a.html

Then:
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ilestones.html

I don't have anything against the earlier era, but after two attempts I never really get to the players or era that I know best, so rather than just start from the beginning of baseball and follow the same handful of players once again I'm going to try and doing something differently this time. I'm still going to focus primarily on the numbers, and how players did compared to real life, but with some differences -

1) League Totals - There will be consistent settings throughout the league. No deadball era, no steroid era, and the settings in the beginning will be the settings in the end, and the middle. I wanted league totals to come out to what I remember when I first started following baseball in the early 80's. I've run several tests and I'm going with 1986. Apologies to Red Sox fans for choosing the 'Bill Buckner' year, but those totals felt right during testing.

2) Teams - I always have trouble getting past things like George Brett playing for the Pirates, or Tony Gwynn playing for the Orioles, or Cal Ripken playing for anybody but the Orioles. But I want a draft, so instead of the teams we all know and love (or hate) I'll be introducing 2 leagues with 2 divisions of 5 teams each, so we'll get 20 new teams. They won't be in areas where a team exists today, and hopefully they'll take on their own feel. I won't rule out expansion at some point, but it will be a ways off.

3) Players - I'll be using the Spritze database, and introducing players into the league randomly. I like the "you never know what you are going to get" factor. It's more fun to be surprised when Babe Ruth appears in the draft class, instead of knowing exactly when he'll show up.

4) History - I wanted to get some history in the league before we begin. I'm starting in 1871 and will sim up through 1901. That means setting the base with fictional players, but I'm ok with that. In fact I expect that some fictional players will be sprinkled in throughout history. Will Clifford Thompson become the all-time home run king, or will someone like Ruth, or Bonds, or someone like Sean Berry.

5) Rules - I'll highlight some of the major ones -
a. Free agency - this will be set to 5 years from the beginning.
b. Minor leagues - no minors and I'll be using reserve rosters, limited to 25 players
c. DH - this will be on in both leagues. I wanted this either on or off for both leagues, and while I originally was leaning towards it being off I won't force pitchers to hit.
d. Trading - the trading deadline is set for June 1st to prevent too many late season trades. Most teams shouldn't be out of it by June 1st and it forces teams to address any weaknesses in the offseason or early in the season.
e. Playoffs - no wild cards, each division winner will square off in a best of 7 League Championship with the winner advancing to the World Series
f. Hall of Fame - we'll have a 5 year waiting period and everyone will be manually inducted
g. Other than that everything is pretty much default, but if there are specifics you want to know feel free to ask.

I'll start with a look at the teams, some history, and then it's on to 1902 where the inaugural draft class of real players will import.

07-06-2012, 08:16 PM	#1
NYY #23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 13,112	A blended history of baseball "Statistics are the lifeblood of baseball." - Leonard Koppett in A Thinking Man's Guide to Baseball (1967) One thing that always bothers me when doing a 'history of baseball' from the beginning is the different eras, the different game lengths, and being able to measure things in a consistent manner. Not to mention that this is really attempt number three at doing this dynasty after doing: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...00-3000-a.html Then: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ilestones.html I don't have anything against the earlier era, but after two attempts I never really get to the players or era that I know best, so rather than just start from the beginning of baseball and follow the same handful of players once again I'm going to try and doing something differently this time. I'm still going to focus primarily on the numbers, and how players did compared to real life, but with some differences - 1) League Totals - There will be consistent settings throughout the league. No deadball era, no steroid era, and the settings in the beginning will be the settings in the end, and the middle. I wanted league totals to come out to what I remember when I first started following baseball in the early 80's. I've run several tests and I'm going with 1986. Apologies to Red Sox fans for choosing the 'Bill Buckner' year, but those totals felt right during testing. 2) Teams - I always have trouble getting past things like George Brett playing for the Pirates, or Tony Gwynn playing for the Orioles, or Cal Ripken playing for anybody but the Orioles. But I want a draft, so instead of the teams we all know and love (or hate) I'll be introducing 2 leagues with 2 divisions of 5 teams each, so we'll get 20 new teams. They won't be in areas where a team exists today, and hopefully they'll take on their own feel. I won't rule out expansion at some point, but it will be a ways off. 3) Players - I'll be using the Spritze database, and introducing players into the league randomly. I like the "you never know what you are going to get" factor. It's more fun to be surprised when Babe Ruth appears in the draft class, instead of knowing exactly when he'll show up. 4) History - I wanted to get some history in the league before we begin. I'm starting in 1871 and will sim up through 1901. That means setting the base with fictional players, but I'm ok with that. In fact I expect that some fictional players will be sprinkled in throughout history. Will Clifford Thompson become the all-time home run king, or will someone like Ruth, or Bonds, or someone like Sean Berry. 5) Rules - I'll highlight some of the major ones - a. Free agency - this will be set to 5 years from the beginning. b. Minor leagues - no minors and I'll be using reserve rosters, limited to 25 players c. DH - this will be on in both leagues. I wanted this either on or off for both leagues, and while I originally was leaning towards it being off I won't force pitchers to hit. d. Trading - the trading deadline is set for June 1st to prevent too many late season trades. Most teams shouldn't be out of it by June 1st and it forces teams to address any weaknesses in the offseason or early in the season. e. Playoffs - no wild cards, each division winner will square off in a best of 7 League Championship with the winner advancing to the World Series f. Hall of Fame - we'll have a 5 year waiting period and everyone will be manually inducted g. Other than that everything is pretty much default, but if there are specifics you want to know feel free to ask. I'll start with a look at the teams, some history, and then it's on to 1902 where the inaugural draft class of real players will import.