Noob Questions by : A Noob

[PyrionFlax]

I'm really struggling no matter what team I play, it seems. And when I say struggling, I mean that if I am the one managing the game we struggle to score more than a handful of runs usually only 1 or 2 it seems, even failing to score in positions where it seems impossible NOT to score.

So, a few questions:

1. When people play through a game, is there a difference between using pitch-by-pitch, or one pitch? I have been just hitting spacebar to cut to the chase of each at bat but I'm worried that I should be telling players to take pitches etc more often. Surely I can rely on them to know what to do with each pitch? Or do I have to tell them "take a pitch" at 3-0 otherwise they'll just hack away? If so, surely this renders "one-pitch" mode useless?

2. Player ratings, current ability and potential. Is there really ANY point in having these? They seem to change so wildly from one season to the next that there's no point in really signing a 4-star player with great ratings because I have had dozens of such players turn out to be turkeys. What the hell am I supposed to do? If you can ONLY rely on previous performances, then surely having ratings in the first place is a waste of time? What do the scouts actually do? If they tell me "this guy is going to be an ace closer" but the very next year, apparently, he's never going to make it - what am I paying that scout for? What changed?

That's it so far. I'm sure I'll think of more!

[jhart05]

How many games have you played?

Sometimes, that's just the way real baseball is.

[phenom]

For what little help this may be, I play pitch-by-pitch but mostly just hit the spacebar. I save pitch-by-pitch for when there is a fast runner on base against me or if I want my player to take pitches or bunt, or if I want to steal a base.

[OutS|der]

ratings change because players change. Are you just as good as you were at 19?
Scouts aren't perfect so they will get things wrong
Change the talent randomness if you don't like it changing so much but remember just because a player is said to turn out great doesn't mean that they will, it also means that turkey can become a star

[PyrionFlax]

Originally Posted by OutS|der

ratings change because players change. Are you just as good as you were at 19?
Scouts aren't perfect so they will get things wrong
Change the talent randomness if you don't like it changing so much but remember just because a player is said to turn out great doesn't mean that they will, it also means that turkey can become a star

The thing is, I understand how ratings could change gradually due to either an increase in ability due to training and regular playing, or decline due to age or injury. But I don't see how someone can be rated incredibly highly one season, then literally be a worthless dude on a $10M contract the next.

Early promise shouldn't always mean a great career, I get that, but once the player is in their late 20s surely the scout should have a far more locked in idea of their abilities?

[jacksparrow]

Just grab a new information from you guys...

[Charlie Hough]

Originally Posted by PyrionFlax

The thing is, I understand how ratings could change gradually due to either an increase in ability due to training and regular playing, or decline due to age or injury. But I don't see how someone can be rated incredibly highly one season, then literally be a worthless dude on a $10M contract the next.

Wow, do you know how many times this has happened in real life? Baseball history is filled with cases like this, with players going from boom to bust from one season to the next. Rick Ankiel and Joe Charboneau are just two names that come to mind, and there are dozens and dozens more.

This is a classic case of misfortune bias. Since this particular misfortune affected one of your players, it seems unrealistic and far-fetched. But it's not. It's a commonplace occurrence being properly simulated by the player development model.

[TGH-Adfabre]

2. Player ratings, current ability and potential. Is there really ANY point in having these? They seem to change so wildly from one season to the next that there's no point in really signing a 4-star player with great ratings because I have had dozens of such players turn out to be turkeys. What the hell am I supposed to do?

If you are new to the game and havign a hard time with talent assesment I would turn scouting off. This will allow you to make decisions with more accurate information. Once you are comfortable and sucessful with the game engine you can add the additional layer of uncertainty that scouting provides.

If you can ONLY rely on previous performances, then surely having ratings in the first place is a waste of time? What do the scouts actually do? If they tell me "this guy is going to be an ace closer" but the very next year, apparently, he's never going to make it - what am I paying that scout for? What changed?

Players stats swing for year to year in MLB. Without some details it is very hard to comment. Ratings are not an indicator of future performance, they are an indicator of the likelyhood of future performance.
Feel free to post more details or ask any other questions. These boards are quite friendly.
Good luck,
Tom