Basic issues that still aren't fixed

[CubsManager]

While I certainly appreciate the effort the OOTP folks continue to put into the game, I continue to be disappointed that some very basic issues that make the game reasonably unrealistic remain unaddressed.

To wit:

1. Stealing

It's far too difficult in the sense that you have to resort to the "force" option to get anyone but Billy Hamilton to take off. And the force option greatly reduces your chance of success.

Also, from my years of playing baseball as well as watching it, teams generally don't steal when they're down by four runs or more. Yet AI managers will send runners when they're down by 10. This should be an easy fix.

2. Trading

This algorithm has actually gotten worse. One of the best parts of the earlier OOTP versions was when an AI GM actually proposed an interesting trade. I've had that happen just once in the last two versions. 99.8 percent of their proposals are insanely lopsided. They're not even starting points.

Then, when trading with an AI GM, whether the setting is average or difficult, you can either screw them royally, or they have no clue when you make a really good offer. Resorting to the "force trade" option makes the game even less realistic.

3. Talent shifts

While players, and especially older players, can tank in the star ratings, OOTP does not allow for players to make major strides forward. If you're a 2 star OOTP player, you will never become a four star OOTP player. Yet it happens all the time:

Jake Arietta when he came to the Cubs
Justin Heyward's resurgence this year
Justin Verlander's sudden dominance
Mike Montgomery's sudden dominance

And I could continue. I've tried the talent randomness setting at 100 to 200 and it doesn't matter.

4. It's too easy to dismantle a winning team with no real penalty

Put more simply, the loss in fan interest and team chemistry penalties isn't nearly enough.

The first thing I did with my OOTP 19 Cubs was get rid of Jon Lester, Justin Heyward, and Ben Zobrist getting some pretty good players in return. I believe the Cubs went from fourth in salary to 16th. But winning teams don't do that kind of thing in real-life because it would destroy team chemistry. I firmly believe bigger penalties are necessary to prevent this unrealistic kind of thing.

5. Free agents

When one of your players goes on the DL for an extended period of time, and you trying to sign an FA who's been unsigned for half the season, it can take them 2 to 4 weeks to decide if they'll play for you. This has been a problem forever and it needs to be fixed.

6. Contract extensions

And this one really frosts my flakes. I tried to sign Kyle Hendricks to an extension this morning and he made such a reasonable demand that I agreed to it.

First, if you meet the players extension demand they should sign immediately. And second, if you meet their demand, they shouldn't reject it a week later while basically declaring they'll no longer play for you like Mr. Hendricks did. This really needs to be fixed.

7. Early extensions

GM's still can't take an extension gamble on an under control player like the Cubs did with:

Anthony Rizzo
Starlin Castro
George Soler

and the White Sox did with Tim Anderson. Of course, the risk is the player won't pan out, but GMs should be able to take that risk. I'm not saying all players will go for this, but the Cubs got a steal when they did this with Rizzo.


Thank you for listening!

[andyhdz]

2 to 4 weeks to sign a free agent during the season ? You mean days right?

[Bunktown Ballers]

I just don't have the problems(?) you are having at all & I play out every game. I've locked up players before their service time to assure a good deal from them before a Tim Anderson would be asking for $20 million a year. I can go on, but very pointless.

In your wildest dreams you expecting a AI controlled GM in a baseball sim to be just like REAL LIFE & VERY REALISTIC, well you better move on to playing something else. I don't understand how so many people think a AI controlled simulation game can or will act just like their real life counterparts. I bang my head on wall when someone makes such asinine complaints. You will NEVER, EVER, NEVER find any game/sim to act human or humanlike. Just not going to happen no matter how many hours the OOTP Develpment Team try. Especially trying to get the OOTP players, GM's, managers, coaches to think & reason like a human. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. This game is the only sim I've ever played that resembles the real game so closely. Sure, it's not perfect & brother/sister it never will be. I'll end with saying, sorry if I offended anyone, but what you wanting the development team to do will just never happen. The code for a SIM just don't have a brain.....
Thanks For Listening
Bunktown Ballers

KEEP ON KEEPING ON OOTP BASEBALL
Bring on the American Football please

BTW....it's Jorge Soler not George Soler

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

If you're a 2 star OOTP player, you will never become a four star OOTP player. Yet it happens all the time:

Jake Arietta when he came to the Cubs
Justin Heyward's resurgence this year
Justin Verlander's sudden dominance
Mike Montgomery's sudden dominance

And I could continue. I've tried the talent randomness setting at 100 to 200 and it doesn't matter.

I appreciate the effort you put into your post and explanations.

Some of what you're mentioning has some definite validity though a lot of it is a matter of taste and opinion.

Point 4 for example I definitely agree with.

But this specific point is just not accurate imo. If you play in OOTP for any length of time you'll see plenty of lower round draft picks that make the majors and some that even become stars. That only happens because their ratings get a boost or even multiple boosts.

I'm also pretty dubious about the point about the early extensions, as this is something I've typically been able to do pretty easily in my test leagues.

It may be that some players will not sign these sort of deals, but that's only realistic. In my experience though, a few guys definitely will sign them. It just takes a player that's willing to do that, and in-game as in reality most players aren't willing to do it, though (quite)a few certainly are. But you're never going to be able to do it for everyone in-game anymore than teams will ever be able to do it for everyone in reality.

I also haven't really run into an issue with guys taking weeks to sign during the seasons. It typically happens pretty fast for me, a matter of days. Definitely not weeks. Not sure if this could be affected by settings, or maybe it's a matter of you giving them a pretty lowball offer that they're not really eager to take. Not sure. But in my experience it's certainly not a common issue. It would be interesting to hear if many other folks feel like this is a problem though.

[bwburke94]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

1. Stealing

It's far too difficult in the sense that you have to resort to the "force" option to get anyone but Billy Hamilton to take off. And the force option greatly reduces your chance of success.

"Run & Hit" works normally, but carries the risk of a line drive double play.

[OutS|der]

Point 4 you want the game to be realistic but when if I want to run an unrealistic league will be I able to turn off your "realistic" fan interest and team chemistry penalties?

You may be all about realism but sometimes I'm not, The game has to account for both our play styles.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by bwburke94

"Run & Hit" works normally, but carries the risk of a line drive double play.

Actually that has less risk all round because in R&H the batter is not obligated to swing at all. Run and hit is a straight steal with the option to the batter to swing based on pitch location.

[CubsManager]

I did not put this post up to create a debate because I really don't care what anyone else thinks. It simply seemed like the most direct route to the developers. If you want to get into yet another stupid Internet argument , you're gonna have to go somewhere else.

Some of you clearly have way too much time on your hands.

I stand by what I wrote, and as a programmer myself, everything I listed is a relatively easy fix. My simple aim is to improve the game.

If you don't like it don't read my posts!

[endgame]

Then don’t read the responses, let alone reply to them.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

I did not put this post up to create a debate because I really don't care what anyone else thinks. It simply seemed like the most direct route to the developers. If you want to get into yet another stupid Internet argument , you're gonna have to go somewhere else.

Some of you clearly have way too much time on your hands.

I stand by what I wrote, and as a programmer myself, everything I listed is a relatively easy fix. My simple aim is to improve the game.

If you don't like it don't read my posts!

This is one of the most arrogant and obnoxious posts that I have ever seen on this forum. And that is really saying something. Congratulations!

Fortunately, the developers of this game don’t react to one person’s opinion. They weigh the opinions of many users and run their own tests before making changes.

[james17]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

I did not put this post up to create a debate because I really don't care what anyone else thinks. It simply seemed like the most direct route to the developers. If you want to get into yet another stupid Internet argument , you're gonna have to go somewhere else.

Some of you clearly have way too much time on your hands.

I stand by what I wrote, and as a programmer myself, everything I listed is a relatively easy fix. My simple aim is to improve the game.

If you don't like it don't read my posts!

There was no need to add this to your post. You just wound up angering a lot of posters.

[CubsManager]

I really don't care.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

I really don't care.

Then I suggest you move on to another thread.

[CubsManager]

You suggestion is duly noted and ignored.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

You suggestion is duly noted and ignored.

As by now is your original post, Lukas excepted. Let’s hope he sees enough to merit taking anything to his team. I was, but have since ignored the thought.

[itsmb8]

Spoken like a true Cubs fan! Arrogant and obnoxious.

Also, if youre a programmer and think the game isnt where you want it to be, you could always just make your own game.

[WIUPIKE]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

7. Early extensions

GM's still can't take an extension gamble on an under control player like the Cubs did with:

Anthony Rizzo
Starlin Castro
George Soler

and the White Sox did with Tim Anderson. Of course, the risk is the player won't pan out, but GMs should be able to take that risk. I'm not saying all players will go for this, but the Cubs got a steal when they did this with Rizzo.


Thank you for listening!

I have done this quite a few times. It all depends on the player. I see players that are low in greed tend to look at long term deals. But they are more around 6 to 7 year deals and not 10 year deals. I even have seen several players ask for that type of deal.

[OutS|der]

Thanks for playing OOTP.

Maybe try making your own game since OOTP isn't up to your standards.
Just because you think it should be one one way doesn't make it right. The game is made for more then just you, maybe try considering other people for once.
Far out concept I know...

[Critical Mass]

Originally Posted by CubsManager

You suggestion is duly noted and ignored.

How can you say you ignored his post, when by replying to it, you failed miserably to do so?

[wallewalls]

When I was playing as the Padres earlier in OOTP 19, I was able to sign both Tatis, Jr. and Luis Urias to matching 10 year deals before they ever played in the MLB. You wont be able to do this with every player though. Some players dont take long term extensions early in their careers or at all. It's a part of the game. And I've seen OOTP AI GM's extend their young stars plenty, going back to the first OOTP I ever played, which was OOTP 16.

The stealing thing really annoys me too though