Base running

[PaulH]

I always play the game in 3D mode. I truly enjoy it and use it for historical replays. OOTP 26 is my dream of what a computer baseball simulation game should be. I also own Acton PC Baseball and Diamond Mind Baseball, but rarely play them anymore. I started playing baseball simulations in 1969 beginning with Strat-O-Matic Baseball.
I do have some problems in how the game manages baserunning and setting the infield in or back.
In regards to baserunning even when I'm controlling the baserunners as a manager, their are many instances when I'm not given an option to send or hold a runner. For example there is a runner a first. The batter singles, and advances to third, the batter is thrown out attempting to take second base. I am not given the option to hold or send the runner. I have had this happen in the majority if the games I have managed after the latest patch. I am given that option when it comes to a sacrifice fly situation, although it seems my runner is thrown out almost all of the time when I send him.

In regards to infield in or back, the computer manager consistently plays the infield in with less than two outs and a two run lead with a runner on third. In all my years of watching major league baseball, I have never seen a manager do that.

I have also noticed with the infield back and less than two out in a non force situation at the plate, the infielder will throw home more often than not on a groundball to him. The manager is conceding the runner at third scoring in exchange for the out at first, particularly on a ground ball to short or second. This happens with both the computer manager and the team I manage.

Bottom line is I hope some of these base running issues are cleaned up in OOTP27.

[fredbeene]

the AI should not act the same for every team. And you should be able to change all teams or x teams with randomizer.

[zappa1]

Originally Posted by PaulH

I always play the game in 3D mode. I truly enjoy it and use it for historical replays. OOTP 26 is my dream of what a computer baseball simulation game should be. I also own Acton PC Baseball and Diamond Mind Baseball, but rarely play them anymore. I started playing baseball simulations in 1969 beginning with Strat-O-Matic Baseball.
I do have some problems in how the game manages baserunning and setting the infield in or back.
In regards to baserunning even when I'm controlling the baserunners as a manager, their are many instances when I'm not given an option to send or hold a runner. For example there is a runner a first. The batter singles, and advances to third, the batter is thrown out attempting to take second base. I am not given the option to hold or send the runner. I have had this happen in the majority if the games I have managed after the latest patch. I am given that option when it comes to a sacrifice fly situation, although it seems my runner is thrown out almost all of the time when I send him.

In regards to infield in or back, the computer manager consistently plays the infield in with less than two outs and a two run lead with a runner on third. In all my years of watching major league baseball, I have never seen a manager do that.

I have also noticed with the infield back and less than two out in a non force situation at the plate, the infielder will throw home more often than not on a groundball to him. The manager is conceding the runner at third scoring in exchange for the out at first, particularly on a ground ball to short or second. This happens with both the computer manager and the team I manage.

Bottom line is I hope some of these base running issues are cleaned up in OOTP27.

You are not alone. Believe me.

[kq76]

I'm ashamed to admit I don't know the intricacies of infield alignment nearly as much as I probably should, but I'm confused by this.

Originally Posted by PaulH

... I have also noticed with the infield back and less than two out in a non force situation at the plate, the infielder will throw home more often than not on a groundball to him. The manager is conceding the runner at third scoring in exchange for the out at first, particularly on a ground ball to short or second. This happens with both the computer manager and the team I manage.

Your first sentence here seems to say they're throwing to home in these situations, but the next you're saying the manager is doing the opposite? Which is it? And in any game situation? If it's early in the game, I'm wanting to get the outs (not getting outs can easily turn a bad inning into a terrible inning), but if it's late and a close game, then I'm more likely wanting them to save that run. Unless the likelihood that they'll save the run is very low, in which case just go for the easy out.

Do you feel like the game doesn't do different things in different game states? Do you want it to always do one and not the other, no matter the game state?

Even with as much as I play the game, I'm not super confident in this answer, but I think it changes it up on groundballs. My issue is with flyballs. I find the defense far too often hopelessly throws the ball to home trying to get out a runner that they seemingly have no chance of throwing out when what they should do more often than not in my mind is throw to second to prevent the batter from advancing.

I do think that there could maybe be a slider somewhere for how aggressive you want your manager to be with regard to preventing runs vs going for easy outs. Like for me, I like the idea of being aggressive, taking it to your opponent, but I also don't like the idea of being stupid aggressive so I'd probably want to place that slider somewhere near the center. But it'd be interesting if some teams were super aggressive or super passive in this.

[Larryk007]

When playing in 3D mod and playing as the manager, the game should just eliminate the AI coaches. The game should allow the manager as an option, you, to make the decisions. Yes, it would slow the game down, but one pitch mod option also slows the game down (it's an option). To me, allowing manual playing of the game solves the AI problems.

Depending on the game situation, just expand the already throw to options, like:

"Fly ball to right, one out, runner on first and third, tagging at third, throw
home or throw to second?"

[Bobfather]

My problem with base running is stealing. I have found that when I have a very good base stealer, 90+, and both the catcher and pitcher have below avg arm and hold -45, I can't get a lead. The runner starts to go, then turns back. I find this very frustrating. I would rather see him caught than not try at all.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Larryk007

When playing in 3D mod and playing as the manager, the game should just eliminate the AI coaches. The game should allow the manager as an option, you, to make the decisions. Yes, it would slow the game down, but one pitch mod option also slows the game down (it's an option). To me, allowing manual playing of the game solves the AI problems.

Depending on the game situation, just expand the already throw to options, like:

"Fly ball to right, one out, runner on first and third, tagging at third, throw
home or throw to second?"

I hope you don't actually mean eliminate AI coaches? If you want to argue a human user has to make all decisions that's fine as an option. I totally understand why some would want this option. I would not use that option as I'm the manager and in the dugout. Me yelling to any player while a ball is in play isn't an option. Keep in mind the AI team you are playing is using AI coaches and, IMHO, it becomes a balance issue.


I'd prefer options to tell my team to play conservatively or aggressively while in the field.
Aggressive would mean playing/throwing to stop a run from scoring, or a runner getting to third base (among other things). Conservative would attempt to keep the DP in order by throwing to 2b, not trying to throw out runners that "don't matter" (among other things). Aggressive and Conservative could be blanket commands or even better have subcommands to allow managers more options. Hopefully this would all be applied to AI managers and could be the "fix" for issues that are present now.

Once my players are told how "we want to play it" they should attempt to do so, but... they are human and could make mistakes. IRL players do lose track of how many outs, or think they can "make the play" in the moment even though it is a bad play in the context of the situation and goes against the odds. They shouldn't play perfectly in OOTP.*** They should also have enough baseball intelligence to know where the ball should go, but reinforcing a strategy, be it the manager in the dugout before players go back in the field, or some players in the field signaling or yelling out a situation is a thing.



*** That is not intended to defend some of the very bad plays the AI now makes in OOTP. There are definitely some that need to be cleaned up. Trailing runner at second base too often(the problem is "too often", not the play itself), I'm looking at you , and that's obviously not the only one. But in fixing these AI decisions, perfection should not be the goal. The argument that "nobody ever makes that play" is usually easily disproved.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Bobfather

My problem with base running is stealing. I have found that when I have a very good base stealer, 90+, and both the catcher and pitcher have below avg arm and hold -45, I can't get a lead. The runner starts to go, then turns back. I find this very frustrating. I would rather see him caught than not try at all.

What is his steal aggressive rating? ie his ability to get a jump. My experience is if aggressiveness is below 60 they may/will have trouble getting a jump, but are great for hit and run. I call for a H&R the batter swings and misses, but they are able to beat the throw for a SB.

I've had no problem leading the league, or being top three, in stolen bases the last few years. I have three players that on the aggressive/steal skills are, don't have the game open but, off the top of my head, 80/80, 70/80, 65/70. However even with these guys there will be games they can't seem to get a jump, even against low P's and C's like in your example. I write it off as bad dice rolls mimicking reality.

In my current season the only reason I'm not leading the league is I've pulled back on attempts as my batters have matured and lead the league in BA and OBP. When my batters struggled in seasons past I used those type of runners to try to create runs. It's nice to be in a situation where I still have them, but don't need to gamble quite so often.

[PaulH]

1. Let the human manager control all baserunning decisions when there is a question whether the baserunner will be thrown out. I believe all other baseball sims do this. Let the computer manager continue to control all of their baserunning situations.
2. The computer manager should never play the infield in with a lead of of 2 runs of more.
3. Don't throw home on a groundball with the infield back and a runner on third base. By the way, I have also seen the opposite where my runner on third holds with the infield back. At least give the manager the option to send the runner. Maybe a contact play option needs to be added, where the baserunner on third goes on any infield grounder no matter the position of the fielders.

[PaulH]

I just had another baserunning head scratcher. No outs bottom the tenth with a runner on first in a tie game. The batter singles to right and the baserunner is safe at third with out a throw. The runner is thrown out at second trying to stretch a single into a double. My team doesn't score, and we are on to the 11th inning. Obviously in this case the batter doesn't try for second unless he is 100% certain of being safe.

[Rain King]

Baseball players do stupid things sometimes.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sport...9-8bf6c70004bb

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sport...4-44704e9cdde3

(obviously if this happens often it should be looked into)