Suggestions for 23

[Crickett13]

here is an idea. Update the manual to reflect the changes in the game. Was told several times that the 22 manual would be updated. Glad I didn't hold my breath because looks like it never was.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by Crickett13

here is an idea. Update the manual to reflect the changes in the game. Was told several times that the 22 manual would be updated. Glad I didn't hold my breath because looks like it never was.

That is an excellent suggestion. It should come before everything else that has been suggested. However it's a massive project. It appears there is no non public documentation of the game.

[ksref]

Love to see two things added,
1) Have the choice come up for which base the outfielder throws to after a hit to the outfield and runners on base. I see the outfielder throw to 3rd or home trying to get the lead runner while the hitter makes his way to 2nd. When the smart play is to not worry about the lead runner in order to keep the double play possible.
2) When an infielder makes a fielding error and still throws the ball to 1st, I witness the 1st baseman always catch the throw. Shouldn't there "sometimes" be a second error due to an errant throw or botched catch?

[Syd Thrift]

Just realized that we don't have similarity scores and that would be a neat add:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/a...milarity.shtml

By this, I mean similarity scores within a universe, ideally also for "most similar at age X" scores. Behind the scenes you'd have to compile career and career-to-age records for everyone any time you ran this (so maybe you'd only update them once a year) but this would be a really neat way to contextualize players (and now I'm thinking about how to do this in my own universe).

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by ksref

Love to see two things added,
1) Have the choice come up for which base the outfielder throws to after a hit to the outfield and runners on base. I see the outfielder throw to 3rd or home trying to get the lead runner while the hitter makes his way to 2nd. When the smart play is to not worry about the lead runner in order to keep the double play possible.
2) When an infielder makes a fielding error and still throws the ball to 1st, I witness the 1st baseman always catch the throw. Shouldn't there "sometimes" be a second error due to an errant throw or botched catch?

I'm actually unsure about that. If a player reaches base on a muffed ground ball, that's an error. If they then get to second on a bad throw... I think that's still only one error because we're still talking about the same event, but I'm not sure - it's definitely true that you can have an infield single and an error if a runner gets to 2nd on a bad throw that the scorer determines wouldn't have been in time anyway.

If yes, sure, it's a rare play but it'd be neat to see it. In terms of animation I know they're a little bit behind on getting everything in the game that's in Project Scoresheet - I am unsure, for instance, whether PS just doesn't show outfield foul catches or if the devs just haven't animated those yet (since the difference between a ball caught foul and one caught fair is negligible in terms of actual gameplay).

[OutS|der]

I'd like the ability for to adjust Milestone settings based on season length and rotation size and opener settings, could even take league totals into account.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by OutS|der

I'd like the ability for to adjust Milestone settings based on season length and rotation size and opener settings, could even take league totals into account.

You can adjust Milestones in league setup, options tab. Bottom left.

[OutS|der]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

You can adjust Milestones in league setup, options tab. Bottom left.

I meant I want some sort of auto calculation rather then trying to figure it out myself.
I’m aware I can exit it myself, it’s figuring out what numbers that I have issues with.
So I was for asking for more of an tool like auto cal for league totals, have it run though some simulations and spit out some adjusted totals.

[Braden]

It would be nice if 23 had real historical logos, jerseys & caps as well as an option to use or not use batting helmets for all teams.

[kcstengelsr]

My wishlist for some future OOTP is quite long, but here are a few:
1. Keep improving the manual game player models. Having them actually hold the bat was a good thing in OOTP22 but the models' arms holding such bat seem to be made too skinny. Improve infield and foul popouts as sometimes the ball barely goes ten feet in the air. Improve fielders' positioning for in-game situations as currently especially the shortstop and the first baseman both tend to move to wrong places for many situations on balls hit to the outfield with runners on base.
2. Improve the uniforms of manual game player models. Make batting gloves and batting helmets a checkbox option, so historical seasons can go without either or both batting gloves and helmets. Make shoes a black shoes or white shoes team checkbox option so most historical seasons have black shoes. Put numbers on the backs of uniforms similar to what was done by some in the mods section. Allow pants colors other than white/grey. Allow a checkbox for longpants/shortpants so many historical years would use shortpants but shortpants would show team socks in proper color and style from just below the knee down to the shoe. Give some hair to the player models based upon historical hair color as currently the caucasian player models in the manual games are all bald.
3. Adjust down the fielding ratings of all players who never made the majors if full minors are used so that the AI does not so frequently call them to the majors. In my simulations I like to give infielders and outfielders who never made the majors 65 out of possible 250 fielding ratings for all values in the edit player section, with catchers who never made the majors given 40 out of possible 250 for catcher fielding values. (This change also will help with those who allow trades in their historical simulations as some AI will be less prone to trade an established major leaguer for an over-fieldingvalued career minor league fielder.) This downgrade of minor league fielders should not be used for fellows currently active in the minors, only for retired former players.
4. Allow more sound occasions. How about some pre-game sound like one of the national anthems? How about stretch sounds for innings other than the seventh, like the current Red Sox use the eighth inning for Sweet Caroline? These new sound occasions should be optional like the current horn at some parks.
5. Someday I would also like another option of the text/english file if female players are ever used so that references in the play-by-play would mention she, she's, her, and hers instead of he, he's, him, and his. Maybe rename this option english_female.
6. Maybe someday have some play by play audio announcer who sounds realistic and who keeps up with the action in real time. I remember at least one computer baseball game more than twenty years ago used a good audio announcer to call the action.
7. Also maybe someday add base coaches and umpires to the field as they would be present in real games. Have them act based upon the situation. With a lot of work and research perhaps the umpires can be given ratings for things like strike zone accuracy. I know the current umpires have their own statistics for things like strike zone which can be found on the web. Some umpires can also be more prone to ejections.
8. Importantly, add another option in the league settings concerning injuries. In addition to allowing injuries or turning them entirely off, how about allowing injuries but a checkbox for only affecting that particular game. This way your "Sandy Koufax" might get pulled in the first inning for "feeling something in his arm," but he will be good to go next turn in the rotation. I like to turn AI created injuries completely off for my historical replays but in game injuries do happen sometimes which are minor and yet require replacement. The game does allow ejections when suspensions are turned off and it should likewise allow "duration of the current game" injuries with injuries otherwise turned off.


Otherwise, keep up with the rosters and ratings of the real players.

Edit for one more thing.
Make sure that 00TP23 has each of the Negro Leagues seasons from 1920-1948 available as those years are now counted as major leagues. I think OOTP22 did not cover the Negro Leagues for each of these years as some years within this time frame have the Negro Leagues missing and unavailable to play. Work on setting the correct team rosters for the now-major league Negro Leagues would be also good as some players are missing even when the year is available. Revised ratings of the Negro Leagues players should also reflect their major league quality.

[Braden]

Originally Posted by kcstengelsr

My wishlist for some future OOTP is quite long, but here are a few:
1. Keep improving the manual game player models. Having them actually hold the bat was a good thing in OOTP22 but the models' arms holding such bat seem to be made too skinny. Improve infield and foul popouts as sometimes the ball barely goes ten feet in the air. Improve fielders' positioning for in-game situations as currently especially the shortstop and the first baseman both tend to move to wrong places for many situations on balls hit to the outfield with runners on base.
2. Improve the uniforms of manual game player models. Make batting gloves and batting helmets a checkbox option, so historical seasons can go without either or both batting gloves and helmets. Make shoes a black shoes or white shoes team checkbox option so most historical seasons have black shoes. Put numbers on the backs of uniforms similar to what was done by some in the mods section. Allow pants colors other than white/grey. Allow a checkbox for longpants/shortpants so many historical years would use shortpants but shortpants would show team socks in proper color and style from just below the knee down to the shoe. Give some hair to the player models based upon historical hair color as currently the caucasian player models in the manual games are all bald.
3. Adjust down the fielding ratings of all players who never made the majors if full minors are used so that the AI does not so frequently call them to the majors. In my simulations I like to give infielders and outfielders who never made the majors 65 out of possible 250 fielding ratings for all values in the edit player section, with catchers who never made the majors given 40 out of possible 250 for catcher fielding values. (This change also will help with those who allow trades in their historical simulations as some AI will be less prone to trade an established major leaguer for an over-fieldingvalued career minor league fielder.) This downgrade of minor league fielders should not be used for fellows currently active in the minors, only for retired former players.
4. Allow more sound occasions. How about some pre-game sound like one of the national anthems? How about stretch sounds for innings other than the seventh, like the current Red Sox use the eighth inning for Sweet Caroline? These new sound occasions should be optional like the current horn at some parks.
5. Someday I would also like another option of the text/english file if female players are ever used so that references in the play-by-play would mention she, she's, her, and hers instead of he, he's, him, and his. Maybe rename this option english_female.
6. Maybe someday have some play by play audio announcer who sounds realistic and who keeps up with the action in real time. I remember at least one computer baseball game more than twenty years ago used a good audio announcer to call the action.
7. Also maybe someday add base coaches and umpires to the field as they would be present in real games. Have them act based upon the situation. With a lot of work and research perhaps the umpires can be given ratings for things like strike zone accuracy. I know the current umpires have their own statistics for things like strike zone which can be found on the web. Some umpires can also be more prone to ejections.
8. Importantly, add another option in the league settings concerning injuries. In addition to allowing injuries or turning them entirely off, how about allowing injuries but a checkbox for only affecting that particular game. This way your "Sandy Koufax" might get pulled in the first inning for "feeling something in his arm," but he will be good to go next turn in the rotation. I like to turn AI created injuries completely off for my historical replays but in game injuries do happen sometimes which are minor and yet require replacement. The game does allow ejections when suspensions are turned off and it should likewise allow "duration of the current game" injuries with injuries otherwise turned off.


Otherwise, keep up with the rosters and ratings of the real players.

Edit for one more thing.
Make sure that 00TP23 has each of the Negro Leagues seasons from 1920-1948 available as those years are now counted as major leagues. I think OOTP22 did not cover the Negro Leagues for each of these years as some years within this time frame have the Negro Leagues missing and unavailable to play. Work on setting the correct team rosters for the now-major league Negro Leagues would be also good as some players are missing even when the year is available. Revised ratings of the Negro Leagues players should also reflect their major league quality.

Good suggestions. However, if the same PC concept that was used for historical logos is used, there may not be "Negro" leagues!

[Syd Thrift]

Is the “good audio announcer” Ernie Harwell doing a version of APBA? He was cool and the idea was awesome for its time but I think it’s the nature of the beast that over a couple hundred hours any real recorded announcer is going to sound samey. The computerized guys are another thing but tend to be flat and, well, I think they primarily exist for the vision impaired.

[Bremmen]

Some thoughts...


Allow for signing bonuses. A thought to address imbalances in market sizes is to allow for the monetizing of draft picks. i.e. being able to sell or purchase them. This is already in the game as I can offer a trade of cash for a draft pick. One step further would be to allow a team to resign their star player and give them a large signing bonus to compensate for a lower yearly salary. Playing as the Kansas City Royals, if I have a stocked minor league system and have a top 5 pick. I could sell the pick to a team in need of depth in order to re-sign Hosmer back in 2017 for example.



Add more options to improve development in the minors. Adjusting the budgeted amount for development appears to do very little. Allow for increased development by adding a hitting instructor for the minor leagues is one example.


Send minor league players to anger management. This is nit-picky, but when I look at a minor league roster and see the 21 year-old double A player who is hitting below the mendoza line angry at his role on the team and stating they expect to be playing in the majors, it bugs me.


Provide the ability to offer a staff position to a current player. If I have a player who I suspect will be retiring and they are a leader on the team it would be great to have the ability to offer them a bench coach or minor league manager job.


I also play Football Manager and enjoy the back and forth dialogue with a player that leads to improving or decreasing aspects of their game. For example, If a player is in a slump I'm asked by the news media if I'm thinking of benching the player. If I support the player there is a chance they can break out of their slump.


Another Football Manager feature... allow for the expansion of a stadium or even a rebuild. I have had seasons where I'm pretty much sold-out for every game. Provide the ability to add suites or 5,000 seats for example.


Allow for the modification of personality attributes in challenge mode. I really like playing the challenge mode for... well... the challenge. However, it would be great to make adjustments for some players. It doesn't even have to be the ability to edit the numerical values. Just functions like... Make Leader, Change to Hard Worker, etc. I would even take Make Normal. Nothing like playing a historical season and seeing someone like Derek Jeter listed as "He is not loyal to the team and has no hustle."


Add the ability to ask the owner for more funds. If I'm 2M away from being able to pick up a starter, let me ask the owner if I can get an increase in the budget. Calculate result based off of rep, current record vs expected record, etc. Have it part of the end of year goals review. If the budget was increased and I missed the playoffs my rep value decreases and the owner becomes more dissatisfied.



Thanks for a great game!


Cheers

[kcstengelsr]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

Is the “good audio announcer” Ernie Harwell doing a version of APBA? He was cool and the idea was awesome for its time but I think it’s the nature of the beast that over a couple hundred hours any real recorded announcer is going to sound samey. The computerized guys are another thing but tend to be flat and, well, I think they primarily exist for the vision impaired.

I do remember "can of corn" being used quite a bit by that announcer on routine fly balls but it was part of his style and I learned to appreciate it like other announcers with stylings like "he gone" or "holy cow."
I do think one could have the best of both worlds if this proposed improved announcer was an option in manual game settings so one could go back to the old read-the-text method if one wants that or hear the fellow describe the game.
The best part of having a good audio announcer is that one can listen to the action like a game on the radio. If you have the computer managers making all the in-game moves you really could just sit back and watch or listen or both.

[Reed]

Said this in another thread.

Pitcher/Batter ratings should be adjusted for park/league.
Maybe this is already being done. The manual indicates rating are based on “real” stats but one of the developers indicated that batter ratings (didn’t indicate pitchers) were adjusted for park factors. Would like clarification.

Anyway, haven’t followed MLB in years but when I did, because of the DH there was a big discrepancy in “real” stats between AL/NL pitchers. I would like for the ratings to be adjusted to reflect this (maybe this is already being done but who knows). Ratings should also be adjusted for batters/pitchers due to park factors. Or at least there should be clarification in the manual.

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

Is the “good audio announcer” Ernie Harwell doing a version of APBA? He was cool and the idea was awesome for its time but I think it’s the nature of the beast that over a couple hundred hours any real recorded announcer is going to sound samey. The computerized guys are another thing but tend to be flat and, well, I think they primarily exist for the vision impaired.

APBA Ernie Harwell was great and a huge project for the time; but you're right, after awhile it became repetitive, and also took longer to play out the games and seasons. With the major advances in text-to-speech, I suspect the means already exists to duplicate the voices of many announcers (and Siri). Problem is, that would be the kind of side project that would draw resources away from improving the glitches in the current game, making it even more realistic, or the project to properly reflect the talent of the Negro League players before 1947. I'm all for progressive improvements in the core product, rather than bells and whistles.

[Donner]

Call me crazy, but being VERY old school, I would love to hear "Earl's got.. Eckersly throwing in the pen.".

Anyone who was into sim baseball in the 80s -90s knows what I am saying.

I know there are a lot of top level issues that people want, but for me, having an announcers voice (which they has in 1985 on the Commodre Amiga) is huge. WIth today's tech, it could be a good sim of a voice, even if they don't mention poor Earl.

[Donner]

Originally Posted by Pelican

APBA Ernie Harwell was great and a huge project for the time; but you're right, after awhile it became repetitive, and also took longer to play out the games and seasons. With the major advances in text-to-speech, I suspect the means already exists to duplicate the voices of many announcers (and Siri). Problem is, that would be the kind of side project that would draw resources away from improving the glitches in the current game, making it even more realistic, or the project to properly reflect the talent of the Negro League players before 1947. I'm all for progressive improvements in the core product, rather than bells and whistles.

And read this after I posted. Glad to see some support in the community for it.

[Donner]

Originally Posted by Reed

Said this in another thread.

Pitcher/Batter ratings should be adjusted for park/league.
Maybe this is already being done. The manual indicates rating are based on “real” stats but one of the developers indicated that batter ratings (didn’t indicate pitchers) were adjusted for park factors. Would like clarification.

Anyway, haven’t followed MLB in years but when I did, because of the DH there was a big discrepancy in “real” stats between AL/NL pitchers. I would like for the ratings to be adjusted to reflect this (maybe this is already being done but who knows). Ratings should also be adjusted for batters/pitchers due to park factors. Or at least there should be clarification in the manual.

In the good 'ol days (although I bitched about the DH, was handy for a player, Bonds could have played another 8 years if a team would have him, wish the Rangers would pick him up as a batting coach) we figured a guy coming from the NL to the AL would gain about .75 (very roughly) on his ERA, based on that extra batter and that the extra batter tended to be pretty good and fresh. That's late teens early 20s me talking about pitchers from '86-'94. That being said, some pitchers (Like Pedro Martinez) would not have taken as big a hit to their ERAs. And can you imagine a 6'4" Randy Johnson playing for an NL team in his prime. WOW!

[Donner]

Originally Posted by Reed

Said this in another thread.

Pitcher/Batter ratings should be adjusted for park/league.
Maybe this is already being done. The manual indicates rating are based on “real” stats but one of the developers indicated that batter ratings (didn’t indicate pitchers) were adjusted for park factors. Would like clarification.

Anyway, haven’t followed MLB in years but when I did, because of the DH there was a big discrepancy in “real” stats between AL/NL pitchers. I would like for the ratings to be adjusted to reflect this (maybe this is already being done but who knows). Ratings should also be adjusted for batters/pitchers due to park factors. Or at least there should be clarification in the manual.

I'm not the dev, nor was I privy to the conversation, but weather should be a factor, ball park size, turf or grass...... but never just a stadium. Hopefully that is what he meant. A rating should be a rating. Sure, Boggs might his more singles in a certain park,or more doubles in another, but that is because of the park itself (all the factors I mentioned before) not just the name. In short, keep the displayable numbers the same. Let us use our brains to decide who will play better where based on the setting.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I drafted a EW sim team that had what you would call three lead off hitters and a big guy at the 4 slot. The Clean-up hitter was Bonds, but with Weaver, he just plain walked WAY to much (and this was in 1992. The idea was, these three guys were all center fielders and had great speed and range. The park was as large as I could make it, think Polo Grounds, but fences. The idea was, my guys were all fast line-drive hitters. If it got past an opposing fielder, homer. On the opposite side, they covered a lot of ground and would handle 85% of those type of hit balls. 4 slot (Bonds) would launch it and either hit it past opposing fielders or sky it beyond their reach. with Bonds speed (don't believe the hype, Bonds played three years at lead -off before his 24 homers convinced the Pirates to move him back to 4) and every body rounds the bases.

Just a gimmick team. Was fun though.

Speaking of, I hope they are talking about adding the Polo grounds. I'd play there.