I've Had It

[GunnyB]

Bears kinda has a good point.

[vulcan4]

Originally Posted by Dactyl

I've been buying OOTP Baseball for a long time now. I believe that my first one was OOTP8. Well, whatever it was, I won't be buying it anymore, and I'm uninstalling the current version. The reason is that the game is no longer fun. I play as my long-time favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, but no matter how I try, I can't build a team that wins consistently, never mind goes to the playoffs. If a game is to be fun, it should be possible to come up with a strategy that will allow you to be successful. I have not found that to be possible with the last two iterations of OOTP, so playing the game is simply an exercise in frustration.

I've played OOTP since 2004. I've had only two seasons in the playoffs and I play as the Cubs in a fictional universe. "Losing" is what keeps me playing because when/if I do have a winning season, it's just 'that' much more Rewarding.

I suck at OOTP and I love it...

[keeks]

OP got rekt lol. A fun way to start a new game is do an expansion team that way you arent expected to win soon.

[keeks]

If OP Is really a Braves fan then hes probably an ATL sports fan and he should know all about heartbreak and losing smh

[Mr. Marlin]

Originally Posted by Orcin

The OP was complaining about the game being too HARD, not too easy. Is every thread merely bait for someone to raise the no-ratings flag one more time?

Well, that was actually intended to be a reply to GoPedro and one other who said the game was becoming too easy. I forgot to quote their response which would have clarified what I posted and why. My fault.

As for the whole no ratings thing you realize you are the only one that takes exception to it right?

[4maddux_cy's]

My favorite team is Atlanta and I am in the playoffs for 2018. I did not sign any free agents minus a very average catcher to serve as a backup on this team. What i did do was trade nearly all veterans for prospects almost immediately. This netted me some guys that were close to ML ready throughout 2017 and I called them up after a good start in 2018. I also watched the waiver wire very closely and grabbed a couple of guys there. Rule 5 helped me get two pitchers as well.

It is very possible to turn Atlanta around very quickly and still have a good farm. My everyday lineup:

C: Dom Nunez (acquired via trade)
1b: Freddie Freeman
2b: Ozzie Albies (debuted on opening day)
3b: Edwin Rios (acquired via trade)
SS: Dansby Swanson
LF: Sam Travis (acquired via trade and converted to LF very easily)
CF: Ender Inciarte
RF: Willie Calhoun (acquired via trade)

Rotation:

Julio Teheran
Mike Foltynewicz
Matt Wisler
Jose De Leon (acquired via trade)
Aaron Blair

Blair and Wisler are performing way over what their real life counterparts are. Not complaining!

[Michael Xavier]

I do not understand how one cannot consistently get a team to the playoffs. All you have to do is play every single pitch. All batters take every pitch. When pitching, use infield shifts when no one is on and DP depth when there are runners on with less than two outs.

As you build your team, acquire good eye, power hitters. Get on base and wait for the three run homer.

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by Michael Xavier

I do not understand how one cannot consistently get a team to the playoffs. All you have to do is play every single pitch. All batters take every pitch. When pitching, use infield shifts when no one is on and DP depth when there are runners on with less than two outs.

As you build your team, acquire good eye, power hitters. Get on base and wait for the three run homer.

Why not just make a team full of Hank Aarons?
I may be wrong but I think the op is frustrated because he is trying to play as you would I'm the real league and not finding the same success.
I understand trying something different but would MLB players and teams do the things you mentioned all the time?

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Marlin

As for the whole no ratings thing you realize you are the only one that takes exception to it right?

Yes, I am apparently the only one that sees through the myth and realizes that removing ratings does nothing to make the game more difficult. There has never been any evidence to support the claim of greater difficulty, yet it lives on because sycophants continue to chant about it in every thread discussing game settings.

[Hoiles]

I can sympathize with the OP as it could be seen as pointless to spend 100's of hours on a game and never make the playoffs. Imagine spending 3 months playing GTAV and still be stuck riding bicycles around town.That said, there are ways of making the frustrating parts of the simulation more bearable.

There are ways to go through seasons so they aren't a chore:
- Quick sim through the rebuilding years, only handling free agency, trades, etc., and focusing on seasons where you have a good roster
- I'm doing a historical replay where I handle everything, but have NFL-style 16 game seasons where I can just spam "1" on every pitch so the seasons breeze by.

Even if it's less involved, quick simming a game (or watching highlights) can often lessen the swearingly awful moments of your closer blowing a lead or cleanup hitter striking out with the tying run on 3rd with 1 out.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

Why not just make a team full of Hank Aarons?
I may be wrong but I think the op is frustrated because he is trying to play as you would I'm the real league and not finding the same success.
I understand trying something different but would MLB players and teams do the things you mentioned all the time?

first, i don't play that particular way either, but not everythign is a question so extreme in nature, either. but, it's rarely 100% abusive or 100% innocent. and if you get the wrong impression, i agree with what you say for the most part...

but, in many ways real life does exactly how people play this game... if there is a loophole or something that can be abused within the rules, it will be abused... In RL competition is too fierce to be naive about this (steroids, emphetamines, whatever... heck in the nhl, they could sign players for 2days, release and get a draft pick or some crap like that -- they fixed that jsut a few years ago... gm's definiteyl abused it and it wasn't "right" lol...as if that matters in RL with that much $ invovled). they do terribly unethical and potentially immoral things all the time. far worse than choosing "take pitch" in a video game. do some individual GMs have more integrity than others, sure... and if is the root (merely perceived) of poor results they will lose their jobs because of that integrity, too.

*if a real life gm could hit "take pitch" equivalent and it worked as it does in the game, yes they most certainly would do that... but obviously totally farcical in nature for anythign to be a comparison to that... but if possible yes... they would.

if it's debilitating to the league, they will amend the rules... not unlike a "house rule" that prevents the take pitch strategy from being used. not a judgement, though... whatever floats your boat as far as entertainment. each to their own, etc etc.. on the specifics.

however, if you(plural) play this game 100% stubborn about being a certain way and expecting it to match your perceptions of how it should be and how it should work and play out... well, you may not win many games, but if it's fun that way, cool beans, carry on nonetheless.

if it frustrates you(plural) and you don't adjust strategies (even if avoiding blatant abuse, like taking pitches incesantly are off the table as options), you only need a mirror to find the source of your frustrations. even without blatant abuse and strict rules (house or otherwise) you should win alot in a video game. they are made for us to win.

** whoops.. that's with a good budget of course... doesn't need to be astronomical, though. a small budget team relies a bit more on luck... more peak/valley results likely. in some league configs with specificl rules to hamper ahuman, i could see missing the playoffs as completely feasible without a slew of catastrophic injuries.

[Scoman]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Yes, I am apparently the only one that sees through the myth and realizes that removing ratings does nothing to make the game more difficult. There has never been any evidence to support the claim of greater difficulty, yet it lives on because sycophants continue to chant about it in every thread discussing game settings.

So put your money were your mouth is and start a fictional career and play stats only.

We realize that stats only in historical is not any more difficult.


Then you could prove your point once and for all.... Or have you shown some kind of proof that stats only Fictional is not any more difficult?

Or is it just your opinion?

[r0nster]

thrill of victory and the agony of defeat ..... the Cubs didn't quit after 100 years nor did the Red Sox again 100 years. Even the Detroit Lydowns (lions) haven't quit since the 1960s and going through failure after failure.


Yes its frustrating where you want to toss PC or laptop out the window then the thrill when you jump up and down celebrating when the grand daddy of them all.

[BaseballMan]

Originally Posted by NoOne

first, i don't play that particular way either, but not everythign is a question so extreme in nature, either. but, it's rarely 100% abusive or 100% innocent. and if you get the wrong impression, i agree with what you say for the most part...

but, in many ways real life does exactly how people play this game... if there is a loophole or something that can be abused within the rules, it will be abused... In RL competition is too fierce to be naive about this (steroids, emphetamines, whatever... heck in the nhl, they could sign players for 2days, release and get a draft pick or some crap like that -- they fixed that jsut a few years ago... gm's definiteyl abused it and it wasn't "right" lol...as if that matters in RL with that much $ invovled). they do terribly unethical and potentially immoral things all the time. far worse than choosing "take pitch" in a video game. do some individual GMs have more integrity than others, sure... and if is the root (merely perceived) of poor results they will lose their jobs because of that integrity, too.

*if a real life gm could hit "take pitch" equivalent and it worked as it does in the game, yes they most certainly would do that... but obviously totally farcical in nature for anythign to be a comparison to that... but if possible yes... they would.

if it's debilitating to the league, they will amend the rules... not unlike a "house rule" that prevents the take pitch strategy from being used. not a judgement, though... whatever floats your boat as far as entertainment. each to their own, etc etc.. on the specifics.

however, if you(plural) play this game 100% stubborn about being a certain way and expecting it to match your perceptions of how it should be and how it should work and play out... well, you may not win many games, but if it's fun that way, cool beans, carry on nonetheless.

if it frustrates you(plural) and you don't adjust strategies (even if avoiding blatant abuse, like taking pitches incesantly are off the table as options), you only need a mirror to find the source of your frustrations. even without blatant abuse and strict rules (house or otherwise) you should win alot in a video game. they are made for us to win.

** whoops.. that's with a good budget of course... doesn't need to be astronomical, though. a small budget team relies a bit more on luck... more peak/valley results likely. in some league configs with specificl rules to hamper ahuman, i could see missing the playoffs as completely feasible without a slew of catastrophic injuries.

There is abuse of the rules in baseball but is it realistic to use 1 man rotation? Or constantly bring a closer in your closer in the 5th inning? Of course i'm not saying a team wouldn't try it once in awhile but there's a reason why oddities like that fade. Success.
Im not saying people can't play that way in ootp. They can play any way they choose. Im just saying it wouldn't mimic the real game and if you are trying to play like the real mlb and stay as true to the way the game was and is played but yet finding success difficult then i can understand the frustration.

[Bears5122]

Can someone explain the "Take Pitch" exploit that keeps being talked about?

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Scoman

So put your money were your mouth is and start a fictional career and play stats only.

We realize that stats only in historical is not any more difficult.


Then you could prove your point once and for all.... Or have you shown some kind of proof that stats only Fictional is not any more difficult?

Or is it just your opinion?

Why should I need to prove anything? If you contend that playing without ratings is more difficult, back it up with something tangible... something other than "I say so". Otherwise, my point stands.

[Michael Xavier]

Originally Posted by Bears5122

Can someone explain the "Take Pitch" exploit that keeps being talked about?

When hitting, hit 2 "Take Pitch" until you get two strikes, then press 1 "Swing Away". It increases base on balls.

[Bears5122]

Originally Posted by Michael Xavier

When hitting, hit 2 "Take Pitch" until you get two strikes, then press 1 "Swing Away". It increases base on balls.

Wouldn't it increase strikeouts as well?

[Michael Xavier]

Originally Posted by Bears5122

Wouldn't it increase strikeouts as well?

Yep.

[Mr. Marlin]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Why should I need to prove anything? If you contend that playing without ratings is more difficult, back it up with something tangible... something other than "I say so". Otherwise, my point stands.

OK, at the risk of going OT this Stats Only thing has driven you nuts for years. I'm really curious why? When you get right down to it it's just a difference of opinion on how to play the game. I'd say it's no different than eschewing 3D for broadcast mode when playing out games. Only that doesn't bother anyone.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here. I'm really curious.