Historical Schedule or Fictional Schedule

[Elysian Fields]

Has anyone tried to play a 162 game season starting from 1871? Is this not recommended, you think, due to the limited number of pitchers available at the time?

I'm unhappy with the schedule generator and don't really want to edit a smaller game schedule again, maybe like a 70 or 78 game schedule. I hate that it the generator can't spread the season out from April-September/October.

How do you guys deal with the schedule with the in game fictional historical teams from 1871-1900?

[scott1964]

I did not have any troubles using the schedule that created. 30 games the first I believe and then 40 until 1882.

[ImTheCrew]

The thing I hate about short seasons is the stats part, say babe Ruth is in the inaugural draft he'd miss out on a lot of home runs

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by scott1964

I did not have any troubles using the schedule that created. 30 games the first I believe and then 40 until 1882.

Yeah, that's the thing... I would like to play a longer season. I can take the time to make a 70 plus game schedule... and think that can work. I wonder if a 162 game season is not possible.

Set it up where there is a 3 man rotation or something, low fatigue etc.... low injuries to keep the players healthy.

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by ImTheCrew

The thing I hate about short seasons is the stats part, say babe Ruth is in the inaugural draft he'd miss out on a lot of home runs

I agree.

[swampdragon]

Originally Posted by Elysian Fields

Yeah, that's the thing... I would like to play a longer season. I can take the time to make a 70 plus game schedule... and think that can work. I wonder if a 162 game season is not possible.

Set it up where there is a 3 man rotation or something, low fatigue etc.... low injuries to keep the players healthy.

The real schedules, although every team didn't play the same number of games until 1877, were:

1871: 25-33
1872: high 40s
1873: 60
1874: 70
1875: 80ish
1876: 70
1877-78: 60
1879-81: 84

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by swampdragon

The real schedules, although every team didn't play the same number of games until 1877, were:

1871: 25-33
1872: high 40s
1873: 60
1874: 70
1875: 80ish
1876: 70
1877-78: 60
1879-81: 84

Thanks for this. I'm aware of the early league schedules. I'm just wondering if the game can handle having these plaeyrs play a longer schedule. What do you think?

[swampdragon]

The game can't handle it unless you create enough pitchers for two man rotations. The pitchers will become exhausted any time they have to pitch three days in a row or four games in five days. They can't handle the historic National Association schedules for that reason. 162 game schedules would have them pitching six days a week when 3-4 is the practical limit. 84 is just about as far as you can go, and that's a stretch. By 1879 when the 84 game schedules were introduced, all of the teams had a change pitcher in addition to the regular starter. At 84 games in OOTP, you'll have to use that extra pitcher a little more than he was actually used.

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by swampdragon

The game can't handle it unless you create enough pitchers for two man rotations. The pitchers will become exhausted any time they have to pitch three days in a row or four games in five days. They can't handle the historic National Association schedules for that reason. 162 game schedules would have them pitching six days a week when 3-4 is the practical limit. 84 is just about as far as you can go, and that's a stretch. By 1879 when the 84 game schedules were introduced, all of the teams had a change pitcher in addition to the regular starter. At 84 games in OOTP, you'll have to use that extra pitcher a little more than he was actually used.

So as long as you go to a 2 man or more rotation it would work okay? I'm not interested in duplicating exactly what happened, as in a one man rotation with a second or third guy pitching every once in a while or taking the other guy's place for days on end. I'd like to have a modernish system applied to the 19th century to allow for more games, but not necessarily creating too many fictional players, although I'm not totally averse to that.

What I've been trying to do is to start with a 72 or 78 game season in 1871 using a two man rotation since each team can draft at least 3 pitchers in the inaugural draft, 2 SPs and 1 MR. I think this can work, I just hate having to edit my hand a season long schedule.

[swampdragon]

I think you'd be OK with that number of games and a 2 man rotation. You'll have to create or clone and rename some pitchers. There's no reason other than lifetime stats why the 1871 Boston Red Stockings can't have a rotation of Al Spalding and Joe Spalding.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Elysian Fields

What I've been trying to do is to start with a 72 or 78 game season in 1871 ...

At three games per week, a 26-week season would involve 78 games played by each club. That's actually fairly close to how long the 1871-75 NA and 1876 NL seasons lasted in terms of calendar length.

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

At three games per week, a 26-week season would involve 78 games played by each club. That's actually fairly close to how long the 1871-75 NA and 1876 NL seasons lasted in terms of calendar length.

This is right. I'm working on editing a schedule to match something like this up. Although I realize now they didn't play all the way to October, but that's okay. 3 games a week for 26 weeks is a nice season for 8 teams. And will nicely go up to 154 when the league expands to 16 teams.

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by swampdragon

I think you'd be OK with that number of games and a 2 man rotation. You'll have to create or clone and rename some pitchers. There's no reason other than lifetime stats why the 1871 Boston Red Stockings can't have a rotation of Al Spalding and Joe Spalding.

What about a two-man rotation of Al Spalding and Ed Cushman or Al Spalding and Candy Cummings? If they don't ever get pulled from a game, two non-fictional players should be able to handle a whole season, with at least 1 middle relief guy like Asa Brainard spelling them every once in a while.

I'll try it out and see.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Elysian Fields

Although I realize now they didn't play all the way to October, but that's okay.

Actually, some teams did. In 1871, the first game played in the National Association was on May 4; the last, October 30. In 1872, the first game was played on April 18; the last, October 31. 1873: April 14 and November 1. 1874: April 16; November 1. 1875: April 19; October 30. In 1876, the first National League game was on April 22; the last, October 21.

[Elysian Fields]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Actually, some teams did. In 1871, the first game played in the National Association was on May 4; the last, October 30. In 1872, the first game was played on April 18; the last, October 31. 1873: April 14 and November 1. 1874: April 16; November 1. 1875: April 19; October 30. In 1876, the first National League game was on April 22; the last, October 21.

Huh... I didn't know that about the early leagues. They really spread their season out. I was thinking of the Major League schedule about the time Babe Ruth was playing and the season ended in early September. I think I'm right about that. I think that is what Baseball Reference.

Never mind... I was looking at the shortened 1918 season list of box scores. Duh.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Elysian Fields

Huh... I didn't know that about the early leagues. They really spread their season out.

In terms of games against league opponents, yes. But it should be remembered that clubs back then played a lot of games against teams not in the league.

Originally Posted by Elysian Fields

I was thinking of the Major League schedule about the time Babe Ruth was playing and the season ended in early September.

154 games over 24 or 25 weeks, depending on the year. Basically, mid-April to late September/early October.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Actually, some teams did. In 1871, the first game played in the National Association was on May 4; the last, October 30. In 1872, the first game was played on April 18; the last, October 31. 1873: April 14 and November 1. 1874: April 16; November 1. 1875: April 19; October 30. In 1876, the first National League game was on April 22; the last, October 21.

LGO do you know of any OOTP schedules that spread the games over the season, reason being I'm working on a fictional league thats in a fairly big country but no long distance flights in fact no planes big enough to carry a team. Anyway teams wouldn't be able to play everyday so was looking for a schedule to fit in.