Tagged: Baseball sims
NEW 8th Edition game charts add catcher pitch framing and revised Injury chart
The New Final 8th Edition game charts are now available and shipping for DYNASTY League Baseball.
New Umpire chart catcher pitch framing result
Umpire chart # 16-24 has been updated in the 8th Edition game charts to reflect a catcher’s pitch framing ability in addition to his ability to handle pitchers and call a game as part of the catcher’s handling rating. This gives more weight to a catcher’s defense. The perfect place to incorporate catcher’s pitch framing is in the #16-24 Umpire strike zone rating results on the Umpire charts.
The catcher pitch framing changes to the umpire chart are already included in DYNASTY League Baseball Online.
New updated and revised INJURY chart
Durability A results remain unchanged.
Durability B results are revised to reflect an increase in frequency and duration of injuries while still having the same 10 day maximum injury length. These changes will help to further replicate position players who played in 140-155 games and did not go on either the 15 or 60 day DL. Durability B Pitchers will reflect an increase in minor injuries and injuries that require extended rest.
Durability B, C, D and F have more results for the new MLB 7 day DL while removing the old 21 day DL.
Durability F now has #40-74 resulting in 60 day DL injury – a significant increase over the previous #60-74 and helping to replicate the 60 day DL injury that all Durability F ratings are based on.
New CONTROL chart check for injury to pitcher
If pitcher is pitching on Low “reduced” Endurance (Starters on 3 day rest or Relievers pitching in 2nd or 3rd consecutive day) there is a new injury check when rolling on the UMPIRE chart result if you are referred to the CONTROL chart. This injury check fits in perfectly with a wild pitch, passed ball or blocked pitch in the dirt and will help to regulate IP by providing a deterrent to pitching starting pitchers extensively on 3 days rest. It will also help to regulate relievers from being overused.
New Umpire? chart “Tired Situation” result line injury check
If you roll 514-540 and the pitcher is “tired”, use the yellow tired situation walk result and then check for injury to pitcher. This new rule will help prevent abuse of pitchers when “tired” in blow out games.
There are several new rule changes in the new 2016 DYNASTY League Baseball Official Rulebook. Next MLB.com blog post will detail these changes.
Tales of the Dark Night: Impressions of New 2015 Season Player Cards
Among DYNASTY League Baseball fans there is a love affair with JAM and CLUTCH ratings and why not? Among other things, JAM ratings can turn a HOME RUN off the batters card into a “Deep Drive?” which requires a check of the Ball Park chart to determine how many feet the Deep Drive was hit adjusted by weather effects and how well the ball carries to potentially turn a sure HOME RUN into a Warning Track Out.
The Dark Night earned a JAM rating with a solid performance with RSP/2 outs (.213 BA/.230 SLG). Matt Harvey also didn’t miss by much in earning an OFF situation rating (turns a WALK on the hitters card into a “Foul?” requiring a check of the foul territory to determine if it is a foul out or foul ball strike), which I feel is overlooked and undervalued by many DYNASTY League Baseball players. After all, a lead off walk scores on average 38% of the time and results in .905 runs after the walk. Pitchers who walk the lead off man have in essence a 8.15 ERA in that inning. Thanks to John Dewan of Baseball Info Solutions (John and I played a 1983 White Sox vs. 1982 Brewers DYNASTY League Baseball Online game last year), you can read just how much impact lead off walks have and why the OFF situation rating was so important to have in DYNASTY League Baseball to simulate pitchers ERA in MLB.
We all remember Mark McGwire and some of his gargantuan HOME RUN result range #, but how about Giancarlo Stanton and a HOME RUN range of 131-250 vs. LH? WOW! Comparatively McGwire in 1998 had a HOME RUN range of 117-185 vs. LH in a year in which he hit 70 HR. Keep in mind that each DYNASTY League Baseball season is normalized for the league average. If you have not tried DYNASTY League Baseball Online yet, make sure you are not the last one on the planet – the Online version makes it really easy to have unprecedented access to any player card from the library of DYNASTY League Baseball seasons by clicking on “Series” and mousing over the player to see his player card.
The new DYNASTY League Baseball 7th Edition game charts makes the pitcher pickoff rating just that much more impactful. So which starting pitcher has the best pickoff rating in the 2015 season? Look no further than NL pickoff leader Clayton Kershaw (10) who earned a pickoff rating of 9 to go along with an “A” Hold frequency and a (-2) success rate Hold rating.
Another overlooked rating is the Error rating. Yes, the sabermetric community has known since 1982 that a fielders range is more important than his fielding pct., but fielding pct. still DOES matter. If you want ugly take a look at Pedro Alvarez and his “5” Error rating at 1b which is rock bottom on the 5-100 Error rating scale. Throw in a D range rating and you can see why he is looking for another position. For more ugliness check out ss Marcus Semien (C+/20). On the flip side, there is Joe Panik who earned a historically great “100” Error rating at 2b to go along with C+ Range and a very good (-5) DP Pivot rating. One of the ratings that I really wrestled with was Matt Carpenter’s Range rating. Carpenter’s BIS Plus Minus (-10) was right at the bottom for 3b along with players like the rapidly expanding Pablo Sandoval. The scouting reports were also none too favorable. I cross checked the rating with St. Louis Post Dispatch beat writer extraordinaire and BBWAA President Derrick Goold who felt Carpenter had average range at best. I couldn’t get past ranking at the bottom of the trailers in +/- and Carpenter’s player card was branded with a D Range rating.
Lead by A.J. Pollock, Arizona was one of the best fielding teams in 2015. Pollock not only fielded well (A/85/0), but was Durable (A), hit in the clutch and can run (Lead: 5/4/2), (Steal: 7/5/3). Emerging Mookie Betts with a BR Gain of (+24) earned an “8” Baserunning rating. In the turtle category, a slowing Miguel Cabrera (-22) received a “3” BR rating.
The Citi Field walls were moved in and those changes are reflected in the new 2015 season ball park charts along with a new high resolution image on both the DYNASTY League Baseball Board version ball park charts and in DYNASTY League Baseball Online.
The Best Baseball simulation for Apple Mac, iPad and Windows. The Leader in Realism.
DYNASTY League Baseball Powered By Pursue the Pennant is available for Apple Mac OS in Safari or Chrome browser.
DYNASTY League Baseball Powered By Pursue the Pennant allows you to join the only true multi-player baseball simulation leagues that allow you to manage live vs. friends head to head or vs. computer manager and updates stats, standings and leaders in real time. No need to export/import files to a central Commissioner. Play live head to head games in one click of the JOIN game button. Operation Sports review and screen shots here.
Season Replay Leagues can be played both solitaire or multi-player
Private Draft Leagues can be played multi-player with your friends.
Public Greatest Team Leagues can be played multi-player.
Series can be played solitaire or vs. a friend.
The new Unity client for DYNASTY League Baseball Powered By Pursue the Pennant is now available! You can now play in Mac OS with Safari, Chrome or Windows OS with Chrome, Firefox or Edge Chromium as well as Chromebook. iPad app coming spring of 2020.
You can find a free month of DYNASTY League Baseball Powered By Pursue the Pennant here.
DYNASTY League Baseball Tour Tournament event Petco Park September 5-6
Thank you to all of the great fans of Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY League Baseball for 31 fantastic fun years of playing!
Petco Park
Some of the history of Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY League Baseball is captured at the DYNASTY League Baseball reviews and feature link
We are celebrating 31 years of Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY League Baseball during the Petco Park Tour Tournament Express September 5-6.
Your invitation to this amazing event is right here! We have had some of our biggest tour tournament participation in California.
The Petco Park Tour Tournament leads off Saturday September 5 from Union Station in Los Angeles, CA at 8:30 AM where we will board Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner which travels on the shores of the Pacific Ocean to San Diego. You can join us at the stop in Anaheim or from north of Los Angeles via Metrolink connections in Oxnard into Union Station.
Pacific Coastliner
If you live in the San Diego area there is an opportunity to join us on Saturday, September 5-6 for the Tour of Petco Park, Greatest Teams bracket tournament and Dodgers vs. Padres games.
All of you native Padres fans we want you to join our group coming from Los Angeles!
If you live in other parts of the country please contact us so we can help you connect into Los Angeles.
Our Greatest Teams Board version tournament will allow you to select from any of the great teams. I’ll be on the tour tournament event and will be skippering the 1985 Cardinals. You’ll have your chance to play me with your favorite greatest team as well as all the other fans on the trip which will be some of the top competition.
Our Greatest Team Tournament will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt right next to Petco Park – the same hotel the Los Angeles Dodgers will be staying at so you may ride the elevator with Clayton Kershaw and Don Mattingly.
On Saturday September 5 we’ll head out to Petco Park for a 12:30 PM tour. On your behind-the-scenes ballpark tour of sensational Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, you will get to go places only the players and staff go including:
Petco Park Dugout Tour
The Field Warning Track
The Dugouts
Indoor Batting Cages
The Visitors’ Clubhouse
The Press Box
The Luxury Suite
A Bullpen
Ballpark Features and Views including the Western Metal Supply Building
Western Metal Supply
After our afternoon tournament action, our group will see the Dodgers battle the Padres at Petco Park at 5:40 PM
At the league page there are links to recaps of previous tour tournaments which have some incredible stories to be told.
Petco Park Itinerary:
Saturday, September 5
Dp Los Angeles, CA 8:30 AM Union Station Pacific Surfliner
Dp Anaheim, CA 9:09 AM Artic Station
Petco Park Tournament on Pacific Surfliner
Ar San Diego, CA 11:22 AM
Petco Park Tour 12:30 PM
Petco Park Tournament 2:00 PM
Dodgers at Padres 5:40 PM Petco Park
Petco Park Tournament 9:00 PM
Sunday, September 6
Dodgers at Padres 1:10 PM
Dp San Diego, CA 6:45 PM Pacific Surliner
Ar Anaheim, CA 9:04 PM
Ar Los Angeles, CA 9:45 PM
Petco Park Express Tour Tournament includes:
– Greatest Teams tournament
Team selections are at this MLB.com News Blog:
https://mlblogsdynastyleaguebaseball.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/fenwaydugout096-thumb-400×271-11505911.jpgarchives/2009/04/new_greatest_teams_tournament.html
– Round trip rail fare
– One night Manchester Grand Hyatt (same hotel the Los Angeles Dodgers will be staying at)
– Tour of Petco Park
– Two Tickets to Padres vs. Dodgers September 5-6.
Double occupancy: $399
Triple occupancy $369
Tour, Tournament and Games only on September 5-6 for local DYNASTY League Baseball fans in the San Diego area: $197
Space is limited…
Team selections on first come basis.
Deadline for reservations is Monday June 15, 2015
Call 561-494-2711 or email orders@designdepot.com
See you in September!
– Mike
The First Sabermetric Baseball Simulation was NOT Strat O Matic
Joe Posnanski is one of the best baseball and sabermetric writers. He recently wrote
a new blog post “Things I learned from Strat-O-Matic”, but what might Joe have
learned playing Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY League Baseball?
Back in the spring of 1985 (this is the 30th Anniversary), Pursue the Pennant debuted
as the “First Sabermetric Baseball Simulation”. Yes, SOM and APBA were the first
baseball board games, but they were designed decades before the baseball world was
enlightened by the sabermetric teachings found in Bill James Baseball Abstracts and
John Thorn and Pete Palmer’s book “The Hidden Game”. When I designed Pursue the
Pennant from 1981-1984, Bill James had just come out with his first Baseball Abstract.
My goal was to design the first sabermetric baseball simulation that incorporated as
many of Bill James insights as possible.
Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY League Baseball are most well known for their
detailed ball park effects. Joe’s Lesson #3 is that “Ball Parks matter”. Those new
SOM diamond symbols that were introduced in 1986 were a clumsy knee jerk reaction
by SOM to Pursue the Pennant’s ball park effects. In Glenn Guzzo’s Strat-O-Matic
Fanatics book he devotes part of a chapter to Pursue the Pennant and even SOM game
designer Hal Richman acknowledges that Pursue the Pennant is a more realistic game
than Strat-O-Matic. DYNASTY League Baseball has seven different outfield locations
for “Deep Drive” results. Play results are determined in feet so a 340 foot drive down
the left field line at Fenway Park is a HR into Green Monster seats. “Robbed?” results
can occur depending on the wall height and the range rating of the outfielder. Deep
Drives off the Green Monster in left field are often singles that can be stretched into
doubles. In the deep triangle area in right-center a drive of 420-425 feet is a triple.
Weather effects also impact the ball park effects. The DYNASTY League Baseball
Weather charts use actual weather bureau data by region, month and day/night to
determine sky/temperature and wind direction and speed (Can you tell I love the
Weather Channel?). In the Summer months at Wrigley Field the wind often blows out.
When the wind is blowing out at 20-29 mph Deep Drives get a +20 foot boost to
distance traveled, which often makes the difference between a “HR into the basket” or
a ball caught on the warning track.
Pursue the Pennant was also the first simulation to incorporate foul territory, hitter
background visibility and infield surface conditions.
Joe’s Lesson #1 “You really need a defensive short stop with range” and states “but I
would argue that the thing that Hal got right before almost anyone else was how
baseball defense works.” Defensive range has always been difficult to measure, but
Bill James enlightened us about range factor and now we have other defensive metrics
like John Dewan’s Fielding Bible +/- which equates to defensive runs saved. Well here
is where SOM gets defensive range wrong Joe. SOM only has four grades 1-4 for rating
range. In 2014 Tulowitzki is rated “1” range in SOM (best rating possible). This means
on a historical scale Tulo’s 2014 range was as good as Ozzie Smith’s in his best years
according to SOM. Tulowitzki wasn’t even the ss with the best defensive range in
2014 (7 defensive runs saved compared to Andrelton Simmons 28). DYNASTY League
Baseball graded out Tulowitzki with “B” range in 2014.
DYNASTY League Baseball has defensive range ratings from A+ to F which gives eight possible range ratings and a far more realistic defensive spectrum with all defensive ratings in DYNASTY League Baseball based on a historical scale.
Then there is the visualization and different types of range plays. In SOM you go to an obtuse “X” chart. In DYNASTY League Baseball you go to a “Range” chart that has slow roller, smash up the middle, hot liner, high chopper, deep into the hole, drilled down the line range plays. All of the range plays have different outcomes that could be play results like diving stop, bang bang play and gets thru and further divided into different surfaces for grass and artificial turf.
Joe’s Lesson #4 “Clutch hitting is baloney”. First off, I am well aware of “The Hidden Game’s” study of clutch hitting and trying to determine if it is a skill. I am not sure that is the right question. The right question should be “Do hitters change their approach in a clutch situation – especially in high leverage clutch situations such as when there are RSP/2 outs? I am convinced a few players in a given season are able to change their approach with RSP/2 outs. Part of this is being able to “quiet the mind” and often this is a learned approach that some of the games greatest hitters have developed over time. Case in point is Paul Molitor.
In Paul’s final season in 1998 he hit .393 with a SLG of .536 with RSP/2. In reverse order here is Molitor’s BA and SLG with RSP/2 preceded by Age/Season:
41 1998 .393/.536
40 1997 .257/.378
39 1996 .354/.512
38 1995 .250/.250
37 1994 .340/.547
36 1993: .367/.494
35 1992: .279/.361
34 1991: .338/.529
33 1990: .341/.477
32 1989: .302/.453
31 1988: .300/.350
30 1987 .383/.617
29 1986 .400/.540
28 1985 .278/.333
27 1984 .333/.333 (small sample size – injured with only 6 AB)
26 1983 .200/.262
25 1982 .299/.469
24 1981 .250/.438
23 1980 .235/.324
22 1979 .243/.392
21 1978 .259/.481
Around age 29 Molitor started to figure out how to approach RSP/2 situations
differently. With the exception of 1997 (injured) and 1995 (strike in which he was
heavily involved and distracted as one of the union heads involved in negotiations
with the owners) he not only hit well in those situations, but thrived. Compare this
with ages 21-28 when he struggled with RSP/2.
DYNASTY League Baseball was the first simulation to categorize elite clutch hitting
performances in a given season and display their impact on overall runs scored and
wins.
DYNASTY League Baseball was also the first simulation to identify the three most
important situations for pitchers and those unique pitchers that thrive in those
situations. Pitching out of a jam and the JAM rating are awarded to those pitchers
who demonstrate pitching extremely well with RSP/2 outs. Pitchers who rarely give up
a lead off walk are awarded to OFF ratings – Curt Schilling and Adam Wainwright are
great examples of pitchers who understand how important it is not to allow a lead off
walk. Jim Palmer never gave up a grand slam HR and it is pitchers like him that are
awarded the ON rating for reducing the ratio of HR allowed with runners on base
compare to HR allowed with the bases empty.
I am just scratching the surface and the DYNASTY League Baseball game design page
goes into more detail on all the realistic nuances, but my point is that if you really
want to learn about baseball nuances from a sabermetric view point, DYNASTY League
Baseball “the leader in realism” is the answer to the question.
So Joe, when is our DYNASTY League Baseball Online game match-up?
2014 season DYNASTY League Baseball preview: Torii! Torii! Torii!
Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan’s comments about Torii Hunter’s range
in Mike Berardino’s St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch column point out why
DYNASTY League Baseball takes the time to research many of it’s player ratings
instead of relying strictly on formulas. I had struggled with what range rating to
assign Hunter. Hunter’s range factor just nipped the extreme bottom of the (C+)
historical scale, but he ranked rock bottom among all MLB rf with a BIS Plus/Minus of
(-28).
Originally I had Hunter at (C) range, but could not get past ranking rock bottom in +/-
and rating below average in acceleration (38 on a scale of 0-100), reaction instincts
(45), velocity (44) and hands (41) in the Tango Tiger scouting poll. I ended up
downgrading Hunter to (D) range (rf: D/60/0), but it was very interesting to have
Terry Ryan come out with his comments on defensive metrics and how Twins scouts
rated Hunter”adequate”. It is one of those “grey” ratings that really could have gone
either way and I am sure MLB organizations would each rate Hunter a bit differently
as well depending on how much weight they want to give to their scouts vs. the defensive
metrics.
Beradino’s column leads off pointing out Kurt Suzuki’s poor pitch framing (-19.8 RAA)
and it is one of the most important stats that goes into a catcher’s Handling rating.
Suzuki ranked as the 4th worst catcher in pitch framing relegating him to a (D)
catcher Handling rating (c: B/85/0/A/D).
Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post Dispatch is one of if not the best MLB beat
writer. Derrick is also a DYNASTY League Baseball player and we hope to have a new
Bird Land tournament in 2015. Here is how Derrick answered my cross checking
question on Jhonny Peralta’s range.
MC: I remember when Peralta was signed last year Mo said they had him as having
average range which is how I graded him last year as well (C). This year Peralta had
almost an identical range factor to 2013, but his BIS plus minus jumped to an
excellent level. Thoughts?
DG: All about the positioning. He doesn’t have the greatest range but he puts himself
in a good place and doesn’t flub the routine plays. True arm. Smart player.
Peralta (ss: B/85/-5) fielding line: Range/Error/DP pivot
(-5) DP pivot is excellent in DYNASTY League Baseball. Peralta ranked 2nd in the NL
in DP pivot (0.645) behind Andrelton Simmons (ss: A/80/-5) who also was awarded a
(-5) DP pivot rating.
J.J. Hardy had another solid defensive season in 2014 +/- (3) with a fielding line of
(ss: B/80/-5). Tango poll had Hardy’s reaction/instincts at 86.
Toronto’s Anthony Gose (cf: A/85/-1) was rated by Blue Jays broadcaster Mike Wilner
as “Among the best defensive cf I’ve EVER seen.”
Gose’s defensive metrics were above average, but not eye poping RF (2.65), +/- (3).
Wilner and the Tango poll (88 velocity, 82 acceleration) prevailed in bumping Gose to
(A) range.
Another “grey” rating was David Freese and his (Clutch) rating. Freese only had 55 RBI which is a very low number to qualify for consideration of being awarded a Clutch hitting rating. In the end I liked Freese’s .291 BA/.491 SLG with RSP/2 outs enough to give him a Clutch hitting rating and because he was such a border line case his playoff history including a deceptively good .500 SLG in the ALDS was an additional stat I looked at. Freese probably does not get a Clutch hitting rating in a season with a higher run environment.
An easy Clutch hitting rating to award was Giancarlo Stanton with his .340 BA/.620 SLG with RSP/2. Terror!
Anaheim’s Hector Santiago has a 10 pickoff rating for his Pickoff/Hold (10/C+(-1)) on the basis of 6 pickoffs.
Looking for a pitcher that is tough to run on? Try Dallas Keuchel (2/A+(-4)). Keuchel posted just one of 16 seasons in which a pitcher allowed only one SB with 200 or more IP since 2002 (no one has allowed zero).
Clayton Kershaw has Situation: jam/off to go along with Range: (A+) and Endurance: (35). The rare baserunner that reaches (#963-969 vs. RH are the only WALK’s on his player card) has to face Kershaw’s Pickoff/Hold: 5/A (-1).
Washington’s Aaron Barrett:
Error: 25
Balk: D
Wild Pitch: F
Enough said.
St. Louis’ Justin Masterson is one of the more extreme GB pitchers with 1.5 DP/9 and
(#614-715) vs. LH Hard Ground Out.
There was one significant change to the 2014 season ball park charts. Comerica Park now had increased triple ranges in lc, cf and rc. You will also find updated ball park images.
You can find the new 2014 season for the DYNASTY League Baseball Board version at
the Ticket Window and at the new DYNASTY League Baseball Online site.
What is new in the recently released 7th Edition DYNASTY League Baseball game charts?
The new 7th Edition game charts for the Board version game have just been released and are now included in each new Board version game at the Ticket Window store replacing the 6th Edition game charts. The 7th Edition game charts revisions and updates are now live at DYNASTY League Baseball Online for both Windows and Apple Mac OS. 
If you have already pre-ordered the new 2014 season player card set, you can add the new 7th Edition game charts to your existing order and save on the S&H just by including “add to 2014 season player card order” in the comments section at the Ticket Window. So what is new in the 7th Edition game charts?
New 7th Edition DYNASTY League Baseball game charts
ATTEMPT CHART revisions: It is now much more difficult for a player with a Lead 1 rating to get a “Good Jump – attempts” result especially vs. pitchers with C, D and F Hold ratings. There also is a much greater chance of a “Pickoff pitcher?” result occurring vs. pitchers with C, D and F Hold ratings. Now when you try go to the ATTEMPT CHART, trying to steal vs. a pitcher like 2013 Jordan Walden Atlanta with a Pickoff 5, Hold F/+4 rating not only is it much more likely that a Lead 1 basestealer will not get a “Good Jump – attempts” result, but Walden’s Pickoff 5 rating will come into play much more often resulting in more pickoffs. The net effect is that Lead 1 rated players attempting to steal do so much more at their own peril – potentially getting picked off much more often and also finding it much more difficult to get a “Good Jump – attempts” result vs. C, D and F Hold rated pitchers. BIZARRE PLAY CHART revisions: There are a total of 18 new BIZARRE PLAY chart number range revisions. One of the changes is for #161-209 which now reads: “If a pitcher has a high pitch outing and has reached his adjusted Endurance rating or exceeded it or has D or F Durability, check for injury to pitcher.” MLB organizations are increasingly wary of high pitch counts for pitchers and the risk of injury. The much greater number range for this play result and subsequent frequency of occurrence reflects that. The much higher number range for this play result is also much more of a deterrent for managers who “sacrifice” a pitcher to rest the bullpen – now there is a much greater chance of injury for doing this. Pitchers with D and F Durability were added to this play result to increase the likelihood that they would be injured in any given season and that even in short season it would be less likely to “escape” the season with a D or F Durability pitcher uninjured. The odds increased from a 1:50 chance of this play occurring to a 1:20 chance on a BIZARRE PLAY CHART roll. New #637-654:
Pitcher with F Wild Pitch rating... WP takes crazy hop off backstop away from catcher. Runners may try to take an extra base by going to BASERUNNER ADVANCEMENT chart. Pitcher with A-D Wild Pitch rating... One hopper hit back to the mound (DP?)
WEATHER CHART revisions: The new 7th Edition Weather charts have updated temperature for the retractable roof ball parks in Arizona and Miami. STEAL CHART revision: STEAL RATING ADJUSTMENTS: Strikeout on hit & run -3. BUNT CHART revision: It is now more difficult to successfully execute a squeeze play especially with the Infield In. There are three new tweaks to the BUNT chart: Strikeout? (Increased range of #) Sacrifice Hit (Decreased range of #) Beat Out? INFIELDER IN: -4 Lead Runner? INFIELDER IN: -4 Strikeout? SO/9 chart Increased range of # for Missed Bunt Decreased range of # for SH
Twitter Sports Geoff Reiss talks about his draft league experience with DYNASTY League Baseball
Twitter Sports Geoff Reiss joined the DYNASTY League Baseball Online Sunday Night Baseball League this spring and shares his experiences of being in a Baseball simulation draft league. Geoff previously held positions with ESPN as SVP/GM.
Q: DYNASTY League Baseball and it’s predecessor Pursue the Pennant are
celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. How did you originally find
out about Pursue the Pennant and what are your recollections of playing theoriginal Board game version?
Geoff Reiss:
I was on a business trip to the Milwaukee area – must have been the summer of 1988 – and found PTP in a store called Hobby Horse at Brookfield Square. As soon as I played the game I was hooked – it was more nuanced than any thing I’d seen at the time.
Q: At Starwave you helped originate the first real time server based online
Fantasy Baseball Leagues for ESPN.com. How would you compare your
experience playing Fantasy Baseball with that of a DYNASTY League Baseball
Online simulation Draft league?
Geoff Reiss:
The experiences are really very different. With the exception of higher-end keeper leagues most fantasy leagues don’t involve the long-term roster considerations that are in play in Dynasty. Player values in fantasy are more fluid while in Dynasty they’re far more absolute. You also don’t get the fun of real head to head competition. They’re both a lot of fun and highly complimentary
Q: What are your favorite aspects of game play in DYNASTY League Baseball Online?
Geoff Reiss:
I wasn’t well prepared for this year’s draft so that will be more fun next year. I really enjoy figuring out the moment- to-moment aspects of managing a game. Everything from trying to create the best batter/pitcher matchups to managing your bullpen, planning rest – it’s all a lot of fun
Target Field Night screen shot
Q: DYNASTY League Baseball Online is the first and only real time Baseball
simulation that allows you to play and manage your series live as well as
the option to have the computer manager profile play the series for you.
What are your thoughts on how well the real time experience works and the appeal?
Geoff Reiss:
Live is great and there’s nothing like it. Though sabremetrics has helped redefine what we think of as “the book” no two people think exactly the same way and playing an opponent live really adds an element of surprise to almost every series.
Q: Do you find yourself watching or following other live league games in our league as they are being played live?
Geoff Reiss: not really. I’m super-busy and barely have time to play my own games. I suppose if I’m in the hunt later in the year I might do some scoreboard watching
Q: The DYNASTY League Baseball Official Draft League rules are actually the
Official Rotisserie League rules adapted for Baseball simulations. What are
some of the GM strategy differences that you have experienced playing in a
DYNASTY League Baseball Online Draft league compared to Fantasy Baseball?
Geoff Reiss:
I’m still new to the sim side so I’ll have to see how applicable my long-term fantasy experience is. Grabbing players early in their career and on the cheap is a prime tenant of all forms of success in baseball and is no different here. Grabbing an emerging player and controlling him at a great price is a huge part of this, and real baseball. As we approach the trading deadline figuring out if I’m a buyer or seller will be an interesting excercise
Q: Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY League Baseball have always been known for
their high level of realism incorporating many subtle nuances of Baseball
that Bill James first popularized in his Baseball Abstracts. What realistic
aspects of DYNASTY League Baseball separate it from other Baseball simulations?
Miller Park Night screen shot
Geoff Reiss:
From the first time I played the board version of PTP I loved how nuanced the game is. I immediately – and still do – appreciate the greater depth in fielding ratings, park factors and things like bullpen warm-ups that add a ton of realism.
Q: I’ve had several Broadcast, Media and Front Office MLB people tell me
that they learned a tremendous amount about Baseball and each player¹s
strengths and weaknesses from playing both Pursue the Pennant and DYNASTY
League Baseball. Have you had a similar experience and what have you learned?
Geoff Reiss:
Bill James once wrote that he didn’t think a major league manager should get hired until he played some crazy number of simulations and I’d have to agree. Playing this game has certainly rounded out my overall sense of many of these players
Q: One of the things you mentioned when you joined our DYNASTY League
Baseball Online SNBL was that you were not sure how many series you could
play live (as opposed to having the Computer manager profile manage your
series) because of your busy schedule. As it turns out, to date, you have
managed every series live. What makes being in a DYNASTY League Baseball
Draft league and live game play easier than what you expected?
Geoff Reiss:
My having played all of the series live probably speaks more to my being a control freak than anything else! I don’t think playing is any easier than I expected – I think I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would which has made it easier to make it a bigger priority.
Follow @MikeCieslinski
2013 season Clutch and JAM ratings preview
Clutch and JAM might be the DYNASTY League Baseball “glamour” situation ratings
because they get so much attention. While the OFF situation rating (pitchers who
rarely walk the lead off man) and ON situation rating (pitchers who rarely allow HR
with runners on base) may be overlooked, the Clutch and JAM ratings certainly are
front and center. One thing is sure; at the end of the game with RSP/2 outs you DO
want a pitcher with a JAM rating on the mound or a hitter with a Clutch rating in the
batters box.
With the new 2013 season DYNASTY League Baseball player cards set to debut in late November, here is a preview of a few of the stand out Clutch and JAM rated players coming in the 2013 season player card set.
Carlos Beltran continues to deliver in the Clutch.
Carlos Beltran just became the all-time leader in post season SLG and OPS. Beltran
also hit extremely well with RSP/2 outs during the regular season (.375 BA/.516 SLG).
Beltran wasn’t the only Cardinals to hit well in the clutch. The Cardinals posted the
best RSP ( .330) since 1974 and the best RSP/2 outs performance (.305 BA) in two
decades. Allan Craig was the best of the Cardinals flock absolutely hammering
pitchers with RSP/2 out (.448 BA/.672 SLG). Matt Holliday wasn’t far behind (.426
BA/.596 SLG).
NL RBI leader Paul Goldschmidt was dangerous with RSP/2 (.340 BA/.600 SLG) as was
runner up Freddie Freeman (.411 BA/.625 SLG).
AL RBI leader Chris Davis had a monster year for Baltimore and made his hits count
with RSP/2 (.362 BA/.759 SLG).
The best clutch performance by any MLB player in 2013 belongs to Miguel Cabrera
RSP/2 (.459 BA/.934 SLG). No, that is not a typo!
Robinson Cano (.412 BA/.667) and Nelson Cruz (.400 BA/.778 SLG) also devastated
pitchers with RSP/ 2 outs on their way to earning a “Clutch” hitting rating.
Let’s take a look at a couple of players who despite having 100 RBI’s or more didn’t
get a Clutch hitting rating:
Jay Bruce .173 BA/.333 SLG with RSP/2.
Mark Trumbo .195 BA/.377 SLG with RSP/2.
Another great young Cuban player emerged in 2013. Jose Fernandez shutdown batters
with RSP/ 2 outs at an amazing rate (.115 BA/.192 SLG). Now that is a pitcher that
can get out of a jam and certainly earned his DYNASTY League Baseball JAM situation
rating!
Right behind Fernandez at pitching out of a jam is Matt Harvey (.167 BA/.271 SLG).
In the AL, two rising Japanese stars dominated in JAM situations. Hishashi Iwakuma
(.111 BA/.222 SLG) and Yu Darvish (.145 BA/.232 SLG) were outstanding at pitching
out of a jam.
In the bullpen, Jim Leyland found his closer and did Joaquin Benoit ever deliver (.119
BA/.143 SLG) in RSP/2 out situations. Fredi Gonzalez had his own closing answer in
the NL. Craig Kimbrel was nearly untouchable in a jam situation (.115 BA/.154 SLG).
Despite 50 saves, one pitcher who fell short of a JAM rating was Jim Johnson.
Johnson’s (.250 BA/.292 SLG) with RSP/ 2 outs wasn’t quite good enough to earn a
JAM rating. In the NL, one of the biggest surprises not to get a JAM rating was Jason
Grilli. Grilli pitcher poorly in RSP/ 2 outs situations (.300 BA/.500 SLG).
David Ortiz on the wings of a terrific 2013 World Series earned a Clutch hitting rating. Often, Big Papi was walked, but when pitched to he was lethal.
In late November you will be able to learn the rest of the DYNASTY League Baseball
Clutch and JAM situation ratings!
The new 1975 season release: much more than one of the great World Series
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the 1975 season?
For most of us it is the great World Series that is revered as one of the best of all-time.
Yes, we remember Carlton Fisk waving his HR fair and trying to coax a 3-9 FAIR single
die roll on the Fenway Park left field line Deep Drive chart, but what things might you
not remember about the new DYNASTY League Baseball 1975 season player card set?
My baseball library includes all of the 1975 issues of The Sporting News and it was
fascinating researching through those issues while assigning the player ratings:
851. What does that number mean to San Francisco Giant fans? That was the actual
attendance for a game at wind blown Candlestick Park. Giant fans missed out on
seeing Bobby Murcer who was traded for Bobby Bonds to the Yankees. The left-
handed batting Murcer hit .315/D power vs. LH pitchers, but his fielding declined in rf:
C/65/0 (Range/Error/Throwing). It could have something to do with Candlestick Park
which Murcer hated. One of the resources I use in grading the player ratings from the
1970’s is a book called the Computerized Baseball Guide by the Compu Scout system.
The book is way ahead of it’s time and includes MLB scouts numerical grades of
players “tools” on a 1.0-5.0 scale. Murcer was rated 2.7 for his Range which is an
average-poor rating. The defensive metrics backed the scouts grades – Murcer’s 1975
rf Range factor of 1.48 is average at best.
Pedro Garcia. What do Brewer fans remember about Pedro Garcia? Pedro decided that
he didn’t want to field ground balls during infield practice so he just stood there and
let the balls go by. By the end of the season Pedro Garcia got suspended by the team
and manager Del Crandall was fired. Garcia earned an F Intangible rating and a HOT
temper rating on his 1975 player card.
George “the Boomer” Scott. George Scott lead the AL in HR (#162-212 vs. RH) AND
earned an A+/50 (Range/Error) ratings. Scott also wields a “Clutch hitting” rating
(.346 BA/.645 SLG) with RSP/2 outs – AND shark teeth around his neck. Talk about a
feared sight coming to the plate for the Brewers!
Randy Jones sinker baller. The Padres Randy Jones often threw his sinker ball at
speeds around 75 mph and was a master at inducing the GDP (#613-685 vs. RH) and
not walking batters – especially lead off batters (OFF rating). Looking at Jones player
card you’ll find he does just about everything well with “A” ratings for WP and BK and
“B+/75” (Range/Error) ratings.
Sinker baller Randy Jones will induce plenty of GDP for you.
Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium. The Twins decided to create their own mini-monster erecting an 8 foot green plywood fence 15 feet closer down the left field line and 20 feet closer in the left-center power alleys and center field. Larry Hisle was one of the Twin’s stars in his prime with a “7” Steal of 2nd rating to go along with (.323/B vs. LH, .308/B vs. RH). Hisle’s problem throughout his career was staying on the field
and 1975 typified this with his “F” Durability rating. The Pirates followed suit and also moved in the Three Rivers stadium fences in 1975. Old Yankee Stadium was still being renovated so the Yankees played in Shea Stadium.
Al “the Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky. As I am going through my Sporting News, I come across one issue that I remember very well. On the TSN cover is NL Fireman of the Year Al Hrabosky. Hrabosky was all the rage that year as he psyched himself up behind the mound, threw the ball in his glove and stomped onto the mound before and during each “performance”. I had traveled to St. Louis that year to see the Cardinals in St. Louis and took along this issue. I staked out my spot well before the game at Busch
Stadium in front of the Cardinals offices. The Mad Hungarian was very nice to me on his way inside the Busch Stadium offices and signed the TSN cover:
“Psyche Up!”
The Mad Hungarian
Definitely one of the coolest baseball memorabilia I have!
The Mad Hungarian’s 1975 season player card is as menacing as he looks. The left-handed Hrabosky allows a BA of only .189 vs. RH/.233 vs. LH and an ERA of 1.66. Hrabosky earned both a JAM (.190 BA RSP/2, .276 SLG RSP/2) and OFF rating (rarely issued lead off walk).
I hope you have as much fun playing with the new 1975 season as I had making it for you!
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