[Charley575]

Put me down as one who was just fine with the old PbP. Yeah, after awhile, you could tell what the outcome of the play was going to be right away, but that was okay with me. I used to get through a game in 20 minutes. Now it's more like an hour, what with the pitch at a time mode and the endless lines of text. Don't get me wrong, I like the new pitch at a time mode, and I don't mind if it takes a little longer to play out a game. However, I feel that for the next version, PbP needs to be "tightened up". What irritates me the most, apart from stupid things like doubles on grounders up the middle, is the zillion lines of text that I have to read just find out if the pitch is ball, or a strike. An example:

Johnson is on the mound
He grabs the rosin bag
Adjusts himself
Spits
Gets the sign
Gets another sign
Anybody want some non-existent beer?
It's out of the park!
Ha! Fooled you! We're just talking about the beer, which does not exist.
Don't forget to listen to our non-existent award winning pre game show, which does not exist.
He pitches
It's popped up
On the infield
Schmellyburger comes over for a look
But it's in the stands
Some kid grabbed it.
He has himself a baseball.
As if you care.
You're sleeping aren't you?
Hey!
Wake up!
And when you do, don't forget to tune in to our non-existent post game show with J.J. Dricoll-Meyers Squibb!
The count is 0-1
...press any key to continue...

This has been exaggerated for comedic effect, but not a lot, and that's the problem. Personally, I would prefer the following:

Johnson winds and deals
It's a fastball at the knees for a strike.
The count is 0-1.
...press any key to continue...

...and save the story telling for when something actually happens. Even then, though, it should be brief. I suggest two rules in PbP script:

Rule #1. Have a point.

Rule #2. Get to the point.

"Cute" text, advertisements for things that don't exist, and overly elaborate story telling are nice novelties for awhile but when you play every game out, as I do, it gets old fast. And when my pitcher is getting lit up and my team's bats are stone cold, it gets old that much faster.

Since I'm on a roll, here are some other things about the PbP I can live without:

1. The diving catcher play. You've all seen this one, right. The ball is popped up, the catcher dives for it, it's in the glove, he hits the ground hard, the ball pops out, and golly gee, wasn't that a nice try? I've become certain of three things in life: death, taxes, and I will see this play at least once per game.

2. This is a big one. STOP TRYING TO FOOL ME. You can't. Okay? No matter how much "variety" is put into the PbP, players who play out every game will catch on eventually. With the current version, for example, if it's smashed, bashed, belted, crushed, jolted, blasted, or towering, it's an out. ALMOST always. Trying to make the outcome of the play "mysterious" to the player does not work in the end, and you just end up with really dumb sounding PbP. The flip side of the above example is that when it is a home run the call starts out really dull:

Here's a fly ball to right
(yawn)
Skydmaark drifts over.
He looks up.
It's gone!

Give me a break. Enough of this already. Don't try to fool me.

3. Foul territory is apparently everywhere. Anyone else noticing that a lot of balls are somehow "finding" foul territory, even in places like "on the infield", or after they have spun to a stop?

...here's the swing.
It's a dribbler.
It spins to a stop near home plate.
A tough play for Tony "Mayor McCheese" Mckensie.
But it rolls foul.

4. If nobody ever gets thrown out, why argue? Players and coaches occasionally argue with umpires. Why? This is more unnecessary text. Either reinstate the possibility for people to be thrown out or get rid of the arguements.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point.