[Kaitiaki]

Suggestion

Add an (optional) Home Run Derby to take place on the same day as a league's All Star Game (MLB's HR Derby takes place the day before, but since OOTP allows for different lengths of All Star breaks, sticking the Derby on the same day as the AS Game would avoid possible scheduling 'conflicts').

Player selection for the Derby could occur in the same manner as the All Star Game itself: the user would have the option, in advance of the day, to manually select a handful of hitters to take part in the Derby, or the AI could select them if the user does not.

The Derby itself could occur in one of two ways, depending how much time/coding is deemed appropriate for the feature:

1. The 'easier' approach: when the Derby commences, have a screen pop up when simming that resembles a playoff bracket, with the participants listed. As the Derby is simmed, home run totals would appear beside each player's name in the same way that team wins appear when simming the postseason, with player elimination and progression occuring in the same fashion. This screen should of course be 'skippable', with an 'Finish Derby' option for those who don't want to watch it play out.

2. The 'harder' approach: the Derby could take place using the in-game screens, almost as if it were a regular game. This would allow for greater immersion and suspense, as each pitch and swing could be 'called' like they were part of a regular game. But this approach would require more effort, such as the creation of Derby-specific PbP text.

In either case, the performance engine behind the Derby should factor in each participant's Power rating, but with a considerable random adjustment built in, and the results calibrated so that 'realistic' HR totals are produced in the Derby (because the only thing thrown in the Derby are Batting Practice fastballs, players obviously hit HRs at a far higher rate during the Derby than they do during a regular game situation).

Reason

MLB's Home Run Derby before the All Star Game each year has evolved into a major fan- and television-spectacle. Including it in the game would provide a similar showcase and opportunity for bragging rights for a league's top sluggers, and would bring OOTP one step closer to being able to simulate everything that occurs in a real baseball season.

Priority

Low.

- Kai