http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/ Out of the Park Developments is the creator of the baseball management simulation Out of the Park Baseball for PC and Mac and the PC boxing game Title Bout Championship Boxing. en Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:02:15 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/ http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/46-riot-tales-7-riot-spring-preview-part-i.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:00:26 GMT overturnedcars.com -- THE blogsource for all things Philadelphia Riot

March 3, 2080 (Christian Lammers)

I've been a baseball fan all my life. Of course, that's only 30 years, and hey, the first few probably don't count. But I remember my dad showing me some old baseball videos when I was a kid: the Carlton Fisk home run, the Phillies beating the Rays in 2008, the Tigers coming from down 3-0 to beat the Cardinals in the 2027 World Series. I was hooked, and I've been waiting for the NWBL for what seems like forever. And now it's here!

Spring Training starts today, the first professional baseball since I got out of elementary school. Very fine. So, taking a virtual page out of the old sportswriters' books, over the next few days we'll take a close look at our Philadelphia Riot heading into the spring. We'll look at every position on the team, and talk about position battles, and then hopefully while you guys are reading this, I'll be sitting in front of the big screen with a beer in hand, watching Lucifer for the first time. Should be fun.

So, with no further ado, we'll start out today by checking out the Riot's rotation:

Rotation
Much of the talk leading up to Spring Training has been about David "Lucifer" Edwards, and that talk will continue. He's one of the few players in camp who likely wouldn't lose his spot in the rotation even with a miserable spring. He's our Opening Day starter, barring injury. And why not? The 25-year old southpaw is a fierce competitor who works hard at his craft. He has a dominant 12-6 curveball, and a sinker that will have opponents flailing like crazy. He'll mix in a slider and the occasional changeup. He has good movement on his pitches, good control, and good stuff. Throws in the high 90s, and keeps the ball on the ground. About the only thing you can complain about is that he isn't the most graceful fielder.

But what about the rest of the rotation? Honestly, I'm not sold. I worry that they're going to be a weak spot for this team. Diminutive righty Harris Poole also has a reputation of being bright and a hard worker. The soft-spoken Iowan is a fly ball pitcher who throws a decent forkball. Tops out in the low 90s, but is always around the plate.

Javier Santos is a tall Puerto Rican who doesn't speak a lick of English (yet). He has the bearing of a natural athlete, and looks like a panther out there on the mound, ready to pounce on anything. He has a dizzying array of pitches, and while none of them will blow hitters away, he definitely fits that "crafty veteran" mould.

Dan Hodges doesn't quite fit the same mold as the other pitchers on the staff. He's already developing a reputation as a bit of a practical joker, and with his Louisiana drawl it's a little hard to take him seriously. He's a classic fastball-curveball-changeup pitcher, another guy who isn't likely to dazzle, but who hopefully gets outs.

Curtis Elmore, Ralph Farrell, Juan Rosales, they're all pretty similar pitchers, really. I see a lot of competition during Spring Training between these guys. I think it's likely Santos will stay in the bigs at least to start, just to have a second lefty in the rotation.

Projected Rotation
#1 David Edwards (L)
#2 Harris Poole (R)
#3 Javier Santos (L)
#4 Dan Hodges (R)
#5 Curtis Elmore (R)
AAA Ralph Farrell (R)
AAA Juan Rosales (R)

Tomorrow we'll talk about the bullpen...c'ya round!

Christian ]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/46-riot-tales-7-riot-spring-preview-part-i.html http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/33-riot-tales-6-riot-organization.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:08:46 GMT January 3, 2080 (Philadelphia, PA) Harris Anderson sat together with Winston Alvarez and Ramon Velasco at the front of the lecture hall. In the seats were fifty baseball players ranging in age from 17 to 34, decked out in suits and ties and generally looking like fish out of water. Harris... January 3, 2080 (Philadelphia, PA)

Harris Anderson sat together with Winston Alvarez and Ramon Velasco at the front of the lecture hall. In the seats were fifty baseball players ranging in age from 17 to 34, decked out in suits and ties and generally looking like fish out of water. Harris cleared his throat to speak, and the microphone blared feedback, eliciting cringes around the room. A tech hustled over to make a small adjustment. Harris looked guiltily down at the device, and forged ahead.

"I want to thank you all for coming here today. The fifty of you represent the entire Philadelphia Riot organization as it stands today, and we look forward to getting to work. I know you'd rather be out on the field, but there's a lot of stuff we need to go through. It's been a long time since there's been professional baseball in Philadelphia." Harris paused and took a breath.

"All of you should have received your assignments by now. To my right here is Winston Alvarez. He'll be managing the Riot this year. Winston pitched for fifteen years in the Major Leagues, with Kansas City, Baltimore, and New York. In 2045 he won the Cy Young award. He won 24 games that year, so he knows a thing or two about pitching, and a thing or two about winning." Winston nodded gravely at the crowd.

"To my left is Ramon Velasco. He'll be managing the Dover Blackbirds. Ramon was one of the top hitting prospects in the Detroit Tigers' organization when the MLB was disbanded." Ramon smiled gamely.

"I'm Harris Anderson, and I'm the general manager here. I think I got us a good bunch of players to start, but I'll keep working to improve the team. You'll meet the rest of the staff at the field. Now, some of you will be here for a good long time, I hope. Others, well, you all know that baseball's a business, and players come and go. If you end up moving on, I hope you'll leave here respecting us and saying that the Riot run a top-notch organization." Harris paused and looked around the room.

"I wish each and every one of you the best of luck. Now, I'll turn you over to Elizabeth, who needs to cover some of the administrative details..."

Harris and the other two men stepped down from the stage and headed out into the hallway, while Elizabeth launched into details about payroll, human resources, and lunch vouchers.

"Looks good on paper, Harris," Alvarez spoke up, "but I can't wait to see what they got in person."

"Won't be too long now, Winston. Two months until Spring Training starts!"

Philadelphia Riot Roster | Dover Blackbirds AAA Roster | Inaugural Draft Log ]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/33-riot-tales-6-riot-organization.html http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/29-riot-tales-5-big-decision.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:57:29 GMT "Yeah? Great, we look forward to seeing him in a Riot uniform, Bob!"

Harris hung up the phone and turned to Mo Jackson.

"OK, it's a done deal, we've got Lucifer in the fold," he gave a tired smile, "but it won't be cheap, that's for sure. We'll have to be careful with our dollars. It's still weird to think of baseball with a salary cap, ain't it?'

Jackson nodded.

"The kid's worth it, though, Harris. He's gonna strike out everyone in the league, you mark my words."

"I hope so, Mo, I certainly hope so. Let's get a few hours of sleep before tomorrow."

***

"With the first pick in the inaugural New World Baseball League draft, the Philadelphia Riot select . . . " A hush fell across the crowd.

"Starting pitcher from Westmont, Illinois, David Edwards!"

A chant of "LU-CI-FER, LU-CI-FER!" arose from the crowd at the Center, courtesy of a small crowd of rabid Philadelphia fans who had made the trek up to New York for the draft. Smiles and handshakes ensued, as owner Meg Heffernan stood next to the 6'2" southpaw as he held up a Riot uniform with the number 33 on it.

Over the course of the next several hours, the other teams also made their first selections:

San Diego Tsunami - SS Mike Fullerton
Boston Irish - CF Beau Jamison
Seattle Steam - RF Juan Rosales
San Francisco Stallions - LF Randy Erickson
Washington Warriors - Rich Ranby
New York Ninjas - SS Tim Miller
Los Angeles Lancers - 3B Kent Gilbert

With the draft being serpentine, Round 2 continued, and Harris and Mo sat watching the process, trying to figure out who would be left for them when their next pick came around...

Finally, it was their turn again, and they'd have an opportunity to pick two consecutive players... ]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/29-riot-tales-5-big-decision.html http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/28-riot-tales-4-night-before.html Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:44:52 GMT It was 1:37 am, and Harris Anderson was exhausted. He'd spent the past month watching players at various tryouts, interviewing team personnel, double-checking on facilities projects, meeting with senior management, and spending what seemed like endless hours in discussions with his scouting director, Mo Jackson. After so many consecutive 14-hour days, he was well beyond burnt-out, but they were down to a little less than twelve hours before the draft began. They'd gone around and around on some of the potential top picks, and it seemed like the pressure was worse than ever.

It was like he'd told Pat Hain -- he wished they'd gotten a middle pick. With the first pick in the draft, every pundit in the country would be expecting them to have an advantage; it would create some crazy expectations. He took a sip of Coke and wiped his brow.

At the heart of it was a simple question: starting pitching, or a position player? Everyone knew you won with pitching, and pitching was likely to be scarce with the lack of professional baseball in recent years. On the other hand, out of all the possible players out there, why pick a player who would only be on the field every five days?

Harris rifled through a stack of printouts, each with a detailed scouting report on thirty or so players Philadelphia would at least consider taking first. This had been whittled down from the complete list of players eligible for the draft. "OK, Harris," he muttered to himself, "Let's go through them one more time..."

On the pitching front, there were a few possibilities:

• Mo was high on David Edwards, a 25-year old southpaw from Illinois with a nasty sinker and a hook up there with the best of them. He had great intangibles, too, smart and fiercely competitive, and one of the hardest-working kids he'd met.
• Ron Anderson, a righty, was another good possibility. With a dizzying array of pitches, and pinpoint control, he wasn't as likely to blow guys away, but he was as smart as a whip, and seemed a little more mature than Edwards. But scouts were much more divided on Anderson.
• Riot scouts didn't have Rich Ranby rated quite as highly as the other two, but there were some who felt he was the best of the bunch, and more importantly, his leadership intangibles were off the charts, and that was certainly important to consider in someone who you expected to be your front-of-the-line starter.

There were other options as well, at least four or five possibilities if they elected to go with a starter. Among position players, there were plenty to choose from:

• Tim Miller was a sexy choice. The big Californian was like a panther at short, as graceful as could be. And he could hit for average or for power. He wasn't hopeless on the bases, but perhaps just short of being considering a true five-tool guy.
• Kent Gilbert looked to be a complete stud at third base. Solid in all phases of hitting, and capable of winning awards with his defensive play.
• George Peterson didn't have the hitting pedigree of the other players, but catchers were in short supply, and he looked like the best of the bunch. Plus, he had a reputation for being an outstanding leader, almost like having an extra coach for the pitching staff.
• There were some who said Randy Erickson was the best thing since sliced bread, but Mo's team didn't see it that way at all, so Harris wasn't sure.

There were so many more to consider! Plus, with so little effort going into scouting over the past decade, and so little high-level ball to base opinions on, it was a crap-shoot. Mo thought Gilbert was going to be a sure-fire superstar, but some of the other scouts he'd come across thought he'd be no more than adequate.

Harris put his head down on his desk, and wondered what he'd gotten himself into... ]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/28-riot-tales-4-night-before.html http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/19-riot-tales-3-ping-pong-balls-fate.html Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:27:02 GMT Ping pong balls bounced crazily in their air-filled plastic container, like trapped insects frantically looking for a way out. NWBL Commissioner Bill Hain looked around at the eight newly-minted owners, and grinned.

"We ready to do this?" he asked.

"You got my check, right, Bill?" quipped Wallace Harney, the new owner of the Boston Irish. A rumble of laughter carried around the room. Hain adjusted his tie, stepped up to the podium next to the machine, and spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are eight ping pong balls in here, each labeled with the name of one of your franchises. The first franchise that I select will receive the eighth pick in the first round of the draft. The inaugural draft will be fifty rounds, and follow a serpentine format. That means that the first team I select will draft eighth in all odd-numbered rounds, and first in all even-numbered rounds." Hain paused significantly. "Here we go..."

Hain stepped up to the machine and pulled out one ball, turning it several times, he spoke clearly, "The eight pick in the inaugural draft will go to the Los Angeles Lancers!" There were a variety of sighs of relief. Billionaire venture capitalist Ken Moritani looked away in disgust. The New York Ninjas were called next, followed by the Washington Warriors.

With just two balls left, the owners of the Philadelphia Riot and the San Diego Tsunami laughed and shook hands.

"May the best man win," laughed San Diego's Ron Toland.

"I sure hope not," replied the owner of the Philadelphia Riot, Megan Heffernan, with a smile. Hain stepped to the machine again and drew a ball. He looked up.

"The San Diego Tsunami will receive the second pick in the draft, which means that Meg Heffernan and the Philadelphia Riot will select first at tomorrow's draft." A round of applause echoed through the room. When the noise had settled, Hain wrapped up the conference fairly quickly. A cadre of assistants were already working on various handheld devices, passing along instructions to team staff. There was much hobnobbing and pressing of the flesh as the owners talked excitedly about the NWBL.

Meg Heffernan stepped into the hallway and made a call.

"Harris, it's Meg. I hope you've gotten your beauty rest. You're on the clock as of now. I'll see you tomorrow."

NWBL Inaugural Draft Order, Round 1
1. Philadelphia Riot

2. San Diego Tsunami

3. Boston Irish

4. Seattle Steam

5. San Francisco Stallions

6. Washington Warriors

7. New York Ninjas

8. Los Angeles Lancers
]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/19-riot-tales-3-ping-pong-balls-fate.html http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/18-riot-tales-2-brief-reunion.html Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:14:01 GMT

"I can't thank you enough, Pat," Harris Anderson said, on his way back from the kitchen with two open Coors Lights. He handed one to his guest. In the corner of the room, a ram-rod straight gentleman with dark glasses and a suit took a step forward in concern. Former President Hain waved him away impatiently.

"For Chrissakes, Bob, he's been my best friend for 20 years, he's not going to poison me with cheap beer!" he said. He rolled his eyes comically at Anderson and took a swig. "I thought I'd be rid of these guys when I left office, but these days they want to protect you until you're in the grave. Anyway, don't mention it. You were always the smartest ballplayer I knew, even if you couldn't hit a breaking ball to save your life." He winked and sat back with a sigh.

Harris laughed and tipped his beer in thanks. "Still, just 'cause I'm smart doesn't mean I'll make a good GM. It's been a while since I've been in these circles. I know you're putting your neck on the line for me." He paused thoughtfully. "All kidding aside, Pat, I didn't think I'd ever get a chance like this after what happened to the MLB. And in my hometown, no less. It's going to be a lot of work, but it's going to be a blast. You'd better get your ass to a few of our games!"

"Depends who you pick, Harris. Don't make me look bad, either. It's bad enough that Bill's the head honcho. Did they have the lottery yet?"

Harris shook his head, mid-swallow. "Tomorrow. Wish me luck. Although, part of me hopes I end up in the middle somewhere. A little less pressure there."

Patrick Hain got to his feet with a sigh, and nodded to the guard. "Well Harris, I'm glad I was able to see you for a few minutes at least. I'd better hit the road. My plane leaves for L.A. in a while, and you know what the security lines are like these days..."

Harris nodded and stood to bid his friend farewell. As the two men embraced, Patrick Hain whispered into his former teammate's ear, "Oh, and just one other thing, Harris?"

"What's that?"

"Just make sure you beat those bastards from New York!" The former President of the United States winked at his friend, and slipped out the door. ]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/18-riot-tales-2-brief-reunion.html http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/17-riot-tales-1-stories-new-world-baseball-league.html Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:20:20 GMT In the late 2040s, the U.S. economy went into recession again. The popularity of Major League Baseball dropped to an all-time low. In 2048, after years of diminishing interest in the sport, 37 of the 40 Major League franchises reported substantial losses. In 2049, the league took drastic action,... In the late 2040s, the U.S. economy went into recession again. The popularity of Major League Baseball dropped to an all-time low. In 2048, after years of diminishing interest in the sport, 37 of the 40 Major League franchises reported substantial losses. In 2049, the league took drastic action, contracting from 40 teams to 24, but this failed to reverse the trend. When the Los Angeles franchise went up for sale, they were unable to find a buyer who would agree to keep the team operational.

In December of 2051, the collective bargaining agreement between the Major League owners and the MLB players association broke down. Two months later, MLB Commissioner Jesus Chavez announced that the 2052 Major League baseball season would be played by "scab" players from outside the players' union. Fans voted with their wallets. Through May, average attendance at games league-wide was 4,500.

In January of 2059, the dissolution of Major League baseball was announced. The U.S. economy continued to sputter. In 2068, the United States elected Patrick Hain President. As the star third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, Hain was the last true superstar of Major League Baseball before the league shut down. In his last season, he batted .397 with 44 HR and 140 RBI, and the Sox won the last World Series in the history of MLB.

With the election of Hain, interest in baseball increased nationwide, and the numbers of youths playing baseball again rose dramatically. By 2075, the United States had gone close to 20 years without professional baseball, although various amateur leagues still existed throughout the country. With the economy on the rebound, in 2076 a group of investors began the process of bringing professional baseball back to the United States, with strong political help from President Hain and his younger brother Bill Hain, also a lifelong baseball player.

By 2079, most of the groundwork had been laid, and arrangements had been made for a modest 8-team league with a single level of minors, with plans for expansion back into the Mid-West within 3 years. In September of 2079, the New World Baseball League was formally introduced.

Bill Hain was elected as the commissioner of the NWBL, and at a press conference on September 23rd, 2079, he announced that the inaugural draft would take place in January of 2080, with play to commence that April. Teams would be divided into East and West divisions, with the following teams:

U.S. East Division
Boston Irish
New York Ninjas
Philadelphia Riot
Washington Warriors

U.S. West Division
Los Angeles Lancers
San Diego Tsunami
San Francisco Stallions
Seattle Steam

Each team would have a single AAA affiliate. With the formalization of the league, owners and teams scrambled to find qualified staff to fill out their organizations... ]]> battists http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/blogs/battists/17-riot-tales-1-stories-new-world-baseball-league.html