If I don't know much about baseball would I enjoy this game?

[Boxingnut]

And I really don't know much about baseball (I don't even know what a shortstop is!! - Although I do at least know what a pitcher is).

The demo looks kind of interesting but obviously a lot of the screens don't mean an awful lot to me.

[darkenigma510]

Play around with the demo and ask questions here. Or try the free version of OOTP5 to maybe learn more about baseball first without risking $$$$

[Bobble]

Many of us here in The States are in the same boat with regard to FM--little soccer knowledge but interested in a good sports sim. As was said, try out the demo and ask questions.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Boxingnut

And I really don't know much about baseball (I don't even know what a shortstop is!! - Although I do at least know what a pitcher is).

The demo looks kind of interesting but obviously a lot of the screens don't mean an awful lot to me.

I was the opposite of you. I bought my first Football Manager this year knowing nothing about soccer\football. I found the learning curve steep but worth the effort. Not only did I know nothing about the game itself I also knew nothing about transfers, contracts, roster rules, league rules, and finances worked.

I think you would be facing a very similar challenge with baseball as I did with football. Trying to learn a game you don't know and the finances, roster rules, and how contracts and player movement is done in the baseball world. It can be frustrating, a couple of times I almost put FM aside but could tell there was something there I would enjoy if I percivered. In the end I have become a fan of football, a game I used to think had to be boreing and am now watching my first world cup matches.

As the others have said play around with the demo. D'load and read the 350 page manual it will help you a lot with the roster rules. Ask questions here and if there is a place you can watch a game on TV do it. I find watching the world cup is really opening my eyes to many things I hadn't thought of while playing FM. If you can see a few games I think you'll have the same experience.

So if you enjoy these management type games and can get through the learning curve I do think you will enjoy the game. Perhaps like me it will open you eyes to a great sport you peviously knew nothing about.

[Dagrims]

I would suggest starting with something a bit less complex:

[Dagrims]

p.s. the second guy from the left just above the gray is the shortstop.


Seriously though, I would be hesitant to jump right in to this game without any knowledge of the sport. If you have another game console, you might want to try an arcade-style game first. OOTP is tremendously in-depth, but that might be overwhelming. People who have years of experience with baseball text simulations are commenting on this game's complexity.

Like other posters above, I knew very little about soccer (football) before purchasing WSM, but I went on a few websites to learn the rules, statistics and terminology better. It made the game much more enjoyable and less like work.

[gord]

I would definitely start with OOTP5 first before trying the demo of the new version. V5 is a much more stripped down version and not nearly as complex. If you know next to nothing about baseball, trying 2006 would be overkill.

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by Dagrims

I would suggest starting with something a bit less complex:

Woah, woah, slow down there, egg-head.

[Dagrims]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

Woah, woah, slow down there, egg-head.

That will only confuse him. Try to explain where the shortstop is in that version!

[jdew]

Originally Posted by Dagrims

That will only confuse him. Try to explain where the shortstop is...

I think this would help.....

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/humor4.shtml

[Boxingnut]

Okay thanks for the replies and not making too much fun of me! First few questions then, what does arbitration eligibility mean. And what are the following ratings: Infield Range, Infield Error, Infield Arm and Turn Double-Play?

[Nukester]

When a player and a team cant agree on a contract, it may go to arbitration, where a "neutral" third party will decide.

Infield range is basically the amount of ground a player can cover, or the ability to get to a ball to make a play. Big fat guys dont have much range. Speedy guys usually do.

Infield error is how good the players glove is. Whether he misshandles an easy groundball, or throws the ball away with a bad throw.

Infield arm is basically how hard the guy can throw the ball (I think IF error covers bad throws and not IF arm, but I might be wrong there)

Turn double play is exactly that. The ability to turn the double play. Some guys arent fast enough on "the pivot" (the pivot is the player at, for instance, 2B who receives the throw from a different infielder then has to throw to first base. The guy is basically a "pivot" point of the play)

Hope that helps a little

[spark240]

I recommend watching several real baseball games--in person if possible or by television if not--before proceeding with simulated baseball.

[TobyCharles]

Boxingnut,

Try checking out the information on Baseball at Wikipedia. It has a nice overview of the game and some basic strategies. Here's the web site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball#Gameplay

I would also recommend downloading the free version of OOTP 5.

Have fun learning about a great game!

[redmarkYankees]

Channel 5, Sundays & Wednesdays, about midnight or 1 am starts.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

Woah, woah, slow down there, egg-head.

roffle.

Seriously, I recommend watching a few games on TV just to get a feel for the game. Pay close attention to the strategy - how the game changes when there's a fast runner on first or late in the game when they change pitchers. Watch a National League game to see how managers handle pitchers when they are due to bat in an inning. Leave them in or pinch hit for them? Pull a double switch?

OOTP5 is a good way to get started without shelling a lot of money out.

[redmarkYankees]

To be fair, we in the UK only get 2 games per week (ch5, above), between about 1am and 4am, with Joe Morgan providing "expert" analysis.

[O-Man]

Originally Posted by redmarkYankees

...with Joe Morgan providing "expert" analysis.

That's enough to grab any man's pity.

[Nukester]

Originally Posted by redmarkYankees

To be fair, we in the UK only get 2 games per week (ch5, above), between about 1am and 4am, with Joe Morgan providing "expert" analysis.

No wonder you guys are more into soccer

[Boxingnut]

Originally Posted by TobyCharles

Boxingnut,

Try checking out the information on Baseball at Wikipedia. It has a nice overview of the game and some basic strategies. Here's the web site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball#Gameplay

I would also recommend downloading the free version of OOTP 5.

Have fun learning about a great game!

This was/is really helpful, thanks!!