Don't you recognize me? I'm Rod Gilbreath!

[knockahoma]

Just out of curiousity.

For those of you who play historicals without recalc, which case do you prefer?

Let's say that we import a 2B who had these real-life talents:

Based on 500 ABs

.235 BA, 7HR, 22SB, 10 defense (based on 20).

Would you prefer that any "alternate universe" stay close to the player's actual tools when it comes to power, speed, and defense, leaving only hitting to be improved, or would you prefer that these guys develop strength, power and range on defense?

Let's take Rod Gilbreath, a 2b-3b for the Atlanta Braves in the 70s.

Basically, he was a .230-.260 hitter with 5, or 6 homers, 7SB, 10 defense.

I would much prefer Rod succeed in another universe with these types of numbers that reflect his actual physical tools.

.320 BA, 8HR, 12 SB, 10 DEF (2b, 3b) .

Because Rod's other tools remain constant, he's still recognizable to me, even if he hits .340. He's learned to hit, but he has pretty much the same body.

What would make him Rod Gilbreath in name only (affecting my suspension of disbelief) would be if his arm was different, his range significantly expanded, he became a power hitter, or developed a talent for a lot of stolen bases, such as in this line.

.255, 22HR, 23SB, 12 DEF (SS)

I don't know who that guy is, but he ain't Rod Gilbreath. I simply don't recognize the tools, and so suspension of disbelief is interrupted.

Just wanted thoughts on how others feel about that.

[SteveP]

My answer probably won't satisfy you, but I'll offer it up anyway. I choose not to get focused on one or two guys. What I have found is that almost everyone develops in a reasonably expectable way, but that a handful of guys don't. That doesn't bother me, because I am trying to put myself in the shoes of a GM/manager living in that instant -- not someone able to look back with 20-20 hindsight. The reality is that some guys do develop in unexpected ways. Moreover, guys often demonstrate that someone's notion of what tools they had was wrong. So, surprises occur, and I'll willing to have surprises in my alternative history. In fact, I prefer it.

[satchel]

Originally Posted by knockahoma

JFor those of you who play historicals without recalc, which case do you prefer?

So, in your examples, which use recalc, and which don't, etc.?

[Malleus Dei]

Dial the randomness way down.

[knockahoma]

So, in your examples, which use recalc, and which don't, etc.?

Neither would use recalc. Recalc sometimes creates some funky trades. For example, let's say a VETERAN under-achieves from his ratings. Instead of hitting .280, 15HR as expected, he hits .225, 4HR and spends a lot of time on the bench.

With Recalc, if I understand it correctly, come January, that poor season disappears in the eyes of the AI. Now the vet looks as though he's coming off a great season and gets traded for another great player. Even though the trade may work out, it's pretty strange looking that a 31 year old .225 hitter gets traded for a .280, 20HR guy-- just because Recalc makes the 31 year old look good again.

Dial the randomness way down.

I suspected that's what I was looking for. What number would you suggest? If I put it at 1, or 5, does that mean almost no randomness. For example, if I have 100 players, how many would go through a significant change at the lowest setting. Got an educated guess on that?

[Malleus Dei]

I leave mine at 10.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei

I leave mine at 10.

Yes, I use that too.

[Malleus Dei]

With 10 I get some unpredictability, but not so much as to seem really odd, and I don't get any real weirdness like Rod Gilbreath. It works for me. Try it and see if it works for you - that is, if it gives results that please you and increase your enjoyment of the game. If it doesn't, dial it up or down and try again.

I use this approach for all my game settings. For instance, I set injuries on low - it's not realistic, but as someone else said, I just don't want to play a game of Baseball Doctor Manager. If something in my game suffers a setback, I want it to be on the field during an inning. The settings you use should be the settings you like best and that give you the most fun, not necessarily the ones that come with the game or that everyone else is using.

That's the beauty of this game. Don't like it? Change it until you do.