Noobie Game Guide?

[ssmith88]

Hi all

I'm not only new to OOTP but also baseball. This is because i am from Australia which the national sport is cricket.

But I'm a huge addict to sport management games and would like to learn the baseball version.

Is there a game guide for noobies like me? A guide that is relevant to OOTP games. There is not even a OOTP baseball wikia or guide at gamefaq.com

cheers
steve

[kq76]

It sounds like you more need to learn baseball than OOTP. If you're very familiar with sports management games like Football Manager then I imagine that once you understand the game of baseball that you'll understand OOTP for the most part and then you can just search the manual for stuff you don't fully understand.

Read this thread. It was started by a guy like yourself who knew very little about baseball and a few of the guys gave some excellent posts.

[ssmith88]

I understand the basics of baseball but I don't know the strategies of management. Usually there is a game guide with tips and hints which is specific to the game.

[TGH-Adfabre]

Originally Posted by ssmith88

I understand the basics of baseball but I don't know the strategies of management. Usually there is a game guide with tips and hints which is specific to the game.

You could spend 500 hours on google reading baseball strategies and just scratch the surface.
The strategies seem endless.
I would put a little time aside for googling baseball strategy.

Category:Baseball strategy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Skeptical Monkey - A Blog For Skeptics
WikiAnswers - How do you place players in the batting order in baseball
Baseball Strategies
Baseball Lineup Optimizer

Just a few.
Good luck,
LP

[ssmith88]

thanks for strategy links

are there any links to bowling/pitching strategy?

do all these real baseball strategies work in the actual OOTP game?

[zyberianwarrior]

well the only "Stragety" you need to know is when to roid up your players WITHOUT getting caught or suspended. As for cricket dont understand it but AFL ROCKS!

[Biggio509]

Originally Posted by ssmith88

thanks for strategy links

are there any links to bowling/pitching strategy?

do all these real baseball strategies work in the actual OOTP game?

The strategies are simplified. OOTP is not pitch by pitch so you won't have to deal with strategy like pitchers trying to throw the ball low to get ground balls or if you jam the hitter, throw the ball close to his body, or pitch outside (away from the hitter). You find some basic strategies like pitch around. This increase the chance of a walk but you are pitching on the edge or outside the strike zone so a walk is more likely. Defense you want to limit to things like intentional walks, pitch around, hold runners, infield and outfield shifts, and infield in, corners in, double play depth.

As for offense you might want to look at how to set up a lineup. Usually you find power guys in the middle, high OBP guys who are fast at top and more average hitters in the bottom 3rd. You might want to look at platooning players as well. The batting strategies are bunts, sac bunts, stealing, and hit and run/run and hit.

The stuff that I think might be harder to find, at least it was a little harder for me when I started FM 2010 since I know little about soccer or football outside the US, is what characteristics usually match up with which position. I will give you a somewhat short but not really short answer to that.

C Most teams want a defensive specialist here. The catcher's job is to make sure he catches pitches and tries to throw out runners stealing. So arm and ability are important. Traditionally C were power hitters. Today you usually find guys who block balls well, I think that is either part of the defense rating or catcher ability, and have a strong arm to make the throw to second. In real life pitch selection and sort of coaching pitchers are important for catchers but does not show up in OOTP X maybe XI. I am not sure how important C defense is. Catchers don't need range and only field bunts. Like 1B they mostly receive throws. I do not think catcher defense factors often. So catcher ability and arm is really what you want to look at.

1B Traditionally, hitters have been most right handed. You don't find as many balls hit to the right side as to the left side. Because of this fielding for 1B hasn't been a high priority. In the modern game you see a more even spread of opportunities. However, traditionally 2B and SS were faster guys who have a lot of range so 1B defense is nice to have but not necessary. 1B will most receive throws from other infielders so speed is not an issue. Traditionally, these are power hitters but 1B is most for a guy who can hit but his fielding isn't strong. Arm is meaningless I can't remember if I have ever seen a 1B throw to 3B and I have been playing or watching baseball all my life.

2B Offensive mixed. Defense is more important. Traditionally these guys have good range. They have to defend the middle and make up for the lumbering giant at 1B. Good D is important but like C so teams will field guys who can hit here but are subpar fielders. Again traditionally, the right side has fewer opportunities and doesn't make many throws to 3B. Arm strength is not an issue here. Guys with good defensive ratings but little arm are better at 2B than SS. Turn double play rating is pretty important here.

SS Most teams have defense specialist here. Like C you find SS is almost always selected by fielding ability and only minimum offense is expected in most cases. Guys who can hit well but aren't the best defenders often get moved to 3B, as just happened with Miguel Tejada who is still hitting but not the fielder he once was. Sometimes teams will select a more offensive SS but the position is like C you find only a handful of good offensive players and the rest are good defenders who don't hit much. Range, arm strength, and turn DP are crucial here. Most throws from the SS will be to first. They need the arm strength because the throw is longer.

3B Like second base this is a more mixed position. In real life you want someone quick, someone can make the first step quickly. I am not sure this factors into OOTP. The third baseman needs a good arm, he has the longest throw to 1B. He needs decent range, he will cover bunts to his side. Turn DP is less important. 3B will be involved in DP situations a lot less than 2B and SS (note 2B is using receiving the throw and making a short throw to 1B the other times it is short flip to the SS) .

LF/RF Typically with these guys you want range but a fast CF with good range can make up for shortfalls here. Arm strength can be important but it is less important. A RF with a good arm in real life can make double plays if he catches a fly ball that he was not expected to and can make a quick throw back to first. Generally 2B will drop deep on long hit balls and the OFs throw to the 2B who relays the ball to infielders or C so arm isn't huge here but LF or RF with good arms can be an advantage. Traditionally this is another spot you find good hitters. In the old days and youth baseball RF is usually less good defensively hitters are mostly right handed and LF will get more action. I am not sure if it matters in OOTP but some parks will allow slower less range OFs. For instance the Astros put Carlos Lee in LF because it less ground to cover than RF and he, imo, is one of the slowest OF in the MLB.

CF Like C and SS these guys can be defensive specialist. Usually this is the fastest guy on the team. CF traditionally is where lead off hitters played. Today not so much. You want good defense here. Especially if you have slow moving power hitters in LF/RF. A team can have a defensive specialist here but it is less likely than at C or SS. The SS usually gets the most defensive opportunities.

Other considerations. With D positions like SS,C, and CF sometimes the ability to have strong defenders is affected by the rest of your lineup. If you have 7 good hitters without a DH having a guy who doesn't hit much doesn't hurt your offense too bad. The theory is a good D SS will prevent more runs than given up by his lack of hitting. However, 3 guys who are a great fielders but only have minimal hitting will kill your offense. So you have to evaluate the trade offs here. If you play with a DH you can more easily make up for bad hitters who are defensive specialist since the pitchers, who rarely hit well, aren't batting.

For pitchers you really only have starters, middle/long relief, setup, and closer. Starters, these guys are expected to put in the most innings stamina is important, in OOTP X I think it was less important than it should be. You want good stuff, control, and movement and 3 good pitches. You can trade off stuff and control. Stuff means more strikeouts. Control means less walks. Like in real life a guy who pitches slower but has great control and rarely walks batters can be successful.

I haven't tested this but movement affects HRs given up so I assume the park makes a difference. If you are the Tigers half your games are in a pitchers park movement becomes less important. If you are the Phillies you play in a park that is smaller movement is more important.

A small note if you are not playing with the DH bunting is the most important batting skill for the pitcher. Pitchers are considering automatic outs so if someone is on base with less than 2 outs most often the pitcher will lay down a sacrifice bunt.

Middle revilers These are the guys you hope you don't have to use. Most modern teams carry 2 of these and one long relief guy. The long relief is someone who can start if an injury happens or can go in for 3 or 4 innings if the starter is taken out early. The other guys are expected to pitch one or 2 innings if you have the lead between the starter and the set up. In a game where either side has a big score advantage these guys will finish the game. Like starters control and stuff are important and you can go with lower control or lower stuff if you pitcher is good at one. Movement might depend on park. With or without a DH hitting doesn't matter. These guys will 99.9% of the time have someone pinch hit for them.

Setup men are usually only used when you have a lead. Teams will have one or 2 of these. These are your second best relievers. They are expected to pitch one inning and hold the lead. Stuff is important. These are more strikeout guys but you don't want these guys walking guys either. Usually you want good velocity here. Hitting again is not important these guys don't bat ever. I can remember a few years at MMP watch Dan Wheeler, a setup man and closer for the Astros, come out of the dugout into the on deck circle. He had to borrow a batting helmet, I could tell because someone else's number was on it. The Astros just didn't want to reveal the pinch hitter until the last second.

Closer is just the super setup man. He has the responsibility of the ninth in a lead. You really want him to high good stats all around. 2 or three excellent pitches. He should be the best pitcher on your team. The only reason he doesn't start is because he has 2 good pitchers or low stamina. Sometimes a great SP can make great closers but it is often hard to not let them start because they are that good. These guys never bat either regardless of DH or not.

Modern teams will hold 11 or 12 pitchers on the active roster. 5 starters, 2 to 4 MR/LR, and one closer. Typically pro teams start with the 24 man roster you want 11 pitchers, 6 infielders, and 5 outfielders. The twenty-five man is often team specific. If you play with the DH and your DH is plays outfield then a team might carry 6 outfielders. If your DH is an infielder you might want 7 infielders. In the NL, you might just want a guy to pinch hit and you don't care about his position. If you relievers are weak or have low stamina 12 pitchers might be the way to go.

Sometimes the 25th man is a guy who is still competing for a spot. He was too close to his competitor in spring training and the team wants to evaluate him longer. I generally start with 24 guys and make sure you have someone to back every position, one or more guys will back up 2 or more positions, then decide if another pitcher or fielder is needed. For teams with a DH I usually take a 7th infielder if my DH is an infielder and a 6th outfielder if my DH is plays OF.

The 40 man roster gives you fifteen backs up to the 25 on your active. This is harder to put together. The rule 5 draft means sometimes you put guys who aren't ready for the show on the roster to protect them. You have to be careful though. You will need backups so you want at least 3-5 pitchers who are ready for the majors at pitcher, 1 or 2 outfielders, and 2 or 3 IF. This takes up 6-10 spots so it doesn't leave a lot of room for guys that you don't feel are ready but you don't want other teams drafting in the rule 5 draft.

I hope this helps.

[Kelric]

Thanks for typing that up and saving me the trouble of linking to older posts. Just a few nits to pick...

Arm strength for second base does matter on turning double plays, but as you said it isn't nearly as important as at shortstop and third base. Arm strength matters in right field to keep guys going from first to third or second to home.

Movement definitely affects homerun percentage in OOTP for pitchers.

[Biggio509]

Originally Posted by Kelric

Thanks for typing that up and saving me the trouble of linking to older posts. Just a few nits to pick...

Arm strength for second base does matter on turning double plays, but as you said it isn't nearly as important as at shortstop and third base. Arm strength matters in right field to keep guys going from first to third or second to home.

Movement definitely affects homerun percentage in OOTP for pitchers.

No doubt about movement affecting HR percentage. A guy with a higher movement will give up fewer HRs at the same park than a guy with a lower movement. What I haven't tested is how much difference a guy with the same movement will have if moves from a park that is easy to hit home runs to a park where it is less easy to hit homeruns. I am not sure how much park factors offset a lack of movement or make a lack of movement worse. Is the difference big enough where say you can have someone like Jose Lima be an ace in the Astrodome but get shelled at MMP?

[Kelric]

Originally Posted by Biggio509

No doubt about movement affecting HR percentage. A guy with a higher movement will give up fewer HRs at the same park than a guy with a lower movement. What I haven't tested is how much difference a guy with the same movement will have if moves from a park that is easy to hit home runs to a park where it is less easy to hit homeruns. I am not sure how much park factors offset a lack of movement or make a lack of movement worse. Is the difference big enough where say you can have someone like Jose Lima be an ace in the Astrodome but get shelled at MMP?

I wouldn't go so far as to say he'd be an ace, but he would definitely be an improved pitcher.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by Biggio509

I can't remember if I have ever seen a 1B throw to 3B and I have been playing or watching baseball all my life.

The only thing I can think of is on a sac bunt that goes down the 1st base line with someone on second.

[Kelric]

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

The only thing I can think of is on a sac bunt that goes down the 1st base line with someone on second.

Or a player trying to take an extra base after an error which the first baseman tracks down. Sometimes they need to make that sort of throw, but rarely.