Fictional league preview over at the FOF boards

[DCG12]

Can somebody explain what is going on with hitting and pitching ratings? Go to the WOOB home page and under the league leaders for hitters and pitchers in the middle of the page click on any player and scroll down under history to look at his current ratings and potentials that get updated each January 1st. Numbers are all over the place. A guy will have a 30 potential then a 100 then back to a 58 etc. with current ratings doing the same dance. This seems to happen every year both hitters and pitchers. Almost like a random decision. Will make it tough to know who is going to be good year to year when you are making decisions to re-sign your vets.

I hope I'm missing something here and this is not how it will be. I'm all for some random surprises but this seems over the top.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by DCG12

Can somebody explain what is going on with hitting and pitching ratings? Go to the WOOB home page and under the league leaders for hitters and pitchers in the middle of the page click on any player and scroll down under history to look at his current ratings and potentials that get updated each January 1st. Numbers are all over the place. A guy will have a 30 potential then a 100 then back to a 58 etc. with current ratings doing the same dance. This seems to happen every year both hitters and pitchers. Almost like a random decision. Will make it tough to know who is going to be good year to year when you are making decisions to re-sign your vets.

I hope I'm missing something here and this is not how it will be. I'm all for some random surprises but this seems over the top.

These are ratings scouted by OSA (OOTP Scouting Association), they are way less relieable than your employed scout.

[Eumel]

Originally Posted by BadluckinOOTP

I went through 6 or 7 teams and didn't find any players with ratings both in the infield and outfield. Which not every team has one, there are a handful out there.

Yeah, this is something I'd like to see at some point too. There are quite a few C/1B guys, though, which is good. I'd love it of both the initial draft and the rookie draft included guys with experience at either C/1B or IF/OF already.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by Eumel

Yeah, this is something I'd like to see at some point too. There are quite a few C/1B guys, though, which is good. I'd love it of both the initial draft and the rookie draft included guys with experience at either C/1B or IF/OF already.

There are players like this in OOTP... the ratings just do not show up in the HTML reports because these guys tend to play other positions not that often.

Here's one anyway: Player Report for #84 Miguel Angel Olivares

[Kelric]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

There are players like this in OOTP... the ratings just do not show up in the HTML reports because these guys tend to play other positions not that often.

Here's one anyway: Player Report for #84 Miguel Angel Olivares

In my online leagues, I always try to get good utility players. Right now in my Triple-A club for the OBL at the beginning of our season I have four guys with infield and outfield ability that simply needed playing time at positions to develop ratings there. I also have a backup catcher that I just promoted that has Catcher Ability and Arm at 7 (out of 10) with the position rating at 8. He also has 8s and 7s for the various infield ratings as well, and I've been teaching him 2nd/3rd/SS. He's my very own Craig Biggio, without the great offense.

[Rastafreaky]

Love the stat line under the player picture on the HTML's. Very nice touch.

[Chris Johnson]

I don't really care what FOC thinks about the game. Much more concerned what online GM/Players are thinking. If they are happy, I am happy. Just haven't heard much except that one part that worked (the prospect ratings) was originally planned to be broken, hehe. Where's our online league gamer preview ?

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by Chris Johnson

I don't really care what FOC thinks about the game. Much more concerned what online GM/Players are thinking. If they are happy, I am happy. Just haven't heard much except that one part that worked (the prospect ratings) was originally planned to be broken, hehe. Where's our online league gamer preview ?

Very soon

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

Very intresting indeed.

I'm cofnused about one thing though; why wasn't it posted here on the company boards?

Because these days the FOF boards are the preferred board for making announcements and posting interesting things about OOTP.

[Rastafreaky]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Because these days the FOF boards are the preferred board for making announcements and posting interesting things about OOTP.

I obviously don't post much but even I can't overlook the silliness of posts like this...straight childish IMO.

And yes I realize responding in this manner is also childish. So be it...

[ms2002]

Markus, I was going through some of the older pitchers to see if they still experience the extreme Stuff drop-off and...well...look at this guy's strikeout numbers:

Player Report for #29 Jos 'Notorious' Gonzlez

2024 (Age 34): 265 Ks/246 IP
2025 (Age 35): 205 Ks/236 IP
2026 (Age 36): 136 Ks/237 IP
2027 (Age 37): 89 Ks/221 IP

That's still quite an extreme cut-off. While there are only a few Big Units in the game, this guy certainly fits the profile of Randy Johnson. And at that age, he was still striking out 300+ Ks per season. Even now, at 44, he's averaging more than a strikeout per nine innings. Just wanted to point this out, since it would be nice to tone that skill drop down a bit. Thanks!

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by ms2002

Markus, I was going through some of the older pitchers to see if they still experience the extreme Stuff drop-off and...well...look at this guy's strikeout numbers:

Player Report for #29 Jos 'Notorious' Gonzlez

2024 (Age 34): 265 Ks/246 IP
2025 (Age 35): 205 Ks/236 IP
2026 (Age 36): 136 Ks/237 IP
2027 (Age 37): 89 Ks/221 IP

That's still quite an extreme cut-off. While there are only a few Big Units in the game, this guy certainly fits the profile of Randy Johnson. And at that age, he was still striking out 300+ Ks per season. Even now, at 44, he's averaging more than a strikeout per nine innings. Just wanted to point this out, since it would be nice to tone that skill drop down a bit. Thanks!

There are many who drop down like that, but usually they are faster out of the MLB, so you do not notice. This guy has to have some good periphal ratings to mantain playing while losing that much of his strikeout ability.

[PotatoPeeler]

Originally Posted by ms2002

Markus, I was going through some of the older pitchers to see if they still experience the extreme Stuff drop-off and...well...look at this guy's strikeout numbers:

Player Report for #29 Jos 'Notorious' Gonzlez

2024 (Age 34): 265 Ks/246 IP
2025 (Age 35): 205 Ks/236 IP
2026 (Age 36): 136 Ks/237 IP
2027 (Age 37): 89 Ks/221 IP

That's still quite an extreme cut-off. While there are only a few Big Units in the game, this guy certainly fits the profile of Randy Johnson. And at that age, he was still striking out 300+ Ks per season. Even now, at 44, he's averaging more than a strikeout per nine innings. Just wanted to point this out, since it would be nice to tone that skill drop down a bit. Thanks!

Go ahead and look at David Cone's last three years with the Yankees.

[Kelric]

Jos 'Notorious' Gonzalez

2024 (Age 34): 265 Ks/246 IP - 9.7 K/9
2025 (Age 35): 205 Ks/236 IP - 7.8 K/9
2026 (Age 36): 136 Ks/237 IP - 5.1 K/9
2027 (Age 37): 89 Ks/221 IP - 3.6 K/9

Originally Posted by PotatoPeeler

Go ahead and look at David Cone's last three years with the Yankees.

1998 - Age 35 - 207 IP, 209 Ks - 9.0 K/9, essentially
1999 - Age 36 - 193 IP, 177 Ks - 8.25 K/9
2000 - Age 27 - 155 IP, 120Ks - 6.9 K/9

Much more drastic drop for Gonzalez. Now, I have no idea how that compares to OTHER players IRL, I'm just showing Cone's numbers in comparison since that is who you used. Cone's total drop of 2.1 K/9 over three seasons is what Gonzalez almost had in just one decline year.

[ctorg]

This has been an issue I've had with OOTP before. I've often seen old pitchers with unrealistic K rate dropoffs. From what I can tell in real baseball, it's usually a fairly slow decline by comparison.

OOTP seems to model hitters much better than pitchers, which is understandable.

[Eumel]

One thing I noticed while looking at the box scores: the AI still doesn't seem to voluntarily pinch run at all. This is most likely an AI problem, of course. Hopefully just a small fix?

[Cooleyvol]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

There are many who drop down like that, but usually they are faster out of the MLB, so you do not notice. This guy has to have some good periphal ratings to mantain playing while losing that much of his strikeout ability.

I'm not sure I buy that, Markus. Those are dramatic drops.

Do you have stats to back this up?

[Tony M]

Originally Posted by Eumel

One thing I noticed while looking at the box scores: the AI still doesn't seem to voluntarily pinch run at all. This is most likely an AI problem, of course. Hopefully just a small fix?

It does use pinch runners (see this post here Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - OOTP 9 - six new screenshots released )

I've done countless leagues and checked through and every pinch runner has been when the baserunner has been injured (PR's cross the plate around 50 times a year in an MLB setup in OOTP8). I intentionally walked an AI's slow RF in the bottom of the 9th when the game was tied and he didn't get PR'ed for and got himself out at second the next batter-up...

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by ctorg

This has been an issue I've had with OOTP before. I've often seen old pitchers with unrealistic K rate dropoffs. From what I can tell in real baseball, it's usually a fairly slow decline by comparison.

OOTP seems to model hitters much better than pitchers, which is understandable.

That's another thing wrong with the pitching model, then?

Add that to the endurance/roles problem, and to to the fact (or, well, at least my impression) that "stuff" and "movement" are pretty cryptic and don't really relate to anything in real life, that's not cool.

[Eumel]

Originally Posted by redsoxford

It does use pinch runners (see this post here Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - OOTP 9 - six new screenshots released )

I've done countless leagues and checked through and every pinch runner has been when the baserunner has been injured (PR's cross the plate around 50 times a year in an MLB setup in OOTP8). I intentionally walked an AI's slow RF in the bottom of the 9th when the game was tied and he didn't get PR'ed for and got himself out at second the next batter-up...

That's why I said "voluntarily". If there's an injury then the AI really has no choice

I've never ever seen a pinch runner in another situation either. From Markus' response, I guess the code is there -- maybe a parameter or two are not set right in the AI or there's a nasty little bug.