Lahman Database Issue

[BeachBum]

When using the Lahman Database for historical simulations there is an issue in the first year. For players that for some reason did not play in the beginning year of the simulation but did play in a previous year, these players will never appear.

I understand why this happens in that they had no starts in the beginning year of import and were not rookies in later years. However, I think there needs to be some sort of "space holder" or something so that these players are not omitted entirely.

The vast majority are "cup of coffee" players so it really doesn't matter but also there are a couple of good players and sometimes a Hall of Famer that are omitted. You never know for sure until you do the research.

The only work around I have found is to spend significant time with the database looking for players who played both before and after but not the beginning year of the simulation. Once these have been identified, you can then manually import them one at a time.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone with better ideas.

[SandMan]

Originally Posted by BeachBum

When using the Lahman Database for historical simulations there is an issue in the first year. For players that for some reason did not play in the beginning year of the simulation but did play in a previous year, these players will never appear.

I understand why this happens in that they had no starts in the beginning year of import and were not rookies in later years. However, I think there needs to be some sort of "space holder" or something so that these players are not omitted entirely.

The vast majority are "cup of coffee" players so it really doesn't matter but also there are a couple of good players and sometimes a Hall of Famer that are omitted. You never know for sure until you do the research.

The only work around I have found is to spend significant time with the database looking for players who played both before and after but not the beginning year of the simulation. Once these have been identified, you can then manually import them one at a time.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone with better ideas.

Why not just edit the database so that every player with a missing year is given a stat line of 0 at bats and for pitchers 0 IP. This way they will appear in the game.

[Comedian2004]

This was debated during the development of the game. A perfect solution was not solved, but there is a simple work around.

As you said, most of the time, it is with a coffee cup player, so you can basically ignore them, as it is not going to effect anything.

So, you have to figure out what players are missing. I think one of the database developers maybe able to supply a list of the players.

Just import the player in the free agent section of the game. You can leave him as a free agent and let the computer managers fight over him or you can go to commish mode and import him. Make sure you check his contract and stuff.

I actually never have this issue, but it is how I play the game. I start the import in 1901 and DO NOT import the years before that. So, that way I do not have those pre-1900 stats in there. I then have it sim until the year that I want to play in. For instance, 1968. I save all the box scores and sometimes the play by plays, and I use the almanac to save the years, using the 'box score mode' selection in the almanac. I then set up a yearly CSV dump.

I then simulate until 1968, when pre-season begins, then I spend a day or two, or even just a few minutes to see how some of the players are doing. Who is hot and who is not. I then release everyone to the fantasy draft, pick a team, draft my team and play away.

To me, it is the ultimate, as I have the real players, and they hit close to what they really did. Plus, you have a true original history for all the teams, that follows the real MLB history.

Thow in some Anderson Utilities and you may never exit the game again!

[BeachBum]

I have used the "identify and manually import" but it is the "identify" part that is a real problem. I have had to sort through the data base looking for players who played both the year(s) before and year(s) after the beginning date.

I don't like the idea of starting in 1901 and simming until the year I begin playing because I like to take a team that is notoriously bad and rebuild them. If you begin in 1901 and sim forward you don't get the same teams. You can not use the rookie draft feature so that rookies go to their original team but if you turn off trading then the trades that actually happened don't. This causes the teams to be different.

Any other ideas will be welcome.

[Spritze]

The nearly completed Garlon CSV Lahman style database will fix this issue. All players have their missing years filled in using various formulas to create missing years that flow along with their actual skill sets.