OOTP10 Suggestions: New Features / Grab Bag

[Syd Thrift]

Suggestion: Media/Player Interaction

Reason: It's one of many little things that makes FM the fantastic soccer sim that it is. Yell at a guy for not running out a ground ball. Talk all kinds of trash about your upcoming opponent. Praise the good outing that your cross-town rival's #1 pitcher had so that he is more receptive to a contract offer at the end of the season. Undermine your star left fielder's popularity with local fans so that it's easier to trade him for Jason Bay.

Priority: Low, although copying from the masters = a good move.

[Afino]

Suggestion:

Similar to two posts above, letting injuries be flexible. Make injuries 3-5, 4-6, 6-8 weeks instead of just "8 weeks".

Reason:

I had a guy get hurt for 5 weeks with 4 weeks left in the season. I want the option to bring him back Willis Reed-style in a key situation - like I don't know, Game 7 of the World Series.

Priority:

Low

[nymets3000]

Suggestion-
Allow ability to retire player's numbers. Also, if a player goes on the DL, they should keep their number. Countless times, I have had my star go on the DL and come back wearing a different number.

Reason- Realism and adds a nice little tough to the history screen by adding retired numbers by organization.


Priority- In the overall scheme of things, low, but it would be a nice feature.

[koohead]

Suggestion
Spring Training rosters shouldn't be restricted to 40 man roster. Allow anyone in the organization to be invited. Also non-roster invitees should be allowed.

Reason

more realistic reproduction of spring training today

Priority
moderate

[bigMatt]

Suggestion
Allow more manager control of Spring Training schedules to add more games, including A&B squad games as in real life ST.

Reason
There are currently not enough games to evaluate talent effectively, and no ability to control how many games will be played in ST.

Priority
Moderate

[fhomess]

Suggestion
Innings limit on games

Reason
Little league only plays 7 innings.

Priority
Low

[fhomess]

Suggestion
Defensive options for shifts similar to how teams play a David Ortiz with 3 infielders on the right side of the diamond

Reason
Realistic for extreme pull hitters.

Priority
Low

[Mattymo]

Originally Posted by Nutlaw

Suggestion
Add team rivalries. Have games played between rivals increase attendance, increase the effect of the outcome upon fan interest, increase the likelihood of brawls in-game, and decrease the likelihood of trades between rivals.

Either allow the commish to edit a field for each team to designate one or two rivals, or create a more fluid way of calculating it in game. You could do the latter by tracking a sort of rivalry score for each opposing team that would increase after a close division/wild card race, after a playoff round against the opponent, and to a much lesser extent after things like brawls.

Reason
It would add depth to the game without making it any more difficult to play.

Priority
Low.

Adding to this:

Suggestion
Add "importance factor/rivalry rating/whatever you want to call it" to each game, depending on the urgency of the game. So, take the Yankees: a 1-game playoff against the Red Sox at the end of the season would be much more important than a May game vs. the Athletics. And Game 7 of the WS/ALCS would have the most urgency of any game.

Reason
I'm sick of seeing #1 pitchers pitching on the last day of the season when their team has clinched a spot in the post-season and are not playing for anything. I also hate to see a closer not used in an urgent game because he is "slightly tired". And I've been seeing a lot of #4 starters starting Game 1 of the WS b/c the AI has a "strict rotation" when the #1 starter is fully rested.

Priority
Medium

[Mattymo]

Originally Posted by Afino

Suggestion:

Similar to two posts above, letting injuries be flexible. Make injuries 3-5, 4-6, 6-8 weeks instead of just "8 weeks".

Reason:

I had a guy get hurt for 5 weeks with 4 weeks left in the season. I want the option to bring him back Willis Reed-style in a key situation - like I don't know, Game 7 of the World Series.

Priority:

Low

Along these lines:

Suggestion: Have injuries get better over time. So obviously if a guy breaks his wrist, he can't play. But if it's 4 weeks until he's 100%, he'd probably be at 80% after 3 weeks. Depending on the urgency of the situation, they could rush him back. Perhaps this could fall under the Team Doctor...a bad doctor might say he's ok then the guy gets hurt because he wasn't ok.

Reason: This happens all the time in real life. Guys very rarely return at 100%, usually the ligaments/tendon's in whatever body part are still weak. Look at Longoria in September, when he came back he wasn't 100% and had a tough time hitting the inside pitch. Now he looks ok though. Plus some injuries maybe never get 100%, at least not until the end of the season when the player can really rest.

Priority: Low

[John C]

Suggestion: New roles in-game...pitching/batting coach, manager

Reason: It would add new ways to play the game, give you more in-game control, and less control of your roster. You'd have to deal with GMs putting guys on your team that aren't receptive to your way of teaching, or don't want to mess with new ideas. Or deal with pitchers who can't understand why you called that pitch in that situation. If you're successful, you can go from coach to manager.

Priority: Low. Just would be fun to see.

[fhomess]

Suggestion:
Ability to create exhibition leagues like the World Baseball Classic. This would include a new league level of "exhibition" instead of the standard levels of major, AAA, AA, A, rookie, etc., as well as a way to "loan" players to these leagues. Player morale should not be affected negatively while in an exhibition league even if it's on in general. Exhibition leagues should be able to have hiatus years, where the league doesn't play.

Reason:
Currently, to replicate the World Baseball Classic, you have to create a separate league and assign it a level as a major league or make it a minor league. Either way, the stats from that league then get incorporated in the player's career totals for the level you defined it as. Also, the World Baseball Classic isn't played every year, so you have to delete the league and then recreate it a few years later since the game doesn't handle leagues with no games scheduled well. As a result, you lose continuity of league stats in this league.

Priority:
Medium

[ELDoro]

Suggestion: The ability to have champions from different leagues play each other. ie MLB champs play the Japan champs.

Reason: This could be huge and would almost be like a World Baseball Classic. I think it would also open up tons of possibilities for fictional leagues.


priority: relatively high (would be a huge feature for many in my eyes)

[sayheykid]

I think the next version of OOTP should include rehab assignments. Of course, they would be of a limited duration (perhaps 2 weeks).

The reasoning for this is that I signed, as a free agent, Sabathia who had been injured the previous year and was not re-signed by his previous club. However, he never went through spring training and will probably be VERY rusty. I think a rehab option would be very helpful.

I would place this somewhere between a should have - must have.? Maybe?

[nyy26wc]

Suggestion

An option to bunt for a base hit when there are men on base.

Reason

It's always been a standard in all of the baseball games that I've played through the years (ever since Micro League Baseball came out in 1984) and I was surprised to not see it already.

Priority

Medium

[nyy26wc]

Originally Posted by Mattymo

Adding to this:

Suggestion
Add "importance factor/rivalry rating/whatever you want to call it" to each game, depending on the urgency of the game. So, take the Yankees: a 1-game playoff against the Red Sox at the end of the season would be much more important than a May game vs. the Athletics. And Game 7 of the WS/ALCS would have the most urgency of any game.

Reason
I'm sick of seeing #1 pitchers pitching on the last day of the season when their team has clinched a spot in the post-season and are not playing for anything. I also hate to see a closer not used in an urgent game because he is "slightly tired". And I've been seeing a lot of #4 starters starting Game 1 of the WS b/c the AI has a "strict rotation" when the #1 starter is fully rested.

Priority
Medium

I apologize if I'm not supposed to do this in this forum. But, I would like to say that I would consider this to be highest priority, not medium.

I just had a situation where all postseason spots were either mathematically clinched or you knew who they would be, baring a 1987 Blue Jays level collapse. The team I managed was a shoo-in for the playoffs going into September, so I started manipulating my rotation then in order to be able to get the order set up for the postseason.

But, for everyone else, they would have had really goofy looking postseason rotations, with their aces not available at the start of the postseason because they pitched over the last weekend of the season. The solution that I found was to suspend pitchers in order to prevent them from starting in the final games of the season. But, it would have been so much easier to not be able to do this.

[Peter]

I like those ideas. I would also like to have expanded rosters, ie; inviting players to S.T. without signing them, (Non Roster invitees). I would like to see the ability to have a Grapefruit league and Cactus League type format where you could mix teams from each league.

[Who Killed Kenny?]

I suggested this last year. Just want to bump it again

Suggestion
League Hierarchy

Reason
Realism

Priority
Medium

[pstrickert]

Suggestion: Allow the user to design and print baseball cards.

Reason: This received an overwhelmingly positive response when the idea was suggested two years ago.

Priority: Low. It would increase the "cool factor" of OOTP, though.
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[Raidergoo]

Suggestion

Spring Training sites

Reason

Since weather players a big role in injuries, and injuries are more prevalent in Spring Training, having teams play games in warm-weather sites is essential. That's one of the reasons why they play the games in Arizona and Florida.

Priority

High

[Mattymo]

Originally Posted by Mattymo

Adding to this:

Suggestion
Add "importance factor/rivalry rating/whatever you want to call it" to each game, depending on the urgency of the game. So, take the Yankees: a 1-game playoff against the Red Sox at the end of the season would be much more important than a May game vs. the Athletics. And Game 7 of the WS/ALCS would have the most urgency of any game.

Reason
I'm sick of seeing #1 pitchers pitching on the last day of the season when their team has clinched a spot in the post-season and are not playing for anything. I also hate to see a closer not used in an urgent game because he is "slightly tired". And I've been seeing a lot of #4 starters starting Game 1 of the WS b/c the AI has a "strict rotation" when the #1 starter is fully rested.

Priority
Medium

I'd like to add to my own suggestion.

You could have an "importance scale" for each game on a 0-5 scale, only editable by the GM (human or AI) or commish.

0-Exhibition or spring training game
1-Early season game vs. non-division team or late season game after mathematically elminated or clinched. Pitchers not pushed at all, starters can be pulled after a couple ABs or not started at all

2-Regular season game-trying to break losing streak or playing a team comparable in division pre-September or team within division. Follow rotation rules, rest relievers that are tired, starting players start.

3-Rivalry game (i.e. Yankees/Red Sox), national TV game or late season game battling for playoff spot. Start pitchers on normal rest or ace on 3-days rest if he can handle it, starterss play but not if they are injured, relievers are used unless they are exhausted

4-Non-elimination playoff game-Juggle rotation to start highest rested starter, push them past normal pitch limits, as well as relievers. Never sit a starting player.

5-Elimination game- Whether a Best-of-one Playoff game, Game 7, last day of regular season. Aces go on 3-days rest, Players play hurt, starters pitch in relief.

The more important a game, the more tired each player will be after the emotional toll. Also players would be more apt to get hurt (say 2% more likely) because of overuse of pitchers, players running harder and giving up their bodies.