Minor Tweaks

I would like to see the following minor tweaks:

1. The "clutch" option absolutely should NOT be used, it was created to be used inside a "as played" team structure and has no business in a draft league. We do not use the weather option, why are we using the "clutch" option?

2. Why can't an outfielder like Coco Crisp play LF, like he can with the CD-ROM? Coco Crisp and others who are only rated for CF should be able to play any outfield position, as it is with the CD-ROM.

3. Mandatory larger roster option. I would like to see an option where each team has to carry 28 or 30 players. This would add more strategy and realism. No real baseball team can make it through a season with 4 starting pitchers, or 5 relievers, or 24 total players, it just doesn't happen.

4. I think at least a half credit should be awarded to ANY team that makes the playoffs!

5. Maybe an incentive for GMs who bring new managers to the game would help both SOM and the customers.

6. How about a modern 2000s Mystery League?

7. More managerial control like the CD-ROM has would be nice. For instance, "Do not steal unless the success rate is 70%". Or a "don't steal third base" option.

8. I wish the computer would use pinch hitters more often. I understand the computer manager does not want to run out of players, which is why I would like to see mandatory larger rosters (say 28), or at least an option to have a league with a mandatory larger roster to add more strategy. We could use more pinch hitters, defensive replacements, pinch runners and the like!

9. Manager rankings based on leagues, winning percentages, playoff teams, and championship teams. How else can I really compare myself to the so called best managers?

I am a big fan of the on-line games and I think SOM does a fine job but these minor tweaks would make the game even better. Thanks much!

I agree.

All great ideas that would add to the game.

I would like to see the following minor tweaks:

1. The "clutch" option absolutely should NOT be used, it was created to be used inside a "as played" team structure and has no business in a draft league. We do not use the weather option, why are we using the "clutch" option?

2. Why can't an outfielder like Coco Crisp play LF, like he can with the CD-ROM? Coco Crisp and others who are only rated for CF should be able to play any outfield position, as it is with the CD-ROM.

3. Mandatory larger roster option. I would like to see an option where each team has to carry 28 or 30 players. This would add more strategy and realism. No real baseball team can make it through a season with 4 starting pitchers, or 5 relievers, or 24 total players, it just doesn't happen.

4. I think at least a half credit should be awarded to ANY team that makes the playoffs!

5. Maybe an incentive for GMs who bring new managers to the game would help both SOM and the customers.

6. How about a modern 2000s Mystery League?

7. More managerial control like the CD-ROM has would be nice. For instance, "Don not steal unless the success rate is 70%".

8. I wish the computer would use pinch hitters more often. I understand the computer manager does not want to run out of players, which is why I would like to see mandatory larger rosters (say 28), or at least an option to have a league with a mandatory larger roster to add more strategy. We could use more pinch hitters, defensive replacements, pinch runners and the like!

9. Manager rankings based on leagues, winning percentages, playoff teams, and championship teams. How else can I really compare myself to the so called best managers?

I am a big fan of the on-line games and I think SOM does a fine job but these minor tweaks would make the game even better. Thanks much!

I can't resist adding my two cents...

1. You logic is sound, but I have mixed emotions about clutch. I would keep it simply because it adds another dimension to the hitters' cards that must be considered when drafting a team or setting a lineup.

2. There is a bit more challenge to the game as it is now, but I can't argue with your logic. Maybe I'm reluctant because I used to play a competitor's game years ago where you would always play Carl Yastrzemski in right field because of the mechanics of the game. That never sat well with me, but you would be a fool not to do it. Nevertheless, I (reluctantly) agree with you on this one. However, if it is ever allowed, I think SOM should give every outfielder a rating at every position. They could list normally unplayed positions in parenthesis [e.g., Tom Goodwin cf-2 lf-2 (rf-3)].

3. I disagree! While teams absolutely need more than 24 players to make it through a season, they can only do it 25 players at a time (not counting September). While 24-man rosters are not realistic, 28-man rosters are even more unrealistic.

4. I think they should give half a credit to the runner up in the new 6-team leagues. That would make the ratio of credits per manager the same as a 12-team league.

5. Sounds win-win to me!

6. Yes! Yes! Yes!

7. Agree. (I curse HAL every time one of my players is out stealing third.)

8. One of the challenges a real baseball manager faces is a limited roster. This is one more reason I am against 28-man rosters. It might be fun to have a pinch-hitter for every situation in every inning, but it's not baseball.

9. Not having managers ratings--or at least partial managers ratings based on the data they have compiled so far--is unforgivable. If my name was Warren Buffett, I would buy the company tomorrow and by the end of next week there would be some kind of manager ratings in place!

As far as my number 2, the letting guys only rated for CF play LF or RF, this is already allowed with both the CD-ROM and the board game rules. It is frustrating when a guy like Coco Crisp who has played LF in the past can not play LF for the last few years...

Having mandatory larger rosters even 25 men (which is what MLB allows) would just add more strategy and fun. I would like to see rosters be larger still, maybe 30 guys but 5 are deactivated until you get an injury or send someone down...

Finally, how about a theme league where after game 100 or 120 you have to increase your roster to 28 or 30 and we set aside a couple million bucks that can't be touched until after the decided upon game number. This would mimic September call ups and late season acquisitions and definitely add more strategy, it would also liven things up down the stretch.

Having mandatory larger rosters even 25 men (which is what MLB allows) would just add more strategy and fun. I would like to see rosters be larger still, maybe 30 guys but 5 are deactivated until you get an injury or send someone down...

That would be reasonable. However, to make it work, I think pricing would need to be reworked. IMHO, lower priced reserves are overpriced by quite a bit. Salaries overall have gotten better and more accurate over the years. However, they are based on a player's value assuming he gets a significant amount of at bats. For example, if I pay $500K for a backup who only gets 50 at bats, his cost per at bat is more than a $5 million dollar player who gets 600+ at bats.

Since everyone needs some reserves, the pricing works out. However, it definitely is an advantage to normally go with the smallest roster possible. It also encourages cheap backups since spending say $1 million on a player who gets 50 at bats is really wasting money. So, if 30-man rosters are required, you are going to have a lot of $500k players ($750k in mystery leagues) taking up space.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts!