Now that we have a new board I would like to track where the Diamond Mind game is. I hope everyone who has loaded it is giving it serious consideration. I have noticed some really extremely weird stats within series, especially related to range checks and errors.
Another item I don't like about SOM is how it rates players defensively. It seems too subjective to me. SOM rates players range based on how it effects how the team results should be in a replay of the season. For instance if a team has a really good record with good pitching, then the fielders on that team will likely get good range ratings. As opposed to rating players defensively objectively, ie baed on statistics.
Feedback on people's impressions would be good also. If we decide to change games we would need to make that decision very early in the postseason. I know people in general do not like change. That a bad known is better than the unknown. Feedback from those who have looked at it would also possibly kill the issue all together if the DM game is not good or suitable.
Thanks Tom for rescuing the board as it is a very useful tool for communicating with the league.
I think I mentioned most of this on the old board long ago when I first got the game and started circulating it, but. . .
DM advantages
Price ($30 annual update--but we do have to fork over $50 the first year) Comes out in early December--gosh, we can have game before end of 1st trade period! Seems to be more stable (haven't had crashes even on 10 year old computer running Windows 98)
Disadvantages
I miss watching the flight of the ball. We'll have to deal with pitcher injuries.
You make the call
I tend to agree with Tom that SOM has given some strange defensive ratings in the past, no matter if their justification is "insider subjective evaluation" or overall team performance; however, I am not fully convinced that a purely objective statistical rating is better. If you think the Derek Jeters and Andruw Joneses should get 1 ratings based on reputation, then SOM is more your game. If you think those guys who make more plays should get the better rating, then DM wins.
No undo last play feature--which is the reason we'll have to deal with pitcher injuries. I couldn't find anything in league rules or settings to allow us to ignore them and you can't back up one play, which is kind of annoying since I bet a lot of us forget to make a requested blowout substitution and need to back up a batter. Maybe Tom T. knows tricks I don't.
A few extra strategy choices--taking pitches, etc.
Overall, I think DM is a better game from a statistical/tactical standpoint, but I really do miss the flight of the ball.
One other thing that should be on the "you make the call" list--baserunning decisions are much more guesswork in DM. While SOM gives a % prompt, DM just has you making a decision based on who's Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, or Pr and where the ball's hit.
The road manager is no different from the regular computer manager. I created one for my teams, plugged them into the AL Central and got pretty accurate usage. Haven't bothered to watch a game in play by play mode to see what the computer does, though.
It seems like the one trick to look out for is the computer's tendency to select a spot start % for your backups. If you don't want the computer to do things like put in your scrub OF in 30% of the games, then you have to set the spot start % yourself.
Everything that changes in the league has to go through the commissioner. Before yo export your stats, you will need to change your CM for the next road series. When you export your stats, the CM changes are automatically sent with the stats. The commissioner compiles everything for the league and sends it back out. So, when you get the stat update, you also get your opponent's CM for your next series.
Where is the game now? I would like to try it before we make a decision. We may not make the change this year, but if we were to vote I may vote for a change sight unseen.
