29
May

League Mods: RCMBA’s Fielding Chart

This modification comes from John Briggs from the Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association.  John is the one who suggested the Slow Runners Runners Card in a past article if you want to take a look at that. 

This time, John and the RCMBA are addressing how APBA addresses fielding and errors.  Now, as much as I love the game of APBA, I have to admit there is a problem with how it administers errors.  It just seems to there are too many, especially when it comes to the middle infielders.  Even a SS-9 will garner more errors than Julio Lugo would in real life.

The RCMBA modification that John shares seems to address that pretty well.  It’s pretty simple as it only comes to effect when bases are empty. 

Here’s the chart:

 

FIELDER CHART

Whenever the bases are empty & the play result is 18, 19 or 20, the following fielding modification will be used:

  • 2B-8 or SS-9 or 3B-5 – roll 1 die and record as follows.. 1-3 out/ 4-6 error
  • 2B-9 or SS-10 or 3B-6 – roll 1 die and record as follows.. 1-4 out/ 5-6 error


 

My take on it

alg_castillo-error-thumb-450x353-1586401My league sees the same issue that the RCMBA does with the numerous errors in the basic game.  We really haven’t found a real solution yet. 

One modification that we do implement is similar to the last part of RCMBA’s chart.  Only it takes effect with 2B-9 and SS-10 and we don’t roll the die… it’s an automatic out.  Part of the reason, I suppose for our modification is to reduce the errors.  The other is introduce some accuracy (though certainly not realism) in that outstanding fielders don’t make so many errors. 

I personally love this chart.  Of all the modifications I’ve seen so far, this is one I think would really fit our league.  It would require a die roll for all fielding one infielders not just top fielders (thirdbasemen too, which we don’t current do) and that might be a sticking point since some in my league don’t like to interrupt the flow of the game with superfluous rolls (fair point, I guess).

Still, this would cut down errors which would solve some problems. There would be more accurate error totals for fielders and better looking boxscores (I hate seeing my Orlando Hudson with two errors in one inning).

I might even forward this to my league and propose this as a voting item for our next league meeting (don’t hold your breath). 

What do you think?  Would you use RCMBA’s Fielder’s Chart in your league?  Leave a comment!

And if you have a APBA league (or heck, even a solo replay) modification you use, send me an email,

thanks to John and the RCMBA for passing this on!

 

  

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20
May

League Mods: The Schedule Tracker

Our third installment of League Mods comes from Steve Stein of the Transcontinental Baseball League.  This one falls under the category of online league tools.  It’s called the Schedule Tracker and color me impressed!  I know my commissioner would love to have this for our league. 

Here’s a quick screen shot:

tblscheduletr

(click to enlarge)

Essentially, the Schedule Tracker is a web page that keeps track of who has played what games in the TBL.  But it seems to take it a bit further than that.  It allows managers to log their progress in playing their games.  Have they sent their instructions?  Are the games in progress?  Are the stats mailed? 

Assuming that the managers have faithfully updated their progress, the nifty online table displays a color-coded table which shows the progress for the month. 

Very nifty.  You can see the Schedule Tracker in action here.

Of course, this tool isn’t incredibly easy to implement and a few things are necessary to get started:

  • a web hosting site with My SQL
  • the knowledge of My SQL to put it all together

As an aside, the TBL has a standings page which is updated live.  Again, let me say I think this is a pretty good set up.  Kudos to Steve and the TBL.

Have a APBA modification you want to share?  Email me.

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14
May

League Mods: Pitcher’s Hitting Card

ial 2009 all star 006 

The second entry in the APBA League Modifications and Tools Series comes from my own league, the Illowa APBA League. 

I can take the credit/blame for instituting the Pitcher’s Hitting Card in the IAL though admittedly it was not my creation.  I picked it up somewhere from a fellow APBA player (I can’t remember who) back in the early 90’s when I was commissioner of the league.  We modified it slightly and introduced into play.  We’ve used it in the IAL ever since. 

It’s sometimes called the “American League Pitcher’s card” but that’s really a misnomer.  Our rules are simple.  If a pitcher with less than 10 real life at-bats is up to bat, we refer to the card below instead of the card that APBA gave him. 

The PHC serves two purposes:

1)  It gives those American League pitchers with the typical 7-8-9 card fighting chance.  Let’s face it, if your league is a pitchers hitting league and John Lackey was on your team, he would probably develop some hitting skills… at least up to the par of your typical National League pitcher.

2)  On the other end of the spectrum, the PHC lessens the impact of some of the monster cards that some of the relievers get from just a few at-bats of work in real life.  Does anyone remember Mike Stanton?? 

Essentially, the Pitcher’s Hitting Card evens things out a little bit.  Owners of Carlos Zambrano and Livian Hernandez fear not… according to our rules, this card will only affect those with less than 10 at-bats so those slugging starters (and starters who hit poorly too) will get to use their own card.

 

Pitcher’s Hitting Card

11-   7-1     31- 13-6     51- 39-6

12- 25-7     32- 26-6     52- 27-6

13- 13-6     33-   8-1     53- 21-6

14- 30-6     34- 31-6     54- 32-6

15-   9-2     35- 13-6     55-   9-2

16- 28-6     36- 33-6     56- 34-7

21- 30-6     41- 24-6     61- 13-6

22-   8-1     42- 13-6     62- 13-6

23- 29-6     43- 29-6     63- 32-6

24- 13-6     44-   8-1     64- 13-6

25- 36-2     45- 14-6     65- 35-7

26- 13-6     46- 12-6     66-   0-1

 

My Take on the Pitcher’s Hitting Card

Since it was my idea to use this in the IAL way back when, I suppose it would be prudent to say this was a great modification.  It does achieve its goals of equalizing the hitting prowess of those pitchers who really batted in real life.

It’s highly customizable.  You think the card is too strong/weak?  Fine.  Change it.  On a side note, we change it every year to relocate the 12 to where it is supposed to be.

But you would be surprised how controversial the Pitcher’s Hitting Card is in our league.  “The card is too strong”.  “The card is too weak”.  “Why can’t we just use APBA’s cards?”  For a while there, we were voting every year on whether to use it.  I think we even added a stipulation that we couldn’t bring up for vote for the next year because managers were tired of voting on it. 

There IS something calming and simple about  just using the cards that APBA deals you.  If you’re willing to get past that and this appeals to you, give it a try.

 

Have a APBA modification you want to share?  Email me,

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12
May

League Mods: Slow Runners Chart

I thought I’d do a series of articles which share a few modifications or tools that APBA leagues have been using. 

John Briggs brings us our first entry.  He’s a manager in the Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association.  The RCMBA saw a need to adjust how the optional base coaching was done in the APBA Basic Game so they came up with their own system.  It’s called the “Slow Runners Card”. 

It’s obviously been popular in the RCMBA.  John says they’ve used it since 1977. 

 

SLOW RUNNERS CARD

  • APBA’s "Optional Base Coaching" (ie; "playing safe") will not be used no matter the situation or result.
  • The below chart will be used whenever the runner is slow and the hit & run board is not in use & play result is 7-11.
  • The slow runner will advance safely the following number of bases unless "SR" indicates otherwise.

PLAY RESULT IS: 7 8 9 10 11
1st 1 1 1 1*$ SR
2nd 2 1 1 1 SR
1st & 2nd (S at 2nd) 1* 1 1 1 SR
1st & 3rd (S at 1st) 1 1 1 SR SR
2nd & 3rd (S at 2nd) SR 1 1 1 SR
Bases full (S at 1st or 2nd) 1* 1 1 1*$ SR

"*" = with two outs 2 bases
"$" = and batter steals 2nd
"SR" = same as regular boards

 

My Take:

There’s no doubt the Optional Base Coaching put forth by the APBA basic boards needs a little refining.  Our league has struggled with this as well.  In concept, I do like the idea of “coaching” a runner.  However, I don’t particularly care for APBA’s “all or nothing” approach (i.e. all runners are coached or none). 

This chart has obviously served RCMBA well since they have used it for what, 30+ years now?  Would our league use it?  Probably not but only because we are going through a strictly boards phase now and aren’t too fond of making changes to it. 

Comments from anyone? 

thanks to John for sharing this!

Have a APBA modification you want to share?  Email me,

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