Does anyone here actually enjoy playing offline mode?

[ALB123]

Originally Posted by jfb1985

I have a TON of fun with it. AND I'm an O's fan.

Just like someone else said, I kind of treat offline like a sandbox mode.

What is sandbox mode?

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

TCR is worth a try. I sometimes find myself getting attached to players that i drafted high who ended up becoming a bust.

I play with some House Rules, but I didn't even know what TCR was until a week ago when I asked about it in the forums. I will definitely increase that value! OOTP 21 is my first version of OOTP. It took 8 seasons for me to reach the World Series. Fortunately, I won!! 1988 World Champion Yankees!

There is something that I've been thinking about for several weeks now. Frankly, I don't have a solution in mind, yet, but it still bugs me. Human players have a ridiculous advantage over the AI when it comes to that first day of Free Agency for players after the season is over. Basically, if you have the $ and desire you can pretty much grab every Free Agent you want. Two years ago, I signed the 2 highest rated FA's both 4.5-star stud pitchers. Occasionally there may be a short bidding war, but if you want to, you'll end up winning and walk away with your prize, a #1 pick. We are in control of how long an ootp day lasts. 3-4 season ago I spent 2 real-life days analyzing players like crazy. I ended up signing the 3 best FA's according to my personal scouting. They were all Top 15 players in POT grading. All three have been successful in my organization. That first day of new free agents is like having the #1 pick in a draft, but you have the option to take more than one player with that pick. I wish there were some randomness in whether a FA will sign with your team or an AI team. It might seem a little silly, but I think it would be nice to offer the #1 CUR/POT free agent a nice deal on Day 1 of FA signings and receive a message that he already decided he wants to play for team X and signed a deal. I have 4 starting pitchers who would be the Ace on 3/4s of the MLB teams. IRL that 4th pitcher I picked up most recently would not have signed a deal with my team because he doesn't want to be #4 on a team. He wants to be the number 1 or maybe number 2. And that's that. Remember when it looked like Zack Greinke was going to become a FA and a lot of people thought he'd end up on the Yankees because of the $ they could offer. Zach didn't want to play in the zoo of New York... He didn't really want any big market team (google his no-trade list). OOTP Zack Greinke won't refuse a very big contract to play with my Yankees.

I hope people get the gist of what I'm saying. As I said, I don't know what would be involved in making FA signings a bit more difficult. I just think that's one area that needs to be looked at.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by naturaldopamine

Standard settings. 20-80 ratings. Very hard trading, highly favor prospects, no rule 5 picks, no contract extensions until year 3, no trading for someone of greater potential, etc.



Also - playing with teams like the O's is even easier. Not only do you get the top pick in every amateur/Rule5 draft - you get top waiver wire priority & with the way the AI never protects their elite specs you can dominate after year 4 and never finish in 2nd place again.

I've found playing historical rookies on a 500ish team makes it tough enough..

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by ALB123

Remember when it looked like Zack Greinke was going to become a FA and a lot of people thought he'd end up on the Yankees because of the $ they could offer. Zach didn't want to play in the zoo of New York... He didn't really want any big market team (google his no-trade list).

No trade lists don't necessarily mean a player doesn't want to play there

Often, especially a smart guy like Greinke, will put the teams most likely to trade for them (or the teams who can most afford their contact) on their no-trade list. Then they can demand compensation for waiving it.

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by ALB123

What is sandbox mode?



I play with some House Rules, but I didn't even know what TCR was until a week ago when I asked about it in the forums. I will definitely increase that value! OOTP 21 is my first version of OOTP. It took 8 seasons for me to reach the World Series. Fortunately, I won!! 1988 World Champion Yankees!

There is something that I've been thinking about for several weeks now. Frankly, I don't have a solution in mind, yet, but it still bugs me. Human players have a ridiculous advantage over the AI when it comes to that first day of Free Agency for players after the season is over. Basically, if you have the $ and desire you can pretty much grab every Free Agent you want. Two years ago, I signed the 2 highest rated FA's both 4.5-star stud pitchers. Occasionally there may be a short bidding war, but if you want to, you'll end up winning and walk away with your prize, a #1 pick. We are in control of how long an ootp day lasts. 3-4 season ago I spent 2 real-life days analyzing players like crazy. I ended up signing the 3 best FA's according to my personal scouting. They were all Top 15 players in POT grading. All three have been successful in my organization. That first day of new free agents is like having the #1 pick in a draft, but you have the option to take more than one player with that pick. I wish there were some randomness in whether a FA will sign with your team or an AI team. It might seem a little silly, but I think it would be nice to offer the #1 CUR/POT free agent a nice deal on Day 1 of FA signings and receive a message that he already decided he wants to play for team X and signed a deal. I have 4 starting pitchers who would be the Ace on 3/4s of the MLB teams. IRL that 4th pitcher I picked up most recently would not have signed a deal with my team because he doesn't want to be #4 on a team. He wants to be the number 1 or maybe number 2. And that's that. Remember when it looked like Zack Greinke was going to become a FA and a lot of people thought he'd end up on the Yankees because of the $ they could offer. Zach didn't want to play in the zoo of New York... He didn't really want any big market team (google his no-trade list). OOTP Zack Greinke won't refuse a very big contract to play with my Yankees.

I hope people get the gist of what I'm saying. As I said, I don't know what would be involved in making FA signings a bit more difficult. I just think that's one area that needs to be looked at.

I wish real time sim was active during days where there aren’t games. I could make 24 minutes (or seconds) equal to 24 hours.


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[PocketsAintFull]

I think it's possible that a) the OP is exceptionally good at the game, and/or b) is playing to 'exploit' the game to win as early as possible. Neither of those are wrong, but it doesn't mean that's a common experience.

For example, I prioritise the game 'feeling' realistic over winning, and act accordingly. I still want to win but it's secondary to the baseball universe I'm playing/experiencing. I suspect that's more the design of the game than offering a hardcore challenge, though I could be wrong.

So to answer, yes, the offline mode is fun, at least to me

[BirdWatcher]

Originally Posted by PocketsAintFull

I think it's possible that a) the OP is exceptionally good at the game, and/or b) is playing to 'exploit' the game to win as early as possible. Neither of those are wrong, but it doesn't mean that's a common experience.

For example, I prioritise the game 'feeling' realistic over winning, and act accordingly. I still want to win but it's secondary to the baseball universe I'm playing/experiencing. I suspect that's more the design of the game than offering a hardcore challenge, though I could be wrong.

So to answer, yes, the offline mode is fun, at least to me

Yup, pretty much exactly the way I see it.

[naturaldopamine]

Lol I agree top 500 is way too much. Just trying to bring attention to this issue. For instance......






This guy could really help contribute to the Orioles..... I understand keeping Davis but a few of those other 25ovr players are on min. salary contracts and they had horrible stats. Any rational GM would waive those guys and make 100% sure that their studs were protected. And I have posted about it in the bug forums before, with photos. This happens in every single offline league where top 100 prospects with a high ceiling are unprotected. In the past I would just enter into Commish mode and edit those guys on the 40-man....very tedious.

I play on 85% ratings weight by the way. 85/5/5/5

[jimmysthebestcop]

85% ratings?????????????????????????? good lord that is insane

[Mat]

It is minimal info, but that is no stud.

[naturaldopamine]

Originally Posted by Mat

It is minimal info, but that is no stud.

In contrast to what the Orioles currently have, he certainly is & should be protected by all means.







Here's another one from another league.... Vidal Brujan..... #27 prospect.

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by naturaldopamine

Lol I agree top 500 is way too much. Just trying to bring attention to this issue. For instance......






This guy could really help contribute to the Orioles..... I understand keeping Davis but a few of those other 25ovr players are on min. salary contracts and they had horrible stats. Any rational GM would waive those guys and make 100% sure that their studs were protected. And I have posted about it in the bug forums before, with photos. This happens in every single offline league where top 100 prospects with a high ceiling are unprotected. In the past I would just enter into Commish mode and edit those guys on the 40-man....very tedious.

I play on 85% ratings weight by the way. 85/5/5/5

85% may be your issue tbh.

While I do sometimes see the better player (not by a lot) left off of the 40 man in favor of someone else, 9/10 it is because of technical reasons. Like the player is experienced enough to reject a send down or position needs.

Never have I see any top prospects made available to the rule 5 especially after having good numbers. You might want to give some more weight to stats and run some test until you are comfortable with the results.


OOTP have a lot of options that could easily break the game for you. It’s wise to test out any settings before committing.

If 85% ratings are a must, you could try disabling “refuse minor league assignments”

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by naturaldopamine

In contrast to what the Orioles currently have, he certainly is & should be protected by all means.







Here's another one from another league.... Vidal Brujan..... #27 prospect.

This is not ideal, but it's also a result of a brutal Rule 5 crunch the Rays are going to be facing this year.

Real life and in-game, they're going to have to trade guys away at a discount or leave some good players exposed.

Unfortunately, not really much way around that or much of a good way for the AI to handle it.

The 2020 Rays are basically a textbook example of exactly why the Rule 5 draft was established in the first place

Anyway, the problem at this point is not whether the AI in some circumstances leave guys exposed that it shouldn't, it's pretty clear that in some circumstances it does. What we need to find out is why it does it.

At this point, what we need to make any progress is the actual save game files from the day before or the day of the Rule 5 draft (but before the draft is started) where there's a clear case of a guy being exposed who in no way should be exposed (not Brujan or another Rays prospect in 2020, since that's just a no win situation, like I mentioned).

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

This is not ideal, but it's also a result of a brutal Rule 5 crunch the Rays are going to be facing this year.

Real life and in-game, they're going to have to trade guys away at a discount or leave some good players exposed.

Unfortunately, not really much way around that or much of a good way for the AI to handle it.

The 2020 Rays are basically a textbook example of exactly why the Rule 5 draft was established in the first place

Anyway, the problem at this point is not whether the AI in some circumstances leave guys exposed that it shouldn't, it's pretty clear that in some circumstances it does. What we need to find out is why it does it.

At this point, what we need to make any progress is the actual save game files from the day before or the day of the Rule 5 draft (but before the draft is started) where there's a clear case of a guy being exposed who in no way should be exposed (not Brujan or another Rays prospect in 2020, since that's just a no win situation, like I mentioned).

Things I’ve have noticed is that

1. AI would rather have a low rated RP on its 40 rather than a better rated position player. (Maybe it have to do with Pitcher vs Batter?)

2. Potential OVR does not seem to outweigh or be equal to current OVR in this decision making.

A 40/40 player would get picked over a 25/50 player. That could be argued considering you would want MLB ready players ready to be called up from AAA but I also feel that potential should have way more weight for the sake of protecting some players.

These issues would be glaring if you take stats almost out of the equation of figuring out current OVR. Which is what is happening here IMO.

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[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

2. Potential OVR does not seem to outweigh or be equal to current OVR in this decision making.

A 40/40 player would get picked over a 25/50 player. That could be argued considering you would want MLB ready players ready to be called up from AAA but I also feel that potential should have way more weight for the sake of protecting some players.

It's a good point, but I do feel like this is kind of how the actual Rule 5 works in real life though.

For instance, of that list of the top prospects exposed to the draft last year I linked to a page or two back, few to none of them were actually selected.

Teams will not take and stash a guy who has a low current rating except in the most exceptional circumstances.

From looking at history, MLB teams will nearly always take a 40/40 guy over a 25/50 guy if it involves taking up an MLB roster spot, even on a rebuilding team.

So I'm not sure we're getting anything wrong here, if this is the case.

[naturaldopamine]

I agree but those guys I shared were not 25 guys. They would be 50 guys on opening day and more times than not above average by seasons' end. They're typically around 3.0war guys.

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by naturaldopamine

I agree but those guys I shared were not 25 guys. They would be 50 guys on opening day and more times than not above average by seasons' end. They're typically around 3.0war guys.

Yeah, I agree that a bunch of the examples folks have shown the last few days, that's not the case and definitely more problematic.

I was just commenting on what SirMichaelJordan said specifically, not so much speaking about the overall issue.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

Anyway, the problem at this point is not whether the AI in some circumstances leave guys exposed that it shouldn't, it's pretty clear that in some circumstances it does. What we need to find out is why it does it.

At this point, what we need to make any progress is the actual save game files from the day before or the day of the Rule 5 draft (but before the draft is started) where there's a clear case of a guy being exposed who in no way should be exposed (not Brujan or another Rays prospect in 2020, since that's just a no win situation, like I mentioned).

Isn't, at least part of, the problem that the AI doesn't do a very good job of, the admittedly difficult, tasks of team-building and anticipation?

Human players will anticipate this and trade these players, even for a discount, or clear space for them

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by naturaldopamine

I agree but those guys I shared were not 25 guys. They would be 50 guys on opening day and more times than not above average by seasons' end. They're typically around 3.0war guys.

True but I only see Baltimore’s roster.

Outside of the young RP’s, the player in question is not much better currently than any of the position players. They also may have the ability to reject send downs

As I mentioned as a potential issue, the RP’s should be sent down. But they may have a rule about having a certain amount of pitchers.

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Isn't, at least part of, the problem that the AI doesn't do a very good job of, the admittedly difficult, tasks of team-building and anticipation?

Human players will anticipate this and trade these players, even for a discount, or clear space for them

Yeah, for sure this is a big part of it. And obviously we're not going to be able to make the AI better than humans in this regard.

I think what folks are reasonably hoping for here is just eliminating the most extreme cases, like the initial example in the other thread about this, where the guy where the guy who was a 7 WAR player the next year got left exposed.

But given that the AI doesn't do that sort of thing to that extent in most leagues, it's probably not really a general 'ai totally sucks' issue per say as a 'combination of specific settings that is making the ai go crazy in rare cases' issue. Hopefully, at least

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Isn't, at least part of, the problem that the AI doesn't do a very good job of, the admittedly difficult, tasks of team-building and anticipation?

Human players will anticipate this and trade these players, even for a discount, or clear space for them

Also keep in mind that with even having trade frequency at the highest setting, there are still less trades happening compared to real life.

IRL, there are anywhere between 80-120 MLB trades per season. Offseason to Offseason.

In OOTP with the highest setting, I count between 50-70.

So not much opportunity for the AI to even unload said players IMO.


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