Modern day baseball completely breaks random debut

David Watts · 10-09-2025, 11:21 AM

I play random debut almost exclusively. My leagues usually center around the years 1946-1992. Random debut works like a charm during those years. Every once in a while I like to create random debut leagues and just let them fast sim through history while I do other things. I did this the other night and once again, it became clear to me that modern day baseball and random debut just doesn't work. Once MLB teams start to combine for 40,000+ strikeouts over a season, random debut goes haywire. Babe Ruth will be Babe Ruth in terms of power and production. He will get on base a ton, hit a massive number of home runs and drive in a lot of runs. Problem is, he will also strikeout 250+ times a season. In this recent league, from 2022-2025 he whiffed he whiffed over 250 time in each of the 4 season with 280 being the high. Mark Reynolds whiffed an astonishing 296 time one season during those 4 seasons.

I just avoid this period like the plague, but it might be cool if this could get a look in regards fixing. That being said, maybe today's baseball and the massive number of k's makes it impossible to do anything about.

Vezna31 · 10-20-2025, 03:07 AM

Babe Ruth broke my league when he entered in my league in 1995. He hit 82 HRs in his rookie year, when the record had been 60 set in 1974. Then he hit 132 in 1996, his 2nd year and another player hit 101 because he had similar power numbers. He hit for the Triple Crown 4 years in a row. I had to adjust league totals for HRs way down because 5 players hit over 60 in 1996 because of these 2 players shifting the curve up. Ruth's high for K's was 160 in 1999 though, so I haven't seen that issue.

David Watts · 10-20-2025, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vezna31

Babe Ruth broke my league when he entered in my league in 1995. He hit 82 HRs in his rookie year, when the record had been 60 set in 1974. Then he hit 132 in 1996, his 2nd year and another player hit 101 because he had similar power numbers. He hit for the Triple Crown 4 years in a row. I had to adjust league totals for HRs way down because 5 players hit over 60 in 1996 because of these 2 players shifting the curve up. Ruth's high for K's was 160 in 1999 though, so I haven't seen that issue.

1992 is as far as I will go in a random debut league that I'm not simply fast simming for results. My current random debut started in 1946 and is up to 1973. The top home run total for a season is 58 by Hank Aaron. Want to say he hit the 58 in either 50 or 51. I've had a handful of player reach 50 over the years. 1977 is approaching. 1972 was Mark McGwire's rookie season, so he should be right in his prime when 77 rolls around, giving him ample opportunity to be the leagues first 60 home run guy.

mugwump1970 · 10-20-2025, 05:30 PM

I have run into this issue, and for me, the fix was to pick one static year (1986) so that strikeouts don't get too crazy. I have noticed that it dampens home run and RBI totals for some of the classic power hitters, but I think career totals are more comparable.

David Watts · 10-20-2025, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugwump1970

I have run into this issue, and for me, the fix was to pick one static year (1986) so that strikeouts don't get too crazy. I have noticed that it dampens home run and RBI totals for some of the classic power hitters, but I think career totals are more comparable.

I like the static year method, but at times I love following history which works great from 1946-1992. At some point I might give starting in 1921 a shot as well.

ldambrosa · 10-23-2025, 07:47 AM

I feel like I have the opposite problem. I started a random league in 1903. I started with fictional players to make it easy, then I have brought in via draft a mix of real-life and fictional players. I am now in the 1939 season, I noticed, once I got into the live ball era, that home runs in general were low even for "power hitters". As an example, Mickey Mantle is the all-time HR leader with 513, but the most he hit in a season was 42. The other thing I noticed was that fictional players come nowhere near as good as real players, especially as batters. I've attached the top 25 single season HRs, and all but a few are real, and a couple that aren't were manipulated via the editor screen

David Watts · 10-23-2025, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldambrosa

I feel like I have the opposite problem. I started a random league in 1903. I started with fictional players to make it easy, then I have brought in via draft a mix of real-life and fictional players. I am now in the 1939 season, I noticed, once I got into the live ball era, that home runs in general were low even for "power hitters". As an example, Mickey Mantle is the all-time HR leader with 513, but the most he hit in a season was 42. The other thing I noticed was that fictional players come nowhere near as good as real players, especially as batters. I've attached the top 25 single season HRs, and all but a few are real, and a couple that aren't were manipulated via the editor screen

Individual totals will probably be lower during these years in a random debut, because as a whole your league probably has more power hitters than what existed in real life. Therefore, the game has to spread those home runs over more players.

10-09-2025, 11:21 AM	#1
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 9,823 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Modern day baseball completely breaks random debut I play random debut almost exclusively. My leagues usually center around the years 1946-1992. Random debut works like a charm during those years. Every once in a while I like to create random debut leagues and just let them fast sim through history while I do other things. I did this the other night and once again, it became clear to me that modern day baseball and random debut just doesn't work. Once MLB teams start to combine for 40,000+ strikeouts over a season, random debut goes haywire. Babe Ruth will be Babe Ruth in terms of power and production. He will get on base a ton, hit a massive number of home runs and drive in a lot of runs. Problem is, he will also strikeout 250+ times a season. In this recent league, from 2022-2025 he whiffed he whiffed over 250 time in each of the 4 season with 280 being the high. Mark Reynolds whiffed an astonishing 296 time one season during those 4 seasons. I just avoid this period like the plague, but it might be cool if this could get a look in regards fixing. That being said, maybe today's baseball and the massive number of k's makes it impossible to do anything about.

10-20-2025, 03:07 AM	#2
Vezna31 All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: Wherever My VPN says Posts: 1,984	Babe Ruth broke my league when he entered in my league in 1995. He hit 82 HRs in his rookie year, when the record had been 60 set in 1974. Then he hit 132 in 1996, his 2nd year and another player hit 101 because he had similar power numbers. He hit for the Triple Crown 4 years in a row. I had to adjust league totals for HRs way down because 5 players hit over 60 in 1996 because of these 2 players shifting the curve up. Ruth's high for K's was 160 in 1999 though, so I haven't seen that issue. __________________ Owner/Operator - Vezna Financial Services - Accounting and taxes.

10-23-2025, 07:47 AM	#6
ldambrosa Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Lincroft, NJ Posts: 61	I feel like I have the opposite problem. I started a random league in 1903. I started with fictional players to make it easy, then I have brought in via draft a mix of real-life and fictional players. I am now in the 1939 season, I noticed, once I got into the live ball era, that home runs in general were low even for "power hitters". As an example, Mickey Mantle is the all-time HR leader with 513, but the most he hit in a season was 42. The other thing I noticed was that fictional players come nowhere near as good as real players, especially as batters. I've attached the top 25 single season HRs, and all but a few are real, and a couple that aren't were manipulated via the editor screen Attached Images

10-20-2025, 05:30 PM	#4
mugwump1970 Bat Boy Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 8	I have run into this issue, and for me, the fix was to pick one static year (1986) so that strikeouts don't get too crazy. I have noticed that it dampens home run and RBI totals for some of the classic power hitters, but I think career totals are more comparable.