Triples

So by now some of you may have noticed that my custom cards don't have a space for 3B on the cards.  That's not a mistake it's intentional.  My reasoning is that hitting triples isn't a batting skill.  Base hit Singles and Homeruns and even to an extent Doubles can all be controlled by the batter and his skill.  Triples however are not.  You can try to hit a Single, you can try to hit a Homerun, and in some instances you can try to hit a Double.  But Triples just happen.  Not to say that it's completely random chance and any player can potentially hit one, actually I am saying part of that.  Any player can hit one. Look at the Molina's, long thought of as a measurement of slow base running, however all three of them have hit triples in their careers.  Though none of them would merit a triple on their chart by any measurement. 

Legends and Losers Intro

 

This will be an ongoing series I plan to do revolving around baseball Legends that I have created MLB Showdown custom cards for.  Some of these will be Hall of Fame Career cards or Franchise greats career cards.  Some will just be great seasons and MVP, CY Young, and Rookie of the Year cards.

As for the "Losers", the plan here is to create those great teams that didn't win it all as well as some great players that unfortunately are mostly remembered for that one time they "blew" the game.  We rarely give the player that made the play enough credit but we like to blame the other guy.  Occasionally I'll throw in some comparison cards for guys that "lost" aka didn't win awards to get some debates as to whether the voters got it right.

House Rules 7 - 1B+

 The following are the standard rules for what happens on hits.  These are pretty standard except we don't always play the 1B+ as automatic.  Here is our rules...

 

Flashback Friday - Req: Rocco Baldelli

Someone requested Rocco Baldelli in the 2000-2001 formula style so here he is.  Both his 2003 rookie card as well as his 2006 season.  As much as I like the blue, I miss the green sometimes.

House Rules 6 - Advancing Runners

 

Advancing Runners

 Advancing on Hits: On any hit the manager may send his runner an extra base more than previously mentioned.  The Defense rolls the D20 and adds its Outfield FIELDING.  If it total is greater than the runner’s SPEED, the runner is out.

• If there are 2 outs you may add +5 to the runner’s SPEED

• If the runner started on 2nd or 3rd and is going home, you may and +5 to the runner’s SPEED (This may be combined with the previous +5).

 Advancing on Throws: If a runner on 3rd is attempting to take home as an extra base, After the defense chooses to attempt the throw home but before the outfield makes a throw for a play at the plate, the offense may choose to send any runners on 1st or 2nd to the next base.  The outfield may then choose which runners to attempt to throw out.

Advancing on Outs:   If the result of the swing was an Out(FB), the batter is out.  If there is a runner on second or third the manager may decide to tag up and send the runner to the next base.  No runner from first may advance.  The offense decides which runners he is sending and the defense decides which runner to attempt the out.

• The Defense rolls the D20 + Outfield FIELDING.  If the roll is greater than the runner’s SPEED, the runner is out.

• If the runner is advancing to home, +5 to the runner’s SPEED.

• If a runner from third scores, it counts as a sacrifice fly (SF) and the batter gets an RBI.

House Rules 5 - Pitchers Fatigue

 Pitcher Control/Fatigue

House Rules 4 - The Manager's Options (SB, IBB, Bunts)

So I mentioned Manager's Options and one way we've played it but I thought I should go into a bit more depth for each of the options.  This is a bit different than most I'd guess but it adds some strategy and choice into the game.  The three options are Stolen Bases, Intentional Walks, and Bunts.

Manager Options

Each manger has a set of Manager Options that they may make each game.  You may use the following options up to 5 times per game but you may use each option a maximum of 3 times each.

House Rule 3 - Ground Balls

Since we wanted to reduce Strategy cards without losing the feeling of managing a baseball team we have made a few changes to how ground balls work in our games.

House Rules 2 - Mistake Pitch/Great Pitch

The guys over at Clutch Baseball created a great thing they called the Power Die.  Most of the game you roll a 20-sided die to get your results.  Only if your pitcher rolls what they call a "Mistake Pitch" the batter takes his swing with a 24-sided die.  Since the higher the number the better results for the batter this gives you 4 more options for good stuff.  Many, including us, have added this to their games.  Whenever a pitcher rolls a "1" during his pitch phase, the batter rolls the D24.

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 TTS Mod preview

 

A couple of guys over at the Greatest MLB Showdown Blog and contributors to the podcast Bourbon over Baseball have done a little sneak preview of the new mod.  Before you dip out on watching all the game you should at least skip to the end and see more great options available.  Thanks guys for the pub.

House Rules 1 - Strategy Cards or lack of...

 There are a lot of house rules out there and not much of this is probably original.  But it's compiled here and may change in the future.  The first item is...Strategy.

The Manager Option idea came from Bob at GreatestMLBShowdown/Bourbon over Baseball and we tweaked a few things.  We use that as our "Basic rules".  The fact of the matter is that the original game used Strategy Cards as ways to influence the game and impart strategy and without these the original game came down to nothing more than a dice rolling game.  But the cards were entirely too...card gamey and made a game take entirely too long.  Bob's Manager Options allow for some managerial decisions without bogging things down too much.  The three options are Stolen Base attempts, Intentional Walks, and Sac Bunts.  You only get five options per game and no more than three at any one option.  So you have to be strategic with your choices.