Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Shaq Faces Last Marquette Team to Beat a Top 10 by +25

 On December 13, 1971, #2 Marquette beat #9 Michigan 81-52. Tuesday an unranked Marquette team beat #6 Baylor 96-70, the most lopsided win for a Marquette team against a Top 10 team since that game 51 years ago.

That made Jim Chones 3-0 at Marquette. He would finish 49-1, with only a one-point loss to Ohio State in the tournament that year in a game in which All-American guard Dean Meminger fouled out with five minutes to go. Marquette destroyed Kentucky in the consolation game to finish 25-1, then started the next season 21-0 before Chones left for the ABA - having gone 46-1 in his college career.

Our next look at that 1971 Marquette team is when Chones faces a pretty worthy big man opponent - Shaq! Here are pages 66 and 68 of the google doc with the 135 great all-time Value Add Basketball teams.

One rule item from years back, the "3-point" shot for both Shaq and Chones is actually a chance for a traditional 3-point play. If this comes up, they make a 2-pointer and are fouled by the opposing player for a chance at a 3-point play. Both have only a 55% chance at actually making the 3-pointer to complete the 3-point play, since they are both 1-11 Free Throw Made, meaning 12-20 is a missed free throw.









Sunday, November 27, 2022

Okafor's UConn holds off Laettner's Duke, 3-pt and steal or foul strategy

After a back and forth battle, Emeka Okafor erupted for 13 points in the final 3 minutes of regulation and overtime to lead UConn to a 82-78 win. The big key was him hitting all 5 free throws in that stretch despite being a 50% free throw shooter (1-10 free throw made, 11-20 free throw missed, meaning only 1 in 32 times would he make 5 in a row).

UConn led 66-61 with less than a minute left, and Duke went to the 3-point strategy in a desperate attempt to rally. 

Duke Played for 3-point shot. As the Value Add Basketball Instructions state, a team can try for 3-pointers by adding one to their 3-point made range for every one number they take off the highest 2-point made range and turn into a missed 2-pointer - and you can not more than double the number of 3-pointers made. Thomas Hill (no relation to Grant Hill) normally makes 3-pointers on 1-2, then 2-pointers on 3-9, so when playing for the 3-pointer his 3-pointer range doubled to 1-4 (thus the 3 rolled was a 3-pointer rather than a 2-pointer) but because they were in the 3-point offense that means the two he added to first range lowers the 2-point range from 9 to 7, meaning a 5-7. When you do the math, you are losing points long term because you are giving up 2 points on missed 2-pointers for every 1 point you add by turning the 2-point shots into 3-point shots. It worked as T. Hill hit the 3-pointers on a "3" to make it 66-64.

Duke then played to foul. Also stated in the rules, you can go for the turnover or foul deliberately. When you do this, you roll three of the four dice - but do not role the 20-sided dice because the play will always be a turnover or a foul. In 8-sided die roll was a 5, giving the ball to Okafor, and even though they did not get a turnover (41-43 is a turnover on Okafor's card, and 11-16 was a steal on Laettner's card) they lucked into Okafor being the fouled player. He only hits on 1-10, but he made them both to make it 66-64 UConn, and as it turns out Duke would have won the game if he had missed either one. 

Duke took the 3-point offense off for their final trip. Okafor actually blocked a Duke a shot in the closing seconds, but the rebound roll was a a 3 on the 1-20 die, which means Laettner had a chance to grab the rebound with his 1-5 offensive rebound and the 6-sided die came up 4 to mean he did secure it (on a "6" it would have gone to Okafor) and then he passed to Grant Hill, who scored the game-tying basket at the end of regulation to make it 66-66 and send us to a 5-minute overtime.

Several of Ben Gordon's 5 steals were key to UConn taking the lead, and Okafor finished with a game high 29 points.

Grant Hill led Duke with 22 points while Christian Laettner added 20 with 10 rebounds. Laettner is also the only center with a 11-16 on steals, and he came up with 6 steals. 

UConn improved from #19 to #10, while Duke dropped from #9 to #20 in the all-time rankings.





Resuming with All-Time Great Basketball Teams

With ABC featuring a top 25 match-up of Duke vs. Purdue to compete with the NFL Sunday afternoon, we turned to a couple of All-Time Top 10 Duke team in the Value Add Basketball Game. We are focused on trying teams who have only played one or two games to see if they move up or down in our All-Time standings (click for game log and ratings). 

In the table of upcoming games below, a red line indicates the game has been played and the team lost (e.g. Cincy lost to Ohio State), and green means the team won. A bolded game means an All-Time Top 25 match-up, while italics means a top 50 all-time match-up from the 135 all-time great basketball teams.

Four Top 10 teams that we felt needed to justify their rankings because they had fewer than 3 games were; then #10 Cincinnati that was replaced by Ohio State 1960 after losing to them; #9 Duke 1992 that fell out of the Top 10 with an OT loss to UConn 2004; #3 Kentucky 2006 that will face an SEC test against #35 Arkansas 1994; #4 Duke 2001 that will be tested by #16 UNLV 1991; 

We were sidetracked from resuming the basketball games this week due to some great improvements from a user to the all-time great Statis-Pro Baseball teams (click on instructions to the game as well as great new sheets of pitchers and batters for those 60 all-time great teams.

Red equals team lost game - Green equals teams won game - Black equals not yet played

Team                      Year     Player You Might Know   Opponent           Opp Yr
#35 Arkansas1994Corliss Williamson#67 LSU1992
#35 Arkansas1994Corliss Williamson#3 Kentucky2006
#21 Cincinnati1960Oscar Robertson#10 Ohio St.1960
#30 Connecticut1999Richard Hamilton#56 San Francisco1956
#19 Connecticut2004Ben Gordon#9 Duke1992
#71 Dayton2020Obi Toppin#64 Purdue1969
#9 Duke1992Christian Laettner#30 Connecticut1999
#4 Duke2001Shane Battier#16 UNLV1991
#91 Georgia Tech1990Dennis Scott#64 Purdue1969
#48 Indiana1981Isaiah Thomas#40 Iowa2021
#40 Iowa2021Luka Garza#48 Indiana1981
#40 Iowa2021Luka Garza#70 Kansas1957
#59 Jacksonville1970Artis Gilmore#56 San Francisco1956
#70 Kansas1957Wilt Chamberlain#40 Iowa2021
#3 Kentucky1996Antoine Walker#35 Arkansas1994
#51 Loyola-Chicago1963Jerry Harkness#47 Michigan1989
#51 Loyola-Chicago1963Jerry Harkness#75 St. John's1985
#67 LSU1992Shaquille O'Neal#35 Arkansas1994
#67 LSU1992Shaquille O'Neal#72 Marquette1971
#72 Marquette1971Jim Chones#67 LSU1992
#106 Marquette2011Jimmy Butler#75 St. John's1985
#47 Michigan1989Glen Rice#10 Ohio St.1960
#47 Michigan1989Glen Rice#51 Loyola-Chicago1963
#10 Ohio St.1960Jerry Lucas#21 Cincinnati1960
#10 Ohio St.1960Jerry Lucas#47 Michigan1989
#64 Purdue1969Rick Mount#71 Dayton2020
#64 Purdue1969Rick Mount#91 Georgia Tech1990
#56 San Francisco1956Bill Russell#30 Connecticut1999
#56 San Francisco1956Bill Russell#59 Jacksonville1956
#75 St. John's1985Chris Mullin#106 Marquette2011
#75 St. John's1985Chris Mullin#51 Loyola-Chicago1963
#16 UNLV1991Larry Johnson#4 Duke2001

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Koufax Strikes Our Bonds - But Lack of Support Gives Giant s Sweep

 Sandy Koufax struck out Barry Bonds in the first inning on a card that would have been a home run for 90%+ of hitters.

The PB was a 9, which fell within Koufax PB2-9 range - the top range help by only about 1 of 20 pitchers.

The Random Number was. 28, a strikeout onbut for any pitcher with a PB 2-8 or worse would have been on Bonds' card for a home run.

Koufax allowed only 1 earned run in 9 innings, but two errors by shortstop Maury Wills led to 2 unearned runs and a 3-2 Giants win. The Giants won the nightcap 6-1 for the sweep.



Links to Easy to Print PDF Sheets for 60 Great Statis-Pro Teams!

 A wonderful peer-to-peer addition from a board game player to all other board game players - a reader produced these wonderful Statis-Pro batter sheets with one page for each of the 60 teams. He also updated the pitcher sheets for the same 60 teams.

Currently we have instructions to define and print from the google sheet, which you can still do, but this is much easier. Open the pdf link above, find the pages of the two teams you want to play (in my case Barry Bonds' Giants are page 49, while Sandy Koufax Dodgers are page 25.

Print out the Statis-Pro Baseball Instructions and the sheets for two teams and you are ready to play.

A couple of notes - we put the batters in a suggested batting order. We produced a 9-player line-up including a DH, but we also put "-bench" after the player we would sit if the pitcher is batting. Sometimes that is the DH, but sometimes we switch the DH to another position and sit the player at that position. For example, if the Oakland A's are using the DH that is where we put Reggie Jackson, but if pitchers are batting we can't lose his bat, so we move him to the outfield

The blue line or lines are listed after the nine starters. Most pitchers use a standard batting line (or card) that skips the PB 2-12 number to ignore the opposing pitcher's card and go straight to the 11-88 RN. Only a 11-14 is a single, a 15-48 a strikeout, 51 a walk, 52 hit by pitch and 53-88 an OUT. However, if a pitcher had enough at bats and hit better than a typical picture then there is an extra blue line for that pitcher - in this case if Livan Hernandez pitcher then when he comes to his plate he has a much better chance to hit.

A red line means the player did not have enough plate appearances to justify his batting line, so we still use it but if the action is on his card then you add the number indicated to the RN before lookin at his card for the result. The only player who would be both red and blue is Brooklyn Dodgers' pitcher Don Newcombe, who needs to add a +6 to the RN when he bats, which still makes him one of the best batting cards in the game.

Below the blue are the reserves in alpha order. A green line indicates we suggest that against left-handed pitchers you use the green sub in place of a starter with a green line.





Click for the free Statis-Pro Master Baseball Game. Click here for 60 of the all-time great MLB teams, or on teams of many of the all-time great players on teams by nation or state with one sheet for each team. Or click on the 2023 pitchers and 2023 batters in card form. You simply print two teams cards and then either print the master link above and fast action cards in master link or buy the dice to start playing.



Aaron's Milwaukee Braves Split 3-2 games with Ozzie's Cardinals

 Why are we playing baseball in the midst of the World Cup, Basketball Feast Week and the Rivaly football game of the century between unbeaten Ohio State and Michigan?

As mentioned, one of our readers came up with a great way to produce our pitching cards in an easier to read pdf, and when I went to check the batting cards to do the same - I realized the fielding positions and ratings of the last 12 teams in alpha order, from Pittsburgh 1908 to Washington Senators, had been thrown off. 

We fixed them all and now have all batters ordered into our suggested batting order, followed by all pitchers batting cards, and lastly the reserves in alpha order.

See the sheet of all players and game results by clicking here.

The first game we played after these updates gave Milwaukee a chance to get revenge on the 1982 Cardinals, which beat the Brewers for the title, and come back to play the 1957 Milwaukee Braves of Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews.

The 82 Cards were the last team to make the case that speed was better than power, with 5 of their 8 players with at least speed A ratings, and Willie McGee a rare AA and Lonnie Smith one of the few players in history with an AAA.

Lonnie broke a pitchers duel in the top of the 6th with a triple and then racing home on a grounder to make it 1-0. However Frank Torre homered in the bottom of the 6th to tie it.

Bruce Sutter came in for the bottom of the 10th, but he was only a PB 2-7 that year (above average but hittable), and Crandall and Logan both doubled as the only batters he faced for a 3-2 win.

Ozzie, Lonnie, Hernandez and Oberkfell all singled in a 3-run 3rd inning and the 3-0 lead held until the 8th when Hank Aaron hit a 2-run homer. However, the Cards last available pitcher Jim Kaat pitched the 8th for a save and 3-2 win. In our 20 all-time great team games so far, teams are averaging 4.0 runs per game.

Here is the score sheet, what the player sheets look like with the game one starters, and then a broader shot of how I set up the game.





Thursday, November 24, 2022

History Making Don Newcombe, Jackie Robinson Sweep of 27 Yankees Highlight of Early All-Time Standings

Only 18 of our 60 All-Time Great Statis-Pro Baseball teams have played. We are keeping them all within their 10-team divisions, but listing the results so far from all games. The results of all our games are listed on the third tab of this google sheet, after the pitchers and batters.

The toughest of the six divisions by far is the New York-Boston Division, featuring many of the greatest teams of all time. In fact, a Boston or New York team has won 38% of all World Series (45 of 118).

After the 1927 New York Yankees won the one other all-time season I played years ago, our opening games were better for New York haters.

Ted Williams 1946 team that finally topped the Yankees and came within one game of the World Series hammered Roger Maris' 1961 Yankees in two games. That Red Sox team really was better than the 1961 Yankees, but you never know how a two game sereis will go.

The most fun came in the other NY-Boston Divisional Series though, where the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers team that finally beat the Yankees for a World Series hammered our defending champion 1927 Yankees as well. They barely pulled off the first game 3-2, but managed to knock multiple Yankees pitcher in the nightcap and then battered the bottom of the pitching staff for a 19-9 win to stay ahead of Gehrig and Ruth.

This Brooklyn team not only ran away with the NL, they scored the most runs in the league and allowed the fewest runs. The had four of the top 100 players of all time in Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson and the two players who finished virtually tied for league MVP that year in Roy Campanella and Duke Snider.

Less than a decade earlier of course, Robinson and ace pitcher Don Newcombe were not allowed in MLB, but rather playing for the Kansas City Monarchs and Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues - where Robinson's OPS was above 1.000 and Newcombe had a 2.60 ERA.

While Robinson broke the color barrier, Newcomb also set a mark on the team in the game also made history with a dominant 20-5 season. A few years earlier he became the first black pitcher with 20 wins in MLB and the year after the World Series title he led the league with 27 wins.  In our game he started the 3-2 win over the 1927 Yankees.

Team                                 Year       WL   RS   RA  Opponent, Scores                     Division
Brooklyn Dodgers1955202211NYY 1927 - 3-2, 19-9NY-Boston
Boston Red Sox194620175NYY 1961 - 8-1, 9-4NY-Boston
Philadelphia Phillies1980201610Det 1909- 12-8, 4-2East
Oakland A's197220112Sea 3-1 (10), 8-1West
Atlanta Braves19952093Wash Sen 1924 - 2-1 (10), 7-2South
Cleveland Indians19542084Mont 3-2 (12), 5-2East
Kansas City Royals19852085St. L Browns 5-3, 3-2Midwest
Cincinnati Reds19751164Hou 1998 2-3 (11), 4-1South
Philadelphia Phillies20081154Pitt- 0-1, 5-3 (11)East
Pittsburgh Pirates19091145Phil 2008 - 1-0, 3-5 (11)East
Houston Astros19981146Cin 1975 3-2 (11), 1-4South
New York Yankees1927021122Brook 1955 - 2-3, 9-19NY-Boston
Detroit Tigers1909021016Phil 1980, 8-12, 2-4East
St Louis Browns19220258KC 1985 - 3-5, 2-3Midwest
New York Yankees196102517Bost Red Sox 1946 1-8, 4-9NY-Boston
Montreal Expos19940248Cleve1954, 2-3 (12), 2-5East
Washington Senators19240239Atl 1995 - 1-2 (10), 2-7South
Seattle Mariners200102211Oak 72 - 1-3 (10), 1-8West

107 mph fastball - Feller vs. Pedro

On the eve of World Cup action between the US and England, Basketball Feast Week and Michigan vs. Ohio State football pending ... Why did I pull baseball back out?

A Statis-Pro baseball player emailed a great pdf he produced of the great pitchers from our 60 all-time teams. I printed out the 1994 Montreal Expos with Pedro Martinez - the 11th greatest pitcher of all time in the rankings, and the 1954 Cleveland Indians with Bob Feller, the 52nd best pitcher of all time with the 2nd fastest fastball ever - 107 mph (I mph behind Nolan Ryan). See the set up when I went to print his sheets for those two teams - page 14 and 31 of 60.

The Expos may have won their only World Series if the 1994 season wasn't cancelled for the strike. This Indians team was my runner up to the 1927 Yankees in an all-time season I played years ago.

The Expos let the first game slip away when closer John Wetteland set down 4 straight to get within one out of a 2-1 win, but the Indians rallied to tie and then won in 12 innings 3-2.

The Indians made it a sweep when Larry Doby hit two homers to back Feller in a 5-2 win.






Statis-Pro Baseball Master Instructions

We consolidated various sets of instructions on Statis-Pro Baseball game into the following.


Basic Understanding of the Game 1

What you need to play 2

1. Dice or Fast Action Cards. 2

2. Player Cards 2

How to Play the Game 3

Setting Up 4

Order of Play 4

2-12 number: 4

11-88 number - 11 possible results (hits, balks, Ks, Walks, HBP, WP, PB, Out) 4

Left vs. Right Adjustment 12/88, 88/11 or other. 5

If Result is OUT: 5

Chance of Error on Hit or Out 6

Once you determine a player who might make an error - E-0 to E-10 6

SR and RR - How Long Can a Pitcher Pitch Before Getting Tired? 10

Taking Extra Bases on Hits, Hit and Runs, or Bunts 11

Optional Advanced Rules 13

Clutch Batting (BD): 14

Clutch Fielding (CD or for catcher CD-C): 14

Z-Play - unusual plays, injuries and tough fielding plays: 14


Statis-Pro Baseball was invented by Jim Barnes in 1970, and in an interview he invited others to adopt and update the game as “open source.” Our free version enables you to either play current teams with projected players, or to choose from 60 all-time great baseball teams. There is a complete game and many seasons of great advanced Statis-Pro cards on the Statis Pro Advanced Facebook page, if you want to try the game here first and consider ordering from them if you determine you like it.

Basic Understanding of the Game


The unique aspect of the game is that each plate appearance starts by determining if the pitcher is in control of the at-bat and his card will be used, or if he “makes a mistake” to put the action on the batter’s card and give him a chance for an extra base hit. An initial roll of two-tradition 6-sided dice or a use of “fast action cards” yield a number of 2-12. The best pitchers keep it on their card on 2-9, while the worst pitchers only control the action on a 2-4. Once you know whether the batter or pitcher card will be used for that at bat, a subsequent roll of two 8-sided dice for a result of 11-88 or a similar number from the fast action card gives the result of the plate appearance.

What you need to play

  1. Dice or Fast Action Cards. 

You need one of the three things in these photos. If you choose to use dice, you need two traditional 6-sided dice, two 8-sided dice of different colors, and one 20-sided die. If you prefer to use the free fast action cards we provide, they look like the all-white card below. Others sell much nicer fast action cards, so google “statis-pro baseball fast action cards” and you can find a set for $10 - you can see the blue and green corner of one of those cards and they really do add to the game..




  1. Player Cards 

Next, choose the teams you want to play. If you want to play two of the 60 all-time great teams,

Simply click on these Statis-Pro batter sheets with one page for each of the 60 teams, scroll to see the page number for the two team you want to print, and print them. The print the same page for each pitcher sheet for the same 60 teams (eg. The 1924 Washington Senators are page 60 on the batters and page 60 on the pitchers).


If you prefer to play modern players, then choose the pages of the teams you want from 2023 batters all 2023 pitchers - or 2022 Projected Batters (49 pages, 9 cards to a page) and All 2022 Projected Pitchers (62 pages, 9 cards to a page) - the cards will have ranges like the Scherzer vs. Betts cards below. So you will be using EITHER team sheets of players or individual cards of players.


 202



How to Play the Game

Setting Up


Choose a player on each team to pitch and play the other 8 positions - C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF and RF. Next choose if you will use an extra batter as a designated hitter (DH) or have pitchers hit in the game. Once you choose the 9 who will start the game, write them down in the order they will hit from 1st through 9th. On the all-time sheets the first nine batters are the line-up we suggest if using a DH. If playing that the pitcher bats, then either skip the DH in the lineup, or if you see a dash after the DH that means to leave them in the line-up and drop the players whose position they will play if no DH (eg Reggie Jackson's DH-CF means if pitcher is hitting them he plays CF instead of DH bit stays in the line-up). Players in green indicate we suggesting flipping the bottom player into the line-up against left-handed pitching. Pitchers batting numbers the appear in blue - a standard card with only hits up to 14 for all pitchers in each team unless there is a blue line with a pitcher's name on it, meaning he he is pitching he uses that card. Reserves are listed below the pitcher at bar cards, but you can change our suggested lineup anyway you want.


If you are using cards you can shuffle them, but if you printed out our free ones, you may just want to put them all in a big bowl to pull out the cards one at a time. Of course, if you are using the five dice then no shuffling is needed.


If you are using player cards, you can stack the line-up in order. If using team sheets, you may want to use a couple of business cards to put below each batter as they hit.


Order of Play


2-12 number:

Get a result of 2-12 from flipping a card or rolling the dice. If that number falls within the pitcher’s PB rating (pitcher or batter) then the action will occur on the pitcher’s card, and if outside that range it will occur on the batter’s card. The possible PB ranges on pitchers’ cards, from best to worst, are 2-9, 2-8, 2-7, 4-7, 2-6, 2-5 or 2-4.


If you choose to use optional advanced rules, look at the bottom of these rules for CD, BD or Z-plays, which can occur in place of the 2-12 number.


11-88 number - 11 possible results (hits, balks, Ks, Walks, HBP, WP, PB, Out)

On the 2nd card, read the second number (Random Number 11-88) to see what happens on that card, or look at the 8-sided dice for the 11-88 number.. (If noone is one base, change any BK, WP or CD on line 2 to an OUT).


Here are the 10 possible results:


1B = Single 

2B = Double (only on batters' cards)

3B = Triple (only on batters' cards)

HR = Home Run (only on batters' cards)

BK = Balk if anyone on base (only on pitchers' cards, if no one on base treat as OUT)

K = Strikeout 

W = Walk 

CD-C = Catcher Clutch Defense - if not using advanced rules treat as out

HPB = Hit by Pitched Ball (only on pitchers' cards)

WP/PB = Wild Pitch or Passed Ball  (only on pitchers' cards, if no one on base treat as OUT)

Out = see below.


Occasionally you will see a "+2 to RN" or some other number. When this happens, the batter had too few plate appearances to justify their OPS and if the pitcher leaves the action on their card then add the number to the next random number to gets results tallying where they would have logically ended up over time with more plate appearances. These players cannot get a hit on an 88, even if the left vs right indicates it is a hit.


If using player cards, the card will also indicate the fielder who gets the ball on a single (1Bf, 1B7, 1B8 or 1B9) or double (2B7, 2B8, 2B9). If using a sheet, the reading is simply 1B or 2B so use the second digit of the number to determine the field. A 1 or 2 (11, 12, 21, 22 etc.) indicates the batter pulled the ball, so a RN or RP hits it to LF, a SN, SP or P to CF and a LN or LP to right. If the last digit is 3 or 4, the hit goes to LF, 5 or 6 goes to CF and 7 or 8 goes to RF.


On old fast action cards, you would check after a WP or BK for a “yes” or “no” result, but skip that step even if using those old cards. If anyone is on base, the WP or BK occurs if it comes up on the card.

Left vs. Right Adjustment 12/88, 88/11 or other. 

The Cht numbers at the bottom right of the batter card indicates numbers on which results are adjusted based on if the opposing pitcher is right-handed or left-handed. The standard 12/88 for a left-handed batter indicates that an 11 or 12 is changed from a hit to a strikeout against a left handed pitcher, and an 88 is changed from an out to a single with runners advancing two bases against a right-handed batter. The standard right-handed batter has an 88/11 meaning an 88 against a left-handed pitcher is a single, runners advance two bases while an 11 is changed to a strikeout against a right-handed pitcher. Typically a switch-hitter is –/– meaning no adjustment.


For some batters there are more numbers impacted, for example a 14/85 would be the most extreme possible adjustment, and mean the batter struck out on 11-14 against lefties, and had singles with runners advancing 2 bases on 85-88. Just remember the number to the left of the dash is the adjustment against lefties, and the number to the right of the dash is the adjustment against righties. Further, the number either goes all the way down to 11, or all the way up to 88 from what is listed.


If a batter had a + number in RN then he cannot get a hit in an 88 - always score as an out.

If Result is OUT:

If the result is an OUT, the fast action cards we provide will tell you what type of out is made.


If using the nice Fast Action Cards you produce then the following will tell you what happens to runners on base.


G6A (grounder to short) or any other A at the end of a grounder tells you the batter is out, but all runners advance.


Gx6 or any other reading with an x in the middle indicates runners hold and if there is a force out then the defense can throw out a forced runner. However, if runners are on 1st and 3rd then the defense must choose whether to take the out at second base and let the runner on third score or hold the runner at third and throw out the batter to leave runners on 2nd and 3rd.


G6 or any other reading with no x or A indicates a double play grounder if a runner is on 1st. However, if there is a runner on 3rd and no outs, the defense needs to either hold him and just throw the batter out at 1st, or let him score and turn the double play. If bases are loaded with no outs, the defense can choose to either throw the runner out at home, or take the double play from 2nd to 1st and let him score.


Chance of Error on Hit or Out

An error can occur under any of the three systems you can use for random numbers.


If using dice, any time a 18 or 19 on the 20-sided die is rolled there is a chance for an error. On a hit, the outfielder who fields the ball could make an error to allow an extra base on the hit, while on an Out the player could allow a 1- or 2-base error instead of an out.


On the nice Fast Action Cards you can buy from someone, a * will appear by the out result to let you know to check for errors on the next card. When using those cards, check for an error only on hits on the batter’s card - there is no chance of an error on a hit off the pitcher’s card.


If using the free fast action cards we provide, the Error Reading on the 4th card is only used if; there is a hit on the BATTER card on line 2 OR, there is a possible error (e?) on line 3 with an out. If the fielder's E number is in the range on this 4th line then everyone is safe in an out or gets an extra base on a hit. Flip for another 11-88 and if the number is 61-88 give batter and runners one additional base for a throwing error.


Once you determine a player who might make an error - E-0 to E-10

If there is a chance of an error on a player, then the next fast action card will determine if the error is in the player's range. A player can have anywhere from an E-0 (the best, never makes an error) to the worst E-10. If using the fast action cards, the next card will tell you if the error is in that range (e.g. Error 3-10 would be an error for an E-3 but not for an E-2).


If using dice, the 20-sided die determines the same thing with a roll of 3 meaning the same as a 3-10 range is an error. If the roll is 10 or higher, then subtract 10 but if it is an error then it is in the range. So a 13 die roll would be a 2-base error for an E-3, but no error at all for an E-2.


Obviously you cannot have a double play with noone on base, pardon the type under “1” with bases empty, just a grounder from shortstop to first base.


SR and RR - How Long Can a Pitcher Pitch Before Getting Tired?


The SR number is used for a starting pitcher, and RR used for a relief pitcher to see when they tire in a game.


For example, Greg Maddux on the sheet above would start at 15 or his SR.


This number is lowered by 1 every time the pitcher:


  1. Allows a runner to reach 1st base (unless on an error that is not his fault)

  2. Allows an earned run

  3. An inning ends while he is pitching (whether he started that inning, or cam in after it started)


Once a pitcher’s SR or RR is reduced to 0, his PB drops by 1, and then every additional education from one of those three occurs it is reduced by one more. If a pitcher started with the best rating of PB 2-9, then when he hit zero he would drop to PB 2-8, and then to 2-7, 4-7, 2-6, 2-5, 2-4, 2-3, 2-2 and if reduced further then the rest of the batters faced would skip the 2-12 number and automatically go to the 11-88 on the batter’s card.

Taking Extra Bases on Hits, Hit and Runs, or Bunts


Normally after getting the result you move onto the next batter. However, you can opt for any of the following strategies to advance base runners rather than going immediately to the next batter and the next 2-12 number.


Here are charts with various options. Note I have made some changes in writing after reviewing stats on frequencies of various scenarios. 


On bunts, we do have some all-time great players whose Sac (bunt) rating is AA+. The first time an AA+ player bunts in a game, use the AA column on the sacrifice chart BUT on an 11-28 he is safe at first base on a single. 


When a runner tries to take an extra base on a hit, the chart is used for the numbers on which he makes it to the next base. However, in some cases he cannot make it the extra base, but he is not thrown out either, he just sees a strong throw coming and stops at the base. He is only thrown if the 11-88 number for the throw is a 71-88 from a T-5 throwing arm for the outfielder, or a 75-88 for T-4, 81-88 for a T-3 and finally 85-88 for a T-2. Players advancing or being thrown out in modern baseball is even more rare, with layers taking the next base only 30 percent of the time and only being thrown out 1 percent of the time.






Optional Advanced Rules


You can choose to ignore a BD, CD or Z-play result to keep the game simple. If so, just ignore and play the 2-12 range to use the batter or pitcher card instead.


If you choose to play the advance rules, these can come up instead of the 2-12 number in the following ways.


If using dice, a roll of 20 on the 20-sided dice can overrule the 2-12 rating only if runners are on base.


If using fast action cards, in some cases a BD, CD or Z will come up instead of a 2-12 on some cards. With Fast Action Cards, Z-plays do happen even if noone is on base, but BD or CD is skipped if noone is on base.


Clutch Batting (BD):

If at least one runner is on base and the results is BD, or clutch batting, then the 11-88 number results in one of the following:


If the number would result in a 1B on the batters cards, then make the result is a 2B (double) and all runners on base score.


If the number would result in a 2B, 3B, HR or Deep on the batters card, then change to a home run.


If the number would have resulted in anything else on the batters card, then change to a foul ball, and the batter is still at the plate.


Clutch Fielding (CD or for catcher CD-C):

If the result is a CD-C then use the catcher's clutch defense rating from 1 to 5 but simply score as an Out if noone is on base. If a CD results and anyone is on base, then check to see which fielder has a chance to make a play. The fast action card will indicate which player, but if using dice then refer to the 2-12 number to determine the player.  If are using dice to determine which player has a chance for a clutch defensive player, or might commit and error - then use the following numbers:


2 or 3 = 1B, 4 = P, 5 = CF, 6 = 3B, 7 or 12 = SS, 8 = 2B, 9 - LF, 10 = C, 11 = RF.


Once you know the position, use that players CD rating of 1 to 5 then the 11-88 number on the chart below:


The earlier adjustment we made for stolen bases was simply using the existing charts, but if the player would have been caught stealing and the Random Number was ODD, then he just held the base and was not able to get a break to steal. That takes the stolen base success percentage from 64% to 82%, which is the actual change in Major League Baseball this season.

2nd to home on 1b T2                            T3                           T4                           T5                        
OBR A11'-87 / out 8811'-77 / out 85-8811'-67 / out 83-8811'-57 / out 81-88
OBR B11'-77 / out 87-8811'-67 / out 85-8811'-57 / out 83-8811'-47 / out 81-88
OBR C11'-67 / out 87-8811'-57 / out 85-8811'-47 / out 83-8811'-37 / out 81-88
OBR D11'-57 / out 87-8811'-47 / out 85-8811'-37 / out 83-8811'-27 / out 81-88
OBR E11'-47 / out 87-8811'-37 / out 85-8811'-27 / out 83-8811'-17 / out 81-88
     
1st to home on 2bT2T3T4T5
OBR A11'-73 / out 87-8811'-63 / out 85-8811'-53 / out 83-8811'-43 / out 81-88
OBR B11'-63 / out 87-8811'-53 / out 85-8811'-43 / out 83-8811'-33 / out 81-88
OBR C11'-53 / out 87-8811'-43 / out 85-8811'-33 / out 83-8811'-23 / out 81-88
OBR D11'-43 / out 87-8811'-33 / out 85-8811'-23 / out 83-8811'-13 / out 81-88
OBR E11'-33 / out 87-8811'-23 / out 85-8811'-13 / out 83-88Cannot attempt
     
1st to 3B on 1B9T2T3T4T5
OBR A11'-73 / out 87-8811'-63 / out 85-8811'-53 / out 83-8811'-43 / out 81-88
OBR B11'-63 / out 87-8811'-53 / out 85-8811'-43 / out 83-8811'-33 / out 81-88
OBR C11'-53 / out 87-8811'-43 / out 85-8811'-33 / out 83-8811'-23 / out 81-88
OBR D11'-43 / out 87-8811'-33 / out 85-8811'-23 / out 83-8811'-13 / out 81-88
OBR E11'-33 / out 87-8811'-23 / out 85-8811'-13 / out 83-88Cannot attempt
     
1st to 3B on 1B8T2T3T4T5
OBR A11'-63 / out 87-8811'-53 / out 85-8811'-43 / out 83-8811'-33 / out 81-88
OBR B11'-53 / out 87-8811'-43 / out 85-8811'-33 / out 83-8811'-23 / out 81-88
OBR C11'-43 / out 87-8811'-33 / out 85-8811'-23 / out 83-8811'-13 / out 81-88
OBR D11'-33 / out 87-8811'-23 / out 85-8811'-13 / out 83-88Cannot attempt
OBR E11'-23 / out 87-8811'-13 / out 85-88Cannot attemptCannot attempt
     
1st to 3B on 1B7T2T3T4T5
OBR A11'-53 / out 87-8811'-43 / out 85-8811'-33 / out 83-8811'-23 / out 81-88
OBR B11'-43 / out 87-8811'-33 / out 85-8811'-23 / out 83-8811'-13 / out 81-88
OBR C11'-33 / out 87-8811'-23 / out 85-8811'-13 / out 83-88Cannot attempt
OBR D11'-23 / out 87-8811'-13 / out 85-88Cannot attemptCannot attempt
OBR E11'-13 / out 87-88Cannot attemptCannot attemptCannot attempt

Decide before the game if you want these optional adjustments to the ranges above.

Optional AdjustmentsUse 1st that appliesif 0 or 1 outsif 2 outs
Regular Hitany odd number RNSameadd 20
Texas Leaguercan divide RN by 12add 40add 60
Bloopcan divide RN by 4add 20add 40
Line Drivecan divide RN by 2subtract 20Same

The numbers above are based on these numbers.
   
Random Number 11-88                1st to 3rd on 1B2nd to home on single1st to home on double
Advances Extra Base11-3311-5711-43
Only advances same as hitter34-8758-8544-86
Out trying to Advance8886-8887-88
    
Based on actual occurances through 7/4  1st to 3rd on 1B2nd to home on single1st to home on double
Advances Extra Base252428871062
Only advances same as hitter569117071420
Out trying to Advance10919162

Below are the Clutch Defensive Charts so you have them in one place.

C-CD (Catcher)CD1      CD2      CD3      CD4    CD5
Foul Out11'-1812'-1811'-3811'-4811'-58
Passed Ball21-5831-5841-5851-5861-64
Infield single61-8861-7861-6861-6465-66
Lead runner out 81-8871-8865-8867-88
      
1st Base & 3rd BaseCD1CD2CD3CD4CD5
Line Out, Lead Runner Doubled off11'-1811'-2811'-3811'-4811'-58
Grounder, lead runner thrown out even if no force21-2831-4841-5851-6861-78
Line Drive single, advance 2 bases31-5851-6861-7871-8481-88
Double down line, runners score61-8871-8881-8885-88 
      
Shortstop, 2nd Base or PitcherCD1CD2CD3CD4CD5
Line Out, Lead Runner Doubled off11'-1828-Nov11'-3811'-4811'-58
Grounder, lead runner thrown out even if no force21-2831-4841-5851-6851-78
Hard Grounder through for Single, runners advance 2 bases31-8851-8861-6871-8881-88
      
OutfielderCD1CD2CD3CD4CD5
Line Out, Lead Runner Doubled offNoneNone11'-1411'-1811'-24
Nice catch of line drive, runners hold11'-1811'-2815-3821-4825-48
Nice catch of deep drive, runner on 2nd and/or 3rd advance21-2831-4841-5851-6851-78
Line drive single, advance 1 base31-5851-6861-7871-8481-88
Line drive double, runners score61-7871-8281-8685-88 
Line drive triple81-8883-8887-88 


Here is the updated Steal Chart.

 
Results (not odd RN never out stealing, worst case holds)                       Steal 2b     Steal 3b
Steal unless SP: E11'-1411'-14
Steal if AAA, AA, A, B or C15-2315-17
Steal if AAA, AA, A or B24-3218-28
Steal if AAA, AA or A33-4631-38
Runner Out Stealing (odd number holds)47-5241-52
Runner Out if Catcher TA or TB (steal if TC, if out on odd RN holds)53-5653-55
Runner Out if Catcher TA (steal if TB or TC, if out on odd RN holds)57-6356-61
Holds, cannot get break64-6862-67
TA picks off catcher, otherwise hold71-7168-68
TA or TB picks off catcher, otherwise hold72-7271-71
Steal if AAA or AA73-7872-76
Steal if AAA81-8877-82
Runner Holds 83-88


Here are the Z-Plays so you have all in one place.