"Cheating" is a powerful, strong word. It should be used carefully.
I guess anyone "can" cheat, but if you're going to do that, why even play the games? I'm talking about intentional decisions that you "know" are not "fair" (define those words how you wish). Forgetting to pull a pitcher, pinch hit, etc.? I'm not sure I would call that cheating. I have had times when I've been playing a game on the computer, and I get into a "zone" where I'm pushing buttons...and I let the pitcher hit or forget to run for an aging slow guy in the late innings. I don't think that is cheating - rather I would call it inattentiveness.
In my former play-by-mail leagues where teams sent paper instructions for managing their team, it was common to see guys follow the instructions to the letter of the law rather than make a decision that might help the other team win. An example in APBA would be when a D pitcher is supposed to go 5 innings, but it's the 4th and he's down 5-0 with the bases loaded with 2 outs. Anyone who wants to maintain a chance for that team to come back would pull the D, insert at least a C (with a bump, one batter he's a B) and roll the dice. I did this once, and the opposing manager protested the game because I didn't follow his instructions to the letter. I was then asked to leave the league, which folded shortly thereafter. I always appreciated the disclaimer in instructions that I was free to "use my best judgement."
Another situation: If you're replaying a season and the team in real life used an ineffective reliever as closer, is it "cheating" to not do so and instead use someone who had better stats?
Back in the days of APBAlone and the APBA Journal, we occasionally (I'm tempted to say "more than occasionally", but they probably just struck a nerve with me) would encounter replayers who -- in the interests of "making things come out more accurately overall" -- would reassign pitching grades or batter extra-base hits during the season for players who were doing better or worse than their card results would have expected. That struck me as odd as well as unethical -- why bother with a replay if you're not going to accept your results? But I suppose it depends on intent: if you're doing a replay because you really want to see the '64 Cardinals and Phillies battle down to the wire and one of them is twelve games behind in mid-August, I suppose you might feel that your choices are to abandon the replay or try to make it happen. But I'd still consider that cheating.
Mr D, I would like to address yesterday’s topic in re: sacrifice bunting. The traditional bunt situation of no outs with a runner on first, or first and second should never be automatic. Inning, score, batter’s overall ability to bunt or make contact and sometimes even a base runner’s ability should be considered. So, don’t beat yourself up over this issue. Hit and run has also always been an option, depending on the skills of the hitters and the base runner (s). When managing you should do what gives your team the best chance to win.
Just yesterday, when playing a 1955 NPIII season replay I was confronted with this issue. Roberto Clemente, one of the greats, was playing against the Cincinnati Reds. Clemente, who was a rookie in 1955, came up against Jackie Collum and once again I rolled what I always roll for Clemente....another double-number. I was so frustrated that this 20 year old rookie who actually hit .255 in his 1st year was
going to get a hit that would raise his average to around .325 that I hit the "undo" button. I couldn't believe I would break the code of conduct for us baseball sim types but I was so angered by Clemente's continued luck that I did the unthinkable. Now, to my credit, I did "undo" the new die roll which created an out, and reentered the original roll giving him a hit.
So I fully understand that when our paper players perform so above or below their actual numbers how someone could want to alter an outlier result.
By the way, Clemente went 0 for 3 the rest of the game so I felt better about giving him his hit back,
"Cheating" is a powerful, strong word. It should be used carefully.
I guess anyone "can" cheat, but if you're going to do that, why even play the games? I'm talking about intentional decisions that you "know" are not "fair" (define those words how you wish). Forgetting to pull a pitcher, pinch hit, etc.? I'm not sure I would call that cheating. I have had times when I've been playing a game on the computer, and I get into a "zone" where I'm pushing buttons...and I let the pitcher hit or forget to run for an aging slow guy in the late innings. I don't think that is cheating - rather I would call it inattentiveness.
In my former play-by-mail leagues where teams sent paper instructions for managing their team, it was common to see guys follow the instructions to the letter of the law rather than make a decision that might help the other team win. An example in APBA would be when a D pitcher is supposed to go 5 innings, but it's the 4th and he's down 5-0 with the bases loaded with 2 outs. Anyone who wants to maintain a chance for that team to come back would pull the D, insert at least a C (with a bump, one batter he's a B) and roll the dice. I did this once, and the opposing manager protested the game because I didn't follow his instructions to the letter. I was then asked to leave the league, which folded shortly thereafter. I always appreciated the disclaimer in instructions that I was free to "use my best judgement."
Another situation: If you're replaying a season and the team in real life used an ineffective reliever as closer, is it "cheating" to not do so and instead use someone who had better stats?
I enjoy your posts, thank you for sharing.
Back in the days of APBAlone and the APBA Journal, we occasionally (I'm tempted to say "more than occasionally", but they probably just struck a nerve with me) would encounter replayers who -- in the interests of "making things come out more accurately overall" -- would reassign pitching grades or batter extra-base hits during the season for players who were doing better or worse than their card results would have expected. That struck me as odd as well as unethical -- why bother with a replay if you're not going to accept your results? But I suppose it depends on intent: if you're doing a replay because you really want to see the '64 Cardinals and Phillies battle down to the wire and one of them is twelve games behind in mid-August, I suppose you might feel that your choices are to abandon the replay or try to make it happen. But I'd still consider that cheating.
PS-And I believe that to be true of any era.
Mr D, I would like to address yesterday’s topic in re: sacrifice bunting. The traditional bunt situation of no outs with a runner on first, or first and second should never be automatic. Inning, score, batter’s overall ability to bunt or make contact and sometimes even a base runner’s ability should be considered. So, don’t beat yourself up over this issue. Hit and run has also always been an option, depending on the skills of the hitters and the base runner (s). When managing you should do what gives your team the best chance to win.
Daniel,
Your timing is amazing...!
Just yesterday, when playing a 1955 NPIII season replay I was confronted with this issue. Roberto Clemente, one of the greats, was playing against the Cincinnati Reds. Clemente, who was a rookie in 1955, came up against Jackie Collum and once again I rolled what I always roll for Clemente....another double-number. I was so frustrated that this 20 year old rookie who actually hit .255 in his 1st year was
going to get a hit that would raise his average to around .325 that I hit the "undo" button. I couldn't believe I would break the code of conduct for us baseball sim types but I was so angered by Clemente's continued luck that I did the unthinkable. Now, to my credit, I did "undo" the new die roll which created an out, and reentered the original roll giving him a hit.
So I fully understand that when our paper players perform so above or below their actual numbers how someone could want to alter an outlier result.
By the way, Clemente went 0 for 3 the rest of the game so I felt better about giving him his hit back,
Thanks,
Tom