# I'm looking for a baseball game (computer)! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724 "2001-04-04T02:27:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/1 "2001-04-04T02:27:49Z")
In the past, I’ve played Hardball. Well, as far as I can tell, that’s done. And even if it was, I wouldn’t waste money on it again, for different reasons. I like to play it while the real baseball season’s going on, just for the heck of it. Ok, so I’m a nerd. Anyway, this year I got Microsoft Baseball. Whoa! Should have known better, since it’s a damn Microsoft product. I’ve played it twice, and both times it crashed when I brought in my first reliever. Not good. So - can anyone recommend a computer baseball game? It can be either a CD-ROM game, a downloadable one, or even one you can just play online. I prefer ones that are heavier on realistic statistics, with less emphasis on actual graphics. I want to be able to edit my players to my heart’s content, but that’s not a necessity. Hey, it keeps me off the streets and off the crack cocaine, so I guess it ain’t all bad. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/2 "2001-04-04T04:11:56Z")
If you want accurate, stats-based game play, get the High Heat Series. Stay away from Triple Play, they are very arcadey and winning a game means hitting more home runs. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/3 "2001-04-04T04:15:55Z")
Thanks, **Elwood**. I’ll look into it. Thanks a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/4 "2001-04-04T13:15:56Z")
**High Heat Baseball 2002** is the best all-around game out there. Reasonably good statistical replay, though not perfect; very good arcade play, good team management features. Seems stable enough. **Triple Play Baseball** is still the best arcade game. **Diamond Mind Baseball** has the best statistical replay of any game on the market. **Baseball Mogul** is the only game with a really good financial modelling simulation, but there’s little else to the game. It’s fun though. **Baseball for Windows** by Miller Associates uses an extraordinary ABPA base for it game, giving it stunning statistical replay, but there’s no career mode or arcade mode and the interface is brutal. And it’s expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/5 "2001-04-04T18:54:46Z")
**High Heat**? No Thanks! I was turned off by the piece of crap original. Unless things have change, the players can be edited but you’re stuck with the league structure. **Diamond Mind** , formerly known as **Pursue the Pennant** , is good for replaying single seasons. **Baseball Mogul** is absolutely the best game for simulating a player’s entire career, as long as you don’t mind the absence of graphics. I don’t think this game has _anything_ that can’t be edited! I’d say this is what **dantheman** is after. There is a new version due out by the end of this month. I have **Microsoft Baseball 2001** and have experienced no problems. Much better than the original **High Heat** and incorporates **Baseball Mogul** ’s career engine. I don’t know if it’s still around, but **Front Page Sports: Baseball Pro '98** would be good for career simulation, if only doing so wouldn’t take so damn long! Like **Baseball Mogul** , **BBPro** is also very editable. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2001, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/6 "2001-04-09T19:05:14Z")
Last night, I fooled around with [Diamond Mind Baseball](http://www.diamond-mind.com/welcome.htm) version 8. It was sent at no charge because I had recently bought version 7. After I had the computer simulate a couple of exhibition games, I started looking into creating my own all-time great teams league. Here’s something of interest from their website: > [@](#): > > **Rare plays** > > In this section, we’d like to share with you some of the types of plays that occur in Diamond Mind Baseball > that you won’t often (or ever) see in arcade games and translated board games. We think these plays > represent much of the richness and diversity of real baseball. A complete baseball experience requires that > these plays, none of which are all that uncommon, occur in the game in a statistically meaningful way. Here > are a few examples: > > **Catcher interference.** This play occurs only about 8-10 times per season in real life, so it’s tempting for > game designers to leave it out. > > **Ball hits runner.** This play is even more rare. The batter is awarded a single but the runner is declared out > on the play. > > **Catcher pickoff throws.** DMB includes all of the associated types of plays (runner back safely, runner > picked off, runner out advancing, rundowns). Just as in real life, catchers rarely try to pick runners off > when they are leading by four or more runs or when an errant throw could produce the tying run. They’re > more common for teams that need a momentum-turning play. The best throwing catchers have a much > better chance of getting a pickoff, while the worst won’t even try pickoff throws very often. > > \*\*Out advancing on short passed balls and wild pitches. \*\*Passed balls and wild pitches occur hundreds > of times per season, yet many arcade games leave them out. Diamond Mind Baseball goes one step further > by including the plays on which the runner tries to advance on a short passed ball but gets thrown out. > These plays don’t show up in the official stats, but they’re not all that rare. > > \*\*Pickoffs. \*\*About 15-20% of the real-life runners thrown out stealing second are thrown out by the pitcher, > not the catcher. The pitcher makes a good pickoff throw, the runner breaks for second, and the first > baseman either throws the runner out or tags the runner in a rundown. Other games that don’t compile > fielding stats often gloss over these details and simply report that the runner is out. > > \*\*Rundowns and botched plays. \*\*Some rundowns are executed in textbook style, with the defense making > one throw, chasing the runner back to his original bag, and making the tag. But even the pros occasionally > mess up a rundown by dropping a throw, making a wild throw, or failing to cover a base. Diamond Mind > Baseball rundowns usually lead to outs, but all of these other things can happen too. Including the play > where the runner at first gets in a rundown, and the runner on third breaks for home, and the defense has > to switch gears and throw home. > > \*\*Brawls. \*\*Most batters will take their licks and their base quietly, but some will ignite a bench-clearing brawl > by charging the mound. Brawls can lead to injuries for players in the game and anyone on the bench. And > you’ll usually see at least one player ejected from the game for their conduct in the melee. > > **Arguments and ejections.** Batters and pitchers sometimes argue ball and strike calls by the home plate > umpire. The ump will put up with a little abuse, but you may find a hitter or pitcher getting tossed just when > you need them most. > > \*\*Dropped third strikes. \*\*In most cases, this is a harmless miscue, with the catcher recording an easy out > by tagging the hitter or throwing to first. But the pitch may go all the way to the backstop, perhaps > prolonging a rally that should have ended with the strikeout. Catchers will also make a few wild throws to > first, letting the batter reach safely and perhaps allowing other runners to move up as well. As with any > other play, Diamond Mind Baseball complies with the official rules. The batter is automatically declared > out if first base is occupied with less than two out. If there are two out and the bases are loaded, the > catcher won’t risk the throw to first because he can simply step on home plate to force the runner. > > \*\*Dropped throws and throwing errors. \*\*About a third of the errors charged to outfielders result from wild > throws. Most other games don’t include throwing errors as a possible outcome of a running play. But this is > an important factor in deciding whether to throw for the lead runner. The game also includes plays where > the catcher or another fielder is charged with an error when he drops a good throw. At $70 for the game and most recent season disk, or $50 for just the game, **DMB** is out of the price range of some people. For those who are interested in simulating an entire career, or just price conscious, get the next version of **Baseball Mogul**. Users of both games can edit practically anything, but **DMB** seems best suited for just simulating single seasons or exhibition games. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/7 "2001-04-09T19:18:44Z")
Thanks, **Jeff**. I did check out **Baseball Mogul’s** site, and I’m gonna wait till their new one comes out - they said the end of this month. Thanks for the tip! The $70 for Diamond Mine’s a little too high for me, but it certainly looks realistic enough… ---
**Author:** ![eponymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@eponymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eponymous)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/8 "2001-04-10T05:19:11Z")
**dantheman** , You might want to give Out of the Park a try. Website at [http://www.ootp3.com](http://www.ootp3.com). Price is $29.95 via download. Nice features include: - Career mode - Ability to import ANY year and replay using Lahman Database (it’s free!!) - Tons of Stats It has about the same statistical accuracy as Diamond Mind with a better general manager/career mode/financials function than Baseball Mogul. User support is great and there is a growing community of users (lots of on-line leagues and add-ons). Just to let you know, there are some minor bugs that the developer is working to correct as we speak (should have a patch out within a week). Another one should come out in a month that will fine tune the trade AI and financial engines. Biggest complaint on their message board (as far as I know) is that the game won’t run on some computers that only have 800 X 600 screen resolution. In my opinion, OOTP is the best computer baseball game on the market right now, bar none. And this coming from a long-time Diamond Mind player (I’ve also played Baseball Mogul - a really fun game, but OOTP does so much more!!). You’ll definitely get your money’s worth in purchasing the game. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/9 "2001-04-10T11:59:09Z")
Thanks, **eponymous** , I’ll look for it when I get home. Are those stats all editable? That’s pretty important for my purposes, but the price seems right… Thanks guys, you’ve been a big help… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/10 "2001-04-10T13:04:01Z")
I’m going to second Jeff on this one- Baseball Mogul is kick-ass. I haven’t tried Diamond Mind, though, so I can’t compare it. As for Baseball Mogul- keep in mind that you won’t get any graphics to speak of. No watching the game as it progresses; the best you can hope for is reading the play-by-play as the computer writes it (and in the current version, if you’ve got a fast computer, you can’t even do that). On the other hand, Mogul throws in something that no other baseball game sim does- money. Hey, sure, we all want A-Rod, Piazza, McGuire and Sosa on our starting line-up. But you can’t _afford_ that. Especially if you’re the Milwaukee Brewers. One other note on Mogul- check out Walmart, Best Buy, and CompUSA. For the longest time last year, they had the 1999 version on sale for a few bucks (literally $3 in some cases), so you can pick it up for dirt cheap and see if it’s what you want. Jeff- so when you play Baseball Mogul, do you play the Baltimore Orioles, or do you do what I do- move the Montreal Expos down to DC and rename them the Senators? Not that I’m obsessed or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/11 "2001-04-10T14:28:53Z")
Lately, I’ve mainly been editing roster patches for **BM2K** , at least when I have time to do so. Someone sent me a 1987 patch with some stats missing, I’ve been putting those in when I can find time. With all the accuracy involved, it takes quite a while to edit the entire Major Leagues. Sometimes I get bored and start playing somthing more exciting, like Diablo II. The first thing I did with **BM2K** was to correct the rosters that were included with the previous version. I’ve managed the Yankees for about 30 seasons. I had both Sosa and Junior at one point, and kept Junior playing long enough to retire with just over 1000 career homers! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/12 "2001-04-10T14:53:12Z")
Hmm…looks interesting. Think I’ll give it a try, but probably won’t have enough time to really get into it until this weekend. As I said before, **BBPro '98** is also good, but playing an entire season is sloooow compared to the other games. The people at Sierra claim the accuracy would diminish if the simulation was allowed to speed up. However, I do like the ability to recreate any team’s actual uniform colors. When I created a 1915 season with all three leagues, I was able to give the Tigers their historically correct beige uniforms. For the latest info on **Baseball Mogul 2002** check out the message boards at their new [website](http://www.mogulsports.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/13 "2001-04-11T12:49:00Z")
I downloaded OOTP3 but haven’t installed it yet. I’ve seen users complaining that the game takes a long time to simulate a season. One user posted on the Mogul message boards that after 4 hours of playing, the game is still in the first season. How is the simulation speed for you, **eponymous**? ---
**Author:** ![eponymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@eponymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eponymous)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/14 "2001-04-11T13:48:17Z")
\*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > [@](#): > > I downloaded OOTP3 but haven’t installed it yet. I’ve seen users complaining that the game takes a long time to simulate a season. One user posted on the Mogul message boards that after 4 hours of playing, the game is still in the first season. How is the simulation speed for you, **eponymous**? Well, I have a Pentium II 450 MgHz with 128 Mg of RAM and speed for me is really not a problem. I can simulate a season in OOTP3 about 10 minutes. To achieve best results, you may need to ensure maximum amount of RAM space. ---
**Author:** ![eponymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@eponymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eponymous)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/15 "2001-04-11T13:53:50Z")
\*Originally posted by dantheman \* [quote] Thanks, **eponymous** , I’ll look for it when I get home. Are those stats all editable? That’s pretty important for my purposes, but the price seems right… [quote] Yes, the stats are editable. Also, the first patch has been released. The 800 x 600 resolution problem will be corrected in a few weeks. I definitely recommend you purchase it if you are a serious simmer!! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/16 "2001-04-13T15:09:38Z")
I like being able to generate an entire league direct from the Lahman Database, which I downloaded. I grew up watching the Cubs, so I started a career in 1984. The menu system takes a little getting used to. The in-depth scouting reports are great! So far, I haven’t seen anyone capable of playing multiple positions other than the outfielders; the reason for this could be that I imported stats from the Lahman Database. Right now, I prefer the defensive depth in **Baseball Mogul**. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/17 "2001-04-13T15:17:42Z")
I’ve downloaded **OOTP** , and so far I’m very pleased with the results. I’ve taken the 2000 Phillies and edited them to my heart’s content. Cool deal with the financial stats, too. One problem. I started the first game, rearranged the lineup to my liking, and hit continue. Crash! One of those “Such and Such has detected an error in your program and will now close.” This happened twice. And since it was late, I didn’t try a third time. I rebooted the computer and went to bed. When I get home, I’ll give it another whirl… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/18 "2001-04-13T17:25:37Z")
Did you also get the [version 3 patch](http://www.sportplanet.com/ootp3/downloads.html)? ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/19 "2001-04-13T17:48:21Z")
**High Heat Baseball 2002** is the best and most realistic of the games that you actually play. Great career mode and custom league features. It’s a little buggy right now, but the first patch should be out by the end of the month. I used to play the Hardball series, too, and High Heat captures the spirit of those games. Very realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724/20 "2001-04-13T19:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s a little buggy right now, but the first patch should be out by the end of the month. Gee, _that_ sounds familiar. :rolleyes: Remember the original **High Heat** and all the problems it had? Remember the patch that was supposed to fix those problems? Sure, it fixed _some_ problems but it also gave my copy new ones! After all that, I won’t bother with the game anymore. As I’ve said before, **Microsoft Baseball 2001** is better than the original **High Heat** and works just fine on my system. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-a-baseball-game-computer/60724.md?page=2)