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1993-11-16
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STRATEGIC BASEBALL SIMULATOR
Copyright 1988 David B. Schmidt
(SBS)
Version 2.5
October 1993
Target Computers:
IBM or 100% Compatible.
DOS 2.1 or later
Color monitor is best but monochrome is fine.
Hard drive and at least a 80286 recommended for large simulations
Files included in this package:
BASEBALL.EXE - the Strategic Baseball Simulator Version 2.5
BASEBALL.MSX - the announcer's play-by-play and comments
BASEBALL.DOC - the file you are reading now
BASEBALL.CFG - the configuration file
BASEBALL.INF - theory of operation
BASEBALL.ICO - icon for Microsoft Windows
BASESTAT.EXE - statistics compiler program
MANUAL.BAT - prints this document
REGISTER.BAT - prints registration form
REGISTER.FRM - the registration form
FILE_ID.DIZ - brief program description
VENDOR.DOC - information for distributors
TEAMORDR.DOC - where to order more teams
README.25 - last minute information
Plus:
old-timer .DAT files and sample .SCH (schedule) files
To print this document: enter MANUAL
To print the registration form: enter REGISTER
Page 1
CONTENTS
Page
Introduction/Installation..................................... 2
About Shareware............................................... 2
Disclaimer.................................................... 3
Overview
Manual Mode (single-game)..................................... 4
Two-Team Simulations.......................................... 4
Schedule File Simulations..................................... 4
Selected Topics
Selecting Teams............................................... 5
Selecting Schedule Files...................................... 5
Selecting Starting Pitchers................................... 5
Designated Hitter............................................. 5
Record-Keeping Options........................................ 6
Statistics File............................................. 6
Box Score File.............................................. 6
Score Card File............................................. 6
Selecting Starting Lineups.................................... 6
Changing Defensive Positions.................................. 7
Management Options............................................ 7
Managing in Manual Mode..................................... 7
Double-Switch............................................... 8
Lazy Man's Method........................................... 8
Understanding Schedule Files.................................. 9
Command Line Examples......................................... 9
Option Switches List..........................................10
Analyzing the Statistics - BASESTAT...........................11
Maintaining teams.............................................12
Configuration File - BASEBALL.CFG.............................13
Microsoft Windows 3.1 notes...................................13
Support.......................................................14
Acknowledgements..............................................14
Registration..................................................15
Pedigree:
1981 - FORTRAN for IBM VSE/ICCF mainframes
1987 - Version 1.2 Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0
1988 - Version 1.3 Microsoft QuickBASIC 3.0
1990 - Versions 1.4 & 1.5 - a few bug fixes - flexible DH
1993 - Version 2.01/02 Microsoft BASIC 7.1 - Major revision -
new features including large simulation capability and
ability to save and compile statistics
1993 - Version 2.5 More flexibility; Capability to save or print
box scores/score cards/starbox's. Faster. Better display.
Page 2
INTRODUCTION
The Strategic Baseball Simulator (SBS) is a program with two
personalities. It can be considered a game in which one plays
against another human or against the computer. It can also be
considered a simulation tool in which many games are played out
rapidly in order to discover strengths and weaknesses in a
particular line-up. This program is NOT an arcade-type game with
slick graphics. But if you are a baseball fan it is FUN and, to
some, addictive! SBS is very easy to use. It cuts through the
nonsense to get you into the action quickly. A game can be played
manually in few minutes. But the program's strength is its ability
to simulate large numbers of games in a short time. A 162 game
schedule can be simulated in 6 minutes (on a '386 / 25 mHz) and an
entire SEASON for EVERY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE can be completed in
about 35 minutes. (Older PC's will take somewhat longer, of course,
but still perform well. A 486/25 does about 1 game/second).
SBS works by reading in actual statistics for every player. The
program then builds a statistical model to simulate baseball. This
results is a good approximation, especially over a large number of
games. For a typical player/season of 600 at-bats, about 40% of
players will finish within 10 points of their actual average. About
75% will be within 20 points and about 95% will be within 40
points.
INSTALLATION
Nothing fancy. Just make a subdirectory and copy the files.
1] create a subdirectory:
> md \sbs
2] log into the subdirectory you just created:
> cd \sbs
3] copy the files into the subdirectory you just created:
i.e., put source diskette in drive A [or B], then:
> copy a:*.* [ or copy b:*.* ]
Start the program by entering "baseball" at the DOS prompt.
DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE
This program is "Shareware", not "Freeware".
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before
buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it,
you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details
-- some request registration while others require it, some specify
a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from
the simple right to continue using the software to an updated
program with printed manual.
Page 3
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and
the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished
programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of
comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad
ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The
author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the
software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For
example, some authors require written permission before a
commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether
it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting
your needs easier, because you can try before you buy.
And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has
the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product,
you don't pay for it.
DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT
Users of Strategic Baseball Simulator must accept this disclaimer
of warranty: "Strategic Baseball Simulator is supplied as is. The
author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including,
without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of
fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for
damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use
of Strategic Baseball Simulator."
Strategic Baseball Simulator is a "shareware program" and is
provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to
share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered
or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported"
software is to provide personal computer users with quality
software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for
programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this
program useful and find that you are using Strategic Baseball
Simulator and continue to use Strategic Baseball Simulator after a
reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of
$9.95 to the author. The $9.95 registration fee will license one
copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat
this software just like a book. An example is that this software
may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from
one computer location to another, so long as there is no
possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used
at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons
at the same time.
You are encouraged to pass a copy of Strategic Baseball Simulator
along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to
register their copy if they find that they can use it. All
registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the
Strategic Baseball Simulator system.
Page 4
OVERVIEW AND THE OPENING MENU
You are presented with three principle options here.
MANUAL MODE
Here you will select two teams. You can manage against the computer
or against a friend or you can manage both sides if you want. Or
you can tell the computer to manage both sides. "Manual Mode" puts
you in control.
TWO-TEAM SIMULATION
Again you will select two teams. But in this mode, the object is to
let the computer manage both sides in order to simulate as many
games as you want as quickly as possible. This is great for trying
to compare which team is really the "best" as baseball is a game
where a great number of games must be played before the statistics
can reveal the true picture. You will probably elect to save the
statistics generated by your simulation so you can later review
them. The simulation will start with the program running as fast as
it can. (Delay factor = 0). If you want to slow it down, you can do
so by popping up the Control window and changing the Delay. You can
also type "R" during the run to check the Won-Lost results and
highlight summary.
SCHEDULE MODE
This is similar to TWO-TEAM mode, but now the computer
automatically cranks through an entire schedule. These schedules
can be all 162 games for a given team or all the games for an
entire league. When you select the Schedule Mode, you are presented
with a list of "schedule files" to choose from. Schedule files are
nothing more than ASCII text files which list the teams to play and
how many games they are to play against each other. [V]iew one of
these files to see how they are set up. Then you can create your
own schedule files with your favorite teams using your favorite
text editor or word processor. You will doubtless want to save
statistics from your "Schedule Mode" simulations which you can
later compile with the companion program BASESTAT. The simulation
will start with the program running as fast as it can. (Delay
factor = 0). If you want to slow it down, you can do so by popping
up the Control window and changing the Delay. You can also type "R"
during the run to check the Won-Lost results and highlight summary.
Page 5
SELECTED TOPICS
SELECTING TEAMS
All the files in your current directory with the extension of .DAT
are displayed. Just highlight the team you want by moving the arrow
keys and hit ENTER. You may [V]iew or [E]dit these files by
highlighting them and typing V or E. In order for the "E" to work,
SBS must find a text editor on your system. If you are running MS-DOS
5 or 6, SBS will try to use the built-in Microsoft Editor. If you
are running a version of DOS older than DOS 5.0 you will need to tell
SBS where to find your text editor. This is done by entering the
line EDITOR=[file specification] into the BASEBALL.CFG file. See
the topic CONFIGURATION FILE - BASEBALL.CFG.
SELECTING SCHEDULE FILES
Just like selecting teams, except the computer displays files with
the extension .SCH. You can [V]iew or [E]dit these files, too.
SELECTING STARTING PITCHERS
MANUAL MODE:
Just enter a number from 1 through 5.
TWO-TEAM / SCHEDULE MODE:
You can go through the starting rotation sequentially, i.e. each
pitcher in turn, or let the computer pick starters at random, or
select one pitcher to start every game. I recommend that in
schedule mode you use the sequential method. In two-team mode you
may want to use the random method. That's because in two-team mode,
if both teams used the same sequential rotation, the same pitchers
would always be pitching against each other -- which might not be a
desirable effect. Of course if one team uses a 4 man rotation and
the other a 5 man rotation there's no problem.
You select the starters in your rotation by typing "S" or "R" (for
sequential or random) followed by a number from 2 to 5. For example
S5 means a five-man sequential rotation. R3 means the computer
picks at random from the first three listed starters.
THE DESIGNATED HITTER RULE
You are always given the option of whether to use the Designated
Hitter. The default is NO (even for the American League) so watch
closely on this one. Most of the American League teams of the last
two decades will have the DH included in their .DAT files. For
other teams, the computer will pluck the first player on the
"bench" and insert him in the lineup in slot number 5 as the DH. If
you are building your own schedule files it is always a good idea
to include the /DH: switch on each line. But more about schedule
files later.
Page 6
RECORD-KEEPING OPTIONS
When the "Record-Keeping Options" window appears, you have the
opportunity to save STATISTICS, save the BOX SCORE at the end of
each game, and/or save the SCORE-CARD at the end of each game.
Leave the input fields blank if you do not want to save them.
File-names should be from 1 to 8 characters long. You can keep
adding information to the end of existing files or you can erase
old files and start fresh. If you want to erase a file, type a "Y"
beside the "Erase old file" prompt.
Don't use a "file extension" for the statistics file -- if you do
SBS will ignore it. SBS will actually generate four DOS statistics
files. A summary file with extension of .STS, a batter file with
extension .STB, a pitcher file with extension .STP, and a highlight
file with extension .STH. These statistics files are used by the
companion program, BASESTAT. THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE SIZE OF FILES
WHICH BASESTAT CAN SORT WHICH COMES OUT TO ROUGHLY 1550 GAMES.
THEREFORE DO NOT SIMULATE MORE THAN ONE LEAGUE-SEASON IN THE SAME
STATISTICS FILE. For example you can simulate the entire 1992 N.L.
schedule and save stats in a file called 92NL (972 games). And you
can simulate the 1992 A.L. schedule and save stats in a file called
92AL (1134 games). But you would be ill-advised to try to save them
both to the same file-name because that would be over 2000 games
and choke BASESTAT!
The BOX SCORE file is just an ASCII text file dump of the box score
at the end of the game. You can view these box score files with any
word processor, text editor or file viewer. Or, from DOS, just do
more < filename
where "filename" is the name of your file you want to view.
The SCORE CARD file is an ASCII text "shorthand" log of the
play-by-play, not an actual scorecard. I usually do not save the
score card file because it tends to eat up quite a bit of disk
space. You probably don't want to do this on long simulations. See
the preceding paragraph on viewing text files.
You may print out the box score or the score card immediately at
game's end by entering LPT1 as the file name.
Box scores for games in which outstanding performances occur may be
automatically saved in a file called STARBOX.TXT (or whatever you
wish to name it) in your current directory. See "CONFIGURATION FILE
- BASEBALL.CFG" on page 13 for more information.
SELECT STARTING LINEUPS
For Manual Mode / Two-Team Simulations:
The default starting lineups are displayed for each team. You have the
opportunity to make changes in the lineup or batting order as you
see fit. The changes you make are temporary. (The team .DAT files
on disk do not change unless you edit them). You can swap players
between the starting lineup and the bench. You can change the
batting order also, as long as the game(s) has not started yet.
Swapping is done by just typing the numbers of the players you want
to switch, separated by a "-", i.e. 3-4.
Page 7
For Schedule File Mode:
Since schedule files usually involve many teams it was not feasible
to allow manipulation of the lineups in the "Schedule Mode".
However you can always go back and edit the .DAT files directly to
change lineups to your liking.
CHANGING DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
For Manual Mode / Two-Team Simulations:
Once your starting lineup is intact, you may switch defensive
positions of the players if you like. This is done by typing the
numbers of the players you want to switch positions, separated by a
"-" (as above).
Outfielders playing infield and vice-versa will be penalized!
Middle infielders playing at the corners will be penalized as well
as corner infielders playing in the middle. The penalty is not too
severe but you will notice an increase in the number of errors
committed by out-of-position players.
This option is not available in "Schedule Mode". You must edit the
.DAT file directly.
SELECTING WHO MANAGES WHOM - OTHER "GROUND RULES"
In the "Ground Rules" screen you decide whether the computer will
manager either, both, or none of the teams. [For teams which are
manually controlled, the player(s) use "pop-up" command windows
throughout the game that let them control their offensive or
defensive options]. You will also determine the "Delay Factor".
This determines how long you have to read the announcer's comments
which determines the speed of the simulation. Try "2" to start out
with. If this is a little too slow for you, change it to "1" later.
The last thing you are asked before the game starts is if you want
the computer to HIDE the decisions you make within the pop-up
command windows. You should only elect to HIDE if you are managing
against another human player who might "steal" your signals.
MANAGING IN MANUAL MODE
If the computer is NOT managing the VISITING team, the visiting
team's command window is activated by hitting "S". This displays a
list of either offensive or defensive actions.
W > Scroll through your options using the "W" and "X" keys.
> "Mark" the options (On or Off) using the "A" and "D"
A S D keys (A=On D=Off)
> If both side are managed manually and HIDE was
X selected, the computer WILL NOT DISPLAY the results
of the "A" and "D" keys (on/off) in order to HIDE your
decisions from your opponent.
> Move the pointer to "READY/EXIT" and hit "A" when done.
Or, if your opponent is the computer, just hit ESC.
Page 8
If the computer is NOT managing the HOME team, the home team
command window is activated by hitting the "5" key. (SBS attempts
to turn on your numeric-lock so you can use your numeric keypad).
8 > Scroll through your options using the "8" and "2" keys.
> "Mark" the options (On or Off) using the "4" and "6" keys.
4 5 6 (4=On 6=Off)
> If both side are managed manually and HIDE was
2 selected, the computer WILL NOT DISPLAY the results
of the "4" and "6" keys (on/off) in order to HIDE your
decisions from your opponent.
> Move the pointer to "READY/EXIT" and hit "4" when done.
Or, if your opponent is the computer, just hit ESC.
Remember, if you don't want to make a strategic move (which is most
of the time) just hit ENTER.
Just before the game started you were asked if you wanted the
computer to HIDE the decisions you would make within the command
windows. If you elected NOT to hide, then you CAN see the results
of hitting the "on" and "off" keys. Not hiding makes it easier to
see what's going on inside your command window. Also if there is
only one team managed by a human, just hitting ESC will close your
command window. No need to move the pointer back to READY/EXIT and
hit "on".
To quit the game, hit "Q". (You get a chance to change your mind.)
To get the current "Box Score" hit "B".
To check the "Score Card" hit "K".
If you change your mind about which teams the computer should
manage, hit "C" and the "Control Window" appears in the middle of
the screen. You can also change the Delay Factor and turn the Sound
Effects on or off.
All of the options in your command window are self-explanatory, but
you will need the following special instructions if you want to do
a "double-switch" maneuver.
"DOUBLE-SWITCH" (only valid with no DH):
1) Get new pitcher from bullpen.
2) Immediately pop up the "Substitute" window and switch in a new
defensive player. THEN type "DS" while still in the Substitute
window. This will place the new pitcher in the batting slot
previously occupied by the outgoing player and the new defensive
player into the old pitcher's batting slot.
LAZY MAN'S METHOD - LETTING THE COMPUTER MANAGE BOTH SIDES
(All you do is sit back and watch the show!)
If you pick the automatic manager for BOTH teams, you will have no
input into the game yourself...all you do is sit back and watch the
game unfold. You may hit "C" (for Control Window) to halt the
action at any time. Then you may choose to reset the "AutoManger"
for either or both teams or change the "Delay Factor". If you want
to follow the action you probably want to set the Delay at "2".
Page 9
If you want to play the game out as quickly as possible, set it at
"1" or even "0". With AutoManager on "Y" for both sides and a Delay
of "0" the game will be played out in a matter of a second or two.
UNDERSTANDING SCHEDULE FILES
"Schedule Files" are the vehicle through which SBS knows to play
certain teams a certain number of games. The schedule file is just
a text file with a file extension of .SCH that you can build
yourself with your text-editor program or word processor. It
contains the teams and number of games they are to play and other
information if necessary. Data is entered via "switches". The order
of the switches should not matter. For example, one such schedule
file might contain the following lines:
/v:91mets.dat /h:91cards.dat /n:9
/v:91mets.dat /h:91cubs.dat /n:9
(etc. etc. through all the Eastern Division teams)
/v:91mets.dat /h:91reds.dat /n:6 /hp:S4
/v:91mets.dat /h:91braves.dat /n:6
(etc. etc. through all the Western Division teams)
The /v: means, as you probably guessed, the visiting team. And of
course the /h: means the home team. The number following the /n:
determines the number of games. You can also use the /vp: and /hp:
switches to override the default starting pitching rotation scheme
which was discussed earlier. But, at a minimum, each line in a
schedule file must contain the /h: /v: and /n: switches.
If you save statistics when you run a schedule file -- and you
probably will -- please be aware that one set of statistics files
can only hold enough data for about 1550 games. So when you build
schedule files, you probably don't want to exceed 1550 games total!
You can use these switches to override the normal starting rotation
method you pick in the program. See the example above -- with the
/hp: and /vp: switches. You can also override whatever you choose
on the DH rule with the /dh: switch. (See listing of command-line
options for more details).
COMMAND LINE EXAMPLES
You may never want to start SBS with "command line" options, but
they are available. They would be useful if you intended to run SBS
from a batch file. Note that you can use the same switches from
either the command line or inside a schedule file. Here are a few
scenarios showing the use of command line options.
Example 1: You want to play 12 games with the 27 Yankees visiting
the 61 Yankees. You don't want the DH. You want each team to cycle
through a 4-man pitching rotation. You want to save the results to
a statistics file named "styanks".
>baseball /v:27yankee /h:61yankee /sp:S4 /dh:n /st:styanks /n:12
Page 10
The /V and /H switches load the visiting and home teams
respectively. If you leave off the file extension on the team
files, the program assumes .DAT. The /SP switch sets both teams to
use S4 -- Sequential four-man rotation. If you omit the /SP switch
the default is S5 for both teams - a five-man rotation. /DH:N
forces NO DH, although if you leave if off the default is NO DH
anyway. /ST gives the name of the statistics file you choose. (File
extensions on /ST are ignored). The statistics file "styanks" will
be created as four separate files - STYANKS.STS, STYANKS.STB,
STYANKS.STP, STYANKS.STH. /N:12 says to play 12 games.
Example 2: Same as above only we want the 27 Yanks to use a 3-man
rotation.
>baseball /v:27yankee /h:61yankee /vp:S3 /hp:S4 /st:styanks /n:12
Since the pitching rotation is different for each team, we have to
use the /VP and /HP switches instead of /SP. Notice that if we
don't want the DH we don't need to specify the /DH switch.
Example 3: You want to simulate the entire 1991 season for the New
York Mets. A five-man rotation is OK for all teams. Save statistics
to "st91mets".
>baseball /sch:91mets.sch /st:st91mets /bx:st91mets.box
The /SCH switch specifies the name of the schedule file which must
already exist. The /ST switch will save the statistics to three DOS
files -- st91mets.sts, st91mets.stb, and st91mets.stp. All box
scores saved to "st91mets.box".
OPTION SWITCHES LIST
Here is a list of all the switches that can be set from the DOS command
line or inside a "schedule" file. You may enter as many switches as you
need. Each one must be separated by a space. Each line in a schedule
file must contain, at a minimum, the /H: /V: and /N: switches.
/P:path
If your .dat files reside in some other drive or directory
other than the one where "BASEBALL.EXE" is, you need the /P:
Example: >baseball /p:b: (.DAT files are in drive b)
>baseball /p:\nat91 (.DAT files in \nat91 subdirectory)
/H:team.dat
/V:team.dat
/DH:Y or N (default is N)
/SCH:schedule file (command line only)
/N:number of games (default is 1)
/SP:S5-S2 or R5-R2 or 1-5
Default Starting Pitcher Selection Method: If you are
simulating many games, there are different ways the computer
uses to pick the starting pitcher. If you do not specify the
/SP switch, program defaults to S5, sequential 5-man rotation.
/VP: (same as SP) Override /SP for the Visiting Team entered in /V
/HP: (same as SP) Override /SP for the Home Team entered in /H
/S:Y or N Turns Sound Effects On or Off
Page 11
/C:C or M Force Color or Monochrome display. The program should be
smart enough to figure this out without relying on this switch.
/ST:statistics file.
This file name may be 1 to 8 characters long. Do NOT use a file
extension.
/BX:box score file. File extensions OK.
/SC:score card file. File extensions OK.
/STB:StarBox file. File extensions OK.
/DEL:delay factor 0-9 How long (in seconds) you get to read the
play-by-play
ANALYZING THE STATISTICS - BASESTAT
The companion stat program is called BASESTAT. BASESTAT will ask
you to enter the name of your STAT FILE. It will then summarize the
results and print them out directly or to a .PRN file on disk.
Outputting to a .PRN file can save you some time for large
simulations. You can view this file with any number of file viewing
programs or you can load it into your word processor or text editor
if you desire. You can also send the .PRN files to your printer at
your convenience at a later time.
- - - - - - - DOS commands you should know: - - - - - -
| |
| Viewing a file: type "filename.ext" | more |
| more < "filename.ext" |
| Printing a file: type "filename.ext" > LPT1 |
| copy "filename.ext" PRN |
| print "filename.ext" |
| |
- - - - - - (do not type the quotations marks) - - - -
Simulating an entire season for one team (162 games) takes about 6
minutes on a fast 386. The statistics files for such a run will
total around 250K -- easily fitting on a diskette.
If you simulate a very large number of games in one stat file, you
may need a hard disk. If you simulate an entire season for an
entire league the game count goes to 972 for the National League
(pre-expansion) and 1134 for the American League. This may take a
while to run -- depending on your machine. A 386 PC should handle
it in about 40 minutes. The statistics for such a run will require
close to 2 megabytes of disk space. BASESTAT can sort files this
big, but it may take several minutes. NOTE! THERE IS AN UPPER LIMIT
ON THE SIZE OF STATISTICS FILES! That limit is 32,766 batter
records which corresponds roughly to 1550 games. Therefore when you
build schedule files and save statistics, do not exceed 1550 games
in a single statistics file.
TIP: A disk-caching program helps a lot! Try a cache size of 512K if
possible. Use "write" caching if available.
Page 12
MAINTAINING TEAMS (or build your own teams!)
You can change information on the team files or make up your own
teams using any text editor. Just about any word processor will do
also, but make SURE you save the file in plain ASCII format. This
is sometimes called DOS MODE or NON-DOCUMENT MODE or some-such
thing. Make sure you follow the exact format used in the team files
supplied. Everything has to be in its own particular column, etc.
The best way is to copy one of the .DAT files you already have and
then edit the new file.
Slots 1 thru 9 are the starting lineup and batting order. If you do
not want a DH in your default starting lineup, leave slot 9 blank
like I have in my National League files.
Slots 10 thru 14 are for starting pitchers. Relief pitchers begin
in slot 15, although #14 can be used in relief if desired. You may
have as few as 2 or as many as 8 relief pitchers. The man in slot
15 will be your "closer" -- the guy who comes in in the late
innings to try to nail down a save. After the relief pitchers there
should be a line beginning with a "*" and then the "bench". You may
fill out the bench down to slot 25. If you have a lot of relief
pitchers in your .DAT file your bench might be a little thin.
If you do not include a DH in the default starting lineup, and then
choose to use a DH in the program, the first player on the bench
will be inserted as the DH into the number five spot.
PLATOONING:
"Platooning" is when a manager starts a right-handed hitting player
against left-handed pitching, but benches him in favor of a left-
handed hitting player against right-handed pitching. SBS supports
this in the following manner by direct editing of the .DAT files.
Type an "A" in column 5 of the .DAT file next to the player in the
starting lineup. Then type an "A" in column 5 next to the player on
the bench that you want to platoon with him. Neither player should
be a switch hitter. If there are more players you want to platoon
at the same time match them up with a "B" and so on. When SBS
displays the starting lineup it will swap the marked players
depending on the "handed-ness" of the opposing pitcher. SBS will
NOT do "platoon-swapping" after pitching changes while a game is
in progress. If column 5 of a player's record is marked, SBS
assumes that his statistics were generated primarily against
opposite-handed pitchers, so his average is not "boosted", as would
be the case of straight lefties vs righties, and vice-versa.
A REMINDER:
If you are adding your own team files, you must use the file extension
".DAT" for your data file. You may have up to 300 teams in a given
subdirectory. If your team .DAT files are in a different subdirectory
than the BASEBALL.EXE, you must start the program with the path switch.
For example, if your .DAT files are in a subdirectory called \bbal you
would start the game with: baseball /p:\bbal
Trust me, entering lots of teams from scratch can be a pain. So
don't do last year's teams yourself. Register instead!
Page 13
CONFIGURATION FILE - BASEBALL.CFG
This is an important file, although SBS will run without it. The
configuration file contains information about each league for a
given year. This enables SBS to reduce any "bias" of one era versus
another. These stats are used to compute "League Average" values
for a given league/year -- see discussion in BASEBALL.INF. If there
is no .CFG file, SBS uses some "hard-coded" values which reflect
recent-era data. If the team you select is from a year or league
that is not covered in the .CFG file, then SBS uses the default
values contained in the file -- the DEF A and DEF N lines. If you
choose to edit this file, keep the columns lined up correctly!
You may also control the standards which determine when a game's
box score is saved to your "STARBOX" file. This is done in the
HILITE line. For example, if you want to save the box score if
someone gets 5 or more hits you would enter "5" under Hits. If you
want to save box scores of pitching gems of 3-hitters or better
enter a "3" under the PHit column.
Here are some sample lines from the .CFG file for reference and
the columns in which these values must fall:
columns 11-16 18-23 25-30 32-37 39-44 46-51
* | Hits| HR| RBI| SB| PHit| SO|
HILITE | 5| 3| 7| 3| 2| 13|
*
*Yr L | Inn | Hits| 2B| 3B| HR| BB|
* | | | | | | |
1902A | 9732| 10451| 1679| 569| 258| 2815|
As mentioned earlier, this file may also contain the "path" to your
text-editor. For example, suppose you use the popular editor Q.EXE
which you might have in your \UTIL directory. Just enter the line:
EDITOR=\util\q (no spaces, please)
on any line in the .CFG file ("EDITOR=" must begin in column 1) and
SBS should be able to find your editor. There has been a problem
reported by a user on a Lantastic network where for some reason SBS
would not "shell" to the built-in Microsoft Editor. Specifying
another editor in the .CFG worked.
MICROSOFT WINDOWS
If you have a '386 or better, it can be very nice to run a long SBS
simulation in the "background" under Windows. If you are familiar
with Windows you can create a .PIF file that allows the application
to run in the "background" while you run other programs. I used the
default .PIF included with Windows, checked the "Background" box,
and saved it as BASEBALL.PIF. I am using Windows 3.1. The only
problem I had was sometimes the program would "freeze" when I tried
switching back and forth between running in a window and running
full-screen (alt+enter). The problem may be fixed now, but I would
recommend staying in "full-screen" mode anyway. Included in this
package is BASEBALL.ICO, an icon for SBS to use with Windows.
Page 14
SUPPORT
The author loves feedback from users! Write to the address below or
contact me via CompuServe. Feel free to distribute the program in
its original format. But if you are a registered user, please do
not distribute the additional team .DAT files you received as part
of your registration.
Speaking of registration.... For $9.95, I will supply a diskette
with data files for all American League and National League teams
containing the PREVIOUS year's statistics. Also included will be
the latest version of the program. The previous year's data
diskettes should be available each year around April 1. For
example, if it is now May 1994, the rosters and data for the 1993
teams would be available. They will reflect the rosters at the end
of the 1993 season and will not include trades and/or new players
which have arrived since the end of that season. (You will have to
use your text editor or word processor and update the files
yourself if you want to have current rosters which reflect the
latest trades). If you register AFTER the regular season but before
the time when the .DAT files become available -- i.e. October thru
March -- then I will send you the latest .DAT files when they
become available under a separate mailing.
Here's the address:
D.B. Schmidt If this doesn't match the address on
R.R. 4 - Box 142 the opening screen, suspect tampering!
St. Joseph, Missouri 64507
CompuServe: 76474,3116
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Microsoft's BASIC development team.
Thomas Hanlin III for his excellent ADVBAS routines. Highly recommended.
ADVBAS is a library of routines that is available by shareware. SBS
makes good use of a number of these routines.
Ethan Winer for his superb book "BASIC Techniques and Utilities". A
modified version of his file sorting program is used in BASESTAT.
Thomas Riggs of Longview, Texas who researched many teams for
early versions of this program.
Special thanks to Robert Logbeck of Topeka, Kansas for researching
many old-timer teams, building schedule files for championship
playoffs for each decade, researching all that data in the .CFG
file and finding lots of program glitches which I failed to detect.
Check out his file TEAMORDR.DOC for information on ordering
specific teams from the past!
Page 15
Registration form:
D.B. Schmidt
R.R. 4 - Box 142
St. Joseph, Missouri 64507
Name : _________________________________________ 3.5"___ 5.25"___
Address: _________________________________________
City : _____________________________ State: ____
Zip : _______________
Do you want a 5.25" or 3.5" diskette? ____________
[Please select 3.5" if at all possible!]
If you absolutely require a 5.25", is High Density (1.2 meg) OK? ___
Just to satisfy my curiosity, please describe your computer system:
____________________________________________________________
Where did you get your copy of Strategic Baseball Simulator?
------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosed is a check or money order for $9.95.
If you are already registered and just need the latest .DAT files
that I have from the previous season, please enclose $7.00. See the
file TEAMORDR.DOC for information about any other teams you may
want.