Veterans’ Challenge Series - Training Camp (Challenge #2)

Training Camp (Challenge #2)

In a tribute to these heroes, I present Part 2 of the Veterans’ Challenge Series. The series consists of four parts, and ideally you advance to take on the next challenge. Consider it your time in the service. Challenges will stretch from Memorial Day to the 76^th anniversary of the “Day of Days (June 6^th, D-Day).”

Player Comparison Tool

One of the things I love the most about MLB Showdown is doing statistical analysis on my cards and finding ways to optimize roster creation.

This is possible because the engine is much more open than in video games, for example, and because it is relatively simple: an at-bat is determined by two rolls of a 20-sided die, one for the pitch and one for the swing. Therefore, we have a total of 20x20 = 400 possible outcomes of an at-bat between a given batter and a pitcher. By figuring out every possible outcome, we can calculate expected stats for that at-bat.

I designed a simple tool in Google Sheets that will do this calculation and calculate some of the basic hitting stats. I included a link to the tool at the bottom of this blog.  

The tool has three parts, each on their own sheet:

Veterans’ Challenge Series - Boot Camp (Challenge #1)

In a tribute to these heroes, I present Part 1 of the Veterans’ Challenge Series. The series consists of four parts, and you must advance to take on the next challenge. Consider it your time in the service. Challenges will stretch from Memorial Day to the 76^th anniversary of the “Day of Days (June 6^th, D-Day).”

 

Hall of Fame Veterans

9 years ago, I was lucky enough to be at Arlington on Memorial Day. It’s a day I will never forget the rest of my life. Walking around and paying tribute to our heroes on that day is unlike anything I have done. It doesn’t matter what your political views are, we can all take some time to appreciate those who have served our country. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the luxuries in our life like this game we have all gathered on.

Pictured here is one of our fallen I visited on that day. He is a hero back in our hometown, being one of the first casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1996 Season Preview

Immmm back! Maybe... sometimes? I'm here when I can be. Luckily I've been able to have some free time with the pandemic to get some 1996 cards done for everyone. The set is finally calculated. I keep tinkering with it probably because its my baby. I know.. never tinker! But I had to. Some of our great genius minds on the discord and twitter were able to help me with better statistics. I went from Spd to BsR. I also fixed the IP issue with some of these pitchers going heavy deep making no sense for a 6C guy or 5C. No set can ever be perfect and I know we have some more ideas to make 2020? if they play set better. But at least this was a good test for me to keep tinkering with.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB -- 1997 Colorado Rockies lineup

Today is Bob's birthday -- you know him from his podcast Bourbon over Baseball, amazing league, blind drafts, and being responsible for the amazing design of the 2018 and 1996 sets! To celebrate Bob, I thought I'd surprise him with the 1997 Colorado Rockies lineup! While Bob's a huge Indians fan, the Rockies are (seem to be?) his second favorite team, especially from our formative years in the 90s. As the Indians teams have basically all been made on this site by our ravenous bunch of Cleveland card creators, I decided to create a helping of Colorado cards.

I decided on the 1997 Rockies for one reason and one reason only -- hitting! The Rockies may have only been 83-79, but they finished #1 in runs (923!!), hits, home runs, batting average, and on-base percentage in the National League that season. As a result, they've got an absolutely lethal lineup and figured Bob would love to add them to his collection! Without further ado, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!

The Last Dance -- NBA Showdown 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls

What more can be said about this team, if you have watched the documentary, there is probably nothing new that I can tell you. So this write up will be very brief, but I figured to coincide with the finale of the Last Dance, before I drop the 2019-2020 season cards, I am here to bless you all with the greatness of the end of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty that won 6 rings in 8 years, and the two years they didn't win, Michael Jordan wasn't around the whole season.This team is certainly not as good as some of their other championship teams, which you may or may not be seeing over the coming months, but they still have a formidable big 3, and arguably the greatest player of all time depending on which side of the bed I wake up on that morning.