February 2008


WHAT'S NEW IN 4.9 (Changes since 4.8.1)

Statistics Files:
  Accumulated stat data is now stored in fields of "long integers", greatly increasing the amount 
  of data that can be accumulated in statistics files. However, this "obsoletes" using stat files
  created in older versions or writing to old stat files with 4.9. Previously, at statistics file
  set could hold around 7000 games, now it can theoretically hold hundreds of thousands, although
  the screen displays and stat reports will get messy around 100,000 games.

Scoring corrections:
- Credit a squeeze bunt as a sacrifice.

- Credit a failed squeeze bunt as a caught stealing

- If runner reached base on an error, SBS could prompt user to "stretch into a double". If successful,
  it was erroneously scored a double.

Other Bug Fixes:
- In Series Files (.ser), using the Manual Manage option caused game to hang. Fixed.

- Excessive Pitch-Outs to a single batter by the computer manager. Fixed (I hope).

New .DAT file features:
- You may have a total of 50 active players (51 if DH is in starting lineup). Maximum of 25 pitchers.

- DH Override:.DAT file option to override the DH setting by team: *DH=Y or *DH=N on the .DAT
  option line will force team to always use a DH or never use one.

- Team Logo pictures can be loaded into the game via the .DAT file option line: *LOGO=image file


Pitcher Management:
- Fewer complete games in modern era (still a work in progress)

- Possible to use "tired" relief pitchers with performance penalty

- If "STARTERS-MAY-RELIEVE" is specifield in the BASEBALL.CFG file, the SBS manager will now occasionally 
select a relief pitcher out of the starting rotation - if spot starters are used. 

Additional ball park photos and updated STADIUM.TXT

Increase time pitchers take to go "cold" by two batters.

Reduced stolen base attempts by pitchers while maintaining the same "speed rating".

More weight given to selecting pinch-hitters who bat the opposite hand of the pitcher.

For batters, slightly reduced tendancy to "pull".

Improved speed of simulations (in quick mode).
 



Changes in 4.8.1 from 4.8

1. For teams which used a small number of pitchers (i.e. old-timer teams) SBS manager will use the
   bullpen sparingly.

2. More pitcher management:
   a. If spot starters are NOT used, general relievers will not be selected from starting rotation.
   b. If spot starters are used, a "tired" pitcher due to start will usually be replaced by a "spot".

3. Now support 300 different year/team combinations in a single simulation file. Up to 100 teams could 
   be manually managed.

4. BASEBALL.CFG options added to control default values for Sound and Delay in manual games.

5. Pinch-running for a "cloned" pitcher who hadn't yet pitched caused hang-up at the start of
   the next 1/2 inning.

6. If a record was deleted from a schedule file an error occurred when reading the file. Fixed.

7. Changed the way HR's are adjusted when "Performance focusing" used.

8. Wordpad launches in independent window when appropriate.

9. Wild Pitches now count as "balls" (like pitchouts).

10. Streamlined normalization logic in engine.

11. Fixed error message for .DAT file not found.



Changes in 4.8 from 4.7:


Point-and-click data and stat summaries on players in lineup

More play results:
  more combinations of line-drive double-plays: 5-4, 5-3, 6-3
  ground ball force outs at 3rd, 5UN-3 DP,  unassisted force-outs at 3rd and 2nd
  dropped-third-strike

Stealing:
  Steal attempts per game by player and team tracked by the SBS mananger. Used to
  produce more pitchouts in situations where a player or team has many steal attempts.

  SBS manager won't likely steal with pitcher up or pitcher next
  SBS manager' steal attempts boosted slightly

Bunting:
  If SBS manager bunts w/runners on 1st & 3rd and the pitcher up next, it's a squeeze
  No 5-6 force outs on bunt attempts

Team color options:
  Option line in .DAT: *COL=
  Valid options are the traditional DOS colors of:
    blue, green, cyan, red, magenta, brown, gray, white

Female pronoun option for play-by-play
  Option line in .DAT: *GEN=F

Option to supress "Out of Position" messages.
  Baseball.cfg: OUT-OF-POSITION=N

AutoExit command line switch
  /X  on command line closes SBS at end of simulation

Suppress "home field advantage" command line or .SCH option switch
  /T on command line or schedule file option 

Scorecard revamped

Option to exit "gracefully" prior to a scheduled "Manually-Managed" game

Sound set on by default for "Manually-Managed" games.

Allow pitchers to pinch-hit and then stay in the game as the pitcher

Pitcher fatigue influences groundball/flyball ratio on outs
  (fresher pitchers produce slightly more groundballs)

Support for fewer than three pitchers in .DAT file

Bug fix: a "cloned" pitcher could enter the game as a pinch-runner when
his clone was still pitching

Allow override for "tired" pitchers in schedules. Double-headers or
a 3-man rotation can sometimes cause you do run out of "fresh" pitchers.
This lets you go ahead and select any pitcher.

Graphical opening screen and main menu

Display pitch-count on offensive options

Time-Stamp on Line-Score

.wav sound file processing changed to (hopefully) improve reliability (Thanks, Bryan Bollman)


And, sorry, we still don't do:
- pitch-by-pitch mode
- injuries
- ejections
- defensive range factors
- catcher / outfielder arm ratings