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| SOMWORLD The Official Strat-O-Matic Fanzine |
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Play-by-Play
Primer I will devote this chapter of the PBP Primer entirely to a detailed discussion on how one should go about the task of writing (and subsequently using) detailed pbp lines for the Strat-O-Matic CDROMBB baseball game. This will be accomplished as follows: A. Samples will be given of a variety of play by play accounts that one might hear on the radio or television. B. I would then ask the reader to study each account and to attempt to determine those items within the 'prose' that will need to be represented as symbols when writing the actual strat-o-matic pbp (ex. names, numbers, time of day, etc.) C. Next, try to determine the modifiers that will be necessary to keep this pbp account from being used when it would not be appropriate (ex. if a day game is being played and the pbp mentions the 'beautiful star filled sky', this would be 'bad form' <g> - the modifier @:BB would only allow this pbp to be used in night games). D. Think about the qualifying symbols (<,>,=) example of their importance - if the pbp line says something like "Mantle has yet to get his average above the 'Mendoza" line in 1965, yet he has banged out 10 home runs in only 45 at bats to go along with his anemic .195 batting average" This is what is needed: Use @A<.200 to make sure his batting average is below .200. Use banged out @B>8 home runs in only @&A<65 at bats (so at worst Mantle will have hit 9 home runs in 64 at bats!) E. Next a detailed description of the intricacies of turning these pbp lines into strat-o-matic USERPBP.FIL lines will be reviewed (all of the symbols, modifiers and qualifiers needed will be shown). F. The actual SOM pbp will be written (not
exactly as in the USERPBP.FIL or team files as I am limited here
by horizontal space restrictions (but you will get the idea -
see the actual files for 'real' examples. Play-by-play accounts and their Strat-O-Matic equivalents: * Pre-game Introduction: Where to place this play-by-play? Symbols required: Modfiers required: Qualifiers (i.e. <,>,=) that need be added to symbols (that is, in order to make phrases like: Two of this year's best and miniscule and the fact that Offerman is an oddity The following must be added to the appropriate symbols: Clemens' number of wins (let me make this
@:WL>7) At worse, Clemens will have a record of 8-3 with an ERA<3.00 or this pbp will not appear! Martinez's number of wins (let me make
this @:WN>8) At worse, Martinez will need a 9-2 record for this pbp to appear... with a miniscule ERA of under 2.10!! Also I will set Offerman's seasonal stolen bases at @:SB=0! And his attempts at @:SA>2. Therefore, Jose will be at least 0 for 3 in steals per attempt. The actual pbp line as it would appear in the USERPBP.FIL (although each line would extend out to approximately 249 characters): 89 0000 000000000 012 Here we are at
beautiful @U@Jon a bright sunny Memorial Day@N * Current Newsworthy Event: Where to place the play-by-play? Symbols required: Modifiers required: Qualifiers (<,>,=): None required The actual pbp line in the USERPBP.FIL
(lines are shortened from their original 249 character length
and 46 0000 000000000 100 We have a moment
here as @:44@Jhas not yet emerged from the dugout@N * Home Run Call (Stadium Specific) Where to place this play-by-play? Symbols required: Modifiers required: Qualifiers (<,>,=): none required The actual pbp line - modified length - it is not the actual 249 characters as in the USERPBP.FIL. 10 4000 000000001 033 And @2 swings and
pulls one high and very deep@N@7 races back quickly@J (Note the '1' in 000000001 above... this
tells the computer to use this pbp account ONLY if the ball * McGwire's 62nd home run shot! It's low and outside. Mac goes after it. He rips it deep to centerfield. Williams is racing back. But he is not going to get this one! THIS BALL IS HISTORY!!!!!!! BIG MAC has done it!!! Roger Maris, move over. Baseball's "Paul Bunyon", has just surpassed Maris' single season home run total with 62! As he rounds first, Mark punches the air with an uppercut. Mark Grace gives him a high five. Everyone is going crazy in the stands. Mac is around second. Now he is heading home with a posse of St. Louis players waiting at home plate. Congratulations abound! Now, where's the big fella going? That's great! He has just hopped over the railing and is giving all of the Maris clan a big bear hug. The tears are flowing. Man, oh man... what a sight! What a year for baseball! Where to place this play-by-play? Symbols required: Modifiers required: Qualifiers (<,>,=): This pbp appears in the St. Louis Cardinals team file. Since McGwire is the only Cardinal player with any chance of hitting 62 home runs in 1998, this will only come up if Mark is at bat. With the introduction of player specific coding (see the next pbp account for details), the @:XB code could be used if preferred (i.e @:XB=Mark McGwire$). Actual PBP Line in SOM code: 10 **** 000000111 100 It's low and
outside@NMac goes after it@NHe rips it deep to @P@N Note that this pbp account is set at 100% and would be placed at the top of category '10' in the St. Louis team file. The four asterisks allow this pbp call to appear regardless of the base situation. By NOT putting a modifier for the ball flight, this pbp call will appear for ANY home run at all (for any ball flight)! Actually, I looked up the teams that St. Louis were to play in August on the road and used these same pbp lines (except using the @:AV modifier - visiting team at bat instead of the @:AU modifier) within these team files on the dates that St. Louis was in town! For example, I might put a @:YC=1998@:YD=9@:YE=5 at the end of this pbp account if St Louis played the Astros on Sept. 5th, 1998 in Houston... and put it in the Houston team file. A simple 'team specific' pbp - using characteristic announcer jargon (White Sox) Not exactly a pretty day in the "Windy City". A stiff breeze is blowing in off Lake Michigan. Pretty foggy and cold. Looks like it may be a long afternoon! Mantle is selecting his bat. Joel Horlen grabs the resin bag with his right hand. Blanchard will follow the New York centerfielder... if he gets on base. Now Mantle steps into the batter's box. Two down, no one on board... Mantle is 3 for 4. He has been a thorn in the side of ChiSox pitching. Horlen shakes off the sign... Now he's got one he can live with... He's into his windup... And the 0-2 pitch is on the way Mantle swings right through it! Strike three! Seven down via this route already today! The "Good Guys" mow them down here in the 4th. As we head into the Pale Hose side of the inning, we're all tied up! We've got a good one here Wimpy. Game that is... can't say the same for the weather. Where to place this pbp account? Symbols required: Modifiers required: Qualifiers (<,>,=): Actual PBP line in SOM code: 90 0000 000000000 033 Not exactly a pretty @R in the "Windy City"@NA stiff breeze is blowing in@Joff Lake Michigan...@NPretty foggy and cold@NLooks like it may be a long @M!@N@2 is selecting his bat...@N@3 @4 grabs the resin bag with his right hand@N@06 will follow the @O @:H5...if he gets on base@NNow @2 steps into the batter's box...@NTwo down, no one on board@:AC@:YD=4@:YC>1996@:AV@:DO@:BD@:BR 92 0000 000000000 022 @2 is @H>2 for @C@NHe has been a thorn in the side of ChiSox pitching 97 0000 000000000 007 @4 shakes off the
sign...@NNow he's got one he can live with... 13 9000 010000000 012 @2 swings right
through it!@/Strike three!@N@&K>6 down via this route 83 0000 000000000 087 The "Good Guys" mow them down here in the 4th@NAs we head into the Pale Hose side of the inning,@Jwe're all tied up!@N@NWe've got a good one here Wimpy@NGame that is... can't say the same for the weather@:BA@:AV@:M7=4@:HP Player specific pbp accounts: (typically found in team files) Vaughn is up next. He stares down at Johnson. Not a very comforting site. No argument there Thom... especially not tonight! Greg has whiffed @F=3 times! The Big Unit already has racked up a total of @&K>12 strike outs. That brings his seasonal total to an impressive 321 in 297 innings! Randy is set... Here is the 3-2 pitch... STRIKE THREE swinging! Vaughn makes it 4 on the night... he should've stayed in bed! And that retires San Diego here in the top of the 5th@NNo runs, two hits, one error and no men left on base@NArizona leads 4-0 Where to place this pbp? Symbols required: Modifiers required: Qualifiers (<,>,=): Actual pbp in SOM code: 90 0000 000000000 012 @2 is up next 92 0000 000000000 033 He stares down at
the menacing @4@NNot a very comforting site@N 97 0000 000000000 100 The Big Unit already
has racked up@Ja total of @&K>12 strike outs@N 98 0000 000000000 033 Randy is set... 99 0000 000000000 045 Here is the 3-2 pitch...@:NM 13 9000 000000000 100 STRIKE THREE
swinging! @N@2 makes it @F=4 on the night...@N 83 0000 000000000 012 And that retires @O here in the @I@N@:RC@N@T The ability to write pbp accounts for any individual player was added in version 6 (2001). This is a great addition in that incredibly specific pbp lines can be written now and used concerning nicknames and traits of the great (Iron Man Lou Gehrig, The Sultan of Swat, Joltin' Joe DiMaggio, The Commerce Comet, etc., etc.) and unusual players down through history (Leo the Lip, Casey Stengel, Marvelous Marvin Thronberry, etc.) A complex pbp account: Mike Piazza is making his way to the batter's box from the on-deck circle. He pauses a moment to glance down at manager Bobby Valentine. Now Piazza is settling in to face Clemens. He has been shut down so far this afternoon by "The Rocket". Piazza has not only taken the collar with a 0 for 4 night but he has connected with nothing but air on 3 occasions! Now is the time to make amends as he is up with two outs and his team needing a grand salami to win. Now there's a Hollywood script for you! Clemens has pitched a gem so far. At least
until this inning. It is obvious that he is tiring but Joe Torre
is trying to get him the no-no. He needs one more out but one
blast downtown and the "Rocket" goes up in smoke! The
Yankees only lead by 3 runs. Where to place this pbp account: Symbols required: Modifiers required: Qualifiers (<,>,=): 90 0000 000000000 022 @1 @2 is making his
way to the batter's box@Nfrom the on-deck circle@N 92 0000 000000000 015 He has been shut
down so far@Jthis @M by "The Rocket"@N@2 has not
only@J taken the collar with a @H=0 for @C @R@Jbut he has
connected with nothing but air@J 97 0000 000000000 022 @4 has pitched a gem
so far@NAt least until this inning@NIt is obvious that@J 98 0000 000000000 012 The Big Guy takes a full wind up...@:XP=Roger Clemens$ 99 0000 000000000 022 Here is the pay-off pitch@:NM 10 4444 000000110 023 @2 swings at a 96
mph fastball@NAND CONNECTS!@N I may have got a little carried away in
this account just to show the many paths that you can take in
writing pbps. Frankly there is no limit to what you can write...
only the limit of your imagination! In summary, remember that play-by-play lines start with an idea, either from games and 'calls' that you have heard over the years on radio and television. I have found many ideas from reading baseball books and listening to old radio broadcasts. You may be a 'frustrated announcer' yourself. If only you had the chance... you could be Costas' sidekick even now. In a sense, here is your chance! Once you have conceived the idea, Strat-O-Matic gives you the system of symbols (who and what to present) and modifiers (when and under what circumstances should the pbp line be used) and qualifiers (further defining the symbols) to write very specific play accounts! Also, you can define the ball flight, fielders involved, baserunning advancement, etc., etc. PLUS, the frequency of appearance is at your control as well! You can also get very team, city and player specific! Strat-O-Matic is state-of-the art in this respect and many others in this area of their great baseball game. In next month's concluding article, I will discuss the various levels of presentation of pbp game accounts. Many will be presented with appropriate examples. Also, the system of modifiers and symbols will be further studied and various 'categories' will be outlined in an attempt to familiarize the pbp aficionado with these powerful elements of the pbp module. My conclusion at that time will attempt to give some insight into the future of this and similar modules of Strat-O-Matic Baseball.
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