Play-by-Play Primer
Part 4 - Presentation of Game Accounts
Scott Nichols

Over the last several months, I have gone into a great deal of detail in describing
Strat-O-Matic's CDROMBB play-by-play module.  Bob Winberry has created a vast and
intricate system of symbols and modifiers allowing those interested game owners to write,
and subsequently experience, virtually any type of pbp desired. The eloquence of a Red
Barber. the sometimes hilarious verbiage of a Dizzy Dean, and, of course, the writer's own
favorite expressions - anything is possible.  In this concluding article, I will
concentrate on three topics.  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.  Then I will discuss the various levels of
presentation of pbp game accounts.  Many will be presented with appropriate examples.
Finally, I will attempt to give some insight into the future of this and similar modules
of Strat-O-Matic Baseball.

So far in this four-part primer, I have referenced the use of modules, symbols and
qualifiers many times.  I believe it will be helpful to spend a little more time
describing these features as they are so important to the play-by-play module.  As
mentioned earlier, virtually an infinite variety of pbp calls can be created because of
these features - come to think of it, with the use of the qualifiers, it is a literal
infinite variety!

Now just a reminder:

Modifiers - characters (typically in the form @:?? Or @&? where ? is a letter or number)
that 'tell' the computer whether a particular pbp line can be considered for use in a
given situation)  For example, the modifier @:AC tells the computer to only consider this
pbp line for use when the 'weather is bad'

Symbols - characters (typically in the form @:?? Or @&?, where ? is a letter of number)
that appear within a pbp account and should be replaced when the account is read by a word or number.  For example, the symbol @:WC would be replaced by the number of complete games tallied so far by the pitcher on the mound.

Qualifiers - (<,>,=)  important characters that are coupled with symbols or modifiers to
let the computer know when to use a play-by-play line.  The coupling @:KK>300 tell the
computer to only use this account if the pitcher on the mound has recorded over 300
strikeouts during the season.  Another example would be @:YC>1999 - now this modifier for
the year (@:YC) is qualified so that this pbp account will only be used for seasons after
the year 1999.

I now want to give some examples of the incredible specificity that writers can achieve by
using the symbols and modifiers already included in the game.  Of course, more can and
will be added in the years to come.

Let me start with a listing of just some of the characteristics of a batter that can be
specified through the creative use of symbols, qualifiers and modifiers:  fast, slow,
righty, lefty, top slugger, good hitter, weak hitter, SB artist, excellent run producer,
good against lefties, switch hitter, bats 6th (or 7th, etc.) in line-up, good in clutch,
great OBP, top H&R man, superb bunter, strikes out sparingly, has a good eye, good
power/bad average hitter, excellent speed but poor base stealer, hits much better from
right side of plate, part-time player, brilliant pinch hitter, etc., etc., etc.

How about the pitcher? ---- lefty, righty, good control, strikeout artist, great closer,
high percentage of complete games, superb K/BB ratio, lousy K/BB ratio, allows many HRs
per inning, starter, reliever, top ERA man, holds runners well/poorly, good hitting
pitcher, 4th pitcher of the game, superb against RH batters, good closer, no-hitter
through 8, terrible closer, great closer, workhorse of the staff, has worked 5 innings in
game allowing 4 runs and 6 hits,  etc., etc., etc.

The game day/stadium: bad weather, not in dome, grass field, muddy field, ivy covered
walls, night game, poor attendance, large RF foul ground, 25 foot high LF Fence, 467 feet
to deepest CF, etc., etc.

Home Team: great record vs. LHP, 15 game winning streak, .757 winning pct., plays in
Eastern Division, 4th in standings, 6 games behind league leading team, plays in Boston,
6-4 in last ten games, has left 15 runners on base in game, is leading by 12 runs, etc.,
etc.

Type of hit ball: fly ball, shallow pop-up, major league pop-up, hard grounder in the
hole, dribbler to pitcher, liner to left, monster home run just inside the LF foul pole,
foul pop to 3B, Texas Leaguer to CF, long fly to LCF warning track, homerun just over RCF
fence, hot smash on the ground through the middle, etc. etc.

Game situation: clutch situation, runners on 1st and 3rd, 11th inning, two outs, offense
with big lead, closer situation, team's clean-up hitter is up, go-ahead run at bat, no
runs score in inning, 12 runs score in 5th, 3 up / 3 down, tie ball game, two 'touchdowns'
are needed to tie, pitcher is working on a shut-out, etc., etc.

I could go on for dozens of pages - but I believe the point has been made.  With the
system of modifiers/symbols/qualifiers, interesting game situations can be described and
when it is just the right time, a intriguingly unique pbp call can and will appear - one
that you may well have written yourself if you were so inclined!!!

Levels of Play by Play:

Another feature that is worthy of mention before concluding is the option that Bob
Winberry has given game players to tailor the pbp to their individual desires.  The
CDROMBB game allows various levels of play-by-play.  Depending on the game's import, my
time, and my mood, I personally choose levels from minimum to full detail - although,
given this is where my interest lies, I usually use 'full detail'.  At any time (before a
game or even during a game), a player can choose just how detailed he wants the
"announcer" to be.  Including the basic play account, there are seven combinations/levels
that can be chosen.

The "basic" account simply lets the player know what transpired on the field, often using
only one word.  On the other hand, the most detailed level is as close as possible to "the
real thing" as we can make it.  The announcer will introduce the batter, typically tell
how he is doing that game &/or over the season, then relate similar information
intermittently concerning the pitcher, pitch count, checking the runners, etc.

Next, the result of the play is discussed in detail with occasional reference to items
concerning the team, city, weather, current day's events, and so on.  It is worth
remembering that the pbp accounts come from three different sources: a default coding (a
basic play account that is in the "internal code"), the USERPBP.FIL that is located in the
DATA sub-directory of the game (with a total of over 18,000 lines of pbp so far), and the
team pbp files also placed in the DATA sub-directory (that total approximately 7,500 lines
of pbp.  Also recall that sometimes the computer will choose a default line of pbp due to
time constraints - and sometimes the computer will purposely skip a particular category in
a 'pbp call' (ex. even when set on full detail pbp, the computer will not always choose to
use a category 92 'line' - and why? - for variety and to keep the game time reasonable).
Now let's take a look at some pbp accounts for comparable events to see how changing the
level of pbp effects the wording seen on your screen:

To get some idea of the levels of play-by-play, let me take four actual examples from a
game I recently played (switching from: no pbp > minimal > normal > detailed with
pre-swing [important point. the pre-swing pbp can be added to any level of pbp, not just
the detailed]

By the way, in SOM remember that one can sit back and watch the computer play a game (in
spectator mode) and simply follow the pbp account as it scrolls over the screen.  As noted
before, players can also 'save to file' entire game pbp accounts (nice for all-star and
world series games).

Play by play accounts for comparable events:

No pbp:
Ground Out To 1st Baseman
Nice play by W.Pipp
     ...
Fly out to centerfield

Minimal pbp:
Blue raps a hard shot...
CAUGHT!
That ball was lined right at first
Pipp just got his glove up in time
Great reflexes
       ...
Changeup down low...
Hoyt makes contact and hits
one out to right
Harry Heilmann is drifting over...
Now he's under it...
Easy out for Holling


Normal pbp:(remember one can also 'switch on' pre-swing pbp if desired)
Sharp breaking curveball...
Young reaches for it...
Hits a two bouncer right to Peckinpaugh...
Grabs it easily...
Fires a bullet to Pipp at first!
Young is out easily
One away...
Pipp is coming over to the mound...
He wants to chat with the pitcher...
Here comes Baker also...
Now they return to their positions
        ...
Holling's offering to Schang
is on its way...
Schang hits a drive to center
He hit it right on the button...
But Cobb got a great jump...
He is closing quickly...
OUT!
Nice play by Ty Cobb
Detroit leads 4 to 3 with two away
Still men on second and third...
The ever dangerous Babe Ruth is up next...

Detailed with pre-swing pbp: (words in italics represent pre-swing pbp)
Johnny Bassler is up next
He tripled his last time at bat
The Tigers' catcher
finds 1 on with 2 outs
Bassler is at .372 on the season
Waite Hoyt is still on the mound
for the Yankees...
Hoyt has gone the distance so far
He's given up 5 hits in 5 2/3 innings
Hoyt goes into his stretch
Looks over at the fidgety Heilmann
He lobs one to Pipp...
Heilmann is back easily...
We're ready again
Now Hoyt comes home
Johnny Bassler offers at the curve,
but checks his swing
Oh, Bassler couldn't get
the bat out of the way
It's a soft line drive to
Pipp for the out
Bassler never even left the batter's box
So after 6 innings
Detroit on top 2 to 1

The scheduled hitters are Aaron Ward,
Roger Peckinpaugh, and Braggo Roth
It's the top of the 7th...
Tigers lead the Yankees, 2-1
Ward is 1 for 2 on the day
He looks around at the Detroit infield
Blue is kicking the dirt at first
Jones is even with the bag at third
Young and Bush are ready
with hands on knees
at second and short
Aaron is eagerly awaiting Holling's pitch
Holling winds and delivers
The 1-0 pitch
Ward goes after the low slider...
Lofts a shallow fly towards Veach
He's racing in for it...
Catches it at his knees
HE KICKS IT LOOSE!!!
He's chasing it down
Ward walks into second on the error
Veach should've had that one
Ward goes to second
Error on the play
       ...
The tying run is on base...
And up comes Yankee rightfielder Bob Meusel
New York needs only 1 run to tie
They trail 2-1
The Yankee cleanup hitter is batting .323
with a fine .523 slugging average
He has 14 round trippers
and 77 ribbies so far in 1921
Bob is eagerly awaiting Holling's pitch
Ward seems to be looking down at Bassler
Maybe hopes to pick up a sign
Holling's 1-2 pitch...
Flyball to right
it's caught
Ward might have a chance to move up...
Heilmann makes the catch...
Ward is tagging up at second...
He'll move up to third as the
throw comes into second

[The above play accounts are from an article I wrote that appeared in the fine sport sim.
journal The Games People Play in its Sept. 2000 issue.]

Hopefully the various accounts above give you some insight in to what you can expect to
view on your screen depending on the level of play-by-play you have chosen.  As you can
see, there is a level to fit most every desire.

          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before I briefly mention what the future may hold in this area for SOM, let me
mention/summarize just a few key points I would hope that you would remember:

1. you can always edit pbp lines with the DOS editor (or whatever editor you choose) to
give you greater variety, add lines, delete lines, or decrease the frequency of lines you
may like but that appear in your opinion (this is done easily by tweaking the modifiers -
ex. add @:M7=4@:AC - this will now allow that line to appear only if the event happens in
the 7th inning on a bad weather day ---- or you might use @:YE=25@:BB - now the pbp
account in question will appear only on the 25th of each month and only if it is a night
game.)

2. remember to delete the *.IDX files if you start seeing strange things coming up on your
pbp accounts - or if you ever enter and change any pbp file.

3. If a pbp account is set at less than 5%, it will appear no more than once per game.

4. If a pbp account is set at 100% AND placed at the top of a category in a pbp.fil, it
will always appear when its modifiers/qualifiers conditions are met unless, rarely, when a
time limit is exceeded.

5. Try to edit and add to your favorite team's file as a first venture into play-by-play
writing - this is where you will see the most results on the actual game screen for your
time spent.

6. NEVER forget to "update" all of the team and league data for names, etc.

7. Remember to use the team files to 'personalize' your play accounts.  You can, for
example, create a pbp that will describe the Yankee uniform as the Yankee announcers often
do during each game:

               One away here in the Yankee third
               The Yankees are in their
               traditional home white pinstripes
               Blue number on the back
               No name on the front
               Interlocking NY on the pocket
               Midnight blue cap with interlocking NY
               A small black number "5" on the sleeve
               to honor the late Joe Dimaggio
               And now a black band on that
               same sleeve in memory of Jim "Catfish" Hunter
               And that is the famous Yankee uniform
               @:AU@:M7=3@:AP@:YD=9@:YE>10@:YC=1999

Or you can describe a home run hitting the catwalk where this may be  possible (ex.
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg).  The point is to use the team files for play accounts
that are unique to that home city and use modifiers to have them appear at the appropriate
frequency -whatever that might be.

Well that wraps up this 'primer' on the Play-by-Play module of CDROMBB.  As you know
recognize, it is quite unique in what it offers to the game owner.  In fact, I personally
do not know of any other game that allows such a remarkable degree of 'user' involvement -
100% if desired in SOM!  Also, the amount of play account specificity/detail that can be
obtained with the appropriate amount of time and energy is also unparalleled (ex. team and
stadium details, specific player details - "The Rocket comes in with his 98mph fastball").

The future holds a great deal of exciting promise for Strat-O-Matic baseball in general,
and the play-by-play module is no exception.  I am not at liberty to reveal any details
about what exactly the future will deliver.  However, I can assure you that Bob and I have
spent many an hour discussing literally dozens of new for implementation when the
appropriate time comes.  Time is the enemy here, so to speak.  Yet, in reality, it is
probably better to get these improvements a little at a time - no one needs to tell a true
SOM fan the enjoyment that comes just waiting for the new game to arrive each February -
the annual mail watch.  The point is that there are enough new concepts to keep us all
going for many, many years to come.

Let me mention three areas that will give you a little hint at some general areas we are
looking:

a. Expansion of the modifiers/symbols and even add additional categories to enable even
more detailed discussion of the game.  Remember, that ANY piece of information or any
statistic on the player card or on the computer screen is fair game for use in the play
accounts.  More intriguingly, there is also the capability for the USER (that is you and
me) to add data (as we do now for the names of the manager, hitting coach, color
announcer, etc.) that could be referenced. this has many possibilities...

b. Expand into other areas of the game as has been done with the Game Report - in other
words, the basic idea of bringing some subjective reporting to the SOM experience can be
expanded. first the play-by-play, then the game report, next will be the ???

c. Continuation with our yearly updating of the play-by-play accounts for variety and
freshness.

Finally, let me once again mention that I am only an e-mail away if you have any questions
about the pbb - or any suggestions for improvements.  If you discover any errors, please
let me know as well.  And if there are any budding play account writers out there who
would like to help out our very small play-by-play team - bless you!  Write me at:
david_s_nichols@yahoo.com

Enjoyed our conversation!