Favorite Teams Cheats
Cheaters galore in "Favorite Teams" (AKA Franchise Teams) Leagues.
Rules clearly state SP cannot have less than 85 IPs, but five or six SPs in at least two of my leagues have 40 IPs.
Someone please correct me if I'm misunderstanding the rules for Favorite Teams SPs. If SPs can have less than 85 IPs, I may have to re-learn how to read.
The genius Budget Draft method brought me back to Fav Teams leagues, the moron cheaters will drive me away.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
People aren't cheating , it's just the sim seems to have some bugs in it. I've noticed that some teams seem to be missing rp's but when you put their name in then it comes up.
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Blaming bugs in the sim is ridiculous. But, that's the cheater's mindset.
If I would have discovered how to switch an RP (or three) with less that 85 IPs to an SP, I would have emailed gbacci how I did it, so he could look into it when he has time, then I would pick an SP that fit the rules of the game.
Plenty of the cheaters post on this board frequently, so they know how to type and find the boards, they'd rather just skirt the rules to try to attain imagined glory.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
OK , you caught me. I live near Seattle where Gbacci's office is and once a week I break in and change the code so I can win. Seriously ?, people don,t cheat , its called a work in progress Theres bound to be some bugs,. Gbacci will fix it . Remember years ago when he added oobp and we had 100 inning games with pitchers pitching 99 innings. Gbacci fixed it. What league number are you talking about?
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Not really necessary to set a trap for someone who leads off with "people don't cheat."
Pick any WAR Draft Fav Teams auto league, you'll find SP cheats galore. Some teams with 3 SPs at less than 85 IPs.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I have noticed there are sps with less than 85 ip but their stamina is in the 60-40 range. I call those bullpen busters. See my previous post , its called a work in progress that Gbacci will fix. Like Forrest said , thats all I got to say about that.
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
You do know that you can change a player's role, right ? If someone want to change an SP with less than 85 IP, or in Budget 100 IP, to an SP they can - but the pitcher will have 40 for a pitch count. Just click on the pitcher, and if he's eligible to be switched, he will have an option to "change role". I've used this strategy in the past, but it's tough with the 40 pc - it's like using an opener, and is a drain on your bullpen.
- The Sheik
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
The rules say:
"** You will not be able to change stats to a season where a starter pitched less than 85 innings. (You may see SPs with less than 85 innings in a single-season league.)"
Switching an RP with 40 stamina who pitched a total of 38 innings in the season to an SP with 40 stamina does not jive with that rule.
GMs switching RPs with incredible stats to SPs are getting more than 1/3 of the innings of a typical starter for 1/5 the Budget price.
It's a cheat, and I don't like it. But, at least I now know how the cheat is happening.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Like ragingsol said, if these guys are allowed to be SP, even with just 40 stamina, that goes against the comment in the rules that says under 85 IP can’t be a starter and will be imported as RP. If you can then change them to SP anyway whats the point of the rule.
There are 5 in this league.
https://www.pennantchase.com/lgStat..
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
This has been discussed on the boards before - the Fav Team format retained the ability to basically have an "opener" - a guy with 40 stamina be a starter. In the prior discussion most people wanted the option retained.
So, the SP with less than 85 innings is being converted into a reliever, but if they were a SP in real life they can be an opener.
I guess the thing is, is this wildly working well for teams?
To Sol's point, we either keep it this way and make that clear in the instructions, or change it.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I have tried this. It does not work "wildly well". As noted previously, the opener uses up the bullpen - so it's a trade off.
If we're voting - I vote to keep it. It's a strategic choice. If you have a really deep bullpen - it could be effective.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I've tried this strategy quite a bit lately, since I've been focused on builds with some of the more challenging teams. I've found it effective with the Rays especially, since they have so many great relievers and a bunch are SP-eligible because the Rays used them as openers. For other teams, not so much.
As other people have mentioned, the cost of this strategy is that it really burns out your bullpen. So you need extra RPs on your roster, which costs you WAR budget, costs you roster spots, and results in a tiny bench (so you have limited options for defensive subs or pinch hitters, and you can get really screwed with injuries). But I still think it can be a strategy worth trying for teams who don't have the SP options to compete with the big boys.
I do agree the rules in Favorite Teams leagues should be revised to explain the Change Role option though.
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
"keep it this way and make that clear in the instructions" would be my preference - I don't think there's many situations where it's a good strategy in the long term anyway. Staring a guy 32 times and getting 100 IP ? Make him your #1 RP and he'll get that many IP anyway. And you'll overuse your bullpen at least once every turn through the rotation. But if that's what floats your boat.......
"
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
If having the ability to change an RP to an SP is the preferred way for many GMs, and you (gbacci) keep it that way, there isn't going to be argument from me.
But, clarity in the rules that this RP/SP switching process is possible and allowed would be excellent. Currently, to me, the rules read that any pitcher who pitched less than 85 innings in a season cannot be an SP; backdooring an RP with less than 85 IPs into an SP role is currently possible, though.
As to if it is working: The math clearly suggests the ability to convert RPs to SPs is an advantage for a team, and, likely, a big advantage.
In my 1538 Fav Teams, with my Oakland A's:
RP Vida Blue - WAR of 0.84 - has 40 stamina with a 0.84 WHIP, 8.3 SO/9.
SP Rich Harden - WAR of 3.72 - has 103 stamina with a 1.06 WHIP, 8.5 SO/9.
Flipping Blue, and his much better WHIP, to SP would have given me more than 1/3 of the pitches that Harden does, at less than 1/4 the cost. That saved WAR cost could have been allocated to hitters or upgrading other pitchers.
It seems it can be a clear advantage to flip an RP to an SP, but if this RP to SP process is considered to be within the rules of the league, then I would love to see it written and clarified within the Rules of the league.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I'm a little surprised that this option wasn't known by some longtime PC players. I guess I just assumed everyone knew about it. I also just think it's much ado about nothing; just another one of the quirks of PC that make it enjoyable. And BTW, I used that version of Blue as my closer on a Budget A's build and he saved 37 games for me. And you could set closer to 8th inning. Probably more value than as an opener for 32 games.
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I don't share your passion for playing games where only a few know the unwritten rules.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I always make sure to have at least one additional SP on my team to not only serve as a long reliever, but also as a precaution for if there's an injury to one of my SPs or something. But having one is especially important if I'm using an opener in place of a full fledged SP
That is how I counter the issue mikbbal mentioned earlier about "using up your bullpen", as the SP in the LRP role will most likely be sent in in place of the opener after 1-3 innings. And as long as he doesn't get blown out immediately by the opposing lineup, he'll typically last a few innings before the bullpen can clean up the remaining innings as normal. But it's worth mentioning that it's still a high risk high reward type of situation, as of the LRP does get blown out, your bullpen will be the one who has to deal with the consequences of that. So the risk is still there even with my strategy, just not as risky as it would be if you don't have a 6th SP on your staff
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
As Skooler mentioned having a 6th SP is really important, I generally put them in my Long Relief slot and if a starter gets shelled early, their stamina generally protects my bullpen from getting crushed = which can lead to extra losses - plus, if a SP gets hurt, I can trot someone not tired out there, I have had plenty of 45 ranked SP excel in long relief and spot starts
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
That's my exact thought process on it as well
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
ACTUALLY, according to the new budget drafting process, all AB and IP thresholds were raised, so you cannot draft an SP under 100ip. So this process, while I wouldn't call it cheating, is completely counterintuitive to what is supposed to be in these new budget leagues.
There shouldn't be any SP's allowed under 100ip, at least based on the initial rules of the draft. I wouldn't call it a cheating issue, I would call it a gbacci oversight issue. Why bother with a 100ip threshold to draft an SP if you can just loophole it??
Ability to change role should really just be turned off, IMO...
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Rev you're only half right on your first point. You CAN draft a SP under 100 IP, but it'll convert to a 40 stamina RP, as previously mentioned
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I know that, but it kind of proves the point. If it automatically converts an SP under 100ip to an RP in the draft process, WHY allow that to be circumvented once the team is built by allowing changing of roles?
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Fair point. It's clear that something should be done about it one way or another: Either remove the feature entirely from WAR Budget auto leagues or update the rules to properly state how the feature works
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Changing the pitcher to RP if he doesn't meet the minimum standard is just a default - it's not etched in stone. I don't have a problem with RP conversion (if eligible) to SP, it's been part of Fav Teams all along. If Guy makes a edit in the Rules it won't be a "hidden menu" item anymore. I don't think, in most instances, that this gives anyone an advantage. As I said before, set 2023 Texas DeGrom as your #1 RP and you'll probably get close to 120 quality IP - use him as a SP and you'll be lucky to get that amount.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
True he’s better off as an RP pitching every other game. But he makes for a cheap SP/starter when most are expensive, and then you can just bring in a bunch of other RPs for cheap, a lot easier to find than good SPs. I think that was the point sol was making as far as budget. Other point was under 100 IP can’t be starter, except when they can. So yeah, it isn’t clear, which means some can do it and some can’t because they don’t know.
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
The Rules should accurately reflect what IS and IS not Possible in a League - If the rules need rewriting so that it is clear for all that is the simple solution.
That Being said, there are NUMEROUS " Cheat Codes" on PC - which are not actually cheating, simply an unfair advantage an owner gets because they know tricks (like swapping SP to RP when the League rules clearly state it's not allowed).
Another thing I would like to see changed is in Auto Leagues, if an entire Bullpen is tired -RP get Rejuvenated without required rest " To avoid Blowouts" - What I have seen is owners draft less RP because they don't have to worry about them being tired - also a cheat - but allowed because these TIRED guys should not be auto rested -
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
When I 1st started playing on PC, a million years ago (a slight exaggeration), I played Deadball only and you pretty much have to be able to switch pitcher roles in that format. So then, when I started playing Fav Teams, I thought "huh, I wonder if that works here too" and found that it did for SP's imported as RP. So that was how I originally learned about it. I just always assumed (always dangerous) that everyone else knew about it. That being said, because of Fav Teams (you couldn't build an 1800's Orioles team without it) I would rather it stay and just be explained in the rules. In Custom Budget Leagues, like the ones revejb & myself run, it isn't allowed - but it's a Custom League and it's outlined in the rules.
So my vote is for: leave it as it is and edit the rules.
Re: Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
Everyone is correct - it initially was an oversight, but once we realized it, the consensus was to keep the strategic option in place. I think it's totally fair to make it more clear in the rules. With budget draft becoming far more popular, new people to Fav Teams don't know the rule, whereas the prior format was waning in popularity and I don't think it was as big of a concern.
Re: Favorite Teams Cheats
I often use teams with a bunch of openers in my rotation and a deep relief crew.
This options as been available for years...don't know why people using it are insulted and called cheaters ?
In 2024, openers are now part of baseball.
For some weaker teams-franchises its the only way to be competitve vs the USUAL stacked Franchises.
It makes some weak franchise have a chance to win. What is wrong with that ?
People are complaining about too few franchises having a chance to win, but when their is a feature that allows weaker teams to compete, they don't like it ????
Trying an experiment with this league with the Rockies. Surely not doing any miracles...
https://www.pennantchase.com/lgTeam..
