Baseball2: Baseball Harder

Josh
Wednesday
10:09 am

TO: Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President for Business, Major League Baseball Commissioner’s Office

FROM: Josh, President of Geek6.com

RE: Changes to your sport’s structure to make it more viable.

Tim,

I was flipping through channels yesterday (yes, those of us with analog cable and no fancy program guides still do that), and I caught a little bit of a baseball game. Now, I have nothing against going to see a game — when you’re there, there’s a lot to look at, and eat, and drink, and eat. I also have nothing against highlights reels — that’s the way to watch a game at home.

We probably won't use robots. Yet.

But watching the game live? Wow. I haven’t been that bored and depressed since the second time I saw, “The Notebook.” Too slow, too much waiting in between the action. It occurred to me that watching baseball is a little like watching two strangers play chess, or watching two friends play a turn-based strategy game.

And upon that thought, I had a most illuminating moment: perhaps Major League Baseball could learn a few things from today’s real time strategy games. You know — keep the basic, American core of the game, but layer on additional rules designed to speed up gameplay and help increase strategic options.

So, Tim, this one’s for you, and it’s a freebie — feel free to bring it up at your next commissioner’s meeting, or whatever. I present my rules modifications for Baseball2.

Multiple balls: One ball on the field slows down gameplay to a snail’s pace. In Baseball2, anytime a new player enters the field, he gets to bring a ball.

Why wait for turns? The biggest rule enhancement to Baseball2 is that, rather than the old “pitch, hit, run, wait” rules, the game can now move as fast as the players can make it move. The pitcher can stockpile baseballs and throw them as fast as he is able — if there’s no batter in the box, that’s the other team’s problem. Thus, it would behoove a batting team to get as many players at the ready as soon as possible, which brings me to…

For illustration purposes only. AWESOME illustration purposes.

Adding new players: You mean a team gets to start out with like, 13 players out there already, and the other team only has one to start? Where’s the work in building up a force? In Baseball2, each team only gets three players on the field at the beginning. To obtain more players, there would be three pipes on the baselines that would randomly spit out orange balls. When a team collected five of them, another player would be allowed on the field.

Different player types: In Baseball1, it seems like the game pretty much only rewards catching, throwing and hitting. Baseball2 features a unique contact resolution system, by which, when two players collide, the last one standing is safe, while the other must return to the dugout. Thus, a new, burlier subclass of player will be required on the team’s roster. Oh, and driving skills will be important, too…

Unlockable vehicles: Running around the bases? Boooo-ring. Baseball2 features unlockable vehicles. When a team gets to 10 points, they unlock the nimble Vespa or the burly Harley. Choose wisely!

Varied ways to win: Unlike football, baseball has only one way to score: touching home plate after touching the other plates sequentially. In Baseball2, however, we open the field up to several options to increase score: 1) Ballblitz: When a team collects all balls on the field, they gain an additional score multiplier. 2) Vendetta: If one player has successfully gained three outs on another player, the score for the originating team is doubled. 3) Elimination: If one team completely removes all of the opponents’ team from the game, that team automatically wins.

So, there you have it: Baseball2: Baseball Harder. I’m still working out some of the gameplay balance issues, but I’m confident that you’ll find it a more rewarding experience, and a definite ratings boost for the troubled sport. Again, Tim — you can thank me later.

Josh