My Next Stratball Project

For those unfamiliar with this blog, I enjoy playing Strat-O-Matic baseball using the cards and dice version.

I have several seasons to choose from, for what I call Stratball. I simply take one team from a particular season and play out their schedule just as that team did originally.

It’s not an as played replay, meaning using the exact same players, but what I do is set a starting lineup of eight guys, who play the majority of the games. The bench players are there to fill in for double headers or getaway days or injuries. Injuries are possible for the project team, but no player can be injured for longer than 15 games. As far as the players on opposing teams, if an injury occurs, at most, they leave that game only.

That gives an advantage to the other teams, however, I try to use their actual lineup on any given day. Meaning that many more of their bench players are used than for the project team.

I use a starting pitching rotation of four, to keep things consistent over seasons. I don’t use relievers on back to back days. All other super advanced rules apply. I only keep stats for the team that I am featuring. The other games on a particular day don’t get rolled. Those final scores are used as they actually occured.

To keep things simple, I don’t use pinch hitters, except for pitchers and or injured players. So if your #8 hitter comes up with the game on the line, it’s up to him to get the job done.

I try to play a game a day, so it takes roughly 5 or 6 months to complete a project. And now, I’d like to announce my next Stratball project:

1960 PITTSBURGH PIRATES SEASON REPLAY

Follow along and see if the Bucs can duplicate what they did in real life by winning the National League pennant.

Opening day is April 13, 1960 vs the Milwaukee Braves. Vernon Law is slated to pitch against Warren Spahn.