12 players

[tallguy]

OK, how many times are we going to try and argue about something we all agree on?

In a nutshell: neither 6v6 nor 4v4v4 is ideal, neither is very close to "real" baseball, 76v6 is closer to it, but 4v4v4 is more fun.

I voted for fun.

[AntMoOAK]

Just to WEIGH in (pun fully intended); My FAT ass hates running AB after AB after AB after AB in a 4x4x4 game.

On the other hand, perhaps that should be all the reason more "my FAT arse" should be willing to play 4x4x4 games.

[retep]

Playing baseball = playing baseball!!!! !

Thank you!

[onion]

exept you can't play baseball with twelve people. i'm totally in agreement with the sentiment though. i just want to be out there playin'. i'd be happy with any of the options presented. that doesn't mean i don't think there's a "best" option, just that it aint a huge deal. i think that having to switch out runners, even if it's more often, is less interuptive than switching out fielders less often. that's really my main reason for prefering 4x4x4. but, so long as i can get out there and play, i'll be happy. well, a few hits would be nice too.

[El Pedro]

instead of arguing back and forth to make it an official rule, why don't we try the 4x4x4 the next time the opportunity comes up. at the end of the game, we can evaluate whether switching out runners and frequent at-bats was problematic... THEN we could make a decision.

all the hypothetical arguing and discussions about conflicts of interest might not really be needed.

of course, then we wouldn't have as much to argue about on the forum and we would have to instead discuss the amazing a's and their solid hitting performance (except on monday, which will be excluded from discussion).

just a humble thought from a forum new-comer.

[retep]

Another issue is when a slow runner gets swapped for a faster one.

Just a thought.

[Joe shmoe]

well both 6x6 or 4x4x4 are gonna make stats weird. an issue i see is what if will is there and we are playing and nicholl. whoever has will has a huge advantage because their defense is much better and will will get way more abs than normal. i think if will gets 12 to 15 abs at nicholl he will hit at least 5 hrs. or the other problem is what if someone much worse than us shows up that could have more of an effect in a 4x4x4 than a 6x6.

but i am quite torn between the idea. so lets try it out some (hopefully not soon)

[onion]

the defensive difference doesn't matter so much, as each team will be playing with each other team at some point. the issue of someone like, say, will having 12 AB is real, but that's why the stats don't count. it's true that the more people you have on a team, the less an individual's strengths or weaknesses matter, but that's just the way it goes. it's only slightly more true on a four person team than a six person team.

[retep]

I found it much harder to care in a 4v4v4 game because I batted so much. I don't feel that way in a 6v6 game (and I say this because I have played in both types)

[gohlkus]

We've done both while I've been there, and I prefer 4x4x4. I actually like getting more at-bats (though, yeah, it does get a little tiring, but that's good for me) and don't like having to go out to right while my team is up. I agree that it's too time-consuming.

I like it better when we have 18 players.

[retep]

I like it better when we have 18 players.

Way to take a bold stance!

[gohlkus]

Well, actually, Peter, the first paragraph is the bold stance, and the second paragraph is the requisite joke/snide remark.

[Southpaw Slim]

Ok, since Peter's version was long and confusing (Ken listed for Scott), here's the problem with 4v4v4 in a nutshell.

Ken: Singles, on 1st.
Peter: Singles, on 1st. Ken on 2nd.
Ollie: out
Pat: out
Ken to bat, still on 2nd.

Ghost runners suck balls. Just borrow a fielder and shut down right, or borrow two fielders (like we did in the last LIVE game and it still worked) and play 6v6. Forget scorekeeping except for runs because it's too difficult to do with 6 people anyway, and HAVE FUN!

[gohlkus]

Yeah, but, Nick, in that scenario you DON'T need a ghost runner, you just put in one of the guys who just got out as a pinch runner on 2nd.

But you definitely are onto something about not scorekeeping with 12 players. No one is ever on the bench long enough to keep a good record, I've noticed in our 6v6 games at Nicholl.

[Baseball=Life]

The issue of whether to count stats in this context, as well as others, will be addressed in the pending Rules page by next week.