Highlights From Diamond Mind December 2021

SSG Version 5 is Coming

Come the New Year, we’ll be introducing a whole bunch of changes to the SSG game:

• The 2021 season, of course, will be coming.
• We’ll be extending “real splits” from 1928 back to 1926.
• The 1932 and 1963 seasons have been rerated and will be replaced in their entirety.
• We will be doing a comprehensive reconciliation of injury ratings, focused particularly on players rated “Normal” who, based on games played in the relevant season, could be rated “Iron”.
• We will be revising pitcher endurance ratings for the 1920 season.
• There will be changes to the SSG Standard League parameters in an effort to give that format a much-needed boost.

There will be flow on adjustments to salaries from these changes, and some usage-based changes as well. Changes to qualitative ratings for the 1932 and 1963 seasons will be posted in advance of the changes being made, as changes to player ratings take immediate effect, including in leagues currently in progress (although salary changes apply only in leagues created after their implementation).

Christmas is Coming

Our last two newsletters have included articles about Halloween (October) and Thanksgiving (November), so it seems only fitting that our December edition feature Christmas.

Of course, the star of any such article has to be Steve Christmas, who played a handful of games over three seasons with the Reds, White Sox and Cubs.

We also have our troupe of Christmas Carroll-ers [sic], including Clay Carroll, Jamey Carroll, Fred Carroll, Ownie Carroll, Carroll Hardy, and the list goes on.

Most importantly, Christmas celebrates the birth of the baby Jesus, so where would we be without Jesus Alou, Jesus Aguilar, Ivan de Jesus, and so many more, although one cannot really say about any of them that they were their team’s savior.

Custom Leagues Kings

If you want to play in a tried-and-true format and create your team right now, standard leagues (Classic and SSG) are open to the public 24/7. But if you want to try something different, Custom Leagues – created by customers – are there in abundance.

There are franchise leagues, progression leagues, captain leagues, high and low salary cap leagues, rags to riches leagues, alphabet leagues, place of birth leagues, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Diamond Mind Online would not be the same if the Community did not include some of the most clever and prolific creators of Custom Leagues. We’ll be featuring one of these in this space each month, starting with the inimitable Ted (Naytj) Hershey, whose leagues are eagerly awaited and are always imaginative and challenging.

We asked Ted to answer some questions for us and here’s what he had to say:

Q: Tell us something about yourself: age, occupation, marital status, where you live, and interests (apart from DMO, of course).

A: 53 years old.  Lancaster, PA.  I work for Donnelley Financial Solutions (a fintech software and service provider).

Married with two adult sons.  My youngest son has down syndrome and still lives at home with us.  He is an avid baseball fan and we watch most of the Phillies games together.  Like his dad, he enjoys fantasy baseball and we play the “Baseball Classics” board game at least once per week.  He can understand and follow this – and creates the lineups for both teams.  We use photocopies of the lineup sheets from the 1971 Sports Illustrated baseball game to manage the scoring.

In addition to DMO, I enjoy golfing and reading novels.  With my older son, we enjoy backpacking and climbed 29 of the state highpoints.  King’s Peak in Utah was our favorite.

Q: When did you start playing DMO and how did it first come to your attention?

A: I played the old ESPN game, but only a few seasons.  I don’t recall how I found DMO, but I joined in 2011.

Q: Where do you get the inspiration for your Custom League ideas?

A: Charles Wolfson.  In 2012, I started to join your custom leagues (Double Letter League, Presidents League, etc) where you introduced to me the concept of smaller player pools.  Prior to this, I was agonizing over large spreadsheets I created.  And I wasn’t very good.   I loved your leagues and joined most of them.  And the spreadsheets were smaller.

I was the commissioner of my first successful league in 2013.  It was called the “Franchise 162 League” where the last two digits of (3) seasons had to add up to exactly 162.  My Phillies lost in the World Series to rusnaan’s Pirates.  Since then, nearly all the leagues I join are based on limited player pools.  I enjoy creating leagues that become popular and familiar owners join in on the fun.  For many years baseballaholic and Deadpool have signed up for my leagues.  When Craig and Brian join, I know it’s a good one!

Q: What have been your favorite leagues?

A: I enjoy smaller player pools and usually, they’re based on single franchises.  Being forced to use specific years or other criteria allows you to find and use players you’ve never heard of or otherwise would never add to your team.  It also provides a great way to learn about other franchises.  I rarely take the Phillies these days.  I’m usually the last to choose a franchise and like the variety of the other teams anyhow.  When SSG was introduced, it made the limited player pool leagues all the better.

Q: Is there any advice you would give to people who haven’t created a league before, but would like to give it a try?

A: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  The DMO community is a friendly one and there is always someone willing to offer advice or suggestions.  You can also post league ideas/concepts on the Custom Board before actually creating the league – to get feedback and consensus on the rules.  And feel free to directly reach out to me if you want to ask a question or kick around a new league concept.

Members Only Tipping Point Message Boards

The Latest from Turnbuckle Bros

Turnbuckle Bros once again invites DMO’s own Dayne Myers on the show for another roundtable discussion, and this time the roundtable debates which game mode is more difficult: Classic or SSG? Dayne and the roundtable give very different perspectives and insight on both Classic vs SSG, and even the Lemay Ripper agrees with some of the roundtable’s comments! Here are a few points in the video we recommend you check out, and be sure to subscribe to Turnbuckle Bros on YouTube!

• Top of the video – Dayne gives comprehensive info and insight on Classic vs SSG.
• 10:07 – The Lemay Ripper quickly states Dayne may be wrong about his assessments and explains why.
• 17:54 – Dvd Avins talks about what types of owners that may not be as successful in the SSG game mode.
• 28:04 – Matt asks Dayne how he feels about the Roundtable having such a passionate debate about the game he helped foster and create.
• 47:42 – Dayne asks Chris Baud about what he feels should be the focus of DMO to obtain new users, and Baud has an amazing response.

The Tipping Point

Each month we’ll offer a few tips in this space that may come in handy for the beginner as well as the experienced team owner.

This month the Tipping Point would like to give a tip of the hat to everyone who has posted suggestions to the annual Sim Santa wish list.

There is no doubting the passion of our Community for the Diamond Mind Online game. We read and discuss them all. We only wish that, every time our reaction is “yes, that’s a great idea,” we could make it happen! But rest assured, so far as we are able, we are – and will always try – to improve the functionality of our site and game and the intelligence and responsive to your instructions of the computer manager.

But no, we can’t make your teams better… you’ll have to do that all by yourself! A good place to start is by reading this column, and following the Turnbuckle Bros Roundtable podcasts.

Watch: Turnbuckle Bros talk Diamond Mind