One of the questions I’ve gotten recently from APBA baseball fans centers around the Coxx Pitching grade system. I’ll be honest, I was pretty unfamiliar with the Coxx System. Never having used it, it was all new to me.
Essentially, Coxx uses the Master Game pitching grades and from there uses charts to randomize the basic grades not unlike how the Master Game randomizes fielding grades. In other words, your B pitcher won’t always be an B (but chances are, he’ll be in that range).
The charts are used whenever there is a potentially preventable single rolled. If this happens, another roll is made (in competitive play, I assume the defensive manager would roll) and the appropriate MG pitching grade chart is referred to determine the basic pitching grade to be used for that play.
Makojo.com has the charts on their web site plus full instructions on how to use the system.
Thanks to Steve Stein for pointing me to them! Steve points out that one advantage of the Coxx system is that it deters managers from “counting hits”. No more “Lemme see that card!”
If anyone has had experience with Coxx system, I’d like to hear their opinion, good or bad. Not having used it, it will be interesting to hear what people have to say about it.
I use it and love it. It adds a little time but it’s a great way to use the master game pitching grades in the basic game. Especially since I play solitaire and the master game isn’t really good for that.
that’s good feedback brett. I can imagine it adds a bit of randomness to the game.
the next time i play a solo game, I’ll try it. Or maybe when my buddy Brando and i play a pick up game.
wondering just how much time does it add to a game??
Probably five to ten minutes. It depends on how many hits you get and how familiar you are with the charts.
good to know. like i said, I’ll give it a try.
For me using the COXX cards adds very little time… maybe a few minutes per game. It will be interesting to compare eras after a full season replay. I love being able to use the basic boards but get the extra pitching realism.
I like this concept, but I took the liberty of simplifying it down to six cards; one for each of the basic pitching grades. For example, the B card has 1 A&B, 2 A&C’s, 7 A’s, 17 B’s, 7 C’s, and 2 D’s.
I think this will add a bit more variety without complicating the basic game too much.
I’ve changed my stance, and decided that I do like the full version. I like that it recognizes the difference between, for example, a low C and a high C pitcher. And it really doesn’t slow the game down much at all.
Getting ready to do 1883!
The Coxx system says to use when a preventable single (usually 7-10) is rolled. Does the E rating change the play result to 12 (a single with two base advancement). If not how does the 12 come up?
How does the Coxx system work, ie when do you use it and how do you know what grade to use, 1,10,30? Thanks for any help.
Anyone with extensive experience using the COXX system?
Were any “flaws” found with the system?
If so, please explain.
I have been playing APBA baseball basic for roughly a year and a half. Everything is fine except top pitchers who give up few homeruns in the real world are tossing up gopher balls like it was batting practice. eg. one A grade starting pitcher allowed 9 real life homers all season but in my game, he has already surrendered 20 homers in two thirds of a season. He was not the only one. I use Coxx system when a homerun hitter faces one of these elite pitchers at any time during the game. This is the only time I apply the system. AA rating under this system eliminates any hits for that at bat. I noticed an immediate drop in home runs allowed by these pitchers. Seems to work well for me if this makes much sense.
Has this system ever been re-done to adjust grades for the master game? For instance, if a grade 13 pitcher (B) was pitching, how many of the “B”s on his card would actually result in the pitcher becoming a Grade 11,12,14,or 15? Also has anybody tried playing it this way?