Artificial Intelligence or AI has been making a lot of news lately. Chances are, you are affected by some form of it, maybe without even knowing it.
A lot of our sports games recaps are generated by AI. Even the game recaps I read after coming home from Illini baseball games are auto generated by a firm called Data Skrive.
So I thought it would be interesting to directly ask a couple of the commercially-available AI engines what they know about APBA and its games. For this simple test, I used Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. Both are built upon Chat GPT but as you will see, I received a variety of answers from both.
Before I show my work, a few words about how artificial intelligence works. Theoretically, AI should not make up information from a void. It finds publicly-accessible data from the web and consolidates it in a simple document. However, that is not to say that AI can ‘hallucinate’.
On to the questions about APBA. I asked just a few general ones and since both Gemini and Copilot generate a lot text, you’re seeing just a snippet of what I’m seeing. I’ll hold most of my opinions on how each AI app performed until the end.
“Give me an overview of the apba baseball game“
Both Copilot and Gemini gave short, general answers to an admittedly vague question about the APBA baseball game.
Gemini
APBA Baseball is a tabletop baseball simulation game that uses dice rolls and player cards to recreate the on-field action. Here’s a quick rundown:
Core Gameplay:
- Players take on the role of manager for their chosen teams.
- Dice rolls determine the outcome of each at-bat, fielding play, and pitching situation.
- Player cards contain statistics that influence the dice roll results.
- The game is known for being fast-paced and easy to learn, with more complex strategic options available for experienced players.
Copilot
Certainly! APBA Baseball is a classic tabletop baseball simulation game that has been enjoyed by fans for decades. It does involve strategy, and here’s how:
- Player Cards: APBA comes with player cards representing real-life players from different seasons. Each card includes ratings for hitting, pitching, and fielding. Choosing the right players for your lineup and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial.
- Gameplay Decisions: As a manager, you make decisions during the game. Should you bunt, steal a base, or intentionally walk a batter? These choices impact the outcome of each play and the overall game.
- Pitcher Management: Managing your starting pitcher’s stamina and knowing when to bring in relief pitchers is essential. Balancing their effectiveness with their fatigue level requires strategic thinking.
- Matchups: Understanding batter-pitcher matchups is key. Some players perform better against left-handed pitchers, while others excel against righties. Adjusting your lineup based on these matchups can give you an edge.
- In-Game Adjustments: APBA allows you to adjust fielding positions and defensive shifts. Reacting to your opponent’s hitting tendencies and adjusting your defense accordingly can make a difference.
I decided to see how much the AI web apps actually knew about the APBA baseball game engine.
“is there strategy in the apba baseball game?”
Gemini
Absolutely, there’s a good amount of strategy involved in APBA Baseball! Here are some areas where you can make strategic decisions:
Team Building and Lineup Construction:
- Prioritizing Stats: When choosing teams or building your lineup, consider player card stats. Look for hitters with high on-base percentages (walks) and extra-base hit (EBH) potential. Pitchers with good grades (A-C) and strikeout ratings (K) are valuable.
- Speed on Offense: Speedy base runners (high steal ratings) can put pressure on the defense and create scoring opportunities.
- In-Game Management:
- Pitching Strategies: Match your pitcher’s strengths to the opposing batters. Throw fastballs (high numbers) to hitters who struggle with them, or mix in breaking pitches (low numbers) for strikeout opportunities.
- Baserunning Decisions: Decide when to steal bases based on the runner’s speed, the pitcher’s control, and the score of the game. You can also use the hit-and-run play to try and advance runners.
- Defensive Positioning: Shift your fielders based on the batter’s tendencies (pull hitter vs. opposite field hitter) and the situation (runners on base).
Gemini also listed a few reference links such as The Art of the APBA Lineup and Picking a team for a tournament both from The APBA Blog (good AI!).
Copilot
Certainly! In the APBA Baseball game, strategy plays a crucial role. Here are some key aspects:
- Lineup Selection: Choosing the right batting order is essential. Consider player strengths, matchups, and situational factors.
- Pitching Decisions: Decide when to pull a pitcher, manage fatigue, and use relief pitchers effectively. The optional pitching rule adds depth and realism [7].
- Hit and Run: With a runner on first base, consider calling a hit and run play. The runner breaks toward second base, and the batter swings at any pitch to put the ball in play [6].
- Defensive Shifts: Adjust your fielders based on the batter’s tendencies. Play infielders close or deep as needed.
- Stolen Bases: Timing and player speed matter. Stealing bases can disrupt the opponent’s strategy.
- Managing Fatigue: Monitor pitcher fatigue and make timely substitutions.
Remember, mastering APBA Baseball involves understanding these nuances and adapting your approach based on the game situation. Enjoy your tabletop baseball experience!
Copilot added a few strategy reference links from APBA Brian’s YouTube channel, a website I’ve never heard of called rivercityrascals.com, and of course, apbablog.com. It also referred to APBA’s own website too (please note that the instructions it links to are for the Master Game not the Basic Game).
“how can i make a lineup in the apba baseball game?”
I’m not even going to bother showing you everything that both Gemini and Copilot spit out for this question. It was perfectly legitamate for assembling a real-life lineup but there was no real application to the game of APBA.
Here is a snippet from Gemini:
Building a Balanced Lineup:
- Leadoff Hitter: This player ideally has a high OBP (> .350) to get on base frequently and start rallies. A good BA and some stolen base ability are bonuses.
- Heart of the Lineup (3rd & 4th Hitters): Put your best power hitters here. Look for high SLG, HR, and EBH ratings.
It just goes on from there. Copilot behaved in a similar fashion.
Final thoughts
I did ask a few more questions. I asked “what is the most accurate baseball board game?”. Copilot gets dinged for not even mentioning APBA but listing Backgammon (??). I quote “Backgammon sets often have baseball-themed designs and can be a fun addition to your collection“.
Thumbs down on that.
However, both understood what a “monster card” was and referenced The APBA Blog’s Monster Card Monday by name.
While interesting to try, both Gemini and Copilot weren’t helpful in finding any real helpful information about the APBA Baseball game (with the exception of a couple of links to useful resources).
That may not be AI’s fault. It could be that relatively speaking, there just isn’t a lot of descriptive information about the game on the web.
Am I “all in” on AI? There are facets of it that I find useful such as in image manipulation. I will say for the record that I do not generate articles for this website using AI.
If I did, you all would be on to me.
