This modification comes from John Briggs from the Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association. John is the one who suggested the Slow Runners Runners Card in a past article if you want to take a look at that.
This time, John and the RCMBA are addressing how APBA addresses fielding and errors. Now, as much as I love the game of APBA, I have to admit there is a problem with how it administers errors. It just seems to there are too many, especially when it comes to the middle infielders. Even a SS-9 will garner more errors than Julio Lugo would in real life.
The RCMBA modification that John shares seems to address that pretty well. It’s pretty simple as it only comes to effect when bases are empty.
Here’s the chart:
FIELDER CHART
Whenever the bases are empty & the play result is 18, 19 or 20, the following fielding modification will be used:
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My take on it
My league sees the same issue that the RCMBA does with the numerous errors in the basic game. We really haven’t found a real solution yet.
One modification that we do implement is similar to the last part of RCMBA’s chart. Only it takes effect with 2B-9 and SS-10 and we don’t roll the die… it’s an automatic out. Part of the reason, I suppose for our modification is to reduce the errors. The other is introduce some accuracy (though certainly not realism) in that outstanding fielders don’t make so many errors.
I personally love this chart. Of all the modifications I’ve seen so far, this is one I think would really fit our league. It would require a die roll for all fielding one infielders not just top fielders (thirdbasemen too, which we don’t current do) and that might be a sticking point since some in my league don’t like to interrupt the flow of the game with superfluous rolls (fair point, I guess).
Still, this would cut down errors which would solve some problems. There would be more accurate error totals for fielders and better looking boxscores (I hate seeing my Orlando Hudson with two errors in one inning).
I might even forward this to my league and propose this as a voting item for our next league meeting (don’t hold your breath).
What do you think? Would you use RCMBA’s Fielder’s Chart in your league? Leave a comment!
And if you have a APBA league (or heck, even a solo replay) modification you use, send me an email,
thanks to John and the RCMBA for passing this on!
Dick Moore has produced some defensive charts to address this very problem. They are easy to use and the SS-9 for example will always make a better play than your SS-7. I have used them and they are awesome. They place added importance of the glove into the game. I knew for years that the basic game favored the bat and slighted the “good field, no hit” kind of guys. With the DVAL charts developed by Dick Moore, I can now enjoy defense in my game.
Mike
Has the subject of how to employ a defensive shift ever come up. It seems teams are using this on certain batters more and more. is there a way to use it properly in the APBA game?
Hello. I am looking for a full set of APBA Baseball fielding charts – any year. If someone has them for sale, i would love to buy them. I will pay shipping also.
Please text me at 248-259-9431