Vol. IV, Issue #6 - August 2016

** Strat Wise - Part VII**
(by Marc Wasserman, Commissioner of the Cyber Baseball Association {CBA} )

(Note from the Wolfman: - For those of you who have been following our newsletter, you are already familiar with the column called "Commissioner's Corner written by Marc Wasserman, the commissioner of the CBA as he has discussed his experiences and insights about being a commissioner of a Strat-o-matic baseball league. Now continuing on with his new column, Wass returns sharing with us his unique and special perspective on a variety of topics that are linked and important to the Strat Baseball World. This month he discusses some of the great Strat-o-matic orientated videos he has found on Youtube, of which several of these videos, we have been granted permission to add it to our own great video channel there as well.  These are the type of videos you want to check out, whether they are instructive or highly entertaining ... read on ...)

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Strat-o-matic on the Web
(oh those special videos ... )

Some great Strat-o-matic videos are making its way unto Youtube which is really great to see how our community is expanding there.  This month, our Newsletter profiles the work of two special video bloggers:  Earl Reed and his “Tenacious Strat Channel” and the “Strat-o-matic Delaware Channel”.  We welcome their permission to post some of their content to our amazing Youtube channel as well, thanks Earl and Chris!

Since USBN (the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter) has been around on Youtube, we have reached out to the fans of the game in various new ways.  We had more than 10,000 views of our content with a very favorable reaction.  It seems as if the most popular of our videos of late have been the strategy oriented videos.  Our good friend and contributor, Bruce Bundy, has produced a great video about using small ball to gain a competitive edge.  This video has stirred some strong reactions.  Writes one viewer: "The most underrated stat in all ways is the advancing of a runner with one out, this is the most over looked factor that it can’t even be counted".

People are really reacting to the value of these strategy videos and we at the Ultimate Strat Baseball Channel believe we are helping to make a big difference as well as assisting to make more connections amongst fellow strat gamers. This month we feature some videos done by a fellow SOM fanatic named Chris from Lower Delaware.  He has produced some cool videos about Strat-o-matic Baseball.  He wants to reach out to other members of our community and hope that these videos will bring him closer to such gamers.  He now has his own channel, and has credited our friend Bruce’s video to stoking his interest. His video channel is growing daily and there’s some really good stuff there if your are serious about advancing the play of your game.

From: Strat-O-Matic Delaware

“It was your video featuring Bruce (Bundy) that brought me to “Small Ball”. And I, honestly, have not turned back (since). Whenever the team presents the opportunity, in the past two years, I go Small Ball every time. IMHO, this adds such (great) depth to the game. Thanks, for subscribing (to my video channel). I am honored.”
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Below is Chris’ Strat-o-matic Delaware’s video which he calls: "Small Ball, How To Win With Less”.   He attributes Bruce Bundy's video as his motivation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoiOtA0UaCA

Also, Chris has produced a interesting series of videos for his “Strat-o-matic Delaware video channel”.  They are fun to listen to and watch and he offers some interesting and perhaps even valuable insights into our game.  In one video he takes time to teach you the game, his way to reach outside of our strat community.  Isn't that so much like the rest of us?  I don't know about you, but I always take pride in the bringing of new people into our game.  Chris does that in posting and producing his videos as well, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WBJJwDu4h0&feature=youtu.be

Another video from Chris which we just posted to the Ultimate Strat Baseball Youtube Channel targets stealing and base running situations in the game.  He mentions the importance of hit and running for extra bases too.  In my opinion, Hit and Run is one of the most over looked aspect of our game.  There’s not too many charts or detailed insights that has been posted about this subject.   Of course, he has his own interesting replays on his channel as many other gamers do.  Yes, there is an audience out there for game replay's on the web indeed.  Skype games are starting to get posted on these channels as well. 

(Note: To play against an opponent via Skype was introduced by PureStrat, a region of the Strat Tournaments Players Club – how this works is you use the SOM Baseball Cards and use an automated on-line dice system which is on the internet so both opponents can see the dice rolls and the roll of the 20 sided die – then using your ability to see and hear your opponent you can talk to each other for checking the strategies that each team wishes to use, just like as if you are playing your worthy opponent in person.)

In one game, Chris from Strat-o-matic Delaware shares about his Skype game matchup with Earl Reed ('Tenacious Strat Baseball Channel’).  Both met on Skype after both posted and communicated with each other due to each having their own videos on Youtube.  You can subscribe to Chris videos at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn_7kbP3FuZCsmY7aRuk8PQ/videos 
(Tell him USBN sent ya...)

From: The Tenacious Strat Channel

The ‘Tenacious Strat Channel’ gets a mention here as Mr. Earl Reed maintains a great video channel by supporting his "Ten-acious Baseball League". He videos his games. He's shared 10 posted videos so far.  Earl has created a stadium for his play and uploads the videos and shares the results on a weblog that you can find at: 

https://tenaciousstrat.wordpress.com/ 

Earl does a nice job with his video blog.   In another video he discusses his scorecard and statistics methods.  In other videos I saw, he gets down into various game play simulations. We strongly suggest you subscribe to his video channel at Tenacious Strat by going to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrZ9rHKXe3EWYQAlPjPcEuA/videos

Other Interest Strat Videos of Note

Earl Shamblin, (another Earl) aka Mr 'Tabletop Baseball' has another video channel you may want to check out. Earl, if you don't already know this, he runs a regular series of videos also on Youtube that features games and tournament replays each week. This is another very interesting channel you may wish to subscribe to as well.  His videos are always showing some of the most interesting matchups.

We feature this month on our USBN Youtube Video Channel two of his games. For example there is the 1954 teams, the Cleveland Indians vs. the New York Yankees.  I always look forward to his new releases.  He has some other popular series of games he shares such as the 1961 Yanks vs. the 1961 Tigers. He likes to duplicate baseball movies like with this matchup that came from the movie '1961’.  He also does other creative matches like KC’s All Time All Stars vs. the 1980 KC Royals -- the two fastest teams ever known, and you know some other interesting matchups that bring these guys back to life.  His Hall Of Fame Tournament is another major achievement and is a fine series that SOM fans may want to get into, showing great names from the past. To view this series go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asxbXwW-1_8  All of his videos are well researched and thought out,  Earl is a gem.  You can subscribe to his channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL2h7-gq6_mt0or7MvvooHw/videos

Video blogger Jeff Mcaleer, who runs the 'Gaming Gang' channel decided to return to his Strat-o-matic roots after being away from the game for 25 years after trying to explore so many other baseball simulations games.  He basically describes, as so many others do, how to play the game in this video.  At the end of it, Jeff gets a bit candid and shares his pros and cons about Strat. I think you will enjoy listening to his final conclusion. You can subscribe to Jeff at Gaming Gang on Youtube by going to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPgHK8xHrEJotWpI8QwYipw

Jeff Polman has some good videos as well. You remember we did an interview with Jeff for our newsletter in the past plus his articles are shared on Strat-o-matic’s website. For example, check out how fast he can play his 1971 Pittsburgh vs. the 1971 NY Mets.  It was fun to watch him. Kranepool just misses a homer off the top of the wall, shucks. See this video by going to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOhICVaHph8 


Steady Eddie with the Bill Delancey Dice voodoo is another cool vid too – head over to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np8gz0sgKcA

Bob Zuhlke has 2 very interesting videos. First he talks about how to build your team to match your philosophies of play, or matching your game philosophies to build your team.   He talks about “Small Ball” too. Bob discusses his own experiences and does a nice discourse upon them. He actually claims not to like to use stealing, check this one out at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_5w4o-IfGo  and hear his point of view.  In another video he offers some insights about various topics like drafting for the playoffs and more.

There have of course been numerous times when various MLB announcers refer to Strat-o-matic by name during their games. Here's a video showing Jerry Remy (ex-major leaguer) explaining Strat-o-matic to his colleague on air, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiOkAj-ww8w

Well that all the news I have for the column this month.  The key to remember dear members is that you can find some great information and insights how to play the game we love on Youtube including on our unique channel as well.  To check all the amazing videos we have to share with all our members on the USBN Video channel, as always, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC93h4fGGI7ibBUuTxrwDrzw

(You will find on our channel, several new videos to celebrate the release of this month’s newsletter, several of these videos that we just added, I have mentioned in this column.)

As always, your feedback is very welcome, feel free to email your comments to: marc.wass@ultimatestratbaseball.com

Peace, and health to all.

 

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Contained inside this exciting issue of Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter:
(to view the various interviews, articles, columns and special sections click on the links {underlined} and this will take you to the appropriate webpage)
 

♦  RETURN TO NEWSLETTER MAIN PAGE

♦  FIELD OF DREAMS REPORT, PART II with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO, The "Wolfman" continues his report from last month as he shares with some special interviews with Dennise Stillman (owner of the farm and baseball field), Betty Lansing (who lived on the farm and sister of the former owner, her brother), and W. P. Kinsella, the author of the book, "Shoeless Joe". In addition, he shares an analysis of how the story in the book compared to the movie and a special article from Wikipedia that discusses unknown facts linked to the creation of the movie. Select your choice of which part of this report you wish to read below:

INTERVIEW with DENISE STILLMAN, CEO for Go the Distance Baseball, LLC
INTERVIEW with BETTY LANSING, former owner of the farm, employee
INTERVIEW with W.P. KINSELLA, PART II - author of "Shoeless Joe"
ARTICLE with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO, comparison of the story in the book vs. the film
ARTICLE from WIKIPEDIA, background on the creation of the movie
 

♦  EARLY SOM BASEBALL CARDS with TOM NAHIGIAN, Wolfman's old Strat Friend, Tom Nahigian, known as the "Collector" in Guzzo's book, returns to us as we share images of some of the early SOM baseball cards made for the 1960 season, before Strat-o-matic created the advanced cards that we all know today.

♦  SOM BASEBALL LEAGUE REPORT with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO -- the editor of "The Ultimate Strat Newsletter" and 2012 CBA Champion, talks to members of various Strat-o-matic Baseball Leagues that he has discovered on the internet about the history of their league and their experiences. We speak to another commissioner of two Retro Leagues and a face-to-face league. To read these interviews, click on the links below:

INTERVIEW with BRIAN KOCH, Commissioner of 2 Leagues, P-X (Computer)
INTERVIEW with GARY DAVIS, Commissioner of JEM, P-XI (Face-to-Face)
 

♦  ARTICLE with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO (linked with Baseball Daily), This the Wolfman second report about the new "Baseball Daily" game play with SOM Baseball as he continues to manage the 2016 Chicago Cubs day by day. He shows you his results through the end of August 29th and give an analysis linked to the Cubs how they have been playing and their chances to get to the World Series.

♦  ARTICLE with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO (linked to Minor League Strat), Earlier this year the Wolfman discussed a new league he joined called the Minor League, he returns with a report how his team is doing as the season comes to a close and also what other Minor League Players he was able to acquire and control.

♦  RECOMMEND ON-LINE SOM RESOURCES -- On-line Strat-o-matic and Baseball related websites that offer amazing information, special tools and products to improve your game play that we strongly recommend. In most cases, we have had personal contact with these sources who agree with the principle to work together and help promote each other.

♦  BOOKS TO DIE FOR and Become a BASEBALL GURU -- This page is specifically about special books we are finding that either will expand your insights about the game of Baseball, help you in the creation of your current league teams or with your replays and learn more about the Strat-o-matic Baseball Game and Game Company's history.  We have a special arrangement with Acta Sports, who is a publisher of a number of great baseball books (including Bill James Handbooks) to offer for our members a 10% discount. We will continue to add more books to this page in the future as we uncover other gems our members should know about.