Modified Data File for MVP 2004          v. 002   4/11/04

By Ron Rodkey

All credit goes to Snepp & Chuck for making this possible!!

Complete list of modifications to this data file:

1. Adjusted all infield defense positioning to be closer to real life. Now if you play       "guard lines", they are near the lines. In general 1st & 3rd basemen were moved closer to    the lines. This has all but eliminated the 3rd baseman going 5 steps toward the dugout
   on a grounder down the line. I think you'll see more realistic fielding angles from CPU
   fielders on ground balls. 1st & 3rd baseman don't run down quite as many pop fouls - the
   2nd baseman & shorstop now drift behind them to get the deeper pop-ups (just like IRL).
   The third baseman rarely goes 2/3 of the way toward 2nd base now to get a grounder. The    SS now gets more of them in the hole.

2. Reduced overall catcher throw strength sligtly on steal attempts(does not affect his    other throws).

3. Reduced the speed of the pitcher throw on pick-offs. Looks more realistic. You
   will still get pick-offs (got one yesterday). No more 100 mph bullets on pick-offs.

4. Globally increased player heights ever so slightly so that the high strike zone is
   closer to the letters than the shoulders.

5. Moved the batters away from the plate a bit and back slightly in the box. They were too
   close by default IMHO.

6. Lengthened bat length about 1-1/2" to compensate. I had a batter foul off four
   pitches in a row in my last game. I'm getting at least a dozen fouls per game now.

7. Increased the modification for pitching mistakes in the warm and hot zone (more so).
   This does not lead to monster homeruns but it has the batters punishing the mistakes
   a bit harder and a bit more often.

8. Pitcher accuracy and MinAccuracyMiss were modified to reduce pitcher control. Trying to      get more walks and higher pitch counts. The pitch counts are getting up there nicely.       Always over a hundred from each side every game. Actually had the CPU pitcher issue
   back to back walks for the first time yesterday. Setting the pitcher Fatigue slider to     +30 is critical to help make this work. You can still get a complete game from time to      time. Got one out of Matt Morris yesterday.

9. Decreased the delay of the base stealer from when the pitcher starts his wind up.
   Leads to better jumps and a bit more successful steal attempts.

10. Reduced CPUfield accuracy to lead to a few dropped catches, bobbled grounders, etc.

11. Adjusted several lighting values to brighten up players that were poorly lit for night     games in certain stadiums.

12. Added timing values to about one hundred non-throwing fielding animations.

13. Adjusted CPU distance from base value for Cut-off throws. This has made a notable
    improvement but I'd like to continue to adjust it. Too many throws were going straight
    home and baserunners were taking extras bases too often.

14. Decreased the extreme values between the slowest runners and the fastest runners. There    was too much of an extreme. Fastest runners were getting too many triples and the slower    rated runners were just so slow that they rarely got doubles even on shots to the wall.

15. Changed PIP for baserunner back to normal size.

16. This file has one of Chuck's camera angle modifications (ESPN fixed).

17. This file includes the Wonderful Steal Fix version 2b. This will produce CPU steal attepmts.
   I take no credit for this fix. I first came across this at Baseballsimcentral and then at
   MVPmods. Thanks to all of those who did this!

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few. But that's most of 'em.

NOTE: Results have been very realistic in CPU vs. CPU testing. These changes are designed to produce a realistic baseball SIMULATION. If you want an Arcade experience and you bat for yourself, then YOU will affect the results. If you swing at too many balls, you won't get walks. As for Human-controlled pitching, I think there has been improvement - BUT - Sometimes you have to throw a ball with a 3-ball count and hope the batter chases. If you don't - you are not going to get many walks when you pitch. I have made no adjustments to the pitching meter. Maybe others will try some things. I'm still using the slider values posted on page one of a related thread at HighHeat2004.net. (Tested on ALL-STAR Level - Dynasty mode).

I play a type of "Manage-only" game. I make trades, build the team, make pitching changes, make defensive substitutions, bring in pinch-hitters, etc. I let the CPU bat for both teams. I take over control from time to time to make mound visits, pull the pitcher, etc. I occasionally do my own pitching - especially if I want to set the defensive positioning for a certain batter. I switch between Automatic & Assisted fielding.

The point is - your playing style directly affects the results. But I think these changes will improve the experience regardless of your style of play. 

INSTALLATION:
Just put this in the DATA Folder. If you don't like it. Just delete it. It will not affect your rosters or save files.

 