Projection disk

[Royals]

Received this email yesterday from Diamond Mind

“In recent years, Diamond Mind has collaborated with a third-party developer who provides the ZiPS projection stats and ratings for the projection database. Under this partnership, we usually receive the projections data by mid-April from the supplier.

After obtaining the projection stats and ratings, it takes an additional 10 to 14 days to convert the raw data into a format compatible with Diamond Mind Baseball. This process includes preparing team rosters and manager profiles with rotations, lineups, and depth charts that reflect our evaluation of how the players are expected to be utilized throughout the season.

I am happy to let you know that we received the projections data from the supplier late last week. Assuming that there are no unexpected issues, we expect the 2023 ZiPS Projection Season database to be available at the end of April or the beginning of May, as per usual.

Please keep an eye on our website and the Diamond Mind community message boards for updates on the release date and other news related to Diamond Mind Baseball products”

[Tigers]

One day the disk will come out before I have given up on the Tigers.

[Twins]

One day the disk will come out before I have given up on the Tigers.

Look at the bright side: technically, the disk will come out before you give up on the 2024 Tigers.

Never mind. This probably isn't true, either.

[Tigers]

I mean...every pitcher that matters gets hurt so they may be able to pitch about the time next years disk comes out. I actually think they finally have a competent baseball man in charge, but unfortunately Mize, Skubal, Manning, Greene, and Tork are likely the players traded for the next good team 7-8 years from now over being the next good team. I guess if the pitching bounces back and the clear the stupid FA money...

They have spent money so poorly over the past 10 years outside of having to give Miggy that deal.

[Marlins]

We're now in the "end of April or beginning of May" timeframe. Has anyone had a sighting of that elusive creature the projection disk?

[Reds]

There is a post on DMB board today that says the release should be early next week.

[Marlins]

Then that means hopefully by June 1?

[Cubs]

May 15th now on the message board, some day we’ll get them.

[Royals]

So probably May 22nd, DMB sucks

[Marlins]

Has anyone seen anything yet today?

[Reds]

I think they are on west coast time, so they have a few more hours to hit their target date of May 15th.

[Tigers]

You thought that meant 2023?

[Guardians]

Probably need to start discussing if in 2024 we start using OOTP. It's obvious that DMB is a failing company that is hurting the league.

My experience with ootp:

-$40 a year to purchase the software
-There may be ways to use prior year's software with current year projections but I think it may corrupt the software some
-Uses Zips
-I don't believe h2h functionality
-I recall it being a little weird to set up on my computer but easy to export profiles
-A lot more strategic options on gameplay
-Deeper minor league functions

I think it would fundamentally change IBC, but I think the alternative becomes closer to extinction every year.

What does everyone think?

[Brewers]

I have no experience with any of the alternatives but the writing has been on the wall for a while now. DMB is not a viable option long term.

[Twins]

I use OOTP and purchase it yearly. There are certainly drawbacks to the software, but the biggest plus is that it's available.

The main drawback is that OOTP's goal is immersive front office simulation. The core game is much more about roster management than it is about simulation and statistical accuracy. That being said, the sim engine is fairly robust. Another plus is that it's available on Mac for those of us who operate on the Dark Side.

We would have to turn league evolution off (so that the players don't develop and adjust their ratings during the season), as well as disable the financial aspect of the game. There are almost infinite ways to make sure the game is simming the way we want it to, but it will take some getting used to and a lot of behind-the-scenes adjustments to make sure we're consistent with what the IBC is. I'm also not sure how well it would integrate with our current website.

That being said, if DMB is just going to keep punting every year, OOTP is certainly better than nothing. The only other alternative that I know is Baseball Mogul, but I haven't played that in over 20 years.

[Royals]

Posted yesterday at 11:00 on the DMB Message board by a DMB employee

"The development team has discovered a last-minute issue and they working on a solution. Hopefully, this will not result in a delay of more than a day or two."

[Marlins]

They misspelled month. It is not spelled "day."

[Astros]

This isn’t new. Went back and checked another league and the disc hasn’t been released before May 10 in at least 5 years and I think much longer than that

[Cardinals]

This isn’t new. Went back and checked another league and the disc hasn’t been released before May 10 in at least 5 years and I think much longer than that

That's totally false. Here are the purchase dates I have since 2016:

April 26, 2021
May 6, 2020
April 17, 2019
April 27, 2018
April 20, 2017
April 19, 2016

It is only the last two years that are egregious.

[Royals]

This isn’t new. Went back and checked another league and the disc hasn’t been released before May 10 in at least 5 years and I think much longer than that

That's totally false. Here are the purchase dates I have since 2016:

April 26, 2021
May 6, 2020
April 17, 2019
April 27, 2018
April 20, 2017
April 19, 2016

It is only the last two years that are egregious.

I was going to say the same thing

[Astros]

Idk, 2 weeks doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.

OOTP is whack af

[Guardians]

Idk, 2 weeks doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.

OOTP is whack af

I would agree OOTP is whack, but so is killing a league's interest every year because the season doesn't start until June. I'm just not sure DMB is here for the long run.

[Phillies]

Anyone have a contact within DMB? I don't mind reaching out and telling them to do their fucking job.

[Tigers]

I think you are going to struggle to fill bad franchises when you have to pay 40 dollars a year. I like you guys and all, but the team I took over was crap and not worth going through purchasing software to play.

[Mets]

It's frustrating, but I'm not mad at them. They could have easily folded years ago but still kept it going. What started as a board/dice game in the 80's became a computer simulation (who remembers getting the physical discs every year in those yellow padded envelopes?). When they sold to Image Sports (2006) with the intent of making it an online game, and then Tom Tippett (the true architect) left for the Red Sox in 2008, the decline had begun. Luckily, they were able to survive on previous code for a couple of years, but when the online didn't take off and users began losing interest in simulation software, the company lessened their investment into the game.

I remember back in the 2010-2013 era when we were mad that the game came out around opening day instead of during spring training. Over the next couple of years, DMB actually thought about shuttering. Luckily they struck a deal with Dan & his ZiPS. If not for that, there would be no DMB.

All this is to say, I am happy for every year that we get a projection disc. It sucks that we now lose two months on average to catch up, but I will continue to support them as long as they will continue to produce. Maybe it's nostalgia, but this dumb game and the people I've met over the past 18 years have brought me so much joy, frustration and distraction. We have seen each other get married, divorced, change jobs, have kids. etc. All because we are passionate baseball nerds.