For years, top MLB coaches have admitted to honing their strategies using two baseball management video games: Out of the Park (OOTP) and MLB The Show.
Once player stats and team information are accurately inputted, coaches can simulate strategies throughout the game.
The director of OOTP has met with over half of MLB teams. A 2023 simulation was run with 1,000 possible scenarios, concluding that the Dodgers will win the World Series in 2023. Other coaches remain skeptical.
This echoes the theme of the Brad Pitt film Moneyball, which pits scouts’ instincts against irrefutable player statistics. OOTP is better configured for decision-making assistance, while MLB The Show is more focused on gameplay than team management.
However, while the software can provide insights to improve strategy, it’s inherently limited in predicting human decisions that can shift momentum or alter the game’s dynamics.
Consider two examples: if a coach deliberately gets ejected to motivate their team, does OOTP account for that? Or if a coach orders an intentional hit by pitch to intimidate batters, does OOTP foresee that?
Without going that far, the software can certainly help weigh decisions or, during the offseason, allow coaches to practice decision-making. It also lets fans do the same, enabling them to argue more effectively about a coach’s good or bad calls.
When will this approach catch on in France? Are there any French coaches training with these games? We want to hear from you!
