I actually used Dakstats in-game for a couple of innings at the NAIA softball tournament so I could see for myself how in game works.
I think an enhancement would be to eliminate all the click and enter for entering a play. Sometimes, you had to click on three or four screens depending on a play and it was easy not to be able to keep up with the play. Also, when you keep balls and strikes, it only asked if it was swinging or looking on the first and last strike of the at bat. I also don't like how you had to wait until the end of the inning to determine whether runs were earned or unearned. Why can't you do that as it happens. It would be a lot easier. Also I don't like that you don't get asked for RBI on a play, instead the program figures that out. Also that would be go for the play-by-play printout to say something like Grann doubles to left, 2 RBI, Smith scores, Jones scored.
Also, the play-by-play description needs some improvements. It would be nice to see the actual scoring play in parenthesis after the description on ALL plays not just some. I like how you describe the error but you don't know what position the players is fielding.
Also here are actual play-by-play descriptions from the NAIA Region XIV Softball Tournament as I was trying to type it in to Stat Crew. Just imagine if you were trying to write a story off the play-by-play ...
Helenthal flied out, thru the hole at 2nd base (okay, who caught it)
Wimmer popped out, thru the hole at 2nd base (same question as above)
Pickelsimmer grounded out to the infield (your guess is good as mine on this one)
Tosh flied out to left-center (I didn't realize they brought back four outfielders)
Hess popped out to the pitcher's mound (I didn't realize the mound could field)
I noticed the same thing in watching the DakStats webcast at the Women's WS...if I were trying to score the game, I couldn't - as a ton of the information is missing...
Jon - is the reason you have to wait till the end of the inning to determine earned or unearned because they can flip - I remember at the Baseball WS having to go back an entire inning and re-entering, because there wasn't an easy editor (like TAS)
1. The option to show the defensive sequence is configurable. I went out and checked one of the games from NAIA World Series...just happened to look at the Lee vs Lewis-Clark...and it seems like it was on.
PEREZ grounded out to the pitcher's mound(1-3) HUTSLAR grounded into a (5-4-3) double play
But, the sequence can be turned off using the Configure menu under the Configurations option for Enhanced batter text.
Also, to note...the full play-by-play is available but the LINK is blue and the background is BLUE...so its hidden. The link is directly to right of the 'PLAY BY PLAY' header text. We will fix that color so it isn't hidden in next version.
2. As for entering the earned / unearned runs at end of inning...we have just always waited until end of inning to handle it consistantly...when you have multiple pitchers and inherited runners. We thought it was statistically possible to charge a RUN against a pitcher that was subbed out earlier in the inning. If RUNS are always charged against the current pitcher, we could change the software accordingly.
3. RBI's...normally most runs scored are RBI's but there are times that the runner can score on 'on a throw' and not the batted ball play or because of a 'previous error'. We don't want to always assume the RBI. We default to the 'On Batted Ball' which gives the RBI, but you can change it to another option which will not credit the batter with an RBI.
One other note on RBI's...if its a double play...the batter won't get credit for an RBI...even if you enter it as 'On Batted Ball'. The software knows not to credit RBIs in that scenario.
4. Editing. You will find editing in baseball to be a little strict. That is because we are setting alot of situational stats (RISP, Bases Loaded, w/ 2 Outs, etc.). We allow you to change how a player gets on base...but not that fact that he is on base. So, when I train users on this...the only important thing is to get the player to the correct base. You can always come back and change how/why he got to second...but we won't let you take him completely off of second. For example...you can change a double to a single with an error...but you cant change it to a POP OUT...because now that totally messes with the situational stats (RISP, etc mentioned above) and because what if adding an out would then make it the 4th out of an inning...if you change a popout to a single...then what are the repercussions for the batters the next time the team comes up to bat. We don't want you to edit the play-by-play to be 'out-of-balance'.
Sorry for the lengty reply...I hope you find this information useful.
Thanks for the feedback. Keep letting us know what you would like to see changed or added to the software.
What about defensive substitutions that occurred an inning prior that are missed...can you go back quickly and change that, or have to delete the entire inning?
These are things (especially the first couple of items) you all need to tell us so we know. That is general information you should be sending us when you discover it. Like the enhanced hitter text option, and the hidden link because the background was the same, actually that should have been changed when that was discovered. I wondered about that too, but as an SID we don't have time to run and complain or ask all the questions. When you discover things like that you should alert all of us so we know and our jobs can be made easier.
If you do miss a substitution...its an easy fix. Select the play (the At-Bat) where you want to INSERT the missed sub. After selecting the play, go to the EDIT menu and choose either Insert Home or Insert Visitor. It will add the play to the play-by-play tree. Highlight the play and enter the SUBS as needed.
One last item to remember...you need to Rebuild the stats to update the stats based on the new players you put in the game. Click the Rebuild Stats option found under the Edit menu.
Thats how to enter a missed substitution and update the statistics.
Correct...after inserting the sub and editing the positions/lineup...hit the Rebuild Stats.
The reasoning behind not kicking it off automatically was many of our baseball users run live during a game and have other programs running on the same computer to generate live or real-time date for Daktronics Video boards, Message Centers, and graphics of Spray Charts. Plus, if they missed a 'sub' in the user probably has to enter another 'sub' play. So, why take the time to automatically redo it twice, when the user can decide when he is ready to do it. The user knows how many appliciations are running, how fast their machine is, how many subs they missed or have to enter...and can decide when to rebuild the stats 'on-demand'.
Its really not that hard to click 'Rebuild Stats' after you finish editing 'subs'. If you really think its important for the software to do it automatically....we can add an option that you can configure. That way schools that aren't driving video displays can have it automatic and other users who want the 'on-demand' can still have it their way.
