The RBU utility requires Microsoft Excel with Visual Basic installed (macros enabled). I use 2016 version but previous versions have been confirmed to work. The utility will NOT work with excel online or other spreadsheets.
It's been awhile since I updated (last version was two years ago), so I figured it was time.
A few changes to how ratings are calculated:
*Defensive ratings (minus arm strength) are now calculated yearly based on seasonal statistics. I've done away with using career ratings with regression built in. Additionally, I am now using only fielding error percentages for the fielding rating. Reaction ratings are now a result of fielder zone ratings (exclusively). The reasons I've done this:
1) In gameplay, it seems reaction ratings are more critical to overall fielder performance than the fielding rating. Even players with low fielding ratings can make acrobatic plays, but high reaction players are clearly the better defenders. Since the sim engine uses the fielding rating to reproduce errors, it makes sense to adjust this.
2) Players have historically had better/worse years defensively, and using career ratings eliminates this. Seasonal ratings help reproduce better sim engine results in terms of error rates. There are still problems, but there is really no perfect way to do it as long as they make the fielding rating control multiple things.
3) Doing career fielding ratings is enormously time-consuming!
As a result, you may notice some things that might not look right, such as Ozzie Smith's fielding rating being lower than expected for some seasons (because he made more errors), however, keep in mind that the reaction rating is derived from overall zone ratings and will likely be reflective of superior defensive performance. Of course, you can always change what you don't agree with. Overall, however, I think this is better.
Arm strength ratings are still done the same way.
*I've re-scaled clutch ratings to help produce higher averages with RISP and hopefully more run production, but I haven't tested this extensively. As far as I've seen, clutch ratings have little if any effect in the sim engine.
*Standard rating calculations are unchanged, aside from a minor change to pitcher stamina which effects players who were both starters and relievers (the change is probably not noticable).
*I adjusted appearance scaling for players with very low appearances...the result is these players are (mostly) rated lower now. This will keep their usage down on cpu-controlled teams. Also, I made some changes to how minor leaguers are scaled to get them in the proper ranges.
*Historical scaling is being done differently though you will not likely notice a difference. The good news is that the new method should (fingers-crossed) allow me to make next year's release coincide with the game release. No more waiting.
*I've added an option to select career ratings when compiling player lists. You will see it on the settings page. Keep in mind these are straight averages (though each season is weighted according what percentage of a player's total appearances happened in that year), so the ratings will be pushed toward the mean more (less 90s, for example).
If you have any questions, you can post here. Let me know if you come across any bugs.
JT
Also:
Spreadsheet which includes all seasonal ratings for MLB players:
Spreadsheet which includes all career ratings:
It's been awhile since I updated (last version was two years ago), so I figured it was time.
A few changes to how ratings are calculated:
*Defensive ratings (minus arm strength) are now calculated yearly based on seasonal statistics. I've done away with using career ratings with regression built in. Additionally, I am now using only fielding error percentages for the fielding rating. Reaction ratings are now a result of fielder zone ratings (exclusively). The reasons I've done this:
1) In gameplay, it seems reaction ratings are more critical to overall fielder performance than the fielding rating. Even players with low fielding ratings can make acrobatic plays, but high reaction players are clearly the better defenders. Since the sim engine uses the fielding rating to reproduce errors, it makes sense to adjust this.
2) Players have historically had better/worse years defensively, and using career ratings eliminates this. Seasonal ratings help reproduce better sim engine results in terms of error rates. There are still problems, but there is really no perfect way to do it as long as they make the fielding rating control multiple things.
3) Doing career fielding ratings is enormously time-consuming!
As a result, you may notice some things that might not look right, such as Ozzie Smith's fielding rating being lower than expected for some seasons (because he made more errors), however, keep in mind that the reaction rating is derived from overall zone ratings and will likely be reflective of superior defensive performance. Of course, you can always change what you don't agree with. Overall, however, I think this is better.
Arm strength ratings are still done the same way.
*I've re-scaled clutch ratings to help produce higher averages with RISP and hopefully more run production, but I haven't tested this extensively. As far as I've seen, clutch ratings have little if any effect in the sim engine.
*Standard rating calculations are unchanged, aside from a minor change to pitcher stamina which effects players who were both starters and relievers (the change is probably not noticable).
*I adjusted appearance scaling for players with very low appearances...the result is these players are (mostly) rated lower now. This will keep their usage down on cpu-controlled teams. Also, I made some changes to how minor leaguers are scaled to get them in the proper ranges.
*Historical scaling is being done differently though you will not likely notice a difference. The good news is that the new method should (fingers-crossed) allow me to make next year's release coincide with the game release. No more waiting.
*I've added an option to select career ratings when compiling player lists. You will see it on the settings page. Keep in mind these are straight averages (though each season is weighted according what percentage of a player's total appearances happened in that year), so the ratings will be pushed toward the mean more (less 90s, for example).
If you have any questions, you can post here. Let me know if you come across any bugs.
JT
Also:
Spreadsheet which includes all seasonal ratings for MLB players:
Spreadsheet which includes all career ratings:
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