theory – The RallyByrd Baseball Board Game

The Game of #Baseball Is Not Symmetrical. The RallyBoard #BoardGame Reflects This.

Is this controversial? I don’t believe the game of baseball is symmetrical. The RallyBird Board Game reflects this. Yes, the field has bilateral symmetry, sure. But the game includes the action. Runners only may move in a counter-clockwise direction. First base is a lot different than third base! The relation of second base to first base is a lot different than second base to third base.

This play action differentiation impacts the action value of the left side of the field compared to the right side. It impacts situations, and I think delivers a feeling of action value to the bases that is not level. When measured by action value and potentiality, the level field actually has “altitude” differences (I made a whole video about baseball’s topography.)

Because I believe that baseball is not symmetrical, some pairs of At Bat card tactics are also not symmetrical. Here’s one pair:

Grounder Right is slightly more effective than Grounder Left. In the RallyBird Baseball Board Game, Grounder Right moves a non-forced runner more often.

Grounder Left and Grounder Right aren’t the only non-symmetrical cards in the RallyBird Baseball Board Game. I show these two similar Left/ Right card treatments in the video I made on this topic below, Infield Left and Infield Right.

Let’s not forget there are more right-handed athletes than left-handed…

Thanks for reading! There’s more information about the game below.

Here’s a link to the RallyBird Board Game Rules PDF.

The board game is currently for sale here.

Dynamic How to Play video below!

Theory 4 video: Baseball “Sacrifice” At Bat Evaluation (RallyBird Baseball Board Game)

What is the shape of value of the “sacrifice” At Bat in baseball? In this intuitive approach, I try to offer this. I call it a shape because it’s more than just a yes/no thing, more than a simple risk/reward relationship, but highly situational. Even when you consider all batters equal, there are still a lot of factors to weigh. The answer may have to be your choice of will, not your confident calculation. Lines and shapes are ways to try to wrangle the forces that push on the outcome.

Df6O3sMUEAA-9dl.jpg-large.jpeg When you’re playing the RallyBird Baseball board game, you have the opportunity to make these evaluations for yourself based on your runners on base, how many outs you have, your inning, the number of runs you need, your opponent’s defensive style, and how many runs you want to score. What combination of risk and reward works best for you tactically and strategically?

This video explores the dimensions of risk and reward behind a decision to hit a ball in such a way to trade the batter’s Out to advance a runner already on base. To me its a fascinating risk/reward question with multiple, drifting variables. With all batters equal, when is it better or worse to hit a sacrifice rather than attempt a normal At Bat? This is one of the decisions you need to make when playing the RallyBird Baseball board game. As I say in the video, this need to make decisions provides the “good pain” in board games that I like.

For sale now (June, 2018) here: https://bit.ly/2rvmzBa .

Also see: RallyBirdBaseball.com . Thank you for watching.

Unintentional Revelations As My Next RallyBird Baseball Theory Video Is Almost Complete

I filmed the next RallyBird Baseball theory video yesterday and editing it today. I’m uploading it now. It should take about six years to upload, possibly quite less than that. Perhaps even later today. I filmed it via my laptop, because I think my camcorder’s audio quality may be irredeemable. That dictates the angle and make it hard not to show my face. (“Don’t look at me!) Here is a still pic of me with my baseball tie and one of my colorful graphs. Screen Shot 2018-06-21 at 2.48.15 PM

It is funny and disconcerting to view myself–full stop. For one thing, this video shows my eyes looking upward when I try to be precise about my spoken language.

I asked google about this posture, and it offered this:

So I suppose it’s disconcerting to see myself processing information in a way that isn’t entirely self-aware. I’m only self-aware from the inside viewpoint. (“Let me out!”) Sadly I don’t have a sidekick who walks around with a mirror for me, like that wonderful man in the band called “The Time”… you may recall the highly engaging and hilarious performance from the movie Purple Rain.

Back to my somewhat less hypnotic and groovy examination of the shape of value of baseball’s sacrifice At Bat… I take an intuitive approach to evaluation, and explain why, and how it reflects on the RallyBird Baseball Board Game.

Here is the RallyBird Baseball board game’s place in BoardGameGeek.com: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/252879/rallybird-baseball

And here’s where you can pick up a copy: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/rallybird-baseball

PS. Where’s my Mirror Guy?