u/MatthewHecht

I finished my first season of 01, and here are the changes I noticed. The obvious stuff is pros, backyard kids on the other teams, real home fields, and double plays giving power ups. I will mention coaching children. That means I coached elementary soccer and did some for pick up games in various sports.

Arms are much weaker in 01, and I think this change affects the game the most. In 97 outside of 3B and the outfield arm strength is a dump stat (and even in the outfield I find it is normally not very important). The throw just has a little less zip, but they go the distance easily. Gretchen at pitcher has no problem throwing Pete out at first. Now in 01 catcher is no longer a dump position. Bunts are much more dangerous, as every player cannot throw out Pete before he gets to first. In 97 Pete and Kiesha would all the time pick up a ball in the outfield and throw a fast runner out at first. Not even close in 01. I found this made speed less important, as everybody felt faster with the weaker arms.

Stealing is much more practical in 01. With all the strong arms especially in the playoffs I basically never stole a base. Everybody can hit a home run and giving up double plays is not too bad. Now stealing is way more consistent. It used to be I would only have Pete and Luanne steal. Last season Gretchen stole on average 1 base per playoff game. I once stole with Angela.

Seeing CPU positions and stats- This is a huge one. In 97 you can just see their list of players and batting order. I know many of the generic kid stats, but I do not know if Star Moonbeam is CF or 3B. In 01 I can see all of their positions and 10 ball stats. That makes the game much easier when I know their 3B cannot field or run (I found the CPU loved putting its worst defensive players on 3B and LF making a huge weak spot). This makes the game easier, but is somewhat negated by a smarter CPU. They now put players at much better positions. In 97 I many times noticed they put a Dimitri/Maria/Annie clone at pitcher and an Angela clone in the outfield.

Hot and cold days- In 97 you have to start the game with no awareness of this. This means you might notice Pete is moving really slow and can no longer play CF. Fixable, but it is too late to move him to a better batting position. In 01 you know all this before the game (and how much) meaning you can just fix the roster to accommodate Ricky now having a ten bat and Maria now having a 1 bat. I prefer the 97 method, as that is much more realistic for coaching children. Nothing like the excitement of seeing Gretchen is hot when her now lightning fast swing hits a triple home run.

The fielders are a lot better in 97. In it they rush for the ball and famously will catch it when it bounces off another fielder. It is hilarious when it helps my team and frustrating when it helps the other team. In 01 my outfielders kept standing still unless I told them to move and only one went for the ball. I think it is highly tied to intelligence. Stephanie, Gretchen, and Dimitri (1st, 2nd, and 8th smartest players) were much more likely to move on their own than my players with a low intelligence score.

Attention is actually important in 01. In 97 it barely matters, but not in 01. I regularly had issues with Stephanie stopping to throw her glove in the air when we were throwing the ball at her. On the other hand when that happens in 97 the ball goes through the player likely out of play. In 01 it instead knocks them over.

The CPU is really bad at forcing extra bases in 97 (running to second when the pitcher has the ball). In 01 they normally stay unless the pitcher drops it.

There is no victory screen in 01 (that or I missed it).

97 has infield flies, and 01 does not. With the double play mechanics that is odd, as it would be more useful in 01. I heard this is a steam only thing, and in disc 97 had no infield flies.

Batting power is considerably stronger in 97 than 01. I have listed 11 players in 97 as home run hitters, and my 01 team had four of them (Keisha, Tony, Angela, and Dimitri). In 97 I have hit true home runs with all 30 kids. I know it is only 1 season but only these four hit a true home run (I also played a pick up game with a stacked team and only Angela got true home runs). Maria came close once, but nobody else did. This is one of many reasons I make every backyard kid (except Sally and sometimes Lisa) swing power, as all can hit a homerun or deep to the outfield. In 01 with the worst fielding and weaker arms the other swing styles have much more value. Now Gretchen and Ricky can hit line drive and bolt for first. In 97 they would be thrown out.

Bat swings are much faster in 01. In fact it felt like everybody but Stephanie swung at the same speed. In 97 you want to swing much earlier than in 01. It took me a few games to figure this out.

Commentary- Sunny is really annoying in 01. After a few games I had to turn her off, and that made it way better.

Pitching accuracy- The pitches are more accurate in 01.

Power ups are more powerful. I found it much harder to hit power up pitches in 01. With less home runs and weaker arms every batting power up is stronger except for screaming line drive which seems even weaker.

Stamina is much less important. I quickly noticed running back and forth on the bases takes up noticeably less stamina than in 97. Then players recover it much faster when batting. That and the CPU throws so many balls. I know they greatly reducing the pitcher rating system to value stamina less, and that was a good call with the new method.

The playoff teams are more stacked in 97 than 01.

For players I picked a random team from 07 and transferred it to 01 to get all backyard kids. Here is who I thought was boosted or nerfed.

Angela- the best player somehow got buffed on both sides. The only issue is she no longer dives for the low balls, and with my middle infield of Stephanie and Gretchen that did not matter. Her slow swing is gone, batting power is now more important than contact, pitching is more important, and her slowball is better. I am already thinking if I make a new random team tier list for 01 she will have the S tier all to herself.

Kiesha- Probably even better on offense, but her fielding was way worse. In 97 she feels like a solid 4 fielder and here she feels like a high 2 or low 3. She has a weaker arm, and I have to micromanage her. In a playoff game she dove for a ball and instead knocked it over the fence for a triple home run. She is no longer great at defense. Overall a nerf. With how great she is I understand balancing her.

Stephanie- With the worse fielding her defense is now more important. She was great there. On offense it feels like her bat is just an illusion, and she is way worse there.

Tony- Basically the same. A little worse at hitting and a little better at base running.

Ernie- Way worse in every way. I was often convinced he was throwing.

Gretchen- I have always been a Gretchen truther, and I heard she was worse in this game. I found the opposite. Now with the weaker arms she can easily line drive her way to first, and she is a gigantic base running threat. She went from being one of the worst offensive players in the game to being really good at it. On defense she was my most reliable fielder and making many crucial plays at 2B. I just had to remember to make her throw it to Stephanie every time. With the possible exception of Angela she was my most consistently good player.

Dimitri- The same.

Maria- In 97 she is above average on offense and below average on defense. Now she is the opposite. Her hitting is worse, but she is a reliable glove in the outfield.

Ricky- Better on offense and worse on defense but not much. At least he was better than Ernie.

Thanks for staying 'til the end.

I did a [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/BackyardBaseball/comments/1qdtlh4/roles\_for\_the\_worst\_players/) a while back on uses, skills, and roles for the players considered bottom tie. This is a follow up based on when we should actually want to draft them to get the best team

This is based off '97. For one that is what I know best, so everything will be based off experience with what I have actually one with the players. The other reason is only '97 has unquestioned good roles for them. Later games have so many pros meaning the lesser players never have real roles to fill if you want the best possible team. In addition the main place anybody will find roles for them is in pick up games. In 97 not only are there no pros, but some games will have as few as 22 players (I love this feature). They just have to be our of the bottom four players, and sometimes their superior counterparts are not there.

Ernie- In both season mode and pick up mode I see little value in actually drafting him for the best team. A major reason is the CPU loves drafting him really early in pick up games. He is a great first baseman, but so are many players. Frankly I think he is the inferior version of Jorge. If the computer does not take him so early, he is bound to be in the top 18 players in many pick up games, but he is normally drafted too high. If they leave him alone for a few picks he should be the best player available sooner or later.

Billy Jean- In contrast Billy Jean is easy to use. The CPU rarely values her and Marky. A great way to dominate pick up games is to take her and Marky within the final 3 picks. Now your team has a great first baseman and the most versatile defensive player in the game. Just pair them with some batting stars. I think in season mode there is some scenarios to pick them both. Either you want the best defensive team possible or for them to balance an offensive team.

Marky- Basically same as Billy Jean. He arguably has the best heat of all the backyard kids thanks to his high stamina, thus if you are a fastball fan he is probably the guy. He has a lot of defensive variety, so I can see anybody wanting him for a season team and certainly a pick up game. That really helps if the team does not have a pitcher expected to last all game.

Jorge- The more I play this game the more I become a Jorge truther, so I frequently draft him in pick up games, and I have gotten upset when the CPU drafted him first. He is the best 1B in the game, and he can play many other positions well. Contrary to what his batting stats say he can bat home runs with no surprise.

Season mode- I would absolutely take him for the best possible defensive team, and I think he is a reasonable choice for anybody wanting a great normal team. I would pick Annie at 1B over him for my dream team, but he almost made it.

Lisa- I think almost all pick up games will have her in the top 18 players, especially as a defensive player. She is really good at shortstop, second base, and pitcher. Sure I never found success with her elsewhere but that is three positions, and she can at least play third base, and the outfield. Unlike most defensive based players on the list she can bat home runs without much surprise. It is not unreasonable she is the best pitcher to show up. For a season I think drafting her as a pitcher or backup pitcher is very reasonable. More for her on Gretchen's spot.

Gretchen- I pick her all the time in pick up games if Marky/Billy Jean are not there. I just grab her as a defensive specialist with my final pick. It helps the CPU normally drafts her first or not at all. She seems to know what her teammates are bad at and help with their flaws, and that is very useful with non-stacked team like what many pick up games have (especially if several of the top players are not there). I once drafted her with my 5th pick, as so many top players (especially pitchers) were not there.

Season mode- She and Lisa cover the same general niche. They both are good at the same spots, and they both are great pitchers with the same pitches. They both easily sub in for Angela, and Angela can just go to 2B. That is important, as in season mode there is not much point to making them pitcher when Angela is much better at that role. In pick up games I prefer Gretchen both as main pitcher and backing up Angela, but in season modes I prefer Lisa for this role. That is due to Gretchen's superior glove and brain vs Lisa's better bat. I think the real use for Gretchen in season mode is Keisha at lead off. Keisha and Gretchen have the same swing that seems to be better at hitting power up pitches. The plan is Gretchen strikes out at 9, and then lead off Keisha can hit the new power up pitch. Keisha at lead off is very reasonable.

Ronny- Like Ernie it is hard for him to be the best player available, because the CPU loves drafting him in their first three picks. I should note in 97 the Sally/Ronny combo is awful and to be avoided. Ronny has the third strongest arm. So if both Tony and Mikey are unavailable or taken then he has a clear role at 3B. If not I think it is best to avoid him. Maybe if the only other players available (all four probably) are really bad. He has horrible contact but great power. It is hard to connect with him, but it can be a huge home run.

Ricky-From here on I consider these to be the bottom four players, and a pick up game has 22 players minimum. Other than Vicki he has the worst batting rating in the game, and if eyes are equal he has the worst rating. He does no position well, but he seems to do every defensive position serviceably. I only suggest picking him if there is a glaring hole on defense and nobody else can fill it. Maybe if you really need a backup pitcher or some speed.

Sally- The CPU loves drafting her really early, and I am always hoping they draft her and Ronny. Her stats are high, but the synergy is awful. Maybe if most fast players are gone, and you really need another one on the team. If you have no need for Ronny she can do 3B if Tony and Mikey are gone. Unlike them she can somewhat cover LF and RF.

Reese- Once you figure out his swing he has some decent pop. I guess if you really need another batter at the end (I normally cover batters early). For some reason the CPU likes drafting him, so he is not often at the end of the draft. Oddly they like putting him at 1B where he is a big liability. The CPU is so bad with him, you really should just let them take him.

Kimmy- Worst defensive player in the game, but she can power bat. There are 12 players who do that better, but it is reasonable by the end she is the best power bats left. The CPU seems to never draft her. If you need a power bat and already have fast players and a stout defense I like the idea of drafting her. I suggest pairing her with Pete, as he can cover her outfield spot.

I just rewatched "Brain Freeze." When the family bussiness is on the verge of going under he is the only trying to save it, and he spends all of his allowance doing it. As shown here and in "Music Madnes" he makes the important bussiness decisions. As shown in "Best of the Nest" he is sometimes the only employee there.

I know some adults financially support their parents, but 8 year olds do not. It feels like his parents are mooching off him. As confirmed in Beain Freeze they opened the store when Brain was 4. I cannot help but think they did it knowing they could basically retire when their son was 8.

I know I am just overanalyzing a kids' show, but this was a fun write up.

"...displacing Universal’s Wicked: For Good, which had held the spot since January. It marks the first time since February 2025 that a “Wicked” movie (the first Wicked was the top seller for 2025) hasn’t led the year-to-date chart."

Hoppers came out on the second but is only number 4. I do not think that is good, but it is better than Elemental.