I once had a future HoF pitcher walk a batter, and hit 3 three more before giving up a grandslam.  In the real world, thats a sure sign of an injury (assuming the guy is HoF caliber and well estabilished)  In HD its just random circumstances coming together along w/ a low pull rating that his skill set would indicate.  It did cause me to take a look, because I have another HoF pitcher who's hit batter stats were up pretty high early in that season, but it appeared that HBP was faily consistant season to season in that world.

Posted by prezuiwf on 1/21/2011 11:44:00 AM (view original):
HBP totals in the last three full season of Pine Tar world:

S13: 1,941
S12: 1,941
S11: 1,961

HBP totals in MLB:

2010: 1,549
2009: 1,590
2008: 1,672

Conclusion from my limited research: HBD is higher, but not by that much. Maybe they could tweak it to bring it more in line with real life totals but it's not like you're comparing apples to oranges here.

Major Leagues World
HBP/Team
S13 - 58
S12 - 57
S11 - 58
S10 - 57

Major Leagues RL
HBP/Team
2010 - 52
2009 - 53
2008 - 58

In 2010 (a low mark for HBP), the average team was hit 52 times and logged 5512 AB and 526 walks, for a total of 6090 PA. They were hit by a pitch .858% of the time.

In S13, the average team was hit 58 times with 6284 BFP. They were hit by a pitch .827% of the time.

Don't tweak a damn thing.

For one thing, the HBD engine isn't something where you can simply isolate a given number and tweak it without impacting anything else; we know that from experience. So this isn't a simple change and all the ramifications would have to be considered/tested first; we know from experience this isn't always done properly.

For another, it's nearly perfectly on point with real life already, and that's without allowances for the different things we do in HBD than in RL (e.g., some owners here let Rick Ankiel keep pitching). Even if the tweak were simple, this isn't something that is out of line.

 

The Ankiel thing is a nice example but it really holds no water.   The only common factor I've found with pitchers who hit a lot of batters is a bunch of opportunities(as in innings pitched).    Guys with 80+ control can lead a league.

It really appears to be driven by low batter temper.   A tweak in temper would probably solve this perceived "problem" but I doubt it's necessary.