FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything people actually ask
Is ChasinBase free?
Yes. All solo modes (Classic, Diamond IQ, Team Mode) are unlimited and always free. Online Head-to-Head is capped at 2 matches per day for free accounts; Pro members ($3.49/mo or $25/yr) get unlimited online matches.
Do I need an account to play?
No — you can play solo modes without signing in. Account features (saved drafts, leaderboard submissions, online Head-to-Head, chat) require a free sign-up with email or Google.
Where does the player data come from?
All player ratings are derived from career stats published by Baseball Reference. Hitters are graded on wRC+, ISO, walk rate, and strikeout rate. Pitchers are graded on ERA+, FIP, K/9, and BB/9.
How are old-time players rated fairly?
The rating system applies era adjustment, which normalizes a player's stats against the league environment they played in. A dead-ball-era hitter isn't penalized for low home run totals in a league where nobody hit homers; a steroid-era slugger doesn't get extra credit for raw counting stats inflated by the era.
Why did my team go 88–74 when the engine said it was a 100-win roster?
The sim adds real variance — the same true-talent team can finish anywhere from roughly 87 to 110 wins depending on luck. That's not a bug. Real baseball doesn't always produce the expected record either; the 2023 Padres outscored their opponents and still finished under .500.
How does Head-to-Head matchmaking work?
You queue up with a chosen ruleset (Classic or Diamond IQ) and era (All-Time, Modern, or 2020s). The system pairs you with another player who picked the same settings. If no one is in your queue, the search times out after about 50 seconds and you can retry.
Can I play Head-to-Head against a specific friend?
Not yet. Private invite-code lobbies are on the roadmap — they used to exist in an older version and are being rebuilt. For now, both players need to queue with the same ruleset and era and accept that you may match with someone else first.
What happens if my opponent disconnects?
Matches that void during ready-up don't count against your daily quota — no penalty. If they disconnect mid-draft, the match resolves with whatever was drafted; the engine fills empty slots with league-average players for the sim.
What does Pro actually unlock?
Unlimited online Head-to-Head matches (free is 2/day), priority matchmaking, early access to new sports (NHL and NFL are coming), and early access to new modes before they're public.
Can I cancel Pro?
Yes — from your Account page click 'Manage subscription' to open the billing portal. You can cancel anytime; access continues through the end of your current billing period.
Why are there ads or upsells?
Hosting, the database, and the player data pipeline cost real money. Ads and Pro subscriptions are what keep the free modes free. If you'd rather chip in directly, Ko-fi works.
Are NHL and NFL drafts available?
Not in the live game yet. The data scrapers and decade-by-decade player files are in the repo (you can see them in the project structure), and the UI is being built. Pro members will get first access when they launch.
How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?
Use the Contact page. Bug reports with the specific mode, era, and roster involved are the fastest to act on. Feature requests are read and tracked — if something gets enough requests, it tends to get built.
Is there a mobile app?
The site is a Progressive Web App — on iOS use Safari's 'Add to Home Screen' and on Android use Chrome's 'Install app'. You get a native-feeling shortcut with no browser chrome. A true App Store build isn't planned right now.