[ambill10]

As a general observation, minor league pitchers are terrible. The pitching ratings are so low for minor league filler pitchers that every minor league hitter has amazing stats. I'm not sure if there is a way to tell OOTPX to make pitchers better across the board or not.

I can go through and come up with a solution within the Cardinals organization, but I need the other minor league pitchers from other organizations to be fixed as well for it to work. Will this be something that is fixed in the first roster update?

[CubbyFan23]

Originally Posted by jbmagic

Are injuries based on opening day? I hope so.

Yes.

Originally Posted by KySteveH

So, what does that mean when you didn't rate someone? Are their ratings random? Or are they appropriate for the level they are at? Or something else?

I guess what always confuses me about the roster sets is that there are some rated players , some non-rated players, and maybe some partially rated players, but no indication of which are which. I understand that most of the minor leaguers are really just names with bogus ratings, but it would be cool if I could know exaclty which ones those are. Then I could either rate them, or randomize them, or give them league average stats, or something.

Originally Posted by ambill10

As a general observation, minor league pitchers are terrible. The pitching ratings are so low for minor league filler pitchers that every minor league hitter has amazing stats. I'm not sure if there is a way to tell OOTPX to make pitchers better across the board or not.

Most all minor leaguers used minor league projection numbers. There's a partial amount that were added that did not. That's probably the best way I can explain it. Most pitchers do have ratings that are appropriate though, especially from Triple-A to Single-A.

[CubbyFan23]

Originally Posted by POKeefe

Not sure if you guys prefer if I list all the ratings errors compared to projections and past performance here, make a roster set, or both. I plan on making a roster set either way.

I used PECOTA as the main projection system and I believe most of the ones you cited match up with PECOTA's park-adjusted projections. ZiPS was used as a backup in case PECOTA was out of whack for certain guys or wasn't there at all.

[CubbyFan23]

double post

[CubbyFan23]

Originally Posted by POKeefe

Another thing that would be good to see now although it wasn't known at the time is to see David Ortiz's fall accurately depicted. I'm not knocking the roster makers though, because these were done way before Ortiz just started sucking as bad as he has. Wouldn't surprise me to see the Red Sox give him a fake DL stint to get him a rehab assignment, or see them outright DFA him.

Wait until you play a season out -- in most of the ones I've played he's dropped off the Earth. Was kind of interesting to see -- in our online league he bottomed out at a .720 projected OPS after 2009. Interesting stuff.

Also I believe Todd Wellemeyer started throwing a curve this year.

Todd Wellemeyer Statistics Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball

[yoyoma]

Originally Posted by benjamindm

The M&M boys of the Twins (Mauer and Morneau) have very average offensive ratings, in my opinion. Yet, they have been two of the best players in the AL over the past several years (Mauer - batting title 2006 and 2008, Morneau - MVP 2006) and have been phenomenal this year (both with OPS in the 1.000+ range).

I think Morneau needs a little more power he only hit 14 the first season and was only rated a 4 for power

[sfeldkamp]

KC Royals Contract and roster changes
Contract changes from data reported at Cot's Baseball Contracts

- Coco Crisp final year (2010) is a team option
- Kyle Farnsworth final year (2011) is a team option
- David Dejesus final year (2011) is a team option
- Yasuhiko Yabuto final year (2010) is a team option
- Juan Cruz final year (2011) is a team option
- Joakim Soria final 3 years are club options (2012 - 2014). Since OOTP only allows for one option year
make the final year optional.

- Mitch Maier is on a major league contract, 405k
- John Bale is in the 1st year of a 1 year contract signed for 2009, salary is $1.2 million
- Robinson Tejada contract is 435k, not 400k

- Brian Buchanan is on a minor league contract, assigned to AAA Omaha not on the 25 man roster and not on the 40 man roster.
- Jose Duarte is not on the 40 man roster, Jose Duarte, Kansas City Royals, MLB - CBSSports.com Baseball says he was reassigned to minor league camp in ST
- Cody Strait is not on the 40 man roster
- Daniel Cortes is not on the 40 man roster
- Jairo Cuevas is not on the 40 man roster
- Matt Wright is not on the 40 man roster
- Brandon Duckworth is not on the 40 man roster, booted from ML ST 4/4/2009. On a minor league contract, not signed to a 2 year ML contract.
- Ryan Shealy is not on the 40 man roster
- Tommy Murphy is not on the 40 man roster
- Shane Costa is not on the 40 man roster
- Travis Metcalf should be a member of the Texas Rangers organization. He was DFAd and Released by the Rangers 4/5/2009 and not signed by the Royals until 4/8/2009.

- Tug Hulett is on the 40 man roster
- Henry Barrerra is on the 40 man roster
- Mario Lisson is on the 40 man roster
- Devon Lowery is on the 40 man roster
- Julio Ceasar Pimental is on the 40 man roster. He has an elbow injury that has kept him out this long, he's elected not to have surgery. Not sure why the Royals have him taking up a space on the 40 man, but they do.

I've started going through the Ratings and I will post that when I am done with it.

[Nutlaw]

Originally Posted by CoachDirty

I'm assuming this goes in this area:

On the Major League Baseball Setup Universe. (When you are in advanced mode and set up a Major League Baseball Setup, Complete minors etc. fictional players)

Anyway, it defaults to: The Northwest Arkansas Travelers affiliate of the Angels, and The Arkansas Naturals an affiliate of the Royals.

It SHOULD be: The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, affiliate of the Royals and Arkansas Travelers affiliate of the Angels. Also, Northwest Arkansas should be based in Springdale AR and the Arkansas Travelers should be based in Little Rock.

Basically you just have the teams reversed from what they should be.

Merging the above with the roster set thread.

[Nutlaw]

Nickname typo: Nickname spelled wrong

[JustinM]

Pirates changes, and there are a lot

25 MAN ROSTER
-Move CF Jeff Salazar from 25 man roster to AAA
-Move SP Donald Veal from Low-A West Virginia to MLB (Rule 5 pick)

40 MAN ROSTER
-Remove SP Kyle Bloom
-Remove SP Brian Clapp
-Remove MR Jeremy Powell
-Remove 1B Larry Broadway
-Remove 2B Andy Phillips
-Remove LF Jamie Romak
-Remove CF Andrew McCutchen (he was never on the 40 man until recently)
-Remove CF Jeff Salazar (I think, it's hard to tell)
-Remove RF Garrett Jones

-Add SP Donald Veal (see above)
-Add MR Evan Meek
-Add CL Jeff Sues
-Add CL Ronald Uviedo
-Add C Robinzon Diaz
-Add 3B Pedro Alvarez
-Add 3B Neil Walker
-Add SS Brian Bixler

I believe that's correct as of opening day (i.e., one open spot on the 40 man roster). The problem I'm having is reconciling the rest of the Pirates' transaction page to match what actually happened. I don't believe Chris Bootcheck, Romulo Sanchez, and Dave Davidson were on the opening day roster, but the transactions page certainly makes it sound like they were.

CONTRACTS
-Jack Wilson's 2010 is a club option with $0.6M buyout
-Freddy Sanchez's 2010 is a club option with $0.6M buyout
-Paul Maholm's 2009 should be $2M, and his 2012 is a club option with $0.75M buyout; 2012 can increase to $11.05M with unknown performance incentives
-Ian Snell's 2011 and 2012 should be club options
-Ryan Doumit's 2009 should be $2.05M, and his 2011 and 2012 club options with a $0.5M buyout
-Ramon Vazquez's 2009 is actually $1.75M with a $0.25M signing bonus, but I don't know if you can do anything about that
-Pedro Alvarez is not on a minor league contract. The details of his rather confusing contract are as follows:

• $6M signing bonus paid over 4 years
• 09:$0.4M, 10:$0.5M, 11:$0.55M, 12:$0.7M, 13:$0.7M club option, 14:$0.7M club option
• annual salary of $88,750 in minor leagues
• Alvarez may void 2013 option if otherwise eligible for arbitration
• if Alvarez is not in the majors by 2013, club may exercise options for split contracts for 2013 and 2014 at $0.7M annually ($0.5M in minors)

-Craig Monroe's contract has the following bonuses attached: $50,000 each for 275, 300, 325 PAs; $75,000 each for 350, 375, 400, 425 PAs; $0.1M each for 450, 475, 500 PAs,$50,000 for Comeback Player of Year (sorry for the formatting there, can't seem to fix it)
-Neil Walker is on a $0.4M contract that ends after 2009 (re-signed in March)

[southside_hitmen]

David Price - SP
His change-up is supposed to be his worst pitch, but it is rated the best in the roster set. From BP, "He has rarely needed his changeup at any point during his career. It's a borderline average pitch right now, and its development will be the difference between Price becoming either good or great." From BA, "Price lacks full confidence in his changeup. He didn't need that third pitch in college and the minors, but must trust it more and improve its depth to succeed as a big league ace."

His fastball and slider are his top two pitches. From BA, "He has two plus pitches with a mid-90's fastball and a biting slider. His fastball has outstanding movement with late armside run. His slider is reminisent of John Smoltz's with its depth and 87-88mph velocity." From BP, "He overpowers hitters with a mid-90s fastball that touches 98 mph, and his upper-80s slider is a true wipeout offering". His change should definteley be his third pitch, with potential to be an above average pitch (130's) His slider and fastball need to be higher than they are presently.


Wade Davis - SP
Neither BP or BA make any mention of the slider that he has in the roster, but BA does mention a cutter "showed an improved cut fastball in Triple-A". His cutter should be probably right around his changeup for ratings.


Nick Barnese - SP
Should have a curveball instead of slider. From BP, "His curve regularly flashes plus, and his command is solid". Another guy whose changeup should be their third pitch.

[RustdNails]

It seems like no players have no trade clauses. Is this intentional? (Looking at Peavy, Zito, Derek Lee)

[tysok]

Originally Posted by RustdNails

It seems like no players have no trade clauses. Is this intentional? (Looking at Peavy, Zito, Derek Lee)

From what I can see, they can't edit a player to have option years of any sort, or bonuses. You can just set them to have ML contracts, for how much, and how many years.

[Jay Elias]

Prospect injuries:

Some injuries to minor league prospects at the start of the season aren't listed.

Oakland 2b prospect Jemile Weeks did not play until May 27 due to a hip injury.

Jemile Weeks - First Inning

Oakland RHP Henry Rodriguez did not pitch until May 29 due to offseason hernia surgery.

Minor League Baseball: Stats: Player

Yankees RHP Alan Horne is incorrectly out for 8-9 months. Horne returned to pitching May 2.

Minor League Baseball: Stats: Player

Padres OF Kellen Kulbacki did not play until May 10 due to offseason shoulder surgery.

BaseballAmerica.com: Blog: Baseball America Prospects Blog Blog Archive Prospect Injury Report: Abs Bother Beckham

Indians RHP Adam Miller has not pitched this season and may be done for his career due to a problem with a finger on his pitching hand.

BaseballAmerica.com: Blog: Baseball America Prospects Blog Blog Archive Prospect Injury Report: Walden, Cain Hit DL

Seattle RHP Makail Cleto has not pitched yet this season due to visa issues.

BaseballAmerica.com: Blog: Baseball America Prospects Blog Blog Archive Mariners Organizational Roundup

Seattle SS Carlos Triunfel will miss the season with a broken leg.

KFFL - Carlos Triunfel, SS, Seattle Mariners

[Jay Elias]

Pirates SS prospect Jarek Cunningham was out for the season:

BaseballAmerica.com: Blog: Baseball America Prospects Blog Blog Archive Pirates’ Cunnningham Done For ‘09

So is Dodgers SS prospect Ivan DeJesus with a broken leg:

BaseballAmerica.com: Blog: Baseball America Prospects Blog Blog Archive Dodgers’ DeJesus Might Miss Season

[KySteveH]

Originally Posted by CubbyFan23

Most all minor leaguers used minor league projection numbers. There's a partial amount that were added that did not. That's probably the best way I can explain it. Most pitchers do have ratings that are appropriate though, especially from Triple-A to Single-A.

Yes, I agree completely that most players in general have appropriate ratings. That being said, enough have inappropriare ratings that it makes a difference. I don't care if a given minor leaguer has a 40, 50 , or 60 in control. But if 10% of the league have a 1, that's gonna skew things. It changes league totals, of course, and also makes those players useless, or perhaps much less valuable.

So, the question I would like to ask is what will be done to resolve this. I see three possibilities:

1. Nothing. So I'll have to figure out how to assign meaningful ratings to several hundred players in order to get my league started.

2. Someone will actually admit they typo'd some lines, or screwed up an import, or forgot some players. Then they'll do it right and release the fixed set.

3. A bunch of people will each take a team and re-rate the players, so we'll have 30 different methods of doing it. At that point, I'll go back to step 1.

Despite my somewhat negative tone, I really do think these rosters are quite well done overall. However, since I only play the game one way, the rosters are key to my enjoyment of the game, and I feel like they really ought be bug-free. Unrated players seems like a bug to me.

[CubbyFan23]

No one has typo'ed any lines to the best of my knowledge. Also, I believe it won't really mess anything up. The guys who have 1s as ratings will be assigned to the rookie leagues. I suppose it may throw off rookie league totals? That's not something in the front of my mind that I'm concerned about really though. Most of the guys (if not all) that have these ratings are guys with literally 0 shot of making it to the majors.

Also, I believe those guys were mostly in short-season/rookie ball in 2008 which means we have no way to convert their stats into ratings. I'm thinking you're left with option one unless we can figure a way to mass edit them to suck, but just not suck so bad.

[Jay Elias]

Originally Posted by CubbyFan23

No one has typo'ed any lines to the best of my knowledge. Also, I believe it won't really mess anything up. The guys who have 1s as ratings will be assigned to the rookie leagues. I suppose it may throw off rookie league totals? That's not something in the front of my mind that I'm concerned about really though. Most of the guys (if not all) that have these ratings are guys with literally 0 shot of making it to the majors.

Also, I believe those guys were mostly in short-season/rookie ball in 2008 which means we have no way to convert their stats into ratings. I'm thinking you're left with option one unless we can figure a way to mass edit them to suck, but just not suck so bad.

Just an idea, but as we're 25% through the 2009 season so far, you could use their 2009 stats as a basis for their ratings. Just looking at the Orioles, here is a list of batters who have played at low A or higher this season who have one or more 1s in potential:

Robert Widlansky
Ronald Welty
Jedidiah Stephen
Garabez Rosa
Elvin Polanco
Kraig Binick

All of those players have 1s in potential gap power - it seems that gap power in particular is prone to this, which may be a bug. It is particularly strange that Binick should be listed as having exceptional speed but a 1 in gap power - I'm not sure if this is a result of the player generator in the game or in this roster creation, but if the game makes draft prospects with that kind of speed and no gap potential, that would be (in my opinion) a bug. BTW, Binick is not, in fact, that fast and hasn't stolen more than 5 bases since he was in rookie ball.

Here is a list of pitchers who have one or more 1s in potential who have played at low A or higher this year:

Ryan O'Shea
Nathan Nery
Pat Egan
Eddie Gamboa
Oliver Drake (should be corrected already per upthread)
Rick Zagone (as above)
Brent Bordes

I would assume the same is true of other organizations.

[CubbyFan23]

That's a good idea -- probably a good place to start. Basing it off 2009 is certainly better than them being just wrong.

[tnsk1988]

I believe someone has already done the Diamondbacks, but one point is petit is iN the top 5 fan favourites, when most fans don't like him, he's been awful this year! His stats are fairly high for the pitcher he really is.

One other point, I know its Opening day rosters, but Nick Adenhart unfortunately died this year, and it kinds of bugs me he's still a player on the game, although his stats are accurately represented, just my point of view, willing to listen to others who don't share my view.

GREAT GAME THOUGH GUYS, 13 STRAIGHT HOURS ON THE GAME YESTERDAY.