Protecting Player Development

zonk84 · 06-23-2009, 12:51 PM

This is probably too big a feature for a patch, but thought I'd throw it out there anyway...

Using a standard MLB setup with full minors, I have a devil of a time ensuring my top prospects are properly handled when it comes to playing time, promotions, etc. While I do sometimes paintakingly setup my minor league rosters and lineups at the start of the season, I inevitably get lazy and either use the AI automanage minors (especially with minor league DL now) or accidentally autogenerate, messing up my careful construction.

What I would love to see if a way to "protect" my best prospects.

For example, I have player A -- who looks like he's destined to be a solid backup catcher. I also have player B -- who looks like the second coming of Johnny Bench. The problem is -- player A is a bit older and his actual ratings are pretty close to player B. Player B is my future -- but I don't just want to release player A. Problem is -- automanage sees player A as slightly more advanced, so it is player A that gets promoted to TripleAAA, even though BOTH are "ready for AAA".

Ideally, I would like to specify players -- making them "look first" options, so that prospects I specify are placed at the proper minor league level first, then other players filled in around them... thus ensuring my backup C (player A) is staying out of the way of the development of my stud.

Additionally, this comes in to play with players who like utility IFs (low potential ceilings, but decent ratings as of now). I'd like to have such players focus on learning multiple positions -- again, clearing the way for a stud prospect with a good glove at SS to focus on that position.

Like I said -- the full boat is probably an OOTP11 request...

But maybe a path could simply rejigger the automanage minors mechanism to "look out for top prospects"? In other words -- key off of potential ratings in determining which "ready for next level" players get promoted? I just hate seeing these prospects being held back (or rushed in some cases) because there's a higher rated organizational soldier who's basically just roster fill get promoted or play a position ahead of a true prospect.

teak88 · 06-23-2009, 01:31 PM

I agree w/ you. Basically what you are asking for is a bit of flexibility in the "Have AI set up minor leagues) function; ie, have it manage some things but not others. There is already a bit of this when you turn the minors over to the AI permanently (lineups only, or promotions/demotions, etc), but it would be great to be able to "lock in" certain human decisions.

My pet peeve in this area is the AI's view of minor's roster mgmt as a zero-sum game; ie, if it decides to promote a C from AA to AAA, it must demote a C to make room. So we have lots of instances of 32 yo players in A ball.

Baseball is an up or out career; no one (with rare exceptions) is ever demoted within the minors. If you can't move up, you're taking up space - and are gone

So, when you press the the "Have AI set up minors" key, the screen should show which players the AI would promote (no demotions), even if it exceeds roster limits. Then you could decide which promotions to accept (tick a box) and who to release (to make room at the position)

This would really simplify things

PhillieFever · 06-23-2009, 03:30 PM

I've found that allowing the AI to "manage your minor league teams works pretty well,they normally do a pretty good job of setting lineups ,rotations and the like.But as for promotions and demotions,I feel as though that needs to be handled by the user,just because of the scenarios you've mentioned.The AI is promoting and demoting without any regard to age,they go strictly by performance which isn't always the right way to go.

06-23-2009, 12:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
zonk84 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1x in 1 post	Protecting Player Development This is probably too big a feature for a patch, but thought I'd throw it out there anyway... Using a standard MLB setup with full minors, I have a devil of a time ensuring my top prospects are properly handled when it comes to playing time, promotions, etc. While I do sometimes paintakingly setup my minor league rosters and lineups at the start of the season, I inevitably get lazy and either use the AI automanage minors (especially with minor league DL now) or accidentally autogenerate, messing up my careful construction. What I would love to see if a way to "protect" my best prospects. For example, I have player A -- who looks like he's destined to be a solid backup catcher. I also have player B -- who looks like the second coming of Johnny Bench. The problem is -- player A is a bit older and his actual ratings are pretty close to player B. Player B is my future -- but I don't just want to release player A. Problem is -- automanage sees player A as slightly more advanced, so it is player A that gets promoted to TripleAAA, even though BOTH are "ready for AAA". Ideally, I would like to specify players -- making them "look first" options, so that prospects I specify are placed at the proper minor league level first, then other players filled in around them... thus ensuring my backup C (player A) is staying out of the way of the development of my stud. Additionally, this comes in to play with players who like utility IFs (low potential ceilings, but decent ratings as of now). I'd like to have such players focus on learning multiple positions -- again, clearing the way for a stud prospect with a good glove at SS to focus on that position. Like I said -- the full boat is probably an OOTP11 request... But maybe a path could simply rejigger the automanage minors mechanism to "look out for top prospects"? In other words -- key off of potential ratings in determining which "ready for next level" players get promoted? I just hate seeing these prospects being held back (or rushed in some cases) because there's a higher rated organizational soldier who's basically just roster fill get promoted or play a position ahead of a true prospect.

06-23-2009, 01:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
teak88 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 193 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5x in 2 posts	Up or out... I agree w/ you. Basically what you are asking for is a bit of flexibility in the "Have AI set up minor leagues) function; ie, have it manage some things but not others. There is already a bit of this when you turn the minors over to the AI permanently (lineups only, or promotions/demotions, etc), but it would be great to be able to "lock in" certain human decisions. My pet peeve in this area is the AI's view of minor's roster mgmt as a zero-sum game; ie, if it decides to promote a C from AA to AAA, it must demote a C to make room. So we have lots of instances of 32 yo players in A ball. Baseball is an up or out career; no one (with rare exceptions) is ever demoted within the minors. If you can't move up, you're taking up space - and are gone So, when you press the the "Have AI set up minors" key, the screen should show which players the AI would promote (no demotions), even if it exceeds roster limits. Then you could decide which promotions to accept (tick a box) and who to release (to make room at the position) This would really simplify things

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06-23-2009, 03:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
PhillieFever Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Philly Posts: 5,884 Thanks: 367 Thanked 303x in 259 posts	I've found that allowing the AI to "manage your minor league teams works pretty well,they normally do a pretty good job of setting lineups ,rotations and the like.But as for promotions and demotions,I feel as though that needs to be handled by the user,just because of the scenarios you've mentioned.The AI is promoting and demoting without any regard to age,they go strictly by performance which isn't always the right way to go.