Minor League AI

[rory]

Hi everyone, first post! Played OOTP 6, 6.5 and 7 but I didn't get into it very much because the interface was hard to navigate. I am really enjoying the new version though.

I am using icy's MLB template which has 6 minor leagues. I added a few feeder leagues as well. I have been noticing that if I ask the AI to set up my minor league system it seems to ignore if a player has an injury and will just keep that player in the lineup even if he is supposed to be out for the year. Is there any way around this problem? Also the AI doesn't seem to properly move players up and down between teams to allow one player to have a utility guy to get some rest. If I don't go check after every game my minor league teams are likely to have guys with broken arms in the lineup or a guy who can barely stand up in the lineup again. Are there any easy ways around these problems?

[1998 Yankees]

Welcome, rory.

Here's a note from the manual:

When you ask your managers to set up your organization, they might place injured players in the lineup. The reason for this is that the manager gives you the best lineup chosen from among all the players on your roster, regardless of their injury status. Then, when a game is auto-simmed, the game makes the decision about how to substitute for injured players. Of course, if you don’t want to rely on these decisions, you can manually adjust your lineup and depth charts to account for injuries.

So the game sets up the best lineups, anticipating return of players who are injured, and uses its depth charts to substitute in the meantime. The AI may or may not move players up and down just to help out with injuries, however. I think it usually makes do with the players on the team at the time and decides on promotions and demotions based on other criteria.

Edit: I'm not really embarrassed, except that I have no idea how that face got into this post title. A nervous tic click, I guess.

[injury log]

Originally Posted by rory

Hi everyone, first post! Played OOTP 6, 6.5 and 7 but I didn't get into it very much because the interface was hard to navigate. I am really enjoying the new version though.

I am using icy's MLB template which has 6 minor leagues. I added a few feeder leagues as well. I have been noticing that if I ask the AI to set up my minor league system it seems to ignore if a player has an injury and will just keep that player in the lineup even if he is supposed to be out for the year. Is there any way around this problem? Also the AI doesn't seem to properly move players up and down between teams to allow one player to have a utility guy to get some rest. If I don't go check after every game my minor league teams are likely to have guys with broken arms in the lineup or a guy who can barely stand up in the lineup again. Are there any easy ways around these problems?

I normally leave the AI in control of my minors, and of course I often see what you describe. Since there is no minor league disabled list in OOTP, the injured players remain on the roster, and the AI doesn't seem to do a great job accounting for minor league injuries (the AI won't often call up a player from a lower level if all your shortstops are injured, for example). There are two things I will often do to force the AI to replace the injured players-

-if I have a player in the high minors who is out for the year, I'll usually call him up and place him on the 60-day DL (so he doesn't use a roster spot). The AI will then replace him on the minor league roster by promoting someone from a lower level. The downside is that you'll be giving the player a minimum salary contract for the year, but I usually have more money than I can spend, so this doesn't bother me;

-it's also a good idea to pick up minor league free agents (or throw-ins in a trade) who can play a lot of different positions. If you haven't made an effort to acquire these kinds of players, you may not, as you point out, have many utility-type players in your system, which can lead to problems with player fatigue (if the AI doesn't have a backup shortstop to fill in for the regular, it will always play the regular).

[hmatthias]

You can also waive and DFA injured players, and they can then be put on the disabled list. Of course, they do go on waivers and can be claimed, but I have done this often, and have never seen the AI attempt to claim one of my injured guys. Not sure if this is a bug, but I find it a good way to get minor leaguers onto the disabled list.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by hmatthias

You can also waive and DFA injured players, and they can then be put on the disabled list. Of course, they do go on waivers and can be claimed, but I have done this often, and have never seen the AI attempt to claim one of my injured guys. Not sure if this is a bug, but I find it a good way to get minor leaguers onto the disabled list.

Wow! Another nugget. This is a big help to me, as I always get frustrated with exhausted players in the minors. The only downside is the risk of a waiver claim.

[RchW]

Dola

Warning, using DFA and waivers to put minor league players on the DL may cause you to use an option year. I need to finish this season before I know for sure.