Newbie

[immortal50]

I am new to the OOTP games, and really has well to baseball. If anyone would have some helpful advice for me, please feel free to let me know. It would greatly be appreciated.

[SteveP]

That's a pretty general request, so here's my suggestion:

1. Read the manual if you haven't done so already.

2. Watch real life baseball games.

3. Let the computer handle most of the decision-making for your team for a little while, and pay attention to what the computer does.

4. Ask specific questions on these boards. You will almost certainly get answers. People here are pretty helpful.

Best I can do.

[Katdaddy]

I mirror everything Steve said.

Don't get down on yourself when you make silly mistakes your first couple of seasons... I actually played baseball from the age of 5 through college, and I had some "learning" to do!

[immortal50]

I appreciate your help. Im in my second year and my team is 39-81 i believe. and my first season was no better. Is there a way in which I can "get" or "make" my guys better?

[Katdaddy]

Originally Posted by immortal50

I appreciate your help. Im in my second year and my team is 39-81 i believe. and my first season was no better. Is there a way in which I can "get" or "make" my guys better?

There is an immense number of variables that come into play as far as "making your team better"...

Can you give us any details as to what team you're managing, transactions you have made, what you have the AI doing for you vs. what you are doing manual, etc....

[immortal50]

I am managing a fictional team called the Indianapolis Cyclones. I did an automatic draft so that could have possibly hurt me. Normally when something happens to my team I let the AI deal with it due to my lack of experience with baseball. I normally just Auto-Play my games and do not manually play them. I dont normally do any trades, unless you think that is generally a bad idea.

[Vinny P.]

Hey,

I hope you at least know the basics of the game of baseball, the rules and so forth (the basic rules, not the esoteric ones LOL.)

The best way you should organize your team....IE, your most important positions (very arguably, but these are my most important positions) in order of importance:

1. Starting Pitcher #1
2. Starting Pitcher #2 (from here on, know simply as "SP")
3. Shortstop - SS, and/or Centerfield - CF
4. Long Reliever
5. SP #3
6. SS/CF (Depending on what number 3 was, take the other)
7. Closer - CL, Second Base - 2B, Catcher - C, Third Base - 3B
8. Middle Reliever
9. CL, 2B, C, 3B


And so on, and on.....

In other words, you have to find your own style of play, what works for you. My set up ensures that I have dominant starters, with good defense backing them up, and 3 decent to good relievers, each with a different role from eachother.

I also generally like to have a core group of players that start out their careers at relatively the same age. For instance, I like to start out by trading away my oldest/best vets for young, mostly raw players with good potential, between the ages of 17-19, with at least 2 Starting Pitcher, a SS, a 2B, and CF. 5 guys that I will begin building my franchise around, as they age and develop.

I'll play out a few seasons, toughing it out with losing to .500 ball each season, waiting for my core guys to develop and move up through the system. Once they reach the majors, they should be between the ages of 22-25, and should ruthlessly be the top rookies in the majors.

From there, I will trade away a bunch of good, younger players who are NOT in the majors, for players to fill out the other positions, such as a Catcher, a 3B, another outfielder, and another starting pitcher. These players I trade for should not be older than 27 to join my self-picked 22-25 year olds. At the same time, I will also throw in the rest of my 30-something vets to completely purge my entire franchise of older/developed players.

Once I have a team of players between the ages of 22-27, they should be good at winning seasons for a decade, before I start all over again. Rebuilding should take 3-5 years.

Anything else, you gotta be more specific.

btw, the strategies I use are highly arguable. They work for me, for I know how to work a defensive ballclub by scratching and clawing my way to victory each game. Others may prefer heavier offense, they may rely more on 30-something vets, what have you. There are many many different ways people will build a winning baseball franchise. You just have to figure out your own style, and study your management team, and their styles.