Anyone created a Random Debut League yet?

[David Watts]

Here's a rather interesting one to say the least. Look at Miguel Sano's stats for the 1983 season. 7.1 WAR, a league best .349 average, a league best .448 OBP and a league best 1.027 OPS. Sano took home Rookie of the Year honors and came in second to his teammate Jay Bruce for the AL MVP award. Sano's got hurt right at the end of the 83 season and missed out on the A's trip to the ALCS, in which Oakland lost to Toronto.

Now for the strange part. Sano has yet to play a game for the A's in 1984. As of June 26, he is sitting on Oakland's reserve roster. Sano is rated to play 3B and RF. The A's have Ken Caminiti at 3B and Jay Bruce in RF. Ray Durham is serving as the team's DH.

[luckymann]

That's a big ratings chop for Sano. The game certainly seems to like him - he's done pretty well in my quasi-NeL Eclipse League save thru his age-31 season.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

That's a big ratings chop for Sano. The game certainly seems to like him - he's done pretty well in my quasi-NeL Eclipse League save thru his age-31 season.

Right after I made that post, Sano got called up. He had a 2 home run game right off the bat and now has 3 on the season. As of July 25th he's played in 14 games, starting 12 of them. He's started 6 times at 3B, 2 times in RF and 4 at SS. The SS thing has me scratching my head. He's only batting .233

[tribephan75]

Yeah I had one draft where John Henry Johnson was #1 overall pick but most are loade lol. I have a4 12 team league Assosciation where the winners of league square off at the end of the year. Here is a sample of recentdraft using 1981-94 seasons. I guess I'm a pitcher 1st guy I would have chosen the Rocket over Larry Walker https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Right after I made that post, Sano got called up. He had a 2 home run game right off the bat and now has 3 on the season. As of July 25th he's played in 14 games, starting 12 of them. He's started 6 times at 3B, 2 times in RF and 4 at SS. The SS thing has me scratching my head. He's only batting .233

The game is now - as I understand it - more aggressive in giving players time where needed at positions they might not have a rating for but should be able to play. So a corner IF might get this sort of thing, some time in the middle if the team is in need of coverage there. It's part of the two-pronged approach for def ratings. I like it, but it can lead off the beaten historical path on occasion, no doubt.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

The game is now - as I understand it - more aggressive in giving players time where needed at positions they might not have a rating for but should be able to play. So a corner IF might get this sort of thing, some time in the middle if the team is in need of coverage there. It's part of the two-pronged approach for def ratings. I like it, but it can lead off the beaten historical path on occasion, no doubt.

I've come around to where it doesn't bother me as much. I'm hoping beyond hope that when David Ortiz or Prince Fielder arrive in my league they get a shot at SS.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I've come around to where it doesn't bother me as much. I'm hoping beyond hope that when David Ortiz or Prince Fielder arrive in my league they get a shot at SS.

Oh bwahahahahaha that would be fun to watch. Or Daniel Vogelman...

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Oh bwahahahahaha that would be fun to watch. Or Daniel Vogelman...

[David Watts]

I'm not as worked up about the position change part of the game as I was at first, but I think the Sano change to shortstop is exactly why I'm always skeptical when a game starts giving players position ratings in a willy nilly no rhyme or reason fashion. Sano to SS is a perfect example. It's clearly a defense doesn't matter type of move. Sano shows deep red 20 out of 80 at SS with what looks like the potential of 35, 16 or 17 games in, he hasn't budged off of that 20. I thought the explanation given in regards to position changes was that it would be really hard for a 3B or 1B to move to SS, so it wouldn't be likely to happen.

[italyprof]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I've come around to where it doesn't bother me as much. I'm hoping beyond hope that when David Ortiz or Prince Fielder arrive in my league they get a shot at SS.

Or Cecil Fielder as a pinch runner specialist!

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by italyprof

Or Cecil Fielder as a pinch runner specialist!

But Cecil wouldn't help in regards to offense as a pinch runner. Sano at SS is a video game move. By the way, I've misplaced my joystick.

[David Watts]

With Sano having ratings to play 3B and RF, it seems the next two obvious places the AI would give him a try at would be 1B or LF. Instead, he gets moved to the hardest position with awful ratings.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by David Watts

With Sano having ratings to play 3B and RF, it seems the next two obvious places the AI would give him a try at would be 1B or LF. Instead, he gets moved to the hardest position with awful ratings.

Is this a recalc league? And what import settings were applied on import?

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Is this a recalc league? And what import settings were applied on import?

5 year recalc. Fielding and pitching based on 3 years. Base potential on remaining years of career. TCR is set at 20.

[David Watts]

Looking at the Oakland A's active roster, I now see why Sano is getting starts at SS. When the A's promoted Sano to the active roster in 84, they demoted Jerry Dybzinski. Dybzinski is rated to play 2B, SS and 3B. His demotion left the A's active roster with only one player rated to play SS, Rafael Ramirez. Therefore, when Ramirez needs to rest, someone will have to play out of position and in this case it's Miguel Sano. Sano is making the most of the starts he gets, hitting .283 with 7 bombs in roughly 19 or 20 games. The A's were a post season team in 83, but have fallen to last place in 84 with a little over a month left in the season. In the end the whole situation will probably work itself out as Ken Caminiti is not a youngster and may very well retire following the 84 season, leaving 3B open for Sano.

[Brad K]

Players should be learning positions in spring training not during the season.

[David Watts]

I'm still really loving the talent pool makeup for random debuts this year. So many more fringe players getting a chance to play. I really hope others feel the same way, as I worry it could be a thorn in some folks eye and lead to complaints. What I like is, I'm getting great seasons out of great players and I really think it's because these players aren't having to share the league totals with so many other great players.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Looking at the Oakland A's active roster, I now see why Sano is getting starts at SS. When the A's promoted Sano to the active roster in 84, they demoted Jerry Dybzinski. Dybzinski is rated to play 2B, SS and 3B. His demotion left the A's active roster with only one player rated to play SS, Rafael Ramirez. Therefore, when Ramirez needs to rest, someone will have to play out of position and in this case it's Miguel Sano. Sano is making the most of the starts he gets, hitting .283 with 7 bombs in roughly 19 or 20 games. The A's were a post season team in 83, but have fallen to last place in 84 with a little over a month left in the season. In the end the whole situation will probably work itself out as Ken Caminiti is not a youngster and may very well retire following the 84 season, leaving 3B open for Sano.

If this is how the AI planned it all along (but how would we ever know / be able to prove it?) that would be awesome, because it is how a lot of - especially small-market - teams often have to manage their roster.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

If this is how the AI planned it all along (but how would we ever know / be able to prove it?) that would be awesome, because it is how a lot of - especially small-market - teams often have to manage their roster.

I guess if I was using minor leagues, the A's could have had Sano playing SS for the first 2 months of the season at the Triple A level, but since I'm using reserve rosters, I just have to make believe they did that. Life's went on, so no huge deal. I just thought it was strange, because the whole out of position explanation I got when I asked about it back in late 23 was, corner infielders would be very unlikely to move to SS, but maybe what that actually meant was they will do so, but probably won't succeed in the ratings acquisition department.

The A's have guys rated 1B/2B, 2B/3B, 3B/1B LF/1B they just don't have a guy that is actually rated to backup SS. I can't wait to see how this all shakes out for the 85 season.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

If this is how the AI planned it all along (but how would we ever know / be able to prove it?) that would be awesome, because it is how a lot of - especially small-market - teams often have to manage their roster.

By the way, thanks for allowing me to simply blow off steam. Sometimes some goofy rant filled sarcasm does a person good. It's not me saying the game stinks or anything like that. It's just noise. Would I love it if a 6 foot 4 250+ guy that's never played SS in his life didn't get moved there? Yes I would, but in the end it's just another storyline. I won't melt.