Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyDog
SUGGESTION: The AI has the access to know precisely where players "should" be in the minors. If possible, when the AI is managing the minors and ghost players are on, give priority to the highest-potential guys, putting them "where they belong," regardless of need elsewhere. This should be about developing players, not filling out rosters from the top down.
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I think the OP is basically right that the realism of the system could probably be improved with a few simple AI tweaks.
Example:
Player A: 30 year old 1/1 star in A
Player B: 20 year old .5/5 star in A
We can "probably" agree that the AI should almost never start player A (aside to give player B a day or two off).
Caveat: I have no idea whether the AI does this or not.
However, if we expand on the notion that the AI "doesn't do a good job managing minors" we get into some nuance...
"More than one player available to start in position X? Use the player with the greatest potential." Make management of the minors entirely about guys with any semblance of potential, everyone else is filler (could be ghost players if you are using them).
Of course, this isn't completely fool proof either. Especially when you have multiple high potential guys at the same position.
Example:
Player A: 24 year old 3/4.5 star 2B in AAA.
Player B: 22 year old 2/5 star 2B in AAA.
Player B has the highest potential, but do you really want player B to get the starts? Possibly....but I bet there would be a healthy debate on the "right" choice.
On what grounds do you want the AI to promote/demote. It is easy to say that the current AI "doesn't work" (and it may in fact be broken), but it is also very difficult to say "okay it's working" because everyone has a different idea of what actually makes sense.
Even if we assume we have an AI smart enough to blend current stats and potential into some coherent index of "how valuable is this player", how does it deal with promotions/demotions when you have competing players at different levels.
Example:
Player A: 20 year old 1/4 star RF blowing away A ball.
Player B: 21 year old 1/5 star RF with very good numbers in AA.
Suppose the AI is smart enough to figure out that Player A should be promoted (because he is just too good for that level). What happens when both player A and B are in AA? Who starts? Should they split time? Should we promote the AA guy to make room? What if there is an equally promising player at AAA? Should we consider any of this in the decision to promote?
I guess the point of my rambling here is that if a problem like the OP discussed is going to be solved, the optimal solution requires customizable inputs from the user.
Something along the lines of a slider set that governs how the AI manages your minor leagues.
Depth Chart
Favor current ability v Favor potential
Playing time allocation (between two solid prospects)
100% v 50/50
Promotion/Demotion
Favor stats v Favor current ability
Consider competing talent in promotion/demotion consideration?
Yes v No