Vinny, here's my take on what you are thinking and questioning here.
"Field Manager" means a couple of things:
- "In-game Manager" which, if you do not play out your games and take over one or more team controls when you do so, means the computer will manage your team during game play. This is called simming a game and is done just by advancing the game from one day to the next. You can have some indirect effect on play by adjusting individual player (player profile, click Action, select Game Stategy) and team strategies (click your team menu and click Team Strategy).
- "Lineups, Depth, Pitching Staff Manager" which, if you don't want to control, you delegate to your computer to do by selecting your AI manager for that option in Manager Options.
Note that you can do or not do one, either, or both of those aspects of "Field Manager." If you want to do neither, then set the option and simulate accordingly. You can still be the GM only in the sense that you are still doing the Roster Moves and Transactions, Trades, etc. if you have those Manager Options set to you as GM.
Now, regarding the messages from unhappy players, you are going to get them if you control a team as GM regardless of whether and how you do the Field Manager's job as well. That's just the way the game is constructed.
You can ignore them if you want the computer to resolve matters without your input. Or, you can take over and make some lineup changes (or other moves like trading and releasing problem players).
Just realize that, if you return Field Manager control to the computer, it will revert everything back to what caused the unhappiness in the first place. The computer does not take into account a player's mood in determining what it thinks is the best player for each position and lineup/staff slot.
Remember, the Field Manager is just a computer, so there is no "reasoning" with it or "appealing" to it. It either is in charge, and you get strictly bits and bytes analysis, or you are in charge with all of your emotions and weaknesses getting in the way.
