Quote:
Originally Posted by GrantDawg
I've gone through a lot of testing, and hit-and-miss setups. I would love to have an independent league, but the game just doesn't deal with them like I would want (the ability to sell players to the majors. No long term contracts, etc.). Having the Cape Cod league would be interesting, as like a summer college league. I just don't see how I could work it with the draft structure.
In the end, the inability to work out how to make a useful independent league is the reason I went for the extended rookie league idea. Most of the floating free agents in this set-up are low talent guys that MIGHT develop into something. So, adding another rookie level with 30 teams absorbs another 750 players at least, encourages teams to hold more draft players longer, and the 100 games gives them more game time to develop. Then I extended the SSA, because it made no sense to promote guys out of the rookie league into a short season league.
My only worry about adding the ERL was if it became the bottom level for the ML affilates. I didn't want all the teams draft picks going straight to it, but instead wanted it to be considered the top tier rookie level. Luckly, that is how it worked out (I wish we could set which team is the bottom tier team). The only issue I had was in expansion. When I added the teams to the ERL for the expansion teams, it made them their bottom team. But only 2 out of 32 messed up, so minor win.  |
Okay, so let's say Independent Leagues don't function as they technically should. What if you took an independent league, formatted it so it was a AAA level league (talent depletion I don't think it should be the same level as the MLB) and then to mimic the Independents you:
Allow FA's from different leagues (Dontrelle Willis)
Allow FA's to leave for different leagues (not the same, but essentially MLB could "purchase" the contracts of FA's)
Lower the amount of years UNTIL FA...so 2 or 3?
Do whatever with Arbo (do Independent Leagues have arbo?)
Again, this isn't how an Independent league works, from my understanding, but it's a mimic of it. Have you tested that out? If it's possible to essentially make it so only the MLB can "purchase FA contracts" from the independents (don't know if it is) then it's fairly close to realistic- fairly.
I've been basically operating without a SA league, so instead just AAA/AA/A/R because SA & R are too short. I feel as though that damages my prospects because a) they're not getting enough playing time b) rosters aren't big enough c) they're skipping a step. All those three reasons are why I'm very interested in your idea of expanding SA/R and adding a teams...and I'm not overly concerned about them being fictional as I could just "cheat" and make them teams from something else (I like logos I'm a complete sucker for 'em)
I'm not 100 percent sure what you're talking about with the ERL, can you elaborate?
Also, you think (since I'm adding feeder league teams anyway/feeder leagues) if I added a u-17 league- like a travel league (1 year then into the draft for top prospects) and then Juco, Prep School HS's (really just some HS's I missed) would that work? I just want to have more feeder leagues/players so I can make it so, I think I said this already, my league is very dependent on feeder league players and International Complex players and not forgein FA'S.