[CobaltJays]

I like small fictional leagues. In my current league, I started with eight teams divided between two subleagues with no interleague play. I've since expanded it to twelve teams. You really get to know the players in your league that way, as you're constantly playing against them. The players who become journeymen will have played for nearly every team in the league by the time they retire.

I play parts of every game. I usually sim to the fifth or sixth inning, and then take over in order to handle pitching changes, pinch runners, etc. Depending on how much time I spend playing, it doesn't take me that long to go through a 162-game schedule.

I micromanage my major league roster, setting the lineups and pitching staff. For my minor league teams, I set the rosters and then ask the AI to fill out the lineups and pitching staff. I'll make changes to those lineups if I want a particular player used in a certain way, or I disagree with the AI's decisions.

Edited to add: I also play in Commissioner Mode so that I can't be fired. I want to make sure I go out on my terms.