I think this post is going to spawn some great conversation. Here is my 2 cents.
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Originally Posted by OmahaReynolds
Pre-Farm System (1871 - ~1935):
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Simulating the upward movement of prospects in a universe that doesn't have affiliated teams is difficult, but between the new tools that OOTP 14 and 15 have given us, there should be ways to approximate the method by which MLB teams acquired their players.
I think there are two caveats that have to be accepted. First is that there is no way to keep MLB teams from stashing a few prospects on their reserve rosters. Second is that the non-MLB teams are going to carry a lot of players. I've never heard of anyone successfully eliminating either of those issues.
That said, I like your solution of eliminating the MLB draft by assigning the draft pool to Bush League teams. I think your implementation of the posting system is a nice touch. The only thing I think you could add to control the process a little more is a free agent draft. Simply designate a certain number of Top Players from each Bush League to be released from their BL contracts every season. Then hold a FA Draft so the MLB takes the cream. The only problem is that the undrafted FA's will end up on a different BL team than the one they left from, but seeing as how those leagues were pretty unstable IRL, I don't think it's a big deal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OmahaReynolds
Post-Farm System, Pre-Draft (1935-1965)
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Just because you have a draft enabled in game doesn't mean it has to represent a real draft. I agree that it would be cool for negotiations to take place with amateurs, and that be how they ended up in an organization, but at this point the best way to replicate this era is just manipulate the draft order. Yankees, Cardinals, Dodgers, etc always get top picks and teams with more farm clubs get more picks. The Cubs, who IIRC resisted the farm system, would still be at a big disadvantage drafting, say 5 guys, and trying to get 2 to pan out vs the Cardinals who need to get the same 2 ML players out of 30 draftees.