[BBGiovanni]

This is excellent, thank you for posting it. I have two general theorems:



1. If a highly-regarded phenom puts up a couple months/half a year of crazy good stats (like .500+ SLG or an ERA below 1 with otherwise good stats) I'll move him up because I probably put him at the wrong level in the first place, especially if he's on the older side for the level where he is.



2. Up or out! I try to thin the ranks and I still end up with way too many players in the rookie complexes. I let minor league managers make the lineups, and use force-start for people I'm really interested in. But the 27 year olds in Low A drive me crazy, or (in real life even) the guys putting in their 3rd or 4th year in High A. I don't mind keeping a few old hands around AAA in case of injury disaster in the big leagues, and I have an irrational love for career minor leaguers getting their first cup of coffee, a la Scott McClain with the Giants a few years ago.



And one more suggestion indirectly about minor management: Troll the free agent wire regularly and sign young players that your scout may like that other teams have given up on, especially at and after midseason. Also, check once in a while using the OSA stats and sign them if you just have filler at the position in the right level for them. It's a great way to fill in systems you have just taken over, like this year's Mets organization and the tumbleweeds blowing through the outfield at every level. I often ditch no bat-no glove catchers for someone that can at least catch and throw. You may not get anything out of it, but they're probably a better bet than the no-talent guy your scout found in Timbuktu and assigned to your international complex.