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I've heard of that problem a few times of players suddenly retiring with no control given to you. I haven't had that happen yet with any of my players. In fact, I once had a pitcher who lasted in the majors until 44 years old. But that was using books voraciously over the last 10 years of my career, learning every pitch along the way and working out of Dodger Stadium.
The other 800 players in the game can't do that though.
I ran a quick sim in OOTP using Satchel Paige. Satchel obviously isn't a normal player. Conversly, the last time the major leagues lacked a 40 year old player was 1900. (Chief Zimmer was the oldest at 39.)
My prediction was that Paige, who was 41 in 1948, would finish his Major League career in OOTP by 1949. In reality, he pitched in the majors reguarly until 1954, and was arguably the best pitcher on the Brown's staff from 1951-1953.
He actually didn't last the season. His Runs Against rating was 8 when he started the season, and he was a 5-Star middle reliever. He was used very sparingly (25.1 innings in the majors) before being shipped to the minors before the end of the year. Over the one season, his Runs Against Rating had dropped to 2 and he was rated at 1 and 1/2-Stars.
Again, my point isn't that I think that every OOTP player should hang around and play effectively into their 40s. But barring books, the ITP and OOTP engines cannot sim these the older guys. Sure you may have a guy who puts up a good year at 40, but I imagine it's impossible for the aging algorithms to to naturally allow Nolan Ryan (decent years at 40-45) or even Dave Winfield (decent years at 40 - 42) to exist.
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