2 Questions for everyone

TommyHerr · 03-27-2012, 02:06 PM

Just wondering how much weight everyone puts on spring training? For instance, you have a guy who you really don't see fitting into your MLB roster but he bats .400+ and a few HRs in ST. Do you guys keep him up?

Also, any thoughts on getting guys through some slumps? RIght now, I have my regular 3 and 4 hitters struggling pretty good. They are quality guys and I am sure will at least even out through the year, but will it help to bench them? Maybe move them down in the order? Curious what stories you all might have.

Thanks

Mortimer · 03-27-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyHerr

Just wondering how much weight everyone puts on spring training? For instance, you have a guy who you really don't see fitting into your MLB roster but he bats .400+ and a few HRs in ST. Do you guys keep him up?

For me it would just depend, if you played out the games, did you have the hitter start? A lot of times late in the games they are going up against horrible pitchers. Also did he get a lot of at bats? it is not uncommon to have him fall to 250 or lower because he went against poor pitchers or only had a few at bats so it was a small sample size. Sometimes they get lucky for a few appearances.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyHerr

Also, any thoughts on getting guys through some slumps? RIght now, I have my regular 3 and 4 hitters struggling pretty good. They are quality guys and I am sure will at least even out through the year, but will it help to bench them? Maybe move them down in the order? Curious what stories you all might have.

I will often drop them down or even bench them a few days, I usually do no more than 2 in a row. 2 in a row is for when i am really fed up, I am not sure if it helps in ootp but it works in real life. Sometimes, if they are better against right handed pitching, I will take them out of the left hand starting lineup just until they get on track

Antonin · 03-27-2012, 05:50 PM

I don't place much importance on spring training. For some reason it's just an aspect of the OOTP experience that has always left me uninterested. But I have to play out at least some spring training games, because I find that more injuries take place if I don't.

I actually have my starting lineup set before I enter spring training.

As for what to do with guys who are in a slump...I usually move them down in the lineup. Many times I will let them continue to play. But in trying to role play a bit, I will sometimes bench a guy who is not doing well and give someone else an opportunity.

MizzouRah · 03-27-2012, 06:20 PM

I always write up a preliminary regular season roster and then determine what positions are open for players to fight over.

It's rarely a fielding position and usually focuses on pitching. Then I let ST stats determine who makes it - of course there are other factors such as age, can they go back to the minors without going through waivers, etc.. but I like to think ST does add another layer to my decisions.

Slumps... I'll move the players around in the lineup a little bit unless it's a super star.

prodgers · 03-27-2012, 09:30 PM

Prime example... In my league I have a catcher who hit .525 with 5 homers in spring training also good defense and a fair arm. He 'earned' a slot as the backup for my regular catcher who hit over .300 the previous season but couldn't throw out a snail. So far it's July and they have traded games 1 for 1 both are hitting around .250 and neither has hit 7 homers yet. The newbie does have a 55+ CS% though. So the moral of the story is use spring training to get an idea of who might perform but don't fool yourself into thinking that the dream could be real.

As for the other part...Bench for a while and let some young guys in the order, they may surprise you. Keep in mind though the only way to get 'uncold' is to play them through it.

TommyHerr · 03-28-2012, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prodgers

As for the other part...Bench for a while and let some young guys in the order, they may surprise you. Keep in mind though the only way to get 'uncold' is to play them through it.

I was wondering about the "uncold" thing. I didnt know if you could just sit them until they forgot they were cold

ST is just very odd in the game. Well thinking about it, it might mirror RL, but it just seems that all of my "go to" relief pitchers suck it up (like ERAs in the 13s) all spring and then when the season starts they dont allow an ER for 30+ innings. And I'll have a stud hitter go in the high .300s and then have a .220 year. But overall it does seem to shake the rust off the team to have the ST games.

Cinnamon J. Scudworth · 03-28-2012, 11:39 AM

Spring training is really too small of a sample size to rely on stats to determine anything. Usually I have a good idea going in to ST who my starters will be. Sometimes I will have someone play their way onto the active roster in a bullpen or bench role, though.

The main thing I use ST for, besides working off the rust and rounding out the bench, is teaching players new positions.

BusterKing · 03-28-2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyHerr

Just wondering how much weight everyone puts on spring training? For instance, you have a guy who you really don't see fitting into your MLB roster but he bats .400+ and a few HRs in ST. Do you guys keep him up?

It all depends on my entire roster. How many players do I have at that position, his fielding abilities, I also don't want to burn an option year with an MLB contract if he's a young player. Most of the time I will send him to the minors and keep him in mind for a call up if I get injuries and with my setting being modern injuries I usually get plenty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyHerr

Also, any thoughts on getting guys through some slumps? RIght now, I have my regular 3 and 4 hitters struggling pretty good. They are quality guys and I am sure will at least even out through the year, but will it help to bench them? Maybe move them down in the order? Curious what stories you all might have.
Thanks

I usually move him down in the batting order and if after a few games he still can't produce then I'll bench him for a while and bring him in late in games if I'm ahead in the scoring by a few runs.

For pitchers, if it's a starter I might send him to the bullpen and see if he can shake that off. If it's a reliever, he'll be used in games that the scores are not close. If he keeps it up then I might send him down to AAA.

OutS|der · 03-28-2012, 01:10 PM

for ST i cheat and add all my prospects or anyone who looks like would get a boost in ratings from playing, i don't really consider it cheating since in reality teams can invite who they want for ST and don't cost no option or anything to send them back down when it's done.

uabfan · 05-11-2012, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutS|der

for ST i cheat and add all my prospects or anyone who looks like would get a boost in ratings from playing, i don't really consider it cheating since in reality teams can invite who they want for ST and don't cost no option or anything to send them back down when it's done.

Do you not find your regular guys struggling the first few weeks of April? You've got to get the rust off them sometime and that only happens with ABs or IPs. The challenge is not risking the increased odds of injury.

The main league I play is an online league with 10-day Sims during the season but ST split into 2 Sims. I'll play almost strictly prospects/backups the first Sim, then start the regulars the last half with backups starting every 2nd or 3rd day.

The exception is an everyday guy that I need to learn and/or improve defense at a position. I'll take the risk of injury and play him as much as possible since the only other way to have a player do this is in the minors.

03-27-2012, 02:06 PM	#1
TommyHerr Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 84	2 Questions for everyone Just wondering how much weight everyone puts on spring training? For instance, you have a guy who you really don't see fitting into your MLB roster but he bats .400+ and a few HRs in ST. Do you guys keep him up? Also, any thoughts on getting guys through some slumps? RIght now, I have my regular 3 and 4 hitters struggling pretty good. They are quality guys and I am sure will at least even out through the year, but will it help to bench them? Maybe move them down in the order? Curious what stories you all might have. Thanks

03-27-2012, 05:50 PM	#3
Antonin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,553	I don't place much importance on spring training. For some reason it's just an aspect of the OOTP experience that has always left me uninterested. But I have to play out at least some spring training games, because I find that more injuries take place if I don't. I actually have my starting lineup set before I enter spring training. As for what to do with guys who are in a slump...I usually move them down in the lineup. Many times I will let them continue to play. But in trying to role play a bit, I will sometimes bench a guy who is not doing well and give someone else an opportunity. __________________ "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" - Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols), San Francisco, 14 January 1978

03-27-2012, 09:30 PM	#5
prodgers Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 233	Prime example... In my league I have a catcher who hit .525 with 5 homers in spring training also good defense and a fair arm. He 'earned' a slot as the backup for my regular catcher who hit over .300 the previous season but couldn't throw out a snail. So far it's July and they have traded games 1 for 1 both are hitting around .250 and neither has hit 7 homers yet. The newbie does have a 55+ CS% though. So the moral of the story is use spring training to get an idea of who might perform but don't fool yourself into thinking that the dream could be real. As for the other part...Bench for a while and let some young guys in the order, they may surprise you. Keep in mind though the only way to get 'uncold' is to play them through it. Last edited by prodgers; 03-27-2012 at 09:33 PM.

03-28-2012, 11:39 AM	#7
Cinnamon J. Scudworth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 1,118	Spring training is really too small of a sample size to rely on stats to determine anything. Usually I have a good idea going in to ST who my starters will be. Sometimes I will have someone play their way onto the active roster in a bullpen or bench role, though. The main thing I use ST for, besides working off the rust and rounding out the bench, is teaching players new positions. __________________ "Sometimes, this is like going to a grocery store. You’ve got a list until you get to the check-out stand. And then you start reading People magazine, and all this other [stuff] ends up in the basket." -Sandy Alderson on the MLB offseason

03-27-2012, 06:20 PM	#4
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,266	I always write up a preliminary regular season roster and then determine what positions are open for players to fight over. It's rarely a fielding position and usually focuses on pitching. Then I let ST stats determine who makes it - of course there are other factors such as age, can they go back to the minors without going through waivers, etc.. but I like to think ST does add another layer to my decisions. Slumps... I'll move the players around in the lineup a little bit unless it's a super star.

03-28-2012, 01:10 PM	#9
OutS\|der Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In A Van Down By The River Posts: 2,762 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	for ST i cheat and add all my prospects or anyone who looks like would get a boost in ratings from playing, i don't really consider it cheating since in reality teams can invite who they want for ST and don't cost no option or anything to send them back down when it's done.