Spring Training Invites

[Mike Lowe]

It would be great if an option was given to allow for ST invites so that guys NOT on the 40-man roster could play in March.

Granted, this could probably be done by adjusting some settings for the month of March, but I don't trust that the AI would utilize it properly.

[r0nster]

been hoping somebody else would want this feature as well whew not alone.... thanks for letting me know that I not alone

[pjh5165]

Originally Posted by r0nster

been hoping somebody else would want this feature as well whew not alone.... thanks for letting me know that I not alone

nowhere near alone. a ton of people want and ask about this.

[tejdog1]

I want this so bad

[yawgmoth]

I believe Markus confirmed in the OOTP 15 release thread that non-roster invitees were going to be included in the release. Let me see if I can find it.

[yawgmoth]

Here it is. Maybe not a confirmation but hope?

[le receveur]

my main question, is how that will affect the FA. marginal players unsigned March 1st don't even accept minor league contracts with promise call up after 30 days at best of time...

all this would help is for prospect not on 40-man, and really really marginal FA who currently accept minor league contract.

[SeaBear]

Need some clarity on this matter! Having this completely changes every single league out there! (In a good way!)

[mgom27]

Minor League Camp,Split Squad Games and also Computer Teams setting their Opening Day Rosters before Opening Day.
Eastside Hockey Manager does it right but Franchise Hockey Manager thinks you should do it also in season.

[Pdubya64]

An expanded/realistic treatment of spring training is a big one on many BM's wishlists. Here is hoping Markus can get it off dead center this release- even if it is baby steps.

[le receveur]

but who will you invite?
also you would need to increase the number of games. I currently barely have enough AB and innings for the 40 guys, that I start sending guys down 2 weeks in...

[le receveur]

what I would find more helpful, is some form of extended spring training for the lower minors guy, to see if any of them warrants call up in A ball by may, and who to assign to SS A when that season begin. Now I go blind with absolutely no additional information

[RchW]

Originally Posted by le receveur

but who will you invite?
also you would need to increase the number of games. I currently barely have enough AB and innings for the 40 guys, that I start sending guys down 2 weeks in...

I hope this can be turned off. I find there is rarely a player outside my 40-man who needs to be at ST. I often use only 33-36 players and make sure they get enough PT.

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by le receveur

but who will you invite?
also you would need to increase the number of games. I currently barely have enough AB and innings for the 40 guys, that I start sending guys down 2 weeks in...

There are a number of guys I would like to try out in ST that are not on my 40. Guys who are on my short list for possible call ups incase there was a injury. Also new FA's that I have on minor league deals that could potential replace someone on my 40.

Guys who rely on stats as well as ratings could see this as an helpful feature. Stats are heavily favored in my AI evaluation so I don't set my 40 man purely on ratings.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by RchW

I hope this can be turned off. I find there is rarely a player outside my 40-man who needs to be at ST. I often use only 33-36 players and make sure they get enough PT.

Same here, and I've noticed in v14 that even many of the AI teams stay well below the limit. In past versions, it seemed inevitable they'd load up the 40 and go into ST.

Once in a great while, historically, I've noticed a 4 or 5 star potential player way down in the league levels, rookie or SA, that I consider bringing to ST, just to see how he handles the situation, but generally I've passed.

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

There are a number of guys I would like to try out in ST that are not on my 40. Guys who are on my short list for possible call ups incase there was a injury. Also new FA's that I have on minor league deals that could potential replace someone on my 40.

Guys who rely on stats as well as ratings could see this as an helpful feature. Stats are heavily favored in my AI evaluation so I don't set my 40 man purely on ratings.

I don't use ratings. I never have full 40-man, so prospect I call up early, since the ones i'm interested in rarely get in option trouble....

my main point is the guys I really want to see in ST will not sign,they remain FAs.

what I really want is ST invitees, but this implies a change to the whole signing attitude..


note: I should also note that because of the ST issue, I have mover opening day for AAA to around march 25, probably why I don't see the current process to harshly...

[endgame]

Originally Posted by le receveur

I don't use ratings. I never have full 40-man, so prospect I call up early, since the ones i'm interested in rarely get in option trouble....

my main point is the guys I really want to see in ST will not sign,they remain FAs.

what I really want is ST invitees, but this implies a change to the whole signing attitude..

note: I should also note that because of the ST issue, I have mover opening day for AAA to around march 25, probably why I don't see the current process to harshly...

Well, couple of questions, if you don't mind. Curious mode today, I guess. You moved the AAA up earlier than your ML season start date? What's the rationale behind that?

Also, back to invitees for minute, as you posed the question. Who would you invite? How does the process work in RL? I've only done a little bit of reading on it, but those players are still in the organization though, right?

[RchW]

In real life most if not all MLB teams have a full 40 man roster. Those that don't may have 1 or 2 spots max.

If we generally have 33-35 players on the 40 man roster why not just sign all the guys that you would invite to ST to fill out the 40-man. Put another way if you are not filling up the 40-man roster asking for ST invites is not very realistic.

Perhaps ST invites should only be available when your 40-man roster is full, or say 38-40.

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by endgame

Well, couple of questions, if you don't mind. Curious mode today, I guess. You moved the AAA up earlier than your ML season start date? What's the rationale behind that?

Also, back to invitees for minute, as you posed the question. Who would you invite? How does the process work in RL? I've only done a little bit of reading on it, but those players are still in the organization though, right?

I moved AAA up, 3 reasons:to get stats on potential injury/flop replacements players, get my potential prospects playing early, and to be able to reduce my active roster and get AB for everyone but still have these guys playing.(I play stat only evaluation).. I guess i'm using my AAA as my extended ST complex. added bonus was also to finish AAA earlier, for September call-ups, since my AAA usually makes the playoff (I'm a slow promoter compare to AI so over competitive in AAA 2nd half of season.).

Guys in RL who are still FA now (except the current Q.O. guys) will sign a minor league contract at this point, with some form of guaranteed release if they don't make the majors. in OOTP i see a bunch of guys who reject all offers to a minor league contract... these are the guys I would love to invite on a milb contract and have fight for the 5th spot in the rotation, my 4th OF spot,etc with guarantee that if you don't make my opening day roster, you will be free to leave should you wish to... instead they just stay FA.

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by RchW

In real life most if not all MLB teams have a full 40 man roster. Those that don't may have 1 or 2 spots max.

If we generally have 33-35 players on the 40 man roster why not just sign all the guys that you would invite to ST to fill out the 40-man. Put another way if you are not filling up the 40-man roster asking for ST invites is not very realistic.

Perhaps ST invites should only be available when your 40-man roster is full, or say 38-40.

my usual problem is I don't have the budget to sign 2 guys at $2M see which one makes my roster, and release the other one, since he is out of option.

edit: also not sure if the OOTP 40man roster don't stay lower because to route to the majors is shorter with only one level of full season a-ball, just thinking out loud