Minors Management

hukarez · 07-09-2003, 04:52 AM

I'm playing using GForce's April 29th rosters. While playing my season, I've read the threads in regards to dividing your attention between the minor's statistics, and your scout's opinions.

I've kind of gauged things here and there, and when the draft has finally approached (I have it set for June), I undergo the whole 10 round snake-thing. Anyways, it seems to be that my minor leagues are becoming bloated with tons of blue star players!

I have a few in Triple A, a little more in Double A, and a whole lot in Single A! The thing is, I have 3 blue star, 4 blue star prospects whom I'm almost positive that they're not getting any decent playing time. Yet, if I can shift some prospects into Double and Triple A, I'd be able to give a good number decent line-ups.

I guess what I'm getting at is, should I release some previous prospects who just don't seem to make the grade..? Or any other advice on handling this? I just don' t want to spend forever focusing solely on the minors as I'm still playing out my games. Ack!

Jabs · 07-09-2003, 05:27 AM

You could try lowering the number of rounds for the amateur draft on June 1. I run a 7 round draft each year and don't have many problems with overflow in my minor league system. I do go through my minors and release 3-4 guys each year that are getting past their window to improve enough to make the majors (I usually dump 1 star guys around 27-30 years old). Obviously, you would end up with less players in your minor league system by drafting less players each year.

joncarlos · 07-09-2003, 06:58 AM

You can probably part with anyone who is 1 or 1.5 stars unless their number ratings are good. other than that, be patient. The guys in A will eventually earn their promotions to AA and AAA and the guys riding the pine now can start. Just be careful of anyone who is especially old (23-24) - you probably need to rush them if you want them to make it.

hukarez · 07-09-2003, 11:53 AM

Rush them? How do you mean?

joncarlos · 07-09-2003, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hukarez
Rush them? How do you mean?

Well if you have a 23-24 year old at A or even AA, the time for them to get better is usually running out. If they're holding their own (.270+ or <4.00 ERA) then I would promote them. Usually with non-geezers I wait till I see a sustained .300 AVG or sub-3 ERA before promoting anyone.

hukarez · 07-09-2003, 11:28 PM

Hmm. I'm guessing it's time I start releasing some of these 25-27 year olds then. Strange...perhaps I should draft 18 year olds as opposed to 22 year olds?

WLight · 07-10-2003, 12:38 PM

If the prospects aren't getting any PT at one level you might as well promote them. Being promoted early won't hurt them any more than sitting idle. If neither option appeals to you, just cut 'em.

As far as drafting age, I never draft anyone older than 20 who doesn't already have >0 rating in the applicable skill (for pitchers avoiding runs, for hitters getting hits) because that typically means they'll never develop great ratings, even if their talents are high... a 23-year old SP with BRILLIANT in avoiding runs but a 0 rating is very likely not to develop into his full potential (from what I've seen).

hukarez · 07-11-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WLight
If the prospects aren't getting any PT at one level you might as well promote them. Being promoted early won't hurt them any more than sitting idle. If neither option appeals to you, just cut 'em.

As far as drafting age, I never draft anyone older than 20 who doesn't already have >0 rating in the applicable skill (for pitchers avoiding runs, for hitters getting hits) because that typically means they'll never develop great ratings, even if their talents are high... a 23-year old SP with BRILLIANT in avoiding runs but a 0 rating is very likely not to develop into his full potential (from what I've seen).

Herein lies my problem, I guess. I'm flooded with minors I've kept, at each level, there's always somebody sitting idle. And I'm not talking about pitchers either! I guess I need to do some major cleaning up. I've got at least 30 players at each level...not sure what a good amount would be. =l

joncarlos · 07-11-2003, 02:25 PM

I wouldn't keep more than 10-11 hitters at any level. I sometimes have a few more at A-ball ready to step in when guys are promoted but you really only need a couple over the 9 you start.

As for pitchers, I like to have 5 good starters in each level in the rotation. If you have some leftover 2-3 star guys you can use them in the bullpen, it's not as bad as hitters since they're actually getting work. Even if they're not rated as relievers, they might eventually learn.

Kelric · 07-11-2003, 02:36 PM

I try to keep a minimum number of players in my minors, I never let them get flooded up.

I also draft only 5 rounds each year, so that certainly helps.

WLight · 07-11-2003, 03:24 PM

I've been drafting 8 rounds for the last few years but I usually end up cutting at least 2-3 guys from each draft class if they don't develop at all in their first year in the minors. I never have more than 20 players at each level and rarely more than 15. As others have said, 10-11 hitters at each level is more than enough. I've never had more than 5 starters at a level except every once in a while my AAA is crowded with veterans hanging on. Sometimes I get crowded in the pen (we all know how the ammy drafts are overflowing with mediocre MRs), and I've found that player development is never more random than with MRs so I try not to cut too many... I usually end up juggling guys between levels, it usually seems not to hurt too much if a guy is playing above his head.

hukarez · 07-11-2003, 10:57 PM

Yikes! I'm seriously cluttered in my minors then. Time for some serious gardening...

07-09-2003, 04:52 AM	#1
hukarez Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 113	Minors Management I'm playing using GForce's April 29th rosters. While playing my season, I've read the threads in regards to dividing your attention between the minor's statistics, and your scout's opinions. I've kind of gauged things here and there, and when the draft has finally approached (I have it set for June), I undergo the whole 10 round snake-thing. Anyways, it seems to be that my minor leagues are becoming bloated with tons of blue star players! I have a few in Triple A, a little more in Double A, and a whole lot in Single A! The thing is, I have 3 blue star, 4 blue star prospects whom I'm almost positive that they're not getting any decent playing time. Yet, if I can shift some prospects into Double and Triple A, I'd be able to give a good number decent line-ups. I guess what I'm getting at is, should I release some previous prospects who just don't seem to make the grade..? Or any other advice on handling this? I just don' t want to spend forever focusing solely on the minors as I'm still playing out my games. Ack!

07-09-2003, 05:27 AM	#2
Jabs Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pella, IA Posts: 114	You could try lowering the number of rounds for the amateur draft on June 1. I run a 7 round draft each year and don't have many problems with overflow in my minor league system. I do go through my minors and release 3-4 guys each year that are getting past their window to improve enough to make the majors (I usually dump 1 star guys around 27-30 years old). Obviously, you would end up with less players in your minor league system by drafting less players each year.

07-09-2003, 06:58 AM	#3
joncarlos All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 693	You can probably part with anyone who is 1 or 1.5 stars unless their number ratings are good. other than that, be patient. The guys in A will eventually earn their promotions to AA and AAA and the guys riding the pine now can start. Just be careful of anyone who is especially old (23-24) - you probably need to rush them if you want them to make it.

07-09-2003, 11:53 AM	#4
hukarez Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 113	Rush them? How do you mean?

07-09-2003, 11:28 PM	#6
hukarez Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 113	Hmm. I'm guessing it's time I start releasing some of these 25-27 year olds then. Strange...perhaps I should draft 18 year olds as opposed to 22 year olds?

07-10-2003, 12:38 PM	#7
WLight Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: CA Posts: 314	If the prospects aren't getting any PT at one level you might as well promote them. Being promoted early won't hurt them any more than sitting idle. If neither option appeals to you, just cut 'em. As far as drafting age, I never draft anyone older than 20 who doesn't already have >0 rating in the applicable skill (for pitchers avoiding runs, for hitters getting hits) because that typically means they'll never develop great ratings, even if their talents are high... a 23-year old SP with BRILLIANT in avoiding runs but a 0 rating is very likely not to develop into his full potential (from what I've seen).

07-11-2003, 02:25 PM	#9
joncarlos All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 693	I wouldn't keep more than 10-11 hitters at any level. I sometimes have a few more at A-ball ready to step in when guys are promoted but you really only need a couple over the 9 you start. As for pitchers, I like to have 5 good starters in each level in the rotation. If you have some leftover 2-3 star guys you can use them in the bullpen, it's not as bad as hitters since they're actually getting work. Even if they're not rated as relievers, they might eventually learn.

07-11-2003, 02:36 PM	#10
Kelric Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Greater Boston Area Posts: 3,992	I try to keep a minimum number of players in my minors, I never let them get flooded up. I also draft only 5 rounds each year, so that certainly helps.

07-11-2003, 03:24 PM	#11
WLight Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: CA Posts: 314	I've been drafting 8 rounds for the last few years but I usually end up cutting at least 2-3 guys from each draft class if they don't develop at all in their first year in the minors. I never have more than 20 players at each level and rarely more than 15. As others have said, 10-11 hitters at each level is more than enough. I've never had more than 5 starters at a level except every once in a while my AAA is crowded with veterans hanging on. Sometimes I get crowded in the pen (we all know how the ammy drafts are overflowing with mediocre MRs), and I've found that player development is never more random than with MRs so I try not to cut too many... I usually end up juggling guys between levels, it usually seems not to hurt too much if a guy is playing above his head.

07-11-2003, 10:57 PM	#12
hukarez Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 113	Yikes! I'm seriously cluttered in my minors then. Time for some serious gardening...