Basics first...

drewsblues · 12-21-2003, 01:13 PM

It's a little premature to be calling them even a potential dynasty, but I figured this was the best place to post for strategic advice on getting my Syracuse Grays to dynasty status. Two questions, really:

1. I've owned the game now for three days and this is my first attempt at simming a fictional (20 team, 4 divisions) league -- the Mason/Dixon League. I've just finished the initial draft and Syracuse looks pretty good. I'm imploring the more experienced for advice, so that I don't screw it up for them...

Anyway, my two stars offensively are Rick "Country Boy" Sontag, my first baseman (four and a half stars); and Steve Mowrey, my third baseman (five stars). Here's their ratings, respectively:

S. Mowrey - 1B:
Age: 37
Ratings: 9/7/7
Defense: D
Speed: E
Contract: $8.26 Million, Four years remaining

R. Sontag - 3B:
Age: 26
Ratings: 7/9/10
Defense: D
Speed: E
Contract: $9.94 Million, Free agent at end of season

Now to thicken the plot, I've got the third rated prospect in the league tuning up down at AA:

R. Hupp - 3B/RF:
Age: 19
Ratings: 5/5/6
Defense: C/E
Speed: D
Contract: Minor League

Obviously, re-signing Sontag to a long-term contract is a priority this year. So, even before the first pitch in league history, I'm thinking about trading the stellar Mowrey and "teaching" Sontag to play first base to make room for the phenom. Mowrey's great, to be sure; probably a Hall-Of-Famer if he had a whole career's worth of stats to look at. But he may start the inevitable decline this year and I figure his value won't ever be any higher than it is now (and our pitching is average, so I'm not sure about a run for the Circuit Series). I sure as heck don't want to be paying the guy $8 million-plus when he's 41, either.

Does this sound reasonable? Am I vastly overestimating the effects of age in OOTP5? And what are the implications for teaching a player (Sontag) a new position? Does it hurt their performance offensively? And... ehmmm... how do you go about doing it?

2. Since we're discussing rookie phenoms.... Hupp is currently at AA, where the manager has outstanding hitting development skills. My AAA manager has fair hitting development skills and is guiding a staff of mostly has-beens and never-have-beens. All (three) of my decent prospects happen to be on the AA squad.

My question is, would Hupp (who could play at AAA, according to my scouting report) be better served playing against tougher opponents at AAA or remaining safely tucked under the wing of one of the premier hitting tutors in the game?

My previous simming experience has been with Miller Associates' Baseball for Windows, which doesn't really address contracts or the minors (hence the move to OOTP5), so I'm not sure how to proceed in those areas. My gut tells me to trade Mowrey for more young talent, move Sontag to first, keep the phenom at AA and hope that he can make the leap next season to the bigs. But I don't know enough about the game's tendencies and I don't want to "ruin" any players.

Anyway, if you're still reading this, "Wow...."

Advice is appreciated.

--
Drew
General Manager
Syracuse Grays Professional Baseball Club
The Mason/Dixon League
drewsblues@hotmail.com

joncarlos · 12-21-2003, 05:23 PM

I usually try to get as many as possible from my good prospects at whatever level most of them are comfortable, then put my best coach there.

Trading Mowrey would be a 'smart' thing to do but if you're looking for realism, I doubt many MLB teams would do it. They'd probably be playing Hupp at RF. As for what to do with Hupp, with ratings of 5/6/6 he probably belong at AAA - could probably also play in the majors but at 19 he'll probably be OK at AAA.

Or teach him LF... his development is not usually hurt by trying to learn a new position, and your coaches will tell you most of the time if it is hurting him. If he can play a good 3B he has a good chance of learning 1B/LF without suffering in terms of development, but nothing is guaranteed.

dsvitak · 12-23-2003, 04:58 AM

Get rid of Mowery, now.

His age is a tremendous liability.

Always trade players too early, rather than too late.

You have just a few seasons left. If you trade him for a good young player, you could have 20 years worth of production from him.

Lose the salary, too!

12-21-2003, 01:13 PM	#1
drewsblues Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 6	Advice for a newbie, please... It's a little premature to be calling them even a potential dynasty, but I figured this was the best place to post for strategic advice on getting my Syracuse Grays to dynasty status. Two questions, really: 1. I've owned the game now for three days and this is my first attempt at simming a fictional (20 team, 4 divisions) league -- the Mason/Dixon League. I've just finished the initial draft and Syracuse looks pretty good. I'm imploring the more experienced for advice, so that I don't screw it up for them... Anyway, my two stars offensively are Rick "Country Boy" Sontag, my first baseman (four and a half stars); and Steve Mowrey, my third baseman (five stars). Here's their ratings, respectively: S. Mowrey - 1B: Age: 37 Ratings: 9/7/7 Defense: D Speed: E Contract: $8.26 Million, Four years remaining R. Sontag - 3B: Age: 26 Ratings: 7/9/10 Defense: D Speed: E Contract: $9.94 Million, Free agent at end of season Now to thicken the plot, I've got the third rated prospect in the league tuning up down at AA: R. Hupp - 3B/RF: Age: 19 Ratings: 5/5/6 Defense: C/E Speed: D Contract: Minor League Obviously, re-signing Sontag to a long-term contract is a priority this year. So, even before the first pitch in league history, I'm thinking about trading the stellar Mowrey and "teaching" Sontag to play first base to make room for the phenom. Mowrey's great, to be sure; probably a Hall-Of-Famer if he had a whole career's worth of stats to look at. But he may start the inevitable decline this year and I figure his value won't ever be any higher than it is now (and our pitching is average, so I'm not sure about a run for the Circuit Series). I sure as heck don't want to be paying the guy $8 million-plus when he's 41, either. Does this sound reasonable? Am I vastly overestimating the effects of age in OOTP5? And what are the implications for teaching a player (Sontag) a new position? Does it hurt their performance offensively? And... ehmmm... how do you go about doing it? 2. Since we're discussing rookie phenoms.... Hupp is currently at AA, where the manager has outstanding hitting development skills. My AAA manager has fair hitting development skills and is guiding a staff of mostly has-beens and never-have-beens. All (three) of my decent prospects happen to be on the AA squad. My question is, would Hupp (who could play at AAA, according to my scouting report) be better served playing against tougher opponents at AAA or remaining safely tucked under the wing of one of the premier hitting tutors in the game? My previous simming experience has been with Miller Associates' Baseball for Windows, which doesn't really address contracts or the minors (hence the move to OOTP5), so I'm not sure how to proceed in those areas. My gut tells me to trade Mowrey for more young talent, move Sontag to first, keep the phenom at AA and hope that he can make the leap next season to the bigs. But I don't know enough about the game's tendencies and I don't want to "ruin" any players. Anyway, if you're still reading this, "Wow...." Advice is appreciated. -- Drew General Manager Syracuse Grays Professional Baseball Club The Mason/Dixon League drewsblues@hotmail.com Last edited by drewsblues; 12-21-2003 at 03:17 PM.

12-21-2003, 05:23 PM	#2
joncarlos All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 693	I usually try to get as many as possible from my good prospects at whatever level most of them are comfortable, then put my best coach there. Trading Mowrey would be a 'smart' thing to do but if you're looking for realism, I doubt many MLB teams would do it. They'd probably be playing Hupp at RF. As for what to do with Hupp, with ratings of 5/6/6 he probably belong at AAA - could probably also play in the majors but at 19 he'll probably be OK at AAA. Or teach him LF... his development is not usually hurt by trying to learn a new position, and your coaches will tell you most of the time if it is hurting him. If he can play a good 3B he has a good chance of learning 1B/LF without suffering in terms of development, but nothing is guaranteed. __________________ <a href =http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35167> 2003 Pirates Regular Season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40941> 2003 Pirates playoffs and off-season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44242> 2004 Pirates Season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=47658> 2004 Pirates Playoffs and Off-season </a> <a href=http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48039>2005 Pirates Regular Season </a>

12-23-2003, 04:58 AM	#3
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,404	Get rid of Mowery, now. His age is a tremendous liability. Always trade players too early, rather than too late. You have just a few seasons left. If you trade him for a good young player, you could have 20 years worth of production from him. Lose the salary, too!