Amateur Draftees

[Francoeurstein]

I'm fairly new to iOOTP, and I've only simmed a few seasons, however there is a recurring issue with me. It seems like only position players drafted in the first 2 round will amount to anything. After the second round, there is usually no position players left with a potential rating above one star. That would be fine, but it seems like only the early drafted players turn into major league regulars, while late draftees dwell in the minors. This is only frustrating because IRL a 5th round could develop into a superstar, while a first overall could be a bust.

[magicspeedo]

Originally Posted by Francoeurstein

I'm fairly new to iOOTP, and I've only simmed a few seasons, however there is a recurring issue with me. It seems like only position players drafted in the first 2 round will amount to anything. After the second round, there is usually no position players left with a potential rating above one star. That would be fine, but it seems like only the early drafted players turn into major league regulars, while late draftees dwell in the minors. This is only frustrating because IRL a 5th round could develop into a superstar, while a first overall could be a bust.

I've had many late rounders turn out fine. The key is recognizing good prospects when they only have 1 star potential. Plus you have to bring those late round guys along properly.

More often than not, it doesn't matter where the prospect is drafted or even how good of a prospect a guy is. If he goes to a good team and is brought along properly, he will turn into at least a serviceable major leaguer.

[Disco Dog 13]

Originally Posted by magicspeedo

I've had many late rounders turn out fine. The key is recognizing good prospects when they only have 1 star potential. Plus you have to bring those late round guys along properly.

More often than not, it doesn't matter where the prospect is drafted or even how good of a prospect a guy is. If he goes to a good team and is brought along properly, he will turn into at least a serviceable major leaguer.

I've had no luck at all with the 1 stars potential draftees.

You mention bringing them along properly - my problem is if they aren't good enough to make the lineup or the bench them they don't seem to ever progress in the Minors

Would you put them on the bench rather then trade for a better player then ?

[magicspeedo]

Originally Posted by Disco Dog 13

I've had no luck at all with the 1 stars potential draftees.

You mention bringing them along properly - my problem is if they aren't good enough to make the lineup or the bench them they don't seem to ever progress in the Minors

Would you put them on the bench rather then trade for a better player then ?

Late round guys should be excellent to exceptional defensive players at their position, or for pitchers have at least 3 pitches (regardless how good they are) and decent stamina.

From there you stash them in your minors and then bring them up in September to be back up guys. But make sure they get some game time (at least every 10 games since they are only up for a month). If they do well for a few games, you will see an increase in their attributes and their overall ratings. In a few seasons, they might go from 1 star to 1 1/2 star to 3 star to 4 1/2 star, depending how they do in the majors.

It works best with high school prospects since they are so young and have time to develop.

If they don't get it together in a few years, just cut them, they never make more than the minimum anyway.

Also, don't waste your late picks on relievers with only 2 pitches. Biggest waste you can do.

So basically draft like this:

1st Round: Look at all SP first. If there are any that have 3 good pitches and decent stamina, might as well take them unless you are desperate for something else. Then look at all your batters potential and look for any guys who have all 4 tools (running, fielding, hitting, hitting with power). Then take the best hitter/defender combo. If everyone sucks at D, take the best hitter/runner.

Supplemental: If you need bullpen help, this is where you take the best MRs available (4 Star minimum). If you don't need bullpen help this season, if there are any decent fielder prospects, take them.

2nd Round: Look for any decent 3 pitch pitchers, then look at all batters and organize by contact, then power. If there are any guys who can hit and play defense, take them. Otherwise, just take what you need. If you're lucky, there will be a good SP prospect that could develop to be a starting rotation guy.

3rd Round: Look for a SP prospect, but most likely better hitting prospects exist at this point. Look for good hitters, but most wont exist. Next look for a dominant defensive player. One or two might be around if it's a strong draft.

4-5 Rounds: Again, look to see if there are any good 3 pitch pitchers who have good control or good movement. A lot of times these guys will have 20s and 30s for stuff and 70 for movement and then 30 for control, or 30 for movement and 70 for control. As long as they have good stamina, they should be good. For hitters, look for any guy who's ration of hitting attributes look like familiar good hitters and can play defense and run.

For example:
Con - 33
Gap - 30
Power - 32
Eye - 10
Avoid K - 11

could possibly turn into a guy like this:
Con - 70
Gap - 60
Power - 70
Eye - 40
Avoid K - 40

which is a good #2 guy if he can run or a good #5 or #6 hitter if he cant run.

Another example would be
Con - 23
Gap - 45
Power - 3
Eye - 22
Avoid K - 30

could possibly turn into a guy like this:
Con - 70
Gap - 100
Power - 10
Eye - 50
Avoid K - 90

which is a good #1 or #9 hitter if he can run.

There are obviously other types of hitters, but looking at the type of hitter a player can be is more important than how good he is when your looking at late round guys.

Again, I try to build my team on guys who can at least play defense and can run. This way, if they are a liability at the plate, at least they aren't in the field. Most will turn into defensive subs or pinch runners, but some will put it all together and become every day guys for your club.

[Disco Dog 13]

Will be addressing this in next years draft !!

I've always gone with MRs and CLs which explains why I've never really had to draft in any guys on to my Bullpen

But then it's big bucks when it comes to bringing in the field positions and SPs so a change is as good as a rest as they say !!

I guess I should have known that if ratings can suddenly slump from late 70s to late 50s as they did with both Trump and Cespedes and from late 70s to late 60s as they did for Kershaw, then they can certainly go up way beyond the predicted potential numbers

[magicspeedo]

Originally Posted by Disco Dog 13

Will be addressing this in next years draft !!

I've always gone with MRs and CLs which explains why I've never really had to draft in any guys on to my Bullpen

But then it's big bucks when it comes to bringing in the field positions and SPs so a change is as good as a rest as they say !!

I guess I should have known that if ratings can suddenly slump from late 70s to late 50s as they did with both Trump and Cespedes and from late 70s to late 60s as they did for Kershaw, then they can certainly go up way beyond the predicted potential numbers

Keep in mind that not everyone is going to turn into super stars! It's about how well they perform.

I actually just had Bryce Harper slump from 85 Contact/85 Power to 69C/73P for no apparent reason. He's 26, and just hit .312 with 46 HRs last season. I checked his history, for no apparent reason his ratings dropped on the scouting update at 1/1 after he had his best season.

I really hope Sebastian is reading and can explain why a guy at the age of 26 would see such a drop with no injury after such a great season. Doesn't make any sense to me.

[Dkelley]

Originally Posted by magicspeedo

Late round guys should be excellent to exceptional defensive players at their position, or for pitchers have at least 3 pitches (regardless how good they are) and decent stamina.

From there you stash them in your minors and then bring them up in September to be back up guys. But make sure they get some game time (at least every 10 games since they are only up for a month). If they do well for a few games, you will see an increase in their attributes and their overall ratings. In a few seasons, they might go from 1 star to 1 1/2 star to 3 star to 4 1/2 star, depending how they do in the majors.

It works best with high school prospects since they are so young and have time to develop.

If they don't get it together in a few years, just cut them, they never make more than the minimum anyway.

Also, don't waste your late picks on relievers with only 2 pitches. Biggest waste you can do.

So basically draft like this:

1st Round: Look at all SP first. If there are any that have 3 good pitches and decent stamina, might as well take them unless you are desperate for something else. Then look at all your batters potential and look for any guys who have all 4 tools (running, fielding, hitting, hitting with power). Then take the best hitter/defender combo. If everyone sucks at D, take the best hitter/runner.

Supplemental: If you need bullpen help, this is where you take the best MRs available (4 Star minimum). If you don't need bullpen help this season, if there are any decent fielder prospects, take them.

2nd Round: Look for any decent 3 pitch pitchers, then look at all batters and organize by contact, then power. If there are any guys who can hit and play defense, take them. Otherwise, just take what you need. If you're lucky, there will be a good SP prospect that could develop to be a starting rotation guy.

3rd Round: Look for a SP prospect, but most likely better hitting prospects exist at this point. Look for good hitters, but most wont exist. Next look for a dominant defensive player. One or two might be around if it's a strong draft.

4-5 Rounds: Again, look to see if there are any good 3 pitch pitchers who have good control or good movement. A lot of times these guys will have 20s and 30s for stuff and 70 for movement and then 30 for control, or 30 for movement and 70 for control. As long as they have good stamina, they should be good. For hitters, look for any guy who's ration of hitting attributes look like familiar good hitters and can play defense and run.

For example:
Con - 33
Gap - 30
Power - 32
Eye - 10
Avoid K - 11

could possibly turn into a guy like this:
Con - 70
Gap - 60
Power - 70
Eye - 40
Avoid K - 40

which is a good #2 guy if he can run or a good #5 or #6 hitter if he cant run.

Another example would be
Con - 23
Gap - 45
Power - 3
Eye - 22
Avoid K - 30

could possibly turn into a guy like this:
Con - 70
Gap - 100
Power - 10
Eye - 50
Avoid K - 90

which is a good #1 or #9 hitter if he can run.

There are obviously other types of hitters, but looking at the type of hitter a player can be is more important than how good he is when your looking at late round guys.

Again, I try to build my team on guys who can at least play defense and can run. This way, if they are a liability at the plate, at least they aren't in the field. Most will turn into defensive subs or pinch runners, but some will put it all together and become every day guys for your club.

Thanks a lot, that was very helpful.