Force start not working properly?

Ile · 02-18-2021, 04:51 AM

Hi!

I have an issue with force start, that has worked perfectly for me earlier up until now. I'm in 2095, so I've used it a lot without any issues previous to this.

I have a "centre fielder" I just traded for, that I intend to play in Left Field because I already have a CF with better range and arm. As I have done maaany times before, I have used "Force Start/Use at Position: LF" in Set Game Strategy.

But this time nothing happens. He is still played as a backup to my CF. So I tried firing my manager who just got his third straight manager of the year award and tried again. Still nothing. So I traded the guy that had the LF spot, to see if getting rid of him was enough. Still nothing.

I wouldn't mind firing my bench coach either I guess, but something tells me it's not going to work. Are there any known bugs around Force Start? As I mentioned, I've used force start a lot previously without any issues, this is new to me. And it's quite annoying to be honest, because with this guy in LF, we'll have a beastly outfield and they're all 25.

Any weird tips or tricks to get around this? I play in challenge mode, GM only, so I guess my options are limited?

Thanks in advance

Edit: Could it be some hidden rating, like adapting to new positions or something that's stopping him? Or perhaps force starting him in AAA for a month could work when the season starts? I'd rather have him in the majors obviously, but if I could just get him adapted to LF somehow this season, I don't mind.

Ile · 02-18-2021, 05:50 AM

I managed to solve this with brute force. I had to start every spring training game, put myself in charge of substitutions and sub him in LF for the first ~10-15 games. He didn't get a rating in LF after those games so I figured he was just too bad at adapting to new positions.

After that, I force started my CF as LF to give him the CF spot he didn't deserve. But then I noticed I wasn't able to force start my original CF as LF either, probably because he only has a rating in CF/RF.

I then decided on the most suboptimal solution of force starting my low range/high arm RF in LF, my gold glove CF in RF and then the problematic guy in CF.

I then changed my mind and figured I'd just trade him because at this point my outfield was just silly. So I undid it all but forgot to remove "Force Start: LF" on the guy I want in LF. Turns out I was lucky to have forgotten that, because all of a sudden I was able to force start him in LF!

Super messy explanation, but it worked out in the end. He now has 25 rating in LF and can be force started there.

For anyone else searching for this problem, try brute forcing with manual substitutions for 2-3 weeks and try again. It could be that the manager has decided he won't adapt fast enough to warrant a force start there, but it can be done.

JerseyPirate · 02-18-2021, 09:07 AM

I've run into this issue with prospects that have got to AAA and then were blocked to get to the majors by current players. So I tried force start at a position of need and the manager ignored me. I then sent them down to AA and it worked and after 1-2 months, they had a good enough rating to force start at AAA.

I also often want to move players, especially CF with low ratings, to a different position. I do this during spring training where I will play a CF in LF or a SS at 2B or a 3B at 1B so I can boost their ratings when the games don't matter. It also always me to create great utility players. Then the next spring, I put that LF at RF, the 2B at 3B, etc so they become more valuable.

But the easy way to avoid this is to use the force start while they are in the low minors with your most talented players.

CobaltJays · 02-18-2021, 07:18 PM

I reported this issue back in 2019. It definitely needs to get addressed. Right now "force start" is just a suggestion.

02-18-2021, 04:51 AM	#1
Ile Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 139	Force start not working properly? Hi! I have an issue with force start, that has worked perfectly for me earlier up until now. I'm in 2095, so I've used it a lot without any issues previous to this. I have a "centre fielder" I just traded for, that I intend to play in Left Field because I already have a CF with better range and arm. As I have done maaany times before, I have used "Force Start/Use at Position: LF" in Set Game Strategy. But this time nothing happens. He is still played as a backup to my CF. So I tried firing my manager who just got his third straight manager of the year award and tried again. Still nothing. So I traded the guy that had the LF spot, to see if getting rid of him was enough. Still nothing. I wouldn't mind firing my bench coach either I guess, but something tells me it's not going to work. Are there any known bugs around Force Start? As I mentioned, I've used force start a lot previously without any issues, this is new to me. And it's quite annoying to be honest, because with this guy in LF, we'll have a beastly outfield and they're all 25. Any weird tips or tricks to get around this? I play in challenge mode, GM only, so I guess my options are limited? Thanks in advance Edit: Could it be some hidden rating, like adapting to new positions or something that's stopping him? Or perhaps force starting him in AAA for a month could work when the season starts? I'd rather have him in the majors obviously, but if I could just get him adapted to LF somehow this season, I don't mind. Last edited by Ile; 02-18-2021 at 04:54 AM.

02-18-2021, 05:50 AM	#2
Ile Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 139	I managed to solve this with brute force. I had to start every spring training game, put myself in charge of substitutions and sub him in LF for the first ~10-15 games. He didn't get a rating in LF after those games so I figured he was just too bad at adapting to new positions. After that, I force started my CF as LF to give him the CF spot he didn't deserve. But then I noticed I wasn't able to force start my original CF as LF either, probably because he only has a rating in CF/RF. I then decided on the most suboptimal solution of force starting my low range/high arm RF in LF, my gold glove CF in RF and then the problematic guy in CF. I then changed my mind and figured I'd just trade him because at this point my outfield was just silly. So I undid it all but forgot to remove "Force Start: LF" on the guy I want in LF. Turns out I was lucky to have forgotten that, because all of a sudden I was able to force start him in LF! Super messy explanation, but it worked out in the end. He now has 25 rating in LF and can be force started there. For anyone else searching for this problem, try brute forcing with manual substitutions for 2-3 weeks and try again. It could be that the manager has decided he won't adapt fast enough to warrant a force start there, but it can be done.

02-18-2021, 09:07 AM	#3
JerseyPirate Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 172	I've run into this issue with prospects that have got to AAA and then were blocked to get to the majors by current players. So I tried force start at a position of need and the manager ignored me. I then sent them down to AA and it worked and after 1-2 months, they had a good enough rating to force start at AAA. I also often want to move players, especially CF with low ratings, to a different position. I do this during spring training where I will play a CF in LF or a SS at 2B or a 3B at 1B so I can boost their ratings when the games don't matter. It also always me to create great utility players. Then the next spring, I put that LF at RF, the 2B at 3B, etc so they become more valuable. But the easy way to avoid this is to use the force start while they are in the low minors with your most talented players.

02-18-2021, 07:18 PM	#4
CobaltJays All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 706	I reported this issue back in 2019. It definitely needs to get addressed. Right now "force start" is just a suggestion.