Ready for Major League Level - But Is He Really?

asavoca · 07-27-2009, 02:07 PM

Hello everyone,

Looking for a little help on this. I have a player in my minor leagues. He's a 19 year old catcher. Got him in the first round of last year's draft. The AI has been moving him through the minors for me and he is currently at AAA.

On my minor league system report, it says he is Ready for Major League Level. My question is, is he really ready? He's jumped through all the levels of the minors in one season. Now, I need a catcher on my big league team, but I don't want to ruin him.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!

Player Report for #11 Kyle Skipworth

TribeFanInNC · 07-27-2009, 02:42 PM

Yeah, probably. Obviously he hasn't developed ML caliber power yet, but he may never do that. Seems ready with regards to contact, eye, and defense. I'd probably give him a shot, especially if you can platoon him, but I'd have a plan B just in case he goes 2 for 20 with 3 errors.

RchW · 07-27-2009, 05:32 PM

Do you need him to win now or to fill a hole that can't be plugged otherwise?

If not, let him develop in the minors. The development risk to young players is high.

I brought this guy up because there was nothing available on a poor hitting team. Obviously I got lucky to have him hit 0.337. He has faded badly (was hitting over 0.370), but I'm concerned that he may flame out early as so many do.

Afino · 07-27-2009, 09:32 PM

Bringing a player up too soon, good ratings or not, is a recipe for disaster just like leaving him there too long.

What were his minor league stats actually like?

Pronkytonk · 07-28-2009, 08:05 AM

Definitely NO. This guy has a grand total of 28 games above single A level so there is no real stats base to evalutate him properly. I've had the AI telling me guys would be ready for the majors just to see the very same guys rated as "not ready for AAA" just two months later not once, but quite often so it would be wise not to make decisions based only on this AI advice ...

asavoca · 07-28-2009, 09:00 AM

I don't really need him now. I am 18 games out of first place and not going anywhere any time soon. So, I think that I will leave him there for at least the remainder of this season and then evaluate him in spring training before next season.

Thanks for the guidance!

Athletics17 · 07-28-2009, 10:49 AM

I would leave him in AAA and do what I can to make that team better. I found the best way to develop players is to have him on winning team. I will sign players that might not or would not make it to the majors, but will do well at certain levels of the minors. It kind of like stacking up the teams but I helps keep your players happy and develop.

kq76 · 07-28-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asavoca

I don't really need him now. I am 18 games out of first place and not going anywhere any time soon. So, I think that I will leave him there for at least the remainder of this season and then evaluate him in spring training before next season.

Thanks for the guidance!

Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.

I don't put a whole lot of stock in minor league numbers, but I do think it's probably best to have guys at a level where they can do decently well at. In AAA he should do well with those ratings, but in the bigs he may struggle a bit. If those ratings inch up a bit higher or he does really well in AAA for a good chunk of the season, then you may just want to go for it. He's still awfully young though so his potential could easily go either way especially down if he gets injured so try to make sure you don't tire him out wherever he is.

I'm curious what his development related personality ratings are and what his overall (current) ratings were when you drafted him.

Now may be a good time to review the player dev part of the manual.

mantis1 · 07-28-2009, 02:05 PM

If this were my player, I would let him platoon against righties - IF I were in contention. If I was 18 games out of first, I'd let him develop more.
This player can afford to be rushed, however. He isn't your long-term answer at catcher (in least in my opinion) because:

1. He is not strong defensively, he doesn't compensate with his stick, and he might not ever. After some thought, I generally require my catchers to have ratings of at least 70 in arm and ability, unless they hit extremely well. I don't know how the model is in OOTPX, but in OOTP9 catcher defensive ratings were incredibly important, i.e. they dictate what the opposition can do in the run game. Also, a good catcher can lower your staff ERA.
2. Don't read too much into what the computer suggests about player placement. Go by player ratings and stats.

Best of luck.

07-27-2009, 05:32 PM	#3
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Do you need him to win now or to fill a hole that can't be plugged otherwise? If not, let him develop in the minors. The development risk to young players is high. I brought this guy up because there was nothing available on a poor hitting team. Obviously I got lucky to have him hit 0.337. He has faded badly (was hitting over 0.370), but I'm concerned that he may flame out early as so many do. Attached Images __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

07-27-2009, 09:32 PM	#4
Afino Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,827	Bringing a player up too soon, good ratings or not, is a recipe for disaster just like leaving him there too long. What were his minor league stats actually like? __________________ GUBA: Moscow Enforcers

07-27-2009, 02:07 PM	#1
asavoca Bat Boy Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 12	Ready for Major League Level - But Is He Really? Hello everyone, Looking for a little help on this. I have a player in my minor leagues. He's a 19 year old catcher. Got him in the first round of last year's draft. The AI has been moving him through the minors for me and he is currently at AAA. On my minor league system report, it says he is Ready for Major League Level. My question is, is he really ready? He's jumped through all the levels of the minors in one season. Now, I need a catcher on my big league team, but I don't want to ruin him. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks! Player Report for #11 Kyle Skipworth Attached Images

07-27-2009, 02:42 PM	#2
TribeFanInNC Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,019	Yeah, probably. Obviously he hasn't developed ML caliber power yet, but he may never do that. Seems ready with regards to contact, eye, and defense. I'd probably give him a shot, especially if you can platoon him, but I'd have a plan B just in case he goes 2 for 20 with 3 errors.

07-28-2009, 08:05 AM	#5
Pronkytonk Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 168	Definitely NO. This guy has a grand total of 28 games above single A level so there is no real stats base to evalutate him properly. I've had the AI telling me guys would be ready for the majors just to see the very same guys rated as "not ready for AAA" just two months later not once, but quite often so it would be wise not to make decisions based only on this AI advice ...

07-28-2009, 09:00 AM	#6
asavoca Bat Boy Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 12	I don't really need him now. I am 18 games out of first place and not going anywhere any time soon. So, I think that I will leave him there for at least the remainder of this season and then evaluate him in spring training before next season. Thanks for the guidance!

07-28-2009, 10:49 AM	#7
Athletics17 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: jackson Hole, Wy Posts: 1,187	I would leave him in AAA and do what I can to make that team better. I found the best way to develop players is to have him on winning team. I will sign players that might not or would not make it to the majors, but will do well at certain levels of the minors. It kind of like stacking up the teams but I helps keep your players happy and develop.

07-28-2009, 02:05 PM	#9
mantis1 Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	If this were my player, I would let him platoon against righties - IF I were in contention. If I was 18 games out of first, I'd let him develop more. This player can afford to be rushed, however. He isn't your long-term answer at catcher (in least in my opinion) because: 1. He is not strong defensively, he doesn't compensate with his stick, and he might not ever. After some thought, I generally require my catchers to have ratings of at least 70 in arm and ability, unless they hit extremely well. I don't know how the model is in OOTPX, but in OOTP9 catcher defensive ratings were incredibly important, i.e. they dictate what the opposition can do in the run game. Also, a good catcher can lower your staff ERA. 2. Don't read too much into what the computer suggests about player placement. Go by player ratings and stats. Best of luck.