Spring training - non roster invites

[mvm04]

Have non roster invites made it into ootp12?

If not, does anyone know an easy way to simulate one?

[ctorg]

I'd love to see this.

[SATW]

I would really like this as well. I'd actually love an increased emphasis on ST in general. Maybe the ability to focus on trying to improve a few things about your players. For example, teaching a player a new position, teaching a new pitch, etc. This could get too gimmicky though, so there'd have be some sort of balance.

[CD1083]

I 4th this.

I've been clamoring for this addition for awhile.

Nothing better than inviting Esteban Loaiza to camp and have him win 20 games.

[MizzouRah]

Would be a great addition.

[tejdog1]

6th-ed.

[Cryomaniac]

7th'd.

I think it should be quite easy to do (treat them like free agents but with no contract or something and automatically release them at the end of ST).

[thulean]

Originally Posted by SATW

Maybe the ability to focus on trying to improve a few things about your players. For example, teaching a player a new position, teaching a new pitch, etc. This could get too gimmicky though, so there'd have be some sort of balance.

Teaching positions is automatic now. If you want a player to learn a new position you just start playing him at the position. He'll quickly get a position rating and then the more he plays the more it goes up.

It's harder for middle infielders to learn corner infield, and vice versa, but some players seem to be able to handle all 4 easily. Same with corner outfielders. A player that knows LF seems to pick up on RF easily. CF is a little more difficult. They key is to look at a players height and weight. If a player is 6'4" 240, it's probably not a good idea to teach him 2B.

As for learning new pitches, Ive yet to ever have a pitcher pick up a new pitch.

In older versions you could teach new positions and have players work on ratings in spring training with points that you could assign to players. But it's all automated now.

[Markus Heinsohn]

OOTP 12 will have minor league contracts with major league clauses (salary X if promoted, released if not on active roster until 30th day of the season). These can be used as spring training invitations basically, as players with these contracts who suck during ST can be released without cost.

[Chicagofan76]

what about ST facilities instead of having Chicago play in Minnesota in March.
this yr they would have to use a neon green ball to find it. I hate snow.

[Phillies_WFC_2008]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

OOTP 12 will have minor league contracts with major league clauses (salary X if promoted, released if not on active roster until 30th day of the season). These can be used as spring training invitations basically, as players with these contracts who suck during ST can be released without cost.

I love this addition. But it seems as though you would still have to use a 40-man roster spot for these players. I think it would be nice to have non-roster invitees, guys you don't want to waste a roster spot on and have them try out in Spring Training.

Either way, I love the game, and love the additions, so keep up the good work.

[Cryomaniac]

One thing to do might be to make the roster unlimited in size during Spring Training, and allow any team to "sign" anyone to a "Spring Training Contract" that is basically a contract for $0 that they can be released from at anytime.

[Phillies_WFC_2008]

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

One thing to do might be to make the roster unlimited in size during Spring Training, and allow any team to "sign" anyone to a "Spring Training Contract" that is basically a contract for $0 that they can be released from at anytime.

What I have done in the past is sign guys to league minimum and gone into commish mode and released them with no financial penalty. WHile this is a form of cheating, I see it as a mere circumvention of the rules.

But even being allotted a certain amount of extra spots in addition to your 40 man roster for Spring Training would be a step in the right direction. Even if it is as little as 5 or 10.

[BusterKing]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

OOTP 12 will have minor league contracts with major league clauses (salary X if promoted, released if not on active roster until 30th day of the season). These can be used as spring training invitations basically, as players with these contracts who suck during ST can be released without cost.

I guess the difference between your idea Markus and the invitations is how will your idea be affecting our payroll controlled by the owner? That promised money will no longer be available for other free agents before and those 30 days of training camp?

[Biggio509]

Originally Posted by thulean

Teaching positions is automatic now. If you want a player to learn a new position you just start playing him at the position. He'll quickly get a position rating and then the more he plays the more it goes up.

Two things here. Every position has minimum ratings. Some guys will never get a SS rating no matter how much you play them there. There is a chart some where on the OOTP 11 forums that shows minimum ratings per position. The harder the position on the D spectrum the more minimum ratings are needed to get a rating. For instance 1B only needs low fielding range, iirc, to qualify for a rating. You need decent ratings in every category to get a SS rating with experience.

Secondly the manager's teach fielding determines how fast they learn. Only in spring training do the ratings seem to go up quickly. If you have a so-so fielding manager at the level the guy is out it can take a long while for him to learn.

[thulean]

Originally Posted by Biggio509

Two things here. Every position has minimum ratings. Some guys will never get a SS rating no matter how much you play them there. There is a chart some where on the OOTP 11 forums that shows minimum ratings per position. The harder the position on the D spectrum the more minimum ratings are needed to get a rating. For instance 1B only needs low fielding range, iirc, to qualify for a rating. You need decent ratings in every category to get a SS rating with experience.

Secondly the manager's teach fielding determines how fast they learn. Only in spring training do the ratings seem to go up quickly. If you have a so-so fielding manager at the level the guy is out it can take a long while for him to learn.

A lot of players pick up a position rating after playing even a couple innings there. If theyre substituted late in the game at 3B and theyre a catcher, they get a 3B rating for example.

A lot of it depends on the player's natural position. 1B's can learn 3B, SS's can learn 2B, RF's can learn LF, and vice versa. Unless it's a unique player, you cant teach a 1B to play 2B.

[thulean]

Originally Posted by Biggio509

There is a chart some where on the OOTP 11 forums that shows minimum ratings per position. The harder the position on the D spectrum the more minimum ratings are needed to get a rating.

This is from the manual:

OOTP follows the concept of the "defensive spectrum." The defensive spectrum is as follows: DH - 1B - LF - RF - 3B - CF - 2B - SS. Generally speaking, the further to the right, the harder the position is to play and the harder it will be to convert a player to that position. Position players can learn to play catcher, but it often takes a very long time, and they typically don't make very good ones.

[Chicagofan76]

Just thought I would share 1 of my players that started out as a 6 in RF and how many regular season games he has played to get his other ratings...some of these r in the minors most r at MLB level. Didnt play him say more then 5 games in CF in any ST season. Most was OTJ. I have several more because versatility is key for staying on my team. I have a 3B/LF that I keep trying to get to learn 2B, but when I force start him at 2B at AAA he usually gets moved to AA or even A I dont control lineups in minors. but all 3 of my OF can play all 3 OF spots and my CF can play SS and 3B. most of this was been done at MLB during blowouts after the 7th inning.

[Biggio509]

Originally Posted by thulean

.

A lot of it depends on the player's natural position. 1B's can learn 3B, SS's can learn 2B, RF's can learn LF, and vice versa. Unless it's a unique player, you cant teach a 1B to play 2B.

Being unique in the game means you meet the minimum position requirements. So it something that is easily quantified. The point I am getting at is you can tell which players can where if you have an idea about what the minimum ratings are. I can't seem to find the chart showing these. I think BMW created and has posted it but I could be mistaken since I can't find the thread.

As to the speed yes sometimes players learn quickly. Sometimes they do not. Sometimes they do not seem to learn at all. In the last cases their position ratings are probably maxed for that position and yes that can 0 where it is maxed. Each fielding rating impacts the ability to play a position differently. That is combined somehow with experience at the position to create the rating.

Essentially the spectrum means all IF ratings affect SS position rating. IRRC, all but IF arm affect 2B ratings. All but turn DP affect 3B while, only range and maybe error affect 1B ratings. So an awesome SS can get awesome ratings at any position with enough experience. Where as a 2B with a weak arm might be an ok SS with max experience he will never has high a rating he does at 2B. You can have a 20 rating at 1B and not qualify anywhere else. Although, I have never seen this happen. You would essentially have to have excellent range and error but no arm nor turn DP. It is a combination that does not appear much if ever.

In short experience is only one component. If you are trying to teach a guy new position and he isn't learning it is highly likely he can't learn that position or is as good as he ever will be.

[thulean]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

Just thought I would share 1 of my players that started out as a 6 in RF and how many regular season games he has played to get his other ratings...some of these r in the minors most r at MLB level. Didnt play him say more then 5 games in CF in any ST season. Most was OTJ. I have several more because versatility is key for staying on my team. I have a 3B/LF that I keep trying to get to learn 2B, but when I force start him at 2B at AAA he usually gets moved to AA or even A I dont control lineups in minors. but all 3 of my OF can play all 3 OF spots and my CF can play SS and 3B. most of this was been done at MLB during blowouts after the 7th inning.

Hmm. Thats interesting. Thanks for that. So there was improvement at CF over the years.