Fundamental flaw in basic gameplay. (or "I *cannot* be alone in wanting to play this way.)

[henry296]

If the AI is making these decisions that appear to hinder prospect development on SkyDog's team, it is probably doing it to the AI teams which leads to them having less successful teams. Thus, it is an AI issue that while challenging to fix appears to have room for improvement.

[PSUColonel]

One thing I have been lobbying for some time could likely help to solve with some of the AI decision making in an in direct way....minors age limits. In the actual MiLB this is the case, and probably should be in OOTP as well.

[Marinersfan51]

I have tried to manage my minor leagues and I find it too time consuming, but I still want to control where my top prospects are and I would prefer for all my players even those without potential to get a full year at each level. The locking players in to minor league levels doesn't work very well and will lead to teams with 17 pitchers and 8 hitters because it doesn't take the locked players into account.

I think what would work best for me would be a way to disable injuries in the minors, so I'm not forced to make tedious injury call ups when I don't think the players are ready. I realize that its unrealistic, but we can disable injuries at the major league level, so why not only the minors.

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Excellent thoughts. Just a minor quibble: I would argue that if the game worked well enough to allow me to remove myself from worrying about who is getting starts in the minors and micromanaging that sort of thing, then for the most part, the "two similar prospects at same level" issue wouldn't creep up that often, because I'd be drafting to fill holes, trading away prospects when I have two, etc.

In my experiences with 2 players with the same skills and position, the AI switched a player to a different position.

For one example, I created myself and placed me on the Phillies low A squad.

I have 5 tool ratings and was listed as a CF (favor CF) and SS. The AI sent me to High A because my potential was pretty good and I am 24. I had very low current ratings (hit .208 that year; but 60 steals)

Anyway, I was moved to 2B because Clearwater already had a good SS and CF starting on the team.

I was later moved to CF after Jiwan James (CF) was called up to AA.

I think the AI does a good job at compromising.

Maybe I am used to horrible AI in console games and I am not noticing the flaws in OOTP 13

Also, how does your minor league manger's overall roster strategy sliders look? Maybe adjust it to favor prospect more?


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[RchW]

Originally Posted by rjl518

i have had no issue handling the minors either...i do it myself but sometimes i ask my AI top set up the minors real quick...then i enhance its decisions

I do this and then lock certain players to stop Borkholdering.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

Also, how does your minor league manger's overall roster strategy sliders look? Maybe adjust it to favor prospect more?

I'll confess I haven't digested the entire thread, but I'll jump in conveniently to add that this (^) area is where we're in agreement, and specifically not just as it relates to a manager's sliders. The game itself, IMHO, needs to put more value on hanging on to young players. In many choices, again IMHO, the AI- for reasons unknown to me -appears to be placing more value on a 29-30 year old who isn't going to grow than it's giving to a 22-24 year old that may or may not reach his potential.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by Cooleyvol

You obviously are not aware of the work SkyDog has put in on making OOTP the game you play today. Therefore, your lecturing of him on OOTP and its workings is a waste of your time. Either help him with his problem or let someone who knows a bit more about it than you help him.

Is it possible he has a setting wrong? Possibly. But rest assured, he's not come here without at least going through all of that and thinking he has exhausted what he could do to fix it. He's not one of those who comes here and asks how to play the game as soon as he opens it for the first time. He opened it for the first time many versions ago.

So, understanding all that, do you have any suggestions for him, agree with him, or have any thoughts on this issue? I ask, given that you've been around a long time, too, and understand such complexities.

[megamanmatt]

Personally I think another problem is that fringe and non-players stick around for far too long before they retire. These are the guys you see at like 29, 30, 31 and older accepting minor league contracts even though they have no hope, and never had any, of playing in the majors.

For the most part these players don't exist in reality because they have families to feed and minor league contracts don't pay well. Since nothing like that is modeled in OOTP you end up with huge numbers of these free agents taking up spots on minor league rosters that should go to more promising players and prospects.

I agree the AI factors largely too but I just didn't have much to add which hasn't been said.

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by megamanmatt

Personally I think another problem is that fringe and non-players stick around for far too long before they retire. These are the guys you see at like 29, 30, 31 and older accepting minor league contracts even though they have no hope, and never had any, of playing in the majors.

For the most part these players don't exist in reality because they have families to feed and minor league contracts don't pay well. Since nothing like that is modeled in OOTP you end up with huge numbers of these free agents taking up spots on minor league rosters that should go to more promising players and prospects.

I agree the AI factors largely too but I just didn't have much to add which hasn't been said.

Im curious to know how well does "delete those who never reached Majors" option works?

Will this option actually delete the fringe guys in your farm?

I wouldn't want the game randomly deleting players because they are 26+ in AAA and havent made the show yet.

Guys in FA would make more since though.


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[Cras]

that is not how that feature works. It deletes guys who have retired without ever having reached the big leagues. Thus, your saved game will not be filled with history pages for guys who were career minor leaguers. useful for guys who only have so much room, and can't handle their leagues growing to many GBs in size.

[snepp]

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

Im curious to know how well does "delete those who never reached Majors" option works?

Will this option actually delete the fringe guys in your farm?

I wouldn't want the game randomly deleting players because they are 26+ in AAA and havent made the show yet.

All that feature does is delete the player's information out of the database after they retire. It helps to trim the fat off of large, long-running leagues. It doesn't have anything to do with currently active players.


Edit: The punch, beaten to it.

[megamanmatt]

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

I wouldn't want the game randomly deleting players because they are 26+ in AAA and havent made the show yet.

I didn't say it should at random either though. I'm just saying there needs to be a counter balance to the fact they're not real people, if that makes any sense.

[Cras]

Originally Posted by megamanmatt

I didn't say it should at random either though. I'm just saying there needs to be a counter balance to the fact they're not real people, if that makes any sense.

You make prefect sense to me.

I say it is quite reasonable for having a minor league player see the writing on the wall. The guy is getting up there in age, played several seasons in the minor leagues, is on his second or third organization, and still has not made it to the Show, he should retire. It would help flush out the garbage more naturally I would think.

[megamanmatt]

Originally Posted by Cras

You make prefect sense to me.

I say it is quite reasonable for having a minor league player see the writing on the wall. The guy is getting up there in age, played several seasons in the minor leagues, is on his second or third organization, and still has not made it to the Show, he should retire. It would help flush out the garbage more naturally I would think.

Thanks. That sums up up perfectly. I was having trouble finding the words.
Still a bit disoriented for the Twins beating the Yankees last night.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by JohnHoward

SkyDog I have a lot of sympathy for your view, and I used to feel the same way, but now I have gotten so deeply into organizational managment that I do manage all the minor league rosters, set all the lineups and pitching rotations, and monitor progress on a game-by-game basis. I love it and only deviate from that when I am playing historical and using reserve rosters instead of minors. I think organizational immersion is even more rewarding than team immersion. It used to feel exhausting but no longer. Having said that, I really do understand what you are looking for and I agree that the AI is not there yet. But I'm telling you, if you try doing it ALL, runnign the entire organization, it is really fun and rewarding.

^^ This. I do it with a modern MLB league and have a lot of fun handling all of the minor league teams. Who needs an AI to run the minors when we can do it ourselves so much better and have a lot of fun doing it? The tools are there. All of the problems the OP listed can be readily overcome. You just have to know the tools and use them.

Plus this really gets you to know you future major leaguers well.

[The Wolf]

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

One thing I have been lobbying for some time could likely help to solve with some of the AI decision making in an in direct way....minors age limits. In the actual MiLB this is the case, and probably should be in OOTP as well.

There was a 37-year-old in AAA last year.

Meet Andy Tracy, the oldest minor leaguer

[SunDevil]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

All of the problems the OP listed can be readily overcome. You just have to know the tools and use them.

If you could please be more forthcoming with the tools to use and how to use them. Thanks.

[Craig Scarborough]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

There was a 37-year-old in AAA last year.

Meet Andy Tracy, the oldest minor leaguer

There are no limits on age for AAA players. As I understand it, this only kicks in for A and below.

[Craig Scarborough]

Originally Posted by SirMichaelJordan

Also, how does your minor league manger's overall roster strategy sliders look? Maybe adjust it to favor prospect more?


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Shouldn't this be the default? Fundamentally, the minor leagues exist to make the major league team better (yes, I'm fully aware that the general manager of a minor league team is also trying to put fannies in the seats). Prospects, ANY prospect, should get the majority of at bats, innings pitched, etc., without having to change any modifier.

I'm thinking - perhaps the solution then (a quick one, anyway), is to have a parameter where one can set a player as an "official" prospect. These guys would then get priority by the AI. The rest, hey, let the AI deal with them.

[megamanmatt]

Originally Posted by The Wolf

^^ This. I do it with a modern MLB league and have a lot of fun handling all of the minor league teams. Who needs an AI to run the minors when we can do it ourselves so much better and have a lot of fun doing it? The tools are there. All of the problems the OP listed can be readily overcome. You just have to know the tools and use them.

That's not what OP wants to do though so this doesn't matter. Whether you think it's better to play that way or not OP is asking for something very specific and from the sound of it that is pretty much the opposite. I'm not trying to start a fight with you Wolf I'm just saying you have to consider what OP wants above all else.