Unaffiliated Teams In Affiliated Minor Leagues

ovccsteve · 05-08-2013, 10:24 PM

Does anyone have experience with having unaffiliated teams in affiliated minor leagues. I'm doing a fictional World League and want the AAA clubs to be close to the major league teams, but it would work best to have an 8-team AAA in South America, though only 4 Major League Teams play there. Anyone know how it will work out?

OmahaReynolds · 05-08-2013, 10:56 PM

I've tried this and here are a couple things I have found.

1. Unaffiliated teams can sign free agents to minor league contracts.
2. They can sign more players than the roster limits allow. Extra players get hidden, meaning they are not shown on the roster. For example, after a few seasons you can pull up one of the unaffiliated teams' roster page, and it will show 25/25. If you select the "Entire Organization" view in the top right corner of the screen you will see there may be 40, 50 or more players in the organization. The extras are just kind of hidden, not on a roster. They are just there.

3. The consensus seems to be that the unaffiliated teams will dominate the leagues after awhile, because the teams with parent leagues will keep losing their best players to promotions.

ovccsteve · 05-08-2013, 11:05 PM

I wonder if it would help if I went in and released all or almost all the players every offseason, making them re-sign a complete team every year. It's only four teams, so wouldn't be a lot of work.

Questdog · 05-08-2013, 11:08 PM

yes, it will help...however, their large reserve rosters will mean that you will have a couple of hundred players that don't play......

OmahaReynolds · 05-08-2013, 11:11 PM

Just think of the extra players as guys in the extremely minor leagues that don't even keep stat records or, more likely, sell tickets.

elfsutton · 05-09-2013, 12:15 AM

You might want to think about it like this, Those teams that are unaffliated will sign extra player and they might dominate the minors, but those extra players will get playing time and should get development from that, instead of all those players sitting there as free agent doing squat.

iggyhood · 05-09-2013, 02:39 AM

Having an unaffiliated team dominate also reflects what has happened in real world - the Salt Lake City Trappers won four championships and 29 games in a row at one point as an unaffiliated team and had th eldest team in th Pioneer League

Le Grande Orange · 05-09-2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iggyhood

Having an unaffiliated team dominate also reflects what has happened in real world ...

Actually, the reality is a bit more complicated than that. Awhile back I compiled some data on the performance of independent teams in affiliated minor leagues. Overall, independent clubs in full season leagues generally did poorly while independent clubs in short season leagues faired better.

From 1973-1995 there were a total of 75 clubs which operated independently in otherwise affiliated minor leagues. (There were no independents from 1996-2006.) Of those 75 clubs, 27 (36%) were in full season leagues and 48 (64%) in short season leagues. Of the ones in the full season leagues, 26 were in the High-A leagues (California, Carolina, Florida State) and 1 in Low-A (South Atlantic League). Of the ones in short season leagues, 34 were in Short-A leagues (New York-Penn, Northwest) and 14 in Rookie (Pioneer, Appalachian).

In aggregate, the clubs in full season leagues compiled a 1437-2287 .386 record, while the independents in the short season leagues compiled a 1752-1741 .502 record. Below is a table showing the results for each independent club in the two types of affiliated minor leagues, ordered by winning percentage.

Code:

FULL SEASON LEAGUES

Year  Lg  Class Team             W   L   Pct
--------------------------------------------
1986  FSL  A-H  Miami           74  66  .529
1990  CAL  A-H  Reno            71  68  .511
1987  CAL  A-H  San Bernardino  70  72  .493
1989  CAL  A-H  Reno            68  74  .479
1986  CAL  A-H  San Jose        65  77  .458
1979  CAL  A-H  Bakersfield     63  77  .450
1986  CAR  A-H  Kinston         60  76  .441
1978  CAR  A-H  Alexandria      58  75  .436
1991  CAL  A-H  Reno            59  77  .434
1978  CAR  A-H  Kinston         57  77  .425
1985  FSL  A-H  Miami           58  83  .411
1988  FSL  A-H  Miami           55  79  .410
1991  CAL  A-H  Salinas         55  81  .404
1984  CAL  A-H  San Jose        55  85  .393
1982  FSL  A-H  Miami           53  84  .387
1980  CAR  A-H  Alexandria      54  86  .386
1985  CAL  A-H  San Jose        55  88  .385
1978  CAL  A-H  Bakersfield     48  92  .343
1990  CAL  A-H  Salinas         47  93  .336
1987  FSL  A-H  Miami           44  89  .331
1989  CAR  A-H  Peninsula       44  89  .331
1990  FSL  A-H  Miami           44  93  .321
1985  SAL  A-L  Gastonia        44  93  .321
1989  FSL  A-H  Miami           43  91  .321
1992  CAL  A-H  Salinas         36  99  .267
1987  CAL  A-H  San Jose        33 109  .232
1980  CAR  A-H  Rocky Mount     24 114  .174


SHORT SEASON LEAGUES

Year  Lg  Class Team             W   L   Pct
--------------------------------------------
1987  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  49  21  .700
1991  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  49  21  .700
1992  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  53  23  .697
1978  NWL  A-S  Grays Harbor    47  23  .671
1977  NWL  A-S  Portland        44  22  .667
1985  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  46  24  .657
1983  NYP  A-S  Utica           48  26  .649
1984  PIO  R-A  Helena          44  24  .647
1986  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  45  25  .643
1990  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  42  26  .618
1980  NWL  A-S  Victoria        42  28  .600
1974  NWL  A-S  Portland        50  34  .595
1988  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  41  29  .586
1990  NYP  A-S  Erie            44  33  .571
1979  NWL  A-S  Victoria        41  31  .569
1994  PIO  R-A  Ogden           41  31  .569
1973  NWL  A-S  Portland        45  35  .563
1981  NYP  A-S  Utica           39  31  .557
1976  NWL  A-S  Portland        40  32  .556
1982  NYP  A-S  Utica           41  34  .547
1975  NWL  A-S  Portland        42  35  .545
1976  NWL  A-S  Seattle         39  33  .542
1993  PIO  R-A  Pocatello       37  38  .493
1980  NWL  A-S  Salem           34  36  .486
1980  NWL  A-S  Grays Harbor    33  36  .478
1978  APP  R-A  Paintsville     33  36  .478
1989  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  33  36  .478
1989  NWL  A-S  Boise           35  40  .467
1985  NYP  A-S  Utica           35  41  .461
1979  NWL  A-S  Salem           33  39  .458
1995  PIO  R-A  Ogden           32  38  .457
1979  NYP  A-S  Newark          32  39  .451
1985  NWL  A-S  Tri-City        33  41  .446
1975  NWL  A-S  Seattle         35  44  .443
1978  NYP  A-S  Niagara Falls   30  40  .429
1979  NYP  A-S  Niagara Falls   30  41  .423
1978  NWL  A-S  Victoria        29  40  .420
1984  NYP  A-S  Utica           31  44  .413
1974  NWL  A-S  New Westminster 34  50  .405
1988  NWL  A-S  Boise           30  46  .395
1978  NWL  A-S  Salem           25  44  .362
1976  NWL  A-S  Grays Harbor    26  46  .361
1987  NWL  A-S  Boise           26  50  .342
1977  NWL  A-S  Salem           22  46  .324
1974  NWL  A-S  Tri-City        27  57  .321
1978  NWL  A-S  Boise           23  49  .319
1987  NYP  A-S  Batavia         23  54  .299
1985  PIO  R-A  Idaho Falls     19  49  .279

Just two of the independents in the full season leagues managed to post a record above.500; the rest were under, and a few of the clubs were truly dreadful. In short season leagues, however, 22 of the 48 teams posted records above .500, and 11 were above .600 — some short season independent clubs were able to be very competitive indeed.

Here's the same data again, this time ordered by club and year, allowing one to see the year-by-year progression for those clubs which operated as independents in consecutive years.

Code:

FULL SEASON LEAGUES

Year  Lg  Class Team             W   L   Pct
--------------------------------------------
1978  CAR  A-H  Alexandria      58  75  .436
1980  CAR  A-H  Alexandria      54  86  .386
1978  CAL  A-H  Bakersfield     48  92  .343
1979  CAL  A-H  Bakersfield     63  77  .450
1985  SAL  A-L  Gastonia        44  93  .321
1978  CAR  A-H  Kinston         57  77  .425
1986  CAR  A-H  Kinston         60  76  .441
1982  FSL  A-H  Miami           53  84  .387
1985  FSL  A-H  Miami           58  83  .411
1986  FSL  A-H  Miami           74  66  .529
1987  FSL  A-H  Miami           44  89  .331
1988  FSL  A-H  Miami           55  79  .410
1989  FSL  A-H  Miami           43  91  .321
1990  FSL  A-H  Miami           44  93  .321
1989  CAR  A-H  Peninsula       44  89  .331
1989  CAL  A-H  Reno            68  74  .479
1990  CAL  A-H  Reno            71  68  .511
1991  CAL  A-H  Reno            59  77  .434
1980  CAR  A-H  Rocky Mount     24 114  .174
1990  CAL  A-H  Salinas         47  93  .336
1991  CAL  A-H  Salinas         55  81  .404
1992  CAL  A-H  Salinas         36  99  .267
1987  CAL  A-H  San Bernardino  70  72  .493
1984  CAL  A-H  San Jose        55  85  .393
1985  CAL  A-H  San Jose        55  88  .385
1986  CAL  A-H  San Jose        65  77  .458
1987  CAL  A-H  San Jose        33 109  .232


SHORT SEASON LEAGUES

Year  Lg  Class Team             W   L   Pct
--------------------------------------------
1987  NYP  A-S  Batavia         23  54  .299
1978  NWL  A-S  Boise           23  49  .319
1987  NWL  A-S  Boise           26  50  .342
1988  NWL  A-S  Boise           30  46  .395
1989  NWL  A-S  Boise           35  40  .467
1990  NYP  A-S  Erie            44  33  .571
1976  NWL  A-S  Grays Harbor    26  46  .361
1978  NWL  A-S  Grays Harbor    47  23  .671
1980  NWL  A-S  Grays Harbor    33  36  .478
1984  PIO  R-A  Helena          44  24  .647
1985  PIO  R-A  Idaho Falls     19  49  .279
1974  NWL  A-S  New Westminster 34  50  .405
1979  NYP  A-S  Newark          32  39  .451
1978  NYP  A-S  Niagara Falls   30  40  .429
1979  NYP  A-S  Niagara Falls   30  41  .423
1994  PIO  R-A  Ogden           41  31  .569
1995  PIO  R-A  Ogden           32  38  .457
1978  APP  R-A  Paintsville     33  36  .478
1993  PIO  R-A  Pocatello       37  38  .493
1973  NWL  A-S  Portland        45  35  .563
1974  NWL  A-S  Portland        50  34  .595
1975  NWL  A-S  Portland        42  35  .545
1976  NWL  A-S  Portland        40  32  .556
1977  NWL  A-S  Portland        44  22  .667
1977  NWL  A-S  Salem           22  46  .324
1978  NWL  A-S  Salem           25  44  .362
1979  NWL  A-S  Salem           33  39  .458
1980  NWL  A-S  Salem           34  36  .486
1985  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  46  24  .657
1986  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  45  25  .643
1987  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  49  21  .700
1988  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  41  29  .586
1989  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  33  36  .478
1990  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  42  26  .618
1991  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  49  21  .700
1992  PIO  R-A  Salt Lake City  53  23  .697
1975  NWL  A-S  Seattle         35  44  .443
1976  NWL  A-S  Seattle         39  33  .542
1974  NWL  A-S  Tri-City        27  57  .321
1985  NWL  A-S  Tri-City        33  41  .446
1981  NYP  A-S  Utica           39  31  .557
1982  NYP  A-S  Utica           41  34  .547
1983  NYP  A-S  Utica           48  26  .649
1984  NYP  A-S  Utica           31  44  .413
1985  NYP  A-S  Utica           35  41  .461
1978  NWL  A-S  Victoria        29  40  .420
1979  NWL  A-S  Victoria        41  31  .569
1980  NWL  A-S  Victoria        42  28  .600

05-08-2013, 10:24 PM	#1
ovccsteve All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sanford, NC Posts: 571	Unaffiliated Teams In Affiliated Minor Leagues Does anyone have experience with having unaffiliated teams in affiliated minor leagues. I'm doing a fictional World League and want the AAA clubs to be close to the major league teams, but it would work best to have an 8-team AAA in South America, though only 4 Major League Teams play there. Anyone know how it will work out?

05-09-2013, 12:15 AM	#6
elfsutton All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Cadiz, Ohio Posts: 946	You might want to think about it like this, Those teams that are unaffliated will sign extra player and they might dominate the minors, but those extra players will get playing time and should get development from that, instead of all those players sitting there as free agent doing squat. __________________ Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians fan Rewriting Cubs History, a Dynasty Report Baseball History, What Might Have Been Rewriting Cubs History Poll

05-08-2013, 10:56 PM	#2
OmahaReynolds All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York Posts: 653	I've tried this and here are a couple things I have found. 1. Unaffiliated teams can sign free agents to minor league contracts. 2. They can sign more players than the roster limits allow. Extra players get hidden, meaning they are not shown on the roster. For example, after a few seasons you can pull up one of the unaffiliated teams' roster page, and it will show 25/25. If you select the "Entire Organization" view in the top right corner of the screen you will see there may be 40, 50 or more players in the organization. The extras are just kind of hidden, not on a roster. They are just there. 3. The consensus seems to be that the unaffiliated teams will dominate the leagues after awhile, because the teams with parent leagues will keep losing their best players to promotions.

05-08-2013, 11:05 PM	#3
ovccsteve All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sanford, NC Posts: 571	I wonder if it would help if I went in and released all or almost all the players every offseason, making them re-sign a complete team every year. It's only four teams, so wouldn't be a lot of work.

05-08-2013, 11:08 PM	#4
Questdog Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a dark, damp cave where I'm training slugs to run the bases...... Posts: 16,142	yes, it will help...however, their large reserve rosters will mean that you will have a couple of hundred players that don't play......

05-08-2013, 11:11 PM	#5
OmahaReynolds All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York Posts: 653	Just think of the extra players as guys in the extremely minor leagues that don't even keep stat records or, more likely, sell tickets.

05-09-2013, 02:39 AM	#7
iggyhood Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northumberland, England Posts: 87	Having an unaffiliated team dominate also reflects what has happened in real world - the Salt Lake City Trappers won four championships and 29 games in a row at one point as an unaffiliated team and had th eldest team in th Pioneer League