Scouting and Player Dev Expenses Question

[jpeters1734]

I'm a bit confused with these two options. May be I'm overthinking it.

I assume player dev helps your players to improve. How does that apply in real life? What would throwing an extra million in "player development" do for a real franchise? Isn't that what coaches are for? Also, what are the benchmarks? If I double my player development, do my players progress twice as fast or twice as good? It's very confusing.

What about the scouting budget? I understand the real life application. More money gets more reports, but what about ootp? Do you find more oversees talent with more scouting money or are the players better? Are the reports more accurate? Again, what are the benchmarks? Does doubling your budget make the reports twice as good?

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

I'm a bit confused with these two options. May be I'm overthinking it.

I assume player dev helps your players to improve. How does that apply in real life? What would throwing an extra million in "player development" do for a real franchise? Isn't that what coaches are for? Also, what are the benchmarks? If I double my player development, do my players progress twice as fast or twice as good? It's very confusing.

What about the scouting budget? I understand the real life application. More money gets more reports, but what about ootp? Do you find more oversees talent with more scouting money or are the players better? Are the reports more accurate? Again, what are the benchmarks? Does doubling your budget make the reports twice as good?

Maybe you are under-thinking this. Expand your thoughts a bit and think of all the expenses that must go into major league scouting and player development, at least these days (probably less historically).

The online manual gives a hint: "The Scouting Budget defines how much money your team spends on scouting per year. This money is used to pay scout salaries, travel, and other administrative expenses, but all of this detail is hidden to the GM." Although it does not say the same about the Player Development Budget, I am sure this is applicable there as well.

So. Scouts and coaches need assistants and other support staff, correct? Research must be paid for as well as tools such as stop watches and radar guns (in modern days). The travel budget is a big consideration, especially concerning scouting. Good equipment is important to player development. Etc., etc., - I am sure you can think of more.

So while the quality of your coaches and scouts themselves are certainly important, their efforts can be enhanced or impeded by the level of funds budgeted for their support.

Now, in the game, heed what it says in the online manual about "all of this detail is hidden to the GM." What that means is, there is NOT a direct connection between each dollar spent and positive and negative results. In other words, no, doubling your budget [does not necessarily] make the reports twice as good. The trend will be there, however, but without the absolute guarantee of results. Just as in real life.

[jpeters1734]

lol well i hadn't thought that I may be under thinking it. I agree with you about the scouting. More money gets better results but is it worth it? I could spend 5 mil extra or sign a decent player.

What I don't understand is the player development. I just don't believe that GM spend around 6 million a year on top of coach contracts to enhance player development. Where is the money going to? To me, it feels like a multiplier. Like in some sports games where you get a +1 in speed if you buy a certain pair of shoes.

I will admit, I'm not familiar with real life MLB budgets, but I don't think there are player development costs.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

lol well i hadn't thought that I may be under thinking it. I agree with you about the scouting. More money gets better results but is it worth it? I could spend 5 mil extra or sign a decent player.

What I don't understand is the player development. I just don't believe that GM spend around 6 million a year on top of coach contracts to enhance player development. Where is the money going to? To me, it feels like a multiplier. Like in some sports games where you get a +1 in speed if you buy a certain pair of shoes.

I will admit, I'm not familiar with real life MLB budgets, but I don't think there are player development costs.

Well, if I have not "sold" you on it, I believe you can turn off player development budgets just by entering a zero here on your Financial settings page:

[jpeters1734]

So weird. Half my last post got cut off. I mentioned that I know I can rid of it but I'd rather not. I just want to know the logic behind it.

What I am still unsure of is what kind of impact does it actually have to player development. Also if I turn them off, what effect does that have to player development?

[pgjocki]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

So weird. Half my last post got cut off. I mentioned that I know I can rid of it but I'd rather not. I just want to know the logic behind it.

What I am still unsure of is what kind of impact does it actually have to player development. Also if I turn them off, what effect does that have to player development?

It has been my experience that if you turn it off then everyone develops at the same pace, i.e. both your guys and the computer players. This removes any incentive to hire a good staff or spend any money at all.

I suggest reading this article How the Cardinals keep winning and winning. | SportsonEarth.com : Howard Megdal Article about the St. Louis Cardinals and how they approach player development and scouting for more of a real life perspective.

[jpeters1734]

Great article! It makes me not like the cardinals even more lol. What it comes down to, is it take a lot of time, dedication, and commitment from every member in the organization when it comes to scouting and player development. Those are traits that are not very easily expressed in a video game. Perhaps I should look at the money as "dedication meter".

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

Great article! It makes me not like the cardinals even more lol. What it comes down to, is it take a lot of time, dedication, and commitment from every member in the organization when it comes to scouting and player development. Those are traits that are not very easily expressed in a video game. Perhaps I should look at the money as "dedication meter".

No video game gimmicks/names needed, just look at it as how much resources are put into player development.

[wuttang]

I've read through the forums because I was also curious. The impressions I got was, in the game, the money you put in doesn't make a whole lot of difference.
Whether you put in double triple the league avg, I read you get minimal returns.

[jpeters1734]

I have been doing some testing. i created a 2 team league and took control of both teams. I created a batter and pitcher with 10 current and 100 potential ratings for everything. I cloned them so each team was the same. every player started at 17. I removed all other variables like trades, FA, injuries, coaches, and so on. I disabled the draft. One team I maxed player dev and another team I took it off. The teams played the same for about 5-6 years. Then the gap started to separate. The team with the player dev started winning 65% of the time and had the better players in the league.

Before that test I did one in a standard league with just 2 cloned players and the players in that one didn't make much difference either way. Perhaps that was just due to randomness.

I am testing it fully in another standard league but it's not done simming. I do believe it has an effect on your organization overall. There will be outliers.

Going back to my original point for the post, I don't doubt that it has an effect. I just don't understand the real life application.

[Sabres2000]

not sure if this falls into the same topic however in the budgets with my expansion team is it more better to have 15% in major and minor scouting and then the rest divided between scouting internationally and amateur