Rust After Injury

[Hacksaw86]

How beneficial is it to move a position player to a rehab assignment after an injury? In this case the player was out for about 4 months. I see in the manual that for pitchers they are more likely to be injured when 'rusty' but I am not quite as clear on the position players. I assume production would be down if thrown straight in the lineup, but also curious about the injury possibility.

[JerseyPirate]

I send every player out for 4 months on a rehab assignment. For position players, it's normally 4-7 days depending on whether it's an every day player or a bench player. For pitchers, 4 months is a long time. They get at least 2 rehab starts or 4-5 relief appearances before I bring them back. For starting pitchers, it can take 3-4 starts to build up their arms to be able to throw 7+ innings.

I send all players that are out for 3+ weeks on rehab assignments at least for a couple days or 1 start. If they are only out 2 weeks, it depends on who the player is and how much I need that player back in the lineup.

[Hacksaw86]

Originally Posted by JerseyPirate

I send every player out for 4 months on a rehab assignment. For position players, it's normally 4-7 days depending on whether it's an every day player or a bench player. For pitchers, 4 months is a long time. They get at least 2 rehab starts or 4-5 relief appearances before I bring them back. For starting pitchers, it can take 3-4 starts to build up their arms to be able to throw 7+ innings.

I send all players that are out for 3+ weeks on rehab assignments at least for a couple days or 1 start. If they are only out 2 weeks, it depends on who the player is and how much I need that player back in the lineup.

It's an everyday guy, my usual starting RF. In a tight race so tempted to bring him back right away and hope for the best, but rehabbing for a week is probably the best play.

[JerseyPirate]

With an everyday guy you need back in the lineup, 3-4 days is usually all you need.

[jpeters1734]

it is very unclear, likely on purpose.

from my anecdotal evidence, I find that the player is slightly less prone to re-injury when you rehab him, though I cannot prove that or provide any data. I think the biggest benefit is simply because when players dont play for a while, their first few games are not as good. Better to shake that off in the minors on rehab. If they crush their first game in rehab, i'll usually bring them back

[oldfatbaldguy]

Does the type of injury make a difference? For example, if a broken bone is fully healed (player no longer identified as injured, at all) would you just be risking that he does badly because of rust, and not also re-injury, and would that be different for muscle or ligament things?

[jpeters1734]

Originally Posted by oldfatbaldguy

Does the type of injury make a difference? For example, if a broken bone is fully healed (player no longer identified as injured, at all) would you just be risking that he does badly because of rust, and not also re-injury, and would that be different for muscle or ligament things?

I’ll be honest, I don’t really ever look at the type, just the length. It’s possible that it was programmed that way, but I can’t say.

[oldfatbaldguy]

Thanks. This is a helpful thread. I've never used rehab in past editions, and just started playing 21. I've always figured my best players are my best players and rust is unpredictable -- sometimes guys jump right back in and produce. But re-injury risk is another thing.

[Hacksaw86]

The main reason I am torn on this is that it's an online league. In offline I could just rehab him for a game or two, maybe a series, then bring him up. With this one though it no rehab or a full 7 days. Close race between me and two other teams, 1.5 games separating first and third in our division with about a month left; playing one of the teams my second series of the week.

Decisions, decisions. All part of the fun of playing GM.

[jpeters1734]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw86

The main reason I am torn on this is that it's an online league. In offline I could just rehab him for a game or two, maybe a series, then bring him up. With this one though it no rehab or a full 7 days. Close race between me and two other teams, 1.5 games separating first and third in our division with about a month left; playing one of the teams my second series of the week.

Decisions, decisions. All part of the fun of playing GM.

I’d skip the rehab in your case.

[mytreds]

Hot starter I need in my lineup desperately = You’re back in the starting lineup the day after your injury is done.

Loser overpaid/overvalued player that I can’t afford to just drop due to salary = enjoy your time in the minors on your “rehab”.

[brotherblues]

Bats, depends on how desperate you are. Very situation specific.

With pitchers, though, it's almost mandatory after a long injury. They'll have huge stamina penalty at first, and also tend to get wrecked anyway. I usually keep them on rehab until they prove they can get one decent start, which usually happens on their third start.

This is for when they haven't played at least 2 months. When it's less than that, then roster priorities are the only factors.

[andjbock]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

it is very unclear, likely on purpose.

from my anecdotal evidence, I find that the player is slightly less prone to re-injury when you rehab him, though I cannot prove that or provide any data. I think the biggest benefit is simply because when players dont play for a while, their first few games are not as good. Better to shake that off in the minors on rehab. If they crush their first game in rehab, i'll usually bring them back

Conversely, from experience, a player will get hurt in his first game back without a rehab assignment, and then miss an entire year, making you look stupid for signing him to a long term deal, because now he is a middle reliever who also couldn't hack it as a closer....or so my "friend" told me.

[HumanRainDelay]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

it is very unclear, likely on purpose.

from my anecdotal evidence, I find that the player is slightly less prone to re-injury when you rehab him, though I cannot prove that or provide any data. I think the biggest benefit is simply because when players dont play for a while, their first few games are not as good. Better to shake that off in the minors on rehab. If they crush their first game in rehab, i'll usually bring them back

I have noticed the same thing. If I don't use a rehab assignment for someone who would be a candidate, they often appear to get injured again in the near future.

Perhaps a future game version will contain a "spite" setting. For instance, you are playing a historical sim and are a huge Yankees' fan, but the Red Sox are dominating. You could activate the "spite" setting and force-injure Red Sox stars. We could also then test the anecdotal evidence about rehab vs. no rehab on injured players.

Perhaps OOTP could then tap into a new market of customers: the sadists.

[brotherblues]

Originally Posted by andjbock

Conversely, from experience, a player will get hurt in his first game back without a rehab assignment, and then miss an entire year, making you look stupid for signing him to a long term deal, because now he is a middle reliever who also couldn't hack it as a closer....or so my "friend" told me.

Dunno, I've seen them break during rehab. They get hit with a nerf bat right on the knee, boom, out for 6 more weeks or months, and never the same after.