Caribbean Winter League

Pelican · 11-27-2022, 10:18 AM

This was my first venture into fictional players, so veterans, please have patience with me, and try not to laugh. Initially, I was going to use real players in a winter league. I realized that would be challenging to do. About the same time, I was grappling with the inadvertent creation of fictional guys in a historical sim. Somehow, that intrigued me enough to substitute fictional guys in my winter league.

I used the eight franchises I had previously chosen, in Habana, Barranquilla (Colombia), Santo Domingo, Mexico City, Panama City, San Juan, Maracaibo (Venezuela), and Key West. The draft went well, with a good spread of players to fill the rosters, plus plenty of remaining guys for the extended rosters. The league was very competitive.

One huge surprise was the financial aspects of the league. I used the settings for a contemporary major league, which means the better players expected to be paid tens of millions a year. With modest-size ballparks, and only an 84-game season, it would prove hard for these franchises to generate enough revenue to support the huge contracts.

As a novice with fictional players, I was amazed at how quickly they became real to me. I stopped thinking about my stud LF, and began to think of him as Carlos Aponte. Even the other teams had recognizable stars, after awhile. The storylines really help here.

I simmed through most weeks, but also would play individual games for stretches, to get a feel for my team, the Key West Conchs. And, after the Conchs won both halves, I played out the post-season series with second-place Maracaibo. Which we won! No cheesing.

I also have limited experience with the off-season, and it was a struggle, keeping my best players. The other teams made a number of (seemingly even) trades. I lost a few guys, but signed others for less. I feel like I kept the core of the pennant-winners. It looks like the trades may have improved the balance of the league.

I’m still learning about how to adjust the metrics for new created players coming into the league, as well as the balance between offense and defense in the league. Trying to figure out how to use the extended rosters to stockpile players. The AI appears to be learning, as well.

I’ll post some screenshots (not on the same computer at the moment). It was lots of fun, easy to do (thanks to the videos posted here, of course!), and hilarious that I totally “backed into” this by trying to deal with unwanted fictional guys in another sim. LOL.

stevem810 · 11-27-2022, 03:19 PM

I enjoy these types of leagues. You can do so much with the design in the game and with uniforms, caps, and logo's.

I often struggled to complete fictional leagues that were solo but my French Baseball League (12 teams) has spanned 16 seasons playing most games for the team that I adapt as my own.

What I enjoyed most was 'adapting' a two way player that has played on two different teams. At age 16 I followed him through the minors often playing Single A games while not focusing much on the top level.

Today I thought that I might do 2 things:
1- Expand the league to 16
2- Create a 15 year old son of my star player and begin following him until Julien retires.

note: the waiver line in his screenshot isn't true. An assistant GM somehow snuck into the organization and waived the Artists best player. Head shaker

Pelican · 11-28-2022, 10:36 PM

Wow, your guy is better than Ohtani! Sixteen seasons is a lot. Impressive.

You have motivated me to work on uniforms, after I finish up with stadiums for all of the teams.

Also, I need to think about how to tinker with the financials. I’d like to cut everything in half, since my league only has an 84-game season, November-February. Of course, since there is no MLB, the players have nowhere else to go.

stevem810 · 11-29-2022, 08:12 PM

Always good practice to make frequent league file back ups to locations other than just locally. It's useful when. you add, say a feeder league or something new for you, having the ability to get a second chance can be a saver.

Have you considered designing your ballparks using the program for the minor league models? That can be fun and more realistic, too. OOTP keeps adding some new options for personalizing them.

Pelican · 12-03-2022, 08:39 AM

I have been researching what stadiums exist in the franchise cities. Some are fairly large (San Juan, Mexico City) and some are not. I don’t want to inadvertently introduce revenue issues for teams with small capacity. But yeah, I love the minor league mod and would prefer to use it. First I have to figure out how to reduce all of the financials, which is tough, given the high salaried players I have (fortunately, few long-term deals in my league). My ideal would be smaller venues, less revenue, lower salaries, on a level playing field. So to speak.

11-27-2022, 10:18 AM	#1
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,893	Caribbean Winter League This was my first venture into fictional players, so veterans, please have patience with me, and try not to laugh. Initially, I was going to use real players in a winter league. I realized that would be challenging to do. About the same time, I was grappling with the inadvertent creation of fictional guys in a historical sim. Somehow, that intrigued me enough to substitute fictional guys in my winter league. I used the eight franchises I had previously chosen, in Habana, Barranquilla (Colombia), Santo Domingo, Mexico City, Panama City, San Juan, Maracaibo (Venezuela), and Key West. The draft went well, with a good spread of players to fill the rosters, plus plenty of remaining guys for the extended rosters. The league was very competitive. One huge surprise was the financial aspects of the league. I used the settings for a contemporary major league, which means the better players expected to be paid tens of millions a year. With modest-size ballparks, and only an 84-game season, it would prove hard for these franchises to generate enough revenue to support the huge contracts. As a novice with fictional players, I was amazed at how quickly they became real to me. I stopped thinking about my stud LF, and began to think of him as Carlos Aponte. Even the other teams had recognizable stars, after awhile. The storylines really help here. I simmed through most weeks, but also would play individual games for stretches, to get a feel for my team, the Key West Conchs. And, after the Conchs won both halves, I played out the post-season series with second-place Maracaibo. Which we won! No cheesing. I also have limited experience with the off-season, and it was a struggle, keeping my best players. The other teams made a number of (seemingly even) trades. I lost a few guys, but signed others for less. I feel like I kept the core of the pennant-winners. It looks like the trades may have improved the balance of the league. I’m still learning about how to adjust the metrics for new created players coming into the league, as well as the balance between offense and defense in the league. Trying to figure out how to use the extended rosters to stockpile players. The AI appears to be learning, as well. I’ll post some screenshots (not on the same computer at the moment). It was lots of fun, easy to do (thanks to the videos posted here, of course!), and hilarious that I totally “backed into” this by trying to deal with unwanted fictional guys in another sim. LOL. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.” Last edited by Pelican; 11-27-2022 at 10:20 AM.

11-27-2022, 03:19 PM	#2
stevem810 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sarasota Posts: 1,937	I enjoy these types of leagues. You can do so much with the design in the game and with uniforms, caps, and logo's. I often struggled to complete fictional leagues that were solo but my French Baseball League (12 teams) has spanned 16 seasons playing most games for the team that I adapt as my own. What I enjoyed most was 'adapting' a two way player that has played on two different teams. At age 16 I followed him through the minors often playing Single A games while not focusing much on the top level. Today I thought that I might do 2 things: 1- Expand the league to 16 2- Create a 15 year old son of my star player and begin following him until Julien retires. note: the waiver line in his screenshot isn't true. An assistant GM somehow snuck into the organization and waived the Artists best player. Head shaker Attached Images __________________ Julien Henri Version 21 https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...22#post4626122 Michigan Town Ball https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...28#post4630528 Last edited by stevem810; 11-27-2022 at 03:21 PM.

11-28-2022, 10:36 PM	#3
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,893	Wow, your guy is better than Ohtani! Sixteen seasons is a lot. Impressive. You have motivated me to work on uniforms, after I finish up with stadiums for all of the teams. Also, I need to think about how to tinker with the financials. I’d like to cut everything in half, since my league only has an 84-game season, November-February. Of course, since there is no MLB, the players have nowhere else to go. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”

11-29-2022, 08:12 PM	#4
stevem810 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sarasota Posts: 1,937	Always good practice to make frequent league file back ups to locations other than just locally. It's useful when. you add, say a feeder league or something new for you, having the ability to get a second chance can be a saver. Have you considered designing your ballparks using the program for the minor league models? That can be fun and more realistic, too. OOTP keeps adding some new options for personalizing them. __________________ Julien Henri Version 21 https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...22#post4626122 Michigan Town Ball https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...28#post4630528

12-03-2022, 08:39 AM	#5
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,893	I have been researching what stadiums exist in the franchise cities. Some are fairly large (San Juan, Mexico City) and some are not. I don’t want to inadvertently introduce revenue issues for teams with small capacity. But yeah, I love the minor league mod and would prefer to use it. First I have to figure out how to reduce all of the financials, which is tough, given the high salaried players I have (fortunately, few long-term deals in my league). My ideal would be smaller venues, less revenue, lower salaries, on a level playing field. So to speak. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”