More Minors

[pine_marten]

I'm sure this is probably a little much to ask in the next edition, but hopefully some upgrades towards:

1. Full size minor leagues
2. Fully functional minor leagues
3. More realistic draft, with post draft signing that isn't a lock, e.g. high schoolers and college players that have remaining eligibility making outrageous demands then going to college if demands aren't met, maybe some draft and follow?
4. Option to use minor league roster rules, e.g. AAA 24/23 man roster, AA age rules, etc.

I'd definitely purchase the next edition if # 1 were implemented. Maybe an option for # of minor league levels (even if not fully functional) would be possible. Those with no interest in the minors or sub-obtimal computing systems could have very limited (1 or 0) levels while us minor league junkies with computer speed and space to burn could go 7 or 8 deep.

[Dan Theman]

There have already been some posts about the possibility of expanding the minor leagues. I'd also suggest a selectable number of teams, at the very least for A-ball so that we could select rookie, high, and low if we wanted to. Modern teams only have one AAA and one AA team, but in the historical leagues, there were often many more.

In terms of "fully functional", I'm not quite sure what you mean. Possibly the ability to play out the games?

Most, but not all higher-round picks sign with their teams. Those that don't usually decide to stay in (or go to) college becuse they feel their chances for a prolonged career would be served better by getting more of an opportunity to showcase their skills. If a player doesn't sign, it's a loss but not such a devastating one because in real life the draft is MUCH longer than what most people set it at in OOTP and this provides more of a chance to make up for the one or two players that don't sign. Besides, in real life there's a higher chance that high round picks will be busts, anyways. Because of these factors, I'd have to vote against players not signing unless there's an absolutely bug-free way of declining the option.

The option to use minor league roster rules would be great so long as the expanded minors option was implemented.

[pine_marten]

BTW Dan, your idea for the GM is the cat's meow.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Dan Theman

There have already been some posts about the possibility of expanding the minor leagues. I'd also suggest a selectable number of teams ... Modern teams only have one AAA and one AA team, but in the historical leagues, there were often many more.

I've suggested the same thing for some time now. During many of the years when there were 16 major league teams, there were 24 AAA level minor league teams, for example. It'd be great to be able to recreate this kind of situation, and even set up a "AAA" World Series like there used to be, Shaughnessy playoffs or other playoff formats in the various minor leagues, and so forth.

Oh, and of course, playing out the actual original schedules for the minors where possible (and since I'm in the process of collecting and compiling the minor league schedules, this aspect would be fully possible eventually).

Another thing I'd like to see is the option of independent minor league teams. The minors have not always been tied to and affiliated to a major league teams, and it'd be great to be able to recreate that kind of situation as well. Imagine major league teams engaging in a bidding war for a particularly well-regarded prospect because that minor league team is an independent one...