Spring Training Player Usage Question

[jhart05]

I'm about to give this game another chance. Tried it about a year ago, I felt it didn't meet what I wanted to do. But going to try one more time. I have everything set up how I like it and am about to start Spring Training.

First note: I'm a GM type of game player. Don't care so much for the in-game management. I like to GM the organization from Majors to Rookie Ball. Setting pitching rotations and batting lineups daily/weekly, but don't want to sit thru the actual games.

So, my question with Spring Training.

Basically will the game recognize those as true spring training games or do I need to make adustments on my own?

I'm sure you all know what I mean by "true spring training game" ...
- Starting pitchers only go a very limited number of innings or BF.
- Lots of subs, trying to get every player on the roster into the game.
- Get your stars just enough work to be ready, while still giving the younger players enough work to let them improve a bit and so you can get a chance to get a good look at them.


Thanks for the help.

[Bluenoser]

It's been my experience that the AI does a good job of things like limiting IP's for pitchers, sharing the work load, etc during ST.

Myself, when I GM a team as you're looking to do, I like to use the team and individual player strategies to make sure everyone gets the playing time I want them to. Not that I don't trust the AI, I just like to have a hand in it myself.

[buffalo_pete]

The AI does okay with it. I like to play out the games but just quick play the at bats and handle the bench moves and defensive positioning myself. That way I know everyone's getting playing time, and if I'm trying to teach a player a new position I can do that in-game without having to mess with my lineups or game strategies.

[le receveur]

i did find that the AI didn't use the marginal SP that i wanted to try, so i had to intervene on that, as well as starts player with Dtd injuries toO fast, so i go one week at a time, and adjust, also demoting guys as i go along. but beyond that it does a good job. my biggest problem is that i can't start my minor league signees (the veterans with 1 star actual, 4 star potential types..) but i know this has been requested many times

I am still not able to have my AAA start a week earlier than the ML, as the auto-schedule over ride my date request, and the start on a different day. i'm going to have to start exploring the schedule make next

[TribeFanInNC]

My suggestion is to have as many pitchers as possible available in the spring. Since the starters only go for a few innings, the game will overuse your bullpen if you don't have like 10 pitchers available. I try to watch the bullpen to make sure certain guys aren't getting too many innings.

I basically treat the spring as "don't get anyone hurt" time. Spread around the playing time to as many guys as possible. The only exceptions are when I have specific guys battling for specific roles.

[jhart05]

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

My suggestion is to have as many pitchers as possible available in the spring. Since the starters only go for a few innings, the game will overuse your bullpen if you don't have like 10 pitchers available. I try to watch the bullpen to make sure certain guys aren't getting too many innings.

I basically treat the spring as "don't get anyone hurt" time. Spread around the playing time to as many guys as possible. The only exceptions are when I have specific guys battling for specific roles.

Exactly what I want to have happen, but I don't want to have to sit thru and manage the actual games. I'll have plenty of pitchers. I want the full 40-man roster available. At least 16 to 20 of those will be pitchers.

From what you are saying, it sounds like the AI will limit starters somewhat. To be safe I'll probably still give them all a pitch count limit.

[jhart05]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Myself, when I GM a team as you're looking to do, I like to use the team and individual player strategies to make sure everyone gets the playing time I want them to. Not that I don't trust the AI, I just like to have a hand in it myself.

So you still do these things? That's what I was hoping to avoid but no problem.

[buffalo_pete]

Originally Posted by le receveur

starts player with Dtd injuries to fast

I constantly have problems with the AI doing this. I made it to the ASG in my 2013 Twins game this week, with Justin Morneau making the All Star team (thank you very much), and the AI put him in as a pinch hitter even though he was DTD with a pulled muscle. He wound up drawing a walk and everything was fine, but I cringed.

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

I basically treat the spring as "don't get anyone hurt" time. Spread around the playing time to as many guys as possible. The only exceptions are when I have specific guys battling for specific roles.

and this is important. i am starting to sit my wrecked, and fragile guys once they look fully up to speed. which means more management...

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by buffalo_pete

I constantly have problems with the AI doing this. I made it to the ASG in my 2013 Twins game this week, with Justin Morneau making the All Star team (thank you very much), and the AI put him in as a pinch hitter even though he was DTD with a pulled muscle. He wound up drawing a walk and everything was fine, but I cringed.

yeah, i started using the sit guys after getting seeing my star 2B played in september, 20 games up, down 32%. also fired the coach

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by le receveur

I am still not able to have my AAA start a week earlier than the ML, as the auto-schedule over ride my date request, and the start on a different day. i'm going to have to start exploring the schedule make next

Just take your schedule and set the start date in the element line to whatever you want and then make sure you have the auto adjust date if matching schedule is found checked.

Steps to do this are:
1. Make sure you're in preseason
2. Export the lgs. schedule.
3. Open it with any txt editor.
4. Change the date in the element line (It's always the second line in the xml file). It looks like this and what you need to change is in Red.
<SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGN_G144_SL1_d1_T6_d2_T4_d3_T4_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="0" games_per_team="144" start_day_of_week="5" start_month="4" start_day="4" allstar_game_day="0">
<GAMES>

So if you wanted the AAA to start a week earlier, it would look like this:
<SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGN_G144_SL1_d1_T6_d2_T4_d3_T4_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="0" games_per_team="144" start_day_of_week="5" start_month="3" start_day="28" allstar_game_day="0">
<GAMES>
This starts the season on Thursday March 28 2013 rather than Thursday April 4 2013
Start day of week starts with Sunday=1, Monday=2, etc.

5. Re-Import your schedule.
6. Make sure that on the lg. setup options page you have "auto adjust date if matching schedule is found" checked.
7. That's it.

If you don't want to do the above: Just uncheck "auto adjust date if matching schedule is found" , set your date and regenerate your schedule.

[le receveur]

thanks bigrod... i tried using the pull down and it over-rode me, so i knew i would have to learn how to go in schedule file... now i do....

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by le receveur

thanks bigrod... i tried using the pull down and it over-rode me, so i knew i would have to learn how to go in schedule file... now i do....

Your welcome and if you have any problems, let me know

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by Bigrod

Just take your schedule and set the start date in the element line to whatever you want and then make sure you have the auto adjust date if matching schedule is found checked.

Steps to do this are:
1. Make sure you're in preseason
2. Export the lgs. schedule.
3. Open it with any txt editor.
4. Change the date in the element line (It's always the second line in the xml file). It looks like this and what you need to change is in Red.
<SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGN_G144_SL1_d1_T6_d2_T4_d3_T4_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="0" games_per_team="144" start_day_of_week="5" start_month="4" start_day="4" allstar_game_day="0">
<GAMES>

So if you wanted the AAA to start a week earlier, it would look like this:
<SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGN_G144_SL1_d1_T6_d2_T4_d3_T4_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="0" games_per_team="144" start_day_of_week="5" start_month="3" start_day="28" allstar_game_day="0">
<GAMES>
This starts the season on Thursday March 28 2013 rather than Thursday April 4 2013
Start day of week starts with Sunday=1, Monday=2, etc.

5. Re-Import your schedule.
6. Make sure that on the lg. setup options page you have "auto adjust date if matching schedule is found" checked.
7. That's it.

If you don't want to do the above: Just uncheck "auto adjust date if matching schedule is found" and set your date.

thank you it worked... so happy now, as season ends Aug. 31, so with playoffs (my AAA is usually loaded, as i recruit all the veteran who want to give it a try still,,,, ) i will be able to have guys up to majors earlier,

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by le receveur

thank you it worked... so happy now, as season ends Aug. 31, so with playoffs (my AAA is usually loaded, as i recruit all the veteran who want to give it a try still,,,, ) i will be able to have guys up to majors earlier,

Your welcome. Glad to help.

[jhart05]

Well I'm just over 75% thru spring training.

I'm extremely disappointed with the results. I give it a grade of D for Spring Training.

AI didn't seem to use my lineups at all. I ended up having to set lineups on the 7-day screen.

I have this rookie shortstop who looks like he might turn out to be decent by the name of Robin Yount. He wasn't getting any playing time thru 6 or 7 spring games. That was just one of several issues I saw.

Maybe I need to change my manager's philosophy to favor young players?

[le receveur]

Originally Posted by jhart05

Well I'm just over 75% thru spring training.

I'm extremely disappointed with the results. I give it a grade of D for Spring Training.

AI didn't seem to use my lineups at all. I ended up having to set lineups on the 7-day screen.

I have this rookie shortstop who looks like he might turn out to be decent by the name of Robin Yount. He wasn't getting any playing time thru 6 or 7 spring games. That was just one of several issues I saw.

Maybe I need to change my manager's philosophy to favor young players?

i ended up, sitting the stars for 7-10 days in the strategy screen at start of ST.

[fromtheline]

I just recently simmed my first spring training. The AI gave my starting pitchers 4.0 innings in every spring game. Is this normal? Thanks

[jhart05]

Originally Posted by fromtheline

I just recently simmed my first spring training. The AI gave my starting pitchers 4.0 innings in every spring game. Is this normal? Thanks

Yes. And it's basically the only reason I didn't give spring training an F grade.

[Painmantle]

Originally Posted by jhart05

Exactly what I want to have happen, but I don't want to have to sit thru and manage the actual games. I'll have plenty of pitchers. I want the full 40-man roster available. At least 16 to 20 of those will be pitchers.

From what you are saying, it sounds like the AI will limit starters somewhat. To be safe I'll probably still give them all a pitch count limit.

It's easy to get plenty of Pitchers in the game and/or SP's used in ST even when simming 2 weeks at a time


First off set your team to a 6-man rotation, then go to 7-day lineups (turn them on of course and telling it to "Clear lineup after use" YES) and insert a SP into each day that IS NOT listed in your rotation. You can then sim 14 days and on the first 7 days it will use your 7-day lineups than after that, since your 7-day lineups are clear your rotation will kick in. I have done this in several ST's in my online leagues and always have a different SP the first 13 games of ST


As far as relievers go, make sure to have multiple people at each possible "Primary role" Like 2 closers, 4 Setup men, 4 middle relievers and 2 of each specialist (if possible)


It works the same way with position players, put guys in the 7-day lineup that AREN'T listed in your lineups as starters