Letting the CPU promote/demote: Does it ruin your prospects?

teddy wolvesevelt · 07-26-2013, 08:55 AM

Hey guys, I've built up a massive farm system, and I'm wondering if letting the CPU promote/demote players is a good idea. Does the CPU know what it's doing?

I tried managing promotions/demotions myself, but it just became too tedious. Now, with CPU handling it for me, I'm seeing several of my prospects up a few levels, some all the way to the major league club, despite having unimpressive stats at the previous level.

What are your thoughts? Am I ruining prospect development by letting the CPU promote/demote?

Mark

teddy wolvesevelt · 07-26-2013, 08:57 AM

note: the veterans on my big-league club are terrible, but I don't want the CPU to use that as a reason to rush a guy with almost no time in double-A up to the majors.

Painmantle · 07-26-2013, 09:22 AM

anytime you have a player that you want to stay at a certain level in your minor leagues you can "lock" them into that specific team. Right click on the player...go to his transactions and the second option up from the bottom is Disable/enable AI promotion and demotion. When on your teams transaction screen all players "Locked" to their current team have an Icon of a padlock next to their name to show you they cannot be promoted/demoted by the AI.

This will solve a lot of your issues and is the best option for someone who doesn't want to mess with the "tediousness" of actually taking care of their minor leagues. Also if your guys aren't being played properly by the AI you have the option in "Player Strageties" to force start a player at any position...this will force the AI to play the player when they wouldn't normally.

I highly recommend you make use of these two functions if you want to have some control of developing prospects but don't want the be fully involved in every aspect of your minor league system.

teddy wolvesevelt · 07-26-2013, 10:31 AM

Hey, thanks, but I've realized the lock doesn't really work.

Anytime I thin out my major-league roster with a few trades for more prospects, the AI will promote my locked prospect. I gave up on the locks after having to re-assign a dozen prospects every time the organization moved some players. :/

ohms_law · 07-26-2013, 10:34 AM

Yea, I've never had much success with the locks and strategies myself. I've basically given up on managing the minor leagues, personally.

The short season leagues probably shouldn't have players in them for the first half of the season either, but the AI hates it when you try to keep them clear.

Painmantle · 07-26-2013, 11:08 AM

weird, Locks and forced starts work for me perfectly fine.

ohms_law · 07-26-2013, 11:15 AM

Well, I mean... they work, it's just... they're not particularly useful, the way that they're designed. I don't think anyone is complaining that they're buggy or anything (I'm not, at least).

teddy wolvesevelt · 07-26-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painmantle

weird, Locks and forced starts work for me perfectly fine.

dammit

beorn · 07-26-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddy wolvesevelt

Hey guys, I've built up a massive farm system, and I'm wondering if letting the CPU promote/demote players is a good idea. Does the CPU know what it's doing?

I tried managing promotions/demotions myself, but it just became too tedious. Now, with CPU handling it for me, I'm seeing several of my prospects up a few levels, some all the way to the major league club, despite having unimpressive stats at the previous level.

What are your thoughts? Am I ruining prospect development by letting the CPU promote/demote?

Mark

I'm far from certain, but I believe it is risky.

As best as I can see, the AI makes very odd decisions for AI run teams, but I believe they may get mostly a free pass on the consequences. Guys promoted too fast do not seem ruined, although they have to live with questionable calls as to developing positions.

However, as human GM, your prospects will not develop as well -- including greater risk of loss of potential -- if they are placed at the wrong level. I believe this based on what the manual says, as well as on personal experience. The right placement is a matter of mixing performance with scout suggestions. But the AI might decide that this guy is your best minor league 1B anyway... I would be very surprised (and object) if the human GM gets a free pass on bad decisions just because it was turned over to the AI.

My theory is that there is no way around it, you have to check your prospects once a month, to be sure their placement is still appropriate, if you want to get the best possible results. But it doesn't need to be an overwhelming job -- only the plausible prospects need checking so frequently.

Bluenoser · 07-26-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohms_law

Well, I mean... they work, it's just... they're not particularly useful, the way that they're designed. I don't think anyone is complaining that they're buggy or anything (I'm not, at least).

Can you elaborate please? These work the way they're designed and supposed to. They've been a great addition to the game. I find them very useful.

The Wolf · 07-26-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painmantle

weird, locks and forced starts work for me perfectly fine.

+1

ohms_law · 07-26-2013, 11:38 AM

Yea, they work as designed, but... it's just as much work managing the locks as it is to just manage the players. If there are injuries or you cut players, the AI will go ahead and move your guys around on you. See what Teddy said here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddy wolvesevelt

Anytime I thin out my major-league roster with a few trades for more prospects, the AI will promote my locked prospect. I gave up on the locks after having to re-assign a dozen prospects every time the organization moved some players. :/

ihatenames · 07-26-2013, 11:44 AM

I let the AI handle promotion/demotion within the minors without issue. I do keep an eye on where prospects are and I do make adjustments from time to time if I find I disagree with their placement. For the most part I'm happy with the decisions of the AI.

I do control all ML transactions so I can't comment on the AI's ability to properly call-up prospects.

Cryomaniac · 07-26-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohms_law

The short season leagues probably shouldn't have players in them for the first half of the season either, but the AI hates it when you try to keep them clear.

I leave players there as minor league injury replacements, then release most of those that suck and / or are too old just before the draft.

ohms_law · 07-26-2013, 12:02 PM

Yea, I do too (usually), but... the AI doesn't work that way.

Painmantle · 07-26-2013, 01:47 PM

I play ALOT of games, I have several solo leagues, I'm in many online leagues (5 to be exact), I have the AI fix my Minor league teams frequently and make adjustments and I have never once seen the AI promote or demote a locked player in ootp14 ...EVER!

teddy wolvesevelt · 07-26-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painmantle

I play ALOT of games, I have several solo leagues, I'm in many online leagues (5 to be exact), I have the AI fix my Minor league teams frequently and make adjustments and I have never once seen the AI promote or demote a locked player in ootp14 ...EVER!

That's fine. I have, several times in this year's version and in last year's.

SirMichaelJordan · 07-26-2013, 01:56 PM

if you let the AI hand the minors I would make sure that I dont have roster limits in any of those leagues. It says to have unlimited roster spots at your lowest level but I find it best to not have limits for any of those leagues (I know some guys like to set limits to match reality)

r0nster · 07-26-2013, 01:59 PM

have you considered configuring the minors to where only YOU bring up and bring down players... you would then see up and down arrows to help you with promotion and demotion if you so desire

RchW · 07-26-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohms_law

Yea, they work as designed, but... it's just as much work managing the locks as it is to just manage the players. If there are injuries or you cut players, the AI will go ahead and move your guys around on you. See what Teddy said here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddy wolvesevelt

Hey, thanks, but I've realized the lock doesn't really work.

Anytime I thin out my major-league roster with a few trades for more prospects, the AI will promote my locked prospect. I gave up on the locks after having to re-assign a dozen prospects every time the organization moved some players. :/

The player lock has always worked for me. I suspect this is not the whole story. Why not tell it?

Markus must prevent game crashes by ensuring that a minimum number of players are available on each team and at each level. He probably overrides the lock when there are no players left to move. Are you both creating the problem by removing enough players to force this response? If so, then it seems disingenuous to be concerned about the AI response to the player deficit you created.

If not then say exactly what you do.

07-26-2013, 08:55 AM	#1
teddy wolvesevelt Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 14	Letting the CPU promote/demote: Does it ruin your prospects? Hey guys, I've built up a massive farm system, and I'm wondering if letting the CPU promote/demote players is a good idea. Does the CPU know what it's doing? I tried managing promotions/demotions myself, but it just became too tedious. Now, with CPU handling it for me, I'm seeing several of my prospects up a few levels, some all the way to the major league club, despite having unimpressive stats at the previous level. What are your thoughts? Am I ruining prospect development by letting the CPU promote/demote? Mark

07-26-2013, 09:22 AM	#3
Painmantle Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Greenfield ,IN Posts: 3,053	anytime you have a player that you want to stay at a certain level in your minor leagues you can "lock" them into that specific team. Right click on the player...go to his transactions and the second option up from the bottom is Disable/enable AI promotion and demotion. When on your teams transaction screen all players "Locked" to their current team have an Icon of a padlock next to their name to show you they cannot be promoted/demoted by the AI. This will solve a lot of your issues and is the best option for someone who doesn't want to mess with the "tediousness" of actually taking care of their minor leagues. Also if your guys aren't being played properly by the AI you have the option in "Player Strageties" to force start a player at any position...this will force the AI to play the player when they wouldn't normally. I highly recommend you make use of these two functions if you want to have some control of developing prospects but don't want the be fully involved in every aspect of your minor league system. __________________ “As soon as I got out there I felt a strange relationship with the pitcher's mound. It was as if I'd been born out there. Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Striking out batters was easy.” -Babe Ruth “Ruth made a grave mistake when he gave up pitching. Working once a week, he might have lasted a long time and become a great star.”-Tris Speaker My Dynasties The Beantown Bambino Last edited by Painmantle; 07-26-2013 at 09:24 AM.

07-26-2013, 10:31 AM	#4
teddy wolvesevelt Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 14	Hey, thanks, but I've realized the lock doesn't really work. Anytime I thin out my major-league roster with a few trades for more prospects, the AI will promote my locked prospect. I gave up on the locks after having to re-assign a dozen prospects every time the organization moved some players. :/ Last edited by teddy wolvesevelt; 07-26-2013 at 10:32 AM.

07-26-2013, 10:34 AM	#5
ohms_law Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 232	Yea, I've never had much success with the locks and strategies myself. I've basically given up on managing the minor leagues, personally. The short season leagues probably shouldn't have players in them for the first half of the season either, but the AI hates it when you try to keep them clear. __________________ You insist that there is something a machine cannot do. If you will tell me precisely what it is that a machine cannot do, then I can always make a machine which will do just that! -J. von Neumann

07-26-2013, 11:08 AM	#6
Painmantle Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Greenfield ,IN Posts: 3,053	weird, Locks and forced starts work for me perfectly fine. __________________ “As soon as I got out there I felt a strange relationship with the pitcher's mound. It was as if I'd been born out there. Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Striking out batters was easy.” -Babe Ruth “Ruth made a grave mistake when he gave up pitching. Working once a week, he might have lasted a long time and become a great star.”-Tris Speaker My Dynasties The Beantown Bambino

07-26-2013, 08:57 AM	#2
teddy wolvesevelt Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 14	note: the veterans on my big-league club are terrible, but I don't want the CPU to use that as a reason to rush a guy with almost no time in double-A up to the majors.

07-26-2013, 11:15 AM	#7
ohms_law Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 232	Well, I mean... they work, it's just... they're not particularly useful, the way that they're designed. I don't think anyone is complaining that they're buggy or anything (I'm not, at least). __________________ You insist that there is something a machine cannot do. If you will tell me precisely what it is that a machine cannot do, then I can always make a machine which will do just that! -J. von Neumann

07-26-2013, 11:44 AM	#13
ihatenames Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,535	I let the AI handle promotion/demotion within the minors without issue. I do keep an eye on where prospects are and I do make adjustments from time to time if I find I disagree with their placement. For the most part I'm happy with the decisions of the AI. I do control all ML transactions so I can't comment on the AI's ability to properly call-up prospects. __________________ New Album coming soon!

07-26-2013, 12:02 PM	#15
ohms_law Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 232	Yea, I do too (usually), but... the AI doesn't work that way. __________________ You insist that there is something a machine cannot do. If you will tell me precisely what it is that a machine cannot do, then I can always make a machine which will do just that! -J. von Neumann

07-26-2013, 01:47 PM	#16
Painmantle Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Greenfield ,IN Posts: 3,053	I play ALOT of games, I have several solo leagues, I'm in many online leagues (5 to be exact), I have the AI fix my Minor league teams frequently and make adjustments and I have never once seen the AI promote or demote a locked player in ootp14 ...EVER! __________________ “As soon as I got out there I felt a strange relationship with the pitcher's mound. It was as if I'd been born out there. Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Striking out batters was easy.” -Babe Ruth “Ruth made a grave mistake when he gave up pitching. Working once a week, he might have lasted a long time and become a great star.”-Tris Speaker My Dynasties The Beantown Bambino

07-26-2013, 01:56 PM	#18
SirMichaelJordan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2,627	if you let the AI hand the minors I would make sure that I dont have roster limits in any of those leagues. It says to have unlimited roster spots at your lowest level but I find it best to not have limits for any of those leagues (I know some guys like to set limits to match reality)

07-26-2013, 01:59 PM	#19
r0nster Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	have you considered configuring the minors to where only YOU bring up and bring down players... you would then see up and down arrows to help you with promotion and demotion if you so desire