Protecting Players in Spring Training

dannibalcorpse · 09-15-2017, 02:47 PM

So I've been running a Mets franchise and it's been scarily accurate with injuries (

), to the point that Noah Syndergaard has pitched 90 innings total through 2017 & '18.

Spring training has been a graveyard for me - in 2018 I lost Thor for 4 months with a labrum injury, and Zack Wheeler for the full year with a rotator cuff injury. Starting 2019 ST now, and Noah is out for another 5 weeks with a strained hamstring after the 3rd game of the spring schedule.

I've got the guys I'm planning on being in my regular season rotation listed as relievers with "Use Less Often" designations, but they're obviously still getting cycled in; is there any way to basically keep these guys from doing much of anything in spring training (besides sending them down and wasting option years)?

Feel free to share your horrible spring injury stories here, too, I could use some commiseration.

Dyzalot · 09-15-2017, 03:01 PM

You need to use your starters in ST enough to shake off the "rust" they've accumulated during the offseason. Pretty sure it is also normal that the most injuries occur during ST as that's also what happens for MLB. I play with injuries on "high (MLB accurate)" & never limit playing time for anyone in order to try and prevent injury during spring training. Your best defense to this is depth.

RonCo · 09-15-2017, 03:23 PM

I invite 50-60 players to spring training, and start the minor league players for the first two weeks, letting my starters get an occasional at bat at best. My rotation sits in "not assigned" limbo. Relievers on use less often or not assigned. Then the last couple weeks, the starters start about half time. I tend to come out of ST relatively unscathed, and the guys seem ready to play.

RchW · 09-15-2017, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonCo

I invite 50-60 players to spring training, and start the minor league players for the first two weeks, letting my starters get an occasional at bat at best. My rotation sits in "not assigned" limbo. Relievers on use less often or not assigned. Then the last couple weeks, the starters start about half time. I tend to come out of ST relatively unscathed, and the guys seem ready to play.

Very similar to what I do. I use "bench player" to limit certain pitchers and batters GP.

RonCo · 09-15-2017, 03:39 PM

I try not to use "bench player," but only because I have a tendency to forget I toggled those things, then the guy doesn't get time.

slugger922cubs · 09-15-2017, 03:42 PM

I do a few things. 1) I set pitch limits very low 50-65 pitches for early ST. 2) I create a special strategy for ST that has short hooks on pitchers, high use of relievers, and extreme high ends for pinch hitting, pinch running, and defensive subs. This makes use players get subbed a lot. I save this strategy a load it every spring. Lastly I set the depth charts for the subs to start every other or every third day. I loosen this as I make cuts. This works for me since I dont like to micro manage 7-day line ups. Im more a big picture manager.

'94 EXPOS · 09-15-2017, 05:03 PM

I run a 6 man rotation and set all relievers to middle relief.

I bring enough position players to camp in order to go 'every 2nd' game at all positions and additionally give more time to younger prospects (I rarely have a full 40 man) who I add as spring training invites.

This method has significantly reduced ST injuries for me and still allows for the players to get up to speed.

'94 EXPOS · 09-15-2017, 05:03 PM

I run a 6 man rotation and set all relievers to middle relief.

I bring enough position players to camp in order to go 'every 2nd' game at all positions and additionally give more time to younger prospects (I rarely have a full 40 man) who I add as spring training invites.

This method has significantly reduced ST injuries for me and still allows for the players to get up to speed.

CraigBShuman · 09-15-2017, 07:56 PM

I am playing the Mets as well. I play as GM/Manager. Met games are played out. Rest is simulated. Syndergaard won the pitching triple crown and the Cy Young in both 2017 and 2018. No real injuries.

I have noticed that my teams tend to do better when I simulate rather than manage them myself. But, the latter produces less injuries.

Don't know if other people have had the same results.

IanIachimoe · 09-15-2017, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigBShuman

I am playing the Mets as well. I play as GM/Manager. Met games are played out. Rest is simulated. Syndergaard won the pitching triple crown and the Cy Young in both 2017 and 2018. No real injuries.

I have noticed that my teams tend to do better when I simulate rather than manage them myself. But, the latter produces less injuries.

Don't know if other people have had the same results.

manage every game with Mets. currently in year 4.

Sydergaard has been a beast for me. Cy Young, MVP. might be the one player I haven't had injured for an extended time.

darkcloud4579 · 09-15-2017, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannibalcorpse

So I've been running a Mets franchise and it's been scarily accurate with injuries (

), to the point that Noah Syndergaard has pitched 90 innings total through 2017 & '18.

Spring training has been a graveyard for me - in 2018 I lost Thor for 4 months with a labrum injury, and Zack Wheeler for the full year with a rotator cuff injury. Starting 2019 ST now, and Noah is out for another 5 weeks with a strained hamstring after the 3rd game of the spring schedule.

I've got the guys I'm planning on being in my regular season rotation listed as relievers with "Use Less Often" designations, but they're obviously still getting cycled in; is there any way to basically keep these guys from doing much of anything in spring training (besides sending them down and wasting option years)?

Feel free to share your horrible spring injury stories here, too, I could use some commiseration.

Don't. play. them during. spring. training.

Dyzalot · 09-15-2017, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkcloud4579

Don't. play. them during. spring. training.

And watch them struggle for the first month?

HuachucaThunder · 09-16-2017, 10:18 AM

I use a 6 man rotation in ST and limit the pitch count to 40-50 for the first pass through the rotation. Then I may up it to 60-70 until the last pass through the rotation which there is no pitch count. All relievers are set to middle relief throughout ST. I will carry probably 25 -28 pitchers until there are 2 weeks left in spring training, then I start to reassign pitchers.
As for position players, 32 - 35 is what I use until 2 weeks left, then like the pitchers, I will begin to reassign them. My ST depth chart usually is 2 deep and each position plays one day and has two off.
With this set-up, I rarely have had any serious injuries too often. Might have someone be out 6 weeks or so, but no season ending or career ending injuries that I can think off.

Dyzalot · 09-16-2017, 11:56 AM

If you want to have no injuries during ST (I find that unrealistic but to each his own), why not just turn off injuries during ST?

bailey · 09-16-2017, 10:53 PM

Turn off injuries during spring training, then turn it back on for the regular season.

NoOne · 09-17-2017, 02:38 AM

i don't think they need to play games to knock 'rust' off. just being on an active roster abates accumulation, so it's reasonable that it is enough to knock it off.

but, if you don't want to just have them on the bench during st, limit their use as much as possible. if a starter, then the backup every 2 days and the backup-backup every 3, etc.. ~8 games played that way?

you shouldn't have to change any pitch counts. they only pitch 4 innings. 60 or less might help, but not sure if they even adhere to them. ST does operate differently in some respects.

definitely use 6-man rotation. plenty of extra RP. i even out the usage too - e.g. all normal or maybe even put your better RP as "use less often." remove secondary roles from any important pitcher. shouldn't have a need anyway, but will help limit closer use... speaking of, make sure to have more than 1 primary role closer in ST.

there's an option in player "game strategy" to prevent usage as a PH when resting or something to that effect. that could be useful. not sure if it applies in ST.

strakapoud · 09-17-2017, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoOne

i don't think they need to play games to knock 'rust' off. just being on an active roster abates accumulation, so it's reasonable that it is enough to knock it off.

From the manual (emphasis mine):

Rust

Each player in OOTP has a certain amount of 'rust' after an offseason. For each at-bat or inning pitched during Spring Training, a player shakes off some of that rust. Therefore, it is important to make sure all your key players get at least some playing time during Spring Training, because rusty players won't perform well.

So no, being on active roster is not enough.

Zeth · 09-17-2017, 09:48 AM

I used to apply some very similar strategies to what has been brought up in this thread. But I came to deciding to just play Spring Training as normal, because my AI competitors don't get to benefit from such strategies so it creates an unrealistic advantage for me.

One thing you can do that impacts everyone the same that you might like is shorten spring training from the default 5 weeks to, day, 3 weeks. There's a setting for it.

09-15-2017, 02:47 PM	#1
dannibalcorpse Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 168	Protecting Players in Spring Training So I've been running a Mets franchise and it's been scarily accurate with injuries (), to the point that Noah Syndergaard has pitched 90 innings total through 2017 & '18. Spring training has been a graveyard for me - in 2018 I lost Thor for 4 months with a labrum injury, and Zack Wheeler for the full year with a rotator cuff injury. Starting 2019 ST now, and Noah is out for another 5 weeks with a strained hamstring after the 3rd game of the spring schedule. I've got the guys I'm planning on being in my regular season rotation listed as relievers with "Use Less Often" designations, but they're obviously still getting cycled in; is there any way to basically keep these guys from doing much of anything in spring training (besides sending them down and wasting option years)? Feel free to share your horrible spring injury stories here, too, I could use some commiseration.

09-15-2017, 07:56 PM	#9
CraigBShuman Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 122	Somewhat different result with Mets I am playing the Mets as well. I play as GM/Manager. Met games are played out. Rest is simulated. Syndergaard won the pitching triple crown and the Cy Young in both 2017 and 2018. No real injuries. I have noticed that my teams tend to do better when I simulate rather than manage them myself. But, the latter produces less injuries. Don't know if other people have had the same results.

09-16-2017, 10:53 PM	#15
bailey Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,128	Turn off injuries during spring training, then turn it back on for the regular season. __________________

09-15-2017, 03:01 PM	#2
Dyzalot All Star Starter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,735	You need to use your starters in ST enough to shake off the "rust" they've accumulated during the offseason. Pretty sure it is also normal that the most injuries occur during ST as that's also what happens for MLB. I play with injuries on "high (MLB accurate)" & never limit playing time for anyone in order to try and prevent injury during spring training. Your best defense to this is depth.

09-15-2017, 03:23 PM	#3
RonCo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 9,502	I invite 50-60 players to spring training, and start the minor league players for the first two weeks, letting my starters get an occasional at bat at best. My rotation sits in "not assigned" limbo. Relievers on use less often or not assigned. Then the last couple weeks, the starters start about half time. I tend to come out of ST relatively unscathed, and the guys seem ready to play.

09-15-2017, 03:39 PM	#5
RonCo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 9,502	I try not to use "bench player," but only because I have a tendency to forget I toggled those things, then the guy doesn't get time.

09-15-2017, 03:42 PM	#6
slugger922cubs Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 311	I do a few things. 1) I set pitch limits very low 50-65 pitches for early ST. 2) I create a special strategy for ST that has short hooks on pitchers, high use of relievers, and extreme high ends for pinch hitting, pinch running, and defensive subs. This makes use players get subbed a lot. I save this strategy a load it every spring. Lastly I set the depth charts for the subs to start every other or every third day. I loosen this as I make cuts. This works for me since I dont like to micro manage 7-day line ups. Im more a big picture manager.

09-15-2017, 05:03 PM	#7
'94 EXPOS Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 311	I run a 6 man rotation and set all relievers to middle relief. I bring enough position players to camp in order to go 'every 2nd' game at all positions and additionally give more time to younger prospects (I rarely have a full 40 man) who I add as spring training invites. This method has significantly reduced ST injuries for me and still allows for the players to get up to speed.

09-16-2017, 10:18 AM	#13
HuachucaThunder Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 210	I use a 6 man rotation in ST and limit the pitch count to 40-50 for the first pass through the rotation. Then I may up it to 60-70 until the last pass through the rotation which there is no pitch count. All relievers are set to middle relief throughout ST. I will carry probably 25 -28 pitchers until there are 2 weeks left in spring training, then I start to reassign pitchers. As for position players, 32 - 35 is what I use until 2 weeks left, then like the pitchers, I will begin to reassign them. My ST depth chart usually is 2 deep and each position plays one day and has two off. With this set-up, I rarely have had any serious injuries too often. Might have someone be out 6 weeks or so, but no season ending or career ending injuries that I can think off.

09-16-2017, 11:56 AM	#14
Dyzalot All Star Starter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,735	If you want to have no injuries during ST (I find that unrealistic but to each his own), why not just turn off injuries during ST?

09-17-2017, 02:38 AM	#16
NoOne Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,167	i don't think they need to play games to knock 'rust' off. just being on an active roster abates accumulation, so it's reasonable that it is enough to knock it off. but, if you don't want to just have them on the bench during st, limit their use as much as possible. if a starter, then the backup every 2 days and the backup-backup every 3, etc.. ~8 games played that way? you shouldn't have to change any pitch counts. they only pitch 4 innings. 60 or less might help, but not sure if they even adhere to them. ST does operate differently in some respects. definitely use 6-man rotation. plenty of extra RP. i even out the usage too - e.g. all normal or maybe even put your better RP as "use less often." remove secondary roles from any important pitcher. shouldn't have a need anyway, but will help limit closer use... speaking of, make sure to have more than 1 primary role closer in ST. there's an option in player "game strategy" to prevent usage as a PH when resting or something to that effect. that could be useful. not sure if it applies in ST.

09-17-2017, 09:48 AM	#18
Zeth Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 15	I used to apply some very similar strategies to what has been brought up in this thread. But I came to deciding to just play Spring Training as normal, because my AI competitors don't get to benefit from such strategies so it creates an unrealistic advantage for me. One thing you can do that impacts everyone the same that you might like is shorten spring training from the default 5 weeks to, day, 3 weeks. There's a setting for it.