Age of Minor Leaguers unrealistic?

[cbbl]

Sorry about that other post ... wrong screen name. Can't figure out how to delete it, though.

Anyway ...

This is one of two quick posts to answer questions about OOTP2006.

1. Is there a parameter that will keep minor league players in the age range that real minor league teams have?

When starting a new league, I notice that the age range of players is very random (that's fine), but it seems strange to have 38-year-old guys playing A or AA ball. If you haven't made it up by your 30s, you probably never will and likely wouldn't continue to play, would you? More likely, why would a franchise fill a development roster spot with someone who will never develop?

Thanks
cbbl

[abailey3313]

Originally Posted by cbbl

When starting a new league, I notice that the age range of players is very random (that's fine), but it seems strange to have 38-year-old guys playing A or AA ball. If you haven't made it up by your 30s, you probably never will and likely wouldn't continue to play, would you? More likely, why would a franchise fill a development roster spot with someone who will never develop?

That's just it.

It's not really a matter of whether or not you'd still play as much as it's a matter of would a team bother sticking you in the outfield every day while a 21-year-old sat behind you on the bench. Probably not.

As for your question, I don't really have an answer. I just figured I'd toss in those quick .

[CHCfan]

Originally Posted by cbbl

Sorry about that other post ... wrong screen name. Can't figure out how to delete it, though.

Anyway ...

This is one of two quick posts to answer questions about OOTP2006.

1. Is there a parameter that will keep minor league players in the age range that real minor league teams have?

When starting a new league, I notice that the age range of players is very random (that's fine), but it seems strange to have 38-year-old guys playing A or AA ball. If you haven't made it up by your 30s, you probably never will and likely wouldn't continue to play, would you? More likely, why would a franchise fill a development roster spot with someone who will never develop?

Thanks
cbbl

While I agree that keeping a 38 y.o. in A or AA is a little strange, there are some things to keep in mind. In addition to being development-based, these teams are in fairly competitive leagues, so a player who's 30-something and contributing, yet not with ML-talent, there's no reason for them to get rid of him.

FWIW, I usually cut players of a certain age and skill level in my low minors

[Eric]

When fantasy becomes reality...
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by abailey3313

It's not really a matter of whether or not you'd still play as much as it's a matter of would a team bother sticking you in the outfield every day while a 21-year-old sat behind you on the bench. Probably not.

That's true of the minor leagues today since they are about player development for major league clubs and little else.

But in the earlier days of the minor leagues, when they operated more as independent organizations trying to make a profit, the situation was different. Yes, they would find and develop promising talent so they could sell that talent to a major league club for a tidy profit, but they also would sign good-quality, ex-major league players to help keep their teams winning and put fans in the stands. Quite a few major league players finished their pro baseball careers playing for minor league clubs in earlier times.

I'd like both methods of operation to be feasible in the game. The question is how to achieve that...