Can you work your way up?

hmatthias · 05-10-2007, 09:08 AM

I was thinking about buying this, but wondered if it was possible to "work your way up" as a manager. For example, could you start in Rookie/A League, and eventually become a major league manager? Or is managing at this level pretty boring?

Just wanted some opinions

1998 Yankees · 05-10-2007, 09:20 AM

To be honest, playing this way can be frustrating. As a minor league manager, you have no control over your roster and must make do with the players given to you by the AI. That, and roster changes are rather frequent, although this version and its patches are supposed to be slowing that down some.

The upshot is that often you don't have quality players and the ones that you do have are taken away. This is to be expected as the AI GM should be managing the organization with an eye to what is best for the parent club. Which would be fine if the game rewarded good management regardless of win/loss record in the minor leagues.

The problem is, the game expects you to win at all levels and if you do not it penalizes your reputation. As your reputation suffers, the likelihood of your being fired increases to the point of frustration as you cannot even make it through one season at times.

I found myself in this situation and I finally went into commissioner mode and took the GM job that I wanted. Being able to control the organization, making all the transactions while managing the parent club, is the most interesting mode of play for me.

bp_ · 05-10-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

To be honest, playing this way can be frustrating. As a minor league manager, you have no control over your roster and must make do with the players given to you by the AI. That, and roster changes are rather frequent, although this version and its patches are supposed to be slowing that down some.

The upshot is that often you don't have quality players and the ones that you do have are taken away. This is to be expected as the AI GM should be managing the organization with an eye to what is best for the parent club. Which would be fine if the game rewarded good management regardless of win/loss record in the minor leagues.

The problem is, the game expects you to win at all levels and if you do not it penalizes your reputation. As your reputation suffers, the likelihood of your being fired increases to the point of frustration as you cannot even make it through one season at times.

I found myself in this situation and I finally went into commissioner mode and took the GM job that I wanted. Being able to control the organization, making all the transactions while managing the parent club, is the most interesting mode of play for me.

There has to be a way to make this more fun for the user. The question is, how? I never tried to play this way and I'm unsure how much focus it got in beta. I wasn't on any of the teams trying this part of the game out so I can't say.

hmatthias, I suggest you try out the demo anyway. I think you'll find the game can be pretty fun playing as a GM of a major league squad.

chimanbj · 05-10-2007, 10:23 AM

FEEDER LEAGUES!!!

Take some time to play as the GM of a high school or college team. You have complete control over the team, and even though you are stuck with the roster you start with (trades, free agents, etc. are not allowed), it's better than having your lineup messed with constantly. I managed a high school team for three years, managed a half season in AA, and then held out for a major league GM role. I'm now a very involved GM, taking over at the start of my Mexican Winter League season, and now in Spring Training, I'm playing out each game, weeding through my roster, ensuring that I have enough depth at each position at the MLB level, as well as having enough talent at the AAA level in case of injuries. Making trades to sure up trouble areas (my leadoff SS, Rafael Furcal, is 1-18 in the spring) is part of the fun as well.

You can have fun as a manager. Just add the feeder leagues, and don't take a job managing a minor league team. It's not worth the frustration. But that frustration is not necessarily a bug. If you're a minor league manager, your roster really *isn't* your own. You're developing talent. That's your job. If the talent develops, then by all means, he should move on. Your goal isn't necessarily to win a championship. It's to make studs out of duds...

Hazza · 05-11-2007, 02:05 AM

Yes the answer is you can.

You'll normally get offered places in international clubs or at college level. And after a season or two you'll go from "Greenhorn" -> lacks experiance. Then you just gotta hope you do well enough at A ball levels to get yourself to a MLB team, and from then on, destiny is in your own hands.

Tremaine · 05-11-2007, 12:11 PM

I would think at the minor league level, a manager should get credit for having developed players. As more talent is promoted, it would increase your skills as a coach. Wins should be a much larger factor at the major league level, rather than in the minors. Winning should not be nearly so important for the minor league manager's ultimate success.

I wonder how the AI is set up for this...?

1998 Yankees · 05-11-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremaine

I wonder how the AI is set up for this...?

I don't think it is, as I said above. The only thing that counts for the AI's judgment of you in the minors is winning or losing.

Think about it: You do not control who comes and goes on your roster, so you are not in a position to recommend who's a prospect and who is not. Also, what actions can you take to determine who does develop while under your management, other than playing time?

Without control of your rosters to affect timely promotions and demotions, and playing time being the only thing you can do to favor prospects (you are hardly in a position to teach hitting, pitching, and fielding), then it's pretty much up to the AI GM and chance as to how the players on your minor league team develop.

I respect the opinions of those who have said otherwise, but my own opinion is that unless you are lucky enough to win in the minors, and don't hang around too long at any one level, moving up when you can, the game is not enjoyable managing in the minors because it does not include what you were asking about.

05-10-2007, 09:08 AM	#1
hmatthias Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 82	Can you work your way up? I was thinking about buying this, but wondered if it was possible to "work your way up" as a manager. For example, could you start in Rookie/A League, and eventually become a major league manager? Or is managing at this level pretty boring? Just wanted some opinions

05-10-2007, 10:23 AM	#4
chimanbj All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago, by way of Philly Posts: 793	FEEDER LEAGUES!!! Take some time to play as the GM of a high school or college team. You have complete control over the team, and even though you are stuck with the roster you start with (trades, free agents, etc. are not allowed), it's better than having your lineup messed with constantly. I managed a high school team for three years, managed a half season in AA, and then held out for a major league GM role. I'm now a very involved GM, taking over at the start of my Mexican Winter League season, and now in Spring Training, I'm playing out each game, weeding through my roster, ensuring that I have enough depth at each position at the MLB level, as well as having enough talent at the AAA level in case of injuries. Making trades to sure up trouble areas (my leadoff SS, Rafael Furcal, is 1-18 in the spring) is part of the fun as well. You can have fun as a manager. Just add the feeder leagues, and don't take a job managing a minor league team. It's not worth the frustration. But that frustration is not necessarily a bug. If you're a minor league manager, your roster really isn't your own. You're developing talent. That's your job. If the talent develops, then by all means, he should move on. Your goal isn't necessarily to win a championship. It's to make studs out of duds... __________________ People ask if I'm a Cubs or White Sox fan...I tell them, proudly, I'm a Phillies Phan!

05-10-2007, 09:20 AM	#2
1998 Yankees Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yankee Stadium, back in 1998. Posts: 8,645	To be honest, playing this way can be frustrating. As a minor league manager, you have no control over your roster and must make do with the players given to you by the AI. That, and roster changes are rather frequent, although this version and its patches are supposed to be slowing that down some. The upshot is that often you don't have quality players and the ones that you do have are taken away. This is to be expected as the AI GM should be managing the organization with an eye to what is best for the parent club. Which would be fine if the game rewarded good management regardless of win/loss record in the minor leagues. The problem is, the game expects you to win at all levels and if you do not it penalizes your reputation. As your reputation suffers, the likelihood of your being fired increases to the point of frustration as you cannot even make it through one season at times. I found myself in this situation and I finally went into commissioner mode and took the GM job that I wanted. Being able to control the organization, making all the transactions while managing the parent club, is the most interesting mode of play for me.

05-11-2007, 02:05 AM	#5
Hazza Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 281	Yes the answer is you can. You'll normally get offered places in international clubs or at college level. And after a season or two you'll go from "Greenhorn" -> lacks experiance. Then you just gotta hope you do well enough at A ball levels to get yourself to a MLB team, and from then on, destiny is in your own hands.

05-11-2007, 12:11 PM	#6
Tremaine Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11	I would think at the minor league level, a manager should get credit for having developed players. As more talent is promoted, it would increase your skills as a coach. Wins should be a much larger factor at the major league level, rather than in the minors. Winning should not be nearly so important for the minor league manager's ultimate success. I wonder how the AI is set up for this...?