Does age mean anything when calling players up to the majors?

edm · 05-26-2007, 02:03 AM

I had a few top flight prospects who rated 4 to 5 stars by the age of 17 to 18 years old (the actual rating, not potential), so I called them up. While they usually start off well, It seems like many of them have dropped off severely after a couple seasons. I had two pitchers go from 4.5 stars to 1, with horrible rating drops.

So, is this just a combination of coincidence and bad luck? Or does playing a 17 year old at the ML level have a negative effect on that player? Should I start holding back very young players, until they grow some hair on their chest, even if they are highly rated?

swishbish33 · 05-26-2007, 05:01 AM

Wow, I've never had a 17 or 18 year old with actual ratings that high. I would think it would be smart to leave them in the minors until they hit at least 19 or 20. I'm not really basing this on anything other than the fact that, at 17 or 18, in today's MLB, they simply aren't seasoned enough to play at that level.

Just my 2 cents...

1998 Yankees · 05-26-2007, 09:57 AM

Two thoughts occurred to me, one of which I was able to find in the manual and one I will just repeat from memory or impression.

First:

Quote:

15.2.2.4. Scouting Accuracy
The accuracy of your scouts’ reports depends on a number of factors, including the scout’s ratings,
how well your personnel develop the player’s abilities, the player’s performance, the age of the player, and more. Remember, the younger a player is, the more likely scouts will be inaccurate when assessing the potential of a player. Keep this in mind when scouting players for first-year player drafts.

It says "potential" but for a 17- or 18-year-old, I would think it also applies to the current rating.

Second: I remember reading here about how promoting a player to a level before he is ready may negatively and severely affect his development. Something about how failure at a young age while playing in a league over his head will affect his confidence and his ratings, including potential, will slide accordingly.

chippered · 05-26-2007, 02:24 PM

I've had the same problems with younger players being ready for the majors. I can see the arguement of younger guys being harder for scouts to read, but my guys performed really well for an extended period of time, usually two or three years, so even if the scouts were off on their idea of the player, he still performed well.

Then he'd take a talent hit and be a marginal player. I dont mind this happening at all, just makes no sense when it happens so frequently.

I'm not saying it happens all the time, but sometimes it just doesnt make any sense. Such is life, I guess. Maybe my guys have problems at home that affect their performance on the field. :-)

05-26-2007, 02:03 AM	#1
edm All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,999	Does age mean anything when calling players up to the majors? I had a few top flight prospects who rated 4 to 5 stars by the age of 17 to 18 years old (the actual rating, not potential), so I called them up. While they usually start off well, It seems like many of them have dropped off severely after a couple seasons. I had two pitchers go from 4.5 stars to 1, with horrible rating drops. So, is this just a combination of coincidence and bad luck? Or does playing a 17 year old at the ML level have a negative effect on that player? Should I start holding back very young players, until they grow some hair on their chest, even if they are highly rated?

05-26-2007, 05:01 AM	#2
swishbish33 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 117	Wow, I've never had a 17 or 18 year old with actual ratings that high. I would think it would be smart to leave them in the minors until they hit at least 19 or 20. I'm not really basing this on anything other than the fact that, at 17 or 18, in today's MLB, they simply aren't seasoned enough to play at that level. Just my 2 cents...

05-26-2007, 02:24 PM	#4
chippered Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 191	I've had the same problems with younger players being ready for the majors. I can see the arguement of younger guys being harder for scouts to read, but my guys performed really well for an extended period of time, usually two or three years, so even if the scouts were off on their idea of the player, he still performed well. Then he'd take a talent hit and be a marginal player. I dont mind this happening at all, just makes no sense when it happens so frequently. I'm not saying it happens all the time, but sometimes it just doesnt make any sense. Such is life, I guess. Maybe my guys have problems at home that affect their performance on the field. :-)