When To Promote Minor Leaguers?

bjkat81 · 10-26-2008, 12:39 AM

Would anyone mind sharing some strategy on promoting minor leaguers? Specifically, what level do you start your top draft picks at? Can you start a 22 year old draft pick in AAA for example?

Also, does the timing of promotion matter at all? I've been promoting my players immediately after the season ends, and when the next season begins, the ratings are completely different.

Thanks for any input, much appreciated...

1998 Yankees · 10-26-2008, 12:14 PM

If your only minor league is AAA, then I would start your top draft pick there. However, if you have multiple levels you should always start him, and all your other draftees, at the lowest level. The game penalizes a player being thrown in over his head at a level that he is not ready for, so I always start new players at the bottom.

That does not mean the good ones stay at the bottom for long, however. After a month at rookie level, if I see a guy who is highly rated also doing well statistically, I will move him up to A. Theoretically, if the top pick is that good (or a sleeper is), he should move up my four minor league ranks in time for September roster expansion callup. That gives him valuable experience IMO. Only if I am really hurting due to an injury (or dumb trade of mine) will I rush a guy up to the majors. More often than not, he tanks anyway in that situation.

Here's a recent thread in which we talked a bit more about this subject:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...-question.html

Simon_Nesbit · 10-26-2008, 06:49 PM

I tend to do the same - my view is I've got six years of him on my list before I have to pay him, I might as well make him the best I can in that time. (Continuous improvement means I always have a strong replacement).

Every draftee goes to the lowest level, with a consideration for age. At 20 you have to be in A. 23 in AA. 26 in AAA. 29 in Majors. Then on the 1st of every month I do promotions/demotions. Can't be demoted in your first month, no matter how BAD you go. Always run 20 players in lower divisions. 2 catchers, 5 infield, 4 outfield, 5 starters, 3 relievers, 1 closer.

I promote hitters due to age, or performance, with .800 OPS usually my 'promotion line'. Pitchers are a bit more difficult, but along similar lines - I look for specific stats.

bjkat81 · 10-26-2008, 07:08 PM

i like the .800 ops mark too, and I use WHIP for pitchers.

Nesbit, do your players get 'angry' when you keep them in the minors for so long? is this what makes players angry or is it the general success of the team and their individual performance?

I like that strategy though, of riding out their arbitration years, which in your case are their prime years. I'm going to give that a try...

Simon_Nesbit · 10-27-2008, 07:40 AM

to be honest I tend to turn that feature off. when I had it on, I had a good young pitcher - no star by any measure, but good enough to #4 start on some teams.

For me he played in AAA, and had a 1-day stint in the bigs (mistaken callup - his namesake was a 31yo journeyman with much better stats in AAA). He threw a tantrum, and his ratings plummeted in the off-season to the point he never made the bigs again.

He was a 1st round pick (about 15 overall), and was going to evolve into a top-flight starter - or so I thought.

After that (and a few other things - 19yo 1B's expecting to start ahead of their 6.5 million All-star rival) I eventually turned it off - or ignore it completely.

bjkat81 · 10-28-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon_Nesbit

to be honest I tend to turn that feature off.

After that (and a few other things - 19yo 1B's expecting to start ahead of their 6.5 million All-star rival) I eventually turned it off - or ignore it completely.

Nesbit, I did the same thing. I'm trying to rebuild some pretty crappy franchises and my minor league teams perform terribly in the standings, which makes their morale go down, which makes the players' stats terrible, which makes them perform terribly in the standings, and on and on. Irreversible downward spiral, I found. I wish there was a slider to this feature.

10-26-2008, 12:39 AM	#1
bjkat81 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 26	When To Promote Minor Leaguers? Would anyone mind sharing some strategy on promoting minor leaguers? Specifically, what level do you start your top draft picks at? Can you start a 22 year old draft pick in AAA for example? Also, does the timing of promotion matter at all? I've been promoting my players immediately after the season ends, and when the next season begins, the ratings are completely different. Thanks for any input, much appreciated...

10-26-2008, 12:14 PM	#2
1998 Yankees Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yankee Stadium, back in 1998. Posts: 8,645	If your only minor league is AAA, then I would start your top draft pick there. However, if you have multiple levels you should always start him, and all your other draftees, at the lowest level. The game penalizes a player being thrown in over his head at a level that he is not ready for, so I always start new players at the bottom. That does not mean the good ones stay at the bottom for long, however. After a month at rookie level, if I see a guy who is highly rated also doing well statistically, I will move him up to A. Theoretically, if the top pick is that good (or a sleeper is), he should move up my four minor league ranks in time for September roster expansion callup. That gives him valuable experience IMO. Only if I am really hurting due to an injury (or dumb trade of mine) will I rush a guy up to the majors. More often than not, he tanks anyway in that situation. Here's a recent thread in which we talked a bit more about this subject: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...-question.html

10-26-2008, 06:49 PM	#3
Simon_Nesbit Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 260	I tend to do the same - my view is I've got six years of him on my list before I have to pay him, I might as well make him the best I can in that time. (Continuous improvement means I always have a strong replacement). Every draftee goes to the lowest level, with a consideration for age. At 20 you have to be in A. 23 in AA. 26 in AAA. 29 in Majors. Then on the 1st of every month I do promotions/demotions. Can't be demoted in your first month, no matter how BAD you go. Always run 20 players in lower divisions. 2 catchers, 5 infield, 4 outfield, 5 starters, 3 relievers, 1 closer. I promote hitters due to age, or performance, with .800 OPS usually my 'promotion line'. Pitchers are a bit more difficult, but along similar lines - I look for specific stats.

10-26-2008, 07:08 PM	#4
bjkat81 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 26	i like the .800 ops mark too, and I use WHIP for pitchers. Nesbit, do your players get 'angry' when you keep them in the minors for so long? is this what makes players angry or is it the general success of the team and their individual performance? I like that strategy though, of riding out their arbitration years, which in your case are their prime years. I'm going to give that a try...

10-27-2008, 07:40 AM	#5
Simon_Nesbit Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 260	to be honest I tend to turn that feature off. when I had it on, I had a good young pitcher - no star by any measure, but good enough to #4 start on some teams. For me he played in AAA, and had a 1-day stint in the bigs (mistaken callup - his namesake was a 31yo journeyman with much better stats in AAA). He threw a tantrum, and his ratings plummeted in the off-season to the point he never made the bigs again. He was a 1st round pick (about 15 overall), and was going to evolve into a top-flight starter - or so I thought. After that (and a few other things - 19yo 1B's expecting to start ahead of their 6.5 million All-star rival) I eventually turned it off - or ignore it completely.