Is AAA a needed stop for a top prospect? And best way to develop prospects?

Cole · 01-21-2014, 12:09 AM

I'm wondering... in real baseball, you commonly see good prospects jump from AA straight to the MLB and at some time stick around in the big leagues, without ever playing in AAA ....

Many teams keep their best prospects in AA and don't ever put them in AAA... I'm just wondering, does this tend to work, or backfire, in OOTP? If I have a prospect in AA who is putting up good numbers and has good looking ratings, will it stunt his development and future career to jump him straight from AA to MLB and hope it sticks? Should a top prospect spend some time in AAA first?

Secondly, I'm wondering if there is any sort of comprehensive guide to guiding your prospects through the minor leagues in the best fashion in terms of development. I always feel that I ruin prospects at times by either rushing them too much (despite good ratings/minor league numbers) and on the flip side maybe doing things too slowly..

I'm not sure what strategies people employ .... specific rules of thumb, things to watch for, how much attention to pay to the red and green arrows? (Sometimes they seem to have odd decisions, wanting you to promote someone who isn't even putting up good numbers, etc).

Anyway, just looking for any and all tips. Thanks!

RchW · 01-21-2014, 12:45 AM

The specific reason in real life is that the PCL can destroy pitching prospects very quickly. Hitting stats are seriously inflated.

tejdog1 · 01-21-2014, 07:36 AM

I always, ALWAYS make sure my prospects get time in AAA. Now a few times due to injury and whatnot it's been like 2 games, which doesn't count (in my mind). But it serves two purposes for me.

1. Another level with more advanced pitching to face
2. Buys time for Super Two, which is best to try and avoid if possible.

But as for your concerns, I don't think it matters, because if you look around your league, you'll see the AI does absolutely braindead things and it turns out "ok". Case in point:

As for me, I look at a combination of ratings and stats. I typically like 40 contact/40 eye before promoting to high A, then 45/50 contact/eye before promoting to AA. This is for legit prospects now, not minor league filler. Also age, and the other batting ratings. Avoid Ks is a big one, too. They all are, lol.

I've promoted prospects way too fast sometimes and had them fizzle out, and... just like IRL, you wonder if you would've done it different, would they have not fizzled out? That, to me, is the beauty of baseball. In OOTP, though, you COULD test it. Make a backup league, then aggresively promote a prospect in one, and don't in the other.

BIG17EASY · 01-21-2014, 08:49 AM

There are a lot of factors that go into why MLB teams might have a prospect skip Double-A, including the things RichW and tejdog1 mentioned. But it's not like every prospect skips Triple-A. Most guys tend to get a "cup of coffee" there if they're progressing quickly, so I try to have my pitchers get 8-12 starts or 20-30 relief innings, and my batters I try to get 100-150 at bats there. If they perform well, then I promote them. I'll only skip Triple-A if I have a serious need at the position my prospect plays.

The one thing to remember is that if you skip your prospect from Double-A to the majors and he struggles and then you demote him to Triple-A, his morale may suffer. The morale system in OOTP can be tricky and affect a player's development, so I try to avoid demoting prospects at all costs.

pgjocki · 01-21-2014, 10:12 AM

I have lately been skipping AAA on most elite prospects and using it to stash players who are being kept around as emergency fill for injuries. I am in year 2027 in a league I started from 2013 and hitters do substantially better by skipping AAA.

I don't have 100% testing to validate of course, just my observations.

As mentioned earlier, I like to see between 200-300 at bats in AA to gauge a player.

tejdog1 · 01-21-2014, 12:12 PM

I also believe heavily in the Peter Principle with top prospects, too. I'll monitor them more closely then lessor prospects, and apply it hard.

damientheomen3 · 01-21-2014, 02:00 PM

It's all down to personal preference when it comes to OOTP. Personally, I like seeing my guys get AAA time, and I'll usually keep my top prospects down even if the guy ahead of them in the majors is just filler and I think the prospect is better now than the filler guy, because I like to let my guys develop some before they come up. At the end of the day, it's up to you.

I also promote based solely on stats, but then I play stats only.

PsychoBulk · 01-21-2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tejdog1

But as for your concerns, I don't think it matters, because if you look around your league, you'll see the AI does absolutely braindead things and it turns out "ok". Case in point:

.

Jose Fernandez says hi

But yes, i take your point.

le receveur · 01-21-2014, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

It's all down to personal preference when it comes to OOTP. Personally, I like seeing my guys get AAA time, and I'll usually keep my top prospects down even if the guy ahead of them in the majors is just filler and I think the prospect is better now than the filler guy, because I like to let my guys develop some before they come up. At the end of the day, it's up to you.

I also promote based solely on stats, but then I play stats only.

As stat only do you still get the red and green arrows recommendations?

legofarley · 01-21-2014, 04:18 PM

I play stats only and I have a tendency to watch guys starting in AA. If they're good in AA they go on the 40 man roster. If they play well in Spring Training and there's a spot open for them the stick on the ML roster. If they have a bad spring, I send them to AAA. Usually for top 100 prospect types they're a regular on the ML roster before their option years expire. If not I trade them when they're out of options.

tejdog1 · 01-21-2014, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychoBulk

Jose Fernandez says hi

But yes, i take your point.

Well sure, so does Albert Pujols, but outliers are outliers, not the norm. The AI typically does stupid stuff like that.

skalepp · 01-21-2014, 05:26 PM

In my online league I had a top prospect at 1B that played an entire season in AA. With really good numbers and good ratings I was unsure of whether or not to skip AAA and give him the starting job in the MLB. What also helped my decision in calling him up was my top 1B left to free agency so I needed him to step up. So without even a swing of the bat in AAA he was the rookie of the month in the month of April with 7HRs 18 RBI and a batting average of .350. So yes it can be done...

It's all fun in the game and it really depends on the player. Go with your guy feeling. Pitchers might be an exception to the rule and may need a gradual taste of each level, but it can be done.

damientheomen3 · 01-22-2014, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by le receveur

As stat only do you still get the red and green arrows recommendations?

Yes, but I completely ignore them. I'm not gonna promote a guy with a 6.00 ERA in AA just because the game says I should. WHIP is a decent indicator to me of readiness to move on, but then again, I don't really build much minor league depth, so seeing anything less than a 1.50 WHIP from a guy in a higher level that I'm not already following is enough to grab my interest.

01-21-2014, 12:09 AM	#1
Cole Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick Posts: 2,685	Is AAA a needed stop for a top prospect? And best way to develop prospects? I'm wondering... in real baseball, you commonly see good prospects jump from AA straight to the MLB and at some time stick around in the big leagues, without ever playing in AAA .... Many teams keep their best prospects in AA and don't ever put them in AAA... I'm just wondering, does this tend to work, or backfire, in OOTP? If I have a prospect in AA who is putting up good numbers and has good looking ratings, will it stunt his development and future career to jump him straight from AA to MLB and hope it sticks? Should a top prospect spend some time in AAA first? Secondly, I'm wondering if there is any sort of comprehensive guide to guiding your prospects through the minor leagues in the best fashion in terms of development. I always feel that I ruin prospects at times by either rushing them too much (despite good ratings/minor league numbers) and on the flip side maybe doing things too slowly.. I'm not sure what strategies people employ .... specific rules of thumb, things to watch for, how much attention to pay to the red and green arrows? (Sometimes they seem to have odd decisions, wanting you to promote someone who isn't even putting up good numbers, etc). Anyway, just looking for any and all tips. Thanks! Last edited by Cole; 01-21-2014 at 12:17 AM.

01-21-2014, 12:45 AM	#2
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	The specific reason in real life is that the PCL can destroy pitching prospects very quickly. Hitting stats are seriously inflated. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

01-21-2014, 07:36 AM	#3
tejdog1 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 1,654	I always, ALWAYS make sure my prospects get time in AAA. Now a few times due to injury and whatnot it's been like 2 games, which doesn't count (in my mind). But it serves two purposes for me. 1. Another level with more advanced pitching to face 2. Buys time for Super Two, which is best to try and avoid if possible. But as for your concerns, I don't think it matters, because if you look around your league, you'll see the AI does absolutely braindead things and it turns out "ok". Case in point: As for me, I look at a combination of ratings and stats. I typically like 40 contact/40 eye before promoting to high A, then 45/50 contact/eye before promoting to AA. This is for legit prospects now, not minor league filler. Also age, and the other batting ratings. Avoid Ks is a big one, too. They all are, lol. I've promoted prospects way too fast sometimes and had them fizzle out, and... just like IRL, you wonder if you would've done it different, would they have not fizzled out? That, to me, is the beauty of baseball. In OOTP, though, you COULD test it. Make a backup league, then aggresively promote a prospect in one, and don't in the other. __________________ It's amazing How you make your face just like a wall How you take your heart and turn it off How I turn my head and lose it all And it's unnerving How just one move puts me by myself There you go just trusting someone else Now I know I put us both through hell ~Matchbox 20, "Leave" Everyone knows it's spelled "TRAID", not trade Last edited by tejdog1; 01-21-2014 at 07:40 AM.

01-21-2014, 10:12 AM	#5
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,675	I have lately been skipping AAA on most elite prospects and using it to stash players who are being kept around as emergency fill for injuries. I am in year 2027 in a league I started from 2013 and hitters do substantially better by skipping AAA. I don't have 100% testing to validate of course, just my observations. As mentioned earlier, I like to see between 200-300 at bats in AA to gauge a player. __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

01-21-2014, 12:12 PM	#6
tejdog1 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 1,654	I also believe heavily in the Peter Principle with top prospects, too. I'll monitor them more closely then lessor prospects, and apply it hard. __________________ It's amazing How you make your face just like a wall How you take your heart and turn it off How I turn my head and lose it all And it's unnerving How just one move puts me by myself There you go just trusting someone else Now I know I put us both through hell ~Matchbox 20, "Leave" Everyone knows it's spelled "TRAID", not trade

01-21-2014, 08:49 AM	#4
BIG17EASY Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,291	There are a lot of factors that go into why MLB teams might have a prospect skip Double-A, including the things RichW and tejdog1 mentioned. But it's not like every prospect skips Triple-A. Most guys tend to get a "cup of coffee" there if they're progressing quickly, so I try to have my pitchers get 8-12 starts or 20-30 relief innings, and my batters I try to get 100-150 at bats there. If they perform well, then I promote them. I'll only skip Triple-A if I have a serious need at the position my prospect plays. The one thing to remember is that if you skip your prospect from Double-A to the majors and he struggles and then you demote him to Triple-A, his morale may suffer. The morale system in OOTP can be tricky and affect a player's development, so I try to avoid demoting prospects at all costs.

01-21-2014, 04:18 PM	#10
legofarley Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 460	I play stats only and I have a tendency to watch guys starting in AA. If they're good in AA they go on the 40 man roster. If they play well in Spring Training and there's a spot open for them the stick on the ML roster. If they have a bad spring, I send them to AAA. Usually for top 100 prospect types they're a regular on the ML roster before their option years expire. If not I trade them when they're out of options. __________________ El Jimbo - OOTP fanatic since V. X & Official Fan of Justafan

01-21-2014, 05:26 PM	#12
skalepp Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 119	In my online league I had a top prospect at 1B that played an entire season in AA. With really good numbers and good ratings I was unsure of whether or not to skip AAA and give him the starting job in the MLB. What also helped my decision in calling him up was my top 1B left to free agency so I needed him to step up. So without even a swing of the bat in AAA he was the rookie of the month in the month of April with 7HRs 18 RBI and a batting average of .350. So yes it can be done... It's all fun in the game and it really depends on the player. Go with your guy feeling. Pitchers might be an exception to the rule and may need a gradual taste of each level, but it can be done.