player development - strategies and secrets

sabrtoothtiger · 05-03-2015, 01:58 PM

What are some of your secrets and methods for developing minor league players into major league 25man players?

Whats your strategy for acquiring talent both in the amateur draft and international signings?

What kind of strategy do you use for assigning players at each level of the minors?

Do you adapt a 'cardinals way' type approach by hiring similar coaches at all levels ? (i.e, all teaching contact for hitters or power pitchers for pitching)?

If you do this do you try to find players with raw skills your coaching staff can develop?

This seems to be a massive part of the game that isn't well discussed on the forums.

Déjà Bru · 05-03-2015, 04:12 PM

My two cents:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabrtoothtiger

What are some of your secrets and methods for developing minor league players into major league 25man players?
Make sure you have decent coaches who work well with young players and make sure you are spending enough in your Development Budget.

Whats your strategy for acquiring talent both in the amateur draft and international signings?
Always look for high marks in Intelligence and especially Work Ethic. Leadership and loyalty are bonuses, but Work Ethic is key. Watch the AI do the same thing, snapping up Very High Work Ethic guys and shunning the Low and Very Low slouches.

What kind of strategy do you use for assigning players at each level of the minors?
I'm lazy, so I assign this to my minor league managers. But I keep an eye on things and I control minor league signings and releases, so if I see a 25-year-old guy still in the rookie league (and he has a low Work Ethic), he gets chopped. If you control promotions and demotions look for the arrows in your organization view and run a minor league report once in a while in which recommendations are shown.

Do you adapt a 'cardinals way' type approach by hiring similar coaches at all levels ? (i.e, all teaching contact for hitters or power pitchers for pitching)?
On minor league levels, I don't pay much attention to such strategies. I look more for the comments about being good with young players. Again, just my two cents.

If you do this do you try to find players with raw skills your coaching staff can develop?
Well, it would make sense to find players with high contact potential if your coaches are stressing that, but again, I look for the best players overall and I hopefully "fertilize" them with good coaches who work well with youngsters and who have plenty of development $$ to work with.

This seems to be a massive part of the game that isn't well discussed on the forums.

This is my approach. Other players will have different ideas and suggestions.

IsaacR · 05-03-2015, 11:41 PM

1. Shortlist your best, spend money on player development, and keep close tabs on them.
2. Best player available. If that's 5 straight middle infielders, so be it. Three of them are now trade bait.
3. Delegate it to your assistant. If he seems to get a couple wrong, promote and lock them there.
4. Yes, but I do power and control/finesse.
5. I always draft high power and high control/movement players because I feel they give the best value at the MLB level.

olivertheorem · 05-03-2015, 11:56 PM

1. Draft the highest potential players I can find.

2. Cross my fingers. :P

RamMan12 · 05-04-2015, 11:41 AM

I put a lot of money in my development and scouting budget so that I can have a leg up on the other teams in my league after a few years.

In drafting/signing IFAs, I look for positive personalities and good defense. High work ethic and intelligence lead to a higher chance of potential rating jumps and I draft good defenders because if they improve their hitting potential, I'm more likely to have a four or five tool player who will stay on my team. I never keep poor defenders unless it's at 1B.

If I do my own minor league promotions/demotions, I check the ratings relative to the league they are in or might go to. This way I'm not handicapping a star prospect by moving him up too soon.

The only thing similar between my coaches at the minor league level is that they are strong at working with youngsters. The only time I deviate from that is if I have a major league coach but no room on the team yet.

I also make trades to get prospects that I think will benefit my team. I am quick to shed veterans that are good enough to start if I can't find room on my team. This way, I keep gaining talent in my farm system to develop.

05-03-2015, 01:58 PM	#1
sabrtoothtiger Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 137	player development - strategies and secrets What are some of your secrets and methods for developing minor league players into major league 25man players? Whats your strategy for acquiring talent both in the amateur draft and international signings? What kind of strategy do you use for assigning players at each level of the minors? Do you adapt a 'cardinals way' type approach by hiring similar coaches at all levels ? (i.e, all teaching contact for hitters or power pitchers for pitching)? If you do this do you try to find players with raw skills your coaching staff can develop? This seems to be a massive part of the game that isn't well discussed on the forums.

05-03-2015, 11:41 PM	#3
IsaacR Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bowie, Maryland Posts: 464	1. Shortlist your best, spend money on player development, and keep close tabs on them. 2. Best player available. If that's 5 straight middle infielders, so be it. Three of them are now trade bait. 3. Delegate it to your assistant. If he seems to get a couple wrong, promote and lock them there. 4. Yes, but I do power and control/finesse. 5. I always draft high power and high control/movement players because I feel they give the best value at the MLB level.

05-03-2015, 11:56 PM	#4
olivertheorem All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,919	1. Draft the highest potential players I can find. 2. Cross my fingers. :P

05-04-2015, 11:41 AM	#5
RamMan12 Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 482	I put a lot of money in my development and scouting budget so that I can have a leg up on the other teams in my league after a few years. In drafting/signing IFAs, I look for positive personalities and good defense. High work ethic and intelligence lead to a higher chance of potential rating jumps and I draft good defenders because if they improve their hitting potential, I'm more likely to have a four or five tool player who will stay on my team. I never keep poor defenders unless it's at 1B. If I do my own minor league promotions/demotions, I check the ratings relative to the league they are in or might go to. This way I'm not handicapping a star prospect by moving him up too soon. The only thing similar between my coaches at the minor league level is that they are strong at working with youngsters. The only time I deviate from that is if I have a major league coach but no room on the team yet. I also make trades to get prospects that I think will benefit my team. I am quick to shed veterans that are good enough to start if I can't find room on my team. This way, I keep gaining talent in my farm system to develop.