How to know when a rebuild has failed?

Jman0329 · 05-30-2016, 01:07 PM

So after a pretty successful run over the last 8 or 9 seasons. it began time to move in a new direction, so I decided to rebuild. Well, some things went not according to plan, and five years later I feel I am in no better a position. How long is enough until I blow up this core, and start over again?

I have a few key young players who have come through the system producing good seasons, and feel wrong rebuilding and wasting their years.

I have failed this city

Also a major step back was trading a prospect the OSA loved and my scout hated, trusting my scout and he just posted his 2nd straight 8 WAR season

t-bone shuffle · 05-30-2016, 01:12 PM

5 years is enough. Time to try again.

BigRed75 · 05-30-2016, 01:13 PM

Never trust your scout.

Short answer - the rebuild failed whenever you think the path you're going on is not the right one. Sounds like you're at that point.

ThePretender · 05-30-2016, 01:43 PM

If you're taking more than 3 years to rebuild any team to 500+ (including expansion teams), and 4 to make the playoffs, then you should probably restart. What it likely means is you're trying to build entirely through the draft, which isn't the best idea. Some guys you need through the draft, but you need to balance what you get in the draft with what you get in trades as well. And support the core with Rule V, waivers, and smart FA pickups (either low cost vets, or all star to superstar level guys on front loaded deals while you have many players on league minimum salaries).

Really, you shouldn't be doing more than 1-2 years of rebuilding, and a third if necessary to reach the playoffs. It also probably means during your run you sat on your core, instead of trading guys at their peak value and flipping them for prospects to keep the run going. 8-9 years isn't bad, but you should be able to do more if you flip a core player or two every 2-3 years.

NoOne · 05-30-2016, 02:13 PM

i'd base it all on ages of important players invovled and what i need to get better. be realistic about it. no emotions. like thepretender said, diversity of player accumulation is important. budget size will help decide just how much you can focus outside of cheap young players.

i sometimes sacrifice a peak (slightly!) for more consistent year-to-year performance. i mostly avoid rebuilds and still have 'peak' years. if i ever have to replace 4-5 major components in one year, i blame myself for mismanaging contracts and such. that doesn't happen by luck unless you ignore it or accept it as an inevitability due to some other mismanagement.

the Salaries page in Front Office really gives a good idea of how you are set up in the near future.

05-30-2016, 01:07 PM	#1
Jman0329 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 49	How to know when a rebuild has failed? So after a pretty successful run over the last 8 or 9 seasons. it began time to move in a new direction, so I decided to rebuild. Well, some things went not according to plan, and five years later I feel I am in no better a position. How long is enough until I blow up this core, and start over again? I have a few key young players who have come through the system producing good seasons, and feel wrong rebuilding and wasting their years. I have failed this city Also a major step back was trading a prospect the OSA loved and my scout hated, trusting my scout and he just posted his 2nd straight 8 WAR season Last edited by Jman0329; 05-30-2016 at 01:11 PM.

05-30-2016, 01:13 PM	#3
BigRed75 Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,423	Never trust your scout. Short answer - the rebuild failed whenever you think the path you're going on is not the right one. Sounds like you're at that point. __________________ Mainline team SPTT team Was not a Snag fan...until I saw the fallout once he was gone and realized what a good job he was actually doing. - Ty Cobb

05-30-2016, 01:43 PM	#4
ThePretender All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,331	If you're taking more than 3 years to rebuild any team to 500+ (including expansion teams), and 4 to make the playoffs, then you should probably restart. What it likely means is you're trying to build entirely through the draft, which isn't the best idea. Some guys you need through the draft, but you need to balance what you get in the draft with what you get in trades as well. And support the core with Rule V, waivers, and smart FA pickups (either low cost vets, or all star to superstar level guys on front loaded deals while you have many players on league minimum salaries). Really, you shouldn't be doing more than 1-2 years of rebuilding, and a third if necessary to reach the playoffs. It also probably means during your run you sat on your core, instead of trading guys at their peak value and flipping them for prospects to keep the run going. 8-9 years isn't bad, but you should be able to do more if you flip a core player or two every 2-3 years. Last edited by ThePretender; 05-30-2016 at 01:44 PM.

05-30-2016, 02:13 PM	#5
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	i'd base it all on ages of important players invovled and what i need to get better. be realistic about it. no emotions. like thepretender said, diversity of player accumulation is important. budget size will help decide just how much you can focus outside of cheap young players. i sometimes sacrifice a peak (slightly!) for more consistent year-to-year performance. i mostly avoid rebuilds and still have 'peak' years. if i ever have to replace 4-5 major components in one year, i blame myself for mismanaging contracts and such. that doesn't happen by luck unless you ignore it or accept it as an inevitability due to some other mismanagement. the Salaries page in Front Office really gives a good idea of how you are set up in the near future. Last edited by NoOne; 05-30-2016 at 02:15 PM.

05-30-2016, 01:12 PM	#2
t-bone shuffle All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The dull edge of the blade Posts: 867	5 years is enough. Time to try again.