Rookie League Team Always the Worst?

[Fronzizzle]

Hello all,

When I started my new sim, I deleted all of the existing rookie leagues, then created one new with an affiliate for every MLB org.

For the minors, I used the setup that is basically what MLB uses (no service time limits at AAA or AA but limits A+, A, A- and Rookie). I use MLB roster limits at each level.

I'm nearing the end of 2024, and every year the minor league records of all of my teams are pretty close to what they were the year before, it's remarkably consistent:

AAA: In playoffs, first or second place
AA: .500 or better
A+: .400
A: .350
A-: Worst team in the league
Rooke: Historically bad team

See the attached screenshot for the current rookie team. I compared my roster to others and while it may not be as prospect-laden as some other teams, it's not filled with a bunch of one-star guys, either. Typically, my rookie team is players just drafted and players that were drafted in the previous year and are 19, 20, 21 at the oldest.

So, is this normal? I feel like throughout the history of OOTP, my lower minors teams are pretty awful, but nothing like what I'm seeing here.

[Leo_The_Lip]

Originally Posted by Fronzizzle

Hello all,

When I started my new sim, I deleted all of the existing rookie leagues, then created one new with an affiliate for every MLB org.

For the minors, I used the setup that is basically what MLB uses (no service time limits at AAA or AA but limits A+, A, A- and Rookie). I use MLB roster limits at each level.

I'm nearing the end of 2024, and every year the minor league records of all of my teams are pretty close to what they were the year before, it's remarkably consistent:

AAA: In playoffs, first or second place
AA: .500 or better
A+: .400
A: .350
A-: Worst team in the league
Rooke: Historically bad team

See the attached screenshot for the current rookie team. I compared my roster to others and while it may not be as prospect-laden as some other teams, it's not filled with a bunch of one-star guys, either. Typically, my rookie team is players just drafted and players that were drafted in the previous year and are 19, 20, 21 at the oldest.

So, is this normal? I feel like throughout the history of OOTP, my lower minors teams are pretty awful, but nothing like what I'm seeing here.

This has been normal for me for 5+ or so editions of OOTP. My take is that I rather quickly get rid of players with 1-star or less potential, particularly if the AI manager uses them. This means my higher potential but lower current talent kids take a hammering to AI teams that use their low potential/higher current players in games.

The price of developing players is rookie league teams that stink up the joint.

[Fronzizzle]

As long as they still develop, I'm okay with it.

Something I forgot to add - the rookie team is always feuding, too. Should I go out of my way to find a captain and keep him there, regardless of his potential? Or does it really not matter?

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by Fronzizzle

As long as they still develop, I'm okay with it.

Something I forgot to add - the rookie team is always feuding, too. Should I go out of my way to find a captain and keep him there, regardless of his potential? Or does it really not matter?

Idk but something like that could be the source of your teams always losing.

It would be interesting to see how the make up of the AI teams are in this area.

[pgjocki]

I've seen the AI let 26 year olds play down there and dominate.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Curve Ball Dave]

Always keep in mind that Rookie ball is developmental and while winning is nice, it's not as important and developing young raw players. When my Rookie teams have been godawful it was usually because they were stocked with guys out of high school and the international complex, while the other teams had guys drafted out of college, or because they still met the service time or age limits were sent back after playing in SSA. I haven't noticed any detrimental effects of playing on awful Rookie teams. Guys eventually move up the chain and develop anyway.