expansion needs work

[chriskelly]

I know MLB only expands every few decades, but it's a fun way to play the game, take over a new team and draft. so why doesn't this feature in the game ever get improved?
-The AI protect lists make no sense. I have scouting on 100% (so no fog on their GMs), protecting 32 guys, and I still see teams not protecting their 24 year old starting 2b, their 27 year old #6 hitting RF, etc.
-The AI drafting doesn't make sense either. It doesn't have a philosophy, and drafts older, expensive players.
-The protect list doesn't follow reality. Why can't I set it to protect 15, then after 1 round, each team pulls back 3 more, like in real life?

I wish this would get addressed for the next version.

[Mancandy]

Yeap. And in real life, expansion teams participate in the amateur draft a year(sometimes two) before they enter the majors, so they can start stockpiling their minor leagues. I really wish we could do this in the game, I want nothing more than to bring back the Montreal Expos.

[chriskelly]

Originally Posted by Mancandy

Yeap. And in real life, expansion teams participate in the amateur draft a year(sometimes two) before they enter the majors, so they can start stockpiling their minor leagues. I really wish we could do this in the game, I want nothing more than to bring back the Montreal Expos.

thats who I always play as too!

[1991Cubs]

Originally Posted by chriskelly

thats who I always play as too!

I always relocate the Nationals back to Montreal.

[fredbeene]

Still unclear why you cannot start IRL expansion right PRIOR to the draft.
You want the previous season IRL stats and see if you can bring the inagural expos a better team!!!
Instead you have to play out previous season on your own.
Message me when this gets fixed : (((

[renojedi]

Originally Posted by fredbeene

Still unclear why you cannot start IRL expansion right PRIOR to the draft.

My guess is it has to do with roster sets. To allow the entry draft means they have to undo every team's picks for that year. They would probably need two roster sets...one for quick starts and one for an expansion quick start. Probably not enough players who use an expansion team to make it worth it.

However, as someone who only plays with expansion teams, I hope everything in this thread can be part of the game some day!

[1991Twins]

Originally Posted by fredbeene

Still unclear why you cannot start IRL expansion right PRIOR to the draft.
You want the previous season IRL stats and see if you can bring the inagural expos a better team!!!
Instead you have to play out previous season on your own.
Message me when this gets fixed : (((

One trick I have found is that if you do have to play out the previous season, you can make the system give the expansion teams their real life minor league players at the conclusion of the season with historical minors on. I posted about this format last year:

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=331850

You can also do a draft on November 8th that will allow the historical expansion team to also add amateur talent prior to the expansion draft when utilizing historical minors.