Development Lab Choices

Sox2013 · 03-19-2024, 08:10 AM

So I've run into an issue with the Development Lab. I have been testing running different players through, each of which I checked (through the editor to make sure) and ensured that they had potential higher than their standard in various areas. For the most part, it's working great, though I feel like I'm getting too many No Improvement results for the amount of money I'm dumping into Player Development (I'm assuming the Player Development budget has an effect on the Dev Lab - if not, it should, IMO).

That said, when choosing to attempt to Improve Secondary Stuff for a pitcher, the AI choice on which pitch to improve seems nonsensical. For example, Pitcher A throws a Fastball (50/50), Sinker (55/55), Slider (40/55), and Changeup (40/50). The AI seems to default to attempting to improve the Sinker that is already at its potential rather than the Slider or Changeup, which have room for improvement. Or Pitcher B throws a Fastball (70/70), Slider (70/70), Changeup (55/55), and Curveball (55/70). The AI selects to attempt to improve the Slider rather than the Curveball. This has happened consistently across multiple pitchers and multiple sims.

The solution, I think, would either be to adjust the AI selection to attempt to improve the pitch with the most growth potential. Alternatively, perhaps let the player select which pitch they want the pitcher to work on? Either way would give a boost to the Dev Lab.

Will Beh · 03-19-2024, 09:36 AM

Keep in mind, pitch improvement is a special case where it will improve both the current an potential. So it'll always improve if successful, regardless if it has room for improvement or not.
Also when it says secondary stuff it's referring to literally the next best pitch after the fastball. That's why improve secondary is easy compared to like improving pitch arsenal (which improves a bad pitch).

Sox2013 · 03-19-2024, 09:39 AM

That makes more sense. I was under the impression that improving pitch arsenal added a completely new pitch, given that Secondary Stuff indicates secondary pitches (generally seen as breaking balls and changeups). It really confused me when improving secondary stuff tried to improve sinkers.

Will Beh · 03-19-2024, 09:48 AM

Yeah maybe sinkers should be considered fastballs at all times. The thing is, if the pitcher only has a sinker (and not 4-seam) then it'll go to the next pitch. It's only when a pitcher has a 4-seam and also a sinker, and also the sinker is the best pitch, that it considers it to be the secondary pitch.
Although you're probably right that it should ignore sinkers at all times, it depends on how you'd define secondary pitch.

03-19-2024, 08:10 AM	#1
Sox2013 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 80	Development Lab Choices So I've run into an issue with the Development Lab. I have been testing running different players through, each of which I checked (through the editor to make sure) and ensured that they had potential higher than their standard in various areas. For the most part, it's working great, though I feel like I'm getting too many No Improvement results for the amount of money I'm dumping into Player Development (I'm assuming the Player Development budget has an effect on the Dev Lab - if not, it should, IMO). That said, when choosing to attempt to Improve Secondary Stuff for a pitcher, the AI choice on which pitch to improve seems nonsensical. For example, Pitcher A throws a Fastball (50/50), Sinker (55/55), Slider (40/55), and Changeup (40/50). The AI seems to default to attempting to improve the Sinker that is already at its potential rather than the Slider or Changeup, which have room for improvement. Or Pitcher B throws a Fastball (70/70), Slider (70/70), Changeup (55/55), and Curveball (55/70). The AI selects to attempt to improve the Slider rather than the Curveball. This has happened consistently across multiple pitchers and multiple sims. The solution, I think, would either be to adjust the AI selection to attempt to improve the pitch with the most growth potential. Alternatively, perhaps let the player select which pitch they want the pitcher to work on? Either way would give a boost to the Dev Lab.

03-19-2024, 09:36 AM	#2
Will Beh OOTP Developments Join Date: May 2020 Location: Canada Posts: 1,669	Keep in mind, pitch improvement is a special case where it will improve both the current an potential. So it'll always improve if successful, regardless if it has room for improvement or not. Also when it says secondary stuff it's referring to literally the next best pitch after the fastball. That's why improve secondary is easy compared to like improving pitch arsenal (which improves a bad pitch).

03-19-2024, 09:39 AM	#3
Sox2013 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 80	That makes more sense. I was under the impression that improving pitch arsenal added a completely new pitch, given that Secondary Stuff indicates secondary pitches (generally seen as breaking balls and changeups). It really confused me when improving secondary stuff tried to improve sinkers.

03-19-2024, 09:48 AM	#4
Will Beh OOTP Developments Join Date: May 2020 Location: Canada Posts: 1,669	Yeah maybe sinkers should be considered fastballs at all times. The thing is, if the pitcher only has a sinker (and not 4-seam) then it'll go to the next pitch. It's only when a pitcher has a 4-seam and also a sinker, and also the sinker is the best pitch, that it considers it to be the secondary pitch. Although you're probably right that it should ignore sinkers at all times, it depends on how you'd define secondary pitch.