Post by Josh (CIN) on Nov 29, 2016 9:25:22 GMT -5
From Chris, migrated to our new forum
-------
I am going to build from my earlier comment and from where hoffie20 (WSH)-nats left off. Unfortunately for those that desire one, there is no longer a shortcut in managing your farm system. It will challenge you and at times, frustrate you as well. That being said, it is definitely far more rewarding when you can bring an 18yr old HS draft pick or a 16yr old Intl find to your MLB roster in a few seasons.
Let’s begin…
As a starting point, go to Rosters & Transactions page and in the Available Actions tab, select “Ask AI to setup complete minor league system”. After that, click on the Available Actions tab once again and select Open Minor League System Report. Once on your system report page, select Open In Separate Browser. This will allow you to go back to your Roster & Transactions page and still reference your MiL System Report.
This is where your work starts. The AI setup does not value your System Report, which has your scout recommendations. You can start following your scout recommendations blindly now, let a few weeks of MiLB games to get under you and your scouts belt, ignore your scout completely and use your own judgment or any combination of the above strategies or others.
To properly manage your minors, a tool you must use (and will learn to love) is in the Available Actions tab on every player’s page. It is the Set Game Strategy feature. This feature will allow you to lock players to a certain level (so if you click Ask AI to setup complete minor… again, it doesn’t move guys you don’t want to move). Also, you can lock players to play certain positions with this tool. If you want a player to grow at SS, but he is stronger at other positions, your MiLB managers will play them where they want and they wont develop how you want. You lock them to play SS and you wont have to worry about your MiLB hurting player progress.
Now to answer the bigger questions on how to actually manage players, when to move them, and etc.. Here are a few rules of thumb…
• The WAR Factor: don’t promote a player until he has achieved a 2.0 WAR at his current level. This is not a commandment, but it is a good measuring tool of when a player is ready. This number can be lower for pitchers and certain positions, but on average…2.0 WAR is a good idea of when a player is ready to be promoted to the next level.
• At Bats: I like to see 200AB before committing to promoting a player. Again, this is a starting point. If I have a player batting .350 and killing it at AA after 100ABs, I will attempt a trial promotion. That being said, if in 100ABs at AAA he is struggling, I have no hesitation of moving him back. Some guys will not do this. Some guys don’t like to have to move a guy backwards, but I have done it and have had no ill effects with players. I will continue to do it.
• Stats: They matter and they will tell you a lot, especially at the lower levels. We all have preferences for what we want from our players at each position. Look for those signs early on and pay more attention to the players showing you what you want to see, even in A ball.
• Know Where Guys Should Start: GCL, DCL/DWL are a great place to start those young kids 18-20yrs old. You can throw your college graduates right into R ball and hopefully move them up the following season to one of your single A leagues (A-, A, A+). If you have 24yr old guys who still can’t hit or pitch their way out of GCL, you may as well cut ties with them unless you just signed them.
• Trust Your Scout, sort of: Yes, you have the arrows. A lot of times, those are off. You have the recommendations on your System Report. A lot of the time, those will be off. Read the Scouting Reports in the player profile pages. These change a lot and often that change depends on player performance in the minors. Yes scouting reports can be contradicting, but you have to learn how to read them. Stop focusing on the fact that at times the summary can contradict the specific feedback on each category (contact, power, eye, etc.). Take it in as a whole. If you have no faith in your scout, fire them and hire someone you will value. POT only, forces us to trust our scouts, overall. Especially, when it comes to players in your farm and when making trades.
This is a basic overview, a starting point. It is easier to deal with questions on specific players and systems, but we hope this helps. Additionally, I know myself and Josh are happy to answer any further questions regarding managing your minors.
-------
I am going to build from my earlier comment and from where hoffie20 (WSH)-nats left off. Unfortunately for those that desire one, there is no longer a shortcut in managing your farm system. It will challenge you and at times, frustrate you as well. That being said, it is definitely far more rewarding when you can bring an 18yr old HS draft pick or a 16yr old Intl find to your MLB roster in a few seasons.
Let’s begin…
As a starting point, go to Rosters & Transactions page and in the Available Actions tab, select “Ask AI to setup complete minor league system”. After that, click on the Available Actions tab once again and select Open Minor League System Report. Once on your system report page, select Open In Separate Browser. This will allow you to go back to your Roster & Transactions page and still reference your MiL System Report.
This is where your work starts. The AI setup does not value your System Report, which has your scout recommendations. You can start following your scout recommendations blindly now, let a few weeks of MiLB games to get under you and your scouts belt, ignore your scout completely and use your own judgment or any combination of the above strategies or others.
To properly manage your minors, a tool you must use (and will learn to love) is in the Available Actions tab on every player’s page. It is the Set Game Strategy feature. This feature will allow you to lock players to a certain level (so if you click Ask AI to setup complete minor… again, it doesn’t move guys you don’t want to move). Also, you can lock players to play certain positions with this tool. If you want a player to grow at SS, but he is stronger at other positions, your MiLB managers will play them where they want and they wont develop how you want. You lock them to play SS and you wont have to worry about your MiLB hurting player progress.
Now to answer the bigger questions on how to actually manage players, when to move them, and etc.. Here are a few rules of thumb…
• The WAR Factor: don’t promote a player until he has achieved a 2.0 WAR at his current level. This is not a commandment, but it is a good measuring tool of when a player is ready. This number can be lower for pitchers and certain positions, but on average…2.0 WAR is a good idea of when a player is ready to be promoted to the next level.
• At Bats: I like to see 200AB before committing to promoting a player. Again, this is a starting point. If I have a player batting .350 and killing it at AA after 100ABs, I will attempt a trial promotion. That being said, if in 100ABs at AAA he is struggling, I have no hesitation of moving him back. Some guys will not do this. Some guys don’t like to have to move a guy backwards, but I have done it and have had no ill effects with players. I will continue to do it.
• Stats: They matter and they will tell you a lot, especially at the lower levels. We all have preferences for what we want from our players at each position. Look for those signs early on and pay more attention to the players showing you what you want to see, even in A ball.
• Know Where Guys Should Start: GCL, DCL/DWL are a great place to start those young kids 18-20yrs old. You can throw your college graduates right into R ball and hopefully move them up the following season to one of your single A leagues (A-, A, A+). If you have 24yr old guys who still can’t hit or pitch their way out of GCL, you may as well cut ties with them unless you just signed them.
• Trust Your Scout, sort of: Yes, you have the arrows. A lot of times, those are off. You have the recommendations on your System Report. A lot of the time, those will be off. Read the Scouting Reports in the player profile pages. These change a lot and often that change depends on player performance in the minors. Yes scouting reports can be contradicting, but you have to learn how to read them. Stop focusing on the fact that at times the summary can contradict the specific feedback on each category (contact, power, eye, etc.). Take it in as a whole. If you have no faith in your scout, fire them and hire someone you will value. POT only, forces us to trust our scouts, overall. Especially, when it comes to players in your farm and when making trades.
This is a basic overview, a starting point. It is easier to deal with questions on specific players and systems, but we hope this helps. Additionally, I know myself and Josh are happy to answer any further questions regarding managing your minors.