I have a player I promised 15 minutes and he's averaging about 13 right now, because of a couple games where he only played 7-8 due to slowdown.  He's complaining and threatening to leave. 

I don't have any experience with failing to meet a promise, so I'm wondering what your experiences have been.

Just work on his average for a few games until it gets up and he gives you some sort of "I knew I could rely on you" message. Once you get that, you can play him however much you want (they stop caring after you've "fixed it").

Personally I've skated by on a lot of promises playing 3 minutes under what i promised, so i'm surprised he's complaining about 13 for 15.

And if you miss (say average 10 on 15 promise) they might leave, they might not....kinda depends on luck and I think on how much you miss by.  Offer 30+start and have the guy riding the pine and he'll leave for sure.

grant, hopefully you have a game coming up very soon where you think a blow out is possible (either way) - start him and put him at getting tired and he ought to get 25 or more, this can help pull your avg back up quickly...I've never had it happen where a player leaves, but I almost always meet my promises so I don't have a lot of experience in this situation. I do believe there is a chance element though...

Posted by dacj501 on 1/19/2011 11:11:00 AM (view original):
grant, hopefully you have a game coming up very soon where you think a blow out is possible (either way) - start him and put him at getting tired and he ought to get 25 or more, this can help pull your avg back up quickly...I've never had it happen where a player leaves, but I almost always meet my promises so I don't have a lot of experience in this situation. I do believe there is a chance element though...

Thanks.  I was planning on and already had given him one start to compensate a bit. 

I was just wondering how stringent it was(ie if I only get the average up to 14, if he's going to bolt).

I'm surprised a little he's complaining at 13. If you get to 14 I am 99% you'll be ok. I thought 13 was safe actually, so 13 point something will be the magic # I guess...

ETA: and even if you fail to meet the promise I don't think its 100% that he leaves.