Posted by MikeT23 on 2/26/2014 12:11:00 PM (view original):
To be honest, I hadn't factored in the BU coach when I posted this:

'I'm not sure it's that cut and dry.  I've seen max offer players sign with teams that don't have a coach in place."

Because I think I've seen players pick no PC team over low PC team when both claimed max offer.   But, if no PC had a high level BU, they'd have had the better coaching under the formula you've posted.   

Yes, I've had some players sign when second max contract team didn't have coaches. Sent ticket and was told by Admin that the logic does not wait until all the teams that offered a max contract have coaches in place. I've been testing different senarios with my teams/offers in an attempt to nail down what variable is that causes it. Im almost at the point were i feel confident that i have it, but need a few more seasons to say it so 100%  But it is as cut and dry if both teams have coaches in place at tht time of the max deal. Say your going after Stud SP if you avg rating number of PC and BU is higher then the avg of the PC and BU of second team you win. Easy as that. Been proved many times in my worlds with max deals i have won and lost.

Does the eventual winning owner of a max contract get messages stating they are in the lead?   or do all the teams offering max get neutral messages?

If i am getting "behind" messages... will the pending signing of a bullpen coach potentially get me bsck in the race?

I prefer to bail out and use the fa money elsewhere if i have no chance

Posted by siberiansun on 11/24/2014 4:01:00 PM (view original):
If i am getting "behind" messages... will the pending signing of a bullpen coach potentially get me bsck in the race?

I think we're competing for the same guy (it's pretty easy to tell).  I can tell you based on what I see that the logic above is not complete.  Once the guy signs, wherever he signs, I'll illustrate the timeline on my side...

I see what you were able to do. 4 mil coaching has put you in the lead. Very nice. It's a done deal... most likely

It was close, but ultimately not me.  After the FA period is over, I'll publish a timeline.  Turns out the logic above is just about exactly correct.  There is one important part of the timeline (I think) that matters.  I'll confirm with the bid winner before I add to this.

k. thx

no prob

My own story relative to the tie breakers and a rough timeline:

1. Obvious max guy hits the FA market this year.
2. I know he'll be max, so I offer it first cycle.  I have no PC or BU coach
3. I'm informed I'm #1.
4. About 2 cycles later I get notice that my offer is exceeded.
5. I study the bidders and see that the guy with the highest PC rating (most likely took the lead - he later confirms it was him).  His PC was a 94 and his BU 76,
6. I screw up my coach hiring and land a 75 BU (didn't think far enough ahead), but go hard after a PC with a 95 - the highest remaining PC on the board.
7. The PC coach signs with me several agonizing cycles later and the next cycle I claim the lead again.  At this point I am tied with another franchise in aggregate coaching (me 95/75, other owner with 94/76).  I get the edge based on ballpark (Honolulu vs. Tampa Bay) This lead lasts until the last day.  
8. While I am hoping the pitcher signs, a bidding war develops for bullpen coaches.  The last team swoopes in and grabs an 88 or so rated BU coach for $4M and the tie-breaker reverts back to coaches.  This bidder wins the FA

We saw what I believe to be every facet of the tie-breaking system on display this FA period...lesson learned for me about planning....

An 88 or so rated bullpen coach is good enough to be a pitching coach - I'd even guess he came from the PC coaching pool, not the BU pool.  4 million is pitching coach money.

So this guy won the free agent by signing, in effect, two pitching coaches?

That's definitely thinking ahead.

"So this guy won the free agent by signing, in effect, two pitching coaches?

That's definitely thinking ahead."

Yes, I was part of the bidding on the player in topic as well, Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Wilfredo Rosales .   I inherited a team full of talent a few seasons ago - including a class A pitching staff.   I saw this guy was coming up for FA and started preparing with the idea that if I got this FA, I would has an all time staff for the ages.   I put 42 mil in player payroll, I put 16 mil in coaching (in case my 92 PC left), studied the forum (foudn this thread) and I thought I was ready to do battle.   Another manager approached it in a similar way.. except he dumped his PC and gambled that :  a.) there would be a good one avail.   b.) he would get the best avail PC.     I figured my exisiting 92 PC would be a strong card to have in any battle - but I was wrong wrong wrong.  The winning bidder essentially won this battle in coach negotiations.  I briefly took the lead after I signed a Bull Pen coach... and, after studying who might else be bidding,  I was hoping that the pitcher might sign BEFORE the other guy got his coaches in place.   My lead lasted one cycle.   As soon as I saw I was no longer in the lead, I dropped out.

Posted by siberiansun on 11/23/2014 3:44:00 PM (view original):
Does the eventual winning owner of a max contract get messages stating they are in the lead?   or do all the teams offering max get neutral messages?

What is a 'neutral' message? I'm not sure I've seen one before.

siberiansun made me think of something... he was hoping the pitcher might sign before the other guy got his coaches in place.

Does a free agent with multiple max offers ever sign before the very end of free agency?  Or do they wait in case someone can top whatever existing bid they have?  Or is that something also governed by the patience rating?

Far as I can recall, every player I've seen with competing max deals on the table has waited till the very end.