I’ve become increasing frustrated with the HBD injury recovery model. I find it extremely unrealistic to have a player suffer minor strains and have that result in permanent ratings reductions. This rarely happens in real life. Many MLB players sustain a sprain or contusion of the hand, ankle, ect and while it may requires a minor trip to the DL with some short term pain, it doesn’t result in a permanent residual effect for the remainder of their career. Advances in medicine, such platelet therapy and surgery (Tommy John) have in fact in some cases improved the performance of a player.

I don’t have a problem with the injuries (although my top players seem to be targeted despite a solid health rating and a 20 mil training budget). I also keep my medical budget elevated to try and help with this. My issue is that when they have “recovered” they rarely seem to fully recover and suffer a permanent ratings hit for the remainder of their career. A couple of these minor strains and sprains can severely hamper them going forward.

I hear many players coming back from shoulder surgery, ankle surgery, knee surgery and other stating that they are now 100% after a sufficient recovery time. Players in HBD can have a minor sprain and will be back @ a solid 98% only to fall victim to another minor and somehow debilitating injury which will simply add to their long term demise.

I’ve dropped back to one team and may simply quit altogether once my seasons are used up. I tired of watching my top players and the core of my franchise die a slow painful death from the pin pricks of minor injuries and the lack of recovery and pay out $25 for it.

My rant is over and you may now return to you regular programming

I'm all ears Mike and ready to learn. Let me know what I can do.Thanks

First, put 20m into MEDICAL.
Second, learn which injury affects what ratings
Third, build some depth so you can utilize 60 day instead of 7 or 15 day DL
Fourth, wait for the 2nd injury recovery cycle even if the player is eligible to return

For instance, Soriano had a 7 day forearm tightness problem.  I knew that would help his splits/pitches(stamina was a surprise).  So, even though he didn't lose anything due to the injury, I put him on the 15 day DL.   The only reason I didn't put him on the 60 is because I'm trying to get a bye.  Otherwise, he'd have gone on the 60, rec'd another recovery cycle, gotten that much better and still been eligible for the playoffs.    The other two were minor leaguers so the 60 day was a gimme.  They'll be call-ups but, otherwise, their development was over as 6-7 year pros.  I just got two better players BECAUSE of injury. 

That said, you'll still get some that frustrate you.  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Al Gonzalez got a devastating late season injury and only got one recovery cycle.   He was already declining but the injury accelerated the process.   Nothing is foolproof but you can make more injuries work for you instead of against you.



EDIT:  I had training instead of medical. 

Thanks Mike.

I always run a 20 mil training budget. The DL strategy makes sense and I will try to utilize it more effectively.

No sure how to grasp which type of injuries effect ratings drop the most and how that can be managed. Thanks again.

I don't have a list but, if nothing else, look at which ratings drop due to the injury.    If you have a leg injury to a slow, poor baserunning catcher, the DL trick is mostly useless.    He'll gain baserunning and speed.   Moving from 11 to 13 is like not moving at all.  But arm/shoulder injuries to pitchers are like striking gold.   Back for power hitters, legs for middle infielders(range), etc, etc. 

Check my disabled lists.   Almost everyone on one will be on the 60 and it will detail the injury type.   If they have a recovery cycle, you'll be able to tell what ratings increased.

Golden. Well said and very proper to share in such a detailed fashion.

If anything, I would say the injuries in HBD are a lot LESS severe and frequent than in real baseball. I've never seen a superstar in this game suffer an injury or series of injuries that drops his ratings all the way down to replacement level. But that is exactly what happened to Rich Harden, Johan Santana, and Brandon Webb, just to name 3 off the top of my head. And now Probably Victor Martinez.

They are a lot less frequent.   But we remember when our studs go down.   Gonzalez's injury cost me a playoff spot.   Still fresh in my mind.

How long is, or can you clarify, the injury recovery cycle?

It's a little hard to say, if the cycle ends around the same time the player is due to come off the 60 day, but, if a guy has a 16 day injury, he'll get one around Day 15 and again at Day 59.      32 day would be 31/59.    If it's a 90 day, you'll get one on Day 59 and another at Day 88-89 or when there's 4-5 days left in the season.     Depending on the timing, you don't always get 2(Al Gonzalez is an example). 

And they're not going to come 3-4 days apart no what the timing.    Closest I've seen is 20ish games apart.

As an aside, Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Matt Christensen had a late season and only got one recovery cycle.   Dropped from 83 to 80.   Over the course of 6 seasons, when development was done, he's pretty much regained everything lost.   

So they can recover lost ratings without injury recovery cycles.   It just takes awhile.

So does anyone know if you get the bump at 19 mil in medical?  18?  At what point do you not receive any boost?

You get recovery cycles regardless of what you have in medical.    It's just not as effective at lower amounts.