Full support. Great change. Still believe strongly that the OL salary cap should be increased as well (lower cap = more players to choose from = harder to do well), but you can't win 'em all right away.

There are two kinds of SLB players:

1. Likes to actually play the game each day (they have fun managing their teams, this includes ID'ing and assessing AAA players and checking the wire).

2. Likes to set up the team and look in casually, without making many changes. They want it easy come, easy go.

Those in category #2 often (not always) buy more teams, so they get preferred treatment, as I've seen it for years. That is not conducive to making the simulation more interesting and fun as a simulation, just the opposite.

Rather than make a "change" and then "hope" it turns out, reasoned action should be carried out, that help those who actually want to play the game (to run simulated baseball). The best way to help new players is to let them know how things work, where SLB is still keeping it under wraps and where people have to search for it. Huge examples include:

• Identifying AAA players
• assessing when in-game pitching fatigue kicks in, per pitcher
• and sure, tip them off as to the advantage one can get trading $200K scrubs for AAA players (ho-hum, big deal)

WIS may wish to let SLB be the finely detailed sim/game it is (which compared to the competition, has given it staying power) while taking a cue from many, to make a typically dumbed-down version especially suited for phone users.

Posted by ArlenWilliam on 2/28/2021 3:29:00 AM (view original):
There are two kinds of SLB players:

1. Likes to actually play the game each day (they have fun managing their teams, this includes ID'ing and assessing AAA players and checking the wire).

2. Likes to set up the team and look in casually, without making many changes. They want it easy come, easy go.

Those in category #2 often (not always) buy more teams, so they get preferred treatment, as I've seen it for years. That is not conducive to making the simulation more interesting and fun as a simulation, just the opposite.

This is VERY perceptive and dead right IMO.

I'm in category #1 and I play this game for the fun of "daily managing" the team. Sure I try to win BUT I'm more interested in the "fun" of being the Manager.
I don't/won't play math "games" to try and game the system. I don't like the unrealistic play that DOES occur here. I don't like 2 man Pitching rotations, and I especially don't like "cookies" who do well here based on some nefarious mathematical advantage based on some unrealistic P/T performance during a particular season. Those things absolutely RUIN the realism that "may have" been attempted with the algorithm and decision tree. So for players like me you have a "group" of users looking for realism and management tools.

BUT, the category #2 users don't care for any of this stuff. They just want to select players, field teams, and let 'em go.

I'm not sure there is ANY way to satisfy both users here.
And as the category #2 users are the monetary gravy train.............

I suspect it's only a matter of time before players like me (category #1) are history.
The "game" we want is harder to design/implement and the potential base of "users" is about a million times larger than the category #1 group who wants realism and management tools.

Problem is, the category #1 users are loyal, long term, repeat, and enthusiastic and will play forever IF the game is improved for their needs.
The category #2 users will (always) come and go, BUT in much larger numbers.

Same old story. The decision comes down to quality vs. quantity.
I'm not holding my breath that us Category #1 users will have our usage prioritized.

Posted by ArlenWilliam on 2/28/2021 3:37:00 AM (view original):
Rather than make a "change" and then "hope" it turns out, reasoned action should be carried out, that help those who actually want to play the game (to run simulated baseball). The best way to help new players is to let them know how things work, where SLB is still keeping it under wraps and where people have to search for it. Huge examples include:

• Identifying AAA players
• assessing when in-game pitching fatigue kicks in, per pitcher
• and sure, tip them off as to the advantage one can get trading $200K scrubs for AAA players (ho-hum, big deal)

Couldn’t agree with this post more

Please educate me. Just what is false and (thus) unhelpful about AW's insight. I think it's dead right. There ARE 2 types of players that play MLB.
I don't necessarily have an opinion on how this matters to the AAA debate, though. In fact, I don't think the AAA issue amounts to much at all in the larger sense.

Posted by gbonini on 2/26/2021 9:06:00 PM (view original):
Just adding my 2 cents worth. I think it is a mistake getting rid of AAA and WW. I really like the randomness/luck of AAA player assignment. I have, like may others, been frustrated to see the $200k scrub player for a $2.6mil AAA player. The answer is not to get rid of AAA. I think it should only be AAA for AAA player trades. Also, go ahead and list the real names of the AAA players so it is easier to see their value.

I agree.

Posted by laramiebob on 2/28/2021 8:58:00 AM (view original):

Posted by ArlenWilliam on 2/28/2021 3:29:00 AM (view original):
There are two kinds of SLB players:

1. Likes to actually play the game each day (they have fun managing their teams, this includes ID'ing and assessing AAA players and checking the wire).

2. Likes to set up the team and look in casually, without making many changes. They want it easy come, easy go.

Those in category #2 often (not always) buy more teams, so they get preferred treatment, as I've seen it for years. That is not conducive to making the simulation more interesting and fun as a simulation, just the opposite.

This is VERY perceptive and dead right IMO.

I'm in category #1 and I play this game for the fun of "daily managing" the team. Sure I try to win BUT I'm more interested in the "fun" of being the Manager.
I don't/won't play math "games" to try and game the system. I don't like the unrealistic play that DOES occur here. I don't like 2 man Pitching rotations, and I especially don't like "cookies" who do well here based on some nefarious mathematical advantage based on some unrealistic P/T performance during a particular season. Those things absolutely RUIN the realism that "may have" been attempted with the algorithm and decision tree. So for players like me you have a "group" of users looking for realism and management tools.

BUT, the category #2 users don't care for any of this stuff. They just want to select players, field teams, and let 'em go.

I'm not sure there is ANY way to satisfy both users here.
And as the category #2 users are the monetary gravy train.............

I suspect it's only a matter of time before players like me (category #1) are history.
The "game" we want is harder to design/implement and the potential base of "users" is about a million times larger than the category #1 group who wants realism and management tools.

Problem is, the category #1 users are loyal, long term, repeat, and enthusiastic and will play forever IF the game is improved for their needs.
The category #2 users will (always) come and go, BUT in much larger numbers.

Same old story. The decision comes down to quality vs. quantity.
I'm not holding my breath that us Category #1 users will have our usage prioritized.

I agree.

Posted by mpbthb on 2/28/2021 11:46:00 AM (view original):

Posted by DoctorKz on 2/19/2021 6:50:00 PM (view original):
It is an adjustment for everyone to make when drafting, but the playing field is level. We will all get used to it. Many consider Open leagues as for beginners, so why do they need to deal with minor league callups anyway? I don't see this as a big deal. Adam can always add them back in at some point..

If anyone had an advantage using AAA it certainly wasn't newer players. Most couldn't possibly understand the nuances of getting the most from a roster where AAA were available...Quit yer bitchin'...

I cannot imagine getting used to it. I'll probably just move on, let them have their game to make whatever furter ridiculous further changes they want to make in the future.

you can still play Open League equivalent leagues in theme leagues, and get the bonus of full credits for making the playoffs/winning the world series. such a league option is here:

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=525894

How about a way where AAA could be exclusive to new arrivals ? Even if the first couple leagues they're completely unaware of and/or mangle AAA/WW, they'd still have playing time protection opportunity from early bad drafts, and be prepared for advancement to themes that do use them.

Let's say for example a newb's first 10 leagues (or 5, or 20, or 2, or whatever) can have AAA option available. I imagine it shouldn't be a huge trick to lock out any SLB owners with greater than 10 teams from OL AAA leagues.

This way they can learn the ropes of playing time management and as they continue to play and see their 10 tries approaching a conclusion, can on their own terms and pace wean themselves off AAA toward Themes and non-AAA OLs. They'd also not only be within a similar peer group outside of shark infested waters, they could discuss among themselves in league posts all they care too re AAA things.

After 10 tries, they'd have a personal choice to make; thanx bye, or move forward without AAA which at the moment is now forced on them Day1. Although I am an accountant and run reports for a living, I don't have WIS numbers in front of me, I'd still bet that the percentage of new arrivals making it to 10 tries is not a lot. I'd bet without this option it's even less. Are we trying to appeal to and keep new arrivals, or not ?

Sounds a bit far fetched for a programmer. I suppose anything is possible. I don't think a majority here would want to have the game set on a silver platter for newbies to win.

The payouts to veterans in Open Leagues is paltry. There is little incentive to play there. Champs leagues pay 3x to veterans.

You need to focus on that the AAA favored veterans who knew how to best use them to their advantage. That has been taken away. This helps newer players. Adam is limited to changes he can make on this outdated software. He is trying some new things to shake it up until Dynamic Pricing returns, and eventually a rewrite. There is only so much he can do presently.

Guys, If you think the reason the game is shrinking is because new players don't understand AAA, I don't know what to tell you. The reason the game is shrinking is obvious. It's because you don't have an app and people can't play the game on a phone. Period. AAA is not the reason. It's 2021. Any game that is successful online now is playable on a phone.

You're going to fundamentally change a great game, with the thought that this change will attract and keep new players. I predict it will not. And in fact, I predict you will lose long time players. Possible including me. And many others. Foolish. Honestly, has ANY long time player told you they like this idea?