Spring Training Improvement Topic

MikeT23
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Someone in Coop mentioned that maybe my AAA team could beat my BL team(based on records, they really couldn't). This gave me an idea since most of us think ST is useless, pointless, boring and a waste of time.

The first problem is that the results do not matter. Some teams are playing legit BL players, some teams are playing their prospects and other teams are just playing crap in order to avoid injuries. This leads to the second problem. Sometimes you do have a legit decision to make for your BL team. But, because of problem one, you can't really have a position battle.

So, my solution/suggestion, is this: Split squad games between your players. You'll control the level of competition. You'll get double the AB/IP(or WifS could shorten ST to 10 games) for development. The results will matter if you want them to. And, in my mind, ST could take on meaning.

Thoughts?
5/20/2010 10:05 AM
fosco45
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Mike...I like the idea....Some have also mentioned a Fall League....Pick 5 to 10 players to send to a fall league for more at bats and innings to help with development...DO you think this idea would ever work?
5/20/2010 10:26 AM
MikeT23
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The "problem" with the fall league is I have no idea who controls playing time. I'd hate to send one of my guys to the fall league so he can get 3 AB AND risk injury.

In truth, if WifS didn't shorten ST and accepted my idea, there would be no need for fall league. You'd get double the playing time in ST.
5/20/2010 10:31 AM
fosco45
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Good Point.....
5/20/2010 10:34 AM
MikeT23
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The "plus" for a fall league is it gives the non-playoff teams something to do. Not exactly sure what it is once they send their players to the FL but that does seem to be a selling point.
5/20/2010 10:37 AM
deathinahole
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Eh.

The thing is, the players that are not part of the spring training squad theoretically are still getting spring training (as part of some unseen minor league spring training).

So, IMO, this ties back to what was semi agreed to in coach hiring...you hiring coaches for all levels.

Spring training means that the players on the ST squad get development from big league coaches for that period of time. It can be artificially inflated if you wish to see a noticible bump (ie. if a player gets 10IP in spring training, he gets 20IP development bump).

All the others develop as per their level's coaching abilities.

I have spoken.
5/20/2010 10:49 AM
MikeT23
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You have also missed the point.

Pretty much every season, I have 23 BL spots pre-determined. I've got two spot to fill. I imagine most owners are with similiar decisions. For me, it's usually a decision between 3-6 players. If I could control the competition, I could actually decide, based on small sample size, which player(s) to break camp with based on the results.

Right now, I just say "Eh, I'll try this guy. If he doesn't work, I'll send him down."

Since I just finished the season in a three way tie for the WC2 with 89 wins(and lost the tie-breaker), those first 20 games seem a lot more important. Thus, the decision on who gets those 15-20 AB or 6-7 IP during those first 20 games seems pretty big. Currently, I use those first 20 games to sort out my team BECAUSE I CAN'T DO IT IN SPRING TRAINING.

Understand now?
5/20/2010 11:07 AM
deathinahole
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To further this...

Maybe WIFS needs to add the decimal point onto ratings for moments like this.

You know, so that you can see your spring training guy got a .6 bump instead of .3.
5/20/2010 11:08 AM
MikeT23
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Over the course of those 19 minutes, you did not get smarter.
5/20/2010 11:09 AM
deathinahole
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Quote: Originally Posted By MikeT23 on 5/20/2010
You have also missed the point.

Pretty much every season, I have 23 BL spots pre-determined. I've got two spot to fill. I imagine most owners are with similiar decisions. For me, it's usually a decision between 3-6 players. If I could control the competition, I could actually decide, based on small sample size, which player(s) to break camp with based on the results.

Right now, I just say "Eh, I'll try this guy. If he doesn't work, I'll send him down."

Since I just finished the season in a three way tie for the WC2 with 89 wins(and lost the tie-breaker), those first 20 games seem a lot more important. Thus, the decision on who gets those 15-20 AB or 6-7 IP during those first 20 games seems pretty big. Currently, I use those first 20 games to sort out my team BECAUSE I CAN'T DO IT IN SPRING TRAINING.

Understand now?

Understand, but, if ST is meaningful, then ST becomes your barometer.

You're using present state. If future state is such that you know you've got best against best (or, at least, best prospects against best prospects), then you have the yardstick to measure.

Split squad I agree with, maybe not in the context you state, but agree with nonetheless.
5/20/2010 11:10 AM
deathinahole
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Quote: Originally Posted By MikeT23 on 5/20/2010Over the course of those 19 minutes, you did not get smarter
Maybe.

But I poop smarter objects than your brain.
5/20/2010 11:11 AM
MikeT23
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Best 2nd year player against best 2nd year player doesn't help me decide who to carry on my BL club.

MLB teams use ST, to an extent, to figure out the final 10% of their roster. We should be doing the same. We can't see a player's work ethic in bunting drills or how he hits in BP or his post-game eating habits or anything that helps MLB teams make decisions on that 25th man. But we can see game results. And, right now, those game results mean nothing. By allowing each individual owner to control who his players play against, they can mean something.
5/20/2010 11:15 AM
tecwrg
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Two points:

1) I like the idea of changing spring training to be split-squad games between your own players. Not sure if it will really make a difference for me in terms of roster decisions, but I do like having more control over getting my players more PT during ST.

2) Fall League - my suggestion to WIS in the coaching survey was to use FL as a place where each franchise owner can send a small number of players (2-4) to the FL so that they can work on a specific skill, or to be able to change positions. Maybe get your SS prospect to increase his glove rating at a little faster pace than normal development. Or turn an SP into an RP (or vice versa) by seeing his DUR/STA "transform" to something more in line with a traditional RP (or SP). This would also come at a cost . . . maybe he drops a decent P4 while his P1 and P2 pick up a few extra points. Stuff like that.
5/20/2010 11:15 AM
deathinahole
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Quote: Originally Posted By MikeT23 on 5/20/2010
Best 2nd year player against best 2nd year player doesn't help me decide who to carry on my BL club.

MLB teams use ST, to an extent, to figure out the final 10% of their roster. We should be doing the same. We can't see a player's work ethic in bunting drills or how he hits in BP or his post-game eating habits or anything that helps MLB teams make decisions on that 25th man. But we can see game results. And, right now, those game results mean nothing. By allowing each individual owner to control who his players play against, they can mean something.



So it's sematics.

You think a team against itself is a better way to go.

I think a team against a competitive collective of other teams is the way to go.

I could live with either.
5/20/2010 11:27 AM
MikeT23
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Jeez. It's like talking to a brick wall. Or a canuck.

Let's just use me, you and tec for examples.

I have a loaded team. tec's team is pretty good. Your team sucks. I'll be playing against tec and you. I have two players and I can't decide. I have to make sure they play only against tec because your team is AA equivalent. And maybe tec has 3 good SP and two sucky ones. Now I have to make sure my 2 players get playing time against the same pitchers. But, maybe, tec has decided he wants his best LoA SS(who has LF ratings right now) to get some playing time. Now I have to make sure both players play against the same pitchers and check to make sure tec is using a legit SS.

Or, I can play my two players against my BL SP1, SP2 and SP3.

See the difference?

5/20/2010 11:33 AM
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