Quote: Originally Posted By WiredTiger on 10/08/2009Depending on the league It could work. I think I'd pour at least a little cash into either HS scouting or College scouting. That way you'd still get viable players in the draft and you'd have a ton of cash.

What if you also went 0 for Advanced scouting and only signed FAs or made trades for guys over 25?

For my big payroll team, I've got a decent amount in College... since they force you to have 6 in prospect, it'll make sure the cupboard's not totally bare.

I'm skimping on adv. there, too, and I haven't really been hampered for dealing prospects.

I made it to the ALCS my first yr in Hot Stove doing just that - plus stripping Adv Sc. I've won the division twice more since then (though, with less playoff success).

You could also use the extra payroll to offer bonuses to FA's to keep their later years cheap enough that you might be able to trade them later.

Also, it seems many leagues have guys salary dumping quality players at the ASB. By keeping some "dry powder" you could fill in gaps there as well.

It might conceivably be viable for winning now and in the future, but it seems like bigtime overkill to me. The goal is to get to the playoffs. Once you get there, no team has better than a 1 in 6 chance (and that's for a superb team that gets a bye). You don't need to spend 125m to get to the playoffs usually, so why sacrifice the future if you don't have to?

Quote: Originally Posted By kahrtmen on 10/08/2009It might conceivably be viable for winning now and in the future, but it seems like bigtime overkill to me. The goal is to get to the playoffs. Once you get there, no team has better than a 1 in 6 chance (and that's for a superb team that gets a bye). You don't need to spend 125m to get to the playoffs usually, so why sacrifice the future if you don't have to

This simply isn't true. There is a HUGE difference between recognizing that the "best" team doesn't always win the World Series and suggesting that whatever you do to improve your team pays no dividends in the postseason.

You still get prospects even if you put 0 in scouting. If you're a winning team and wish to remain that way, you can reload by signing good FAs and just doing a conservative draft. You can then trade some of the FAs you have for prospects, restocking your minors.

Or you can run like the Twins with a lower payroll budget, not being able to afford even your own FAs and just reload through scouting and prospects.

Neither way is wrong. I always try to put the best team I possibly can on the field through whatever means necessary. The only owners I disagree with are ones who straight out cheat/collude and outright tankers.

Put the best team you can on the field every season and try to win every game as if you were actually running the team or playing on it. Unless of course you're a chump and don't mind losing.