I don't know...make it a part of the bench coach or the other coaches, or tie it directly to a player's Makeup rating. There are any number of options. I think it's stupid FIs are the highest paid coaches in the game.

Maybe, more to real life, the entire staff's FI ratings.      Yes, I know that means people will overpay for coaches with big FI ratings but it would only affect the one level.   And you wouldn't be able to blow off hitting for fielding with your HC.

Posted by MikeT23 on 3/18/2011 1:38:00 PM (view original):
Maybe, more to real life, the entire staff's FI ratings.      Yes, I know that means people will overpay for coaches with big FI ratings but it would only affect the one level.   And you wouldn't be able to blow off hitting for fielding with your HC.

I think that's a great idea.

It's unrealistic that Fielding Instructors fetch the highest salaries in HBD, based on supply/demand.  Oh well.

Based on supply/demand, it's very realistic that FI get the biggest salary.   But I don't think that's how the creators planned it. 

correct

Posted by MikeT23 on 3/19/2011 6:37:00 AM (view original):
Based on supply/demand, it's very realistic that FI get the biggest salary.   But I don't think that's how the creators planned it. 

I know I've said this 3 times already, but I totally agree. It'd be nice if they fixed it. I liked your suggestion earlier.

If you really want to "fix" the coaching system to make it more realistic, then do the following:

1)  Eliminate the organization-wide fielding instructor.
2)  Add third base and first base coaches to all minor league levels.
3)  Eliminate the ML bullpen coach.  Let the ML pitching coach handle all the pitchers, as they do in the minor leagues.
4)  The hitting coach handles all of the hitting development at each level.  Remove the influence of the 1B/3B coaches from hitting development.
5)  The pitching coach handles all of the pitching development at each level. 
6)  The third base coach is responsible for 75% of the base running development, and 25% of the fielding development at each level.
7)  The first base coach is responsible for 25% of the base running development, and 75% of the fielding development at each level.
8)  The bench coach continues to slightly modify all the other coaches ratings, and his strategy rating "takes over" the game if the manager is ejected.

If you're not willing to do all (or some modified version) of the above, then leave things as is.  With the exception of "fixing" the rehire salary demands of FI's so that they do not always ask for the $750k.

That seems very complicated.   The "best" option, in my mind, is use a total for fielding for all coaches.    If the 1B coach sees a flaw in a player's throwing motion is he really going to keep his mouth shut? 

For pitching, it's BC, PC and BU.
For hitting, it's BC, HC, 1B and 3B. 

Very simple.   I think what would happen is that the current FI are coveted as BC.   But, if you miss out on that elite 85 fielding rating BC, you can "make it up" by signing above average fielding ratings with other coaches.   Instead of that 85 PC, 7 FI, you could go with 79 PC and 28 FI.   It would open up the options and the guy that gets the 55 FI now won't feel like he got screwed in the fielding department.

I agree it's more complicated that what we have today.  But the call in this thread seems to be for more realism.  That's what I offered.  And realism, by it's nature, is going to be more complicated.

Total fielding for all coaches doesn't sit well with me.  I'm not quite sure why just yet, but it doesn't feel right.  My proposal has the "benefit" of hiring each coaching role with a primary discipline in mind, with the 1B/3B coaches having a secondary discipline.   That feels more straight-forward.

I'll explain the logic.

A bench coach pretty much consults with the manager who consults with everyone.   An extension of the manager so to speak.  So it makes sense that he'd be involved in all aspects of the game.

Pitchers aren't going to talk to hitting coaches about pitching mechanics.   So it makes sense that PC/BU handle those chores.
Hitters aren't asking pitching coaches about hitting but the will ask the 1B coach about their previous AB while standing on first.  Maybe they're just asking if the pitcher is tipping pitches but they are discussing hitting the baseball.  By extension, the 3B is involved in hitting.  HC/1B/3B for hitting.

Since teams don't have Fielding Instructors, it stands to reason that anyone could pitch in.   I'd expect that the pitching coach isn't doing a lot of talking to hitters(who are also fielders) about much of anything but I do think they instruct pitchers on fielding bunts and the like.    If you wanted to split fielding development in the same manner as pitching/hitting, I wouldn't see any reason to object but it's sort of splitting hairs.   And, if it's filtered down to the minors, your FI will only be BC/HC. 

Anyhow, WifS has shown no desire to change it but that's my idea to remove one of the biggest flaws in the game.   Every world has a plethora of quality PC/HC so it's stupid to pay them 4.5m.    But, if you want a 79 FI, you're gonna have to pay them twice what you pay a PC/HC/BC because there are only a few.