Quote: Originally posted by tk21775 on 8/27/2009zbrent, I don't think your posts were "picking nits" over anything

nor I

However, I think we can all agree that dino is a knuckle-dragging mouth-breather. :)

wtf kind of insult is a mouth-breather?

do you breathe through your anus?

We got our projected ratings this AM and I can see how deep the abyss I have to climb out of really is. I have 28 players on my ML roster. 14 position players and 14 pitchers. 2 of the pitchers do not belong on a roster of any kind with control ratings of 30. They will be waived. I have 14 players arbitration eligible, 8 pitchers and 6 position guys. If I had my way I would probably cut 12 of them, but that is not a realistic option here. I have to field a team. I will arbitrate with 4 position players, 2 of which are deserving, and 4 pitchers, none of which I really want on the team, but there are almost 1500 innings that have to be pitched. The remaining 6 players will be released.

This leaves me with 20 major leaguers. Unfortunately the AAA roster is in worse shape than the majors and there is nobody marginally worthy of a promotion. Things get somewhat brighter the lower I go in the minors. I will have a good AA team with a couple of potential ML all star pitchers anchoring the staff.

One thing I do have is alot of $$$$$$$. After arbitration I should have in the vicinity of $40M to spend. If there are free agents that are young enough to be factors when I begin to contend, I will be a player. I will not overspend for players in their 30s. I need 5 more major leaguers so they will come from somewhere.With the depth of the league, I will probably be able to pick up some useful players in the rule V draft. There are only 4 teams that have a higher IFA budget than I do, so I should be a player when it comes to those players also.

Quote: Originally posted by deanod on 8/28/2009wtf kind of insult is a mouth-breather?

do you breathe through your anus?

Most of us breathe through our nose and with our mouth closed, you slack-jawed yokel.

Quote: Originally Posted By antonsirius on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally posted by deanod on 8/28/2009 wtf kind of insult is a mouth-breather?

do you breathe through your anus?

Most of us breathe through our nose and with our mouth closed, you slack-jawed yokel

Gotta agree with you here (if nowhere else).

Although I saw a stage show once with this chick that could breathe through her... oh, never mind.

I like the idea of this challenge. A way to get around the ringers problem is to not allow AAA players below AAA. For instance you can't have a guy making 55k in anything but AAA, a guy making 38k in lower than AA. I know sometimes your hands are tied and you have to demote a player to cover injuries, in this case just communicate what player your want to move and why.

Quote: Originally Posted By Skid22 on 8/28/2009
We got our projected ratings this AM and I can see how deep the abyss I have to climb out of really is. I have 28 players on my ML roster. 14 position players and 14 pitchers. 2 of the pitchers do not belong on a roster of any kind with control ratings of 30. They will be waived. I have 14 players arbitration eligible, 8 pitchers and 6 position guys. If I had my way I would probably cut 12 of them, but that is not a realistic option here. I have to field a team. I will arbitrate with 4 position players, 2 of which are deserving, and 4 pitchers, none of which I really want on the team, but there are almost 1500 innings that have to be pitched. The remaining 6 players will be released.

This leaves me with 20 major leaguers. Unfortunately the AAA roster is in worse shape than the majors and there is nobody marginally worthy of a promotion. Things get somewhat brighter the lower I go in the minors. I will have a good AA team with a couple of potential ML all star pitchers anchoring the staff.

One thing I do have is alot of $$$$$$$. After arbitration I should have in the vicinity of $40M to spend. If there are free agents that are young enough to be factors when I begin to contend, I will be a player. I will not overspend for players in their 30s. I need 5 more major leaguers so they will come from somewhere.With the depth of the league, I will probably be able to pick up some useful players in the rule V draft. There are only 4 teams that have a higher IFA budget than I do, so I should be a player when it comes to those players also.

Certainly with the 5 open ML slots, and perhaps even with the 4 arb-eligible but not really worthy guys, I might consider going really heavy in the Rule 5 draft. I'd imagine you have a decent draft position (since it's a bad team you are taking over), so you might be able to get a subpar (but serviable) SP prospect from a contending team who has no spot for him with that first pick.

Either way, that's almost free (only $50k to former team) talent that you can pick up for the league minimum that can help you (somewhat) immediately and is usually young enough to stick around for at least a couple seasons.

I have the 4th pick, Pitt has the 5th pick

Quote: Originally Posted By antonsirius on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally posted by deanod on 8/28/2009 wtf kind of insult is a mouth-breather?

do you breathe through your anus?

Most of us breathe through our nose and with our mouth closed, you slack-jawed yokel

dino =

Quote: Originally Posted By zbrent716 on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By Skid22 on 8/28/2009

We got our projected ratings this AM and I can see how deep the abyss I have to climb out of really is. I have 28 players on my ML roster. 14 position players and 14 pitchers. 2 of the pitchers do not belong on a roster of any kind with control ratings of 30. They will be waived. I have 14 players arbitration eligible, 8 pitchers and 6 position guys. If I had my way I would probably cut 12 of them, but that is not a realistic option here. I have to field a team. I will arbitrate with 4 position players, 2 of which are deserving, and 4 pitchers, none of which I really want on the team, but there are almost 1500 innings that have to be pitched. The remaining 6 players will be released.

This leaves me with 20 major leaguers. Unfortunately the AAA roster is in worse shape than the majors and there is nobody marginally worthy of a promotion. Things get somewhat brighter the lower I go in the minors. I will have a good AA team with a couple of potential ML all star pitchers anchoring the staff.

One thing I do have is alot of $$$$$$$. After arbitration I should have in the vicinity of $40M to spend. If there are free agents that are young enough to be factors when I begin to contend, I will be a player. I will not overspend for players in their 30s. I need 5 more major leaguers so they will come from somewhere.With the depth of the league, I will probably be able to pick up some useful players in the rule V draft. There are only 4 teams that have a higher IFA budget than I do, so I should be a player when it comes to those players also.

Certainly with the 5 open ML slots, and perhaps even with the 4 arb-eligible but not really worthy guys, I might consider going really heavy in the Rule 5 draft. I'd imagine you have a decent draft position (since it's a bad team you are taking over), so you might be able to get a subpar (but serviable) SP prospect from a contending team who has no spot for him with that first pick.

Either way, that's almost free (only $50k to former team) talent that you can pick up for the league minimum that can help you (somewhat) immediately and is usually young enough to stick around for at least a couple seasons.

This could be a really useful idea, but I'd check past drafts before settling on that plan.

Some worlds only offer 2-3 even borderline MLers in each draft, and you don't want to be holding the bag.

Of course, how far wrong can you go for the ML minimum??

Quote: Originally Posted By iain on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By zbrent716 on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By Skid22 on 8/28/2009

We got our projected ratings this AM and I can see how deep the abyss I have to climb out of really is. I have 28 players on my ML roster. 14 position players and 14 pitchers. 2 of the pitchers do not belong on a roster of any kind with control ratings of 30. They will be waived. I have 14 players arbitration eligible, 8 pitchers and 6 position guys. If I had my way I would probably cut 12 of them, but that is not a realistic option here. I have to field a team. I will arbitrate with 4 position players, 2 of which are deserving, and 4 pitchers, none of which I really want on the team, but there are almost 1500 innings that have to be pitched. The remaining 6 players will be released.

This leaves me with 20 major leaguers. Unfortunately the AAA roster is in worse shape than the majors and there is nobody marginally worthy of a promotion. Things get somewhat brighter the lower I go in the minors. I will have a good AA team with a couple of potential ML all star pitchers anchoring the staff.

One thing I do have is alot of $$$$$$$. After arbitration I should have in the vicinity of $40M to spend. If there are free agents that are young enough to be factors when I begin to contend, I will be a player. I will not overspend for players in their 30s. I need 5 more major leaguers so they will come from somewhere.With the depth of the league, I will probably be able to pick up some useful players in the rule V draft. There are only 4 teams that have a higher IFA budget than I do, so I should be a player when it comes to those players also.

Certainly with the 5 open ML slots, and perhaps even with the 4 arb-eligible but not really worthy guys, I might consider going really heavy in the Rule 5 draft. I'd imagine you have a decent draft position (since it's a bad team you are taking over), so you might be able to get a subpar (but serviable) SP prospect from a contending team who has no spot for him with that first pick.

Either way, that's almost free (only $50k to former team) talent that you can pick up for the league minimum that can help you (somewhat) immediately and is usually young enough to stick around for at least a couple seasons.

This could be a really useful idea, but I'd check past drafts before settling on that plan.

Some worlds only offer 2-3 even borderline MLers in each draft, and you don't want to be holding the bag.

Of course, how far wrong can you go for the ML minimum??

Agree, you may not get too many quality guys, but like you said, how bad can the hit be for the league minimum. Especially if you can replace the sub-par arbitration eligible guys with sub-par league minimum Rule 5 guys. Could easily shave a couple million off of payroll without sacrificing any ML productivity.

It also may depend on what you consider "even borderline" MLers... there almost always seems to be a no-hitting high PC catcher, a crappy splits/high power 1B, or (if you're lucky) a .200 hitting SS available. Role players at best on a contending team, but for a rebuild they might get PT and continue to develop.

Quote: Originally Posted By zbrent716 on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By iain on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By zbrent716 on 8/28/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By Skid22 on 8/28/2009

We got our projected ratings this AM and I can see how deep the abyss I have to climb out of really is. I have 28 players on my ML roster. 14 position players and 14 pitchers. 2 of the pitchers do not belong on a roster of any kind with control ratings of 30. They will be waived. I have 14 players arbitration eligible, 8 pitchers and 6 position guys. If I had my way I would probably cut 12 of them, but that is not a realistic option here. I have to field a team. I will arbitrate with 4 position players, 2 of which are deserving, and 4 pitchers, none of which I really want on the team, but there are almost 1500 innings that have to be pitched. The remaining 6 players will be released.

This leaves me with 20 major leaguers. Unfortunately the AAA roster is in worse shape than the majors and there is nobody marginally worthy of a promotion. Things get somewhat brighter the lower I go in the minors. I will have a good AA team with a couple of potential ML all star pitchers anchoring the staff.

One thing I do have is alot of $$$$$$$. After arbitration I should have in the vicinity of $40M to spend. If there are free agents that are young enough to be factors when I begin to contend, I will be a player. I will not overspend for players in their 30s. I need 5 more major leaguers so they will come from somewhere.With the depth of the league, I will probably be able to pick up some useful players in the rule V draft. There are only 4 teams that have a higher IFA budget than I do, so I should be a player when it comes to those players also.

Certainly with the 5 open ML slots, and perhaps even with the 4 arb-eligible but not really worthy guys, I might consider going really heavy in the Rule 5 draft. I'd imagine you have a decent draft position (since it's a bad team you are taking over), so you might be able to get a subpar (but serviable) SP prospect from a contending team who has no spot for him with that first pick.

Either way, that's almost free (only $50k to former team) talent that you can pick up for the league minimum that can help you (somewhat) immediately and is usually young enough to stick around for at least a couple seasons.

This could be a really useful idea, but I'd check past drafts before settling on that plan.

Some worlds only offer 2-3 even borderline MLers in each draft, and you don't want to be holding the bag.

Of course, how far wrong can you go for the ML minimum??

Agree, you may not get too many quality guys, but like you said, how bad can the hit be for the league minimum. Especially if you can replace the sub-par arbitration eligible guys with sub-par league minimum Rule 5 guys. Could easily shave a couple million off of payroll without sacrificing any ML productivity.

It also may depend on what you consider "even borderline" MLers... there almost always seems to be a no-hitting high PC catcher, a crappy splits/high power 1B, or (if you're lucky) a .200 hitting SS available. Role players at best on a contending team, but for a rebuild they might get PT and continue to develop.

Your budgetary point is a good one. A really good one, actually. Replacement level at ML min. >>> replacement level in arb.

High PC Cs and slick fielding SSs are always going to make my ML team, and for a re-build, 3 entry-level seasons are invaluable.

A few power bats for the LF/1B/DH spots is actually something I hadn't considered....

yeah, you're probably a lot better off shopping from the FA bargain bin and rule 5 than you are offering arb to crappy players.

worst case you can sign your arb eligible guys for cheaper after cutting them.

i'd offer arb to maybe 3 of the position players and 1 of the pitchers, considering your roster circumstances.

i tried arbing some guys with my crap team in the initial season, figuring that i needed to fill out my roster and it was only 800K (or whatever). i ended up DFA'ing them real fast.

it's funny how many bad players are entering arb 1 though, it's as if 3 seasons ago the owner of the team tried to build a 25 man roster solely from the rule 5.