I've noticed many of my players completely stop developing once they've reached the big leagues.

I've had ML coaches everywhere from decent to very good.

Obviously, projected ratings aren't perfectly accurate (though I am paying $20 million in advance scouting), but is this common for everyone? I also play in a pitchers park, so i'm wondering if my pitchers are progressing fine, but my field players stop progressing because their stats are going down.

Anyone have any insight into this?

The players only develop for so long. They develop a lot in their first few years, but the improvement starts level out about age 26-28. Regardless of coaching.

20 mil in advanced is a waste. Use that 20 mil in Training, if you arent already.

Stats have no impact on development. You have to get the most out of your players while they're developing in the minors before the well dries up. Guys that are a 99 in makeup will find a rare point or two while in the majors, and won't see drastic decrease in ability as they age.

I'm not sure $20m in advanced scouting is a waste, especially if you're trading or signing free agents. The gap in how you see a player can be pretty wide...

It's not. That is simply an opinion. And I'm a Zero ADV guy. It's all about what you're doing, what you plan to do and what you're comfortable with.

I'd recommend ignoring anyone who has a "This is how you play HBD" opinion when it comes to budgeting. Except for training. It really is a place you need to spend the $$$. There is some difference of opinion on the value of 15m vs. 20m but no one who knows the game says "zero it out."

I used to think players stopped developing when they got to the majors but it really is just a factor of development slowing down in a player's 4th or 5th full year. Bringing a guy up to the majors just often happens to coincide with that stage of their career.

Quote: Originally posted by agentverde on 4/30/2010I'm not sure $20m in advanced scouting is a waste, especially if you're trading or signing free agents. The gap in how you see a player can be pretty wide...

If you're trading I could understand what you're saying...hard to tell what the prospects will look like unless you know what you're doing.

But why you need 20 million in advance scouting to sign free agents I really don't understand. Everyone sees the exact same current ratings so your advanced budget has nothing to do with almost every free agent.

Quote: Originally posted by prezuiwf on 4/30/2010
I used to think players stopped developing when they got to the majors but it really is just a factor of development slowing down in a player's 4th or 5th full year.

Bingo.

And players do continue to develop up to age 27, and often past that, but that typically coincides with decline in other areas. So you never get a player who hits his peak projections all at once, like adv. scouting suggests.

That's one reason I decided to zero out that budget on my teams. I know if a player is going to be good or not by looking at his current ratings, and I don't care to know exactly how good he might be.

I don't really think ADV "suggests" anything. I believe people interpret it incorrectly. I also wonder how many players actually reach their projections in the skill catergories but still have owners insist that "they never reach their projections!" because they don't realize that players still develop after 27.

I think the projected OVR can be (wrongly) interpreted to mean that -- with proper training, coaching, etc. -- you might end up with the player described by your projections.

But, as we've discussed, different skills peak at different times for different players. Just as they do in real life!

Make-up is hugely important for reaching projected ratings.