What could I have done different? Topic

timeprime71
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SO I'm an original owner in a league thats entering season10.  When I looked at my team for the 1st time I was very suprised and happy to see I had a young pitcher overall projected to 100!

Well he didn't disappoint.  His Ov. Proj. topped out at 91.  He won his 5th straight CY YOUNG in season 9 and has been absolutly unreal.  Best pitcher I ever saw in this game.

So I tried to do the right thing by him.  1st time he came up for arb in season 5 I went straight to long term and gave him the 5 X $10mil he was asking.  I also have the same high rated pitching coach since season 5 (not sure how much this matters in signing him)

Tried to see if they would let me extend him in season 7 but that option was unavailable.  Ist thing I did after the budget was set in season 9 was try to extend him.  No good.  Got the old "With FA looming......"

I knew if I wanted him back in season 10 it would take a max contract and I was prepared.  During re-sign FA I went ahead and came right out with a max con. which he expectedly said "Sorry filing for FA no matter what."

So last night, 3AM, Begin signing FA ... came right out the the max $110mil for 5, no trade clause, player option.  Got the "Your our top choice."!!!  And I was very happy

But just now I was told my offer has been topped.  Don't think thats true.  Doesn't matter he's gone, I expect.

Questions:  Is he gone?  Anything I can do at this point?  Anything I could have done different any step of the way?

Thanks in advance for your answers and thoughts. 

PS Im kinda bummed out.  I got to keep saying "He's not a real person, he's not a real person, he's not a real person ................................"
10/25/2010 12:26 PM (edited)
deathinahole
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The Moose Morris dilemma in Happy Jack.

I think when you get the ringer, he's going to at least go to FA no matter what. And really, who wouldn't if they were that good?
10/25/2010 12:28 PM
timeprime71
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So basiclly there was nothing I could have done to prevent him from going FA.  That part I was pretty sure of.

What bothers me is I came right out of the box with a max contract.  Obviously nobody could have offered him any more.  Kinda thought his orginal team of nine years, that he has 2 world series rings with,  would be the difference maker but aparently not.

10/25/2010 12:42 PM
deathinahole
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You smell bad. If you wore more deoderant, he may have stayed.
10/25/2010 12:45 PM
mhulshult
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Ballpark and ML pitching coach are also a factor.
10/25/2010 12:47 PM
wylie715
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should have supplied him with hookers, and a jet to away games.
10/25/2010 1:05 PM
cyclones1
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Just a thought, but you could have kept him longer if you had waited on the long term contract. No real need to offer it the first season they go to arb. Just give him what he asked for in arb. the first 2 times and then give the long term deal the third time.  This would have given you two more seasons.

10/25/2010 3:24 PM
cmthieme
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You should have budgeted enough money in coaching to hire the best pitching coach and bullpen coach in the league.  If you had done so successfully, he would have signed your max deal.   The "loyalty" factor is pretty small, if any.  The team he signs with will have a better pitching and/or bullpen coach than you.

BTW...if you have not yet signed a pitching and/or bullpen coach, you may become the top offer again after signing them.  The "winner" on the max contract tie-breaker can change as coaches are hired (it uses last season's coaches until new ones are hired).  If this is the case, go out and hire the best coaches possible no matter the cost if you really want to go "all in" on re-signing this guy.
10/25/2010 4:39 PM
timeprime71
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Yeah I think you guys are right. I did blow it by not going to arb.  My fear was if I offered him arb 2 years, we wouldnt accept a long term deal instead of arb on the 3rd year.  I think I have seen that happen before, but not sure.  Defintly could have squeezed another year or 2 out of him.

Also I thought the fact that I gave him the long term and never arbed him would work to my favor in any choices he had to make.  Guess not.  Hey just like real life scumbags.



10/25/2010 8:30 PM
timeprime71
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FYI I have a pretty solid pitcher's park.  Also have the same pitching coach for 6 seasons thats rated 86.  Highest in world is 90

Im willing to bet that when all is said and done he signs with the best team, probably last year's WS winner.  Have a feeling thats the deciding factor,
10/25/2010 8:33 PM
zbrent716
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Link to player?
10/25/2010 8:41 PM
timeprime71
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www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx
10/25/2010 8:56 PM
cmthieme
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Posted by timeprime71 on 10/25/2010 8:33:00 PM (view original):
FYI I have a pretty solid pitcher's park.  Also have the same pitching coach for 6 seasons thats rated 86.  Highest in world is 90

Im willing to bet that when all is said and done he signs with the best team, probably last year's WS winner.  Have a feeling thats the deciding factor,
You'd lose that bet unless, by coincidence, last season's WS winner has the best coaches of anyone offering the max deal.

The deciding factors are listed in the FAQ for the game in the Help section.  For a pitcher, it's pitching coach and bullpen coach.  Both are important.  "Best team" is a non-factor and ballpark is only used as the last tie-breaker.  How long you had your pitching coach is irrelevant.  If he is 86, there are probably a number of coaches better.  Plus your bullpen coach may not be as good as others.

To answer your question, "what could I have done different", the answer is "plan for and hire better coaches".  This guy was going FA no matter what you did.  The only thing in your control was to put yourself in the best position to win the tie-breaker on the max deal.


10/25/2010 9:12 PM
genghisxcon
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Posted by cmthieme on 10/25/2010 9:14:00 PM (view original):
Posted by timeprime71 on 10/25/2010 8:33:00 PM (view original):
FYI I have a pretty solid pitcher's park.  Also have the same pitching coach for 6 seasons thats rated 86.  Highest in world is 90

Im willing to bet that when all is said and done he signs with the best team, probably last year's WS winner.  Have a feeling thats the deciding factor,
You'd lose that bet unless, by coincidence, last season's WS winner has the best coaches of anyone offering the max deal.

The deciding factors are listed in the FAQ for the game in the Help section.  For a pitcher, it's pitching coach and bullpen coach.  Both are important.  "Best team" is a non-factor and ballpark is only used as the last tie-breaker.  How long you had your pitching coach is irrelevant.  If he is 86, there are probably a number of coaches better.  Plus your bullpen coach may not be as good as others.

To answer your question, "what could I have done different", the answer is "plan for and hire better coaches".  This guy was going FA no matter what you did.  The only thing in your control was to put yourself in the best position to win the tie-breaker on the max deal.


Agreed. In Rice Not Lynn world, I had a similar pitcher, and he left me right after I won the World Series. I offered the max deal, with a player option in the final year, was his top choice for several cycles, and he still left. I thought maybe there was a glitch involving options, but Customer Service explained it was about ballpark and coaching. They referred me to Knowledge Base article # 761.
10/25/2010 9:24 PM
timeprime71
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OK well thanks.  I certainly believe you guys.  Thing that confuses is me is we are still hiring coaches.  I dont even have a bullpen coach right now.  Also another guy who has the highest rated coach in the world, 91 I believe, say he offered a max contract and was told no by Jose.

I would say at least I know for the next time but who knows if ill ever see a player like this on my team again.
10/25/2010 11:28 PM
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