Heard a rumor once upon a time about some kind of 'rust factor' relating to playing time in spring training.  Any validity to that?

I usually go for about 20-25 AB's in ST, then filter in other non starter guys, or minor leaguers.

Anyone believe in a certain number of at bats to avoid a slow start?  Any other beliefs relating to spring training and playing time?

About the only hard bit of data I have is ST AB's relate to total AB's during the course of the season, bringing into play when a guy's fatigue will start to dip.....

Optimal AB's for position players?  IP's for pitchers?

I was told in a ticket that it was games played, not AB's or IP.

"

9/23/2011 11:42 AM	hypnotoad
re: Spring Training improvement - how much do players need to play to see an improvement in ST? Is it by plate appearances, games, innings, pitches, etc? Thanks
9/26/2011 10:31 AM	Customer Support
[NAME REDACTED], The scale fluctuates in a linear fashion. The more games a player plays in Spring Training the higher the boost. There is a ceiling applied so that the value does not increase to an unrealistic amount.
9/26/2011 10:40 AM	hypnotoad
So you're saying it's games, and not at-bats or innings pitched? Thanks
9/26/2011 10:46 AM	Customer Support
[NAME REDACTED], Yes. Games played.

So a defensive appearance would constitute the same as squatting in RF all day and getting 4 AB's?  Or throwing 10 pitches as opposed to 6 innings?

And that ticket related to improvement....what about the 35 year old 90 OVR rated veteran?  Can you sit him the entire ST (saving AB's against his stamina) and not lose anything?  Not start off the season o'fer 20?

The ticket is incomplete in that regard (rust); but I did find it enlightening in regards to games versus at-bats/innings. I think that goes against much of the conventional thinking.

Posted by hypnotoad on 12/20/2011 4:54:00 PM (view original):
I was told in a ticket that it was games played, not AB's or IP.

"

9/23/2011 11:42 AM	hypnotoad
re: Spring Training improvement - how much do players need to play to see an improvement in ST? Is it by plate appearances, games, innings, pitches, etc? Thanks
9/26/2011 10:31 AM	Customer Support
Ptom, The scale fluctuates in a linear fashion. The more games a player plays in Spring Training the higher the boost. There is a ceiling applied so that the value does not increase to an unrealistic amount.
9/26/2011 10:40 AM	hypnotoad
So you're saying it's games, and not at-bats or innings pitched? Thanks
9/26/2011 10:46 AM	Customer Support
Ptom, Yes. Games played.

The most interesting thing I learned from the ticket is hypnotoad's real name.

ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHU2RlSCdxU

Yes I am from India.

From the question in the knowledge base, what is the point of spring training:

"At some point in the future, we'll be adding a rust-like component to the game so that if players don't get enough PT in spring training, they'll start off slow but it's not in the game yet."

Does anyone have any empirical evidence that the rust factor is in the game?

Nevermind - there is no rust factor at this time.