Is it a violation of good faith to load up my minor league rosters with veteran players. Is there such a thing as an appropriate age for minor league players per level?

I'm sure no one else cares, but as someone who signs his draft picks and stocks his minors, I hate guys like you.

The above question regarding loading up your farm with vet players is a point of contention.

The only reason to do this is to have more success than the competition at the minor league level. The only reason you SHOULD want to have more success at the major league level is if you have real prospects that need development at that level. This is because real prospects need playing time at the appropriate level in order to reach their potential. If you load up on vets in the minors just to win at the minor league level, you're waisting your time unless you have at least one prospect at that level that is benefitting from the additional playing time (extra games played in the minor league playoffs).

A good rule of thumb is the below, but there are obvious exceptions. High end prospects, especially big bats can start in high A or AA because they will be major league ready quickly.
0 years pro; 18/19 years of age: rookie ball
1 years pro; 19/20 years of age: low A
2 years pro; 20/21 years of age:high A
3 years pro; 21/22 years of age: AA

Some may slightly disagree with the above, but since I started doing the above, I have had more success.

I personally have no problem if you load up your minor league roster with vet players because you will typically pay a vet minor league player $55000. Wheras lower levels are $8000, $27000 and $38000. If you fill rookie, low A, high A, AA with a bunch of AAA salary, you are wasting your money unless you're doing it to get your real prospects more playing time.

I know tlowster and I have had this debate before, but there is no evidence of an "appropriate" level for players based on age. You cannot "rush" a player through the minors. The most important thing for development is coaching and playing time. Your better coaches are at your higher levels. I call 20 year olds up to the big leagues all the time if they are the best man for the job. They develop just fine. I will post some examples as soon as I can get to my computer.

Posted by strikeout26 on 10/14/2019 10:59:00 AM (view original):
I know tlowster and I have had this debate before, but there is no evidence of an "appropriate" level for players based on age. You cannot "rush" a player through the minors. The most important thing for development is coaching and playing time. Your better coaches are at your higher levels. I call 20 year olds up to the big leagues all the time if they are the best man for the job. They develop just fine. I will post some examples as soon as I can get to my computer.

Yep, coaching and playing time are the two most important factors. Also, better coaching is at the higher levels. As stated above, you can take a high level prospect, and start him in High A, AA or even AAA. I think we both agree on that.

Are you saying that if I drafted an 18 year old like one of the guys below and immediately placed him in AA or AAA, he would develop the same? I have never tried this because I like those big bump year end promotions that a prospect receives after the playoffs and I have found that making the playoffs and advancing in the playoffs in AA and AAA is more challenging than it is in High A and Low A. If I draft mid range fielding prospects like the below, place them in AA/AAA and that level doesn't make the minor league playoffs, I am afraid he will miss out on some of his coachable fielding development? Is that an irrational fear?

Player Profile: Donovan Shannon - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports
Player Profile: Will Maurer - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Yes, they will develop at the same rate (possibly slighter better, excluding fielding) due to higher rated coaches. This is assuming that they are everyday players at the higher level. As far as having a better chance to make the playoffs, that is something to definitely consider. I don't think it's an irrational fear at all. I think we both agree that playing is most important. I actually have a more difficult time making the playoffs in the lower levels because people do what the OP was asking about and load the lower levels with 55k guys, so I think this is where our difference in mindset comes from.

I have always taken your posts on this subject to mean that there is something coded in the game that slows development if you move a player too quickly through the minor leagues. If I misinterpreted your intentions, I do apologize.

As far as the end of season bumps, I am not convinced that players lose that rating gain if they are not promoted at the end of the season. I may be wrong about this.

I think we mostly agree. The fielding is where my concern is. When I draft those late 1st round CF, or 2nd round and 3rd round SS super fielders that won't hit much, I am concerned that if I start those guys in a higher level, they won't develop as intended because I don't want them in the lineup or fielding anywhere on the diamond. So I prefer to slow roast those guys until they are ready to be Major league role players. And, since they get most of their fielding from the fielding coach who visits all levels, it makes more sense to me to slowly bring them along.

I think we both agree that those big money INTL and high draft picks can and sometimes should start in higher levels. Even those big bat C/DH guys should probably start at the higher minor league levels.

I am uncertain if there is code in the game to slow development. I am just certain that I don't want to risk that there is on those fielder guys. My rule of thumb above is mainly for guys that are either career minor league players or guys that will only be minor contributors (i.e. great fielders that cannot hit). For guys that are going to be superstars, I think you can start them anywhere and they will develop.

On a separate subject, I will be interested to see where guys like the below end up. Even if there is no such thing as "rushing" a guy, to me it is a waste to take guys like the below and put them in the ML. The owner put these guys in the MLB too early and now the service time is being wasted, but that is a separate issue.

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Goldie, IMO as long as you properly man your roster and monitor fatigue I don't care how good the players are. Many owners try to save $500k by skimping on their MiL rosters. You could argue that by signing a bunch of $54k guys you are taking away from your $ pool that could go to ML players.

Posted by damag on 10/14/2019 10:27:00 AM (view original):
I'm sure no one else cares, but as someone who signs his draft picks and stocks his minors, I hate guys like you.

Not guys like me btw..... I apply resources usually to the Major League team so it burns me when I miss minor league playoffs or get eliminated by a Low A team with eight 30 year olds. I need every bump I can get because I don't get high picks or top IFAs.

I have an Excel spreadsheet where I take the development report for all levels and stick them in the spreadsheet. That tells me where all the players should go, based on current rating, age, etc. Of course, I adjust from that e.g. DITRs etc. But I have never been a proponent of starting your draft picks in Rookie League, and then moving them up one notch at a time. Put the players where they belong.

Posted by bjschumacher on 10/22/2019 9:23:00 PM (view original):
I have an Excel spreadsheet where I take the development report for all levels and stick them in the spreadsheet. That tells me where all the players should go, based on current rating, age, etc. Of course, I adjust from that e.g. DITRs etc. But I have never been a proponent of starting your draft picks in Rookie League, and then moving them up one notch at a time. Put the players where they belong.

Willing to share?