[NoOne]

the fewer rules and restrictions you use, the better off the ai is at that stuff.

you will still see some guys wallowing in rookie and short A for 2-3 years putting up better than bonds-ian numbers, but it's inevitably less than when restrictions cause players to be pulled down compared to ability due to the potential lack of players that meet the requirements.

that being said some rules may help too. i would worry less about what happens in RL and more about how to skew the AI to do more of what you want to see.

i'm about to test something new: 2 rookies leagues, i'll make one a 20 (or 21?) and under with no service time max and the other rookie league soley restricted by service time -- "1" is my preference for a rookie league (that allows 2 years).

until we can use an "or" logic with age and service time, i think that provides the best answer for rookie level restrictions.

by AA or AAA i will only set a max age. disparate ages of draftees and new players makes setting these rules a bit difficult. you are more likely to cause problems than solve any if you don't think them through.

however you do it, plan for about ~10 players per draft, per team that do not have to follow those rules and still provide enough to fill the MiL system.

ie if you allow 2 years in rookie leagues, you better have enough rounds (minus 10) in two years that can fill all your rookie teams. (plus a few extra from iafa and scouting discoveries, but that can be a safety net extra)