OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Spring Training or No Spring Training? Want to know your opinions!

Pelican · 04-06-2024, 01:54 PM

I love Spring Training, in OOTP and IRL, when I can get down to Florida. It bothers me that OOTP by default starts a few days before Opening Day. I would much prefer not only five weeks of ST, but a Winter of wheeling and dealing. But here are the reasons why I feel ST is worthwhile, necessary, in OOTP.

[1] To sort out who deserves to make the MLB team, and to determine placement of players in the minor leagues, based in part on Spring performance. You can also fiddle with various lineups.

[2] To give every player a chance to get ready, without letting anybody get fatigued, and with minimal injuries. So, my ST games will involve twenty or thirty players off those large rosters getting into a game.

[3] Playing a realistic schedule with fifteen teams in Arizona, and fifteen in Florida, plus you can add "B" games as well. Plus I leave time at the end of ST for the traditional series between the LA teams and the Bay area (or Sacramento/LV) teams, plus NY and Orioles versus Gnats.

[4] The end of ST, cutting rosters to 25 (or 28 in my sims, through May), is a prime time for teams to DFA players, typically those without remaining minor league options, and to make trades to avoid losing guys for nothing in return. It's a great time for weaker teams to add fringe players cut by the better teams.

[5] For the OOTP user, ST is a great chance to try out different strategies, like bunts and hit-and-run and run-and-hit and steals and defensive changes, in order to see how the game handles those options.

[6] You can set up exhibition games with your AAA team, or with Korean teams, or the Savanah Bananas. Fun stuff.

[7] Toward the end of ST, you get set up your rotation, so your ace is rested and ready for Opening Day, and your other starters have ramped up their innings. Everybody hits the ground running - even if the ground is wet and frozen in the north.

To me, even with teams I think I know, ST is a chance to get a feel for the roster, and for individual players to shine - or fail. And yes, to take a peek at those preseason predictions and begin to prove them wrong!

04-06-2024, 01:54 PM	#11
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,166	I love Spring Training, in OOTP and IRL, when I can get down to Florida. It bothers me that OOTP by default starts a few days before Opening Day. I would much prefer not only five weeks of ST, but a Winter of wheeling and dealing. But here are the reasons why I feel ST is worthwhile, necessary, in OOTP. [1] To sort out who deserves to make the MLB team, and to determine placement of players in the minor leagues, based in part on Spring performance. You can also fiddle with various lineups. [2] To give every player a chance to get ready, without letting anybody get fatigued, and with minimal injuries. So, my ST games will involve twenty or thirty players off those large rosters getting into a game. [3] Playing a realistic schedule with fifteen teams in Arizona, and fifteen in Florida, plus you can add "B" games as well. Plus I leave time at the end of ST for the traditional series between the LA teams and the Bay area (or Sacramento/LV) teams, plus NY and Orioles versus Gnats. [4] The end of ST, cutting rosters to 25 (or 28 in my sims, through May), is a prime time for teams to DFA players, typically those without remaining minor league options, and to make trades to avoid losing guys for nothing in return. It's a great time for weaker teams to add fringe players cut by the better teams. [5] For the OOTP user, ST is a great chance to try out different strategies, like bunts and hit-and-run and run-and-hit and steals and defensive changes, in order to see how the game handles those options. [6] You can set up exhibition games with your AAA team, or with Korean teams, or the Savanah Bananas. Fun stuff. [7] Toward the end of ST, you get set up your rotation, so your ace is rested and ready for Opening Day, and your other starters have ramped up their innings. Everybody hits the ground running - even if the ground is wet and frozen in the north. To me, even with teams I think I know, ST is a chance to get a feel for the roster, and for individual players to shine - or fail. And yes, to take a peek at those preseason predictions and begin to prove them wrong! __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”