Historical Replay League - Managing a Hard Salary Cap

bernstde · 04-25-2023, 01:29 AM

I am running a new OOTP24 league, starting in 1961 and implementing a hard salary cap. Does anyone have any suggestions for what salary cap value to set the initial year cap at? Also, when do you look to increase the cap based on salaries increasing year over year?

Right now, I have the salary cap set to $3M, however no team is over $2M right now. In 1961, the highest paid player right now is Frank Robinson at $310,000 per year. The league average salary is just under $50K.

Let me know what your recommendations are.

luckymann · 04-25-2023, 02:53 AM

A few questions if I may.

What is the motivation for taking this course of action?
How aggressive do you want it to be?
How often do you want to reset it? Annually? Or less frequently?

My generic advice in advance of these responses would be to sim forward as far into the future as you think necessary, note down the figures on the finances page and use these figures as a broad strokes benchmark for your cap.

I've never applied a cap, so have no direct experience to call upon. But there is a logical way to approach it as well, which is what I am looking at here. Remember OOTP is incredibly Newtonian, in that every action has some sort of reaction, equal or otherwise. So think both sides of the cause-effect coin as you formulate your plan.

G

Pelican · 04-25-2023, 11:20 AM

I have tried a salary cap in current season play, set at just under what the highest-spending team (the Mets, at present) has spent. Thus far, there is very little immediate effect; but it sets effective limits on future contracts, extensions, free agent signings. Too soon yet to evaluate the long-term effect. (I play out games for the team I manage, and act as GM for other teams.)

More important by far is implementing a floor. This forces teams like Oakland, Pittsburgh, Kansas City to invest a minimum number of dollars in salaries. Or, you can directly change cash on hand for the poor franchises. My guess is that this will have a more immediate impact on competitiveness.

My long-term goal is not parity, but [1] the end of domination by the big spender teams, and [2] the end of "tanking" and 100-loss disasters, year after year. A more competitive league with no "doormats".

Another strategy is to move weak teams to better markets in new facilities: Pirates to New Orleans, Tampa to Montreal, Oakland to San Jose (or now to Vegas??). This brings a dramatic increase in revenue with new ownership.

04-25-2023, 01:29 AM	#1
bernstde Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 49	Historical Replay League - Managing a Hard Salary Cap I am running a new OOTP24 league, starting in 1961 and implementing a hard salary cap. Does anyone have any suggestions for what salary cap value to set the initial year cap at? Also, when do you look to increase the cap based on salaries increasing year over year? Right now, I have the salary cap set to $3M, however no team is over $2M right now. In 1961, the highest paid player right now is Frank Robinson at $310,000 per year. The league average salary is just under $50K. Let me know what your recommendations are.

04-25-2023, 02:53 AM	#2
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,423	A few questions if I may. What is the motivation for taking this course of action? How aggressive do you want it to be? How often do you want to reset it? Annually? Or less frequently? My generic advice in advance of these responses would be to sim forward as far into the future as you think necessary, note down the figures on the finances page and use these figures as a broad strokes benchmark for your cap. I've never applied a cap, so have no direct experience to call upon. But there is a logical way to approach it as well, which is what I am looking at here. Remember OOTP is incredibly Newtonian, in that every action has some sort of reaction, equal or otherwise. So think both sides of the cause-effect coin as you formulate your plan. G __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS A'S RED SOX DODGERS CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE GULF LEAGUE USBA

04-25-2023, 11:20 AM	#3
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,953	I have tried a salary cap in current season play, set at just under what the highest-spending team (the Mets, at present) has spent. Thus far, there is very little immediate effect; but it sets effective limits on future contracts, extensions, free agent signings. Too soon yet to evaluate the long-term effect. (I play out games for the team I manage, and act as GM for other teams.) More important by far is implementing a floor. This forces teams like Oakland, Pittsburgh, Kansas City to invest a minimum number of dollars in salaries. Or, you can directly change cash on hand for the poor franchises. My guess is that this will have a more immediate impact on competitiveness. My long-term goal is not parity, but [1] the end of domination by the big spender teams, and [2] the end of "tanking" and 100-loss disasters, year after year. A more competitive league with no "doormats". Another strategy is to move weak teams to better markets in new facilities: Pirates to New Orleans, Tampa to Montreal, Oakland to San Jose (or now to Vegas??). This brings a dramatic increase in revenue with new ownership. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.” Last edited by Pelican; 04-25-2023 at 11:22 AM.