Spring Training?

Trebro · 08-10-2015, 11:58 PM

I tend to find myself turning Spring Training Off. Partly because it's such a short sample size, and partly because I feel like it's an advantage over the AI--I'm not sure it understands how to do position battles and the like.

So am I missing something? Hurting AA/AAA level player development? Tying a hand behind my back unnecessarily?

Any thoughts?

tcoots423 · 08-11-2015, 12:45 AM

Im not gonna say Im a pro, but I can say that giving some of my young studs who arent quite ready for ML level does help when you play them in Spring Training. They seem to develope with the experience and they improve!

RchW · 08-11-2015, 01:33 AM

Position battles are a myth. It's rare for teams to have such depth that an incumbent will be unseated especially if he has a decent salary. The bullpen is one area where jobs may be open but at the end of the day players with no options will make the 25-man roster ahead of a better ST player unless a trade or injury occurs.

I find ST extremely useful. It usually produces 1 or 2 possible RP and it may show me when to trade a marginal ex prospect. It really helps sort out the OF pecking order and who my backup IF will be.

BeanballComin · 08-11-2015, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Position battles are a myth. It's rare for teams to have such depth that an incumbent will be unseated especially if he has a decent salary.

So very true.

endgame · 08-11-2015, 01:44 AM

Very broad question, not without its complexities. I'll try to be brief in my personal assessment, and so much depends on your personal style and league settings.

Injuries happen. They happen to your team as often as they happen to the AI team. All things equal, teams get deprived of talent they'd anticipated starting the season.

It is an environment opportunity for development, again, for both the AI team's prospects and your own. Bypassing this step may not visibly slow the process, but both sides will be equally impacted, however slight.

I don't know if you play your games out or not. Regardless, even if you're evaluating boxscore performances, occasionally there are standout performances, guys who appear to really want it, step up and challenge you to rethink selections, despite predetermination biases with which you may have entered into that phase. When that happens, and it's not common, I enjoy the additional immersion and the sense of personality those performance make on me. They tend to be lasting.

The recent changes in the AI that revolve around the position set in their profile will dictate experiments and trials in those positions with a much greater logic than it had previously, including your own manager's selections for who plays where and under what circumstances. Again, a close look will betray subtle tendencies that get you more familiar with his tactics on occasion. If all of those decisions are yours, of course the point is moot.

Again, if you're watching or playing them out, it's another excellent environment to also watch the other teams and make shortlist selections for potential upgrading or building your own team in a later season. In short, players begin to take on a life of their own, beyond the stats, in a setting built around training, readiness, challenge, and in a real sense, auditions. They're worth something to me.

tcoots423 · 08-11-2015, 03:37 AM

Out of the Park Baseball Manual

This should help! Hell I even learned some things.. Spring Training IS important..

Walsh06 · 08-11-2015, 06:21 AM

It usually doesnt affect who is starting on my team but it may affect which young guy will get a bench spot to start the season. Or maybe which players in the minors to keep on an eye out for as the season progresses and I need a call up because of injury or some other reason.

The Game · 08-11-2015, 09:04 AM

I sim ST 99% of the time.

rpriske · 08-11-2015, 11:50 AM

I play out ST... but I don't do it very well.

I have made some poor decisions (that I kind of KNEW were poor decisions) based on small sample size.

I still run ST because, quite frankly, I am more interested in playing the game than beating the game. I make too many moves because I LIKE making moves. Stuff like that.

etothep · 08-11-2015, 11:56 AM

I don't turn it off, but I do shorten it by a week

RchW · 08-11-2015, 06:51 PM

I sim ST but in small bursts, say 2, 3 games and I make sure the veterans don't play much until the last 7-10 games. I use the "bench" feature on my relief pitchers to force minor leaguers into games and start 6-8 pitchers. By the time the season starts I have a pretty good handle on what type of team I have. I also make trades occasionally.

battists · 08-11-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpriske

I still run ST because, quite frankly, I am more interested in playing the game than beating the game.

This x 1000.

sabrtoothtiger · 08-11-2015, 09:48 PM

I try to keep my potential 25 man guys benched until the last 7-10 games. It's great for developing those Ben Zobrist types.

08-10-2015, 11:58 PM	#1
Trebro All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 753	Spring Training? I tend to find myself turning Spring Training Off. Partly because it's such a short sample size, and partly because I feel like it's an advantage over the AI--I'm not sure it understands how to do position battles and the like. So am I missing something? Hurting AA/AAA level player development? Tying a hand behind my back unnecessarily? Any thoughts? __________________ 2020 2021

08-11-2015, 12:45 AM	#2
tcoots423 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: KS Posts: 197	Im not gonna say Im a pro, but I can say that giving some of my young studs who arent quite ready for ML level does help when you play them in Spring Training. They seem to develope with the experience and they improve! __________________ "Greg Maddux could put a baseball through a life saver if you asked him." - Joe Morgan

08-11-2015, 01:33 AM	#3
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Position battles are a myth. It's rare for teams to have such depth that an incumbent will be unseated especially if he has a decent salary. The bullpen is one area where jobs may be open but at the end of the day players with no options will make the 25-man roster ahead of a better ST player unless a trade or injury occurs. I find ST extremely useful. It usually produces 1 or 2 possible RP and it may show me when to trade a marginal ex prospect. It really helps sort out the OF pecking order and who my backup IF will be. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

08-11-2015, 01:44 AM	#5
endgame Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 16,842	Very broad question, not without its complexities. I'll try to be brief in my personal assessment, and so much depends on your personal style and league settings. Injuries happen. They happen to your team as often as they happen to the AI team. All things equal, teams get deprived of talent they'd anticipated starting the season. It is an environment opportunity for development, again, for both the AI team's prospects and your own. Bypassing this step may not visibly slow the process, but both sides will be equally impacted, however slight. I don't know if you play your games out or not. Regardless, even if you're evaluating boxscore performances, occasionally there are standout performances, guys who appear to really want it, step up and challenge you to rethink selections, despite predetermination biases with which you may have entered into that phase. When that happens, and it's not common, I enjoy the additional immersion and the sense of personality those performance make on me. They tend to be lasting. The recent changes in the AI that revolve around the position set in their profile will dictate experiments and trials in those positions with a much greater logic than it had previously, including your own manager's selections for who plays where and under what circumstances. Again, a close look will betray subtle tendencies that get you more familiar with his tactics on occasion. If all of those decisions are yours, of course the point is moot. Again, if you're watching or playing them out, it's another excellent environment to also watch the other teams and make shortlist selections for potential upgrading or building your own team in a later season. In short, players begin to take on a life of their own, beyond the stats, in a setting built around training, readiness, challenge, and in a real sense, auditions. They're worth something to me. __________________ "Try again. Fail again. Fail better." -- Samuel Beckett _____________________________________________ Last edited by endgame; 08-11-2015 at 01:48 AM.

08-11-2015, 03:37 AM	#6
tcoots423 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: KS Posts: 197	Out of the Park Baseball Manual This should help! Hell I even learned some things.. Spring Training IS important.. __________________ "Greg Maddux could put a baseball through a life saver if you asked him." - Joe Morgan

08-11-2015, 06:21 AM	#7
Walsh06 All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 545	It usually doesnt affect who is starting on my team but it may affect which young guy will get a bench spot to start the season. Or maybe which players in the minors to keep on an eye out for as the season progresses and I need a call up because of injury or some other reason. __________________ The Numbers Game, Sports Blog

08-11-2015, 09:04 AM	#8
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,937	I sim ST 99% of the time. __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

08-11-2015, 11:50 AM	#9
rpriske Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Spencerville, ON, Canada Posts: 26,411	I play out ST... but I don't do it very well. I have made some poor decisions (that I kind of KNEW were poor decisions) based on small sample size. I still run ST because, quite frankly, I am more interested in playing the game than beating the game. I make too many moves because I LIKE making moves. Stuff like that. __________________ Rusty Priske Poet, Canadian, Baseball Fan ```````````````````````````````````````` Last edited by rpriske; 08-11-2015 at 01:56 PM.

08-11-2015, 11:56 AM	#10
etothep Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 102	I don't turn it off, but I do shorten it by a week

08-11-2015, 06:51 PM	#11
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	I sim ST but in small bursts, say 2, 3 games and I make sure the veterans don't play much until the last 7-10 games. I use the "bench" feature on my relief pitchers to force minor leaguers into games and start 6-8 pitchers. By the time the season starts I have a pretty good handle on what type of team I have. I also make trades occasionally. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

08-11-2015, 09:48 PM	#13
sabrtoothtiger Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 137	I try to keep my potential 25 man guys benched until the last 7-10 games. It's great for developing those Ben Zobrist types.