Minor League Turmoil

[Battman]

While my Major League Franchise is on course for 100+ wins, and, as you would expect, the team mood is ecstatic, I don't have a single player on my minor league rosters (all levels) that is NOT angry. Not to mention that coaching staff cohesion at all levels are unhappy ( I might mention that is also the case for my Major League coaches, but we are winning.) Every minor league team is dead last, and most already eliminated. Where do I start? Fire ALL minor league coaching staff? Fire just the managers? I will admit, I don't give much attention to my minor leagues. I built my Major league team through trades, and have traded a few big prospects away for the chance to win it all this year.

[Skevich]

I have had teams in my minors in last place, and all of the players on this teams were angry too. I have concluded the players are angry because their teams suck. My rookie league team is blowing away the rest of the division and all of the players are as happy as clams.

[Pelican]

Answering this question probably requires more "micromanaging" than you sound ready to do. You have a problem many of us would like to have - tremendous talent at the MLB level preventing prospects from advancing. Of course guys with no real prospect of promotion (and there will be many on a bad AAA team) are angry. You can't fix that. Yet even a very good MLB team needs decent, replacement-level players at AAA, in case of injuries, particularly pitchers and catchers. Beyond that, for good prospects who are ready for MLB, you might consider trades. In your case, it could make sense to deal AAA prospects for younger guys, on the theory that your MLB studs will age out, or leave for free agency, and you will need a flow of talent in a few years, if not today.

But the lousy performance of your minor league team suggests a different problem: poor scouting and drafting of amateurs. Sure, you have been drafting late, due to the great MLB team, but you ought to be able to grab solid players. Unless there is a history of trading prospects for veterans, thus starving your system, you need to revamp player development. I would start with the scouts, and work up through the lower minors. If your MLB team is winning, you are probably making lots of money, so plow more of it back into the scouting and development budget. Go out and hire experienced scouts and focus on the draft.

[jpeters1734]

Where to start, you ask...**cracks fingers**

First, I would start by ensuring your minor league coaches are not duds. I'm assuming you have minor league personnel contracts set to the AI. The AI is very bad at hiring coaches in my opinion. Take control of that and sign the best you can find.

Second, take control of minor league promotions. Demote players that are batting below 90 OPS+ or pitching with a FIP- higher than 110. Promote players batting above 120 OPS+, or have a FIP- lower than 80. (Note this is just for the initial run of re-organizing your minors).

If I'm trying to minimize the amount of time I spend controlling minors, only check halfway through the season to see if someone deserves an early promotion. Otherwise, you can leave promotions alone throughout the season, provided you have adequate backups at all your levels.

Next, treat your AAA and AA teams as ML reserve teams. You want to prioritize winning at those levels. That means sign ML free agents on minor league contracts. Good personalities are a nice bonus. Your prospects that are good enough to play at those levels will benefit from the ML experience and positive role models around them.

Do this, and your minor league teams will win more, thus improving morale which will in turn aid prospect development. I have a more comprehensive guide in my signature block, but it's a few versions old at this point.