The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Held on 12/20/1923.

Another fascinating Draft in store this year, with another Marquee along with some other quality Legacies, of whom there are seven all told. The NeL Class of ’24 is one to behold as well, with four absolute superstars set to join the league.

For the first time I’ve noticed, this Draft contains more pitchers (70) than batters (66).

These are the Legacy Players for the 1924 season:

Brooklyn Dodgers: Watty Clark (26.6; 322)
Detroit Tigers: Charlie Gehringer (84.7; 2323 – one club player) MARQUEE
New York Giants: Freddie Lindstrom (28.3; 1087)
New York Yankees: Red Ruffing (68.6; 426)
Philadelphia Athletics: Al Simmons (68.1; 1290)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ray Kremer (25.1; 308 – one club player)
St. Louis Browns: Sam Gray (23.2; 238)

Max Bishop (38.1; 1181) was also eligible for the A’s, but Simmons’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

Earle Combs (44.8; 1455 – one club player) was also eligible for the Yankees, but Ruffing’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 136 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1923 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Detroit Tigers (539; dice roll)
2. New York Yankees (645)
3. Philadelphia Athletics (454)
4. New York Giants (621)
5. Brooklyn Robins (494)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (565)
7. St. Louis Browns (487)
8. Philadelphia Phillies (325)
9. Boston Braves (351)
10. Boston Red Sox (401)
11. Chicago White Sox (448)
12. Washington Senators (490)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (516)
14. Cleveland Indians (536)
15. Chicago Cubs (539; dice roll)
16. Cincinnati Reds (591)

Rounds 2 thru 7

1. Philadelphia Phillies (325)
2. Boston Braves (351)
3. Boston Red Sox (401)
4. Chicago White Sox (448)
5. Philadelphia Athletics (454)
6. St. Louis Browns (487)
7. Washington Senators (490)
8. Brooklyn Robins (494)
9. St. Louis Cardinals (516)
10. Cleveland Indians (536)
11. Chicago Cubs (539; dice roll)
12. Detroit Tigers (539; dice roll)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (565)
14. Cincinnati Reds (591)
15. New York Giants (621)
16. New York Yankees (645)



The way the Legacy Player rules operate, in conjunction with the use of historical standings rather than the in-game ones, can work both for and against you, depending on the circumstances. We had a lovely run in the mid 1910s and look at the success it brought us.

This year, however, the Fates work against us. We get a Legacy: a serviceable guy but no superstar; a pitcher when we really don’t need one, especially after the Brown deal; a 30-year old rookie. This means our first active pick isn’t until the 39th, by which point I doubt many pickings will be left. Oh well, c’est la guerre.

Here’s who we end up selecting:

1. P Ray Kremer, 30

• Ray played exactly 10 seasons for us IRL and ended up being pretty handy. Let’s hope we get some value from him here. His ceiling is SP3.

2. IF Freddy Spurgeon, 23

• Doubtful he sees above AAA.

3. P Milt Gaston, 27

• I think there’s something here and we drafted him to investigate further.

4. C John Churry, 23
5. OF Joe Bratcher, 25
6. P Ray Pierce, 26
7. P Luther Roy, 21

• AAA filler Scout’s picks.

Here is the 1st Round in its entirety:



And the Draft in full:

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

Addie Joss was a lock to get in first ballot. Al Orth, on the other hand, must have thought his chances were gone, but the voters get him in on his final shot to join the immortals.

[luckymann]

The Giants finally saw off dogged Brooklyn and Pittsburgh efforts to just get home in the NL, while the Senators snuck past the heavily-favoured Yankees in the AL. The Washingtonians then went on to upset the Jints in 7 for the franchise’s – and loyal ace Walter Johnson’s – first Championship. The deciding game was a 12-inning 4-3 thriller.

AL CHAMPIONS: Washington Senators (92-62)
NL CHAMPIONS: New York Giants (93-60)
WORLD SERIES: Senators 4, Giants 3

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. ROGERS HORNSBY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 143 games, .424 average, 121 runs, 227 hits, 43 doubles, 14 triples, 25 home runs, 94 RBIs, 89 walks, .507 on-base percentage, .696 slugging percentage.
• Batting .424 is tough enough, but Hornsby had to do it for part of the year with a dislocated thumb.

2. JACK FOURNIER, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 154 games, .334 average, 93 runs, 188 hits, 27 home runs, 116 RBIs, 83 walks.
• Among Fournier’s collection of hits was eight of 27 home runs against the Giants (who finished just a game ahead of the Robins) and one against a bystander who somehow upset the irritable first baseman at an establishment. (Fournier paid $25 in court to settle the case.)

3. GEORGE KELLY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 91 runs, 185 hits, 37 doubles, 9 triples, 21 home runs, 136 RBIs.
• Kelly’s 136 RBI led the majors—yes, that includes Babe Ruth—and also evoked the Bambino by hitting seven HRs in a six-game stretch in June.

4. ZACK WHEAT, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .375 average, 92 runs, 212 hits, 41 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• After hitting .375 the year before—but not qualifying for the batting title because he only played in 98 games—Wheat did it again with plenty of at-bats and set a personal best in the meantime.

5. ROSS YOUNGS, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .356 average, 112 runs, 187 hits, 33 doubles, 12 triples, 10 home runs, 74 RBIs, 77 walks.
• Certainly the most productive set of numbers for the 27-year-old outfielder—a circumstance all the more painful given he would begin his downfall a year later from Bright’s Disease, which would claim his life in 1927.

6. KIKI CUYLER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 117 games, .354 average, 94 runs, 27 doubles, 16 triples, 9 home runs, 85 RBIs, 32 stolen bases.
• The five-tool talent rose to stardom in his rookie year, flirting with .400 until enduring a September slump.

7. CY WILLIAMS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 101 runs, 183 hits, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 93 RBIs, 67 walks.
• Infielders stacked up to the right of second base, creating the Williams Shift—not for Ted, but dead-pull slugger Cy.

8. FRANKIE FRISCH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .328 average, 121 runs, 198 hits, 33 doubles, 15 triples, 7 home runs, 69 RBIs, 22 stolen bases.
• Another banner year for the Fordham Flash included the lone six-hit game of his career.

9. JIM BOTTOMLEY, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 87 runs, 167 hits, 31 doubles, 12 triples, 14 home runs, 111 RBIs.
• Bottomley’s average dropped from his .371 effort a year before, but he made up by producing stronger power numbers.

10. MAX CAREY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 113 runs, 178 hits, 30 doubles, 9 triples, 58 walks, 49 stolen bases.
• Ate age 35, Carey still showed they had plenty of juice in his aging legs, once again leading the leagues in steals.

AL Hitters

1. BABE RUTH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .378 average, 143 runs, 200 hits, 39 doubles, 7 triples, 46 home runs, 121 RBIs, 142 walks, 81 strikeouts, .513 on-base percentage, .739 slugging percentage.
• The Sultan of Swat maintained his usual power surge while winning his only AL batting crown.

2. HARRY HEILMANN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .346 average, 107 runs, 197 hits, 45 doubles, 16 triples, 10 home runs, 114 RBIs, 78 walks.
• An even year meant no batting title for Heilmann (see 1921, 1923, 1925 and 1927), but that hardly pacified opposing pitchers who still dreaded facing him.

3. GOOSE GOSLIN, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .344 average, 100 runs, 199 hits, 30 doubles, 17 triples, 12 home runs, 129 RBIs, 68 walks, 15 stolen bases.
• At 23, Goslin emerged as a big-time star in D.C., collecting more than half of the Senators’ home runs—including the only one hit by a Washington Senator at voluminous Griffith Stadium all year long.

4. EDDIE COLLINS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .349 average, 108 runs, 194 hits, 6 home runs, 86 RBIs, 89 walks, 42 stolen bases.
• See Max Carey (above), with this added note: Collins won his stole base title at age 37.

5. BOB MEUSEL, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 93 runs, 188 hits, 40 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 120 RBIs, 26 stolen bases.
• Bob out-RBI’d brother Irish (who had 102 for the Giants) after surviving an off-season car crash in San Diego which killed Boston Braves third baseman Tony Boeckel, and an all-out riot he helped instigate at Detroit between the Yankees and Tigers in June.

6. KEN WILLIAMS, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 114 games, .324 average, 18 home runs, 84 RBIs, 69 walks, 20 stolen bases.
• Emblematic of the Browns’ health issues in 1924, Williams suffered from a broken foot in midsummer that muted what otherwise might had been another full season of stellar numbers.

7. TY COBB, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .338 average, 115 runs, 211 hits, 38 doubles, 10 triples, 4 home runs, 78 RBIs, 85 walks, 23 stolen bases.
• Continuing on the theme of old stars maintaining a strong spring in their step, the 37-year-old Cobb swiped 23 bases after pilfering nine in each of his previous two seasons.

8. JOE HAUSER, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .288 average, 97 runs, 31 doubles, 8 triples, 27 home runs, 115 RBIs.
• Hauser had his best year in the majors; a leg injury would later limit him to minor league play where, in 1933, he would hit a monstrous 69 homers at Minneapolis.

9. SAM RICE, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: .334 average, 646 at-bats, 106 runs, 216 hits, 39 doubles, 14 triples, 76 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• The all-time hit leader for the Senators/Twins franchise collected over 200 for the first of three straight seasons—and the second of six such campaigns for his career.

10. GEORGE SISLER, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 103 runs, 184 hits, 41 doubles, 12 triples, 19 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• After missing all of 1923, Sisler provided a modest comeback by his standards, given that he was last seen hitting .420 in 1922.

NL Pitchers

1. DAZZY VANCE, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.16 ERA, 28 wins, 6 losses, 30 complete games, .824 win percentage, 308.1 innings, 262 strikeouts.
• The dominant Vance struck out the most batters in the NL between Christy Mathewson (1903) and Sandy Koufax (1961).

2. EPPA RIXEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.76 ERA, 15 wins, 14 losses, 4 shutouts.
• A late (and not very good) start to the year kept Rixey from throwing over 300 innings for the first time in four seasons, but he rebounded well even if the win-loss record didn’t quite reflect it.

3. CARL MAYS, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.15 ERA, 20 wins 9 losses, 226 innings, 36 walks.
• Only a combination of pitching brilliance and an outright crabby attitude would allow Mays (now with the Reds) to be a 20-game winner for three different teams.

4. RAY KREMER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.19 ERA, 18 wins, 10 losses, 41 appearances, 4 shutouts, 259.1 innings.
• Better late than never, the 31-year-old “rookie” showed veteran sage after years of starring in the Pacific Coast League.

5. EMIL YDE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 16 wins, 3 losses, .842 win percentage, 4 shutouts.
• To answer your first question: The last name is pronounced, “Eddy.” As to the second question, which usually is, “Who the hell is Emil Yde?” He was a 24-year-old rookie who won his first eight decisions before a slight drop-off in the year’s second half; the slide would turn deeper in the years to follow before bowing out of the majors shy of turning 30.

6. BURLEIGH GRIMES, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 3.82 ERA, 22 wins, 13 losses, 36 starts, 30 complete games, 310.2 innings.
• Nobody in the NL allowed more hits and runs—but no one else threw more innings, faced more batters and completed more games than the resilient, legal spitballer who won 20-plus games for the fourth time.

7. WILBUR COOPER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.28 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 4 shutouts, 268.2 innings.
• The Pirates ace was one of three on the staff to co-lead the NL with four shutouts; sadly, it was his last go-around as he was dealt to the Cubs for 1925 and missed out on a Pirates’ world title.

8. RUBE BENTON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.77 ERA, 7 wins, 9 losses, 162.2 innings, 24 walks.
• In his second year back with Cincinnati after pitching there during the early 1910s, Benton authored one of his best ERAs in spite of an anonymous record; he was just happy to still be able to pitch in the majors despite confessing to second-hand knowledge of the Black Sox Scandal as it happened.

9. HUGH MCQUILLAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses.
• Typically a good but not great pitcher on a good but not great Giants staff, McQuillan posted the best ERA of any New York starter.

10. VIRGIL BARNES, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.06 ERA, 16 wins, 10 losses, 229.1 innings.
• After two years as a pure reliever for the Giants, Barnes finished behind McQuillan on ERA rank and also was the sole Giant to throw over 200 innings—a rarity, even in live ball times, for a pennant winner.

AL Pitchers

1. WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 23 wins, 7 losses, .767 win percentage, 38 starts, 6 shutouts, 277.2 innings, 158 strikeouts.
• The Big Train’s renaissance campaign not only brought him his lone championship, but his 12th and last AL strikeout title.

2. HERB PENNOCK, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 21 wins, 9 losses, .700 win percentage, 286.1 innings.
• Happy to be a Yankee: Pennock performed the part of workhorse more than any other season and ran his two-year record at New York to 40-15 after going 23-31 over the two years before that with the disassembling Red Sox.

3. TOM ZACHARY, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 2.75 ERA, 15 wins, 9 losses.
• The southpaw from North Carolina continued a career arc that kept ping-ponging north and south—going northward this year with a career-low ERA.

4. HOWARD EHMKE, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 3.46 ERA, 19 wins, 17 losses, 45 appearances, 36 starts, 315 innings.
• The veteran junkballer continued to eat up innings, but life on the depleted Red Sox was beginning to eat him up; he would drop to 9-20 the following year and sent out an SOS that would be answered by a much better team (the A’s, who picked him up in 1926).

5. RIP COLLINS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses.
• Collins rebounded from an injury-riddled 1923 (3-7, 4.87 ERA in 17 appearances).

6. SHERRY SMITH, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.02 ERA, 12 wins, 14 losses, 247.2 innings, 42 walks.
• Life is not fair: Smith’s ERA was a bit healthier than teammate Shaute—who somehow won eight more games.

7. FIRPO MARBERRY, WASHINGTON

• Key Numbers: 3.09 ERA, 11 wins, 12 losses, 15 saves, 50 appearances, 14 starts.
• In his first full season, the 25-year old Marberry developed into an unusual specimen among pitchers: A relief specialist.

8. JOE SHAUTE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.75 ERA, 20 wins, 17 losses, 46 appearances, 283 innings.
• No lefty lost more games, but only Herb Pennock (above) won more than the Indians’ one-year workhorse.

9. SLOPPY THURSTON, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 3.80 ERA, 20 wins, 14 losses, 28 complete games, 291 innings.
• With Red Faber starting to rust and Ted Lyons not yet fully flowered, Thurston filled in as the temporary White Sox ace.

10. EDDIE ROMMEL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 3.95 ERA, 18 wins, 15 losses, 43 appearances, 278 innings.
• Statistical oddity: Rommel was 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA against the AL’s three best teams (Senators, Yankees and Tigers)—and 9-10 with a 5.15 mark against the other four.

[luckymann]

Here are the main transactions from over the break:

• P Lefty Williams: Red Sox, 7 years / $66500
• P Andy Cooper: Cardinals, 7 years / $62480 (extension)
• 1B High Pockets Kelly: Braves, 4 years / $37200
• OF Ray Powell: Athletics, 4 years / $28800
• OF Bobby Veach: Cubs, 3 years / $28500
• OF Cy Williams: Braves, 3 years / $28000
• SS Art Fletcher: Browns, 3 years / $28000
• P Erv Kantlehner: White Sox, 3 years / $21600
• 2B Marty McManus: Robins, 4 years / $18500 (extension)
• OF Tris Speaker: Robins, 3 years / $15300 (extension)
• P Harry Coveleski: Giants, 1 year / $8200
• P Stan Coveleski: Phillies, 1 year / $7500
• 2B Eddie Collins: Browns, 1 year / $5600 (re-sign)

• 2B Jim Viox from Reds to Senators for P Nick Dumovich
• P Hank Ritter and P Nip Winters from White Sox to Yankees for C Pat Collins
• 1B Ben Taylor and OF Johnny Cooney from Cubs to Robins for SS Ike Davis
• P Willis Flournoy from Tigers to Cubs for C Harry McCurdy
• P Logan Hensley and 2B Sam Barnes from Phillies to Braves for P Bullet Rogan
• P Red Faber from White Sox to Giants for 1B Wally Pipp
• 1B Willie Bobo, P Al Yeargin and SS Moe Berg from Giants to Cardinals for P Jack Harper
• 2B John Henry Russell and C Larry Brown from Phillies to Browns for P Eustaquio Pedroso
• 1B Sloppy Thurston and C Tex Burnett from Cardinals to Braves for OF Curt Walker
• OF Alejandro Oms from Reds to Phillies for OF Cliff Lee

ALL TRANSACTIONS


Once again ST is murder on clubs for injuries. We lose Dobie Moore for 6 weeks to forearm inflammation, while the Red Sox lose Rube Foster for the maximum 4 months with a torn elbow ligament and the Braves get it the worst, losing boom rookie Martin Dihigo for 10 weeks with a partially-torn labrum, Max Carey for 6 weeks to the same ailment and Lefty Tyler for 3 months with a shoulder problem.

It seems the pundits have short memories indeed. After we go a solid 13-5 in ST they install us as favourites to win the NL narrowly from the Robins and Cards. They like the White Sox’s chances this season, picking them atop the AL from the Red Sox and Yanks.


FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

Our team page can be accessed HERE.

This is how we'll line up on OD:

Catchers

• C Frank Snyder (R)

• Zack Taylor (R) v LHP and when Snyder needs a rest

Infielders

• 1B Rube Bressler (R)
• 2B Pie Traynor (R)
• 3B Oliver Marcell (R)
• SS Dick Lundy (R) / Newt Allen (R) platoon

• Heinie Mueller (L)
• Dobie Moore (R) will be our everyday SS on his return from the IL
• Wally Gerber (R)

Not exactly where we want our IF group to be, but hopefully they can turn things around from an ordinary 1923. Mueller seems to have slipped and so Bressler takes 1B back.

Outfielders

• LF Ken Williams (L)
• CF Oscar Charleston (L)
• RF Ty Cobb (L)

• Carson Bigbee (L)
• Smoky Joe Wood (R)
• Les Mann (R)

Charleston has been working super hard over the offseason. He knows he needs to be better this year. Age-related regression from Cobb and Williams of some concern.

Rotation

1. LHP Dave Brown
2. LHP Sam Streeter
3. RHP Webster McDonald
4. LHP Wilbur Cooper

If Brown performs as we know he can then we’ll be in good shape here.

Bullpen

• LHP Garland Braxton
• RHP Ralph Comstock
• RHP Juanelo Mirabal
• RHP Reggie Richter
• RHP Smoky Joe Wood

Our rock last year. Expecting the same again.

Do I think we'll rebound from the nightmare of '23? Yes. Do I think we've got the team to compete with the Cards, Robins or even the Phillies, who have made an aggressive push over the offseason to be competitive? A lot will have to go right. If we can get back into the top division and go better than 500 I'll consider it a win.

[luckymann]

250 wins for Smoky Joe Williams should buy him a plaque where it counts.

[luckymann]

... it's best to pay attention.

[luckymann]

Not sure he'll match his IRL total but Ty shows little signs of slowing down and stands a good chance of at least making it to 4000.

[luckymann]

Man this game can be a real SOB when it gets you in its sights, can't it?

We start off shakily but hang in there to finish the short month at 7-8.

Our pitching struggles from the off. Then, in the shadows of the month Brown goes down with a torn labrum. He'll be out 4 months after the NeL cap is imposed. Foster isn't ready, but he'll want to be, fast, because he's got the call-up. We do get Moore back, but lose Bigbee for a month the very same day.

Rains, pours. Not an umbrella in sight. Just a tiny violin playing me a sad song.



The Sens have started 15-1 with a +40 run difference. Watch this space.








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[Brad K]

Where did you get "56 Varieties" for Webster McDonald?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Where did you get "56 Varieties" for Webster McDonald?

One of the best nicknames I've ever heard. From BBRef. Couldn't find it corroborated anywhere (Mac was the most common) but it was too good to let go so I chanced it all the same.

Known as a poor fielder of bunts, McDonald's "56 Varieties" nickname comes from the wide array of pitches he threw, tailored to the specific batter. His repertoire included a sinking fastball, rising curveball and changeup.

He's currently 1-4 / 5.55 this year, so I'm urging him to use more of them if he can.

[Brad K]

I didn't see it on his play page at BR or in his wiki article which is why I asked.

Also the Heinz slogan since before 1900 has been "57 Varieties". So 56 makes him one short which is fine with me since nothing is quite as good as Heinz! LOL

[luckymann]

Jim Hickman of the Jersey City Giants puts together an impressive 37-game hit streak, the new AAA benchmark in this category.

[luckymann]

Despite the rather inauspicious start to his Pittsburgh career, we believe Dave a worthwhile investment because arms like his are hard to come by in this league. And so, after some difficult negotiations, put our money where our mouth is with a deal that hopefully has him in a Pirates uniform throughout his peak seasons.

[luckymann]

First and foremost a huge shout out to the man, the legend LansdowneSt who did all the heavy lifting on this research project.

I had since beginning the introduction of NeL players into this save in sim year 1909 been seeing some odd phenomena with position players in which they would constantly lose contact ratings and have their power ratings go through the roof. As LSt put it, making a Rob Deer out of every hitter.

My first thought was that it had to do with these guys being cloned and the game not knowing how to treat them when it came time for the yearly recalc. But then I started seeing this happen within seasons as well, and with Draft-eligible players before they'd even entered the league properly.

And so I felt less sure recalc was to blame. This was where LSt's work kicked off. He ran various sims using derivations of the same player to try and see what was causing this to happen.

His findings confirm what I have long suspected - that players come not only with stats upon import, but a preordained career path as well. Which means for most (almost all) NeL players that - in a recalc environment - no workaround is effective in subverting their crappy statistical data in the game to enable them to perform even broadly within their historical reference point. Not cloning, not editing. Even adding a fictional player and impregnating them with all of a particular NeLer's bio and stat data means that you have a guy whose name and info is that of the desired NeLer, but whose preordained career path leads to inevitable divergence from that of the NeLer you have impregnated him with.

Disappointing but, as I said, unsurprising to me.

The only way this can be controlled to a certain degree is to re-edit each player at the start of every season. This would involve either entering the raw NeL stats for him during that age-season or creating some form of specific trajectory with stat points at every season along the way.

This is OK for a limited number of players with fairly well-maintained stats that you can feel confident in the provenance of. But on a wide-scale basis it is simply not something I am interested in doing here, given the high chance of spuriousness ensuing.

And so, from 1925 onward (until "integration" in 1947) I will only be adding the elite NeLers to this save and editing them in the manner above on OD each year until they turn 32, then just letting them go as they will.

The other NeL guys who miss out here will get their turn in the Eclipse League, in which being a non-recalc environment seems to minimise this problem.

I don't like it at all, but that's how it has to be until the devs decide to fix this problem properly.

We live in hope and learn through disappointment.

G

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

His findings confirm what I have long suspected - that players come not only with stats upon import, but a preordained career path as well.

Does every player come with a pre-ordained career path upon import? Is it the same one every time? So Roberto Clemente under performing historical in some of my sims and Bob Veale over performing historical is the way things are supposed to be?

Talk about government picking the winners! If this is true this is more of a scandal than Real Stats not being real stats.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Does every player come with a pre-ordained career path upon import? Is it the same one every time? So Roberto Clemente under performing historical in some of my sims and Bob Veale over performing historical is the way things are supposed to be?

Talk about government picking the winners! If this is true this is more of a scandal than Real Stats not being real stats.

Not quite. It is specific to each import, so quite random but then set in stone once it has been allocated. Which I don't think is all that surprising. Not sure how else you'd do it other than via recalc.

[luckymann]

The other thing I've learned here is that TCR has WAY more effect than I'd previously believed.

[Brad K]

So, a guy comes in with a planned career better or worse than historical then by chance development pushes him the same direction then by chance TCR pushes him the same direction and Tim Foli ends up in the Hall of Fame or Reggie Jackson ends up a career bench player. There are just TOO MANY ways a player's performance can be affected. Yes, there should be some surprises, maybe a star being a super star or a good everyday player but this is just wrong.

[Brad K]

Do you think that after a time with accumulated anecdotal observations a person will be able to figure out if a player is going to perform better than worse than historical?