Prospects up in September

[Gibbon]

Is it worth bringing up a prospect from the minors in September just to make them angry or disappointed when you send them back down after the playoffs (or in my case, lack of playoffs).

Is it better just to let them sit down in the minors until they are truely ready for the majors or is it better to get them a dip in the majors, watch them get destroyed and have their ratings drop back of the stats?

I guess my issue is prospects in general. Insight would be extremely helpful. I have read so many threads where people are loaded with prospects yet I don't have anyone worth anything in my farm system. The one championship I did win a few seasons ago was due to strong off season free agent pickups rather than because I have an outstanding farm system. I would like to do it the other way and would love help getting there.

[Mennogreg]

Originally Posted by Gibbon

Is it worth bringing up a prospect from the minors in September just to make them angry or disappointed when you send them back down after the playoffs (or in my case, lack of playoffs).

Is it better just to let them sit down in the minors until they are truely ready for the majors or is it better to get them a dip in the majors, watch them get destroyed and have their ratings drop back of the stats?

I guess my issue is prospects in general. Insight would be extremely helpful. I have read so many threads where people are loaded with prospects yet I don't have anyone worth anything in my farm system. The one championship I did win a few seasons ago was due to strong off season free agent pickups rather than because I have an outstanding farm system. I would like to do it the other way and would love help getting there.

If they have an arrow (meaning they're ready for the big leagues) I would bring them up in September, especially if you have a comfortable lead. There are things you can do to maximize the development of rookies.

For pitchers, a good defensive team is paramount (and not just overall position ratings, but range as well). This is because the rookie pitcher will likely have less control, and thus will surrender more walks, so he'll need those defensive stops to keep his ERA down, as opposing batters will be making a lot of contact. Don't start him against a very good hitting team if you can, and develop your own "Joba Rules", like taking him out after 5 or 6 innings, even if he's pitching well.

Doing this, I've managed to develop every single one of my higher potential pitchers. To give you an example of one instance:

As the 2012 Mets, I traded Zack Wheeler to the Nats. He had an overall rating in the 70's. I had a poor defensive team and his performance was terrible, so I traded him. He was just as terrible on the Nats, and then they made him into a reliever (his overall rating fell into the low 30's in both cases), they're defense stunk too. 2016, my club is focused on defense and pitching. So I bring Wheeler back for cheap. He looks like he's done if you look at overall ratings. First season though, he has just under a 4.00 ERA (his abilities and overall ratings increase). 2017, his ERA falls to 3.34, and his ratings reached close to their original potential and now has an overall rating of 74. I hadn't done anything different except have a better defensive club, and I play every game so I can see that it's the defense saving that 1+ run per game.

As for position players, getting at-bats is necessary for their skills to increase. In addition, their defensive ability will likely increase as well if they play the field. You can maximize their success by starting them against those they'll have success against (if a batter hits much better against lefties, use him only on lefties). Don't start him against excellent pitchers. Don't use him for pinch hitting, as I've found they'll likely make an out in that situation; a few of those coupled with a bad game and he'll have a cold streak. So let him get his at-bats starting the game, as his positional rating will improve as well.

Don't just look at overall numbers. If a positional player is rated a 21, and he has very good defensive skills, playing him often will likely improve his batting skills to a degree, making him an overall 50+ player.

Ultimately, It's better to go through these growing pains in September (if you have a lead), so they work out many of their kinks in time for the next season (if they do ok, they might even get a ratings boost in the offseason). Otherwise they're going through this next season when you need the games. I have a starter, Bill Foster, drafted (with an 80 potential overall), and he had the arrow ready for the majors. Brought him up, didn't necessarily pitch well, but didn't have an 7+ ERA thanks to the defense (he had a 4.30 at the end of the year). Anyway before the end of the month he got a big ratings boost, overall 58. Offseason came around, his ratings increased further, and at the beginning of the year he's now a 74 overall with more to grow. If I started the season with him instead of bringing him up in September, you can see the benefits of doing so the other way, as all this development would have been strung further out over the year.

If your in the middle of it and don't have a lead in September, the choices are a bit more difficult, as these guys are going to take their licks and cost you games; it's the nature of the beast.