Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

[OReilly10]

What are the best way to handle prospects in the game? Do I just try to keep my best guys in MLB, next best in AAA, then AA, then A?

Do players progress well in A without playing in simmed games?

If a guy rides the bench some in AAA, as opposed to starting in AA does it matter?

Do they progress as much if they are in MLB earlier (I have a 20 year old 82 rated SS).

Do stats and performance matter when it comes to progress?


Basically now, I make sure my young B and A level prospects play/start on whatever level is best. That means AA and AAA. Class A typically becomes my garbage heap of 50-some rated 25+ year old guys.

[Bat]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

You are better off babying prospects. If you don't want your A prospect to drop keep them in A ball. In AA and AAA players potential can change because they actually have stats to base changes off of.

Technically you can keep your prospects in single A the entire time and they will develop fine.

I keep my super prospects in A ball most the time. If I want a guys potential to go up. I wait till he is better than most in AA before I premote him. If he crushes then his potential may go up, if he struggles give him the quick hook back to A.

Pretty sure stats are the main thing. If the player isn't hittting and riding the bench he isn't going to have a chance to turn the stats around. Better off in in the minors.

[Knight165]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

I'm with Bat...
I tend to keep them in the lower level longer than they need to.
I give them the best chance of getting really hot and get the stock rising message.
I'll even do this with a High C player in the hopes he might get a jump in potential and maybe get a better chance to make the club.
If I get the struggling message...I watch them closely and if it continues...I drop them down a level.

I tend to keep my older players and the guys I will ferry up and down for injuries(to the MLB) in AAA.

Keep in mind that while there are no actual playable games in Single A...they do accumulate stats(not sure how they do it....I have to ask about that)

M.K.
Knight165

[Jr.]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

I'm the opposite.. I push my guys. I usually give them half a season at each level, then move them after the AS break at that level if they're doing well and there is room at the next level.

For instance, I drafted a stud Catcher prospect. 21 years old 70 OVR, 90 POT. Put him in AA, he made the AS team hitting .280 with 15 HRs and around 60 RBI. Moved him up to AAA after the AS break and he's hitting around .280 again. Less power, only 2 HR in 15ish games, but good RBI production. He's progressed to a 77 OVR and will have a shot at making the MLB club next season.

Now, if they're not producing to their expectation, I usually give them a month or two to turn it around, then demote them if I have someone that's able to take their place.

Veteran guys that just miss the MLB roster, I'll stash in A ball so I only have to make 1 roster move if I need them as an injury replacement.

[OReilly10]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

Hmm, so I will rethink this. Just have to put guys in positions to succeed. Have some good prospects in the Indians organization... also hit it out of the park the 1st 3 rounds of the draft. 2nd best player in the middle of the 1st round, one of the best players in each of the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Really want to build the right way

[HadlerT]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

Managing prospects and call-ups are my favorite part about franchise. Especially as the Mariners, because I know everyone on their team and have a lot of knowledge about their organization.

[24]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

I'll usually let them play out a good chunk of the season, see how they are performing and adjust it from there. I feel like dumping them in single A is cheating, but I'll do it every once in a while for a guy that I really want to succeed

[KBLover]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

While the game doesn't believe in "challenging" prospects (for reasons you guys mentioned - higher stats = higher chance for the "stock is rising" message and no chance for a "starting to struggle" message), I find it more real (and challenging, no pun intended) to move them up if they have strong success at a level and then see how they do.

Even if the ratings don't necessarily scream that they are ready for the next level, the performance usually guides me, with a few restrictions and a decent sample size is needed. The lower the ratings, the longer the player will need to stay hot/perform well.

I find that allows me to experience positive surprises (kid that just "seems raw" but succeeds at every level so he sticks) and negative surprises (he performed well, but struggled at the next level and sometimes he'll end up struggling again after being demoted). Had a pitcher do that, Angel Sanchez, tore up AAA until late in the season. Gave him a chance, he struggled, sent him back to AAA (where he was doing well), struggled still. Ended up losing some potential during the postseason, has to bounce back - such is baseball.

On other other hand, Michael Feliz shot up - had the same path as Sanchez, but didn't make it to the majors (no room). Had a tough Spring, but gave him a shot still. So far, he's sticking.

I just find doing things like that instead of just getting away with being able to stagnate prospects to try to get potential gains is more dynamic and fun and brings in more of the real life risks in trying to progress and handle prospects.

[KBLover]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

Keep in mind that while there are no actual playable games in Single A...they do accumulate stats(not sure how they do it....I have to ask about that)

Not a single one of my A-ballers has stats.

I noticed in MLB13, at least for me, it was "random" who got stats and who didn't. Never figured out how or why or why not just generate some stats for them.

That's one reason I always keep A-ball sparse, because I want them playing so they can generate stats. Only old scrubs or failed prospects (read: 27+ aged players with D POT and no useful baseball talent) sit there just in case to fill in rosters if for some reason I end up with too few (sometimes I underestimate minor league free agency or something).

[Mrmagoo]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

While the game doesn't believe in "challenging" prospects (for reasons you guys mentioned - higher stats = higher chance for the "stock is rising" message and no chance for a "starting to struggle" message), I find it more real (and challenging, no pun intended) to move them up if they have strong success at a level and then see how they do.

Even if the ratings don't necessarily scream that they are ready for the next level, the performance usually guides me, with a few restrictions and a decent sample size is needed. The lower the ratings, the longer the player will need to stay hot/perform well.

I find that allows me to experience positive surprises (kid that just "seems raw" but succeeds at every level so he sticks) and negative surprises (he performed well, but struggled at the next level and sometimes he'll end up struggling again after being demoted). Had a pitcher do that, Angel Sanchez, tore up AAA until late in the season. Gave him a chance, he struggled, sent him back to AAA (where he was doing well), struggled still. Ended up losing some potential during the postseason, has to bounce back - such is baseball.

On other other hand, Michael Feliz shot up - had the same path as Sanchez, but didn't make it to the majors (no room). Had a tough Spring, but gave him a shot still. So far, he's sticking.

I just find doing things like that instead of just getting away with being able to stagnate prospects to try to get potential gains is more dynamic and fun and brings in more of the real life risks in trying to progress and handle prospects.

This is about the same way I handle them, I find it a bit more interesting myself.

[Chetballard]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

How many of you sim all your games? I would think that if you play every game the strategy would be different. I dont sim and still trying to finish 2014 season.

[HadlerT]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

I don't "cheat" either. I have guys who actually started the season in A ball in real life start there in my franchise. Guys like Victor Sanche, Tyler Pike, DJ Peterson.

Anyway, I have guys like Patrick Kivelhan and Austin Williams tearin up AA, if they keep up their pace, they could maybe get to A POT by the end of the season and a call up to AAA in August/September. I'm only 9 games in the season, but I can't wait until late May/Early Jume when
I process/evaluate everyone. I check every game, but I have a huge process/evaluation every two months-ish.

[KBLover]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

This is about the same way I handle them, I find it a bit more interesting myself.

Agreed.

I sometimes find it fascinating for all the talk about "thinking like baseball not like a video game" and having to "use your imagination" that people will stagnate prospects for video game reasons.

[CBoller1331]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

.

Keep in mind that while there are no actual playable games in Single A...they do accumulate stats(not sure how they do it....I have to ask about that)

M.K.
Knight165

Not a single one of my A-ballers has stats.

I noticed in MLB13, at least for me, it was "random" who got stats and who didn't. Never figured out how or why or why not just generate some stats for them.

I think a player who was sent down to Single-A will keep his stats from Double-A or Triple-A. I don't think They actually generate stats in single-A.

[KBLover]

Re: Prospect Handling - Franchise Mode

How many of you sim all your games? I would think that if you play every game the strategy would be different. I dont sim and still trying to finish 2014 season.

I play some of my minor league games, especially if there's prospects I'm curious about bringing up and I want to "scout them with my own eyes" to get a feel for how their stuff is, etc - especially pitchers. Hitters seem to be all the same since I'm not an analog player, especially with no G/F tendencies or hidden ability to hit some pitches better than others, etc.