MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

[Armor and Sword]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Is there anything to prevent them from using the minor league player names and attributes but give them generic or random player models?


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I can’t see why not. OOTPB does that.


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[kehlis]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Is there anything to prevent them from using the minor league player names and attributes but give them generic or random player models?


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Yes, this is the area where it get's dangerous for them.

The likeness doesn't have to be there to exonerate them from a lawsuit. NCAA got in trouble because they made it so obvious that they were creating college athletes.

Without the likeness, they have a better defense if they were to be sued, but if they re-create names and attributes for enough people, not having the likeness probably wouldn't be enough.

And I can't see them seeing that as a risk they're willing to take.

[Jerze2387]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

The fact that they said FULL minors, to me, eliminates the theory of there being some random scrubs being added. The word full would mean complete.

That, plus the 2 players that were seen in the trailer, plus the fact they didn’t just say “expanded rosters”, and it really wouldn’t be beneficial to add a ton more random players (it’d take up more space on roster dukes and wouldn’t really enrich the game, as realistically most of us never dip into the A level rosters as it is).

And here’s how they could make it happen without having to go to the minor league players individually:

The teams. The teams own the rights likenesses of some of the players to some extent. Each minor league club uses the likeness of the players in promotions, from pictures on tickets and banners to bobble heads.

Cutting a deal with each team, or each parent club, would be a way to have the likenesses without having to go to the individual players.

Now, some will cite Barry Bonds as an example of why didn’t the giants do that. But Barry, at that point in his career, would have had a contract rider with the Giants that most likely would have excluded the usage of his likeness without his consent. Same for the other players mentioned. They could have negotiated that in.

Most likely, these minor leaguers, even the top prospects, don’t have that clause because they didn’t have the leverage nor foresight at this point in their careers to do so.

[tessl]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Yes, this is the area where it get's dangerous for them.

The likeness doesn't have to be there to exonerate them from a lawsuit. NCAA got in trouble because they made it so obvious that they were creating college athletes.

Without the likeness, they have a better defense if they were to be sued, but if they re-create names and attributes for enough people, not having the likeness probably wouldn't be enough.

And I can't see them seeing that as a risk they're willing to take.

It cost EA a cool $40 million. Highly unlikely SDS would risk that.

There may be a way to get real minor league players but they have to get an agreement in place.

[tessl]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

The fact that they said FULL minors, to me, eliminates the theory of there being some random scrubs being added. The word full would mean complete.

That, plus the 2 players that were seen in the trailer, plus the fact they didn’t just say “expanded rosters”, and it really wouldn’t be beneficial to add a ton more random players (it’d take up more space on roster dukes and wouldn’t really enrich the game, as realistically most of us never dip into the A level rosters as it is).

And here’s how they could make it happen without having to go to the minor league players individually:

The teams. The teams own the rights likenesses of some of the players to some extent. Each minor league club uses the likeness of the players in promotions, from pictures on tickets and banners to bobble heads.

Cutting a deal with each team, or each parent club, would be a way to have the likenesses without having to go to the individual players.

Now, some will cite Barry Bonds as an example of why didn’t the giants do that. But Barry, at that point in his career, would have had a contract rider with the Giants that most likely would have excluded the usage of his likeness without his consent. Same for the other players mentioned. They could have negotiated that in.

Most likely, these minor leaguers, even the top prospects, don’t have that clause because they didn’t have the leverage nor foresight at this point in their careers to do so.

They previously had only 2 playable minor league teams. Total of 60 teams.
The A level was just a place to stockpile a few extra players. Full minors could very well be full A, short season A and rookie league. The entire 160 minor league teams instead of 60.

Not necessarily real names and likeness.

[Jerze2387]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

They previously had only 2 playable minor league teams. Total of 60 teams.
The A level was just a place to stockpile a few extra players. Full minors could very well be full A, short season A and rookie league. The entire 160 minor league teams instead of 60.

Not necessarily real names and likeness.

Yes. That’s what I’m saying. I’m saying most people never even dip in to that pool as it is, so expanding on that would be a waste and clutter the game for no reason.

And a key clue is the way they phrased it. As minor league rosters. Not teams.

I’m strongly leaning towards the theory that it’s going to be actual minor leaguers.

Although my cautious optimism means I’m not pre-ordering until it’s confirmed. After how poorly they managed roster updates last season in favor of just building up DD, if they don’t have full minors out of the box I’m skipping this year.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

I have issues caused by the lack of roster spots. Mostly around the area of injuries and trades. I actually don't want any more playable leagues. That could add even more to the problem. Even just 5 more roster spots would be a massive help.

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[BatsareBugs]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Maybe we will see full Single-A, Short Season (which would encompass rookie league), and maybe extended camp as the 15 player reserve.

[BigOscar]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Tbh, I'd have thought it would be pretty possible to negotiate the image rights for the minor league players, if MLB wanted. They all sign contracts with the league anyway, all it would take is an extra line in their contract with an "I agree to let my likeness be used for computer games" or whatever, with the option to voluntarily opt out (like all those contracts you sing up to to join websites where you untick the "I agree to receive emails from our partners" bit)

I doubt there is anything stopping them putting something like that in there and I doubt many players would opt out if they did (maybe some of the bigger name prospects who's image might actually have a value, but the vast majority don't)

No idea tbh, but you'd think it was do-able

[tytyboogie]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

They previously had only 2 playable minor league teams. Total of 60 teams.
The A level was just a place to stockpile a few extra players. Full minors could very well be full A, short season A and rookie league. The entire 160 minor league teams instead of 60.

Not necessarily real names and likeness.

So one of my thoughts was they just added A ball playable teams..with more spots. but if thats the case which A ball leagues? becuase the florida state league is class A advanced ( like the st. lucie mets where i live) and then teams like tampa yankees jupiter hammerheads etc. are all considered to be the league below AA..thats not all of the teams though so theyd have to pick a league with the west teams to get all the teams completed. so did they just add teams and then which ones?

[tessl]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

So one of my thoughts was they just added A ball playable teams..with more spots. but if thats the case which A ball leagues? becuase the florida state league is class A advanced ( like the st. lucie mets where i live) and then teams like tampa yankees jupiter hammerheads etc. are all considered to be the league below AA..thats not all of the teams though so theyd have to pick a league with the west teams to get all the teams completed. so did they just add teams and then which ones?

It says full minors. That would be all of them if true. I guess we will find out in two weeks on the franchise stream. The challenge would be to program 100 more logos for all those teams.

[Therebelyell626]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Tbh, I'd have thought it would be pretty possible to negotiate the image rights for the minor league players, if MLB wanted. They all sign contracts with the league anyway, all it would take is an extra line in their contract with an "I agree to let my likeness be used for computer games" or whatever, with the option to voluntarily opt out (like all those contracts you sing up to to join websites where you untick the "I agree to receive emails from our partners" bit)

I doubt there is anything stopping them putting something like that in there and I doubt many players would opt out if they did (maybe some of the bigger name prospects who's image might actually have a value, but the vast majority don't)

No idea tbh, but you'd think it was do-able

Exactly my thoughts. I mean how hard can it be? If they gave you the opportunity to be in a video game why would you say no, when your likeness has virtually zero monetary value as of yet? I mean outside of hardcore fans of the sport, how many casuals actually know who wander franco or Forrest Whitley is???

Most minor leaguers equipment endorsements are only worth like $10,000-$15,000 Grand outside of the free stuff they get. Now if your barry bonds I get it. Your name carries value and has recognition

[Funkycorm]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Like others have said, I am skeptical.

My take is that they are changing the A rosters from 15 extra to 25 extra but they still won't be playable.

It will be "full" minors like they said as it would be 25 players in A.

This would also be easily accomplished without having to add rounds to the draft or new uniforms for 30 A level teams.

Time will tell.

[dubplate]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

Like others have said, I am skeptical.

My take is that they are changing the A rosters from 15 extra to 25 extra but they still won't be playable.

It will be "full" minors like they said as it would be 25 players in A.

This would also be easily accomplished without having to add rounds to the draft or new uniforms for 30 A level teams.

Time will tell.

If this is the case it will be very disappointing and poor wording on their part which lead to the speculation in this thread.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Confirmation That Real Minor Leaguers are Coming?

If this is the case it will be very disappointing and poor wording on their part which lead to the speculation in this thread.

The wording isn't poor because until it was seen in the gameplay video that there were two minor leaguers with their likeness, there was no speculation that this meant that they were offering up real minor league players.

I still don't believe we are getting full minor league rosters with real players. I think, and my thought has always been, that they are expanding the roster slots for the minor leagues to increase the organizational roster size from 90 to 100+, which is needed because right now there are too many good players left over in free agency due to the roster constraint that 90 roster spots puts on teams, making it extremely difficult to balance between prospects, role players, journeymen, and MLB Players.

Like I said, I hope that I'm 100% wrong and its real minor leaguers for those that want it, but I really don't believe that it will be.