Draft Day Deal Breakers

[Caulfield]

when drafting , do you have any deal breakers or red flags when it comes time to make your pick? I mean this can be anything from attributes to height (or lack of) to weight to age , or even superstition (never draft anybody from Wyoming) & everything in between . I even have a sort of deal breaker for free agent pitchers : I tend to shy away from righty relievers with only a 3 pitch mix . I'll take a lefty with 3 pitches but for righthanders I prefer 4 pitches

[moTIGS]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Deal breaker is a bit strong, because I’ll always overlook problem areas if a guy is otherwise good (trade bait if nothing else).

I really don’t like guys 23-25 years old. Normally I treat them like 18-year-olds and edit their ages after the fact (for my team and CPU teams, ignoring guys with potential below 75).

I pass on pitchers who have low H/9 and BB/9 but high K/9 and HR/9. Hits and walks matter so much more when simming games. If a pitcher doesn’t have at least a 50 on draft day in one of those two key areas, I won’t pick him unless it’s purely with the expectation of trading him.

High injury risk is something I rarely will draft. Exception being a starter I intend to make a reliever (using Armor’s stamina for durability editing rule) or a pure DH, where durability matters far less.

I also tend to shy away from players from Korea, Taiwan, Jamaica, Netherlands, etc., because if they ever make it to the show and decide they want a compatriot, it’s harder to find. Similarly, I sometimes give a slight edge to players from states like Oregon where there is no team, because they will never ask to play close to home (it’s based on state as far as I can tell). Ensures that morale factor remains neutral.

[Caulfield]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

good stuff Tigs, I'd never taken into consideration compatriots before though I did know it existed

[MightyMaxxx13]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

I pass on pitchers who have low H/9 and BB/9 but high K/9 and HR/9. Hits and walks matter so much more when simming games. If a pitcher doesn’t have at least a 50 on draft day in one of those two key areas, I won’t pick him unless it’s purely with the expectation of trading him.

This for me as well. Pitchers with low BB/9 specifically tend to sim very poorly

[moTIGS]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Honestly, it’s barely worth considering.

If a player is happy with his role, likes his salary, you have good coaches, and he’s performing well, a compatriot/regional penalty for morale is irrelevant.

One other deal breaker I didn’t mention (but perhaps my most important): Players who aren’t good. If a guy’s current ratings look like he’ll start out in the 40s or low 50s overall, I basically consider him undraftable, regardless of his potential. By the time those guys are good enough to contribute (if they ever are), they might be 30. I’d rather not use a spot on my 90-man for a decade on a guy who might be good eventually.

I’d much rather draft a 68-overall guy with 78 potential than a 48-overall player with 98 potential. The latter’s only use for me is in a trade. The former might actually play.

[Caulfield]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Yeah trying to find a compatriot for an unusual country wouldn't be a deal breaker for me but if I'm trying to decide between 2 players where all else is equal it could now be a tie breaker for me

[BigOscar]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Most of the true "deal breakers" I edit tbh, so starters with stamina below 70, or position players with durability so low I suspect them of having some kind of bone disease. Same goes for Asians with terrible English first names! (Dave Kagawa from Japan etc)

I tend to avoid really low overall players and players who are glove first, as I think the progression system doesn't suit them (everyone improves hugely in fielding, so a great starting glove is a bit unnecessary and the bat will pretty much never catch up)

[moTIGS]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Most of the true "deal breakers" I edit tbh, so starters with stamina below 70, or position players with durability so low I suspect them of having some kind of bone disease. Same goes for Asians with terrible English first names! (Dave Kagawa from Japan etc)

I tend to avoid really low overall players and players who are glove first, as I think the progression system doesn't suit them (everyone improves hugely in fielding, so a great starting glove is a bit unnecessary and the bat will pretty much never catch up)

Both good ones.

Last year I had a Japanese reliever named Jerry Coppola. I was tempted to edit it every time I looked at my roster, but I never did.

I don’t avoid glove-first guys, but you’re right that they never seem to develop. Seems like prospects have to hit to progress at all. Any player I draft who can’t hit, I either assume he never will (if he’s a great defender with speed, I can use that on my bench sometimes) or stash him in A ball until his stats improve (where they get modest improvements across the board).

[Therebelyell626]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

You guys want to know a secret? Never draft a pitcher in the first two rounds, only position players. Reason? There are almost no good position players in the later rounds, but those Unscouted pitchers with 80 potential are good players with at least B potential 70% of the time. And usually only a couple of years from being major league quality overall wise

[Funkycorm]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

You guys want to know a secret? Never draft a pitcher in the first two rounds, only position players. Reason? There are almost no good position players in the later rounds, but those Unscouted pitchers with 80 potential are good players with at least B potential 70% of the time. And usually only a couple of years from being major league quality overall wise

Without a doubt. This is my philosophy to the letter. My best closers and started have always been round 4 or later. They seem to have better overalls later it seems too.

As far as original post, I never draft over 21. I will edit and age once in a while but leave it to chance (coin flip) to decide if lower it for. 23-25 year old I drafted.

[Caulfield]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

You guys want to know a secret? Never draft a pitcher in the first two rounds, only position players. Reason? There are almost no good position players in the later rounds, but those Unscouted pitchers with 80 potential are good players with at least B potential 70% of the time. And usually only a couple of years from being major league quality overall wise

Yep. I really wish the draft was 20 rounds. 6 to 7 rounds, I wind up going for free agent pitchers to make a big splash in my Braves franchise.

[millertime98]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

I only draft pitchers high if they are Blue Chips. Of course, I always do a rebuild so I am normally drafting high the first few years. I try to nab an all around player the first few drafts then trade my guys for young pitching.
My deal breaker would be guys that are listed as A potential but it's only based on speed, base running, durability, etc. Seems like a lot of Billy Hamilton's are computer generated; amazing on the bases but can't steal first.

[Caulfield]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

My deal breaker would be guys that are listed as A potential but it's only based on speed, base running, durability, etc. Seems like a lot of Billy Hamilton's are computer generated; amazing on the bases but can't steal first.

lol

I equate Hamilton laying down a surprise 2 strike drag bunt as an attempt to steal first

[eric7064]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Age. I hate drafting high potential guys that are already 22-23 and they come in at low 60's overall or worse.

I think progression needs alot of work. Almost every teams staff is 80+ overall by year 5, which makes it really hard for rookies to break camp on the team. The top prospect list by year 5 is all 23-25+ year olds.

I would like some drafted guys to come in higher rated. More 70-75 overalls off bat would be cool. Or the guys that are high potential come in with 30's in contact. Brutal.

This is one facet of the game that NEEDS alot of work. I love the process of building a farm, but the game makes it tough sometimes.

[Therebelyell626]

Re: Draft Day Deal Breakers

Age. I hate drafting high potential guys that are already 22-23 and they come in at low 60's overall or worse.

I think progression needs alot of work. Almost every teams staff is 80+ overall by year 5, which makes it really hard for rookies to break camp on the team. The top prospect list by year 5 is all 23-25+ year olds.

I would like some drafted guys to come in higher rated. More 70-75 overalls off bat would be cool. Or the guys that are high potential come in with 30's in contact. Brutal.

This is one facet of the game that NEEDS alot of work. I love the process of building a farm, but the game makes it tough sometimes.

The reason this happens is because starting pitchers will generally improve in their per 9 attributes consistently regardless of how they perform. Where as hitters progression is much more production based. I had a pitching prospect consistently produce 4.50 era and 1.50 whip per year stat line consistently boost to a 80 + overall after just a few years, while I have had top prospects on a loaded farm team consistently regress because he wasn't hitting home runs.

It is extremely unbalanced and needs work. However, in a test franchise I did with ridins full minors Brent rooker a prospect on the twins smashed 20 plus homers against lefties and shot up plus 10 in left handed contact and left handed power (couldn't hit righties so essentially became a platoon player) in one season. So if your guy hits in the minors they will definitely improve. So while starting pitchers will progress regardless of performance it seems hitters are under a much tighter progression requirement