5 Tool Approach... How will you use your points?
 

Fellas, I have a few weeks before the Full Minors Rosters come out and want to see how everyone uses their Pre-Order points. Over the last couple years I have been using the 5 Tool approach. How do you use yours???

I usually make a R/R center fielder, 20 years old. Once i have selected a team, I load the points, THEN SAVE IT SEPARATELY, that way if I ever want to re-start I have a saved file with 6k points to use..... With that said there are certain attributes you either have or don't when you are drafted. Prospects generally are graded on "5 Tools" (Speed, Arm Strength, Fielding, Average, and Power), some of those Tools are inherent and others are "potential". And yes there are exceptions (Harper). With the 5 Tools in mind I will use the points as follows......

Speed - You will never be faster than you are at age 18-20. I plan on putting the speed in the mid 80's then just add enough through the career to keep it from deteriorating. A players speed will never drastically increase as they get older, only their base-running ability and aggressiveness will.

Arm Strength - Your arm is what it is, sure you can add a little strength through throwing programs but Johnny Damon doesn't become Mark Whitten as he gets older. I will add points to get my arm strength up in the low 90's. with minor improvement through the career. Arm accuracy will be built as I progress.

Fielding- This is a "potential" Tool. prospects can show consistency and flashes of play making ability to give them a high grade. I will increase my reaction time mostly but leave plenty of room to grow my fielding ability as my career progresses.

Hitting for Average (Contact) - I always make my guy an average/doubles hitter so I may use some points up front. I will increase my contact vs. left to ensure a 4-5 point differential to start, and try and maintain higher attribute vs. left than right throughout my career.

Hitting for Power- I may increase my vs. Left attribute here to keep the 4-5 point differential. Again, I want both my contact and power to increase as I move through the minors.

By adding the points to the 5 Tools, and not beefing up only my hitting stats, I feel that I can keep my prospect as realistic as possible. I usually start off at age 20 like a Ju-Co drafted player. I would be interested to hear how other guys use their points, especially if you start at age 18(High-School), 20(Ju-Co), or 22(College).