2023 Offseason SIM 6 Complete - Next SIM Offseason 8 (FA6) Thursday 11/9

[Matt]

Next SIM Thurs 11/9

Files due by 7 AM PCT/10 AM EST

League file is up. HTML and Utility in process

Stat of the Day!

Thur 11/9 - Free Agency 6 - Feb 16 to ST
Sat 11/11 - Spring Training 1
Sun 11/12 - Spring Training 2
Tues 11/14 - Opening Day

Reminder

14. CONTRACTS

• If Team Option is used the Buyout must be the difference between Option year and highest Guaranteed year.
• Only one Team Option may be used per contract, and it must be in the last year of the contract. This prevents people from stacking Player Options after the Team Option.
• Players cannot be signed to contract extensions until after they have received their second arbitration contract. Players become eligible for contract extensions once they have two "Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $xx through arbitration." in their player history.

[funclown]

Pawtucket lands 2B Douglass & Closer/Setup RJ Green (not sure yet where I'm putting him)

Signing of 'Hoover' probably makes 2B Huo-tu Hua and expensive prospect for the time being. Be nice to get him some AAA at bats anyway and it good to have some depth in the minor league level. Last season we hit for power & walked especially in the 2nd half, but we had no true table setter. We think we just answered that problem.

RJ Green is another bridge player while RP Davis & RP Marrella continue to develop in AAA. RJ only asked for a one year deal and thats fine by us. I would expect one to come up mid season and like to keep the pressure at first off them since rookies really seem to struggle more in this version.

This is probably it for Pawtucket this offseason except for a possible trade or two. Are we better??? Yeah I think we are. Not looking for a 18 game improvement like last year, but trying to work out way into the playoff discussion this season. Last year we just ran out of gas, hoping its different this season.

Fan are back!!!!

[Z]

Thanks, Matt.

Busy sim for Maine.

First, we signed star outfielder Zachary Smith, who turns 24 years old next month, to a four year extension with an annual salary of $13 million. It'll keep him in Maine through 2028, when he'll be 28 years old. Excited to reach this agreement. After signing Rod Sedivec to an extension in 2022 and Dave Sliney to an extension in 2023, it means our entire outfield will be under contract through at least the 2026 season, after which Sedivec or the team can opt out of his deal.

After many years of treating our bullpen as an offseason afterthought, we took a different approach. We brought back a trio of former Guides: Liam Kincaid, Tommy Carpenter, and Jarrod West. In an even more unconventional move, we added longtime Amigo and Roadrunner starter Dave Glomski and pitch as our closer in 2024. He doesn't have much experience pitching in relief and he took a step back in his year in Davenport in 2023, but I think he'll bring some stability to the back end of our bullpen. If he falters, we have the other vets around to help out.

[Hank]

Thanks Matt!

Went through my Development report more closely.
I'm starting to believe that putting money into scouting is actually worth while. Over the past two seasons, with more money at my disposal, I raised my scouting to $10M.
Out of all the updates, the changes are more inline with how my Scout foresaw than OSA. There are a few players where OSA was right, but overall, the scout has been more accurate.
Just using one example, Philip Williams, was selected 26th overall pick in 2022.
At the time, my scout forecasted him to be 5/5/2, while OSA had him projected for 7/6/5.
His college stats were incredible, so I decided to side with OSA on this one.
18 months after being drafted, OSA now projects him to be 6/6/4, with my head scout adjusting his projections to 6/6/3.

I'm pouring money into development so I really hope that he can rebound to be closer to OSA's initial projections.

I'm not ready to start thumping the pulpit claiming that scouts are more accurate, but I think it's like most things with OOTP17; the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I don't want this post to be misconstrued to be a rant. Not at all. I love the mystery behind scouting and developing.
I'm just thinking that perhaps it really is worth our while to pump money into our scouting reports.
I was ready to dump my scouting budget all together. But that was when I was trying to save some money while retaining high priced players. During that time, OSA was more accurate than my scout - at least, it appeared to be.
Since increasing my budget, my scout seems to be more accurate.

[Pat]

Also a busy sim in Seattle.

First, our owner gave us a budget increase from $112M to $120M, which was a pleasant surprise. Then we went on to sign a bunch of veterans in CF Jamie Urmson, CL Gabe Cravalho and SP Willie Fajardo. Urmson (38) is "wrecked," Cravalho (35) is showing decline on his velocity and Fajardo (34) is fragile and still has three months to recover from Tommy John surgery. So they aren't without risk but they fill three huge holes for a combined $20M.

We still have about $10M in budget room and some cash laying around as we notice the demands get lower and lower.

[Matt]

I can 100% assure you a higher budget offers more accurate scouting.

I started a random league with 2-8 ratings and am working on a little project changing Scouting Accuracy, Budget, and Scout ability just to get a better idea how things work. Anybody can do it. Takes about 20 minutes to set up. I'll post what I have so far when I have time.

[funclown]

I'm not ready to start thumping the pulpit claiming that scouts are more accurate, but I think it's like most things with OOTP17; the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

YES. I almost split the difference when I see a wild difference. Almost prefer them to be the same. As they move past 27 seems OSA and the scout basically becomes one of the same or very close. Of course some guys just defy the ratings with stats. Which leads you to......

I don't want this post to be misconstrued to be a rant. Not at all. I love the mystery behind scouting and developing.
I'm just thinking that perhaps it really is worth our while to pump money into our scouting reports.

Yes and no. While for prospects and or Intl players might make sense during a rebuild period theres only so much money you want to devote to this. As stated above as they become late 20 / early 30 players OSA and your scout scout tend to merge. I mean... scouting doesn't make your players better. Plus how much does "Legendary versus Dumbass" scouts play into this. How about Tools versus Ability? Lol, Neutral versus another Neutral. Sorry way to much variables to take a huge chance on throwing a ton of money.

IMO pour it into PD where I do think its makes a difference. Scouting I'd ride near league average at best. Perhaps a million above?

[liquidcrash]

After many years of treating our bullpen as an offseason afterthought, we took a different approach. We brought back a trio of former Guides: Liam Kincaid, Tommy Carpenter, and Jarrod West.

The locals seemed pleased to have West back in town.

Jarrod West Has Accident

Thursday, February 8th, 2024

Accidents happen to everyone -- even good athletes like Jarrod West of the Guides. The Maine reliever got hurt when he was robbed and mugged after his house was broken into during the middle of the night yesterday and now will have to take some time off to recuperate and heal. West will be sidelined for up to 2 weeks with a knee contusion.



Welcome home, Jarrod!

[umd]

New ability scout in the up and coming Dave Doggett. At 44 I expect him to have a long career in Vegas.

Stu Stark gives us a legit middle of the order hitter who can field. He makes us a WC contender if the kids improve. Still looking at adding a piece or two but we are in good shape.

[funclown]

Always forget RJ Green actually was drafted by us what seems to be ages ago. 3rd time now playing in Pawtucket.

[Delandis]

New ability scout in the up and coming Dave Doggett. At 44 I expect him to have a long career in Vegas.

Stu Stark gives us a legit middle of the order hitter who can field. He makes us a WC contender if the kids improve. Still looking at adding a piece or two but we are in good shape.

You loading up on former Bulldogs?

Dave had a lot of talent but he was just so lazy. He’d give up home runs at the most inopportune times.

Good luck with him in his new role.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[umd]

You loading up on former Bulldogs?

Dave had a lot of talent but he was just so lazy. He’d give up home runs at the most inopportune times.

Good luck with him in his new role.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Figured it's a good idea.

[Matt]

Sad to see Stu go. He was the worst contract we ever had though. We had an opportunity to bring him back at $7m during last season and should have but didn't. We have some young guys to fill the spots though. It looks like Clark will be gone next. We declined his option and he's mad at us.

Overall our off-season sucked. We're a .500 team now when we had money to spend but just waited too long.

[liquidcrash]

Overall our off-season sucked. We're a .500 team now when we had money to spend but just waited too long.

Wildly pessimistic. As must as I'd like you to be correct, I think you're team is still really good and are definite contenders in the Stout.

[Pat]

Just a reminder....

-Scouting and Player Development budgets LOCK this sim.
-Any stadium modifications are due as well.