Player Development question

[Matty86]

I'm trying to understand the player development system in this game.. generally when do guys reach their peak? What can I do to make sure they develop as much as possible? Does the level in the minors they're at effet how they develop?

[grasshopper]

I'm trying to understand the player development system in this game.. generally when do guys reach their peak? What can I do to make sure they develop as much as possible? Does the level in the minors they're at effet how they develop?


1st question. The players reach their peak based on a number that you can edit in the player section. Even after this has been hit, sometimes a player will continue to improve, but the peak number is a good guide. There are 2 types of players. Guys with peak at age 24-25 with peak end at 31-35 depending. Generally, these are your good players with longevity. The other is guys with peak start such as 29 and peak end 29. These are your average players who get better slowly and decline quickly. Unless viewing their stats in edit, the best way to tell is through minor league stats. Also, lower draft picks will fare better. Just beware the trap of the guy who is 24 with a 73/95 rating. He might only be good for 2 years if ever. A 24 y/o guy with 85/85 ratings will perform better in the long run.

2nd question. Put loads of money into expenses/minor leagues. It helps a crapload.

3rd question. The AI cannot manage your minors properly. Move them up/down as you feel it is necessary. I use the tab Vitals often which offers a graph. If a guy gets stuck in A to long he will stunt badly. Just play around with it.

[CatKnight]

* ohmslaw posted what he found in the game's code once. In general, the following Overall ratings are ideal for a given level of the Minors:

78 - AAA
66 - AA
60 - A
54 - R

By this reckoning if you have a player with an overall of 59, he should be seriously considered for A ball.

Personally I use the following, and it's worked fairly well for me:

70+ - AAA
66-69 - AA
60-65 - A
59- - R

* Don't have more than one field player at each position at each level. For example, if you have 3 catchers in rookie ball, they will be splitting playing time and not developing as fast.

* Regardless of ratings, give your draftees some time in the minors before calling them up. There is a definite spike in their performance that is unrelated to ratings at age 20 ... a teenager often slumps at a MLB level. Also, the sooner you call them up the more likely you are to stunt their long term growth. (Further, once they're on the MLB club their service clock towards arbitration and free agency starts ticking.)

* As grasshopper says, it varies by player and can be controlled on their edit screen, but as a very general rule you won't go wrong too often if you expect a player to peak by age 25-26, and start to slowly decline about age 33-34. Expect the decline to start accelerating by age 38-40.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpost.php?p=1123803&postcount=11

I believe this was the chart originally posted by ohms. I am led to believe that this is how the AI sorts its minor leaguers, according to overall and age.