Historical Replay versus fictional associations

[33sherman]

I've played a number of historical replay assocations, the most recent going from 1903-1990. As a change of pace, I started a fictional association in 1903 (but using a historically accurate template). I have to admit I'm liking the ratings development curves in the fictional associations more than the historical replays. In the historical associations, you tend to get a lot of the pitchers in the league rated (for stuff, velocity, control) between 80-100, with a few in the middle and then a bunch of 5-5 type guys who have the potential to get better. In many cases almost no one who is rated less than 80 in stuff can even pitch in the league--they can barely get out of the inning. I'm finding in the fictional league that there are few guys rated between 80-100 and you can pitch a guy with ratings in the forties and some potential and they can have respectable outings. In the historical replay association it seemed like once a guy fell below a certain ratings level he couldn't even get of an inning in the big leagues. Conversely, 90+ rated pitchers are really something special ( in the fictional association). In any event, it's a different game.