The Best Team Money Can Buy, or...

[KG Erwin]

...to follow a build-from-within philosophy? One of the great things about PureSim is the allowance it gives you to make choices like this. However, as a game-by-game manager, the build-from-within grand strategy demands patience.

We've discussed team-building many times, and now I've taken the modern-day Pirates. You guys know how THAT's turned out for the last 17 years in real life. In PureSim terms, the key is to recognize that a young high-POT guy can be locked in for 5 years (IF he accepts the offer) for a reasonable salary. After that, the "greed factor" kicks in.

As a GM, you gotta plan ahead 5 years, which is tough to do, as no one knows what diamonds might be available in next year's amateur draft. Of course, there's always the temptation to chase a big-money FA, but these can be obtained if you wait long enough. However, how does this guy fit into your long-term plan?

With every successive iteration of the game, the crystal ball becomes fuzzier, and it approaches the real world comparison even better. Taking a struggling team becomes more challenging, and it is a true test of your baseball acumen. Yeah, winning right NOW is cool, but seeing the fruits of your labors over a few years' span can be even more rewarding.