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I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks about this--

Although in-season retirement adds an element of realism to the game, I'm finding that it also adds extra mostly-tedious steps to the season roster management. Most of the players that retire are the bottom end of the roster, and you have to spend extra time -in-season going out and signing scrubs, only to have them retire two days later without ever making an appearance. I guess what I'm saying is that I think I prefer the old off-season only retirements. In-season retirement just adds extra minor-league-level roster management.

I realize, though, that it depends on the way one plays PS, and different people play differently. Any thoughts?

Personally, I love the mid-season retirements. For the most part, my experience shows the players retiring are the vets I brought back for one more season, which end up in the minors. I guess it gives me one more chance to say goodbye.

I like in-season retirements. Once my roster settles down I don't find myself having to make roster moves very often in the last two-thirds of the season. Having to deal with an in-season retirement keeps me on my toes. I like having more challenges to respond to in the latter part of the year.

Let's take a close look at it. Realistically, how many players over the last 3 seasons have retired in mid-season? How about ZERO. I can't remember the last MLB player to retire in mid-season. There have been tons of injuries, but retirements? I think this feature should go. Not realistic.

Don't forget, in PureSim the vast (as in 99%) of the in-season retirements come from vets who were wallowing in the minors and they happen very early in the season. Think of it as a vet giving it one last shot.

I like the dimension it adds and will be leaving it in.

In support of that implementation:

No less than Babe Ruth retired in the middle of a season (1935), and Mike Schmidt was the Phillies starting third baseman when he retired in the middle of the 1989 season. Recently? Jim Abbott 1999, Ryne Sandberg 1994, Matt Williams 2003...

But my FAVORITE example is John Kruk, who retired in the middle of a GAME in 1995: he got a single in the first inning, raising his career average fractionally over .300, and promptly retired.



Even better, this guy did it twice:

The 2004 Central Baseball League Champion Edinburg Roadrunners are announcing today the retirement of catcher Eddie Fitzpatrick. This is the second time Fitzpatrick has retired mid-season. In 2003 Fitzpatrick retired after playing in just 22 games for the Roadrunners. Fitzpatrick came out of retirement for the 2004 season and helped lead the Roadrunners to a Central League Championship. In 43 games played this season Fitzpatrick was hitting a career low .145 with two home runs and nine runs batted in. Fitzpatrick informed Field Manager Vince Moore of his decision before the June 28th game against the Coastal Bend Aviators. No one has been signed yet to replace Fitzpatrick on the roster.

It does happen - and I would think its more frequent than we expect - just because there aren't that many "big names" who have done so in the last ten years doesn't mean it isn't happening. People are human beings, and human beings don't run on a "schedule" the way that sports simulation games do. They get hurt, they retire, they find that they aren't having fun anymore, or can't get it done anymore, or whatever, and that isn't always convenient to the team. Just ask the Dolphins about Ricky Williams.

This may have already have been asked before and this is not directly assosiated with the question in this thread but will there be players who retired previously in thier careers come back? If so, I have mixed feelings about this. Not to bring up a competitor but in OOTPBB (6.5) this feature exsists. IMO, it has caused nothing but problems, at least for me. If this feature of players retiring and then coming back to play again is ever implemented, I would like to see this have an option to be toggled on/off.

Jst some future thoughts. [8D][:)]