BM 2014 - St. Louis Cardinals
 

I picked up BM 2014, loaded some rosters for the 2013 season from the forums and kicked off a St. Louis Cardinals career.

I'm on "Mogul" level for everything.

Depending on how much time I have to play, this will be a fast paced dynasty report. Baseball Mogul is extremely easy to sim month after month in little time.

It's kept my interest for a week, so I figured I'd do some sort of writeup on how I'm doing.. and for you Reds fans, on how crappy my start has been.

New for BM 2014 is "stat based" scouting, so ratings are based on stats instead of scouts.

2013 Season Roster

2B Matt Carpenter (86)
CF Carlos Beltran (86)
LF Matt Holliday (86)
RF Allen Craig (84)
C Yadier Molina (87)
1B Matt Adams (86/92)
3B David Freese (84)
SS Daniel Descalso (80)

Bench - OF Adron Chambers (80), SS Ryan Jackson (77/79), C Tony Cruz (77), IF Pete Kozma (76/78), OF Shane Robinson (75)


Pitching

SP Adam Wainwright (85)
SP Lance Lynn (82)
SP Shelby Miller (83/93)
SP Jake Westbrook (73)
SP Jaime Garcia (70)

CL Trevor Rosenthal (78/86)
SU Edward Mujuca (75)
SR Barret Browning (76)
SR Fernando Salas (77)
MR Sam Freeman (79)
MR Mitchell Boggs (71)
LR Joe Kelly (70/74)


We have an excellent lineup, but our pitching doesn't look all that great on paper.

Horrible start to the season...

Like I suspected, our pitching has been horrible.

May Transactions

Cardinals release P Randy Choate (72)

Cardinals trade CF Jon Jay (80) to Baltimore for P Zach Braddock (79/81)

Cardinals trade SP Jaime Garcia (70) to New York Yankees for CF Almonte Zoilo (58/64)

Cardinals sign SP Kevin Millwood (73) for 1 year at $5,100,000

We are way out of a Central title as our pitching has been a sore spot this season thus far.

Well.. we are looking more and more like sellers this season...

We pick #19 in the 2013 draft and we draft a SS.

Headlines.. Boston lays a beat down on the Angels.

NY Loses A-Rod.

Chris Carpenter makes his debut..

All Star Break

2013 First Half Stats

Not the year I was expecting.. 26 games behind the Reds?

We lead the division in hitting, but are last in pitching. I didn't think our division had this kind of pitching.

Do we keep going now that Wainwright is back from the DL and Carpenter has made it back into the rotation after being out for so long? Our only shot would be a wildcard berth, but we are 13 games out of a spot right now.

I have 12 games to decide what to do before the trading deadline.

We could prepare for 2014 by shopping 3B David Freese and RF Carlos Beltran as 2B Kolten Wong and OF Oscar Taveras should be stepping in next season into those slots. On the pitching side, it might be time to shop Chris Carpenter to a playoff contender.

Decisions.. decisions..

All Star Weekend

2013 Home Run Showdown

FIRST ROUND (10 Outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
Matt Kemp (LAD) 14
Troy Tulowitzki (COL) 11
Chris Davis (BAL) 11
Mark Reynolds (CLE) 10
David Ortiz (BOS) 9
Shin-Soo Choo (CIN) 7
Miguel Cabrera (DET) 6
Carlos Gonzalez (COL) 6
Chase Headley (SDP) 5
Torii Hunter (DET) 1

SECOND ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
Mark Reynolds (CLE) 8
Troy Tulowitzki (COL) 4
Chris Davis (BAL) 3
Matt Kemp (LAD) 3

FINAL ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
Mark Reynolds (CLE) 2
Troy Tulowitzki (COL) 2

EXTRA INNINGS (3 outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
MARK REYNOLDS 5
Troy Tulowitzki 4

WINNER: Mark Reynolds

1B Prince Fielder (DET) received the most All Star votes with 3,107,744

St. Louis sends two players to the All Star game:

SP Shelby Miller
2B Matt Carpenter

Oakland trades LF Yoenis Cespedes to San Francisco for two minor league prospects, SP Edwin Escobar and SP Joan Gregorio.

The Giants lead the NL West by 7 games and the A's are 10.5 games out.

Milestone - 7/28/13 - Todd Helton gets his 2500th hit
Milestone - 7/28/13 - CC Sabathia gets his 200th win

Cleveland sends SS Ronny Rodriguez, P Danny Salazar, P Rich Hill and 3B Robel Garcia to Miami for RF Justin Ruggiano.

Trading deadline is here and we need to forget about 2013 and focus on 2014.

Cardinals trade 3B David Freese to the Chicago White Sox for CF Courtney Hawkins.

We have our best month at 12-12.

A very quiet trading deadline.. but it ends with a 7 player deal.

As much as I hate to say it.. The Reds are the best team in baseball right now, sitting at 80-40 on the season. I'll post the standings after August is over, but they are on a tear this season with great hitting and great pitching.



What a lineup.. and Jay Bruce is has been out with a hip fracture, he has 28 home runs and 72 runs batted in.



They have the lowest ERA in the division and only 2nd to the Washington Nationals who are at 3.45.

This season can't end soon enough...

Cincinnati and Detroit with the best records.

NL and AL League leaders...

Cincinnati Reds - 2013 NL Central CHAMPS

Philadelphia Phillies - 2013 NL East CHAMPS

Detroit Tigers - 2013 AL Central CHAMPS

Future looks bright for the Cardinals at 2nd base..

Tampa Bay Rays - 2013 AL East CHAMPS

Cleveland Indians make the playoffs...

Los Angeles Angels - 2013 AL West CHAMPS

Arizona Diamondbacks make the playoffs...

Texas Rangers make the playoffs...

Pittsburgh Pirates make the playoffs..

Cardinals finish in dead last, 44 games behind the Reds.

Final 2013 Standings

2013 Wildcard

World Series

Lineups and Pitching Staff

Game 1

Phillies come back from a 2-0 deficit to win game 1, 3-2 over the Tigers.



Game 2 probable starters: Justin Verlander (18-10) vs Cole Hamels (13-11)

Game 2

Philadelphia wins 6-4, takes control of series.



Game 3 probable starters: Roy Halladay (11-8) at Max Scherzer (18-7)

Game 3

Tigers win in 10 innings, a must win.



Game 4 probable starters: Kyle Davies (9-9) at Doug Fister (19-7)

Game 4

Tigers even up series after 8-3 win.



Game 5 probable starters: Cliff Lee (19-6) at Anibal Sanchez (10-6)

Game 5

Home cooking continues to be the recipe for success, Tigers now one win from a World Series Championship.



Game 6 probable starters: Justin Verlander (18-10) at Cole Hamels (13-11)

2013 End of Season

Arbitration:

3B Matt Carpenter signs a 1-yr deal at $6.8 million
INF Daniel Descalso is released
SS Rafael Furcal is released
C Tony Cruz signs a 1-yr deal at $1.5 million
SS Pete Kozma is released
OF Shane Robinson is released
C Rob Johnson is released
P Lance Lynn is signs a 1-yr deal at $2.3 million
P Kevin Millwood is released
STL declines P Jake Westbrook option
P Jake Westbrook is released
P Edward Mujica is released
P Marc Rzepczynski
P Mitchell Boggs is released
P Chris Carpenter is released
P Clayton Mortensen is released
STL exercises team option on P Jason Motte

AL Awards

NL Awards

2014 Season Roster

(new player)

2B Kolten Wong (80/86) (.325/6/27)
3B Matt Carpenter (89) (.317/10/75)
CF Carlos Beltran (85) (.286/16/57)
1B Matt Adams (89/93) (.286/35/84)
LF Matt Holliday (82) (.274/15/74)
C Yadier Molina (86) (.291/7/47)
RF Allen Craig (85) (.264/9/44)
SS Brent Lillibridge (81) (.306/2/13)

Bench - OF Ryan Sweeney (79) (.305/2/18), LF Travis Snider (.208/3/26), C Tony Cruz (.241/6/34), SS Ryan Jackson (.228/4/20), OF Adron Chambers (.205/5/21)


Pitching

SP Justin Masterson (86) (17-7/3.35/204.0)
SP Adam Wainwright (85) (9-7/3.54/168.0)
SP Shelby Miller (85/93) (11-5/2.54/181.0)
SP Colby Lewis (82) (6-2/3.39/66.1)
SP Lance Lynn (77) (9-10/3.92/174.2)

CL Trevor Rosenthal (82/89) (6-4/2.85/53.2/22sv)
SU Jason Motte (84) (DNP)
SR Henry Rodriguez (78) (0-1/3.71/26.2)
SR Sam Freeman (76) (0-5/4.87/61.0)
MR Chuck James (79) (0-0/0.00/0.2)
MR Zach Braddock (72) (1-4/7.68/41.0)
LR Eric Fornataro (72) (1-4/6.97/31.0)


Hitting wise, we are deep.. we shall see how our pitching goes this season.

2014 Projected W/L

St. Louis kicks off 2014 campaign with a 4-2 win in their home opener!

Ugh... my Phillies almost did it in the World Series.

They had a good run!

Cardinals off to a hot start!

Great start to the season!

Standings

Great start for the Cards and the Phillies! I'm loving this dynasty.

Thank you!

Cardinals trade:

CF Oscar Taveras
3B Carson Kelly

Cubs trade:

CF Brett Jackson

Cardinals trade:

CF Adron Chambers

Angels trade:

SP Robert Coello

First trade.. the CPU offered me this trade and it took quite some time for me to decide on this one. Two of my good prospects for one developed prospect.





for

Second trade was to make room for Brett and to get some money back.



for

Cardinals barely over .500 for May..

Standings and Leaders

We get the #2 draft pick in the 2014 draft and again, draft a SS.



2nd round: (32nd overall) CF Efrain Ferrermena (64/82)
3rd round: (62nd overall) RF Ed Verzosa (56/76)
4th round: (92nd overall) C Vinnie Baker (56/68)
5th round: (122nd overall) P Koby Cunnick (47/62)
6th round: (152nd overall) P Roger Leeburn (44/57)

**UPDATE** 2013 1st draft pick, #19 overall

Cardinals start the 7 game home stand with a sweep over the Pirates. The Reds come to town for a 4 game set only 1 game in back of the NL Central leading Cardinals.

The Cardinals have won 8 games in a row, but the Reds have been just as impressive this season.

Game 1: Mat Latos (9-1) at Adam Wainwright (9-2)
Game 2: Johnny Cueto (8-4) at Shelby Miller (8-4)
Game 3: Mike Leake (5-6) at Colby Lewis (8-5)
Game 4: Curtis Partch (7-5) at Lance Lynn (6-0)

Game 1 vs Reds

Cole Hamels pitches a perfect game!

Hamels!

Standings and Leaders - June 2014

2014 All Star Break

2014 All Star Break - Team Stats

2014 All Star Break - League Leaders

2014 Home Run Derby

No Matt Adams? :(

2014 Home Run Showdown

FIRST ROUND (10 Outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
Miguel Cabrera (DET) 12
Freddie Freeman (ATL) 10
Mark Reynolds (CLE) 8
Mike Olt (TEX) 8
Robinson Chirinos (TEX) 6
Ryan Braun (MIL) 6
B.J. Upton (ATL) 5
Anthony Recker (NYM) 5
Prince Fielder (DET) 4
David Wright (NYM) 3

SECOND ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
Mark Reynolds (CLE) 6
Mike Olt (TEX) 5
Miguel Cabrera (DET) 4
Freddie Freeman (ATL) 3

FINAL ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
Mark Reynolds (CLE) 4
Mike Olt (TEX) 4

EXTRA INNINGS (3 outs)

PLAYER HOMERS
MIKE OLT 7
Mark Reynolds 2

WINNER: Mike Olt

2014 All Star Game

3B Miguel Cabrera (DET) gets the most AS votes with 2,515,614

The St. Louis Cardinals send four players to the All Star game:

SP Justin Masterson
SP Adam Wainwright
SP Shelby Miller
C Yadier Molina



Miguel Cabrera is the MVP

That boxscore looks a lot like the one in OOTP... or at least the older versions...

Cardinals end July with 4 game win streak!

Only 50 games left, races heating up!

Pitching



Hitting



Leaders

Cardinals stand pat at trade deadline...

Not much action in the trade department for any MLB team this season as the deadline came and went without any trades. The Cardinals GM MizzouRah said he didn't even seek a trade even though reports had them looking at the Pirates young 26 year old LHP Jeff Locke.

"We lead the league in hitting and tied with the Phillies for ERA, we are happy where we stand for the 2014 season", said MizzouRah.

The Cardinals finished in 5th place last season and have made a dramatic turnaround this season, already winning 7 more games than last year with 50 games still remaining.

"It's going to be a dogfight the rest of the way with the Reds", said MizzouRah.

The Cardinals have been without RHP Adam Wainwright for a month and have stayed close to the Reds. Adam is due to come back in about a week and should help in the quest for a division title.

Nice race between the Reds and the Cardinals in the NL Central and the Orioles and Yankees in the AL East. NL East should be interesting too with the Phillies, Nationals and Braves all still in it...Philadelphia fans can only hope the Phillies continue their hot streak while Washington and Atlanta continue to slide. I also see the Astros are in the hunt in the AL West...bug!!!

Yeah Philly is looking for a repeat and we have gone from 3rd worst team last season, to the best team in the league. The Astros have some really good young pitchers. I'm not sure they can hold out though.

Cardinals go 20-7 in August, lead the Reds by 4.5 games.