1974 Offseason Thread (Pre-Draft file is up!)

[Young Drachma]

Signings, drama and whatever else you can muster.

[ekcut]

CRAP!!!!!!!!! My export didn't take

I released joe Morris to free up cash and offered, among others, Artie Wiley a 5yr $90mil deal....The guy is only the best pitcher EVER!!!

This one sim may have been, with the talent available, the most important sim since I joined the league....and my frickin export didn't take! That is going to sting for a while!!

just ranting....not drama-ing
At least I still have Morris and Higman and pate changed their minds and will negotiate with me...

[kaosfere]

Let's see how the off-season is shaping up for me.

I put offers on three big-time free agents. Two of them went elsewhere: Anthony Payton to Quad City, and Clinton Miner to Hartford. It looks like I was just barely outbid on Payton, but blown clear out of the water on Miner.

I did land Abraham Lujan, who will do well in the infield and bring a much-needed bat to the lineup. He may end up at third, or he may go to first to replace Bob Arnold, who has decided to test free-agency this year.

In spite of sending me mail during the season expressing unhappiness with the team, 3B Ramon Lopez decided to exercise his option year, and will be returning to the roster for 1974.

2B Doug Graves was signed from the minors to a 3-year big league contract. He and new acquisition Lujan should make for a much stronger infield next year.

The fans were not happy that I released Travis Singleton, which I find inexplicable, but they were mollified, it seems, by the pick-up of Lujan.

The only big losses this off-season will be 1B Bob Arnold who, as I mentioned, chose to test free-agency, and MR Joji Matsumoto, who did the same. Matsumoto is not a huge loss, but he had a decent role in a bullpen that was the highlight of our pitching staff.

I have already picked up Ron Lord in trade for two minor league prospects. He will bring another strong bat to the lineup, and prop up a weak outfield.

One big puzzle still to be solved is that of my starting rotation. Sachi Yamada, picked up from Hartford's minor leagues last year, has proven himself worthy of the starting slot, but the rotation is still missing serious ace power. My pre-Classic offer to Clinton Miner wasn't accepted, but I hope to be able to pick up one good arm in the larger free agency.

One promising potential is Maresuke Saito, who posted a stellar year in AAA ball and is scouting higher than he has in the past, but even he really seems capable only of being a #3 or #4 man in a strong lineup.

[muns]

have already picked up Ron Lord in trade for two minor league prospects. He will bring another strong bat to the lineup, and prop up a weak outfield

That was HUGE for you IMO...... I asked him about Lord right when you guys accpted the deal....

Touche

[muns]

Originally Posted by ekcut

CRAP!!!!!!!!! My export didn't take

I released joe Morris to free up cash and offered, among others, Artie Wiley a 5yr $90mil deal....The guy is only the best pitcher EVER!!!

This one sim may have been, with the talent available, the most important sim since I joined the league....and my frickin export didn't take! That is going to sting for a while!!

just ranting....not drama-ing
At least I still have Morris and Higman and pate changed their minds and will negotiate with me...

That does suck Did anyone elses not take???

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by muns

That does suck Did anyone elses not take???

Mine took. I just barely got out bid on everyone I bid on except the pitcher you got muns.

[Cringer]

That is because muns is a thief. A pitcher stealing thief.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Cringer

That is because muns is a thief. A pitcher stealing thief.

Hey ill take being called a thief this year. Gladly take it, just as long as those ML deals that usually happen to me dont come up

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by muns

That does suck Did anyone elses not take???

I submitted Saturday morning, apparently to the old server. It never came over. I had cut one guy in an effort to clear room to sign Jason Curtis. No biggie, just attempting that again tonight.

[Young Drachma]

I'm uploading a new file right now. It'll be a stage file to "compensate" for the strange server issues. VL that I released are part of this file.

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Colorado, Quad City all had exports that I captured in this file. I think in the future, I'll list the exports that I get in when I catch exports, that way, everyone knows whether I got them.

I'll post when the new file is up. You'll want to download this file. The deadline for exports will be midnight (EST) Because it'll give people time to download it, export if they want to, make last minute changes if they want to and then sim to the start of FA afterwards.

If you already made changes and don't have any desire to make new ones, then you have no reason to download and export the new file. Just wanted to make it available anyway, for those who did.

I'm gonna go live life now. I'll post when it's up.

[ekcut]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I'm uploading a new file right now. It'll be a stage file to "compensate" for the strange server issues. VL that I released are part of this file.

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Colorado, Quad City all had exports that I captured in this file. I think in the future, I'll list the exports that I get in when I catch exports, that way, everyone knows whether I got them.

I'll post when the new file is up. You'll want to download this file. The deadline for exports will be midnight. Because it'll give people time to download it, export if they want to, make last minute changes if they want to and then sim to the start of FA afterwards.

If you already made changes and don't have any desire to make new ones, then you have no reason to download and export the new file. Just wanted to make it available anyway, for those who did.

I'm gonna go live life now. I'll post when it's up.

What the deuce is that??? Life? hmm..intersting concept.

I know there is a utility that lists received exports....not sure how it works or how to work it, but it would be easier than you listing it. Plus people can check right after they export if it works. For me last night, you listing received exports wouldnt of helped as I was not around to do it again. Just a thought...

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I'm gonna go live life now.

Brilliant idea. I didn't see my name in the list and I had an export as well, but it was a very small one (only moved one player to the minors to make room for my DFA new sign). No point sweating over it. I'll just do it for the next run tonight.

I'm going to go have a life as well! Wife and I are going to the park to grill steaks and drink wine.

[Young Drachma]

File is up.

[ekcut]

Originally Posted by ekcut

CRAP!!!!!!!!! My export didn't take

I released joe Morris to free up cash and offered, among others, Artie Wiley a 5yr $90mil deal....The guy is only the best pitcher EVER!!!

This one sim may have been, with the talent available, the most important sim since I joined the league....and my frickin export didn't take! That is going to sting for a while!!

just ranting....not drama-ing
At least I still have Morris and Higman and pate changed their minds and will negotiate with me...

Well now that EVERYONE knows what i am willing to pay for Wiley, it will really make bidding interesting!! Me and my big mouth!! Well boys...the bar is set

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by ekcut

Well now that EVERYONE knows what i am willing to pay for Wiley, it will really make bidding interesting!! Me and my big mouth!! Well boys...the bar is set

If it's any consolation, at least he didn't put on your jersey, take the mantle as the #1 starter in your rotation before you said "sorry man, I gotta let ya go."



Good luck bidding. Hehehe...

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

If it's any consolation, at least he didn't put on your jersey, take the mantle as the #1 starter in your rotation before you said "sorry man, I gotta let ya go."



Good luck bidding. Hehehe...

dc does have about 30 million to play with

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by muns

That does suck Did anyone elses not take???

Mine did not take either. I think it was because I exported before the new FTP server and have been unable to export until now.

[Young Drachma]

That said, anyone who exported last night, their file will still work. The file that went up today wasn't dated differently. So the only way it'll matter if you wanted to make other changes.

These exports are in:

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Brooklyn
Colorado
Hartford
Quad City
Texas
Toronto
Valdosta
Rio Grande
Ann Arbor
Columbus

Missing: Compton

They have time, of course. Just figured in case people didn't want to wait until midnight, we could load the file at our normal time.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

They have time, of course. Just figured in case people didn't want to wait until midnight, we could load the file at our normal time.

I just made a few more changes and exported again. I'm now good to go whenever.

[Young Drachma]

I wouldn't do anything if all the files weren't in, so as to prevent any confusion. We've had enough of that...

[TurnerONU22]

Quick clarification on a couple of things, since I haven't been around too much today:

1) Tonight's sim is the usual Monday sim, correct? This list of teams listed as submitted is because of the server switch and that some teams exports didn't get imported?

2) This one, I feel stupid on, but have there always been FA available to bid on between the FOOL classic and the "start of free agency"? I've never checked the FA list, so for you guys talking about signing all of these players, leaves me a little confused about that as well?

Which leads me to one thing, that hopefully the BOC can help out on, which is to flesh out the schedule/rules a little bit more for newer people. For example, I wasn't aware of the cap situation, in terms of which number to look at. And now I find out that I've been missing out on some good quality players in FA because there's players out there before the "start of FA". I'm not going to get upset about it, I just am trying to more fully understand what is happening.

[Cringer]

I will see about doing an export right now.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by TurnerONU22

Quick clarification on a couple of things, since I haven't been around too much today:

1) Tonight's sim is the usual Monday sim, correct? This list of teams listed as submitted is because of the server switch and that some teams exports didn't get imported?

2) This one, I feel stupid on, but have there always been FA available to bid on between the FOOL classic and the "start of free agency"? I've never checked the FA list, so for you guys talking about signing all of these players, leaves me a little confused about that as well?

Which leads me to one thing, that hopefully the BOC can help out on, which is to flesh out the schedule/rules a little bit more for newer people. For example, I wasn't aware of the cap situation, in terms of which number to look at. And now I find out that I've been missing out on some good quality players in FA because there's players out there before the "start of FA". I'm not going to get upset about it, I just am trying to more fully understand what is happening.

Answer to #2 is yes there will usually be players there as free agents during the regular season (and thus at the end of the season before the FOOL Classic). Generally these are players either released by teams in order to get under salary cap at the start of the season, or players no teams wanted enough to offer a contract the previous season.

The last 5 seasons however, some players from the VL have been released into this pool early, which caused the drama from this last off season, although they've been appearing there for quite a while. That has been remedied and those players won't appear there until after the FOOL Classic now as well.

As for the league rules/schedule, there is one DC has stickied at the top of the forum, however that probably could use some rehashing out/cleaning up I am thinking.

[Cringer]

exported

[Young Drachma]

I'd appreciate it if someone else took a stab at writing the league schedule thing. I clearly don't explain things as well for all comers to understand (I write densely sometimes) and I've heard before that it's a little confusing.

Any takers?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I'd appreciate it if someone else took a stab at writing the league schedule thing. I clearly don't explain things as well for all comers to understand (I write densely sometimes) and I've heard before that it's a little confusing.

Any takers?

THe following is what I wrote in one of the above stickied threads. It was my best attempt. If it is not clear enough, then someone else please modify it as they can!

Originally Posted by Alan T

Export your file to FTP now.

Schedule is usually:

Sunday - Simming of FOOL Classic, other teams can offer roster moves (contract extensions, cutting players, etc)

Monday - Last chance to re-sign players before they become a free agent. Trades executed, etc

Tuesday - First night of free agency.

Wednesday - Second night of free agency, draft pool revealed after this sim

Thursday - Final chance to sign free agents. Set your roster for spring training, set draft lists for the draft.

Friday - Get rosters ready for opening day. Season is run Friday night. Must be under salary cap to avoid penalty.

Saturday - Currently open night.

[Young Drachma]

Thanks Alan. I swapped 'em.

[TurnerONU22]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I'd appreciate it if someone else took a stab at writing the league schedule thing. I clearly don't explain things as well for all comers to understand (I write densely sometimes) and I've heard before that it's a little confusing.

Any takers?

I really don't think its confusing, I just think that it is the nature of a league that goes this fast-paced, that issues arise. I think it would be nice if that was one of the tasks of the BOC, to update the schedule every year with needed language.

I have submitted my file, even though I have 10k to spend on guys, which means I'm going after nobody, sad because Artie Wiley just wants to come home, but he won't take a min sal deal

Another question, with the movement of the VL FA up to match ours, will we still have FA signings at all until the start of FA? I know there will be guys released at the start of the season that are available, so I was wondering about if those guys will still be available? I would like to lobby against the latter, as I really like the light schedule on the weekends, so not having to worry at all about FA's would be quite nice

[Young Drachma]

will we still have FA signings at all until the start of FA

Well, the same guys who are in the pool at the start of the season/end of spring training, will be there at the end of the season/pre-Classic file.

Status quo, it'll stay the same, but I don't imagine it'll be an issue that we'll have to really consider since there won't be any talent worth trying to lock up and if there is, it won't be anything notable.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by TurnerONU22

I really don't think its confusing, I just think that it is the nature of a league that goes this fast-paced, that issues arise. I think it would be nice if that was one of the tasks of the BOC, to update the schedule every year with needed language.

I have submitted my file, even though I have 10k to spend on guys, which means I'm going after nobody, sad because Artie Wiley just wants to come home, but he won't take a min sal deal

Another question, with the movement of the VL FA up to match ours, will we still have FA signings at all until the start of FA? I know there will be guys released at the start of the season that are available, so I was wondering about if those guys will still be available? I would like to lobby against the latter, as I really like the light schedule on the weekends, so not having to worry at all about FA's would be quite nice

Even if you don't want to worry about whatever FA scraps are there, you'll likely want to try to negotiate contract extensions for your players during that time anyways.

[Young Drachma]

Magic is exporting and then we'll sim to FA!

[Young Drachma]

1973 AWARD WINNERS

CL MVP: Holden Matthews, Atlanta
2nd: Arthur Summers, Baltimore
3rd: Carlos Vazquez, Atlanta

RL MVP: Jason Curtis, Boston
2nd: Mac Rasmussen, Quad City
3rd: John Hunt, Boston

CL Pitcher of the Year: Pedro Ortiz, Atlanta
2nd: Whit O'Neal, Valdosta
3rd: David Barajas, Atlanta

RL Pitcher of the Year: Rob Goodwin, Colorado
2nd: Craig Davis, Colorado
3rd: Harry Mason, Quad City

CL Rookie of the Year: Pablo Garcia, Valdosta
2nd: Masahiko Kokawa, Baltimore
3rd: Alejandro Trujillo, Brooklyn

RL Rookie of the Year: Leslie Davis, Ann Arbor
2nd: Oscar Livingstone, Compton
3rd: Roger Moore, Columbus

[Young Drachma]

File is packing now. Dunham, the VL outfielder ended up signing with Toronto. The major players -- Wiley and Payton -- are both still on the market.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

File is packing now. Dunham, the VL outfielder ended up signing with Toronto. The major players -- Wiley and Payton -- are both still on the market.

well isnt that gonna be interesting

[Young Drachma]

Muns got that Russian pitcher

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Muns got that Russian pitcher

I would like to move the Brownstones to Hartford. There is clearly something in the water there

[muns]

Originally Posted by Commo_Soldier

I would like to move the Brownstones to Hartford. There is clearly something in the water there

Ahhh here with go with this shit again damnit

lol without looking at the file I think i offered him a one year 3 mil deal??? Did anyone else beat that??

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by muns

Ahhh here with go with this shit again damnit

lol without looking at the file I think i offered him a one year 3 mil deal??? Did anyone else beat that??

I know I didn't. I only offered a MLC because I have no cap room to spend. The interesting thing will be is he still on your roster since the game says that a one-year deal goes on the 1973 payroll.

Edit: Nevermind, I see now it says 1974. Which brings up a dumb bug in the game that uses the 1973 payroll to sign players for the 1974 year.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Commo_Soldier

I know I didn't. I only offered a MLC because I have no cap room to spend. The interesting thing will be is he still on your roster since the game says that a one-year deal goes on the 1973 payroll.

my bad I meant to say a 2 year deal.... I dont think i flubbed that one up, but i honestly dont remember.... I may have

let me open it up in game and look at my pending offers.... I know i offered Bostons pitcher maddux a 2 year deal

[muns]

Correction, I clearly dont have any idea what the heck im talking about... I offered him a 2 year deal totaling 3.6 mil......

[muns]

Did Pat Maddox sign with anyone?

[Young Drachma]

File is up. 20.67 MB.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by muns

lol without looking at the file I think i offered him a one year 3 mil deal??? Did anyone else beat that??

Hee. I offered 500k over 2 years. Figured it wouldn't work, but thought I might sneak a lowball in.

[muns]

pissed isnt even the word for what happened to me tonight......sigh.... i have to resign Minor as he didnt accept what he wanted for his contract extension and is back in the FA market....... You even get burned by doing that..... tough luck

luckily im only at 18.2 million spent

[Commo_Soldier]

I was wondering how Miner was on the market again. I had Zane 'Martini' Ball reject my meet demand offer. I am just glad Lang accepted his cheap 3 year $20.4 million deal after I voided his $17.5 million deal this year. Did Miner turn down a meet demand offer or did you try to get cute with the contract? Either way that sucks.

[Commo_Soldier]

Just was looking at the Financial report. Man are you under the cap heading into this FA period Muns.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Commo_Soldier

I was wondering how Miner was on the market again. I had Zane 'Martini' Ball reject my meet demand offer. I am just glad Lang accepted his cheap 3 year $20.4 million deal after I voided his $17.5 million deal this year. Did Miner turn down a meet demand offer or did you try to get cute with the contract? Either way that sucks.

Nope I didnt get cute, i get too scared to get cute, as that is the second time ive been burt by that. I actually think im gonna start upping contract offers from now on if its the last file, just to be on the safe side.

But this offseason should be a lot of fun. Ton of guys out there to be had. Besides going after Minor again, im not sure what im gonna do, as Id like to bring up my spects and let them try to develop.

[TurnerONU22]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Even if you don't want to worry about whatever FA scraps are there, you'll likely want to try to negotiate contract extensions for your players during that time anyways.

Yeah, looking back, I agree with DC that we won't have many quality FA's after the VL is moved back. And I am fine with using the time to make contract extensions, as I have been doing that already. I think I overreacted just a little

[gstelmack]

* phew * Had to cut SP Pat Maddox (who has been pretty average the last two seasons anyway) and let MR Porter Gilbert walk, but 1B / RL MVP Jason Curtis took a bit less than he wanted to stay with us.

[magic_number]

In reference to one of my extentions, I made a simple error that I hope DC will fix. Concerning CF Kade Pruitt, He's at the compton AA team. I meant to click on "meet demand" for his 1 year minor league contract and instead I gave him a 1 year major league contract by mistake. If at all possible I would like him to correct this. I'm pooped (I work weekends), so I'll see you guys tomorrow evening.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, DC you fixed this b4 but it's been "un-fix" with the last file. I'm trying to avoid going over the cap...lots of stuff I have yet to learn.

I need to give Gilberto Alvarez (#22) a call up to play U-man, so I hope you can fix this b4 ST??

thanks