1978 Off-season Thread (Pre-draft file is up.)

[muns]

DC I have exported for tomorrow since I wont be here. Can you confirm that you got it for me?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I assume you're talking about the catcher's arm and basestealing. Well, sabermetrics says basestealing don't matter.

From 1973 - 1975 (3 seasons), my team stole a total of 12 bases... You can read whatever you want into that statement

[muns]

Originally Posted by Alan T

From 1973 - 1975 (3 seasons), my team stole a total of 12 bases... You can read whatever you want into that statement

That your Mr. Conservative and it plays well for you

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by muns

Surprised you gave up Padilla..... He was bad last year, but I think you would have had a very solid number 4 guy there.... Not like you dont have one now, but you know what i mean

Five starters and no relief was a real issue. He's a guy that could win 12 games or lose 15. I didn't really have the patience for that this year and I have enough young ??? type guys that I needed to begin testing or else, the trades I made to get to this point -- frankly suspect moves to the nth -- would have been foolhardy at best.

Luckily, I have a 3 year window with the team I've built now with minimal changes to be made, so this isn't a year I expect us to do anything crazy, it's a test to see how we come together and gel and then see what we need to do get over the hump.

But we're a contender now, versus before when we were just poised to be at the middle of the standings as a team that was recalling how '75 was the glory year.

Not that I suspect we'll get back there anytime soon, just saying..at least now I expect us to do well and will be disappointed if we don't, versus say, playing and hoping to win 75 games.

[Alan T]

That loud crash sound you heard were the collective careers of Whit O'Neal and Rick Inman hitting the wall of old age.

[ekcut]

Well I hate to say, but I think I took a step back this season...
I failed to upgrade the 5th spot in my rotation, my bullpen which was weak is only slightly better (but older), and I failed to improve at SS.
My lineup is chalked full of platoons, which will leave me in trouble versus any team with a boat load of lefty relievers. i struck out chasing the wrong FA's, and released a few players I shouldn't of to make cap room for guys I didn't end up getting. I think I may have out-strategized myself...I should of just kept it simple...
I don't see me competing this year ...

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Five starters and no relief was a real issue. He's a guy that could win 12 games or lose 15. I didn't really have the patience for that this year and I have enough young ??? type guys that I needed to begin testing or else, the trades I made to get to this point -- frankly suspect moves to the nth -- would have been foolhardy at best.

Luckily, I have a 3 year window with the team I've built now with minimal changes to be made, so this isn't a year I expect us to do anything crazy, it's a test to see how we come together and gel and then see what we need to do get over the hump.

But we're a contender now, versus before when we were just poised to be at the middle of the standings as a team that was recalling how '75 was the glory year.

Not that I suspect we'll get back there anytime soon, just saying..at least now I expect us to do well and will be disappointed if we don't, versus say, playing and hoping to win 75 games.

I totally get what your saying, and I know relief was an issue... Just surprised you picked Padilla to deal as he has been an all star 2 out of the last 3 years. You know what your doing though, I was just making conversation

[muns]

Originally Posted by Alan T

That loud crash sound you heard were the collective careers of Whit O'Neal and Rick Inman hitting the wall of old age.

Inman I think should still be ok... Oneil on the other hand... Sorry to see that happen to him and ya Alan..

[kaosfere]

Alrighty, stats gone over, team's built.

I'll preview a bit tomorrow, but I'm a bit less optimistic than I was last night.

I think this is Baltimore's year in the CL, with Valdosta and Texas duking it out for runner up, and Toronto, Brooklyn, and New York fighting for a single spot above .500.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by ekcut

I don't see me competing this year ...

You're funny.

[magic_number]

X-up... I wonder what poor Bplayer is gonna miss out playing this year b/c of him being a late MAXCAP scratch... maybe we should have a "mop-up" FA on fri & sim sat... or ... maybe just have maxcap enforced b4 ST??? or do nothing & get on w/the show....I'm good any way we go

M#, out.

[ekcut]

Originally Posted by muns

Inman I think should still be ok... Oneil on the other hand... Sorry to see that happen to him and ya Alan..

Yup...Nothing gold can stay....stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by muns

Inman I think should still be ok... Oneil on the other hand... Sorry to see that happen to him and ya Alan..

Inman's ratings look ok, but his stats won't be. By the end of the season, his ratings will have dropped to match the level of stats he'll put up. Going to be a tough decision how much to play him this season, because by the end of the year he'll be hitting under .265

[muns]

Originally Posted by magic_number

X-up... I wonder what poor Bplayer is gonna miss out playing this year b/c of him being a late MAXCAP scratch... maybe we should have a "mop-up" FA on fri & sim sat... or ... maybe just have maxcap enforced b4 ST??? or do nothing & get on w/the show....I'm good any way we go

M#, out.

ok I have no idea what the hell you just said

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

Alrighty, stats gone over, team's built.

I'll preview a bit tomorrow, but I'm a bit less optimistic than I was last night.

I think this is Baltimore's year in the CL, with Valdosta and Texas duking it out for runner up, and Toronto, Brooklyn, and New York fighting for a single spot above .500.

Okay, I do think I am not as good as I was last year, but you have me curious. Where do you have the Firecrackers?

[Anthony]

i'm liking my team. i aquired some guys i think will be able to play lights out in my park. on the road...that's another story. my pitching isn't in a shambles like i initially thought. BJ Silver is now the clear ace of this staff, and i'm VERY greatful for landing Bruno from free agency. i'd like one more rock solid SP, and i don't know if Pablo Gonzalez is that guy. he's playing for a contract so anything can happen.

Joe Smith, my excellent contact/speed/glove OF, is gonna be the fall of this team. everything points to him not having such a prominent role in the lineup, but man - 100 contact and speed! how do you not put him in the top of the lineup?? that having been said i looked at his stats and he strikes out too much and doesn't walk at all to garner such a high spot in the lineup. i have him batting 5th/6th this season, hopefully his strikeouts cause less damage further down the the lineup. tis a shame to waste that speed, but hopefully he makes the middle/latter part of the lineup a little more potent with his game changing speed.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by magic_number

X-up... I wonder what poor Bplayer is gonna miss out playing this year b/c of him being a late MAXCAP scratch... maybe we should have a "mop-up" FA on fri & sim sat... or ... maybe just have maxcap enforced b4 ST??? or do nothing & get on w/the show....I'm good any way we go

M#, out.

Heh, wish there was an easy way to handle things like that. But such is the way things go in a fast sim league.

[ekcut]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

You're funny.

i'm serious....My hope rest on three players...Ewing who is good, but not the 60vorp good that carried my offense last season, Sanchez who had a 5.9 vorp last season despite AWESOME ratings, and costa who had a -3.9 vorp last season despite AWESOME ratings...if those guys don't light it up, I'll be chasing tail lights.
Rating wise I can match up to all but Muns, but I have many players who do not play up to their ratings...

[muns]

Kaos you bum... If i wanted Alan to have MR- Tim Hanson I would have traded him over there to him

[muns]

Originally Posted by ekcut

i'm serious....My hope rest on three players...Ewing who is good, but not the 60vorp good that carried my offense last season, Sanchez who had a 5.9 vorp last season despite AWESOME ratings, and costa who had a -3.9 vorp last season despite AWESOME ratings...if those guys don't light it up, I'll be chasing tail lights.
Rating wise I can match up to all but Muns, but I have many players who do not play up to their ratings...

I think youll be alright too. I think the game took a dump on a few of your guys at the same time, like it tends to do, but I think youll bounce back this season.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Okay, I do think I am not as good as I was last year, but you have me curious. Where do you have the Firecrackers?

Oh, hrm. I only just now looked at your AAA roster. You tucked a bunch of guys there for the spring!

Let me revise my thoughts. :P

[Alan T]

Well.. I think the way this season is going to unfold for me is....

The fate of my team rests on the arm of Joel Garner

You don't understand how worrisome that is for me.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

Oh, hrm. I only just now looked at your AAA roster. You tucked a bunch of guys there for the spring!

Let me revise my thoughts. :P

lol...sorry for the confusion. Now you see why I am a little surprised to go 13-11 in spring training!

[Anthony]

Violators were exactly a .500 team last season. with the upgrades i made i definitely think we're above .500. if we won 77 games last year with some of the guys i was trotting out, we should be able to pick up at least 10 more games. if this team isn't 10 more games better than last season then OOTP is seriously one messed up game. i'm not even looking strictly at ratings. the only thing i can think of that could really hinder the Violators is maybe not setting up my strategy good enough.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Violators were exactly a .500 team last season. with the upgrades i made i definitely think we're above .500. if we won 77 games last year with some of the guys i was trotting out, we should be able to pick up at least 10 more games. if this team isn't 10 more games better than last season then OOTP is seriously one messed up game. i'm not even looking strictly at ratings. the only thing i can think of that could really hinder the Violators is maybe not setting up my strategy good enough.

I haven't paid close enough attention to your team, although I know you have gotten better. But I have to say, the leap from 77 to 87 games is, erm, not small. It's going to be a very interesting year in both leagues (especially if Alan's doomsaying is true for once, although, well, let's say I have my doubts ).

[Tasan]

Sometimes I hate OOTP.

I just spent 3 hours doing all my lineups, roster moves, and individual strategy for every ML player, clicked the home tab and it crashed. Lost EVERYTHING.

[Tasan]

Originally Posted by magic_number

X-up... I wonder what poor Bplayer is gonna miss out playing this year b/c of him being a late MAXCAP scratch... maybe we should have a "mop-up" FA on fri & sim sat... or ... maybe just have maxcap enforced b4 ST??? or do nothing & get on w/the show....I'm good any way we go

M#, out.

I can tell you two right now.

1B Lopez and 2B Haas. I intended to keep Haas this year, but the last minute trade I made forced a cap issue and he was expendable. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the butt.

[Chief Rum]

Another OOTP setting question.

If you have a spot starter set at 20%, does that mean he will step in for the fifth starter, or every game where he isn't tired, there will be a die roll to determine if he will start instead of that day's pitcher?

And, as an addendum, is there any way to be sure to have the spot starter only come in for a particular spot in the rotation?

[Cringer]

I just cut Andres Aguilera.

I didn't want to soil his history with a season in AAA from me. I think he may be done, and he was the odd man out in the outfield for me now with his ratings slide....

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Cringer

I just cut Andres Aguilera.

I didn't want to soil his history with a season in AAA from me. I think he may be done, and he was the odd man out in the outfield for me now with his ratings slide....

I hear ya. The following players have adorned the Atlanta MLB roster, or someone's roster in the past two years:

SP Martin Austin (50-75-81)--in ATL rotation 2 yrs ago
SP Wilbur Scott (72-60-74)--in ATL rotation 2 yrs ago
MR Eugene Mills (63-78-85)--main role in CGO pen 2 yrs ago
MR Andres Cruz (80-49-79)--main role in ATL pen 2 yrs ago
MR Ramon Fernandez (95-64-65)--main role in ATL pen 2 yrs ago
2B Gilbert Jette (72-94-31-78-95)--ATL platoon starter at 2B last yr
2B Terry Harper (76-78-13-60-62)--other ATL platoon starter at 2B last yr
3B Gerald Numbers (75-66-76-74-40)--NOL backup INF
LF Christian Williams (69-74-53-40-38)--ATL starting LF 2 yrs ago
RF Jorge Aguirre (78-66-58-56-72)--ATL platoon starter in RF last yr

and that doesn't even mention LF Cisco Gonzalez, who has not yet played in the majors--and has a 98 CON (and has for over a season now).

All of the above players did not make the cut to the Firecrackers' roster this year. I haven't done final cuts at AAA yet, but they may not even make the cut there.

We probably all have similar stories, too. Scary talent in this league.

[Chief Rum]

Of course, none of those guys are on the level of an Aquilera--just making the point of how much talent is out there. It's actually a good time to expand from a talent standpoint, I think. Maybe no other reason, but there is that.

I could have cut Prado the last two years, but chose not to. He finally retired, I think, after I released him this past offseason. Of course, I was unable to confirm this because OOTP makes trying to find the old transaction list as difficult as freakin' possible.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Another OOTP setting question.

If you have a spot starter set at 20%, does that mean he will step in for the fifth starter, or every game where he isn't tired, there will be a die roll to determine if he will start instead of that day's pitcher?

And, as an addendum, is there any way to be sure to have the spot starter only come in for a particular spot in the rotation?

The spot starter is supposed to only take place of the 5th starter spot on the percentage that you set. That said, if you have use highest rated starter + a spot starter, don't expect anything to work as planned.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

The spot starter is supposed to only take place of the 5th starter spot on the percentage that you set. That said, if you have use highest rated starter + a spot starter, don't expect anything to work as planned.

Thanks Alan. When you use a strict order (as it is ideally), do you find the game usually operates that way (as it is supposed to)?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Thanks Alan. When you use a strict order (as it is ideally), do you find the game usually operates that way (as it is supposed to)?

I don't really use spot starters ever. I haven't even tested them any in this version of OOTP. Most of my testing with them was in older versions. Even then, the way I used spot starters wasn't really the same way that you intend to use them. I would however expect to see if you use strict rotation and your spot starter set to 20%, that your spot starter would start 6 games during the season. Just no telling when or where.

[magic_number]

Originally Posted by Tasan

Sometimes I hate OOTP.

I just spent 3 hours doing all my lineups, roster moves, and individual strategy for every ML player, clicked the home tab and it crashed. Lost EVERYTHING.

BAD!!!

[magic_number]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Of course, none of those guys are on the level of an Aquilera--just making the point of how much talent is out there. It's actually a good time to expand from a talent standpoint, I think. Maybe no other reason, but there is that.

I could have cut Prado the last two years, but chose not to. He finally retired, I think, after I released him this past offseason. Of course, I was unable to confirm this because OOTP makes trying to find the old transaction list as difficult as freakin' possible.

[Young Drachma]

Spot starters pitch in place of the 5th starter, the percentage of the times you put him in there.

Last year, for instance, I wanted a 5 man but wanted him to split with the 5th guy half of the time. Well I forgot to turn off 6-man rotation and so, the spot guy became my 6th starter.

So anyway, the spot starter(s) always pitch in place of the 5th starter.

[Young Drachma]

Lopez ended up signing with Long Island.

[Young Drachma]

1978 Season Thread - Front Office Football Central