Putting the Fight Back in the Phils - MLB the Show 14

[slowpokemcgee]

Sliders - http://www.operationsports.com/forum...lb-14-ps4.html
Roster - http://www.operationsports.com/forum...ts-2014-a.html
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30 Team Control - On - Trades allowed if realistic
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The Phillies are an aging team that will need to be rebuilt in order to contend again. I think it will be a fun challenge to find the next generation of Utley/Howard/Lee etc. I love the format that Waittilnextyear uses in his franchise and will use that as a guideline (I also love excel for updates).

[slowpokemcgee]

Recent Team History

[slowpokemcgee]

3B Maikel Franco - Age 18 - 6'1", 180 2014 ETA - Franco's best tool is his power, which he has begun to tap into more as he matures. His quick hands allow him to drive the ball to all fields. Despite his lack of speed, he is a solid defender at third base and has a strong arm. The Phillies have given him some time at first base, but a position change is not necessarily in store for Franco.

LHP Jesse Biddle - Age 22 - 6'5", 220 - 2014 ETA - Biddle throws his fastball in the low-90s from a three-quarters arm slot. He throws a changeup and a big, sweeping curveball, which is his best offspeed pitch. All three of his pitches have a chance to be at least Major League-average offerings. Biddle has struggled with his control throughout his professional career, and finding a way to improve it will be critical to his success as a starter in the Major Leagues. If he can lower his walk rate, Biddle profiles as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

SS J.P. Crawford - Age 19 - 6'2", 190 - 2017 ETA - There's never been any question about the SoCal product's ability to stay at the premium position. He has an outstanding arm and excellent range and his feel for the game makes his already-sharp defensive tools play up even more. He's very competitive in the box, using his strong hands to spray line drives to all fields, with more power to come. He's a heady baserunner who will steal some bags along the way.

SS/OF Roman Quinn - Age 21 - 5'10", 170 - 2016 ETA - Quinn’s best asset is his plus-plus speed, which helped him swipe 32 bases in 67 games in 2013. He’s a switch-hitter who’s still working on pitch recognition and he also needs to improve his two-strike approach and better understand what pitchers are trying to do to get him out. Defensively, he’s still working to smooth out his actions but he has a good arm and above-average range at shortstop. A move to the outfield not out of the question if Crawford progresses more at short.

OF Aaron Altherr - Age 23 - 6'5", 220 - 2015 ETA - A superb athlete, Altherr is a long-term project. He generates enough bat speed to put a charge into the ball when he makes good contact. If he learns to make enough contact he could hit 20+ home runs but he may never produce a strong on-base percentage. He also has above-average speed and plays a good center field thanks to his solid range and strong arm.

RHP Severino Gonzalez - Age 21 - 6'1", 153 - 2015 ETA - Gonzalez is a command/control pitcher with just enough fastball velocity to make things interesting. The skinny right-hander throws in the low-90s with his heater but it’s almost more notable for its movement. He throws two breaking balls — a curveball and a slider — and occasionally mixes in a changeup. There are some durability concerns with Gonzalez’s slender frame and his 14 starts in 2013 tied a career high.

OF Carlos Tocci - Age 18 - 6'2", 160 - 2017 ETA - Tocci is all about projection. He shows flashes of developing into a good hitter because of his advanced approach but he needs to get stronger and add muscle to his slender frame. Pitchers aren’t afraid to go right after him because he lacks pop — even when he hits the ball on the screws. Defensively, he projects to develop into an above-average center-fielder with good range and a strong arm. The Venezuelan outfielder still has a lot of filling out to do and until he does he’ll continue to be overpowered by opposing pitchers.

[slowpokemcgee]

2014 Preview and Goals

- The 2014 Philadelphia Phillies are a team ready for change. With 5 regular hitters and 3 starters over 30, the team has seen it's peak and has started to roll downhill quick. Second Year manager Ryne Sandberg will look to improve on his rookie campaign, but must remain objective with his goals for the season. Without much promise in the minors, the team may well have a new manager by the time it's ready to compete. Free Agency will have to be a big factor come this winter if the team wants to sniff the playoffs soon.

Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will anchor the rotation, as per usual. After that, you run into a trough of pig-slop. AJ Burnett is 37 and you never know if he's going to hit the strike zone. Kyle Kendrick and Roberto Hernandez are here because nobody else is ready to hold down a spot. With a good start to the season, 23 year old Jon Pettibone could steal a back-end spot.

The Phillies lineup is actually in decent shape, if you ignore some of the ages. Injuries will be a major concern for the team. Ryan Howard will still bat cleanup, but his skills have noticeably diminished over the years. Chase Utley holds down the 3 spot, and will hopefully provide consistency to the lineup. Top prospect Maikel Franco will start the year in AAA, but the stage is set for a late May/early June debut. The 21 year old is undoubtedly the teams top prospect, and 3B is the teams biggest weakness.

[CBMerling]

Good to see a Phillies franchise on these forums. Considering the stage their in, about to start rebuilding. Going to be interesting to see what kind of moves you make and if Utley or Rollins are on your team after the All-Star break.

Best of luck to you in this franchise. Following..

[k_mac]

Good luck with this man. I really enjoyed running with the Phillies until my save file corrupted. It'll be interesting to see what direction you want to take the team and what you can do with them.

[Deuce2223]

WTNY has a great format. If only I had excel skills.

Will be nice to have another solid franchise to follow. It's weird I figured Philly would be a great team to do a rebuild franchise with, but in my Franchise with the M's there are currently 54-47 and only 2 games behind the Braes in the East and 1 game up on the Nat's so instead of rebuilding, I am trying to figure out a way to help them win. They are 1.5 out of the WC.

Howard and D. Brown are having monster years and Lee, Hamel, Burnett have been studs in the rotation and Paps is the best CP in baseball in my franchise.

Good luck.

[slowpokemcgee]

Series #1:

(0-0) @ (0-0)

Game 1: Opening day in baseball has finally arrived! Shhhh....the pitchers are still in their winter slumber. Both Yu Darvish and Cliff Lee struggled as 2014 started out as a slugfest. Prince Fielder loaded up on his spinich at Spring Training, crushing two bombs to pace the Ranger offense.

Game 2: Cole Hamels was brilliant for the Phillies today, allowing just 3 hits in eight innings. Despite throwing the complete game, he ended up with the loss. Extra bases escaped the grasp of the Phils today.

Game 3: The Rangers completed the sweep, allowing just four runs in the entire season. Despite the lop-sided score, Philadelphia made things interesting in the 8th. Ryan Howard drew a bases loaded walk to make things 5-1, and Darin Ruf followed up with a fly ball that sent Shin Soo Choo to the warning track. That was the last gasp the offense could muster, going down 1-2-3 to Joakim Soria in the 9th.

Game 1:



Game 2:



Game 3: