Cautiously Optimistic | Chicago Cubs Franchise (MLB 16 The Show)

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"Cautiously Optimistic"
Chicago Cubs 2016 Franchise

Introduction

Welcome to my 2016 Chicago Cub Franchise! I've been a long time follower of OSFM in MLB, Madden, and NCAA, but have primarily been in the shadows just reading the awesome content guys put out. Over the last few years I have ran some pretty fun franchise's in all three games & figured it was time to start documenting my successes and failures somewhere! So if you're interested in some frequent, clean, and realistic content, take a gander & enjoy!

Dynasty Info

Game: MLB 16 The Show
Rosters: OSFM Trade Deadline Update
Sliders: FenwayMac's (HoF difficulty)
House Rule: I simulated to reach September 9th. Following that, every game is played. I employ QC's for a more realistic K & BB rate on both sides of the ball.

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Dynasty Recap

Season by Season Record

2016: ???

Team Achievements

Overall Record:
Wild Card Berths:
NL Division Championships:
NL Championship Appearances:
NL Championship Pennants:
World Series Appearances:
World Series Championships:

Player Achievements

NL Gold Gloves:
NL Silver Sluggers:
NL All-Stars:
NL Rookies of the Year:
NL Hank Aaron Winners:
NL Batting Title Winners:
NL CY Young Winners:
NL Most Valuable Players:
NL Most Valuable Postseason Players:
NL Most Valuable World Series Players:

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Seasons Recap

Season by Season Champion

2016: ???

Season by Season Accolades

2016 MLB All-Star Game Rosters
American League		National League
Manager:		Manager:
Pos	Starters	Pos	Starters
C	Jonathan Lucroy, Texas	C	Buster Posey, San Francisco
1B	Kendrys Morales, Seattle	1B	Joey Votto, Cincinnati
2B	Jose Altuve, Houston	2B	Matt Carpenter, St. Louis
3B	Evan Longoria, Tampa	3B	Nolan Arenado, Colorado
SS	Francisco Lindor, Cleveland	SS	Corey Seager, LAD
LF	Nomar Mazara, Texas	LF	Ryan Bruan, Milwakee
CF	Ian Desmond, Texas	CF	Andrew Mccutchen, Pittsburgh
RF	Mark Trumbo, Baltimore	RF	Hunter Pence, San Francisco
Pos	Pitchers & Reserves	Pos	Pitchers & Reserves
SP	Michael Pineda, NYY	SP	Stephen Strasburg, Washington
RP	Blaine Boyer, Boston	RP	Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati
CP	Ryan Madson, Oakland	CP	Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta

2016 MLB Award Winners
Award	Player	Pos	Team
NL Rookie of the Year	?	?	?
AL Rookie of the Year	?	?	?
NL Hank Aaron Award	?	?	?
AL Hank Aaron Award	?	?	?
NL Rolaids Relief Award	?	?	?
AL Rolaids Relief Award	?	?	?
NL Cy Young Award	?	?	?
AL Cy Young Award	?	?	?
NL Most Valuable Player	?	?	?
AL Most Valuable Player	?	?	?
NL Playoff MVP	?	?	?
AL Playoff MVP	?	?	?

2016 MLB Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winners
American League	Pos	National League
?	C	?
?	1B	?
?	2B	?
?	3B	?
?	SS	?
?	OF	?
/	OF	?
?	OF	?
?	P	?

2016 MLB Silver Slugger Award Winners
American League	Pos	National League
?	C	?
?	1B	?
?	2B	?
?	3B	?
?	SS	?
?	OF	?
?	OF	?
?	OF	?
?	DH	/

[saintrules]

Reserved for Season to Season prospect progression (under construction)

[saintrules]

2016 Season Preview

Chicago Cubs Depth Chart - 2016

• Catcher
• Miguel Montero (80)
• Wilson Contreras (76)
• David Ross (65)

• First Base
• Anthony Rizzo (92)

• Second Base
• Ben Zobrist (88)

• Third Base
• Kris Bryant (93)

• Shortstop
• Addison Russell (80)
• Javier Baez (75)

• Left Field
• Jorge Soler (79)
• Chris Coghlan (76)

• Center Field
• Dexter Fowler (88)

• Right Field
• Jason Heyward (84)

• Starting Pitcher
• Jake Arrieta (94)
• Jon Lester (92)
• John Lackey (83)
• Kyle Hendricks (83)
• Jason Hammel (79)

• Relief Pitcher
• Hector Rondon (88)
• Pedro Strop (80)
• Joe Smith (80)
• Joe Nathan (76)
• Trevor Cahil (69)
• Mike Montgomery (65)

• Closer
• Aroldis Chapman (92)

Starting Pitching: Overall, our rotation is one of the best in the majors. Led by 2015 CY Young winner, Jake Arrieta (94), the lineup includes depth in experience and skill, something that will be necessary to carry a young Cub offense through the season. Jon Lester (92) is the type of player that could be an ace for any other team, preserving him over the course of the long season will be a priority. John Lackey (83), Kyle Hendricks (83), and Jason Hammel (79), round out the rotation and have their spots locked in for the moment. We hope to see some good production out of a young Hendricks who is a player we hope to see in the rotation for years to come.

Bullpen: The Cubs made a massive move with the Yankees to acquire the fireball throwing closer, Aroldis Chapman (92). The pen is definitely backloaded as Hector Rondon (88), Pedro Strop (80), and Joe Smith (80), will work as a rotating setup line and will fill in to middle inning relief. Joe Nathan (76) will be our go-to middle inning guy as Trevor Cahil (69) and Mike Montgomery (65) have some room to grow before being trusted in this win it all season.

Infield: With two of the best corner players in the game, the infield for the Chicago Cubbies is the heart and soul of this team. 2015 Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant (93), and Anthony Rizzo (92) will be asked to captain this year's roster as the butt-buddy duo hits third and cleanup. Offseason pickup, Ben Zobrist (88), is the complete blue collar type of guy and will be thrown into the two spot as the support man. Bunting, SACing, and avoiding K's will be the main priority for him. Addison Russel (80), while young, has the potential to be one of the top SS's in the league this season. He will be hitting sixth behind Jason Heyward & will be supported by Javier Baez (75) in case he endures a slump or needs some rest. Miggy Montero (80) will start at catcher, he has experience and is a strong signal caller, though his bat hasn't always been there.

Outfield: Dexter Fowler (88) will hit lead-off for the Cubs and as skipper Joe Maddon put it, "You go, we go". Fowler will need to set the bar for the Cubs and with word he has been lifting heavy this offseason and drinking tons of brotein, homeruns could be a nice addition to this already powerful lineup. Jason Heyward (84) will be hitting fifth as the bottom half lead-off man and will be our starting right fielder. Hopefully we can see a return to form of the 2012 Heyward where he blasted 27 homeruns and exceeded projections. In left, we find Jorge Soler (79), the player built like a cleanup hitter and one with absolute All-Star potential. Originally, we expected to see a little bit of a position battle between he and Kyle Schwarber (80), but with the injury to the big guy for the entire season, we now see Soler starting in left. He will be supported by vet Chris Coghlan (76) for off days and slumps.

Bench: With one of the more solid bench lineups in the league, the Cubs have the type of depth that allows them to rotate players on a consistent basis while keeping power at a high level. Javier Baez (75) will be the main guy off the bench and looked to play utility as he can move around the entire infield and outfield. Backing up Miguel Montero (80) is Top 50 prospect, Wilson Contreras (76). He is absolutely the type of player that will transform into the full time catcher for the Cubbies over the next season or two. Chris Coghlan (76), David Ross (65), and Rookie Albert Almora (64) round out the bench and will play on an as needed basis. If we find enough backup from Contreras for Montero, we will likely explore a few more AAA guys into the MLB lineup.

[saintrules]

2016
MLB Tonight
Season Preview

Preseason Power Rankings

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Kansas City Royals
3. San Francisco Giants
4. New York Mets
5. Housto Astros
6. Toronto Blue Jays
7. St. Louis Cardinals
8. Boston Red Sox
9. Texas Rangers
10. Los Angeles Dodgers

[saintrules]

2016 All-Star Break

2016 MLB All-Star Game Rosters
American League		National League
Manager:		Manager:
Pos	Starters	Pos	Starters
C	Jonathan Lucroy, Texas	C	Buster Posey, San Francisco
1B	Kendrys Morales, Seattle	1B	Joey Votto, Cincinnati
2B	Jose Altuve, Houston	2B	Matt Carpenter, St. Louis
3B	Evan Longoria, Tampa	3B	Nolan Arenado, Colorado
SS	Francisco Lindor, Cleveland	SS	Corey Seager, LAD
LF	Nomar Mazara, Texas	LF	Ryan Bruan, Milwakee
CF	Ian Desmond, Texas	CF	Andrew Mccutchen, Pittsburgh
RF	Mark Trumbo, Baltimore	RF	Hunter Pence, San Francisco
Pos	Pitchers & Reserves	Pos	Pitchers & Reserves
SP	Michael Pineda, NYY	SP	Stephen Strasburg, Washington
RP	Blaine Boyer, Boston	RP	Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati
CP	Ryan Madson, Oakland	CP	Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta

Call me oldschool, but if you aint first you're last. In an incredibly controversial selection process, not a single Chicago Cub made the All-Star game as a starter. Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Aroldis Chapman, Anthony Rizzo, & Kris Bryant were selected as replacements.

2016 All-Star Break Standings

MLB Standings - Updated: Jul 12, 2016
AL EAST	W	L	GB
Toronto Blue Jays	51	40	-
New York Yankees	48	40	1.5
Tampa Bay Rays	44	44	5.5
Boston Red Sox	42	46	7.5
Baltimore Orioles	41	47	8.5
AL CENTRAL	W	L	GB
Detroit Tigers	46	43	-
Chicago White Sux	44	45	2.0
Cleveland Indians	44	45	2.0
Kansas City Royals	40	49	6.0
Minnesota Twins	34	55	12.0
AL WEST	W	L	GB
Houston Astros	59	30	-
Texas Rangers	47	43	12.5
Oakland Athletics	46	43	13.0
Seattle Mariners	44	45	15.0
AL WILD CARD RACE	W	L	GB
New York Yankees	48	40	-
Texas Rangers	47	43	-
Oakland Athletics	46	43	0.5
Tampa Bay Rays	44	44	2.0
Chicago White Sux	44	45	2.5
NL EAST	W	L	GB
New York Mets	49	39	-
Philadelphia Phillies	46	44	4.0
Washington Nationals	45	45	5.0
Miami Marlins	39	49	10.0
Atlanta Braves	39	50	10.5
NL CENTRAL	W	L	GB
Chicago Cubs	60	29	-
St. Louis Cardinals	45	43	14.5
Pittsburgh Pirates	42	48	18.5
Milwaukee Brewers	39	49	20.5
Cincinnati Reds	31	59	29.5
NL WEST	W	L	GB
Los Angeles Dodgers	51	40	-
San Francisco Giants	50	40	0.5
Arizona Diamondbacks	44	46	6.5
Colorado Rockies	42	46	7.5
San Diego Padres	42	47	8.0
NL WILD CARD RACE	W	L	GB
San Francisco Giants	50	40	-
Philidelphia Phillies	46	44	-
St. Louis Cardinals	45	43	-
Washington Nationals	45	45	1.0
Arizona Diamondbacks	44	46	2.0

***Los Angeles Angels 42-47 17.0 GB***

[saintrules]

2016 Trade Deadline

Rangers Strike Gold

The 2016 Trade Deadline has come and gone and only one team made a notable move. The Texas Rangers have dealt Yu Darvish & Joey Gallo to Arizona in exchange for Paul Goldschmidt. The Rangers, while 12.0 GB in the AL West, are still holding a tied top spot in the AL Wild Card race. Arizona sits two games behind in the NL Wild Card, thus giving us the impression this move was strictly to help out lacking positions.

The Chicago Cubs have decided to not pursue any 2016 trades.