MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

[tcorb95]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Got off to an awful start offensively in my Giants franchise which led to a 7-8 record. Turned things around and won 10 of 12 but have since lost 2 in a row and am now 17-12 but with a tough schedule ahead. Bumgarner and Cain have been great while Lincecum, Hudson, and Vogelsong have been inconsistent. Very tight division race as I'm tied for second with Arizona and just a half game back of the Rockies in first. Meanwhile the Dodgers and Padres are 2.5 and 6.5 games back but I know the Dodgers won't stay behind for long. I have a feeling either Colorado or Arizona will fall off but one of them will stay in contention. Red Sox are in last place right now in the AL East and if it stays like that I will probably trade for Lester. Also thinking of a Ben Zobrist for Sandoval trade. Any suggestions on a bat like Zobrist but not as expensive and costly?

[tcorb95]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Mets 2014 Franchise Year:

The next few games will be crucial as the standings in the NL East looks like this:

Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 -
Washington Nationals 7-6 -
New York Mets 7-6 -
Miami Marlins 7-7 0.5
Atlanta Braves 6-7 1.0

The Phillies recovered fast from their dismal 1-5 start and the Nats seemed to have fallen hard from their fast start. Around the NL the Cubs hold a crazy 3.5 lead over the Reds with a 10-2 record in the Central and the Dodgers hold a 2.0 game lead over the Giants in the West with a record of 9-4. The NL wildcard is also tied up with the Phillies, Reds, Nationals, Giants, and Mets all tied for the top spot in the Wild Card so far

I wouldn't say they're CRUCIAL, but obviously it's not fun to lose ball games. This early in the year it's not gonna hurt like it would in August/September

[Knight165]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Got off to an awful start offensively in my Giants franchise which led to a 7-8 record. Turned things around and won 10 of 12 but have since lost 2 in a row and am now 17-12 but with a tough schedule ahead. Bumgarner and Cain have been great while Lincecum, Hudson, and Vogelsong have been inconsistent. Very tight division race as I'm tied for second with Arizona and just a half game back of the Rockies in first. Meanwhile the Dodgers and Padres are 2.5 and 6.5 games back but I know the Dodgers won't stay behind for long. I have a feeling either Colorado or Arizona will fall off but one of them will stay in contention. Red Sox are in last place right now in the AL East and if it stays like that I will probably trade for Lester. Also thinking of a Ben Zobrist for Sandoval trade. Any suggestions on a bat like Zobrist but not as expensive and costly?

Are you looking for Zobrist or other at 3B?....or just another UTL bat?

M.K.
Knight165

[tcorb95]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

After winning back to back World Series it's the summer of 2023 and this team just gets better. Sitting at 54-11 with a 14.0 Game lead in the NL East

)

Is it even fun to play when you're winning so much? Where's the challenge? Lol I quit my Yankees franchise after I won it all my first year with over 100 wins then in the second I got off to a hot start and just deleted it.

[tcorb95]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Are you looking for Zobrist or other at 3B?....or just another UTL bat?

M.K.
Knight165

I'm not personally in love with Zobrist but he can hit and play many positions. I'm definitely not trying to trade Sandoval but I just thought that Sandoval for Zobrist was fair. Sandoval is only 27 and I really don't want to give him up. I'd like to have Sandoval at 3B and Zobrist at 2B. The thing that sells Zobrist for me is if I need to give Sandoval day off I can put Scutaro in or if someone in the OF needs one I can put Zobrist out there. I just think Zobrist is gonna be too much. His contract is over 10 mill and the trade logic is beyond crazy in this game so you can't trade just prospects.

[Knight165]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

I'm not personally in love with Zobrist but he can hit and play many positions. I'm definitely not trying to trade Sandoval but I just thought that Sandoval for Zobrist was fair. Sandoval is only 27 and I really don't want to give him up. I'd like to have Sandoval at 3B and Zobrist at 2B. The thing that sells Zobrist for me is if I need to give Sandoval day off I can put Scutaro in or if someone in the OF needs one I can put Zobrist out there. I just think Zobrist is gonna be too much. His contract is over 10 mill and the trade logic is beyond crazy in this game so you can't trade just prospects.

I really like Zobrist as well...for his ability to play just about anywhere.
A "poor man's" Zobrist might be a guy like Willie Bloomquist on Seattle.
Not going to floor you...but you get him on the cheap I think.

M.K.
Knight165

[JJFurr29]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Is it even fun to play when you're winning so much? Where's the challenge? Lol I quit my Yankees franchise after I won it all my first year with over 100 wins then in the second I got off to a hot start and just deleted it.

That year we went 112-50, but didn't win the World Series, lost to LAD in 7 in the NLCS. Won it next year though. But now that guys like Stanton and Henry Fernandez and others are regressing I've traded them away for young prospects. Kind if fun to rebuild teams

[JJFurr29]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

After winning 3 World Series in 4 years, and some of my older stars are starting to regress I've started trading them while they're still worth something to get young talent.
Lost Heaney in free agency cuz I ran out of money
Traded RF Stanton to Seattle for 2 A potential prospects
Traded SP Henry Fernandez to Atlanta for 2 A potential prospects
Traded C Ken Cortez to San Diego for an A potential prospect
Traded SP Braden Shipley to Cincinatti for 2 A Potential prospects

Odd that Henry Fernandes was at 99 and is already at 90 in 2025 at age 28/29 as opposed to Jose Fernandez who is 32/33 and still at 96.

I've quickly replenished my Starting Pitching talent with 5 guys under 23 all A potential, 2 of which I just moved up to the show. I've developed 4 guys in the outfield that are MLB ready, and all are in the MLB. Aquired a young A potential 1B, 2B, SS and C. So future looks bright

[DJeterFan2]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Just swept the A's at home in a 4 game set. This team is clicking on all cylinders right now.

Spoiler

The Athletics and Yankees. The class of the American League meet for a 4-game tango. Let's do it.



Homegrown talent paces the Yankees sweep A's at home.



Game 1: Athletics 1, Yankees 4





In the first game of the series, the Yankees relied on rookie Shane Greene as their starters needed a bit of a break. The rookie provided the Yankees with 5 and a third innings of 1 run ball. "He really stepped up. I think he's found a spot on this roster. His changeup and slider were quite impressive and had the A's lineup off-balance a bit. I think he'll slide into the bullpen for now after this start if our starters feel good after getting an extra day of rest", Girardi told reports after the game.

Greene was ecstatic about his debut, "I can't believe I made it. It's sort of surreal. Pitching in Yankee Stadium, in front of a huge crowd against a great team like the A's. It's what every kid dreams about. I hope I can be apart of this organization for a very long time." The Yankees were carried offensively by rookie outfielder Ramon Flores and the Brett Gardner. Both of whom provided home runs in the game. In his major league debut, rookie first baseman Chris Villanueva went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts. Also in the victory, Yankees' closer David Robertson picked up his 20th save of the season





Game 2: Simulated - Athletics 3, Yankees 4

Game 3: Athletics 4, Yankees 5

Great Scott! The Yankees veteran utilityman provided the lift that the Yankees needed off the bench in Chase Headley's day off. Sizemore's 2 homers proved to be the decisive blows in another close victory for the Yankees.



"You know you've got to be ready at any time. There's going to be days where Javy, Chase, or Jed need a day off, and as the utilityman it's my responsibility to give it my all in place of them. Today, I just felt great at the plate and was able to put together some great swings. All I can hope for is that I can bottle this type of effort going forward.", Sizemore told our San Diego Studios Reporters. In the finale of the series, the Yankees will send veteran right-hander Jason Hammel to the the hill.

Game 3: Athletics 5, Yankees 7



The Yankees completed the sweep of the A's behind the coming out party of rookie first baseman, Chris Villanueva. In the game, Villanueva recorded his first major league hit and home run. "Chris and Javy are going to be a big part of our future here in New York. These guys have the potential to be cornerstones of the franchise so this is something that we'll expect of Chris going forward as he gets more time here in the majors.", exclaimed Girardi. The Yankees were able to obtain both balls that turned out to be Villanueva's first major league hit and first major league home run.

Villanueva and Baez were former teammates as members of the Cubs organization, in Iowa. "I'm glad that my buddy is here with me in New York. We were both shocked to find out that we were traded here back in 2014, but that's the business side of baseball. We hope to be a force for this team for a long time. There's a lot of expectations that we plan to exceed during our tenure here in New York.", said Baez after the game.





Villanueva's home run came against A's starter A.J. Griffin in 3rd inning. "I saw a pitch up in the zone that I thought I could handle so I tried to put my best swing on it. Once I made contact, I was trying will it fair, luckily it hit the foul pole, or in this case, the fair pole.", Villanueva told our on-field reporters during the post game interview. The Yankees will have little time to celebrate Villanueva's moral victory as the Pirates will visit the Bronx for an early 1:00pm start tomorrow.

[HozAndMoose]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

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Kansas City Royals - 50 Game Update - 2016

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Spring Training / Off season

Spoiler

After losing in the ALDS for the 2nd year in a row. We went into the off season looking to upgrade a few places. That didnt go so well. RF was the major target for us. Jason Heyward was really the only option Until he decided that the .254 AVG with 28 HR and 78 RBI he hit in 2015 was worth 30 million a year. From there SS was another position we were looking at upgrading. Alcides Escobar was FA eligible for the first time. He was looking for 11 million a year. Alexi Ramirez was the only better SS on the market. But at 34 and wanting 8 million a year we decided to resign Escobar to a 4 year deal just under 40 million a year. Fromt here no one was really an upgrade so we kept what we had. Added a 1B named Leo Garland. 22 years old C potential. Major League ready hitter. In AAA for now. Really only a DH option.

Going into Spring Training almost all the starters were set. 5th guy in the rotation and Long Reliever along with the worst RP being put in AAA were the only battles. Justin Marks, Danny Duffy, Sean Manea, Jason Vargas were the candidates. Marks, Duffy and Manea were very good. Vargas was terrible. Manea was the odd man out with 3 options left.

Through 50 games. This may be the best team i have had in the game this year. We sit at 36-14 with an 11 game lead. The though right now is if we dont make it past the ALDS i kill all 25 guys in the off season.

Spoiler

For the first time ever KC has the best offense in the AL. And maybe the entire league. We are 1st in AVG, 3rd in runs, 2nd in hits, 1st in triples, 3rd in HR, have the most walks, least strikeouts and best OBP.

The middle of the lineup is the whole reason why we are that good. Salvador Perez is hitting .307 with 10 HR and 33 RBI. He is on pace for career highs of 33 HR, and 106 RBI. Alex Gordon is hitting .272 with 3 HR and 15 RBI. He isnt the AVG hitter he was in 2014. Hes not the power hitter he was last year. But he seems to be right in the middle. And he has been hot hitting .372 his last 10 games. But the best hitter by far has been Mike Moustakas. He is 2nd in the majors in AVG at .355, leads the majors in HR with 15, and RBI with 43. He is on pace to destroy his career highs with 48 HR and 136 RBI. He also leads the MVP race.

As good as the offense has been its possible the pitching has been just as good. We are 2nd in ERA, 2nd in shutouts, 2nd in saves, we have allowed the least HR, 2nd least walks, and have the most strikeouts.

Yordano Ventura has finally been living up to his nickname. He has been the ace of this team by far. 8-1, 10 starts, 9 quality starts, 78 innings pitched. 1.73 ERA, 105 strikeouts, 14 walks, 0.82 whip. Not gonna say he is anywhere near there yet, But the Pedro Martinez comparisons dont look that off right now. Aaron Brooks and Kyle Zimmer have been great as well. Brooks is 5-3 with a 2.23 ERA has the least walks in the majors for qualified pitchers. Zimmer is 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA. 66 strikeouts and 14 walks. The pen has been great as well. They have a 2.60 ERA in 114.1 innings pitched. Holland leads the AL with 21 saves.

[KBLover]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

I really like Zobrist as well...for his ability to play just about anywhere.
A "poor man's" Zobrist might be a guy like Willie Bloomquist on Seattle.
Not going to floor you...but you get him on the cheap I think.

M.K.
Knight165

If these guys are like they were in MLB13 - I 100% agree. I picked up Bloomquist off the street in MLB13 and he was very useful.

And I <3 guys who can play everywhere and even be decent with a bat. Love Zobrist.

[JJFurr29]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

So even after trading some veterans away. We snuck into the playoffs as the 2nd wildcard. Beat the Dodgers. The beat the Phillies in 5, then beat the Giants in 7 to advance to the World Series, where Jose Fernandez led the Marlins to the Championship in a 4-1 series win over Oakland. The 4th World Series win in 5 years. We still had some really good guys that I didn't trade. Matt Olson 1B (94), Clinton at 2nd (96), Yelich in Left (91) and Delgado at 3rd (95) but I didn't think it'd be enough to win. The rotation was. Jose Fernandez (96), Emil Navarro (95), Darren Chico (89), Rookie Fletcher Mesa (85) and Rookie Alberto Balladares (77). Both Rookie's are under 24, and I have 3 more pitchers under 23 with A potential at 78/79. Held serve in FA leaving some cap room..

[Cre8]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Just got swept by the now 36-66 Twins in Minnesota... I managed only 6 hits and 2 runs over three games.

Very worried my team is in the beginnings of a slump... Not good.

[mkilcNYR]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

Yea, I get what you're saying and it def wouldn't put the Mets in a hole if they lost but we were playing the Diamondbacks who hadn't been able to do much (3-12) so I wanted to sweep the bad teams now and try and get a cushion since the Braves and Cardinals are up next for the schedule. More like it was crucial for me lol

[mkilcNYR]

Re: MLB 14 The Show Franchise Progress

I wouldn't say they're CRUCIAL, but obviously it's not fun to lose ball games. This early in the year it's not gonna hurt like it would in August/September

Yea, I get what you're saying and it def wouldn't put the Mets in a hole if they lost but we were playing the Diamondbacks who hadn't been able to do much (3-12) so I wanted to sweep the bad teams now and try and get a cushion since the Braves and Cardinals are up next for the schedule. More like it was crucial for me lol