How to build a squad in franchise??

[pittsburgher86]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

Like others have said its all personal preference. My theory is to typically build a pitching first team. If you can shut down your opponents then you will be giving your offense a chance to win the game more often than not. Starting rotation and back end of the bullpen is key. For offense I typically want:

1. Speed
2. OBP
3. Best contact/power combo
4. Best power/clutch
5. Another power bat
6. Capable hitter with decent clutch
7. Second worst hitter
8. Worst hitter
9. Pitchers spot (if in NL)/Another speed guy (IF AL)

I require good defense from my catcher, shortstop and centerfielder. I prefer good defense from my second baseman and want my corner outfielders to at least throw well. I don't care about defense at first base. Third base is tricky, however. It seems to me all third basemen in game don't react well so all I really want in this them to throw decent but even that I don't care too much because typically my third baseman will be in the 2 through 5 part of my lineup.

[RogueHominid]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

I might have to give that a shot. I'm kind of a stats junkie and like them to all be my own, but completing a season is never going to happen going this route.

Another good strategy that I got from someone else is to pick one starter and play all his starts. That way you can say for one guy that all his stats are yours, but you can also get through a season in 35 games. To me it's just the right balance pace-wise to allow 3-5 seasons of franchise mode to get played.

The other strategy I used was to play one game a series and sim the other 2-3.

For the sims, I would set the lineup, go into the game, and then fast forward to the end so I could retain control of who played and where they played on a game to game basis. That helped ensure that my stats were good in terms of PA and such. The only think you can't control that way is the bullpen.

With a good roster, the sim stats are compelling enough that you can do the play one, sim several and not feel like things are falling apart.

[bigd51]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

For the sims, I would set the lineup, go into the game, and then fast forward to the end so I could retain control of who played and where they played on a game to game basis. That helped ensure that my stats were good in terms of PA and such. The only think you can't control that way is the bullpen.

And pitch count. Fast forwarding in game, pitchers stamina depletes at a slower rate, regardless of pitch count. I've seen many times where my pitcher throws 120 pitches with 25% stamina still left when fast forwarding. So there's that too.

Not sure if it would adversely affect anything with stats, though.

[mullhouse]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

What about hitting? What button do you guys use to hit? Keep in mind I'm using Armor and Swords, so its timing-based. I can't figure out which button is best - power, regular, or contact.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[bigd51]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

What about hitting? What button do you guys use to hit? Keep in mind I'm using Armor and Swords, so its timing-based. I can't figure out which button is best - power, regular, or contact.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Armor and Swords?

I used button hitting for the longest time, but since they changed the controls of analog hitting and made it a tad simpler this year, I've been using analog.

But, to answer your question about type of swing you should use, it all depends on the situation:

Normal swing is the one you want to use the most, regardless of the situation.

Contact swing improves your chances of making better contact with the ball, per the name, at the slight expense of power and extra base hits, although it's still possible to hit HR's using contact swing, but not often. You may want to use contact swing when you are behind in the count (usually on 0-2, 1-2, or 2-2). The reason for this is so you have a better chance of fouling balls off instead of whiffing at them if you need to protect the plate.

Power swing is the one you want to use VERY rarely, or completely ignore it altogether. Power swing really makes it difficult to make solid contact with the ball, so despite the added boost to your swing IF you make contact, you'll have a MUCH harder time fighting off close pitches outside the zone. Because of this, you'd be wise to ONLY use power swing when you are ahead in the count (usually 2-0, 3-0, or 3-1). Reason for this is, when you're ahead in the count, there's a higher chance of seeing a fastball deep in the zone, thus giving you a better chance of making contact with the power swing. In retrospect, I wouldn't use power swing at all.. just stick with Normal and/or Contact. The low contact % and success rate just aren't worth using it because even when I have made solid contact using power swing, I don't notice much difference in that and Normal.

Also, these swing types affect your ability to successfully check your swings too. Using contact gives you the highest chance of doing so, while using Power swing gives you a much lower chance of doing so, if not impossible. Normal swing is the tweener, but still, you will successfully check your swings with Normal more times than not.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

Another good strategy that I got from someone else is to pick one starter and play all his starts. That way you can say for one guy that all his stats are yours, but you can also get through a season in 35 games. To me it's just the right balance pace-wise to allow 3-5 seasons of franchise mode to get played.

The other strategy I used was to play one game a series and sim the other 2-3.

For the sims, I would set the lineup, go into the game, and then fast forward to the end so I could retain control of who played and where they played on a game to game basis. That helped ensure that my stats were good in terms of PA and such. The only think you can't control that way is the bullpen.

With a good roster, the sim stats are compelling enough that you can do the play one, sim several and not feel like things are falling apart.

Decided to go with your approach. I'm just going to play all of Sabathia's starts. I might mix it up with another pitcher if I get bored, but I think this will be fun.

[RogueHominid]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

Decided to go with your approach. I'm just going to play all of Sabathia's starts. I might mix it up with another pitcher if I get bored, but I think this will be fun.

I tip my cap to KingV2K3 on this one, as it's his idea, but I think it's the perfect blend of immersion and pacing. You can really make headway and get multiple seasons done, which is even more rewarding as you see your drafting and free agency plans materialize and either make you better or worse. The payoff of that, to me, is greater than having all the stats for an entire year be user stats, though I certainly see why that's a compelling way to play for many.

[Degromination]

Re: How to build a squad in franchise??

from my experience the h/9 attribute is very important for pitchers and the batting vision for hitters.