MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

[TheWarmWind]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

I've played a season with the Orioles every year on the Show every year since Buck Showalter arrived. Never once won the AL East. But Show 19 will end all that. I cant play w/o Hardy Machado & Schoop. Heck, this year I even signed JJ Hardy to a one year deal for depth. On the one hand I'll miss the challenge of cobbling together a pitching staff, on the other hand I wont miss the likes of Gausman, Tillman, Miley, Ubaldo, Yovani Gallardo, Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, on & on & on.

I've already ruled out playing with the Yanks & BoSox so its down to Tampa or Toronto. I actually like the Trop & what SDS has been able to accomplish replicating it so, other than its not retractable, I can live there for a year & its not really a deal breaker or anything. And there pitching staff will in a lot of ways be as challenging as Baltimores. If I pick the Jays, Donaldson will absolutely have to be dealt away (RTR!).

I feel I'm way too biased to answer this, but I'd suggest the Jays. Having a retractable roof home stadium is really nice, plus if you're playing OSFM the Jays are in a really interesting and challenging position, managerial wise. However, if you're only planning on playing one season, maybe the Rays are the better choice. The Jays are all about managing development right now and are kind of lacking in day to day management challenges, whereas the Rays will keep you active and thinking.

TL;DR: if playing one season, pick the Rays, if playing multiple seasons, pick the Jays.

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[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

The New York Mets won 116 games in 2018, and yet, their season was ended in just four postseason games by the St. Louis Cardinals.

After splitting games in New York, the Cardinals outscored the Mets 20-6 in Busch Stadium, winning Games 3 and 4 of the NLDS by an identical 10-4 score.

The Cardinals were just the better team. I couldn't do anything to cool their bats down, and their pitching was really good, too. Not having Cespedes and deGrom definitely made a difference, but not sure we win with them, either.

Cleveland defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in 6 games to win the World Series.

Going to take a little break from The Show before starting up the 2019 season. 2018 was a heck of a ride, but disappointing to not perform well in the playoffs.

Tough break DJ.

Good luck in the offseason and in the 2019 season when you get back out there.

[kinsmen7]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

I feel I'm way too biased to answer this, but I'd suggest the Jays. Having a retractable roof home stadium is really nice, plus if you're playing OSFM the Jays are in a really interesting and challenging position, managerial wise. However, if you're only planning on playing one season, maybe the Rays are the better choice. The Jays are all about managing development right now and are kind of lacking in day to day management challenges, whereas the Rays will keep you active and thinking.

TL;DR: if playing one season, pick the Rays, if playing multiple seasons, pick the Jays.

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Jays are the first franchise that I haven't felt like I was cheating when I signed Harper. I gave Donaldson a QO at the end of the season, let him walk to get overpaid on a 6 year deal to the Yanks (Have fun ya big dummies!), and then overpaid Harper to get a huge lefty bat/star to pair with Vladdy, and am now letting my team grow.

Did I mention that we have Baby Vlad?!?!?!

[DoubleZ_3]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Jays are the first franchise that I haven't felt like I was cheating when I signed Harper. I gave Donaldson a QO at the end of the season, let him walk to get overpaid on a 6 year deal to the Yanks (Have fun ya big dummies!), and then overpaid Harper to get a huge lefty bat/star to pair with Vladdy, and am now letting my team grow.

Did I mention that we have Baby Vlad?!?!?!

Jay's always intrigued me, I like their Jerseys and ya. Baby vlad haha. But hard for me to pull the trigger on them while being a Sox fan. I always feel weird playing as any other AL east team (never touched the Yankees and never will) that and having 2 diff franchises in the same div wouldn't be ideal. Plus. I always have 3 going right now lol. I like variety

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[TheWarmWind]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

So I've got two 3B players I'm considering to take the position. One is a bit of a dud at the plate, but provides top notch defense (he's already stolen a few hits and I'm only 2.5 games into spring) and has decent speed/basestealing (enough to be a threat). He also bats left.

The other bats right and is a clearly superior option at the plate, but provides mediocre defense and is slow enough to never be a threat.

Personally I'm leaning towards the defensive specialist. I've always valued good defense at third. I'm just wondering what other people's thoughts are on the 3B position. I sometimes feel like I'm the only person who prefers defense (especially reaction) over offense there.

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[boxboy99]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Cubs @ D-Backs

Top 4th - Soler hits a drive shot to deep center. The fielder dives in to the wall but can’t make the grab. The ball bounces back into the field of play and Soler gets an easy in the park homer. Cubs up 1-0

Top 5th - Cubs bat around and put up 5 runs for a 6-0 lead.

Bot 5th - Mike Drese hits a solo HR Cubs up 6-1

Bot 7th - D-backs put up 3 more runs to draw closer 6-4.

Bot 9th - 2 outs, bases loaded Coronado is able to get the ground out to get the SV.

Cubs 6-14-0
AZ 4-14-0

Rizzo has the day off.

W - Tommy Hunter 2-3
L - David Ramirez 8-10
SV - Coronado 27

Atlanta hammers the Cards today 12-1. Were only down .5 now with 10 games to go.

We’re about to start a 3 game vs the White Sox who are 81-72 and only 2.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central.


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[DJ]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Tough break DJ.

Good luck in the offseason and in the 2019 season when you get back out there.

I got back to it last night, lol.

The Mets defeated the Phillies 16-1 and hit 8 home runs.

Might need to go up to HOF difficulty.

[DoubleZ_3]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

So I've got two 3B players I'm considering to take the position. One is a bit of a dud at the plate, but provides top notch defense (he's already stolen a few hits and I'm only 2.5 games into spring) and has decent speed/basestealing (enough to be a threat). He also bats left.

The other bats right and is a clearly superior option at the plate, but provides mediocre defense and is slow enough to never be a threat.

Personally I'm leaning towards the defensive specialist. I've always valued good defense at third. I'm just wondering what other people's thoughts are on the 3B position. I sometimes feel like I'm the only person who prefers defense (especially reaction) over offense there.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Operation Sports mobile app

I'm with you. I prefer defense. Give me a guy who can field at least decently and a cannon of an arm, especially on those slow hits it can be annoying watching a 3B throw a lolly pop to 1st and have it be close.

I'd say evaluate the rest of your team. Do you NEED that 3B with a bat? Or is the rest of your position players provide more than enough pop on offense ? If you feel you've got enough to score I'd 100% go with the defensive 3B. imo.

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[reyes the roof]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

So I've got two 3B players I'm considering to take the position. One is a bit of a dud at the plate, but provides top notch defense (he's already stolen a few hits and I'm only 2.5 games into spring) and has decent speed/basestealing (enough to be a threat). He also bats left.

The other bats right and is a clearly superior option at the plate, but provides mediocre defense and is slow enough to never be a threat.

Personally I'm leaning towards the defensive specialist. I've always valued good defense at third. I'm just wondering what other people's thoughts are on the 3B position. I sometimes feel like I'm the only person who prefers defense (especially reaction) over offense there.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Operation Sports mobile app

I'm offensively challenged, so I need every good bat I can get in my lineup. I have Todd Frazier at 3B who is pretty good defensively and a big power threat for me, if I had to give up one aspect of his game I'd definitely keep the power and settle for sub par defense

[millertime98]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Jays are the first franchise that I haven't felt like I was cheating when I signed Harper. I gave Donaldson a QO at the end of the season, let him walk to get overpaid on a 6 year deal to the Yanks (Have fun ya big dummies!), and then overpaid Harper to get a huge lefty bat/star to pair with Vladdy, and am now letting my team grow.

Did I mention that we have Baby Vlad?!?!?!

I got to watch Baby Vlad and baby Bichette on the same team in the minors. Fantastic future for the Jays if they get the pitching to match.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

AAA pitcher Blake McKnight to the DL with strained ligament in elbow

Make it 11 guys on DL for Cardinals organization


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[FluffyTonka]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

I restarted my Orioles franchise, because 5 games in I realised I'd been playing with the default rosters, not the latest ones.

Spring Moves

I swapped 3B prospect Taveras for a pitching prospect in the Dodgers, 21 year old lefty Caleb Ferguson. The plan was to stash him away and let him develop in the minors ... but after pitching 11 scoreless innings in Spring Training, he's on the opening day roster as my long reliever. He has this magnificent curve ball which breaks left-to-right like an old school slider & his action is pure joy to work with.

Austin Romine C & Zach Britton - Yankees for Austin Wynns C & A+ pitching prospect RHP Hunter Hervey.

I'm not sure if it's placebo or real, that catchers call the games differently in the Show ... but I seem to pitch the doors off with Romine (discovered this in an exhibition game) so he's my number one C with Sisco behind him in a learning role. He calls a unique game ... 5 sliders in a row, 5 fastballs all located in the same spot etc and it seems to work. lol

And bringing Britton back as closer was a no brainer. the yanks are loaded in the bullpen and we are not. haha

1B Joey Gallo - Texas for Pedro Alvares & A rated SS prospect. He's only 24, and if get to work right away on his swing for contact to go with the that power we might get a 40HR at .250 clip from him? that's the plan.

Gorkys Hernandez OF - Giants for 2B Jace Peterson. Hernandez is a solid fielder and a good bat against RHP's.

[FluffyTonka]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Season update.

The Orioles are 4-0 on the new season. I played the opener, and the last game and simmed the two in between to get me to where i was in my original franchise.

Dylan Bundy on opening day was stunning for the win as the Orioles defeated the Twins 3-1.

Dylan Bundy - Win
8IP 4H 1R 1ER 0BB 10SO

Zach Britton - Save
1.1IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 2SO

Johnathan Villar (1 double short of hitting for the cycle!)
3-4 1HR 3RBIs 1SB

[DoubleZ_3]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

After just going 2-6 in our last 8 games coming into Yankee stadium for game 1 of 3 Joe Kelly surrenders a walk off to Greg Bird in the 10th inning, closing the gap to 2.5 GB early on. I needed game 2, it was a must win in my eyes.

The Red Sox pulled it out 6-5 in a thriller of a game! 14 hits by both sides.

Porcello vs Tanaka
Yankees grab a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd off porcello with a few hits. Top 3 the Sox bottom half of the order respond by stringing together some hits with Bradley driving in 2 with a double 2-1 Bottom 5, Yankees tie it up scoring 1 more 2-2 Now top 6 Sox bottom half AGAIN responds led by a lead off single by JD, Benny K's Devers K's JBJ basehit, and kinsler drives JD in with a base hit the middle! 3-2. Yanks wasted no time, Hembree surrenders a base hit, then a walk and Bird hits a bomb...5-3 Yankees headed into the 7th. Top 7 Mookie leading off draws a 3-1 count gets his pitch and GONE. Xander gets on again with no outs but couldn't produce. we close the gap 5-4 Yankees. Headed to the 8th the Red Sox are able to score 2 more runs on multiple hits and 2 pinch hits all with 2 outs. one of them being Steve Pearce with a 2 rbi single down the left field line. Bottom 8, Thornburg gets into trouble with 1 out and I do what I never ever do. Bring a closer in for 5 outs. Like I said. I wanted the game, And Kimbrel well rested is capable. He enters the game and in 6 pitches strikes out Hicks and pops up Judge to escape. Here it is bottom 9. Stanton steps in and strikes out. 1 down. Didi is up, base hit up the middle. Niel Walker 3-4 up to this point grounds out to 3B. 2 out 1 on 2nd 6-5 lead. Andujar enters, and he quickly pops out to Mookie and the Red Sox win!

Improving to 24-13 we take back our 3.5 game lead over the Bombers headed into the finale of the 3 game series.





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[TheWarmWind]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

I'm with you. I prefer defense. Give me a guy who can field at least decently and a cannon of an arm, especially on those slow hits it can be annoying watching a 3B throw a lolly pop to 1st and have it be close.

I'd say evaluate the rest of your team. Do you NEED that 3B with a bat? Or is the rest of your position players provide more than enough pop on offense ? If you feel you've got enough to score I'd 100% go with the defensive 3B. imo.

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No I don't need the bat. My 1-4 is pretty solid and set in stone. He has the potential to be the #5 bat but has a lot of stiff competition for 5, 6, and 7 spots, so odds are he'd still be in the bottom of the order.

In my current setup, I have a platoon with my defensive 3B batting 9th vs righties and my offensive 3B batting 7th vs lefties.

Being a DH is a possibility but I'd rather use it to keep my outfielders rested.