MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

I have the best record in the league at 27-14. But when I lose, I LOSE.

After taking the first three games of a four-game series with the Marlins by a combined four runs, I lost last night 10-0. My run differential is just plus-8 for the season. I feel a W-L correction coming in my franchise.

[Ranger Fan]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Texas Rangers Update: Season 2 MOM

Well season 2 has gone allot better then season 1 in the first month of play. I am currently 14-14 and sit in 3rd place 3 games behind Houston. My team has been playing pretty good baseball. As we near the end of April here is how we look.

No injuries- I did lose Jose Castillo for 10 days and also Kang for the same time period, both are healthy now.

C- McCann- Terrible start hitting 196 with 2 HR's. Big dissapointment so far
1B- Gallo- Huge improvement. 6 HR's already. Same he had all last year. Also hitting 260
2B- Odor- Struggling out of the gate. Hitting 210 no power
SS- Elvis- Keeps rolling hitting over 300
3B- Greg Garcia- Suprise 290 hitter
LF- Brantley- Solid guy 310 hitter great FA pick up
CF- Jose Castillo- No idea where or who he is. Got him as a FA and he is killing the ball. An outfielder he bats left handed and is number 0
RF Mazara- another terrible start. Hitting under 240 with 1 HR

[montgom24]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Looking to start a 30 team control with 2 team control. One NL and the other with my rangers. Looking for a wildcard team or playoff contender for the NL. NOT THE BRAVES. Any suggestions on the NL team?

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[alston4659]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Looking to start a 30 team control with 2 team control. One NL and the other with my rangers. Looking for a wildcard team or playoff contender for the NL. NOT THE BRAVES. Any suggestions on the NL team?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Operation Sports mobile app

Phillies would be a good choice. I may be biased as a huge fan of the team but they are so close to being contenders that you could make a few moves here and there and truly have something special. When I played a franchise with them I picked up Machado and Harper in the offseason and it was like I couldn't lose we were so good! I now am playing with the Padres which is more of a rebuild.

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[montgom24]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Phillies would be a good choice. I may be biased as a huge fan of the team but they are so close to being contenders that you could make a few moves here and there and truly have something special. When I played a franchise with them I picked up Machado and Harper in the offseason and it was like I couldn't lose we were so good! I now am playing with the Padres which is more of a rebuild.

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Phillies are definitely on the short list.

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[kinsmen7]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Finally have my rosters where I want them, so I've started my franchise with what has undoubtedly been the worst run organization in baseball over the past year, Miami.

Started out by making some moves that were approved in the trade discussion thread:

Miami- Bour + Realmuto
Colorado- Rodgers + Tapia + Pint

Miami- Barraclough
Houston- Paulino + Bukauskas + Reed + Sipp (Upgraded to Reed from Alvarez for taking Sipp's contract).

Miami-Castro + Steckenrider
Oakland-Mateo
(Not approved in trade discussion thread, but Jed Lowrie is out 6+ months, and they're competitive in real life, so I pulled the trigger).

Also signed Tony Zych to a 2 year deal with a team option for the 3rd year to be either my set-up guy, or closer depending on match ups.

The Bour/Realmuto moves have left an already tepid offence basically barren, so we'll rely on young guns like Lewis Brinson, Raimel Tapia and Brian Anderson, as well as some hopes and dreams with Prado, Rojas, Dietrich and Maybin, to try and put a few runs up on the board.

The rotation isn't as bad as I would have thought. Going to start the seasons rolling with Urena, Chen, Straily, Garcia and Paulino. They should power through a few teams, but I'm guessing Adam Conley will rack up innings as my long guy. Also not a lot of durability in there, so it'll be interesting to see my non-existent depth tested.

The bullpen is thrown together, but there are a few big arms in there that I hope can surprise some teams: Despaigne, Wittigen, Guerrero, and Zych.

We've got a 4 game set against the Cubbies to open the season, so it'll be a very quick way to measure the team against some of the best in the league.

Definitely not going into this with high expectations.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Having a bit of a dilemma at the moment. One week away from the All Star break and my Jays have been limping after a hot first month and a half. I’m now in the second wild card spot with a 3 game lead on a few teams for that position.

My dilemma is if I should go for it and make a trade for a guy like Braun and maybe a starter. Or, should I sell my pieces like Donaldson, Smoak and Morales (Smoak and Morales have been my two best hitters) to contending teams.

I don’t think I will catch the Red Sox as I haven’t been able to beat them much this year and they are quite a bit ahead of the pack. If I make the wild card, I’ll play the Yankees who will surely throw out Severino. In two games against him this year I have not scored one run against him, so not sure how my chances would pan out.

Going all in makes sense from my position and I hate to give up, but I could really cash in on my hot hitters and get some prospects and call up some of my MLB ready ones, including Vlad Jr. this would allow me to fill the spots in around my young guys and allow them to grow together in a rebuild. Plus, guys like Smoak and Morales won’t have as much value in the off-season when teams can just go via Free agency. Plus Donaldson would leave without return.

I’m literally 50-50 on what to do. What would you guys do in my position?


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I would play through the All-Star Break and see where you are then. If you're still struggling and don't feel confident, then I would explore trading a vet to acquire young prospect or two, but I wouldn't sell the farm in either case.

[glennporter2]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

About a week into August my Astros are sitting at 77-33. Carlos Correa has been on a tear this year. He’s hitting .344 with 32 HR and 93 RBI and he’s second in MVP voting behind JD Martinez who has hit 44 HR with 122 RBI already(Correa is second behind him in both categories). Got a few rookies from the 2017 draft who are coming into their own. SP David Paulson the First round pick that draft is 15-3 with a 3.50 ERA and 1B Adolfo Sanchez, the third round pick is hitting .330 with 3 HR and 20 RBI(he’s only been in the majors about a month)

[PPerfect_CJ]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

I had to share the terrible luck I've had. I was the Braves playing the Nationals and had a one run lead in the 8th. There were 2 outs with 2 on and Bryce Harper was coming up to bat. I played it smart ( I thought) and walked him to load the bases and give myself a force out at every base and not give Harper a chance to kill me. Next batter, first pitch, GRAND SLAM. Lost the game. Now, that is awful, but it gets worse. Next game in the series and I get myself into the same scenario, but this time, Harper comes on as a pinch hitter. I walk him to load the bases, again. Next batter, first pitch, GRAND SLAM! I seriously almost turned the game off.

[montgom24]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Looking to start a 30 team control with 2 team control. One NL and the other with my rangers. Looking for a wildcard team or playoff contender for the NL. NOT THE BRAVES. Any suggestions on the NL team?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Operation Sports mobile app

Dbacks or Rockies, and why?

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[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

The calendar has turned to July. We are still 5 games behind the Reds for the division lead. We are 5 1/2 games back of the wildcard so I think we are going to look to make a deal to get ourselves into the postseason. I think we have the ability to catch the Reds, especially now that our hitting has gotten better.

Biggest question is what do we do. Crazy talk here, but the Red Sox still keep offering up Stephen Vogt in return for prospect starter. Not sure what to do, but catcher is a weak spot in the lineup. Vogt didn't hit well while here, but with new hitting coach maybe he can turn it around???

Also looking at another piece for the rotation as Alex Reyes is probably one year ahead of schedule in pitching in the majors. He has good stuff and can eat innings, but his control leaves something to be desired.

Decisions...decisions.

[ktd1976]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Having a bit of a dilemma at the moment. One week away from the All Star break and my Jays have been limping after a hot first month and a half. I’m now in the second wild card spot with a 3 game lead on a few teams for that position.

My dilemma is if I should go for it and make a trade for a guy like Braun and maybe a starter. Or, should I sell my pieces like Donaldson, Smoak and Morales (Smoak and Morales have been my two best hitters) to contending teams.

I don’t think I will catch the Red Sox as I haven’t been able to beat them much this year and they are quite a bit ahead of the pack. If I make the wild card, I’ll play the Yankees who will surely throw out Severino. In two games against him this year I have not scored one run against him, so not sure how my chances would pan out.

Going all in makes sense from my position and I hate to give up, but I could really cash in on my hot hitters and get some prospects and call up some of my MLB ready ones, including Vlad Jr. this would allow me to fill the spots in around my young guys and allow them to grow together in a rebuild. Plus, guys like Smoak and Morales won’t have as much value in the off-season when teams can just go via Free agency. Plus Donaldson would leave without return.

I’m literally 50-50 on what to do. What would you guys do in my position?


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Play up until the week of the Trade Deadline, then assess things. If you are still 3 games clear of the next closest team for the Wild Card, then go for it.

Still a long way to go, so no guarantee the Yankees will throw Severino in the WC game. Depends on how their rotation stacks up. It's baseball, anything can happen. Regardless, if you are still up in the Wild Card, it makes no sense to sell off. Go for it. Who knows when you will be this close again....

[cubbies1744]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Looking to start a 30 team control with 2 team control. One NL and the other with my rangers. Looking for a wildcard team or playoff contender for the NL. NOT THE BRAVES. Any suggestions on the NL team?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Operation Sports mobile app

You could do the pirates, Rockies, Phillies, or even the Padres could be a surprise team if they could just put it together. The Padres have a good farm systems and Phillies have a good balanced team so any of them could be good for you

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[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Well we made our first trade of July and it was for a catcher but it wasn't for Stephen Vogt.

We sent top 3B prospect Bryce Denton (Rated 69 with B Potential and tearing up AAA) to the White Sox for Dioner Navarro. We also released Josh Thole to make room on the 40 man who the White Sox snagged...LOL. Guess I should've added him to the trade.

I'm liking this deal. Navarro is a switch hitter with a good bat and good arm and defense behind the dish. Hopefully this works out.

We also sent Carson Kelly back to Memphis and recalled Francisco Pena.

We have a few prospects at 3rd, including one we drafted, so I don't feel like I'm selling the farm to make the postseason this year. We will continue to look at the market for another starter, but this may be the only trade we make for a push to the postseason.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Dioner Navarro's debut?

3 for 4 with 3 RBI's and a homerun.

He also caught Wacha to the tune of a complete game allowing 4 hits, 1 run and striking out 12.

I'd say thats a pretty good debut.