MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

[FluffyTonka]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Any tips on my first the show franchise/gaming experience? Bought my ps4 because of it. Recently got Madden 19 but The show will be my focus these next couple of weeks until regular season. I live in Houston and and go to a few Astros games so I have thought about them since it's my 1st franchise but I a cubs fan since I could understand baseball. I want a franchise that's deep and enjoyable alongside my long term madden franchise. Thanks.

Just start a franchise and play ball. best advice is to play a fair few spring training games ... you get to use all of your pitchers and batters lots to find out who works for you, and who doesn't.

... out of the box with everything default, this game plays a million bucks. But like i said ... get to know your pitchers and learn their windup and timing. This is key before you plough into the season proper.

Play with auto manage on your rosters and farm system ... but make sure to look through your rosters regularly and look at their stats to see who's performing and who isn't ... so you can have your farm system working optimally when you are finally ready to take it all over.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Any tips on my first the show franchise/gaming experience? Bought my ps4 because of it. Recently got Madden 19 but The show will be my focus these next couple of weeks until regular season. I live in Houston and and go to a few Astros games so I have thought about them since it's my 1st franchise but I a cubs fan since I could understand baseball. I want a franchise that's deep and enjoyable alongside my long term madden franchise. Thanks.

Hmm, I understand having a "starter" franchise to start out as you learn the game, but once you start feeling comfortable with your interface and difficulty settings, I'd recommend jumping into your "real" franchise ASAP.

Franchise is one of those game modes where the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. It's one of those game modes you can really sink your teeth into, and the more attached you get to your franchise, the more fun it's going to be.

There are a few things you probably want to figure out before starting your real franchise though. I'll list them in order of priority.

1. Figure out what game specific mode settings you are using. Once you start a franchise you are committed to these settings, so if you want to enforce budgets or force trades, your need to know now.

2. Single team control or 30 team control? With 30 team control, you can still have the CPU control all or most of what the 29 other teams do, it will just allow you to do things like veto trades or roster moves you think are ridiculous, or even follow along with real life MLB trades and roster moves.

3. What roster are you going to use? There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to the different types of roster sets. Official rosters ensure that your players are all properly updated (visually, their stats are still unique to your universe) if and when you choose to carry over your save to the next year's game, but since SDS only has the rights to use player's likeness if they are in the MLBPA (which requires service time in the majors during the regular season) Most of your minors will be fictional. The Operation Sports Full Minors (OSFM) roster will offer you a truer to life roster, but at the cost of those minors players being fan made, so they won't have proper carry over support for visual or audio upgrades. Fictional Rosters free you from all of the issues of the previous two options, and can have some really interesting players, but you have to live with the fact that it's entirely fake.

Those top three questions are the most important because they cannot be changed mid-franchise. The ones below can be changed on the fly, but are still worth figuring out.

4. What interfaces are you going to use. Would you prefer directional hitting, or would you like zone better? Are you a pulse pitcher? Or perhaps you like meter.

5. What difficulty/sliders do you want to use. I know FluffyTonka advised you to just ignore sliders for now, and I understand their position, but I would suggest at least taking a gander at the sliders sub-forums and seeing not only what changes people have made, but why, and possibly trying them out yourself. You don't have to follow their suggestions completely, just use them as guidelines for making your own sliders. I'm a big believer that sliders should be tailored to the individual, especially things like the pitch speed sliders.

I will also echo the advice of playing spring training. Not only will it help you learn the game yourself, but it will help you scout your players: What they're good at, what they're bad at, and how the best way to use them is.

Good luck and have fun!

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Getting back to the games after my roster mismanagement...

We have taken the first 2 of a 3 game series from the Diamondbacks. We won the series opener 6-2 but won last night with a walkoff Paul DeJong double in the bottom of the 10th. After Marwin Gonzalez drew a walk, Grichuk lined out to 3rd. Patrick Wisdom then reached on a swinging bunt infield single. Next up, Paul DeJong took the first pitch he saw and laced it into the left field gap scoring Gonzalez from 2nd to win the game.

Next up is the series finale as we go for the sweep. Luke Weaver will be on the mound for us. Not sure who the D'Backs are putting up.

STANDINGS

We are in a 3 way tie with the Pirates and Cubs at the moment with the Brewers 3 games back and the Reds falling on hard times and 7 games out at the moment.

The Padres are doing their best to run away with the West as they are up 5 games on the Dodgers thus far in mid-May. The Padres got off to a slow start but managed to win 8 straight and get out in front in the division. The Diamondbacks, who were thought to contend for the NL West this year, are currently 11 games out of first.

The Nationals lead the NL East by 2 games over the Mets and 4 over the Braves. The Marlins are 5 out and the Phillies, who are rebuilding, are last but just 8 games out. The Braves have gotten hot, won 8 of last 10 since making early season trades.

The AL East looks like the standings are upside down as the Orioles lead the division by a game over the Blue Jays. The Rays are in 3rd, just 3 games out and the BoSox are 4th, 7 games out of first. The Yankees are last a whopping 10 games out. The BoSox have no pitching and the Yankees just aren't winning.

The Twins currently lead the AL Central that has everyone currently within 4 games of each other. The Indians are 2nd, just a 1/2 game back, the Tigers are 3rd 1 game back, the White Sox are 3 back and the Royals are 4 back.

The AL West is another jumbled mess as the A's currently hold a 1/2 game lead on the Astros and Mariners. The Rangers and Angels are just 3 games out.

DRAFT

With the draft just 3 weeks away, the Cardinals are scouting as many players as possible. The biggest targets are again, left-handed pitching, and seeking 2nd base/shortstop depth. First Base is a need as well, but after acquiring Brendan McKay, we could see the Cardinals back off of this need and look to acquire depth in the offseason. In terms of pitching, the Cardinals will be extremely focused on providing depth to the bullpen/relievers role. Starting pitching, aside from maybe a lefty, seems to be in good shape. Outfield of course is still log jammed, though we did ship Corey Ray to the Yankees, a move I desperately regret and will try to re-acquire him in the offseason.

COMING HOME

The Cardinals have been doing some return/coming home roster management. After letting Tommy Pham get away in the offseason the Cardinals traded to bring him back with Piscotty and Bader being injured. After some other trading, we regret, the Cardinals signed Marwin Gonzalez off the free agent wire. Both Pham and Gonzalez have been solid in their returns to St.Louis. The Cardinals even traded for, brought back, Carson Kelly just 24 hours after trading him away. Don't ask..

Now after trading Jeremy Hazelbaker to the Yankees in the failed Gary Sanchez experiment (an experiment that ended before it started...again don't ask), the Cardinal product is back on optional assignment waivers. The Cardinals are at least kicking the tires on placing a claim on him. While his production at the MLB level has been poor at best, he does offer experienced depth should more injuries occur and does have a cannon of an arm in the outfield and has a good, not great glove.


Carson Kelly

Carson Kelly has been the subject of many roster management decisions/plans the past two years, but none moreso than this year. Kelly was traded for 24 hours to the Rays after acquiring Gary Sanchez, before being traded right back to St.Louis for.........GARY SANCHEZ!....again...don't ask. After all this turmoil, indecision and flat out nonsense, the 25 year old found him in the starting lineup Saturday vs the D'Backs where he proceeded to go 2 for 4 with a RBI, and was robbed of a double by a Socrates Brito and his amazing diving catch in right center. Kelly who was thrown into the starting role after the surprising retirement of Yadier Molina, didn't play poorly, but his defense kept him from repeating as starter the following season, with the Cardinals bringing in Dioner Navarro. Then when the Cardinals drafted Devon Snow out of high school, the thought was that Kelly would eventually be moved because he was a man without a home in the organization. Well, with Snow not coming along as quickly as anticipated (who was sent to Single A Palm Beach last night), the Cardinals have decided (after trading him for 24 hours...sorry to keep mentioning that), that Kelly may be the piece/bridge they need to get to Snow should he develop. Or even moreso, may Kelly IS the heir to the throne that Molina departed 2 years ago. I guess only time will tell, but one thing is for sure....Carson Kelly will not be in any other organization other than the Cardinals for the foreseeable future.

[reyes the roof]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Any tips on my first the show franchise/gaming experience? Bought my ps4 because of it. Recently got Madden 19 but The show will be my focus these next couple of weeks until regular season. I live in Houston and and go to a few Astros games so I have thought about them since it's my 1st franchise but I a cubs fan since I could understand baseball. I want a franchise that's deep and enjoyable alongside my long term madden franchise. Thanks.

Just choose a roster set to start with and don't look back. I'd spend so much time worrying about getting the perfect roster that I could never get immersed in a franchise. I'd get started, then someone would make a newer version of the roster I was using and I'd start over. I just picked one and stuck with it this year and I'm over 100 games in

[boxboy99]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Any tips on my first the show franchise/gaming experience? Bought my ps4 because of it. Recently got Madden 19 but The show will be my focus these next couple of weeks until regular season. I live in Houston and and go to a few Astros games so I have thought about them since it's my 1st franchise but I a cubs fan since I could understand baseball. I want a franchise that's deep and enjoyable alongside my long term madden franchise. Thanks.

Start playing on Vet, you’ll likely struggle some while learning the game. There are tons of different setting for playing the game. Play around with them early and find what you like. Resist temptation to start over, it’s a long season if you don’t plan to aim much. Once you get comfortable with the game look to move to all star.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[boxboy99]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Lost another to the Brewers last night 7-5. We had a 5 run 7th to tied the game at 5. Brewers left their pitcher in too long which sparked our rally.

Unfortunately, Gio Gonzales got on base in the 8th. Stole second and third. Someone Rendon totally missed a perfect throw to 3rd, so he scored on a throwing error. Gave up a homer in the 8th and that was all she wrote.

Our hitting sucks right now. This always happens when we don’t have an off day for a long time and might be related to my sliders too. Anyways we finally had an off day but the Cardinals won both days and now we’re down 2.5 games with 16 or 17 games to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[DJ]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Two series and six games are all that remain in the 2018 regular season for the New York Mets.

The Mets played their final road games of the year at Washington and managed to avoid being swept in the four-game series by taking the finale, beating Max Scherzer in the process. Atlanta and Miami roll into New York to close out the season, giving the Mets ample opportunity to rest starters and lock in the postseason pitching rotation and bullpen.

The playoff picture is pretty well set in both leagues, but there are a couple of interesting races out there. In the AL East, Boston and New York are in a dead heat for the division lead. The second place team is guaranteed the first Wild Card, with Toronto having locked up the second WC. Cleveland and Houston clinched their respective divisions with ease.

In the NL, Los Angeles reached the 100-win mark and are NL West champions. The Rockies have really fallen on hard times, losing 15 of 20, but are just 2.5 games out of a wild card. The Nationals secured the top WC spot, while the second is looking like it'll be the Cubs, who are 2.5 games behind St. Louis in the Central. Milwaukee is 4 GB, so likely won't make that up.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Good luck in October DJ!!

Do you guys have the best record in the NL?

[FSanchez12]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Bucco Blasts - Shorts from FSanchez12's Pirates

Bucs split in Chicago, Drop 2 of 3 from Mets

With the Division on the line in Chicago, the Pirates roared out to a quick 2-0 lead in the 4 game mid-week series with the Cubbies, but in the end, faltered to split the series 2-2, as a bullpen gaffe let the team down in Game 4. The two teams found themselves deadlocked at 1 heading into the Bottom of the 10th Inning, where Gerrit Cole (pinch-bunted for Adam Ottavino in the Top of the inning), was forced to pitch to Kris Bryant, who promptly ended the game by sending a full count 99 MPH Fastball into orbit to end it. The Pirates had plenty of hits to win the game, in fact, the Cubs managed just 2 hits over the 10 innings plated, however, they only needed 2 hits to win it. Another masterful performance turned in by Tyler Glasnow was trashed.

The Pirates turned their focus to the Metropolitans of New York, where their offense was yet again stymied by lack of scoring. The Pirates put together 13 hits over 9 innings of play in Game 1 against the Mets, even forcing Robert Gsellman to leave after just 4 innings pitched. In spite of that, the Mets bullpen danced through the raindrops to deliver a shaky, yet efficent, relief outing, by keeping the Bucs off the board. On the pitching side of things, the Pirates spot started Steven Brault, following Gerrit Cole's meltdown with management for being used in a relief role in his last appearance. Brault strung together 7 effective innings, although he may have stayed past his welcome when Jose Reyes knocked home the winning run in the Top of the 7th, after the inning saw Brault allow the first 2 baserunners to reach via singles on 2-strike counts.

At any rate, the Pirates got away lucky, after falling all the way to 3 back from the Cubs in the previous series, the Cubs also dropped 2 of 3 over the weekend, pacing the Pirates, and keeping the difference in the division title race at 3.0 games. The Pirates should be able to make some hay in their upcoming home series against the Reds, the worst team in the league.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Bucco Blasts - Shorts from FSanchez12's Pirates

Bucs split in Chicago, Drop 2 of 3 from Mets

With the Division on the line in Chicago, the Pirates roared out to a quick 2-0 lead in the 4 game mid-week series with the Cubbies, but in the end, faltered to split the series 2-2, as a bullpen gaffe let the team down in Game 4. The two teams found themselves deadlocked at 1 heading into the Bottom of the 10th Inning, where Gerrit Cole (pinch-bunted for Adam Ottavino in the Top of the inning), was forced to pitch to Kris Bryant, who promptly ended the game by sending a full count 99 MPH Fastball into orbit to end it. The Pirates had plenty of hits to win the game, in fact, the Cubs managed just 2 hits over the 10 innings plated, however, they only needed 2 hits to win it. Another masterful performance turned in by Tyler Glasnow was trashed.

The Pirates turned their focus to the Metropolitans of New York, where their offense was yet again stymied by lack of scoring. The Pirates put together 13 hits over 9 innings of play in Game 1 against the Mets, even forcing Robert Gsellman to leave after just 4 innings pitched. In spite of that, the Mets bullpen danced through the raindrops to deliver a shaky, yet efficent, relief outing, by keeping the Bucs off the board. On the pitching side of things, the Pirates spot started Steven Brault, following Gerrit Cole's meltdown with management for being used in a relief role in his last appearance. Brault strung together 7 effective innings, although he may have stayed past his welcome when Jose Reyes knocked home the winning run in the Top of the 7th, after the inning saw Brault allow the first 2 baserunners to reach via singles on 2-strike counts.

At any rate, the Pirates got away lucky, after falling all the way to 3 back from the Cubs in the previous series, the Cubs also dropped 2 of 3 over the weekend, pacing the Pirates, and keeping the difference in the division title race at 3.0 games. The Pirates should be able to make some hay in their upcoming home series against the Reds, the worst team in the league.

Sorry if I missed it, but what month are you currently in?

[FSanchez12]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Sorry if I missed it, but what month are you currently in?

Still in June, my next update will actually be my last 2 games played. I'm finally at current day.

[DJ]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Good luck in October DJ!!

Do you guys have the best record in the NL?

We just locked that up the other day, so will have home field advantage in the playoffs.

Glad to see the Nationals and Cubs likely playing in the WC; I need one of those teams to go home, because their lineups are so tough to pitch against.

[dowie]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Sorry if I missed it, but what month are you currently in?

Hey CountryBoy - I know you play Legend (meter/zone/default sliders w/pitch speeds at 10/10). Do you play w/ 30-team control or just let the cpu do their thing managing the 29 other clubs?

Dowie

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

We just locked that up the other day, so will have home field advantage in the playoffs.

Glad to see the Nationals and Cubs likely playing in the WC; I need one of those teams to go home, because their lineups are so tough to pitch against.

Congratulations man!!!

No better feeling, nor more intense pressure, than playing baseball in October. Good luck on your run and please, make sure the Cubs don't win.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Hey CountryBoy - I know you play Legend (meter/zone/default sliders w/pitch speeds at 10/10). Do you play w/ 30-team control or just let the cpu do their thing managing the 29 other clubs?

Dowie

I do single team control and let the cpu do its own thing with the other clubs. Sometimes I wish I had the ability to manage their rosters, but its not all the time. Primarily it would be to sign free agents left in the pool at the conclusion of the offseason.

But honestly, with doing carryover saves, you can see some of the head scratching moves playing out and paying off for clubs. Plus this year, the cpu teams seem better at balancing their rosters.