MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

[SwedishTouch76]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

17 games into a Yankees franchise. Stanton off to a blistering start hitting .345 with 6 bombs and 14 rbi's. Sliding into 2nd base on a hustle double. Torn finger ligaments. Out 2-3 months...

[Rocket32]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

The exclusive negotiating period has begun.

Major retirements:
Dustin Pedrioa
Alex Gordon
Adrian Beltre (inducted into HOF)


Yankees Free Agents:
SP Michael Wacha
SP Sonny Gray
SS Didi Gregorius
RP Dellin Betances
RF Carlos Gomez
RF/DH Nelson Cruz
LF Hunter Pence
CF Jarrod Dyson
SP Adam Wainwright


Wacha, Gray, and Betances are near locks to return and be resigned. Pence and Wainwright are pretty much just depth guys at this point so anything could happen with them. Dyson was just signed in September as a pinch runner off the bench, he is unlikely to return. Gomez was acquired in a late August deal with Tampa to give us a good defensive OF to come in as a defensive replacement if needed. It’s possible something could be worked out with him but it would likely happen late in the offseason.


As for Nelson Cruz, he has surprisingly decided to play at least one more season at age 39. He will turn 40 in July. In 2019 his BA was only 259, the first time he’s hit under 285 in 4 seasons. His OBP and OPS are the lowest they’ve been in 4 seasons as well. He did hit 7 more HR’s as a Yankee in 2019 then he did in Seattle in 2018. He finished with 36 HR’s for us.

He has nothing to offer in the field or on the bases but he still has a nice bat though his plate vision is only 42. We unexpectedly landed him late last offseason on an extremely cheap deal as he received no interest from other teams. If we retain him the plan is to try and do it that way again. What are the odds he gets offers this year being another year older? We could still move on from him, nothing is certain.


Probably the biggest question, what to do with Didi Gregorius? He’s age 30 coming off a down year, his worst season in 2 years. Most of his ratings regressed by -1 or -2. His R Contact went down -9 but his R Power went up +7. Looking for 6.6M a year.

Not many intriguing candidates to replace him. Xander Bogaerts will be a FA assuming he doesn’t resign with Boston but he's way too expensive and is seeking Star Player money, almost 28M per year. The best and most realistic option would be former Yankee Starlin Castro if he doesn’t resign with Miami.

Castro is coming off of the best season of his career. His OBP, SLG, and OPS are all the highest they’ve ever been. He fell 1 HR shy of matching his career best with 20. He would cost a few Million more per year. He has a bit less R power then Didi but has slightly better R contact. Castro is a much better hitter vs lefties with an elite 92 contact vs lefties. Similar plate discipline and a bit worse plate vision for Castro but Castro is more clutch. Overall he’s just as good if not better in the field then Didi.

Only coaching change is that we are letting Larry Rothschild go as his contract has expired.

[Sumodeads]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Anyone notice in their franchises that sometimes the highest votes in players for the All-Star game are somehow snubbed without any injuries? I’ve noticed this in a few different franchises now.

My catcher Chirinos was the highest voted catcher going into the break. They took the 2nd, 3rd and 6th voted guys on the team. Also Ohtani(2nd) and Kopech(4th) were not on the team and they took 5 starters.

None of my guys were injured going into the break. Just thought that was strange. They’re all All-Stars in my mind.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Anyone notice in their franchises that sometimes the highest votes in players for the All-Star game are somehow snubbed without any injuries? I’ve noticed this in a few different franchises now.

My catcher Chirinos was the highest voted catcher going into the break. They took the 2nd, 3rd and 6th voted guys on the team. Also Ohtani(2nd) and Kopech(4th) were not on the team and they took 5 starters.

None of my guys were injured going into the break. Just thought that was strange. They’re all All-Stars in my mind.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Yes its been an issue for years.

What I think is happening is the game is trying to make sure that one player from each team is selected to the All-Star game, which in turns screws up the selection process. I've spent time trying to figure out how it bases its selections, but couldn't find a pattern.

[Sumodeads]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Yes its been an issue for years.



What I think is happening is the game is trying to make sure that one player from each team is selected to the All-Star game, which in turns screws up the selection process. I've spent time trying to figure out how it bases its selections, but couldn't find a pattern.

Ahh ok. I guess I just had too many studs on my team they couldn’t all make it. [emoji23] Still ended up with 3 starters on the squad, plus my closer made it.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[Rocket32]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

The cold winter months have passed and baseball is back. Went through the offseason faster then I planned, blew through it yesterday and today.


Significant offseason signings:
SP Gerrit Cole A’s. A huge blow to Houston.
Starling Marte A’s.
SP Michael Pineda Blue Jays
SP Alex Wood Indians
LF/DH Khris Davis Twins
RF Melky Cabrera Twins
2B Neil Walker Twins
C Fransico Cervelli Angels
1B/DH Adam Lind Angels
SS Yunel Escobar Angels
LF Ben Revere A’s.
SP Henderson Alvarez Astros
RP Luke Gregorson Astros
RF Carlos Gomez Astros
LF Corey Dickerson Nationals
SP Julio Teheran Mets
1B Pedro Alvarez Mets
RF Cameron Maybin Mets
3B Anthony Rendon Phillies
RP Josh Fields Cubs
RF Kole Calhoun Reds
1B Matt Carpenter Reds
C Kurt Suzuki Cardinals
2B Jonathan Schoop Diamondbacks
RP Will Harris Diamondbacks


Significant Offseason Trades:
Dodgers Acquire Phillies CF Odubel Herrera for SP Yadier Alvarez.

Cubs Acquire RP Jose Torres and LF Travis Janikowski from the Padres for RP Pedro Strop.



Yankees Signings: This wasn’t supposed to happen but it did....

The Yankees shook the baseball world yet again as news broke that they agreed to a contract with Star 3B Nolan Arenado. What made it possible is Arenado surprisingly ended up taking a 1 year contract for 22.5M. Coming off a down season, his worst season in several years, in hitter friendly Colorado, he didn’t receive many good offers.

The best offer he received was 6 years 116.40M from Arizona, which did not meet his asking price. His salary would have started off below 20M per year. Washington submitted an offer early in FA but were quickly turned down.

With Arenado lingering on the market the Yankees saw a special opportunity and jumped in and offered him a 1 year deal worth 22.5M. He ended up passing up the long term security of the Diamondbacks offer and took ours which allows him to earn a few million more this year, hopefully have a strong rebound season, and hit the market again next year and get the mega deal he deserves. Since it’s one year there’s no long term commitment and it only strains the payroll for one season. Win win for both sides.


Adam Eaton also joined the Yankees. 1 year 7.7M.

Signed Russel Martin to be our backup catcher.


We also finally traded for Kyle Barraclough from Miami. Did a similar trade to real life so didn’t give up much. Both in the game and real life he’s coming off a bad season and in the franchise he also has less team control left.

We brought back an old friend in the rule 5 draft, Brandon Drury. For some reason Washington didn’t protect him. He’s returning from a season ending injury.

Payroll is up to 236M. About what the real life Red Sox had this year.


Just skipped ST. It’s kind of pointless when the entire roster is mostly set anyway. Only battle was Eduardo Rodriguez Vs Joe Ross for a roster spot. Rodriguez won it.



Yankees 2020 Roster:

Yankees Lineup:
1 DH/OF Adam Eaton
2 CF Bryce Harper
3 RF Aaron Judge
4 LF Giancarlo Stanton
5 3B Nolan Arenado
6 C Gary Sanchez
7 1B Jose Abreu
8 SS Didi Gregorius.
9 2B Gleyber Torres.

Bench:
3B/ulility Brandon Drury
3B/1B Miguel Andujar
CF/Utility Chris Taylor
C Russel Martin

Rotation:
1 Clayton Kershaw
2 Luis Severino
3 Sonny Gray
4 Michael Wacha
5 Jordan Montgomery

Bullpen:
LRP Eduardo Rodriguez
MRP Kyle Barraclough
MRP Tommy Kahnle
MRP Kevin Siegrist
SU David Robertson
SU Dellin Betances
CP Aroldis Chapman

OF’s should rarely need a day off, they’ll rotate through the DH spot. Andujar will be mixed in a lot. Montgomery and Rodriguez could be swapped at some point based on performance.

This has to be one of the most stacked teams assembled in The Show without abusing the poor CPU trade logic.

I might just take this next season really slow, minimal simming, and make this the final season and then move on to a new franchise on MLB 19 The Show. Hopefully end it off with another championship.

We open up the season with 4 at Yankee Stadium against Baltimore. New Yankees ace Clayton Kershaw will take the mound against Dylan Bundy on Opening Day.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

That is a nasty 25 man roster. Wow!

Good luck in the new season!

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Thinking out loud...did the Cardinals signing George Springer disrupt team chemistry?

When the Cardinals signed George Springer early in the offseason, the fanbase welcomed the addition. Bringing a perennial all-star to St.Louis seemed at the time that it would be the missing piece the Cardinals have searched for to get over the hump and into the World Series. Even though it would mean juggling around a roster that for 5 straight seasons have put the Cardinals into the postseason, the idea at the time was this was the perfect move for the missing piece that would return this proud organization back to the ranks of National League Champions and hopefully World Series Champions.

But, and yes I understand its still very early in the season, here on April 17th, the question can't helped but be asked. Did signing George Springer and displacing crowd favorite Stephen Piscotty and up coming Juan Fabregas, disrupt the team chemistry this clubhouse once had? Thru 16 games the Cardinals are 5-11 and look anything but a team that is playing for each other. Not only thru 16 games of the regular season, but the Cardinals struggled in the Spring, although not much thought is put into spring training because there are so many moving parts, that you really don't pay all that much attention to record as you do players getting better and ready for the upcoming season. But, if you do think of spring training, then there seems to be a trend starting early on in the season....this team doesn't want to play together, and seemingly can't win together. There is no doubt the talent is here. It's not like the team was imploded and started over. You still have the core of a team (some home grown talent) that has reached the postseason 5 straight seasons. They have reached the NLCS twice and lost in the NLDS twice. Once they lost the wild card game. This is a core unit that has won:

2016 - 95 games
2017 - 93 games
2018 - 91 games
2019 - 89 games
2020 - 94 games

That is a total of 462 wins over the last 5 years and an average of 92.4 wins per season. That is with a core unit of Magnerius Sierra, Stephen Piscotty, Matt Carpenter, Tommy Pham, Kolten Wong, Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha, Jordan Walden, Sam Freeman, Tyler Lyons, and Trevor Rosenthal. It also includes home grown talent of Harrison Bader, Patrick Wisdom, Carson Kelly, Paul DeJong, Jack Flaherty, Luke Weaver, John Brebbia and Dean Kiekhefer. In case you didn't count that is 19 players for a 25 man roster.

There is certainly nothing wrong with adding a piece here or there when warranted. (ex: Roberto Osuna and Marwin Gonzalez) But there is something about team chemistry that needs to be taken into account when making roster moves and one can't help but wonder was that taken into account when George Springer was not only signed in the offseason, but immediately made the highest paid player on the roster despite being the new kid in town and having zero impact on the club's recent history and playoff run. How many teams go to the postseason 5 straight years? (Dodger fans need not reply)

The Cardinals have key free agents upcoming this offseason (Michael Wacha, Matt Carpenter, Kolten Wong, Marwin Gonzalez, & Sam Freeman), what do you do with these guys? How do you show your appreciation for their efforts and impact on the organization the last 5 years and contributing to this organization winning 3 central division crowns during that time and reaching the playoffs those 5 years? Do you still pay them less than the guy brought in off the street to fulfill the "missing" piece?

I know its not fair to lay all of this at one player's feet. I mean it is a roster of 25 men (plus those injured) that have contributed to the poor spring and the slow start, but it wouldn't be stating all the facts if you didn't mention that no other time in the past 5 years has the Cardinals gotten off to this poor of a start, or played that poorly during the spring. Normally in Spring guys, pretty much knew their place and young guys were competing to be the first one called up at their position in the event of an injury. Everyone had roles and the lineup was balanced and things seemed to have a flow. Now...there is no flow and guys have had roles ripped away for no other reason than a "flashy" player was available and the front office jumped at the chance of signing him to secure the missing piece, or maybe better yet, "excite" a fan base that has grown frustrated with losing in the playoffs.

17 games into the season means you have 145 games left to get things right. And yes teams hit slumps during the season and maybe this team hit its slump at the very beginning. Maybe in May and June, the Cardinals will rattle of 18-20 wins per month and be right back in the mix of things at the top of the Central Division. Or maybe, the team isn't slumping and just doesn't play well together. Maybe the best thing is to revert back to what worked before? Maybe this best course to success is via subtraction? Maybe you go back to the core unit that for the past 5 years has propelled this organization to 5 straight playoff appearances, with 3 central division crowns?

Team chemistry. The most often overlooked key piece to a winning ball club.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Springer to the Yankees. Alex Reyes, Corey Ray, Mike Leake return to St.Louis

In what cannot be classified as anything else but a mistake (it's either a mistake trading him or it was a mistake signing him), the Cardinals and their seemingly favorite trade partner Yankees have struck a deal that will send George Springer to the Bronx just 17 games into the Cardinals 2021 season. The Cardinals return will be familiar names in Alex Reyes (the Yankees just DFA'd him), Corey Ray, and Mike Leake. All are former Cardinals with Reyes and Ray being traded from the Cardinals to the Yankees, with Reyes being just a month or so ago. Mike Leake is a former Cardinal who was sent to San Diego, signed with the Yanks this offseason and now returns back to St.Louis.

This trade, this early in the season, is going to do nothing but shock the baseball world. The Cardinals who made a deal with Springer shortly into the free agency period in November, are sending him away a mere 4 months after acquiring him. George Springer's brief tenure with St.Louis has been met with a team that can't win together and a clubhouse that seemingly can't stay together. Morale inside the clubhouse has been fair at best this early in the season, and with the Cardinals staring at a 5-11 record and 7 games back of the Cubs already in the Central division, the front office has decided to take a big swing, and risk, in assuming that moving Springer will result in a boost to team chemistry inside the clubhouse, that will result to wins on the diamond.

George Springer, or even an upgrade to the outfield position, was never in the offseason plans for the Cardinals. In fact, the Cardinals went into the offseason looking to unclog the jam they had in the outfield, which led to the trade of Randal Grichuk to the White Sox for Jose Quintana. So the signing of George Springer was a complete surprise and shock to the guys in the clubhouse as it was thought that the 5 outfielders for the opening 25 man roster was pretty much set, barring injuries. With the signing, the front office started scrambling to figure out what they were going to do at the position, and even at one point in the offseason contemplated trading away the newly acquired Springer to the Phillies for Bryce Harper. So its safe the say even then the Cardinals front office wasn't completely sold on George Springer being part of the organization.

And now after a disappointing Spring and a slow and rocky start to the season, the Cardinals are quickly going to revert back to their original plans and separate themselves from Springer and in return, bring back some talent they misguidedly traded away prior.

I don't know what this will do for the 2021 season. I don't know that this will instantly result in the Cardinals climbing back up the rankings and into the mix for the division and the pennant (were they even out...its April for crying out loud), but the front office is listening to the clubhouse and making what they deem is a necessary move to try to get into those mixes.

This can only be classified as a mistake. The only question is whether it was a mistake in signing Springer, or is it a mistake trading him away?

Time will tell.

[DJ]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Springer to the Yankees. Alex Reyes, Corey Ray, Mike Leake return to St.Louis

In what cannot be classified as anything else but a mistake (it's either a mistake trading him or it was a mistake signing him), the Cardinals and their seemingly favorite trade partner Yankees have struck a deal that will send George Springer to the Bronx just 17 games into the Cardinals 2021 season. The Cardinals return will be familiar names in Alex Reyes (the Yankees just DFA'd him), Corey Ray, and Mike Leake. All are former Cardinals with Reyes and Ray being traded from the Cardinals to the Yankees, with Reyes being just a month or so ago. Mike Leake is a former Cardinal who was sent to San Diego, signed with the Yanks this offseason and now returns back to St.Louis.

This trade, this early in the season, is going to do nothing but shock the baseball world. The Cardinals who made a deal with Springer shortly into the free agency period in November, are sending him away a mere 4 months after acquiring him. George Springer's brief tenure with St.Louis has been met with a team that can't win together and a clubhouse that seemingly can't stay together. Morale inside the clubhouse has been fair at best this early in the season, and with the Cardinals staring at a 5-11 record and 7 games back of the Cubs already in the Central division, the front office has decided to take a big swing, and risk, in assuming that moving Springer will result in a boost to team chemistry inside the clubhouse, that will result to wins on the diamond.

George Springer, or even an upgrade to the outfield position, was never in the offseason plans for the Cardinals. In fact, the Cardinals went into the offseason looking to unclog the jam they had in the outfield, which led to the trade of Randal Grichuk to the White Sox for Jose Quintana. So the signing of George Springer was a complete surprise and shock to the guys in the clubhouse as it was thought that the 5 outfielders for the opening 25 man roster was pretty much set, barring injuries. With the signing, the front office started scrambling to figure out what they were going to do at the position, and even at one point in the offseason contemplated trading away the newly acquired Springer to the Phillies for Bryce Harper. So its safe the say even then the Cardinals front office wasn't completely sold on George Springer being part of the organization.

And now after a disappointing Spring and a slow and rocky start to the season, the Cardinals are quickly going to revert back to their original plans and separate themselves from Springer and in return, bring back some talent they misguidedly traded away prior.

I don't know what this will do for the 2021 season. I don't know that this will instantly result in the Cardinals climbing back up the rankings and into the mix for the division and the pennant (were they even out...its April for crying out loud), but the front office is listening to the clubhouse and making what they deem is a necessary move to try to get into those mixes.

This can only be classified as a mistake. The only question is whether it was a mistake in signing Springer, or is it a mistake trading him away?

Time will tell.

Wow! It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. Hopefully your team gets back to its winning ways.

Speaking of … the Mets managed to pull out a 3-2 win over the Padres last night. Down 2-0 in the 9th, Brandon Nimmo managed to hit a 3-run HR at breezy Petco Park to give the Mets the lead and Familia closed the door in the bottom of the 9th.

Those dang Nationals keep winning games, lol, and are 0.5 games up in the division two days into June.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Post Springer, Cards shutout Cubs 3-0

In their first game since shocking the baseball world and their own fans and players, the Cardinals shutout the division leading Cubs 3-0. Not only did the Cardinals shut them out, they allowed just one hit, one baserunner the entire game.

Jack Flaherty making his first start of the year due to being on the DL was masterful for the 3 1/3 innings he was in, until being removed again due to an injury. This time it was his forearm. Flaherty allowed one hit and struck out 2. The bullpen behind him was perfect. Tyler Lyons, Sam Freeman, and Trevor Rosenthal combined to throw 5 2/3 shutout innings of no hit baseball, allow no walks and fan 8. Tyler Lyons who earned the win threw 3 2/3 innings of hitless baseball while striking out 5, easily his best performance of the season. Sam Freeman pitched the 8th striking out one and Rosenthal recorded just his 2nd save of the year closing out the game in the 9th and striking out 2 of the 3 hitters he faced.

Offensively, the Cardinals weren't great, but they had a balance to them. The key component was Kike Hernandez who accounted for 2 of the 6 hits, with both being homeruns and accounted for all 3 RBI's. Stephen Piscotty getting his job back in right field went 1 for 2 with a single and 2 walks. Juan Fabregas who thought he'd break spring camp on the big league roster, singled in his pinch hit at-bat. The offense seemed to have a flow and a balance to it, but it is only one game.

Game 2 of the series is Jose Quintana squaring off against Felix Hernandez.

Can the Cards go 2-0 post George Springer?

[Tuhnafisch]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Hey Guys.
Im total new to The Show and i wonder if its worth to build up a franchise trough Draft or is this simply a timewaste?
I mean is it possible to draft a super talented prospect and after 2/3 Seasons he os a valid starter in the MLb ?

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

Hey Guys.
Im total new to The Show and i wonder if its worth to build up a franchise trough Draft or is this simply a timewaste?
I mean is it possible to draft a super talented prospect and after 2/3 Seasons he os a valid starter in the MLb ?

Its possible to draft a player that has immediate impact on your MLB team within the next 2 or 3 years.

I drafted a catcher who was rated 75 after the draft with an A potential. His defense and power make him ready for the MLB level, but his contact ratings and plate vision and discipline are lacking, so I'm developing him slowly and training him in those areas to get him better.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

King Felix shuts down, out, Cardinals 3-0

A day after beating the Cubs 3-0, the Cubs beat the Cardinals 3-0 last night behind a dominant pitching performance from Felix Hernandez.

Hernandez pitched a complete game shutout allowing 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 14 Cardinal hitters. The Cardinals were off balance all night at the plate. The lone bright spot was again Stephen Piscotty who went 1 for 1 with a single, a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Matt Carpenter struggled to the tune of an 0 for 3 day with 3 strikeouts.

Jose Quintana wasn't bad on the mound, but may have been left in one hitter too long after Kyle Schwarber walked on a 3-2 borderline pitch, Javier Baez belted his 4th homerun of the year into the left field bleachers to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. They would tack on one more on Anthony Rizzo's sac fly in the 7th off of Jordan Walden.

The rubber match is this afternoon with Mike Leake making his debut for the Cardinals against Alex Cobb.


Jack Flaherty lands back on 10 Day DL

Jack Flaherty who only lasted 3 1/3 innings in his season debut a day ago due to a back injury has landed on the 10 Day DL again, this time for a forearm strain. Flaherty is expected to miss 2 weeks before returning, which would mean his 2nd start of the season will take place in May.

Injuries continue to be part of the early season storyline for the Cardinals who now have 3 starting pitchers on the DL, Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, and Carlos Martinez (60 Day). Along with that Kolten Wong is on the 10 Day DL but is expected back next week.

The Cardinals have not recalled anyone from Memphis at this time.

[DJ]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread

The Mets have made a trade, shipping Matt Harvey and two minor leaguers to the Kansas City Royals for Jakob Junis.

Harvey had a magical 2018 for the Mets. As the No. 5 starter, he posted an 18-4 record with a 2.00 ERA. However, the wheels fell off in 2019 as he struggled to win just a single start in the first two months of the season and his ERA had ballooned to over 5.00. He'd allowed almost as many runs as he had the entire 2018 season in 12 starts in 2019.

Junis is four years younger, has a better-graded potential than Harvey and had a nice start to 2019 for the Royals, who were already in last place in their division. The Mets aren't expecting Junis to be a top of the rotation guy, just a nice No. 4-5 starter who will eat up innings.