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I can't shave with my eyes closed, meaning each day I have to look at myself in the mirror and respect who I see.
I miss the old days of Operation Sports :(
Louisville Cardinals/St.Louis Cardinals -
Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
TRUE TO THE BLUE
Mariners Stop Skid at 11 Games Wednesday, April 8th, 2020
The Mariners (1-11) have won their first game of the season, a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox in which the bullpen delivered just their third game of the season without allowing an earned run. Evan White's career-opening hit streak ended at 10 games and he suffered a fractured shin in the following game sliding into second base. White will be out for 1-2 months and his early production will be sorely missed in the struggling M's lineup. Designated-hitter Daniel Vogelbach, who leads the team in home runs (5), RBI (9), and slugging percentage (.707), will now split time manning first base with Patrick Wisdom, who was called up to replace White on the active roster. The Mariners are looking to win their first series of the season in a rubber match at Chicago before opening a 6-game homestand against the Boston Red Sox and the defending World Series champion Washington Nationals.Last edited by Distant Edge; 06-03-2020, 11:02 PM.Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Kyle Hendrick again took the mound for the Cubs against Aaron Nola. The game was a tight one as neither pitcher relented until the 6th. Kyle Henricks gave up a solo shot to Bryce Harper in the 6th and the decision to leave him in for the 7th proved costly as they added another run. The Cubs bats could not live up to the magic of the last series as they only plated 1 run in the 9th to give away game one 2-1.
Yu Darvish took the mound looking to redeem himself from his fast exit last outing. He was able to turn his fortunes around as he lasted 7 innings and only gave up 2 runs. Baez and Schwarber went long for the cubs as they evened the series at 1-1 with a 5-2 win. Alex Wood kept up his impressive playoff stretch as he gave up none through 5 innings as the cubs had the lead 4-0. Due to his high pitch count the Cubs went into the bullpen early. The pen had been lights out and continued to perform. While Kyle Ryan did give up a solo shot in the 6th the rest of the relievers held strong as they held Philadelphia scoreless the rest of the way as the North siders were 2 games away from returning to the World Series.
Oscar Colas took the mound for the first time in the playoffs hoping to contribute; he had played great defensive in right field in 5 of the 6 playoff games but had struggled at the plate with batting average below .200. After looking shaky in the first 2 innings he was able to find his sweet spot as he got through the next 4 innings scoreless. The Cubs were down 3-1 as Kris Byrant remained on fire at the plate as he blasted a shot 430 feet to left field for a 2 run homer. After Baez was able to get on base. Anthony Rizzo was able to hit a double that scored what would end up the winning run. The Cubs bullpen continued to be lights out as the Cubs took the 3-1 lead in the series. Jon Lester took the mound hoping to do enough to send the cubs back to the world series in Game 5. The Cubs took the lead after Rizzo got on with a double, Contreras popped out to short but Schwarber was able to come through with a single hit in the gap that scored the cubs first basemen. The score remained before the Phils were able to put 3 up on Lester in the 4th. Lester was able to pitch a scoreless 5th before he was pulled for the bullpen. The bullpen once again was top notch as Kyle Ryan, Miller, Morrow and Kimbrel only allowed 2 hits and no runs allowed the rest of the way. Down 2 in the 7th, Rookie Brennen Davis had come in as a defensive replacement the inning before and showed discipline at the plate as he drew a 5 pitch walk. With the top of the order up Kris Bryant cemented his case for NLCS MVP as he blasted a shot to left field to tie the game. After Rizzo was able to produce another walk, Contreras were able to put the cubs on top with a double to score the runner. With the stellar bullpen effort this was the game winning run as the North Siders returned to chicago to await the winner of the AL. On the American side the Twins faced the BoSox looking to return to the world series. The Twins were able to take game one but then the Red Sox ran away with the series 4-1.
The Red Sox and Cubs were set to face off in the fall classic for the first time since 1918. The Red Sox had the second best record in baseball as they won 107 games and also won the interleague series against the Cubs. The Red Sox were led by a dominant performance by Chris Sale as he posted a ERA under 1.2 in 25 innings leading up to the World Series. Sale took the mound against Kyle Hendricks in game one. The Cubs caught a lucky break as the lefty had to come out of game one after only getting 4 outs due to injury. Chris Sale was removed due a blister on his pitching hand. The Cubs took advantage of this as they were able to produce 4 runs off the Boston bullpen as Hendricks pitched 8 strong innings only giving up 2 runs for the critical game one win. After the game Sale was frustrated with his performance and was hopeful that the series would go long enough to get another chance to redeem himself. The Boston medical staff expected Sale to possibly be back for game 5 or game 6. In Game 2 Rookie sensation Oscar Colas took the mound. After getting off to a rocky start the Cuban born Colas was able to find his rhythm as he pitched 4 scoreless innings after giving up 3 in the first 2 innings. The cubs again struck early as they were able to tie the game in the 3rd after Ben Revere got on and proceeded to steal 2nd base. After a single by Colas, Kris Bryant was able to drive 2 home on a double as Baez topped off the inning with a solo shot. With the game tied 3-3 going into the 7th, the Cubs struck again with 2 runs to get the game 2 win were 2 games away returning as the champions of baseball.
Yu Darvish made his return to the World Series looking to turn around his luck. Fate was not on his side though the cubs faced their own pitching injury. Darvish came out tight and gave up 2 in the first inning. While he was able to hold the deficit to 2 in the 2nd he was already north of 45 pitches thrown. As he came out for the 3rd he continued to struggle to find the zone. After recording 1 out and having 2 men on the medical staff came out to relieve the starter as he came out of the game. Later on he was diagnosed with shoulder tightness. The red sox took advantage of this as they went up 5-0 through 7 innings the cubs added a solo shot by Schwarber but gave away game 3.
Alex Wood took the mound in game 4 looking to take the club up 3 games to 1. He lasted 5 and ⅔ innings giving up 2 runs as the score was 2-2. Ben revere again proved to be a spark plug after coming to pinch runner after Victor Caratini was able to get a 2 out hit as a pinch hitter for Wood. Revere again stole 2nd and then was able to score on a single by Bryant to go up 3-2. The Red Sox bullpen could not hold serve as they gave up 2 more runs as the cubs took the game 5-3.
Jon Lester took the mound in game 5 as the cubs looked to not take the series back to Chicago. Lester had been mum on his plans for next year and looked to cement his great career by finishing off the team that he helped to win their first championship 89 years. Lester pitched strongly but Chris Sale was a man on a mission as he would not let his club down again after his poor showing in game one. Sale toyed with the cubs lineup early and often as he did not give up a hit until the 5th inning of the cubs. Lester ended up giving up 2 runs through 6 innings.The cubs bullpen again had a strong outing but the cubs bats fell silent as they lost the game as they could only muster 1 run on Sale through 8 innings. The Red Sox closer Brandon Workman was able to close the door as Boston forced game 6.
Kyle Hendrick again took the mound and the Cubs got right down the business as they put up 3 runs in the first. Kyle Hendricks cruised through 4 innings before giving up a run. The Cubs were able to squash any type of rally, a single by Bryant & Rizzo put 2 on in the 5th and two batters later Javy Baez’s double took the lead to 5-1. Later in the innings the cubs pinch hit for Hendricks as Ben revere stepped in and hit a 2 run triple as the cubs went up 7-1. The BoSox tried to stage a rally as they cut the deficit to 7-4 but in the end the lead was too much to overcome as Miller and Kimbrel shut the door and sealed the series for the Cubbies. Though he only started 2 games in the world series Ben Revere won WS MVP as he had a batting line over .500 and 4 stolen bases in the series.Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Keeping it short:
Miami Blacksox have lost four in a row scoring just 7 runs in those games. Cardinals had the luck of bloop singles (LOVED IT) in the last game as I grounded into an unusual six double plays. Fell to 40-40 on the season 4 games behind the Braves. Something different every game as I switch from playing a game to manage only mode. Presentation and gameplay is off the charts.Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Aaron Judge signs with Rays
Aaron Judge will no longer be in pinstripes as he has chosen to sign a deal with a fellow AL East team, the Tampa Bay Rays. The deal is for 9 years $200MM.
Judge hasn't played over 100 games the past two years, but the Yankees did extend a qualifying offer to him (1 year at $21.9MM), but he turned it down to become a free agent.
The Rays who missed the playoffs last year are looking to re-tool and get back into contention for not only the playoffs but an AL East crown.
It's amazing how far the "evil empire" has fallen as they have now missed the playoffs for 10 straight seasons.I can't shave with my eyes closed, meaning each day I have to look at myself in the mirror and respect who I see.
I miss the old days of Operation Sports :(
Louisville Cardinals/St.Louis CardinalsComment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Cardinals sign a pair of left handed pitchers in Venters and Rogers
The Cardinals have signed a pair of left handed pitchers over the past couple of days, signing Jonny Venters and Josh Rogers to contracts.
Jonny Venters agreed to a 1 year $1MM contract with the Cardinals yesterday. Venters, who is 38 years old, saved 32 games for the Braves last year in 35 opportunities and pitched to a 2.03 ERA and a WHIP of 0.97. Venters was looking to pitch for a contender this year and decided that his time in Atlanta was done. Venters will likely replace Robby Scott who the Cardinals let hit the free agent market after non-tendering him.
Josh Rogers is a left handed starting pitcher who has pitched his entire 6 year big league career with the Yankees. Rogers has struggled with a career record of 51-91 in 211 games pitched (190 starts). His career ERA is 5.79 and a WHIP of 1.68. He signed a 4 year $32MM deal with the Cardinals and many may be why the Cardinals would take a chance and a long term at that on the 30 year old, well its about stuff and the fact that Rogers has 1,110 strikeouts in his career and last year struck out 210 hitters and had his best overall season, despite his record being 7-15. Rogers will get a chance to compete for a starting spot in the rotation and many believe he will get one.
With the signing of Rogers, it appears to be all be a formality that the Cardinals are in fact going to deal Michael Wacha this offseason. The rumor and thought has been all offseason that if the Cardinals sign a major league ready/caliber pitcher this offseason then Wacha and his nearly $15MM contract would be moved. There is no shortage of takers with the most interested being the Angels who are rebuilding their team into a strong contender this season.I can't shave with my eyes closed, meaning each day I have to look at myself in the mirror and respect who I see.
I miss the old days of Operation Sports :(
Louisville Cardinals/St.Louis CardinalsComment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
TRUE TO THE BLUE
Around the League Saturday, April 11th, 2020
The first trade of the 2020 MLB season occurred and saw 29-year old OF/1B Stephen Piscotty sent from the Athletics to the Yankees in exchange for 34-year old right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino. Piscotty is owed $22.4M over 4 years and Ottavino is signed through 2021 at $9M/year. The Yankees hold a slim 0.5 game lead over the Red Sox for first place in the AL East and are without superstar right fielder Aaron Judge (broken ankle) for at least two months. Ottavino has only appeared in 3 games and Piscotty sports a .298 batting average against left-handed pitching, a welcome improvement over the combined .058 average against lefties posted by Yankees outfielders Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, and Mike Tauchman.
Seager Blasts Heroic 200th Career Homerun Sunday, April 12th, 2020
In the bottom of the 9th inning of the final game of a four game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox, third baseman Kyle Seager became the fourth Mariner in franchise history to hit 200 homeruns. Down by a run and with a man on first, Seager took Red Sox closer Brandon Workman deep to right field for his second homer of the season and to ensure a series split.
In this game, starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi returned to the mound for the first time since experiencing elbow discomfort and exiting early in the second game of the season. Kikuchi pitched well, allowing only three hits through six innings, before giving up three straight singles to start the 7th and being pulled from the game.
After this victory, the M’s move to 4-13 on the season. They will face 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg and seven time All-Star Max Scherzer in a two-game series at home before playing eleven straight on the road versus the Athletics, Twins, and Rangers.Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
2020 PITTSBURGH PIRATES FRANCHISE
July 5, 2020
Pirates win 2 home series, taking 2 each from the Rockies and Red Sox to finish the 4-2 homestand.
It was our pitching that carried us this week, which was a nice change. Mitch Keller posted the best start of his career on the 30th against the Rockies, striking out 10 over 6 innings with no walks, and allowing just a solo homer. He still has some work to do but his overall numbers are shaping up to be respectable.
Rookie lefty Brandon Waddell has just been phenomenal. He’s made 8 starts since getting the call from AAA and is 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA through 51.1 IP. He’s allowed just one home run in the majors. On a staff that lacks a true #1 starter, he’s been the closest thing.
Joe Musgrove continues to struggle. Even after a brief furlough to AAA where he seemed to turn things around, he lost his last 2 starts after getting battered in the first inning. Through 66 innings this year he sports an ugly 6.95 ERA. Another trip to AAA probably won’t do him any good so I’m at a loss. He may move over to the pen and try to sort things out in short outings. Steven Brault would take his spot if that ends up being the plan.
The Pirates are 50-39 with 1 week to the All-Star Break. We are 6.0 GB of the Reds in the NL Central, and locked in a virtual 4-way tie for the 2 NL Wild Card Spots with the Cubs (51-40), Braves (50-40), and Diamondbacks (50-40). Some teams are starting to slip back a bit, with the Mets 4.5 out and the Nats and Brewers now 7 out and under .500. We are going to find out what we are made of on this last road trip before the ASB. 4 games in Atlanta then 3 in Cincinnati against the division-leading Reds.
At this stage, we are firmly in the playoff race. Barring an utter collapse between now and July 31, we are going to be buyers at the deadline and try to make a play for one of the Wild Card spots. We most likely don’t have the farm to go out and get a game-changing player, but we have begun the process of identifying which prospects we would be willing to part with. The last thing I expected for this rebuild was to be competitive Year 1, but it would be foolish not to strike while the iron is hot.
The first deadline trade around the league occurred earlier this weekend, with the White Sox trading a couple mid-level prospects to Oakland for reliever Liam Hendriks. We will most likely wait until after the ASB to make any moves.
Tough break for the Dodgers, who lost Mookie Betts for the season via a torn MCL. They have the best record in the NL and a 8.5-game lead in the West.Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Hey guys! Apologies for being MIA.
I'll be updating my Manic Mets franchise soon. We're in the final month of the season before the playoffs, and once the playoffs start we'll be back to more constant updates. Will probably do a season recap when I'm done w the season (before the playoffs). Have about 17-18 games to go and are 9 games ahead of the Braves for the division. Looking like the dodgers will get home field advantage but we're practically tied right now w an easy schedule down the stretch so we'll see.
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Hey Maxxx, have you considered trading your top position prospect, one of your top pitching prospects, and a young recently drafted high upside arm for a past his prime pitcher with declining results and peripherals? What could go wrong?!Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
LOL!! That might go down as the worst trade of the decade. Archer has been pretty solid in my ‘chise though, but definitely not the guy the Buccos thought they were getting. Cross your fingers for me ..... being a buyer in Year 1 of the pseudo-rebuild has the potential to set me back. This team has really exceeded all expectations, feel like I owe it to them to go for it.Comment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Indians propose interesting trade to the Cardinals
The Indians have proposed what can only be described as an interesting trade to the Cardinals.
The Indians have proposed a trade that would send Juan Fabregas back to St.Louis for Michael Wacha and Jo Adell, along with a prospect.
That's right, the Indians who signed Juan Fabregas away from the Cardinals in the offseason are proposing trading him back to St.Louis in exchange for Wacha and Adell primarily as they look to find their centerfielder of the future with Trout getting up there in years. Wacha would provide veteran leadership to a young staff that pitched the Indians to the AL Central title last year.
This offer has caught the Cardinals completely off guard and they have yet to formally decline the offer as it appears that given how the offseason has gone and how the Cardinals project to build their lineup, they are at the very least thinking about it and what it could do for the club.
Fabregas has been injury prone, but when in the lineup presents one of the most dangerous bats in a lineup and being a switch hitter, with equal power on both sides, makes him a matchup nightmare. Put him in the lineup behind Brendan McKay for protection and you have a heck of a one two punch.
The Cardinals are already fielding offers for Wacha. And it was rumored earlier this offseason that if the Cardinals could keep Fabregas that they would consider trading Jo Adell who just can't seem to put together a complete season.
And the kicker is that Fabregas signed for less money than what the Cardinals were willing to offer so they would be getting him cheaper than expected and for at least this year, they would increase their available payroll if they made this deal.
But there is the factor that Fabregas chose to leave St.Louis and wanted to play elsewhere. Like Patrick Wisdom last year, that doesn't set well with the fans, the clubhouse or really management. And Fabregas has been injury prone.
But.....he is talented. The lineup thrived with him the lineup. Would he have been the difference, if healthy, to push the Cards past the Marlins last year and into the NLCS? Maybe...maybe not. But he is a potent bat in a lineup that needs pop, a solid defender, and a guy who has the potential to steal 30 bases.
The Indians want to give back a player to the Cardinals, they wanted, for two players the Cardinals have openly admitted they are willing to part with. But does the sting of him choosing to leave St.Louis create an unrest that prohibits the front office from bringing him back?
Its the middle of the offseason so we have several weeks to find out.Last edited by countryboy; 06-04-2020, 06:29 PM.I can't shave with my eyes closed, meaning each day I have to look at myself in the mirror and respect who I see.
I miss the old days of Operation Sports :(
Louisville Cardinals/St.Louis CardinalsComment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
Wow!
Sent from my LM-X210(G) using Operation Sports mobile appComment
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Re: MLB The Show 20 Franchise Discussion Thread
This is a crazy trade .. but the question is would Dewitt and Mo really do this, especially if they fans are mad.?.? Can't wait to see what happensSent from my SM-N950U using Operation Sports mobile appComment
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