MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

[jrnlgrn]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

I started off the game jumping to a 3-0 lead. Kyle Johnson comes in gets the first two batters out then proceeds to give up 2 runs and 3 hits. Its only spring training but if I lost another game I was going to go insane. So I pulled him before he could make things worse. He still gets the win thanks to the rest of the team picking up his slack. Ended up winning 11-3, hopefully this "win" can boost his confidence so he doesn't collapse like a tent in high winds win it really matters. IMG_20200613_004306685.jpeg

Sent from a galaxy far far away.

[RogueHominid]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

With apologies for going on and on about early-season matchups, this CF Suzuki from the Giants is astounding. He erased so many base hits in my first two series' that I couldn't believe my eyes. Compared to my CF, who can't catch a cold, it was amazing to see what truly elite range and fielding ability looked like, especially in a spacious park.

I'd kill to have a guy like that on my team, and at least defensively, he's an immediate storyline/immersion-generator-type player in my franchise.

Another guy I'm warming up to is my SS Buetscher. While he's got low vision, when this guy connects, whoa! He has so much pop it's kind of startling.

[bacon96]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

After his second start, I'm in love w/ my knuckle-baller Villegas. He's getting deep into games and has been impossible to nail down for opposing batters. I'm sure I'll run into a stretch where the ball isn't moving as much as I need it to, but man has he been fun to use in the early season.

Also, I had an INJ to my starting C and had to bring up the 3rd C on my 40 man, who is horrendous at catching. It was cool to have to get really creative w/ my pitching when I had to trot that C out there. He simply could not catch pitches breaking into the dirt or well out of the zone, so I had to tightrope and pitch within the zone and hope for the best. Cool nuance not to have a very deep roster at C and to have to make real, consequential game play decisions as a result.

This was 100% intentional. I wanted catchers to be a scarce resource where quality shortstops and centerfielders are a bit easier to come across.

With apologies for going on and on about early-season matchups, this CF Suzuki from the Giants is astounding. He erased so many base hits in my first two series' that I couldn't believe my eyes. Compared to my CF, who can't catch a cold, it was amazing to see what truly elite range and fielding ability looked like, especially in a spacious park.

I'd kill to have a guy like that on my team, and at least defensively, he's an immediate storyline/immersion-generator-type player in my franchise.

Another guy I'm warming up to is my SS Buetscher. While he's got low vision, when this guy connects, whoa! He has so much pop it's kind of startling.

There are a bunch of dudes like Buescher on the roster. Make sure you're evaluating players on specific attributes as well as their overalls because there are a ton of unique player profiles throughout the league and the minors.

Baseball is Better!

[RogueHominid]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

Oh yeah, man, I'm studying each team as I go and am definitely noticing the unique profiles.

What's funny is that I love sinkerball pitchers, superb fielders, and good team speed, with contact as a preferred batting attribute, and I'm running as LAD, which is more or less opposite of all that.

Even so, guys like Boomer and Buetscher are growing on me, especially the latter because of his combo of rare power with great range and arm at SS. Buetscher got on fire early so I moved him to #3 and moved Redd to #2. We'll see how that works out.

What I like is that each team is a puzzle and you have to figure out how to arrange the pieces for maximal return, and some teams are missing a key piece, but you kinda gotta get to know the team to figure that out.

I realized my SP isn't particularly deep after a couple early-season INJ, so I may have to give that 42 YO FA a look if I lose one more guy.

[the_kevstaaa]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

Colt Snow (Sacramento Leopards) defeats King Hitter (Carolina Reapers) 24-23 in the finals to win the Home Run Derby!

[the_kevstaaa]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

The NL defeated the AL 8-5 in the All-Star Game. Boston's Clinton Lake took home MVP honors after blasting a three-run homer in the 1st and finishing 2-3 with a HR, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored. For the AL, Max Taylor shined, going 3-3 with a HR, 2 RBI, and a triple.

[RogueHominid]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

I'm at Jackie Robinson day w/ a strong 11-5 record. No sign of Chris Redd or Boomer Moore at the plate, but I'm somehow scratching together enough runs to win.

Adam Turner has finally started to hit enough to earn his spot in the OF, and Keith Patterson and Lefty Wright are showing up most consistently on offense.

We're dealing w/ some INJ issues at the bottom of the rotation, but Reed, Flemming, and Villegas give me a good enough shot each time out to win that I can handle some issues w/ 4-5th starters.

I can't wait till the good bats in the lineup actually start producing. If Redd, Wright, and Buscher got going all at the same time, I'd be extremely happy.

[bacon96]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

I'm at Jackie Robinson day w/ a strong 11-5 record. No sign of Chris Redd or Boomer Moore at the plate, but I'm somehow scratching together enough runs to win.

Adam Turner has finally started to hit enough to earn his spot in the OF, and Keith Patterson and Lefty Wright are showing up most consistently on offense.

We're dealing w/ some INJ issues at the bottom of the rotation, but Reed, Flemming, and Villegas give me a good enough shot each time out to win that I can handle some issues w/ 4-5th starters.

I can't wait till the good bats in the lineup actually start producing. If Redd, Wright, and Buscher got going all at the same time, I'd be extremely happy.

What is your outfield mix? Just curious if you’re pushing Frost to play now or if he’s waiting in the wings in OKC?

[the_kevstaaa]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

Sitting at 52-45 and 2.5 games out of a wild card spot, the Columbus Bombers attempted to fix their biggest problem: pitching. The team acquired Rocco Urban from last place Phoenix in a deal also involving one of Columbus' top prospects. Urban struggled in his team debut early, giving up three runs in three innings. However, he was boosted by a 4-run 1st inning and righted the ship, going 6.2. The offense added eight more in the 6th and 7th to win 13-3.

Player of the Game: Willy Benavides: 4-6, HR, 5 RBI, 2B, 2 R

[bspring3]

MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

So I am now up to 2024 in my Atlantis Aliens franchise after losing in 7 games in the ALCS. I had to sign Triplett and Redd to two 25 million plus contracts so my I am starting to have to pay more attention to my budgets now. I had to trade away my DH Evan Nesbitt along with a couple fringe MLB guys to help stay under budget.

Luckily, these moves allowed me to finally bring Max Grubbs up to DH for me. The dude can absolutely rake and is hitting .400+ with 3 HR in the first 6 games of the season.



My starting lineup and rotation for the season:




Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[RogueHominid]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

What is your outfield mix? Just curious if you’re pushing Frost to play now or if he’s waiting in the wings in OKC?

My current starting OF is Harvey in LF, Turner in CF, and Moore in RF. I have Rush on the 26-man as my defensive substitute, and I use my RP/OF Thompson as a defensive substitute and platoon man vs. LHP.

I don't have major issues w/ Harvey's defense, though I wish he had a little more range. Turner plays as long as he hits, and he's hitting, so I live w/ his limitations. Moore scares me and can cost me some hits and runs, but his bat plays, and I just yank him late in close games to favor defense.

That spec is currently 69 OVR and could potentially hit a little and field just a bit better than Turner, but he's not gonna hit like Turner and I'd rather let him get hot in AAA and ripen a bit before forcing him into the lineup. I think he's currently maybe just a little better overall hitter than Rush @ the #4 OF spot, but if I brought him up, I'd want him to be good enough to play every day, which means his bat is going to have to develop to the point that I see him out-hitting Harvey or Turner.

I think in an ideal world, Turner becomes a PH and PR guy for me, but it's a bit early in the season for me to move to that model.

Long response, but I'm loving the roster & games. This team is an interesting mix, for sure.

Redd has been slow to get going, and Moore and Buscher have been inconsistent. I really need the 3 of them to gel if I'm to be the force offensively that I should be.

[sluggbugg]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

So I am now up to 2024 in my Atlantis Aliens franchise after losing in 7 games in the ALCS. I had to sign Triplett and Redd to two 25 million plus contracts so my I am starting to have to pay more attention to my budgets now. I had to trade away my DH Evan Nesbitt along with a couple fringe MLB guys to help stay under budget.

Luckily, these moves allowed me to finally bring Max Grubbs up to DH for me. The dude can absolutely rake and is hitting .400+ with 3 HR in the first 6 games of the season.



My starting lineup and rotation for the season:




Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

That team is REDICULOUS!

[RogueHominid]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

In the midst of a really interesting series vs. PIT. Just got dominated by Benny Wells, who lived on the edge w/ 3 pitches all game. Hadn't seen a performance like that in a while.

Meanwhile, my poor ace, Chris Reed can't catch a break. He's at 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA despite pitching deep into games and having really solid pitches.

As nuts as it sounds, I'm thinking of putting Boomer Moore on the block to see if I can't get more contact, speed, and fielding on the team in place of a guy who is a better fit for an AL team.

What's y'all's take on that? It's quite early still, but I'm starting to watch the cost of having Boomer in the field take its toll and hurt me in close games.

[jrnlgrn]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

Rough Spring Training... Fluke or Sign of Things to Come?

Last year San Diego just missed making their first trip to the playoffs in over a decade. After stumbling at the end of last season the troubles seemed to follow them into their Spring Training. The Padres preseason performance record of 8-18 wins the worst record of the spring and has many fans worrying.

Pitching Problems:
Coming out of S.T. the major concern is the pitching. If it were just the struggles of the spring call-ups going action against major league talent it'd be easy to dismiss. However outside of 2020 Cy Young winner Kole Robertson (LY 14-8, 1.72 ERA, 273 K in 199.1 IP) the starters looked average at best totaling a record of 3-6 and a +4.50 ERA.

Greg Dickerson (LY 6-11, 6.46 ERA, 180 K in 153.1 IP) was signed in the off-season with the thinking that working with pitching coach Enrique Shell would turn the under achieving Dickerson into a solid bottom of the rotation arm. So far things aren't looking to good. Dickerson was signed to a 3 year deal. The Padres will be hoping that it was just a case of nerves and knocking the rust off.

Power-Up for the Power Bats:
There's no denying the Padres team are lacking in power at the plate. Last year despite being near the bottom of the league in homeruns they made up for it playing small ball and clearing the fence when it matter most. 2020's power came from Dallas Philips and Bruce Greene. While Philips started to come around as training went on finishing with 7 HR, .236 BA, 16 RBI in 72 plate appearances. Greene struggled 6 RBI, 0 HR and .140 BA in 57 appearances. Even if power isn't San Diego's strong suit they'll need both Greene and Philips to drive the ball deep in to the gap to in key moments if they are to have any success this season.

Spring Training Standout Performances:
RF Kobe Yamamoto continues to impress. He is showing the front office that he can be called up to the majors and produce if needed. Kobe was on a roll after being called up last year before going down with a season ending injury. His vision at the plate and ability to get the clutch hit when needed continued in spring training where he recorded a line of .391 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBIs in 23 ABs.

SP Kole Robertson is looking like he wants to add another Cy Young award to his resume. Robertson recorded 2-1, 30 K, 3 Walks, 0.87 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in 20.2 IP

RP Philip Hester isn't the biggest name in the bullpen but is a solid presence. That can be relied upon in key moments. Hester's spring numbers are 10 K, 2.35 ERA and 0.52 WHIP in 7.2 IP

Around the League:
Power Rankings:
Top 10
01. Marlins
02. Giants
03. Rockies
04. Philies
05. Rangers
06. Mariners
07. Padres***
08. Tigers
09. Astros
10. Royals

Bottom 5:
25. Pirates
26. Brewers
27. Cardinals
28. Cubs
29. Diamondbacks
30. Indians

Old Faces in New Places:
CF Paul Keys Indians to Rockies
C Denny Ross Jr. Mariners to Dodgers
SP Alex Sadler Dodgers to Giants
2B Gordon Landry Nationals to Astros
C Mitch Whitehead Giants to Rockies
SP Tanner Wood Cubs to Phillies
3B Chuck Souza Braves to Mariners

Highlights from the end of spring training with all these homeruns and great defensive plays you'd think we would've had a better ST record.
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[rush02721]

Re: MLB The Show 20: Fictional Franchise Progress Thread

Still in April with the Cubs and Frankie is just not liking the cold weather. He’s batting .169 with 4 homers in the last week an 11 RBI. Hopefully he picks up the pace, because when he connects with one man it’s a wonderful feeling. We’re 14-11 with the Pirates right there. Should be fun playing them in my next series as we swept them to open the season.