Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

[Helmzey]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Plus, the Marlins were a wildcard last year, but they arent a lock IRL this year or in MLBTS24 , but they can certainly at least make a run on the wildcard in 24.
And Jazz Chisholm has it covered both ways, still a potentential star or a potential Shooty Babbitt.

I would say go for the Tigers. It’s a team I’ve been thinking about playing with myself. They have a really nice young core of hitters to build around in Greene, Torkelson, Carpenter and Keith. Plus have atleast two top 30 prospects in Max Clark (OF) and Jackson Jobe (P). You will definitely need to bolster the starting pitching through free agency and trades. I also think they have great jerseys. Very clean and simplistic, definitely a more old school style. The ballpark is nothing too special but it’s also not bad either. A few unique touches for sure.

Thanks for the replies! I think I will go with the Marlins. Not the biggest fan of their stadium but it's not too bad. I love their uniform options the more I look at them. Might even look at Miami Vice redesign. Also a team in a really weird state that overperformed and is not built for sustained success, could take notes from their state rivals. I also like that there's a lot of flexibility and tough choices with players nearing arbitration, who sticks around, who doesn't from Jazz, Arraez, Luzardo, etc. Some potential budding stars in Perez and Burger. A lot of room to add my own prospects and fix the farm system. Seems like a really unique team that will be a lot of fun!

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Thanks for the replies! I think I will go with the Marlins. Not the biggest fan of their stadium but it's not too bad. I love their uniform options the more I look at them. Might even look at Miami Vice redesign. Also a team in a really weird state that overperformed and is not built for sustained success, could take notes from their state rivals. I also like that there's a lot of flexibility and tough choices with players nearing arbitration, who sticks around, who doesn't from Jazz, Arraez, Luzardo, etc. Some potential budding stars in Perez and Burger. A lot of room to add my own prospects and fix the farm system. Seems like a really unique team that will be a lot of fun!

Its a good choice, I am running a Miami rebuild franchise.

[Cyrus09]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

NATIONALS
WHITE SOX
PIRATES

As said above, you'd really have to play some games in their stadiums to see if you like it.

100%
In theory I love the Cubs stadium for example. But seeing that huge jumbotron all the time is so weird, especially if the players only have the CAP face instead of a picture. Takes me out of the game completely.

Watching a team on the daily basis and playing them on The Show is hard sometimes. Normally I am all for creating your own reality in sports games, but watching Vlad and Bo burning down parks around the country with their hot bats in the game and then see them strike out in a important at-bat looking at the same pitch 3 times is a bit too much.

So yesterday I decided to put my focus on the real life Jays, while searching for my The Show fix in another team.

It was clear that I would not pick a team in the Jays division, even though the Sox would be an interesting option.

I looked at the Marlins and the alternative reality for them with a healthy rotation would be nice, but I don't see myself getting attached to anyone in that lineup. I had hope for the Mets, because I love the park, the jerseys and Senga, but the lineup didn't click there as well.
The Royals have basically everything I would look for in a team, but their last World Series wasn't that long ago.

So after flipping through the teams for soild 20 minutes yesterday I found a team I think I can work with:

- without injuries good pitching
- troubled history
- international talent across the lineup
- some promising prospects with impact in the game in the near future
- competetive division without a big player

So I started to manage the Cleveland I.. Guardians.

First 3 games ended up being a rollercoaster, which you would not neccessary expect against the As.

- We start with a 1-2 loss in Oakland. The As ended up with just 4 hits, but Zack Gelof hit a 2 run homer in the first inning. Cleveland ended up with 7 guys stranded on base
- then we got a bit of revenge in a 6-4 win. This time both teams produced double digit hits, but a 3-0 9th inning sealed the deal for the Guadians. The As closer ended up with the deserved loss there. Jose Ramirez scored his first home run of the season
- the third game saw the debut of Center Fielder George Valera, who ended up hitless but still got on base because he was one of 4(!) players that got hit by a pitch. All 4 by Mason Miller in a span of 3 innings, which earned him the L in Clevelands 8-4 win. Again Cleveland scored big with 4 runs in the 9th inning, only answered by an inside the park home run by Ryan Noda. Jose Ramirez homered again with 3RBI, Josh Naylor did the same.

I still have to figure the timing out for some of the guys, but I am confident. And another difference to my Blue Jays save: I don't care enough for the guys to not make trades and I can see my strike a deal in a couple weeks. Which reminds me that we really need a trade thread again, because I need some names I could boost my infield with.

After this post in the franchise thread I am sadly back at 0, because for some reason the Guardians can't keep my attention as well. Another thing I realized that turns me off on some teams is weirdly when a lot of people here play with them. The Reds for example I should like in theory, but then there is DarthRambo with his dope updates.

I'm starting to worry that I not end up really playing the game, but always look for a save to really grab me. Which is tough, because I really love playing the game.

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

100%
In theory I love the Cubs stadium for example. But seeing that huge jumbotron all the time is so weird, especially if the players only have the CAP face instead of a picture. Takes me out of the game completely.



After this post in the franchise thread I am sadly back at 0, because for some reason the Guardians can't keep my attention as well. Another thing I realized that turns me off on some teams is weirdly when a lot of people here play with them. The Reds for example I should like in theory, but then there is DarthRambo with his dope updates.

I'm starting to worry that I not end up really playing the game, but always look for a save to really grab me. Which is tough, because I really love playing the game.

Its not that uncommon. I am a huge Guardians fan and I tried to do a franchise with them this year, but their early success in real life has me more into watching them, then actually playing a franchise with them, because I need a good STORY LINE to make it more fun. If the team is already good, then its not a good story and I get bored.

[Cyrus09]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Its not that uncommon. I am a huge Guardians fan and I tried to do a franchise with them this year, but their early success in real life has me more into watching them, then actually playing a franchise with them, because I need a good STORY LINE to make it more fun. If the team is already good, then its not a good story and I get bored.

That is a great point. It's the real life success, or success in the near past, or even in the season before. Another example right now are the Royals. Very interesting roster, but the last WS was so close and now they look great again. That really is not grabbing me the way the same roster would do in Seattle for example.

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

That is a great point. It's the real life success, or success in the near past, or even in the season before. Another example right now are the Royals. Very interesting roster, but the last WS was so close and now they look great again. That really is not grabbing me the way the same roster would do in Seattle for example.

Yeah that's why I didn't go with the nationals. Success wasn't that long ago. Colorado is a good story. Cincy, Oakland, White Sox are a good story. WS because they are a mess. I'm rolling with Miami right now because to me it's a good story because they're a disaster. I'm coming in as the savior. LoL [emoji38]

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

That is a great point. It's the real life success, or success in the near past, or even in the season before. Another example right now are the Royals. Very interesting roster, but the last WS was so close and now they look great again. That really is not grabbing me the way the same roster would do in Seattle for example.

Yeah and Seattle is a good story as far as their past is concerned.

[Cyrus09]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Yeah that's why I didn't go with the nationals. Success wasn't that long ago. Colorado is a good story. Cincy, Oakland, White Sox are a good story. WS because they are a mess. I'm rolling with Miami right now because to me it's a good story because they're a disaster. I'm coming in as the savior. LoL [emoji38]

Do you play with the injuries to their starters or are you doing an alternate reality thing?

I just tried a game with the Brewers, but they look to be the boring kind of good as well. I really think the last hope for me are the Mariners, I just wish they would have at least one more exciting pitcher.

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

I play with every team fully healthy to start the season, but I do have injuries turned on.
But I do have Miamis starters injured (in AAA) since it's more of a challenge and I'm doing a 3 year rebuild anyway.

[bkrich83]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

I play with every team fully healthy to start the season, but I do have injuries turned on.
But I do have Miamis starters injured (in AAA) since it's more of a challenge and I'm doing a 3 year rebuild anyway.

I do the same. I start the season with everyone healthy, and then let nature take it's course so to speak.

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

I do the same. I start the season with everyone healthy, and then let nature take it's course so to speak.

How about this, I take it a step further.....if there are players in the FA pool whose attributes are decent, I will sign them to random teams that need help at those positions in order to help make those teams stronger. I know, I'm weird.

[bkrich83]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

How about this, I take it a step further.....if there are players in the FA pool whose attributes are decent, I will sign them to random teams that need help at those positions in order to help make those teams stronger. I know, I'm weird.

I've done that in the past. Especially for signing that make sense. Half the time they end up playing out in real life anyway.

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Another PSA/heads up for the undecided;
List of teams since their last championship:

Cleveland 1948.

Padres born 1969, no championship.

Brewers started 1970, no championship.

Mariners born 1977, no championship.

Pirates 1979.

Orioles 1983.

Tigers 1984.

Mets 1986.

A's 1989.

Reds 1990.

Twins 1991.

Rockies born 1993, no championship.

Blue Jays 1993.

Rays born 1998, no championship.

**Dodgers 1988** not counting 2020 covid 60 game "tournament" championship.

Did I miss anyone? I guess the rest of the teams have won championships this century.

According to Baseball Reference online, looks like you got it covered. Surprising for some teams that it's been THAT long.

[Cyrus09]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Yeah and Seattle is a good story as far as their past is concerned.

Just scored 15 runs in the opener against the Sox. That lineup really could be fun, I will give that a go for a few teams. Park looks great as well, the colors are really popping.

For the championship list: As a casual I am most suprised by the Tigers, I really saved them in my mind as one of the more succesful teams. But they even barely made the playoffs?

[jcar0725]

Re: Help Me Choose a Franchise Team (Official Thread)

Its crazy to think, since 2000, 22 full seasons played, half the major league teams have won a WS. 15 in 22 years, not counting the 2020 60 game season. If that doesn't give hope any team can win it all, nothing will. Significant WS winners since 2000:
2001 Arizona first championship.
2002 Angels first championship.
2004 Red Sox first championship since 1918.
2005 White Sox first championship since 1917.
2006 Cardinals first championship since 1982.
2008 Phillies first championship since 1980.
2010 Giants first championship since 1954.
2015 Royals first championship since 1985.
2016 Cubs first championship since 1906.
*2017 Astr*s first championship.*
2019 Nationals first championship. Washingtons first championship since 1924.
2023 Rangers first championship.

We're getting to the point the Yankees are getting into that 1979-1995 championship drought territory. Its been over 20 years since the Marlins have won a championship. And the Braves just won in 2021 but they seem to still be a popular franchise choice in The Show year in year out regardless how they play IRL.

Hoping to see cleveland on this list soon ...... I'm getting old.