Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

[j-rod1326]

I have tried playing all 162 games and although that used to appeal to me I have now realized it is impossible to play multiple seasons, and it takes some of the GM aspect out of the game when the user controls every single pitch.

I have also tried playing 1 game a week, while I like the brevity of the season, I do not get enough of an attachment to my players or my team.

I have heard the one game per non division series and two games per division series, I might try this out....anybody know roughly how many games per season I would be playing?

Anyway...just looking for some ideas...let me know your strategy

Thanks,
J-rod

[HokieB]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I've enjoyed playing 1 game per series, which equates to 54 games. I may play 2 games if it's a fun series against a rival or something.

I good system is to just play every 3rd game on your schedule. That helps make sure you are playing games with each of your five starters pretty evenly. You'll have to adjust accordingly when you run into those 2 or 4 game series.

[Knight165]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I've enjoyed playing 1 game per series, which equates to 54 games. I may play 2 games if it's a fun series against a rival or something.

I good system is to just play every 3rd game on your schedule. That helps make sure you are playing games with each of your five starters pretty evenly. You'll have to adjust accordingly when you run into those 2 or 4 game series.

Yep..
This is my strategy as well.
I do look at the potential pitching matchups and if one catches my eye...I go with that game.

M.K.
Knight165

[Mr. Franchise]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I play once every 5 games, so I get to use every pitcher. Use a pitcher, skip the next 4, then skip the pitcher I last used, and on to the next guy.

[bukktown]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I am going to play it like Madden. 16 game seasons. So I will simulate 150 games.

[diamondw23]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I play as the Giants & actually play ALL 162. The pitching is simmed every 1/2 inning and only hit...

I DO throw EVERY pitch by Lincecum & Brian Wilson (in save situations) in quest of a CY Young award or relief trophy, however...

played quite a bit this weekend and got in 30 games! I have SO much fun simply compiling stats!!!

-GW-

[sfgiantsfn]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I've done a few different things but currently I'm playing every 6th game completely and instead of simming the other 5, I sim until the 8th inning and play the last couple innings. That way I can make the most important managerial decisions myself.

High Heat (I think) used to have a "one-pitch" mode where you could basically manage a game but only see the last pitch of each AB. That was great because you could see the graphics but still make all the decisions and the game would only take 10-15 minutes.

[cardsfan2222]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

Yep..
This is my strategy as well.
I do look at the potential pitching matchups and if one catches my eye...I go with that game.

M.K.
Knight165

My problem is that far too many pitching matchups catch my eye. I've gone through a season and a half so far, but I doubt I'll buy MLB 10, so that will give me time to get through a few more seasons before buying MLB 11

[orthostud23]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I do the play 5 sim 5 routine. If I am getting blown out by a certain inning I will also sim that as well.

[bostonsportsrule]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I paly all 162. Most I've done is two full seasons. Last year, when I took a week vacation from work, I played like 32 games.

[42]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I've enjoyed playing 1 game per series, which equates to 54 games. I may play 2 games if it's a fun series against a rival or something.

I good system is to just play every 3rd game on your schedule. That helps make sure you are playing games with each of your five starters pretty evenly. You'll have to adjust accordingly when you run into those 2 or 4 game series.

I'll be using this system once I hit the 2010 season.

Although, playing all 162 games is a lot of fun -- Only 30 games to go!

[dickey1331]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

Yeah I play all 162 games. It's long but for me it's worth it.

[hitstreak13]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I play every inning of all 162 games. I just love baseball beyond belief. I play it, I work for a team, and I dream it. No way I ever skip a game.

[cjnoles9399]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I'm with you hitstreak....I've tried different ways of trying to get multiple seasons in but I can't bring myself to sim any games. As a result of playing every inning I can only get about one season played per year.

Baseball is the game of peaks and valleys and I love being a part of all of them through a 162 game season. Keeping that hitting streak going or breaking out of that horrid slump. Managing your team and having to make the right in-game moves every night, then having to make adjustments the next night based on your previous moves. One starter having to bulldog it in a key game while another you just hope to get 5 quality innings. Chasing the benchmark numbers of a .300 hitter, 30hr, 100rbi, etc...All of those things make the game great and I can never pass them up.

[HokieB]

Re: Strategy for completing multiple franchise years

I use to be a die hard 162-gamer, but I never made it through more than one season. Each game is just too long - I average about an hour per game. I enjoy the cut scenes to much to skip them

I didn't make the decision to start playing just every 3rd game lightly, but after doing so I found that I like it much better.

Aside from being able to progress through multiple seasons and thus enjoy the challenges of each offseason, I found that effective roster management is much more critical when you are relying on CPU simulation to earn wins. You may be able to fight through cold streaks when you are playing manually and not need to make many adjustments, but the CPU sims aren't so forgiving. If you start racking up sim losses, you need to fix something.

Also, when playing all 162 I always found myself sweating my players' stats in regards to how realistic they were (are they getting enough walks, is my team BA too high, etc.) and there always seemed to be a couple major statistical outliers. But now that my stats are combined with sim stats, it's really a non issue.

With that said, if you can play a full 162, more power to you. I just wanted to point out some of the unexpected perks I found when simming.