MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

[h2oPr00f]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

agree with above post. everytime i get a "meatball pitch" i can't seem to do anything with it. yet, if i make one mistake to the CPU it becomes a souvenir. frustrating lol

I can't seem to get going with Wright or Beltran, both hovering around .200 the first month. Bay and Reyes are raking for me. I made a minor trade sending Emaus,Boyer and Hairston to Houston for super utility man Bill Hall.

Eventually, I am going to free up a spot for my favorite Met prospect, Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

I have gone 4-6 in last 10, with a Jekyl/Hyde offense. I shutout the D-Backs in my last game, Johan went 9, struck out 12. Bay had the only offense with a 2 run bomb.

[cardsleadtheway]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

My team's lack of power is really starting to get frustrating. I hit 4 or 5 balls against Santana that felt like they should have gone, and they ended up being easy fly outs. My team is built for power, and when I don't have it, it makes the game a lot tougher. We ended up losing 3-0 against the Mets, as despite 10 hits we only managed to get 1 runner into scoring position. I'm still leading a weak division, but the Cubs are starting to get on a roll.

My team lives and dies by the long ball. Only a few games this season can I remember stringing together a bunch of hits to score runs. Usually I get walks and then drive them in with home runs or else hit into double plays because my team is so slow that a diving stop at the hot corner is an automatic DP. But with my stellar pitching to go along with the power hitters, I am doing just fine. Almost at the deadline and something like 20 games up in the division.

Pitched with Gio Gonzalez my last game and he pulled something and will be out for 4-6 weeks. He was my only pitcher without a loss so far, despite the second highest era, at 13-0. It looks like I might have shot myself in the foot by sending Clayton Richard away, as hell as Henry Rodriguez. I brought up Tyson Ross to play the long reliever and another righty, and he has delivered. 6 innings in relief so far and he has yet to allow a run while giving up 1 hit. I think he will get the start, but now I have to bring up either a reliever or one of my starters to play long relief, or another batter. Drabek is really pitching well, so he might get the call, but I want him to be a starter. None of my batters in AAA have really distinguished themselves as of yet, so it isn't like someone has earned a call up. I could always send Greinke to the pen, but it looks like he is finally starting to get it together.

[DJ]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

Yeah man, sim the games that are before the game you wish to play. Even though the games will be completely simmed, say you're game is at 4:00 and there was another game at 2:30, the out of town scoreboard as well at the in game ticker will show the game in progress. Pretty cool stuff.

Good deal, and thanks for the reply. I just simmed the first month of the season so I'm now caught up with the real-world calendar. I'm not making lineup/pitching adjustments, other than moving guys back to the MLB roster when they come off the DL, but it'll still be cool to follow along with the MLB calendar.

So far the only thing that stands out is that the Mets lead the NL East with a 19-9 record. The Indians are actually in 2nd place in the AL Central and the AL East is as tight as it is irl.

I played 4-5 games in April and it really was fun to just choose different teams and play the game. It's like Exhibition games, but with some meaning behind it. I just couldn't get with running with the Mets and Rockies again this year as I invested a ton of time in those franchises last year. I needed to freshen things up and the 30-team control has allowed me to do that.

[Marino]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

Sitting at 52-37 right now, 4 games up on Colorado. I'll give the full stats once I get to the AS Game (I am 4 games away)

[BenGerman]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

Summary:

4-3 with the Phils, after going on a 3 game winning streak against the Mets, and the Braves. Pitching has held me together, as I've won my last 3 games 2-1, 6-3, and 4-3.

Stats:

Polanco hitting .427, 2 HR's, 4 RBI's
Howard hitting .287, 3 HR's. 6 RBI's
Utley hitting .260, 1 HR, 3 RBI's
Ibanez hitting .164, 1 HR, 2 RBI's
Chooch hitting .127, 0 HR, 3 RBI's

Halladay with a 2.60 ERA, 1-1 record, 13 SO's
Lee with a 2.15 ERA, 2-0 record, 11 SO's
Hamels with a 5.45 ERA, 0-1 record, 3 SO's

[cardsfan2222]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

My team lives and dies by the long ball. Only a few games this season can I remember stringing together a bunch of hits to score runs. Usually I get walks and then drive them in with home runs or else hit into double plays because my team is so slow that a diving stop at the hot corner is an automatic DP. But with my stellar pitching to go along with the power hitters, I am doing just fine. Almost at the deadline and something like 20 games up in the division.

Pitched with Gio Gonzalez my last game and he pulled something and will be out for 4-6 weeks. He was my only pitcher without a loss so far, despite the second highest era, at 13-0. It looks like I might have shot myself in the foot by sending Clayton Richard away, as hell as Henry Rodriguez. I brought up Tyson Ross to play the long reliever and another righty, and he has delivered. 6 innings in relief so far and he has yet to allow a run while giving up 1 hit. I think he will get the start, but now I have to bring up either a reliever or one of my starters to play long relief, or another batter. Drabek is really pitching well, so he might get the call, but I want him to be a starter. None of my batters in AAA have really distinguished themselves as of yet, so it isn't like someone has earned a call up. I could always send Greinke to the pen, but it looks like he is finally starting to get it together.

I'm surprised you built your team for power, especially playing in the Coliseum. Allen Craig is extremely slow, and I've given up a few extra base hits because he can't get to balls hit in the alleys. Is Greinke just not pitching well for you, or do you really have that many good starters? I'm struggling to get by without Wainwright. Hochevar pitched 7.1 innings while only allowing 1 run in his last start, so I'm hoping he may be the answer. If not I may be looking for a starter at the deadline. None of my A potential AAA pitchers are pitching well right now.

[B Easy]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

Good deal, and thanks for the reply. I just simmed the first month of the season so I'm now caught up with the real-world calendar. I'm not making lineup/pitching adjustments, other than moving guys back to the MLB roster when they come off the DL, but it'll still be cool to follow along with the MLB calendar.

So far the only thing that stands out is that the Mets lead the NL East with a 19-9 record. The Indians are actually in 2nd place in the AL Central and the AL East is as tight as it is irl.

I played 4-5 games in April and it really was fun to just choose different teams and play the game. It's like Exhibition games, but with some meaning behind it. I just couldn't get with running with the Mets and Rockies again this year as I invested a ton of time in those franchises last year. I needed to freshen things up and the 30-team control has allowed me to do that.

Glad to help. I was thinking of doing this type of franchise also. It allows you to just pick up and play a match up you want to, while keeping track of stats, standings, the whole 9 which is great IMO.

[cardsleadtheway]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

I'm surprised you built your team for power, especially playing in the Coliseum. Allen Craig is extremely slow, and I've given up a few extra base hits because he can't get to balls hit in the alleys. Is Greinke just not pitching well for you, or do you really have that many good starters? I'm struggling to get by without Wainwright. Hochevar pitched 7.1 innings while only allowing 1 run in his last start, so I'm hoping he may be the answer. If not I may be looking for a starter at the deadline. None of my A potential AAA pitchers are pitching well right now.

Because I play in the Coliseum, I have to build my team for power. I have great pitching, but I need run support. And in 10, bad defense doesn't hurt you as bad as it would in real life. Dunn has given up a few extra base hits, but his arm is ridiculous, which has thrown out many a base runner at 2nd or 3rd. Peralta in center is serviceable. He isn't as fast as most, but he gets the job done and can cover a lot of ground. His arm is weak. In left, Quentin is really slow, but I have Michael Taylor and now Brandon Jones that split time with him. I tried to win games with the Rajai Davis and Coco Crisp duo, but I couldn't get any run support. Best era in the AL and I was still a dozen games back in the division. Power is definitely the way to go.

Grienke is doing better, but I can't seem to pitch well with him, and neither can the CPU. His era is way up, he gets 3-4 shutdown innings, and then gives up a big one. I will be glad to let him go for the draft picks. He only cost me $5 mil. Someone will certainly sign him for $15-20. Anderson, Halladay (easily my favorite to pitch with), Gio (hurt now), and Mazarro are all really good now. Ross is the front runner for Gio, but he is tough to pitch with. He has a 2-seam, cut, slider, and change up. No 4-seam makes it tough to get one over when he falls behind. It seems to me that pitching prospects take awhile to develop. In my fifth year, I haven't seen that many of them perform well at the big league level. Only teams like Royals and Pirates have more than one of them starting.

[abjsuperstar]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

il try one with the Os and twins

[LowerWolf]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

I'm 7-15 with the Braves now and getting really frustrated. I've lost six straight on my west coast road trip. Can't get a clutch hit to save my life; can't stop the cpu from getting clutch hits.

Had a 4-3 lead over the Giants. Runner on first, two outs, bottom of the ninth. And Sandoval rips a double off the wall to tie it. Bottom of the 11th, Torres hits a two-run homer to win it. I didn't get a single hit off the Giants bullpen after knocking Zito out after 5 1-3. Frustrating.

[The Chef]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

Sitting at 9-10 with the Dodgers, offense really struggled out of the gate as I tested out sliders along the way. The last week or so Ethier, Kemp, Loney, Uribe and Furcal have heated up but Uribe is out for 3-4 weeks now and Im getting next to zero production from catcher, LF, 2B and 3B so we might have to look into some deals down the line if Im still in the race. Pitching wise Kuroda has been an absolute stud with a 0.37 ERA having started 5 games so far and he gave up his first run of the season in his most recent start against Atlanta. Fun fact, Im 6-1 against the Giants thus meaning Im a terrible 3-9 against San Diego, Colorado, Atlanta and St Louis combined.

[Simba8]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

I've been following this for a while, but haven't commented (My PS3 stopped working , but I fixed it! ) I'm a huge Orioles fan, so I'm going to be starting my franchise with them. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at first. I was either going to just start from season one, or sim a few years so my prospects build up (Machado)

[cardsfan2222]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

I'm now 26-17 after taking the first game in Seattle. After complaining about Ludwick's lack of power, he finally came through with his 2nd homer of the season. Mather hit an inside the park home run, and Allen Craig added another home run in our 6-2 win. Garcia picked up his 2nd straight win to improve his record to 3-3.

[cardsleadtheway]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

Carlos Pena just hit career home runs 400 and 401. I saw this a couple of years ago when Dunn hit 400, but it still amazes me how cool the cut scene is. I actually think that it is far better than winning the world series cut scene is. Dunn is now 3 away from 500, so I will be anxious to see how that differs from the 400 scene.

After Gio went on the DL, I decided to bring up my top 2B prospect, Dominique Alonzo, and move Ross into the rotation. He had a 1-4 game in his first game of the season. I need to see how he does now in order to make the long term decision about re-signing Tulo. The very next game, Matt Capps went on the DL for 2 weeks, so I brought up Drabek after all. All of my pitchers have ridiculous win records right now, so I think I am going to play some musical chairs with my rotation. Something like a 7 man rotation.

The deadline has now passed. Not a whole lot of trading going on, but the Phillies added Jason Bay to an outfield loaded up with Shin-Soo Choo, Jayson Werth, and Alfonso Soriano. The Cubs traded away Derek Lee for Vladimir Guerrero.

[cardsfan2222]

Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

I don't know that the cutscene will be any different. The cutscene for Rolen's 300th and Pujols 400th were both the same.