2012 Franchise Progress Thread

[Dorfie]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Well, I was really enjoying my Orioles franchise. I've played every game and I'm currently 29-21, but it looks like I'll be starting over. The CPU is starting to make ridiculous trades that are just destroying the realism. Time to start over with 30 team control.

[Jm0ney2001]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

My first season with the twins we went 75-87, I played a lot of those games myself. So far in my 2nd season (going to play all 162) started last saturday and I'm 6-10. Playing a series a day and I just love this game. Can't get enough if it. I started cold only winning 3 of my first 13, but last night I swept the athletics (which I couldn't believe bc I had been playing so poorly) tonight I have 3 more against Anaheim. If I take 2 ill be happy.

[ILLICIT206]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Finally won my first series in my M's franchise. Only took until the fourth series of the year, lol. My starter, Blake Beaven, was scratched due to a hip injury, so I had to turn to my long reliever Iwakuma and he and the bullpen held the Indians in check for the most part. Going into the bottom 8th Cleveland was up 2-1 and I tied the game when Munenori Kawasaki doubled to right center, scoring Michael Saunders. I then proceeded to get a runner in scoring position for the next three innings, only to fail to come up with a clutch hit. My bullpen was lights out and in the bottom 12th Chone Figgins singled up the middle, scoring the winning run. Of all people too, as he's been hovering around the Mendoza line and I was considering DFA-ing him. Saved his job for the meantime...

Next game was the first of a three-game set against the White Sox and once again, it went to extra innings. Chris Sale went 8 innings for them, striking out 10. He walked 6 however, but I was unable to do much against him, only getting three hits. Kevin Millwood was on his game for me as well, and I went into the bottom ninth down 2-1. With one outs and a runner on third, I pinch hit Brendan Ryan for Kawasaki, playing the odds against a lefty pitcher, and Ryan came up big, singling through the drawn in infield on the left side to tie the game. Then I won the game in the most unlikely way...

With Ryan at the plate and Alex Liddi on second, I hit one deep in the hole at SS. I sent Liddi home, thinking Ryan would be thrown out but hoping maybe the SS Ramirez will make a throwing error, and Ryan beat out the throw for an infield single! The throw home was way late and game over.

Nice to have my first winning streak...haven't had much offense to start the year so I'm taking baby steps. Next I have Felix taking the mound against Humber and hopefully this game won't reflect what happened in real life...

[ILLICIT206]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Oh yeah, and I dunno how you guys are doing but I'm getting hit with a lot of injuries. I already am down Carp and Gutierrez to start the year, and now Olivo and Ryan have recently been hit. Ryan is just now coming back and Kawasaki has played well in his absence, but I'm in desperate need of some offense and NEED Carp and Gutierrez back. Saunders plays a good CF but just isn't hitting.

[mer1in20]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Currently in a Red Sox Franchise and sit at 15-9 tied with the Stankees for 1st in the AL East. I play every game and use Allstars sliders. Team batting average of .243 which is good for 15th place and have a team ERA of 2.72 which is good for 3rd. My starting pitching has been huge with my starters gonig late into games usually. Salty leads my team in Avg at .333, next highest is Crawford with .286. Pedroia has been on a power surge hitting 7 in 24 games including a walkoff win over the Yanks during that series. Iglesias and Lavarnway made the majors right out of ST but stunk it up and after the first month, I sent them both back down to get more time. Overall, I'm loving it so far. Having a hard time hitting homers sometimes though but overall, I think Allstars sliders are the best out there.

[crpav]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

White Sox fan here so of course doing a White Sox franchise. I am 6-0 to start the season but had some nail biting and intense games. First game of the season I won 3 to 2 in extra innings. 3 games ago I won 1 to 0 and the go ahead and eventual winning run was by a grounder hit to the second baseman by Pierzynski that the second baseman could not handle. I was safe by a step once he got the ball and made the throw to first. I had a runner at 3rd with two outs at the time. I was awarded a hit on that one.

2 games ago I was down by 2 in the 8th I got a man on with 2 outs and Cleveland brought in a side armed reliever. I hate deliveries that are awkward I might add. Konerko was up to bat and I usually take pitches especially the first pitch but it looked good and I hit a 2 run opposite field home run to tie it. The game went into extra innings where I scored 5 runs in the top of the 10th, including another 2 run homer by Konerko, and went on to win.

My last game was an offensive explosion. I hit 8 home runs as a team including Konerko's 400 and 401 career homers. I also hit 3 with Adam Dunn which is the second time I hit 3 with him on the short season. I will be adjusting sliders since I think I am good enough now and power is more than I like to see. I also had a dominate performance on the mound with Chris Sale. A complete game 1 ER performance with 14 Ks(I will double check to make sure that is what I had). I had 10 strikeouts in 3 innings to start and struck out Hafner 4 times in the game.

[ILLICIT206]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Currently in a Red Sox Franchise and sit at 15-9 tied with the Stankees for 1st in the AL East. I play every game and use Allstars sliders. Team batting average of .243 which is good for 15th place and have a team ERA of 2.72 which is good for 3rd. My starting pitching has been huge with my starters gonig late into games usually. Salty leads my team in Avg at .333, next highest is Crawford with .286. Pedroia has been on a power surge hitting 7 in 24 games including a walkoff win over the Yanks during that series. Iglesias and Lavarnway made the majors right out of ST but stunk it up and after the first month, I sent them both back down to get more time. Overall, I'm loving it so far. Having a hard time hitting homers sometimes though but overall, I think Allstars sliders are the best out there.

7 HR's with one player in April isn't having a hard time hitting HR's! I have 5 HR's AS A TEAM and I'm 14 games in! lol I am playing with the M's though...

[Mercury53]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Finally won my first series in my M's franchise. Only took until the fourth series of the year, lol. My starter, Blake Beaven, was scratched due to a hip injury, so I had to turn to my long reliever Iwakuma and he and the bullpen held the Indians in check for the most part. Going into the bottom 8th Cleveland was up 2-1 and I tied the game when Munenori Kawasaki doubled to right center, scoring Michael Saunders. I then proceeded to get a runner in scoring position for the next three innings, only to fail to come up with a clutch hit. My bullpen was lights out and in the bottom 12th Chone Figgins singled up the middle, scoring the winning run. Of all people too, as he's been hovering around the Mendoza line and I was considering DFA-ing him. Saved his job for the meantime...

Next game was the first of a three-game set against the White Sox and once again, it went to extra innings. Chris Sale went 8 innings for them, striking out 10. He walked 6 however, but I was unable to do much against him, only getting three hits. Kevin Millwood was on his game for me as well, and I went into the bottom ninth down 2-1. With one outs and a runner on third, I pinch hit Brendan Ryan for Kawasaki, playing the odds against a lefty pitcher, and Ryan came up big, singling through the drawn in infield on the left side to tie the game. Then I won the game in the most unlikely way...

With Ryan at the plate and Alex Liddi on second, I hit one deep in the hole at SS. I sent Liddi home, thinking Ryan would be thrown out but hoping maybe the SS Ramirez will make a throwing error, and Ryan beat out the throw for an infield single! The throw home was way late and game over.

Nice to have my first winning streak...haven't had much offense to start the year so I'm taking baby steps. Next I have Felix taking the mound against Humber and hopefully this game won't reflect what happened in real life...

Major props for using the real Mariners. I about cracked my controller using them until I made some moves to help the team.

[mer1in20]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

7 HR's with one player in April isn't having a hard time hitting HR's! I have 5 HR's AS A TEAM and I'm 14 games in! lol I am playing with the M's though...

Maybe, except he's the only one hitting them. The next closest is Papi with 3. I hate a total of 12 through 25 games.

[ILLICIT206]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Maybe, except he's the only one hitting them. The next closest is Papi with 3. I hate a total of 12 through 25 games.

Crazy. I struggle with my M's but that's pretty realistic. Their offense isn't very good. I seem to hit a realistic amount of HR's with most other teams though. Is Boston your favorite team? I have a theory that it's harder for me to play with my team because I try too hard.

[crob8822]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

I've reached the All Star break in my Angels 2012 franchise, so far the Halos are 50-36 a game and a half behind the Rangers. The only roster move I made was releasing reliever LaTroy Hawkins, since I control only the Angels the only major trade that caught my attention was Ichiro traded to the Yankees I guess the cpu mariners felt that it was time to move on, the Yankees lead the AL east by 9 games. It finally looks like I will be able to play a full 162, my wife is cool as long as I take care of family business 1st.

[Chetballard]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Ryan Braun is a beast in this game. I have been playing the show since 09' and have had many great hitters on my team such as Pujols. Its very rare that he doesnt at least get 1 hit a game.

I have played every game expect one which i simmed because the game froze midgame. I am close to the end of May and I am 28-17 with the Brewers. These stats are from Allstar batting and hitting.

Braun is batting .372 14hr 40RBI and leads the NL in AVG. HR. 1st in doubles with 16, 1st in triples with 5, and forgot but either 1st or 2nd in RBI. All the other great hitters i have played with none to me has hit as good Braun is in this game. Its still not too far into the season and things can change. But i have never lead the MLB leaderboards at the end of the season in HR,RBI,or AVG in any show I have played. Braun might be the first

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

20 games in, and my Braves are still in first. Chipper, McCann and Freeman have been raking. Uggla is heating up. I'm probably going to be looking to trade for a SS at the deadline though.

Rotation has been solid (especially Beachy) but Venters, O'Flaherty and Moylan have all struggled in the pen.

I'm 13-7. The pesky Mets won't go away. They're still just a game back at 12-8.

[MauryJohn]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Alright guys. I was curious about the Royals and just wondering how I can do with them.

I started the season taking the opening series against the LAA, 2-1. During those games it was straight hell. This team is so damn difficult to use. After that series, I was able to win my first game of the next series and everything just went downhill from there, losing 6 straight.

Just a horrible feeling in general. During that losing streak I realized that there was no way I could compete to even get into the playoffs...so I did what anybody who's trying to rebuild their team does: I started signing and trading players.

It was a complete overhaul. This team isn't that bad now. I'm pretty sure we can do some justice and at least clinch the wild card. I was able to do this with fair trades on and everything. Took me a while but hell, I got it done and I'm way more than happy with my lineup and my bullpen. My rotation is still a bit iffy. If anyone has anyone questions regarding the trades, feel free to ask I'll be more than happy to let you know what trade was made.

Current Record: 8-7, 3rd Place, 2.0 Games Behind

Starting Rotation
L Jonathan Sanchez
R Luke Hochevar
R Roy Oswalt
R Phil Hughes
L Bruce Chen

Bullpen
R Aaron Crow [Long Relief]
R Greg Holland [Middle Relief]
R Joel Zumaya [Middle Relief/Setup]
L Aroldis Chapman [Setup]
R Jonathan Broxton [Setup]
R Joakim Soria [Closer]

My rotation seems to be suffering early this season, giving up a lot of runs and whatnot. But my bullpen helps manage the damage control. Zumaya has been amazing. One of my favorite pickups so far. No runs allowed and 17 strikeouts in only 11 innings out the bullpen.

Chapman works wonders and is just an amazing pitcher when it comes to handling jams. Definitely a nice combo with Broxton. And Soria...well, Soria is doing his thing. He's blown a couple saves, but my offense has come saved his ***.

Lineup
CF Brett Gardner
SS Billy Hamilton
3B Pablo Sandoval
1B Eric Kosmer
RF Alex Gordon
DH Billy Butler
RF Aubrey Huff
C Brayan Pena
2B Chris Getz

C Ivan Rodriguez
2B Jose Lopez
1B Russell Branyan
RF Nick Swisher [in the lineup vs LHP]

Lord almighty. Quite the overhaul. Did A LOT of trading. Well not A LOT, but some heavy trades that has landed me this nice lineup. Middle of the lineup, as you can see, poses as a huge pain the *** for the opponent. Sandoval has come in and brought life to my lineup, which in turn, energized everyone else. It's just crazy right now. And Brett Gardner is just a speed demon and was easy to pickup. Gotta love his speed. 11 stolen bases so far.


Took a lot of work to get this team, but damnit am I proud of my hard work. Team can actually hold its own now. May not be as realistic as it is in real life, but the fact that I nailed this with fair trades on...hell, seems impressive to me. We're far from being the best team in baseball...but we're also far from being the worst team in baseball. I can definitely see us clinching the wild card.

[ILLICIT206]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

With my Mariners franchise making me break controllers, I'm considering doing either an Astros, Nationals or Braves franchise. Though the Astros will probably make me break a controller too lol. I'm movin to the NL because I think the stadiums are better and it'll be a nice break since I watch AL baseball every day.