2012 Franchise Progress Thread

[Spanky]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

In addition to my Tigers franchise, I am playing a 29-game season using the all-time classic rosters posted by bedwardsroy19 (not sure if they're community rosters or created by someone else). Great rosters. Like taking a trip down memory lane.

I want to get a feel for every team, so I'm just playing various matchups. So far, it's clear that great pitching beats great hitting:

Orioles 2, Giants (me) 1: Jim Palmer outduels Juan Marichal (love his delivery).
Angels (me) 3, Cubs 1: Nolan Ryan goes the distance. Ernie Banks homers for Cubs' lone run.
Phillies 4, A's (me) 1: Steve Carlton goes 7 strong innings. How good are the A's when they have McGwire and Canseco coming off the bench?
Mets (me) 3, Mariners 2: Tom Seaver goes 8 strong, outdueling Randy Johnson, before Randy Meyers closes it out. Darryl Strawberry and David Wright hit back-to-back homers for Mets. A-Roid's two solo shots account for M's lone offense.

I also enjoy looking through the box scores of the games I sim (Caesar Cedeno hit three solo HRs for Astros vs. Royals).

I played Strat-o-Matic baseball while growing up. If they had the Show when I was a kid, I probably would have flunked out of school.

[mackie5622]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

I started a Pirates franchise recently. I have played 3 spring training games thus far. There are a couple questions that need answers before the 2012 season starts.

1) Who is our ace?
We basically have two players fighting to be our #1 starter this year. First, there's Wandy Rodriguez, who, has the make-up to be a #1 SP. Next, there is AJ Burnett. The player who was given away for nothing in return to the Pirates. Burnett has the velocity, but can he control it?

2) Who are our 5 starting pitchers?
At this point there are 7 Starters looking for 5 spots. The only 2 that are locked up are Burnett, and Rodriguez. That leaves 3 spots for 5 players.

Erik Bedard
Unless he has a terrible Spring I expect him to make the team. The 32 year old veteran has been on a lot of teams the last couple years, and the Pirates believe he still has a couple good years left in him.

Charlie Morton
Coming off one of his better seasons with a 10-10 record, Morton is looking to continually improve in the 2012 campaign.

James McDonald
One of the better young pitchers the Pirates have. The 27 year old posted a 9-9 record last year with the bucs. Looking to lock down spot in the rotation.

Kevin Correia
Just one year ago, Correia was the Pirates ace. Things have changed a lot since then though as he is now on the outside looking in.

Jeff Karstens
Out of the other pitchers he doesn't possess as lively a fastball of the others, but he does have a great breaking ball. This maybe be a case of too many pitchers who are better then him.

[MindBeats]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Who should I start my new season with and why?

Nats
Rangers
Tigers
Indians
D-Backs
Athletics

[cardinals57]

Who should I start my new season with and why?

Nats
Rangers
Tigers
Indians
D-Backs

I'd say go Nationals as they have some young talent (Strasburg, Storen, Harper) coupled with a beautiful stadium and some nice uniforms.

[MindBeats]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

I'd say go Nationals as they have some young talent (Strasburg, Storen, Harper) coupled with a beautiful stadium and some nice uniforms.

What about Athletics?

[cardinals57]

What about Athletics?

Personally, I think their ballpark is abysmal and if I'm doing a franchise I want to play in a good looking stadium as I will be there for 81 games.

[MindBeats]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Personally, I think their ballpark is abysmal and if I'm doing a franchise I want to play in a good looking stadium as I will be there for 81 games.

So, you would say Athletics over Nats?

[cardinals57]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

So, you would say Athletics over Nats?

Nah, Nats over Athletics

[Evil Dee]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Who should I start my new season with and why?

Nats
Rangers
Tigers
Indians
D-Backs
Athletics

Out of the group I like the Athletics the most. I see some don't like their old school football stadium but its not that bad to me. It was just before the trendy new parks so its not as pretty. The team itself is fun to play with and you have prospects to work with.

Orioles have a good young core you can build on. Their pitching isn't that good though. The D-backs would be fun too. They struggle in real life but in the game they can do damage.

[mackie5622]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

These are the Positional battles for the 2012 Spring Training.

Catcher
Rod Barajas
Micheal McKenry
- this position is pretty well all set here with Barajas expecting to get the starting job with McKenry backing him up.

First Base
Garrett Jones
Gaby Sanchez
Matt Hague
-This is basically a battle between Jones and Sanchez. Unless Hague has a great Spring he could maybe find a backup spot, but he will most likely start at first in AAA this year.

Second Base
Neil Walker
Yomaico Navarro
Josh Harrison
-Neil Walker will be starting at second base for the bucs this year no matter what happens in spring.

Shortstop
Clint Barmes
Yomaico Navarro
-This is going to be Barmes's spot to lose. Barmes has the better bats, but Navarro might be better defensively. I'm going to see who runs away with the position.

Third base
Pedro Alveraz
Josh Harrison
-Alvarez has the higher ceiling then Harrison which might make it an easy choice on who starts, but Harrison is playing just to make the team even as a backup.

Outfield
Andrew McCutchen
Jose Tabata
Alex Presley
Travis Snider
Josh Harrison
Garrett Jones
Nate McClouth
- McCutchen will start in CF for many years. If Jones doesn't win the first base position he will likely play either LF or RF because of his bats. There are a couple spots up for grabs.

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Minor melted down in the fourth inning, allowing five runs, and the Phillies beat me 6-3 to take the final game of the series.

I've still got a 5-game lead with 28 to play.

[Pcg1286]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Wil Myers, who was off to a ROTY type of start, went down with injury. I put him on the DL and saw that Tyler Colvin was a Free Agent. I planned to use him as a utility outfielder when Dominic Brown or Lorenzo Cain needed rest. I suggest everyone give this kid a look, B potential, can play a bunch of positions, and hits for good power. He had a HR and 3 RBI in his first game.

[mackie5622]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

hey guys. ignore my previous post about postion battles. I relized that I only had 30 guys called up so I will rewrite the position battles again.

[KyleY12]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

I'm a few days past the All-Star Break. Tulowitzki is 2nd in the running for NL MVP with a .320 average, 24 bombs and 68 RBI's. Wilin Rosario is 1st for NL ROTY with a .311 average, 10 bombs and 35 RBI's, with Jordan Pacheco in 2nd place. I was able to make a deal that would sound outrageous in real life, but apparently in the show it's possible. I gave Michael Cuddyer a slight buff (he was sucking on the season) and was still sucking. So, I traded him to the Angels for Mike Trout, who was also having a bad season. It hasn't really worked out yet because Trout is still struggling, but yeah. I'll make him good next year.

My most recent game I beat the Pirates 14-4. Pacheco almost hit for the cycle (only needed a single) and 5 different players hit homers. Alex White went 6 innings and gave up 3 earned runs, then Belisle went the next 3 and gave up 1. With the win I'm now only 2.5 games behind the D-Backs.

[Shibito]

Re: 2012 Franchise Progress Thread

Just made the LA-Boston mega deal in my game, going to begin the semi-rebuilding with Boston. Should be fun!

Im gonna look to move a couple more players for prospects if they don't preform, and I'll be hitting FA in a big way.