Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

[pistolpete]

Like everyone else it seems I cannot pick a team and just run with it. For some odd reason I was able to pick a team on MLB2k12 no problem and it just took off, playing every game I am 46 games or so in.

I feel like the teams I target are always either too good, I don't like them, or they are too bad, or I'm just overall not engaged with what they offer.

I play every game (just batting) so someone in the lineup has to keep my interest, but then I get too hung up on their success and the stress equals no fun. For instance if I had to pick a favorite team I'd pick the Blue Jays, and if I got out of April hitting .200 with Bautista my OCD would kick in.

Basically I need a decent team without any real stars in the lineup who cause me too much stress. And one without 14 A potential players.

[HighCmpPct]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

Haha deja vu!! But really and trust me on this one, having a team with no stars only seems like a good idea. I know what you mean with the OCD about stars not performing, but if you pick a team without one you'll eventually play a team that has one and you'll be like man I wish I had a star.

However if you really want to go this route I would do a fantasy draft and spend my first 10 picks or so getting a dominating rotation and pen(since you don't pitch anyway) then build your lineup with weaker players that are still available. This way your team isn't horrible but all your stars are pitchers.

[12]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

Have you ever tried the Mariners, Nationals or Royals?

All have good young players who are not "stars" yet, but offer great minor league systems as well. I guess the M's still have Ichiro, but he is 38 and his days of being a star are long gone.

All three play in cool ballparks and have cool uniform options.

[cardinals57]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

Try the orioles out and try and get them into the playoffs. They are a fun team with decent pitching (Arrieta, Matusz, Bundy, Britton), a fun lineup to use, with one of the best looking ballparks in the game.

[ootherocoo]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

The Mets!!

Santana is an Ace.

David Wright is a "star"

And very good prospects that you could trade to bring a start to the big apple.

[RunningTheNight]

Have you ever tried the Mariners, Nationals or Royals?

All have good young players who are not "stars" yet, but offer great minor league systems as well. I guess the M's still have Ichiro, but he is 38 and his days of being a star are long gone.

All three play in cool ballparks and have cool uniform options.

The M's have Ackley and Montero, too! D:

[pistolpete]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

However if you really want to go this route I would do a fantasy draft and spend my first 10 picks or so getting a dominating rotation and pen(since you don't pitch anyway) then build your lineup with weaker players that are still available. This way your team isn't horrible but all your stars are pitchers.

You are a genius.

[12]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

I could actually get some good ideas from this thread...

I'm finding that I'm a bit OCD as well when I use my favorite team (Seattle). If my franchise doesn't loosely resemble real life, I quit having fun.

Maybe using a team other than the Mariners will help me out...

If I were to choose right now, I'd probably rank them like this:

1) Nationals
2) Royals
3) Orioles
4) Blue Jays
5) Twins or Braves

[HighCmpPct]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

You are a genius.

Lol I keep telling people that but they just give me this weird look.

Haha but seriously glad to be some help.

[BaylorBearBryant]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

I can't use the Astros (my favorite) in franchise mode because it doesn't mimic what I'm watching on TV.

So I pick a random team each year. In 09 it was the Royals, in 10 it was the Giants, in 11 it was the Nationals.

I haven't officially started yet, but I'm leaning towards the Padres this year. Might help to pick a team that doesn't play your favorite team often, i.e. different division, different league.

[grgmths1433]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

Kansas City Royals is a upcoming team. We have a pretty good lineup but the pitching is what hurt us. As a Royals fan I feel like the Royals are just a couple of years shy of competing. When I want to pick a team in franchise I want a team that gonna take a lot of work to turn that club around. Kansas City isn't that team.

1. Houston (moving to AL West) Carlos Lee & Wandy Rodriguez
2. San Diego (nice ballpark)
3. Cleveland (I think)
4. Washington (upcoming team too)
5. Kansas City (^^^)

[merchant1874]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

Like everyone else it seems I cannot pick a team and just run with it. For some odd reason I was able to pick a team on MLB2k12 no problem and it just took off, playing every game I am 46 games or so in.

I feel like the teams I target are always either too good, I don't like them, or they are too bad, or I'm just overall not engaged with what they offer.

I play every game (just batting) so someone in the lineup has to keep my interest, but then I get too hung up on their success and the stress equals no fun. For instance if I had to pick a favorite team I'd pick the Blue Jays, and if I got out of April hitting .200 with Bautista my OCD would kick in.

Basically I need a decent team without any real stars in the lineup who cause me too much stress. And one without 14 A potential players.

It honestly drives me insane choosing a team. I have started so many franchises this year already.

Being from the UK I dont have a natural affinity with a team.

The team I probably like the most is the A's due to finding an interest in baseball through moneyball plus their uniforms are amazing (one of the only teams to have unique colours)

Here are the teams I like with the pros and the insane reasons I cant go them.

Mets- Great Unis/colours, good challenge but..... horrible/wrong coaches jackets (yes really)
Tigers-Great Unis, nice ballpark except......too good and I HATE how it says 'The Show' on Ford Field.
Blue Jays-These should be a frontrunner really, good base and loads of prospects plus love the new uni's. They really screwed up the new blue colour though. Way too dark compared to real life. I could get over that but here is my insane thing with them. In Rodgers when batting there is a weird jaggy line just on the edge of the turf in front of you. My eye is drawn to it so much I just cant use them. Shame
Orioles-They pretty much fit my bill. Great uni's and ballpark plus a challenge. Nothing bad to say really.
A's-My favourite team, great uni's plus interesting players especially Cespedes. Like the challenge of a team with no cash. My only gripe with them is the stadium really (if only they could make a classic colliseum before Mount Davis) and the fact they have to play at Angel stadium a lot (rock blob)

So there you have it. I think there is something wrong with me!

I think I will roll with the Orioles or A's. Now if i can only get over the wrong scale elephant patches.............

[pistolpete]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

I had terrible issues with 2k12, but I was left alone with the game for 6 hours so I just picked a team and started playing. I'm nearly 50 games in and I have no idea how that happened. But I play that on my cpu and I wanna give the Show it's rightful shot too. But I pick a team, play a game and win or lose I go back and pick another team.

I may just use a random number generator.

[pistolpete]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

Rather than do a fantasy draft I may just pick the Jays (default favorite team) and deal all their prospects for my favorite players.

[DJ]

Re: Those without favorite teams...how do you pick a team?

I try and switch it up so I don't play as my favorite teams (Mets, Rockies) every year. MLB 10, I ran a Franchise with both teams. Last year, I played as the Mariners. It was a lot of fun; in Year 1 I only played the games that King Felix and Pineda started. I never finished Year 2, but I had put a pretty solid team together.

This year, I've started a Franchise with the Rockies, but also have my eye on the Twins and Orioles, as I may do an AL Franchise as well.

If you don't have a favorite team, I'd say Fantasy Draft would be the best option.