OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

It will be interesting to see what you do as your cast of superstars continues to age. Is there enough talent in Japan to replenish this team? Apparently there is, looking at the year your first baseman had. Hopefully his "unknown" injury doesn't knock him out of the playoffs.

Yeah, indeed.

Hopefully we can keep finding those gems and they keep coming across the Pacific.

Looking at the farm, I am nervous for sure. When the pitching injuries happened during the year, I was scrambling for serviceable arms.

What I might have to do is find some guys to sacrifice and try swinging them for some prospects. Maybe deal Jones or perhaps Fukuda if we can find a decent defensive SS replacement that was like Andrelton Simmons.

I did get a possible 2B from the Rule 5 Draft last offseason before Takada happened. I might could turn that player into a SS. If it works, maybe Fukuda could be dealt to jumpstart the farm a bit.

I'm really concerned about the pitching. Past Alba and Zerafa, it's bleak and/or not nearly ready.

[KSUowls]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

2021 Season Recap

The best team in baseball regular season was also the best team in baseball's post season as the Atlanta Braves make it 3 straight. They did so in dominating fashion losing just 3 postseason games in total.

Ronald Acuna had a historic season winning the NL triple crown, and he finished with huge leads in two of the Crown's categories.

Offense Summary
Atlanta's offense was the best in the lead, but it relied heavily on a 1-2 punch of Acuna and Freddie Freeman. Acuna won the triple crown, and Freddie was just 8 HR shy of finished #2 behind Acuna in all major offensive categories. Ozzie Albies also was a major contributor hitting .284 with 20 HR and also stole 55 bases. Things were much less consistent in the rest of the lineup though.

Pitching Summary
Atlanta's offense often stole the show, but their pitching gave hitters headaches all season. No starter had an ERA over 4, and two of them were sub 3. The bullpen was just as amazing as they too led in ERA.

In one of the more odd stat lines for a pitching staff which had the best run support in baseball...Atlanta had 4 pitchers with at least 30 starts in the season. Their ERA's ranged from 2.58 to 3.85, and only one of them managed 15 wins. In fact, Luiz Gohara who had the 2nd best ERA in baseball only managed 10 wins over 31 starts.

Awards:
It should come as no shock that the league's best defense would have several players taking home some gloves of gold.
2B Ozzie Albies brings home his 4th conseecutive GG
SS Andrelton Simmons is up to 7 GG
LF Ronald Acuna makes it 4 in a row
RF Drew Waters wins the GG as a rookie

It's the year of 3's when it comes to silver sluggers. The Braves had 3 silver sluggers in 2021 and for each of them it was their 3rd such award in their careers.
P Shohei Ohtani
1B Freddie Freeman
LF Ronald Acuna

Cy Young:
Mike Soroka edged out Noah Syndergaard for the NL Cy Young going 15-5 with a 2.58 ERA over 195 innings of work.

MVP:
The wait was merely a formality, but Ronald Acuna was awarded his 2nd consecutive MVP award after a historic season.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

Dang, I feel like I'm the only one not winning the World Series regularly around here. lol. The Braves are annoyingly good in my save, having added Bryce Harper and Dellin Betances to go with the development of everyone else.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

Dang, I feel like I'm the only one not winning the World Series regularly around here. lol. The Braves are annoyingly good in my save, having added Bryce Harper and Dellin Betances to go with the development of everyone else.

LOL

You're the only one running an expansion team too

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

Padres Sweep Angels to Win Team's
First World Series

The Angels made another deep playoff run, as expected, but this time they came up short in the Fall Classic.

But they almost didn't even get out of the ALDS.

However, Tim Mavity, the pitcher with the most struggles during the regular season, turned in a clutch performance to keep the team alive. The Angels would win the next two and advance.

Then the injuries suddenly mounted. Mavity was hurt during the ALCS with the Yankees. Mukai was also injured during the ALCS. Mukai would tough it out while Mavity was shut down and will be out for 3 months with a ruptured finger.

The Angels fought through that to make it to the World Series, and the injuries just kept coming.

Mason Doolittle was injured in game one. Chris Becker was injured in game three. Those two and the rest of the injuries were just too much to overcome. The Padres took full advantage to sweep away the wounded Angels.

"It's really frustrating. You're healthy all year, then you come up lame in the World Series? It's a kick in the pants, " Doolittle commented.

"What the **** you think I feel? I don't get to play much. I come in during an extra inning game, hurt my wrist and I have to come out when we're playing for the big prize. Then you're going to ask me some ******* lame question like that. **** away from me, " Becker slammed his bag the door as he left the clubhouse.

Losing is upsetting enough for this team but the timing of the injuries will make it feel worse. Moulin will have to regroup the guys for 2029 because the Angels will likely be expected to make noise again next season.

Meanwhile, the Padres finally get to taste the thrill of total victory. Manager Andy Green has been there through it all, and, starting in 2023, the Padres rose to the ranks of NL contenders. This year was the fourth time in six seasons that the Padres made the playoffs, and now they have a Commissioner's Trophy to show for their years of rebuilding and hard work.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

Jones has had enough?

Spoiler

The offseason arrives and with the team still with fresh wounds from October, drama is beginning to emerge as the situation with Jones.

"I've been patient. I got my payday, but the team needs to decide what's up. I'm tired of being pushed down in the order, " Lenhart spoke on ESPN.

The infusion of new offensive powers has indeed displaced Jones from the middle of the lineup, and it's hard to see how Jones gets back up there.

There is no way the team will move Sakai anywhere, not after hitting nearly 120 HR in two seasons. Trout is still kicking it up at 37 (more on him in a moment) and he won't be moving until and if he starts faltering. Vlad Jr might be an option, but the team just invested in him not long ago with an extension, albeit one that hasn't played out very favorably so far.

Then there's Hutchinson, who's not in the middle of the lineup either. He's been content just raking from the second spot, but he, too, would prefer to hit in the middle of the lineup.

Everyone can't fit, and Jones is done just keeping quiet.

That could provide the excuse for the Angels to move him. Chris Becker could probably take care of LF even though he's a CF by trade. Zach Bejarano, a prospect that made his way to the bench this season, could take right field with his filthy arm and move Trout over to the other corner.

If a farm option is sought, there's not much but there is Xadreque Sobreiro, a spunky outfielder out of Venezuela that would fit in very well with Moulin's strategies in all likelihood.

Vlad Jr is a tougher question. When he arrived to the Angels, he was a very solid hitter. This year, he had a tough time at the plate and the defense is not going in the right direction. With pitchers like Mukai and Mavity around, that's not good. These contact-and-grounder pitchers need an infield that's more than decent to do their best.

The saving grace for Vlad is that Ohtani's two-way days might be ending. The Angels are concerned for him after his severe injury last season, and his age now hitting the mid-thirties, the team is concerned about his energy level and how much punishment his body can take now that he's not a spry young man in his early 20's any longer.

Should that happen, or at least Ohtani no longer being the starter in the lineup, that could let Vlad Jr have a new lease on life as the DH. Meanwhile, Ohtani would take a similar role as Lenhart.

Trout Extension Time Again
Angels Ponder...How Long?

Spoiler

Time for Trout's extension again? Seven years flies by. In any case, Trout is now 37 and looking for another extension. The Angels have to wonder how long will he hold up and how much to pay for it.

Rumors are that the number Trout's agent put forward is around $32 million per year. That's lower than the current salary by a few million. The length is said to be five years, which would take him to his age 42 season.

The Angels have a cautionary tale on their own roster. Clayton Kershaw is still clinging to a career at 40, and the Angels timed his last big contract perfectly. Trout's already older than Kershaw when the pitcher began his decline, so that's both encouraging and worrying at the same time. Encouraging because maybe Trout could last until 42. Worrying because maybe the crash will be even harder.

Of course, the Angels will extend Trout. Just a matter of how long will they have to cross their wings that Trout can still be productive...and healthy.

About that farm...

Spoiler

The Angels minors system is a pale imitation of what it was earlier in Scoiscia's tenure way back before the 2020's began. For what it's worth, the good fortune then if fueling the team now, so it's not all to be lamented. That's what the farm system is supposed to do, after all, grow players and graduate them to the big club.

So, naturally, the farm may tend to deplete as the system awaits a refilling of talent to develop.

The Angels might have pushed that a bit far with the trades in hopes of building a dynasty, which, arguably, they have in this "generation" of the team. But, when looking at "where's the next crop coming from?", there's not a lot of answers to that.

So the Angels might be floating the idea of trading to restock the system a bit. SS Tadaaki Fukuda might be the one put up for trade. The reason he seems likely is that AAA SS Steve Belfiore has a very similar profile, including the baserunning skills and defense, to Fukuda.

Fukuda would also be the least damaging to move in all likelihood. He's the leadoff hitter, but Dominic Hutchinson could simply move up a spot. Yukada could move up, or Belfiore could take his hacks at it.

There could be some cause to move Jim Lenhart. That might be a harder sell, especially if Ohtani isn't a two-way player any longer, and double especially that Lenhart has proven capable on the mound as well. There's no sure thing Juan Chairez will return, will return in the same shape, and will last over the long term from this point on. That would seem to align in favor of keeping Lenhart.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

LOL

You're the only one running an expansion team too

Oh yeah. There's that small detail isn't there? Maybe my team can join the mix somewhat soon.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

The Winter Meetings provided a good audience for the Angels to work their trade plans.

In the end, they found partners to send Jones and Fukuda to new homes and bring in a couple interesting starting pitcher prospects in return.

Jones will head to Detroit in the second significant deal between these two teams. The first send then prospect SP Jeremy Denton and now Jahmai Jones arrives.

Returning in exchange is SP Juan Rocha and 2B Mike Keil. Rocha is the center piece of the deal and is another groundball pitcher in what seems to be the Angels new point of emphasis on the mound. Rocha is something of a late bloomer, which is always a concern, and his command has far lagged expectations. However, he features a good curve and change-up, which is what he uses off his fastball to induce rolled over swings and weaker grounders. Rocha has some experience as a two-way player, but it's not expected to be his primary usage. Might be good enough to dabble in for occasional use or as a fill in during rough injury stretches.

Rocha's ETA is hard to pin down because of his control issues. If the Angels aren't too picky, maybe 2030-2031 is a good time table. Otherwise, he'll be a true late-blooming prospect, not arriving until he's 26 or 27 years old.

Rocha's scouting profile

Meanwhile, Fukuda is also on a plane to a new town as he will soon call Pittsburgh home. Flying in from the Steel City to the City of Angels to complete the trade is starting pitcher Eddie Harriston and reliever Jared Cook.

Harriston, 22, is a solid looking prospect of the sinker-slider prototype. He throws from a sidearm angle, which adds some bite to the slider, and will mix in a forkball and a change-up as his offspeed pitches. The forkball also gives him a breaking ball that moves more down than to the side to help induce grounders. He is well-developed and his ETA is around 2030 at the latest at this point.

Harriston's scouting profile

[WaitTilNextYear]

Carolina Knights Update

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

Season Record: 66-64 (15 GB NL East, 4 GB Wild Card #2)
August Record: 16-12
Position: 4th Place NL East


TEAM PAGE



SUMMARY

After a 3rd consecutive month with a winning record, the Knights put the Washington Nationals in the rear view mirror along with the Miami Marlins. Still very unlikely to match BNN's lofty preseason prediction of 92-70 and 1st place, this ballclub is going in the right direction now. It would seem like mostly standing pat and making a couple of small additions at the trading deadline was the right call after all.

Carolina still has some work to do over the final 32 games of the 2020 season. As of right now, both the Phillies and the Braves are in a league of their own quality-wise so winning the division is out of the question. However, the Knights are riding a 46-34 June/July/August stretch to make things interesting in the Wild Card race. Whichever NL East team (Phillies or Braves) doesn't win the division is all but certain to take the top Wild Card spot, and there are 5 main competitors for the other spot. The Rockies (70-60) would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Both the Pirates and Mets are 1.5 games off the pace (69-62). Carolina clocks in 4 games back (66-64) and the D'Backs are just a half game behind them (66-65). Whichever team gets hot will earn the right to a 1-game playoff and possibly more...

Structurally, August was pretty similar to July for the Knights. There was a long winning streak near the middle of the month (8 games in a row from 8/3 to 8/10) followed by a weaker finish. Top performers in August included Chris Archer (3-3, 3.67 ERA) who went at least 7 IP in 4 of his 6 August starts. Original Knight Collin McHugh (3-2, 3.89 ERA) and trade deadline acquisition Jordan "Gumby" Montgomery (3-2, 2.87 ERA) helped anchor the rotation. Their performances also offset a lackluster month for the bullpen; collectively the Knights' bullpen posted a 5.08 ERA in August--a far cry from the 1.55 July mark. Bullpens can be fickle mistresses.

The offense was characteristically impotent in August for the most part. One of the few bright spots included deadline acquisition Evan Longoria; Longo debuted with a respectable .301/.370/.452 line in 73 at bats. Kike Hernandez continues to find himself getting more and more playing time with his hot hitting [.360/.395/.547 in 75 AB]. The Knights also got a surprise push from reserve catcher Grayson Greiner, who batted .333/.381/.513 in 39 August ABs.

Making full use of the September expanded rosters, Carolina called up RHP Tom Eshelman, RHP David Bednar, RHP J.T. Chargois, RHP Miguel Diaz, RHP Ben Heller, LHP Justin Wright, C Jake Rogers, 1B Sam Travis, UTIL Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and OF Telmito Agustin. Carolina also made waiver claims on RHP Anderson Espinoza and LHP Josh Hader and added Hader to the active roster to mow down some lefties.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

Come on, Knights! You need to go....26-6...I mean...yeah okay.

But it looks like playoffs are a possibility? Four games back? That's doable!

Let's go, Knights!

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

Trout Signs for Three More Years

Mike Trout didn't get the five years he hoped for but will sign on for three more years at about $32 million per year.

Should Trout hold on to his abilities, this contract could be quite favorable for the Angels. And if Trout does drop off, the team will only have to carry the contract for three years.

"I'm glad to get it out of the way so I can think about getting us back to the Series and enjoy the game and try to get some things done before I have to hang up the bat and glove for good, " Trout smiled.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

2029 Angels

BNN expects the Angels to keep rolling along, led by two trios: Offense, Trout, Hutchinson, and Sakai - Pitching, Ohtani, Mukai, Mavity.

However, there's some changes have happened and might happen as the season goes on.

First is Trout moving up to the leadoff spot. This move is in response to the Angels not having a true OBP leadoff hitter. Granted, that's never been a problem before, but Moulin, in his unconventional ways, has decided to give it a shot.

"I told him that he'll be fine. Just work the counts like you always do. Be patient, be selective, do what you do, " Moulin spoke about Trout leading off.

Moving Trout from the middle of the lineup breaks up the offensive trio and will put pressure on Vlad Guerrero, Jr. to step up and get back to the form he showed when he first arrived to the team. Adding to that pressure is Ohtani's two-way usage being scaled back. He will now be the backup to Guerrero at DH.

Speaking of Guerrero's move, this opens the door, again, for Derrick Cherry to win one of two infield spots that are now re-open to competition. Third base will be handled Steve Belfiore (after a three-game suspension). Belfiore has promise, but he will need to prove he get hit and handle the defensive duties...and stay out of trouble. Shortstop is also up for grabs. Eric Morrison, claimed from the waiver wire a couple years ago, will get his chance as starter to start the season.

Along with Cherry, there's some other players that are vying for those spots:

Masamichi Kamai, a flyer of a chance, has turned himself into a defensive weapon out of the blue.

Xalbador Yslas, a 1st round pick in 2025, doesn't really have the arm, but he's a hard worker that's just arrived in AAA and is looking for a back door to the majors.

Kevin McMahon, perhaps the favorite as he was demoted solely because of his defensive inexperience. He has the likely best bat of the bunch.

Those three were optioned to AAA and will be wanting another chance.

The outfield will see Jim Lenhart pull two-way duty as starting left fielder when not on the mound. Xadreque Sobreiro isn't without a spot, however. He will be the alternate for when Lenhart needs a day off. Sobreiro is a blazing fast runner and plays all aspects of outfield at an above average, if not elite, level.

Chris Becker is upset at not being a starter somewhere, but he may have to be patient and wait for a spot. If Vlad Jr doesn't pick things up, he could be on the way out, moving Lenhart to DH and that will open competition in LF with Becker and Sobreiro getting time. Becker would likely be the starter because of his pure contact approach at the plate, which aligns with the love of hit-and-runs and other such strategies that Moulin has.

That's all Becker can hope for, other than a trade or injury, because he's not displacing Hutchinson at CF or Trout in RF any time soon.

Returning to the Angels via the Rule 5 Draft is Zaire McCline. The potential slugger made a good showing in spring training and will back up Sakai at 1B.

On the pitching side, the team drafted SP Luis Bastillos in the Rule 5 Draft and was set to have him compete with Zerafa for the 6th starter spot, but Bastillos suffered a ruptered UCL and will be out for a literal year.

That opened the door for Gavilanes, a 17th round pick way back in 2020, to earn the spot, and he did, handily beating Zerafa in spring action.

The elephant in the room looming over both Alba in the #5 spot and Gavilanes is the soon return of Juan Chairez. Assuming no changes to the timetable, Chairez will return around late May and will probably...probably return to the rotation and not the bullpen. However, the injury might be all the excuse Moulin needs to send him back to the bullpen, especially if someone is struggling...

Assuming a rotation return, though, one of Alba and Gavilanes will likely be shipped back to AAA. Lenhart would move down to #5, Chairez takes #4 and that leave one spot for two men...

The bullpen has some new faces as well. South Korean Min-heui Kahng will take up residence in mid-relief after signing as an IFA this offseason. Luis Angel Medina, out of the Dominican Republic, signed a one-year contract and will be the first to take the closer role, shifting Bedrosian to his more usual mid-relief/setup mixed role.

The efforts to restock the farm have paid off. The Angels have no elite prospects, not a single kid above #25 in the BNN Top 100 rankings. However, the Angels have the 6th ranked farm with several players in the Top 100 (seven), and Top 200 (eleven).

While there would seem to be no studs in the making. No more Mukai's or Mavity's or Hutchinson's making their way up, the Angels might have enough talent to shift into having a bunch of above average players everywhere, which could be it's own kind of strength.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress




Having put 700 in the rear view mirror, Trout looks ahead to #800. At his previous 40 home runs per year pace, he'd be in his age 40 season trying to hit the mark.

Not out of the question, but not a certainty either.

For now, Trout can be happy putting another notch in what's probably a first-ballot Hall of Fame career.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

He's close to 3000 hits too. He'll get there, and to 2000 RBI, before 800 HR. He's probably setting a bunch of records with each handful of games played. What is his career WAR looking like?

Not liking his effort for 2028 USA Baseball though.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 19 Franchise Progress

He's close to 3000 hits too. He'll get there, and to 2000 RBI, before 800 HR. He's probably setting a bunch of records with each handful of games played. What is his career WAR looking like?

Not liking his effort for 2028 USA Baseball though.

Speaking of the WCB for whatever reason that year was the first time he was selected.

His career WAR is 144.2 as of early June this season. His 162 game average WAR is 9.0, and his WAR/600 PA is 7.2.