MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

[Franchise408]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

It took me until the last week of April, but I finally got Tim Lincecum his first win of the season, in a 3-1 win over the Braves to take the series 2-1.

After starting the season 1-9, I'm currently sitting at 10-11, and oddly enough I am only 2 games out of 1st place. Having played 21 straight, and no upcoming divisional games for about a week or so, I think I'm about ready to start simming games now. I figure I don't need to play out games against teams like the Pirates and Nationals, since I doubt I'll be in any kind of contention with them.

[stlstudios189]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Lost to the Royals the other night 7-6 I ran myself out of 2 innings. Johhny Damon got thrown out going for 3rd in the 7th as did Austin Jackson in the 8th and Damon got caught stealing in the 9th now 44-43 with 17 games to go (104 game season) still have a 2.5 game lead over the Indians and a 4 game lead over the Twins.

[Franchise408]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Giants finally take first place.

After an abysmal 1-9 start, the Giants have clawed their way out of the cellar and claimed 1st place in the NL West.

I simmed some games against the Pirates, Nats, and Mets and got into 1st, then played a game against the Rockies and crushed them.

Things are starting to come together for the Giants. The starting rotation is mowing down batter after batter and going deep into games. The bats are coming around, and Sandoval is even on a hot streak, bumping his ratings into the 90's. Coincidentally, he notched another HR in the game against the Rockies.

Significant stats leading into May:

Home Run leaders: Pat Burrell (6), Buster Posey (5), Pablo Sandoval (3), Cody Ross (3)
RBI's leaders: Pat Burrell (19), Buster Posey (16), Pablo Sandoval (15)
2B's leaders: Pablo Sandoval (10), Aubrey Huff (10)
3B's leader: Aaron Roward (4)
K's leaders: Tim Lincecum (56), Matt Cain (40)

I also turned down a trade, the Indians offered me 1B Travis Hafner, and C Lou Marson for CF Andres Torres and SP Waldis Joaquin (AAA). I turned down the offer, even though Hafner has some power that my lineup is missing.

[Romain El 82]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

This is the first time I've posted in this thread, but just played a great game versus the Marlins in Miami (playing as Pittsburgh). I go up 2-0 early, then in the 4th inning their RF hits a 3-run homer off me. I manage to get one more run in the 6th to tie it at 3, but then they break the tie with 3 runs in the 7th to go up 6-3.

I get nothing in the 8th and the pitcher comes up first to lead off the 9th. Naturally I pinch-hit for him with Chris Snyder (catcher) and they toss a fastball down the pipe with the first pitch and Snyder cranks one out over the left field wall (!) to cut the deficit to one, 6-5.

Top of the lineup comes up and Tabata walks, McCutchen gets a single, and Garrett Jones doubles to score both to take the lead! I end up batting around and scoring a boatload of runs to go ahead 11-6, and Evan Meeks makes short order of the 6, 7, and 8 hitters for the Marlins to finish the game.

What a game! I couldn't get a hit to fall for most of the game and went up to the plate with a "f*** it" mentality in the 9th. Nothing more exhilarating than stealing one in the final frame. Woo! I've started strong behind great pitching and big bats and I'm sitting at 10-2 after the first three and a half weeks of the year (only doing 2/3 of the schedule [102 games I believe] and playing every one).

This game is great!

I do have a question, though. I'm looking at getting better starting pitching and more depth in the bullpen (isn't everyone?) as well as a replacement for Overbay at 1B and Cedeno at SS...how does the draft work in this game? Can I scout people, do I have scouts recommending people, how do the prospects usually come out (does P usually go first, is it worth it to take a 1B/SS with the first pick, etc), how good ratings-wise are the top few players in the draft, etc?

[cardswin2006]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

This is the first time I've posted in this thread, but just played a great game versus the Marlins in Miami (playing as Pittsburgh). I go up 2-0 early, then in the 4th inning their RF hits a 3-run homer off me. I manage to get one more run in the 6th to tie it at 3, but then they break the tie with 3 runs in the 7th to go up 6-3.

I get nothing in the 8th and the pitcher comes up first to lead off the 9th. Naturally I pinch-hit for him with Chris Snyder (catcher) and they toss a fastball down the pipe with the first pitch and Snyder cranks one out over the left field wall (!) to cut the deficit to one, 6-5.

Top of the lineup comes up and Tabata walks, McCutchen gets a single, and Garrett Jones doubles to score both to take the lead! I end up batting around and scoring a boatload of runs to go ahead 11-6, and Evan Meeks makes short order of the 6, 7, and 8 hitters for the Marlins to finish the game.

What a game! I couldn't get a hit to fall for most of the game and went up to the plate with a "f*** it" mentality in the 9th. Nothing more exhilarating than stealing one in the final frame. Woo! I've started strong behind great pitching and big bats and I'm sitting at 10-2 after the first three and a half weeks of the year (only doing 2/3 of the schedule [102 games I believe] and playing every one).

This game is great!

I do have a question, though. I'm looking at getting better starting pitching and more depth in the bullpen (isn't everyone?) as well as a replacement for Overbay at 1B and Cedeno at SS...how does the draft work in this game? Can I scout people, do I have scouts recommending people, how do the prospects usually come out (does P usually go first, is it worth it to take a 1B/SS with the first pick, etc), how good ratings-wise are the top few players in the draft, etc?

Winning those types of games can be a lot of fun. I agree with your sentiments about the game

As for the draft, there is no "scouting" done by your team. When draft day happens you get to see everyone's ratings including their potential. For me, I have been going for high potential guys and have drafting later in the 1st round, so I'm not sure what the top guys are rated. That being said, most of the guys I drafted were current one star players with 5 star potential, so it's taking them a couple years to work their way up the minors (fairly accurate to real life). I've been very happy with the system so far, though.

[JBH3]

Completed a sweep of the Indians last night. Progressive field's confines were super nice to me.

Hit 6 home runs in the 12-3 win over CLE last night. Alvarez with 2, Glaus with 1, Neil Walker with 1, and Garrett Jones with 2.

Jeff Karstens got the start and pitched 6 strong innings, allowing only 3 runs, while striking out 7. Edgmer Escalona pitched from the 7th on holding the Indians scoreless.

[Romain El 82]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Say a guy has 4 possible stars of potential, and then fills those stars but keeps playing well...can he gain a 5th star of potential? Or is 4 his ceiling?

[cardswin2006]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

I haven't noticed it myself just yet, although admittedly I haven't been looking for it, but I believe in the "Franchise/My Player blog" they said that the player potential was elastic and that you could have a guy exceed his "ceiling." On the other side of the equation the 5 star potential players are not locks to get there.

[cardswin2006]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Update on my Orioles Franchise (Year 3):

The defending WS champs have been shuffling as of late, losing 7 of 10, mostly to division foes (34-23 now). My hold on first place has been slipping as a result, but I'm still 2.5 games ahead. I guess it's to be expected given the injuries my team has sustained, though.

Here's a list of some recent injuries:
Shawn Hill, SP - out 4+ months
Adam Jones, CF - out 2 months
Brian Roberts, 2B - out 2 weeks (not put on DL, just have him playing through it most of the time)
Vlad Guerrero, DH/LF - out 10 days (not put on DL, playing through it)

Unfortunately that represents 4 of my top 10 players.

Last night I played against the Red Sox and couldn't get anything going, despite their SP going down in the first inning with an injury. I couldn't hit Alceves for the life of me and things only got worse as I faced Fuentes and Paplebon in the late innings. I lost 3-1.

I'm still thinking about working on my pitching with some trades, and Luke Scott's days are numbered despite being recently being re-signed for a 2 year deal. He's been almost completely unproductive, not giving any power to the lineup and is getting slow in his upper age--especially defensively.

I might need to package him and a 5 star potential minor leaguer to get anything decent, but I'm going to start looking if the team doesn't turn it around.

Some other notes on the division:

- The Blue Jays are still in 2nd place despite having one of the worst records in the majors last year. Definitely a huge turnaround for them! Then again, it's just the 1st week of June.

- The Yankees are dead last in the division and are under .500. Could it be because Derek Jeter retired and the Yankee lore is fading?

- Matt Wieters (C, Orioles) is having a very strong start to the season much like the last two years. Will he be able to keep from fading late in the year like he also has in the last two years? If he keeps it up, he could very well be the third different AL MVP from the Orioles in the last 3 years.

[loloben]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

starting a franchise with the rays

[ChiILL]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Franchise with the White Sox.

My starters

1B- Konerko
2B. Beckham
3B. Morel
SS. A. Ramirez
C: Castro
LF: Quentin
RF: Carlos Lee (picked him up in a trade early in the season for A.J piersynski and i think llibridge )
CF: RIOS
DH: Dunn

my starting pitchers
Floyd
Buerhle
Edwin Jackson
Zambrano (cant remember who i got him for, it had to be a position player)
Matsuzaki (just recently trade Danks for him, Danks was getting destroyed in my games)

Relievers:
Sale
Pena
Ohman
Romo (aquired at start of the season, cant remember how)
Santos

Closer:
Thornton

I'm not sure what you guys call fair trades...or not. I just put a player on the block via trade finder. I haven't actually requested any specific trades..I just put players on the block.

Right now..we nearing all star season...and 2 games behind the Twins
Its hard to break lose from those guys.

I love how the game has the hot and cold streaks.

I'm playing on All Star right now...its competitive where you cant just run off with it...but I rarely have a feeling that its pushing me to the limit. How much different is Legend to All Star? I dont wanna wreck my mind playing a game either.

[BA2929]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

I'm playing on All Star right now...its competitive where you cant just run off with it...but I rarely have a feeling that its pushing me to the limit. How much different is Legend to All Star? I dont wanna wreck my mind playing a game either.

Try some of the sliders the guys here have made on the slider board. I'm using a slight variation on BIGFNJOE96's sliders and they work very well. I believe they're a step up from All-Star and a little lower than Legend.

[stlstudios189]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Sitting 45-45 with 14 games to go and suprised to see myself in 1st place by 3 games. My Tigers are the only team in the Central with a winning record. I am 13-5 in my last 18 games and the Indians are now 2-16 in there last 18. I am worried about the Twins and Whitesox though.

[leafsfan17]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

It's been a while since I posted in this thread, but in my Jays chise, I sit at 85-61 and in a first place tie with the Yanks in the AL East. I also have several players that have hit 30 or more home runs on the year, so that could make things very difficult for opposing pitchers in the playoffs if I make it there, and right now, it's looking like I'll qualify for the playoffs.

[jack1535]

Re: MLB2K11 Franchise Progress

Update on my 54 game NY Mets Franchise

Currently 16-14 4.0 GB It's currently the all star break so I'm going to have to get my **** together and catchup to the Nats

Here are the standings in the NL East

WSH 20-10 0.0 GB
ATL 17-13 3.0 GB
FLA 17-13 3.0 GB
NYM 16-14 4.0 GB
PHI 15-15 5.0 GB

I'm also on a 3 game losing streak I lost 4-0 to NYY, 6-4 TO LAD, and 5-3 to SF.

I could have beat LA but I gave up 3 Solo HR to Matt Kemp.