The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Spring Training has ended, and we are about to start the 2009 regular season. The San Francisco Giants feel like they have a very good group of starting pitchers. They have the stud Tim Lincecum, two promising young talents in Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez, and two former Cy Young winners in Randy Johnson and Barry Zito.

The Giants staff went through and sent everyone to their assigments, and then they were stuck with one prospect. His name was Jordan Slocum.

He was an 18 year old starter drafted late by the squad, he showed promise during spring training, but also inconsistency. He has a fastball that could top at 94, a changeup, 12-6 curve, and was working on a slider.

People in the organization were very torn on this guy. Some thought he had loads of potential, others felt he was pretty lackluster.

Ultimately, they signed him to a minimum one year deal. Slocum was just happy to have a chance to continue his career. He felt he could do good things, and could make it to the MLB. But many doubted him, and as an 18 year old, those doubts made it to him.

Despite some positives in spring training, he was sent down to the Giants AA squad, the Connecticut Defenders, in a role as a long reliever. The question was, where would he go from here...

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

Alright, so I've started this up. Currently on veteran difficulty, but I figure I'll bump it up as time progresses, my Show 07 pitcher was a beast on Hall of Fame difficulty, although off the bat, it seems a lot tougher to pitch.

I did the "draft" (the random selection) and got sent to the Giants, which I'm pretty "meh" about. I'm using Ridin's rosters, so the players are probably better, because by overall my guy is a good deal lower than the next.

I have the one year with the Giants, don't know if I'll stay longer than that. We'll see how it plays out.

[kobe360x]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

great start

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

The team didn't think much of Slocum, as he was only a "mop up" type of guy. He didn't get to pitch until the 5th game of the season. Connecticut was down 6-2, and Slocum came in the bottom of the 5th, 2 outs, runner at 2nd.

It wasn't a very good start. He walked the first batter, and then gave up a hit to allow the runner to score. But he figured it out, he pitched 3 more innings, 2 K's, 1 hit allowed, 42 pitches (31 K/11 B) The team lost 7-5.

He would get in the next day, coming in the bottom of the 4th, down 3-0, 0 outs, runner on 3rd. The first two batters would be set down by strikeout. But the next batter would get a very favorable call, starting the count 1-0. He would end up getting a hit, bringing the run in. The next out was no problem.

The next inning would start with an error at 2nd, but a double play and a flyout ended that inning. The next inning would start with a walk, dictated by the 1st and 3rd pitch (which SHOULD have been strikes)

Then, 3 straight hits allowed, all between 1st and 2nd in the same basic spot, 2 runs scored. Then, he'd get an out, on a deep ball that would bring in another run on a sac fly. After that, he was pulled. 2.1 IN, 4 hits, 3 ER.

Performances like that were going to get him into the starting rotation.

[kobe360x]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

rough outing hopefully you'll bounce back

[TDouglas23]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

its really tough early on as a SP, good start though

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

4/16/09: Came in the top of the 5th, runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, but got out of it with a strikeout. Next inning, gave up 3 hits, but ultimately didn't allow a run. Got an out in the 7th, and that was the day.

4/17/09: Came in late 8th, got an out, and then got 3 outs in the 9th. Team falls to 2-7.

4/18/09: Tie game, in top 5th, 1st and 3rd with one out, gave up a hit to the first batter, allowing a run. Then, after getting an out, an error by the SS keeps it going and allows a run. Then, another hit brings in a run, and that's the game. Team loses (Although I don't get the "Loss")

Not so good so far.

[Sanchez_Mareno]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

Looks like your team isnt much chop

[Wavebird99]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

looks good, ill follow

[rdnk]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

I'm following too...

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

4/19/09: In the top of the 4th, 2 outs, no one on, down 6-2, walked the first batter, then got the out. Got a strikeout, then lost the pitch and beaned a guy, and that was the end of that.

4/20/09: In top 8, down 4-1, runner on 1st, 0 outs, promptly gave up a double, then got a grounder. Sac Fly brought in a run, then got out #3, gave up a hit, then got a strikeout, and was pulled.

4/21: In the start of top 5th, team WINNING (WTF?) 11-2, gave up lead off double, but then got 3 groundouts, that was it.

4/22: In the top of the 9th, 1 out, bases empty, a save situation up 3-1. Gave up a hit, but then got a 3-6-1 double play, earning the save.

4/23: Top 9th, up 2-1, 0 out, runner on 1st, (I guess I'm the closer sorta?) Sac Bunt for out 1, strikeout, then a liner to RF, runner scores. Blown save. Then another weak liner, 1st and 2nd, then a flyout. 3 outs in a row, 2 deep to CF in the 10th. Gave up lead off hit, then successful bunt, 1st and 2nd. Two hits allowed, game blown.

This game just isn't fun at all to play. I'm not playing a hard level, but I can hardly get ANYONE out. I'm not expecting to go out and be dominant, but doing my Bob Howry impression just isn't fun at all.

My ERA isn't bad, but I think just about every time I've come on with a runner on, that runner has always scored. Man, I wish I could get NFL Head Coach back working...

[rdnk]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

Can you drop down a difficulty level?
Or maybe mess with the sliders or something.

[TDouglas23]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

it really just depends on how well you can actually pitch, increase the player pitching sliders and try it then

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Re: The Career Of A Starting Pitcher (RTTS 09)

Putting it on rookie would make it TOO easy, I've played this game on rookie before, they basically make everything work. And I generally avoid sliders, I haven't had many positive experiences with them.

Oh well. I got Head Coach working again, so I'll take a break for this for a while I'd imagine.