JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

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  • vrobx1
    Rookie
    • May 2017
    • 450

    #1

    JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

    I am going to take a shot at writing a baseball story for you all using OOTP 16 as the basis for the game.

    This will be an entirely text story as I am on my phone doing the writing and OOTP isn't a huge graphics game with great action pictures like some of the other games.

    I hate to see my OOTP 16 not being used so this is why I am going back in time to use this game for this story. So, I will be playing as a minor league manager starting in the 2015 season.

    I will be playing manager mode only and will start unemployed and take the top job the computer offers me. Commissioner mode will be turned off and ability to be fired turned on.

    I hope I can make it different enough and interesting enough for you guys.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk
  • vrobx1
    Rookie
    • May 2017
    • 450

    #2
    Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

    "Don't suck completely."

    Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, boss!

    Jerk.

    I guess I could have been more grateful. After all, at least I wasn't working security anymore.

    But managing the Arkansas Travelers? Was this really a good idea?

    Baseball had once been my passion. I had been a stud starting pitcher in high school and had gotten drafted and sent to the minors.

    And never made it to The Show.

    I had gotten some stints at AAA ball but mostly lingered in AA. For whatever reason, my off-speed and breaking stuff was killer in AA but got killed in AAA. So I became a star AA player for several years.

    Alas, I forgot to listen to Crash Davis. And I punched someone with my pitching hand. And broke two bones in said hand.

    It didn't help that I punched one of my teammates.

    It really didn't help that he was a five star prospect and first-round pick.

    And that I was 32 and the parent club was ready to put me out to pasture anyways.

    That was 16 years ago.

    And I was done with baseball.

    I didn't even watch it anymore.

    I bounced around from job to job after that, making enough money to pay my bills and keep a Wild Turkey supply fresh and available.

    I'd had a few offers to play and manage over the years. Mostly overseas in Japan, China and even Italy.

    But I was fine staying in Texas as there was always work available.

    The last five years I had worked security for a production plant that had to have been the most disorganized, mismanaged location in America. I swear the owners were purposefully using it to lose money for a tax writeoff.

    Then, starting in December of 2014, thanks to Facebook, I got to talking to a couple of my old rookie league pitching coaches and one of them was still involved with the Angels' organization.

    And one phone call led to another and the next thing I knew, it was March 2015 and I was in Arkansas meeting the press and the players.

    "Delighted to be here, " I said.

    What the hell am I doing here, I thought to myself.

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    • vrobx1
      Rookie
      • May 2017
      • 450

      #3
      Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

      The answer was ... making $130,000 a year for the next three years! That was almost triple my security yearly earnings!

      Plus, I was in the Texas League so I was practically home. I had always been a San Antonio fan in the Texas League as San Antonio was where I was born. The Missions were known as the Dodgers back when I was growing up.

      Funny thing about the Texas League. None of the teams in the North Division are in Texas.

      I found a Texas League dedicated blog that even made predictions. How do you make predictions on minor league teams when the rosters are changing practically weekly, if not daily. Anyways, this blog had us finishing second in the North with Northwest Arkansas finishing first.

      We started the season in Frisco against the RoughRiders.

      We lost the opener 5-4 in 13 innings. Kyle McGowin pitched 7.1 innings and gave up 3 earned runs on 8 hits, struck out 4 and walked none. He left with a 4-3 lead but the bullpen could not hold on.

      We took care of business in the second game with a solid 5-1 win. Scott Snodgress pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, striking out 7 and walking none to get the win.

      So, for the rubber match in Frisco, we were shut out 3-0. Austin G. Wood pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 9 hits, striking out 6 and walking 2.

      At 1-2 on the season, we hopped the bus and headed to Midland for three against the 2-1 RockHounds.

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      • vrobx1
        Rookie
        • May 2017
        • 450

        #4
        Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

        We had lost 2 out of 3 in Frisco and the blame fell on our offense. We had scored just 9 runs, hit .219 as a team and had an OBP of .294. And stolen just 1 base in the three games. And our defensive eff was a brutal .632.

        On the positive side, we had allowed only 9 runs in three games. Our starters ERA was 2.95 and bullpen ERA was 2.45.

        So we had a three game series at Midland next.

        We won a wild Game 1 7-6 in 15 innings.

        We fell 8-3 in Game 2. Cal Towey went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and scored twice for us.

        We then lost the rubber match 7-3 to fall to 2-4 on the season. Kyle McGowan pitched 5 innings and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, walked 4 and struck out 5.

        We would take a day off as we traveled back home where we would be hosting Frisco for three games.

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        • vrobx1
          Rookie
          • May 2017
          • 450

          #5
          Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

          I was told "don't suck completely" when I took this job.

          So far, not so good!

          Sure it has only been six games but:
          Only one team had allowed more runs.
          Only one team had a worse OBP.
          Only one team had a worse defensive efficiency.
          Only one team had hit fewer home runs.
          No team had fewer stolen bases.

          Right now, we sucked completely.

          We got to have our first home games of the season, though, against the 3-3 Frisco RoughRiders.

          In the first game, Carlos E. Perez went 2 for 5 with a home run, an RBI, a walk and he scored twice as we won 7-6 in 11 innings.

          We put together our first back-to-back wins of the season as we won the next game 9-7. Austin G. Wood pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits, walking just 1 while striking out 7 to get the win. Michael Snyder went 1 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBIs and he scored twice.

          We couldn't pull off the sweep, though, dropping the finale 4-2. Albert Suarez pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits, walking 3 and striking out 7. D'Arby Myers went 2 for 4 including a solo home run.

          At 4-5 now on the season, our next three games would be at home against the Midland RockHounds, who were 5-4.


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          • vrobx1
            Rookie
            • May 2017
            • 450

            #6
            Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

            Our offense has picked it up after nine games. We are third in the league in runs scored and batting average. But we are last in the league in stolen bases.

            On the other side of the equation, we are tied for last in the league in runs allowed and dead last in the league in defensive efficiency.

            Carlos E. Perez leads the team hitting .389 while Kaleb Cowart has 2 home runs and 6 RBIs.

            We have four different pitchers with 1 win each. Austin G. Wood has a 3.27 ERA and 13 strikeouts.

            We took the opener against Midland 9-6. Perez went 2 for 3 with an RBI, walked twice and scored twice. Cal Towey went 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI.

            The Texas League named Towey Player of the Week. He hit .571 during the week with no home runs, 2 RBIs and 5 runs scored.

            We were ranked fourth in the eight team league when the new Power Rankings were released. We had been third the previous week.

            We got our first shutout of the season in the next game, beating Midland 9-0. Kyle McGowin went 6.1 innings, allowing 2 hits and walking 2 while striking out 7 to get the win. Chad Hinshaw went 3 for 3 with a double, an RBI, scored a run and walked twice. D'Arby Myers went 3 for 4 with 2 doubled and 3 RBIs and scored a run.

            We completed the sweep to improve to 5-1 at home and get a 3 game winning streak for the first time all season but it took 10 innings to down Midland 6-5. Eric Stamets went 3 for 3 with an RBI and scored a run.

            The next day was a travel day as we went back on the road for a series against Springfield. It would our first games of the season against a divisional opponent.

            And we would be without right fielder Mark Shannon. He would miss about two months because of shoulder inflammation. In 18 at bats, he was hitting .333 with no home runs and 3 RBI.

            We sat in third in our division with a 7-5 record. Springfield was second at 8-4. We had a 3 game win streak and Springfield had won 4 straight.

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            • vrobx1
              Rookie
              • May 2017
              • 450

              #7
              Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

              Our offense is starting to become a bit feared. We are second in the league in runs scored, batting average and OBP. Still tied for last in stolen bases, though. Also, on the mound, we have the second best bullpen ERA in the league.

              Carlos E. Perez leads the team with a .362 average. Kaleb Cowart leads the team with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.

              On the mound, Kyle McGowin tops the team with a 2.41 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Alas, while we have 7 wins as a team, no pitcher has more than 1.

              So we are back on the road. At Springfield. Our first games against a divisional opponent.

              We dropped the opener 9-5. Roberto Baldoquin went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.

              D'Arby Myers was promoted to Triple A Salt Lake. We received four players, Steve Garrison, Bo Way, Matt Koch and Eric Aguilera from Single A Inland Empire.

              We bounced back with a dominating 8-2 win in the second game of the series. Albert Suarez pitched 7 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, walking 3 and striking out 8 to get the win. Cowart went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 RBIs and he scored 3 times. Chad Hinshaw went 4 for 5 with an RBI and he scored twice. We out-hit Springfield 17-5.

              They took the third game by the same 8-2 score even though we out-hit them 10-8.

              We got the four game split in Springfield by winning the finale 8-1. McGowin went 6.1 innings. allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, walking 3 and striking out 2 to get the win. Brian Hernandez went 2 for 3 with a walk and scored twice.

              We head back home for a four game series against the first place Tulsa Drillers, who are 12-4 on the season. We are currently 9-7 and in third in the division. Tulsa is 6-0 on the road!

              Tulsa ranks #1 in the Weekly Power Rankings while we are #3.
              Last edited by vrobx1; 06-08-2017, 12:37 AM.

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              • vrobx1
                Rookie
                • May 2017
                • 450

                #8
                Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                Home for four against first place Tulsa.

                We now lead the Texas League with a team batting average of .294. We are second in the league in runs scored (87) and OBP (.373). We are third in the league in bullpen ERA (3.56). We are last in the league in stolen bases (3).

                Carlos E Perez leads the team hitting .350. Kaleb Cowart leads the team with 3 home runs. The new team leader in RBI is Chad Hinshaw with 12.

                Kyle McGowan leads the team in wins with 2 and ERA at 2.16. McGowan and Albert Suarez are tied with 18 strikeouts each.

                We took the opener against Tulsa 2-1. Tulsa's first road loss of the season. Scott Snodgress pitched 8 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits, walking just 1 while striking out 8 to get the win. Zach Wright went 2 for 3 with a two run homer in the 7th inning.

                Tulsa won the next day 6-2. A 4-run 4th was our downfall. Roberto Baldoquin was our lone highlight, going 2 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBI.

                The third game of the series went to us 1-0. Albert Suarez pitched a complete game 7 hit shutout, walking 1 and striking out 4. Bo Way went 2 for 3 with a double and scored the game's only run.

                We took the finale 7-3 to take 3 out of 4 and move within a game of first place. Kramer Sneed pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 8 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4 to get the win. Chad Hinshaw went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, 2 RBI and he scored twice himself. Eric Stamets went 1 for 2 with a double and 3 walks and he also scored twice. We crossed home plate 5 times in the 3rd to pull away.

                Our team took a blow, however, when our top hitter, Carlos E Perez, was promoted to Triple A Salt Lake.

                We were 12-8. Tied for second with Springfield and just a game behind Tulsa.

                Next up would be four home games against Springfield.

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                • vrobx1
                  Rookie
                  • May 2017
                  • 450

                  #9
                  Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                  We split the four games in Springfield and now we hosted the Cardinals for four.

                  We still led the league in batting average but our top hitter was gone. Kaleb Cowart was now our top batter with a .316 average and 3 home runs and he was tied with Chad Hinshaw with 14 RBI.

                  We'd gotten some great pitching from Kyle McGowan and Albert Suarez. In his last two starts, McGowan had gone 2-0 and struck out 9 in 12.2 innings, compiling a 0.71 ERA. Suarez had pitched 16 innings in his last 2 starts, also going 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

                  On the other hand, Austin G Wood had gone 0-2 in his last 2 starts, lasting just 6.2 innings, racking up an ugly 16.20 ERA while striking out 8.

                  Another slumping performer was Cal Towey. In his last 8 games, Towey had gone 3 for 29 (.103) with no home runs and just 1 RBI

                  The Cardinals crushed us 8-0 in the opener and then beat us 6-4 in the second game of the series.

                  We gave up a pair in the 9th to drop our third straight as Springfield won 8-7. Wood pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits, walking 4 and striking out 5.

                  The losses dropped us to fourth in the Power Rankings.

                  Springfield completed the sweep with a 7-1 win in the final game.

                  Just like that we were 12-11, in third place, 4 games behind first place Springfield.

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                  • vrobx1
                    Rookie
                    • May 2017
                    • 450

                    #10
                    Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                    We needed a win badly. We were 0-4 ever since Carlos E Perez had gotten promoted to Triple A.

                    Still, only one team had a better batting average than us. Also, we were third in the league in OBP and bullpen ERA.

                    But, we were last in the league in home runs, tied for last in stolen bases and only one team had a worse defensive efficiency.

                    We ended our losing streak with a 7-4 win in the opener at Tulsa. Eric Aguilera went 2 for 5 with a home run and 5 RBI. Kramer Sneed pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits, walking 5 and striking out 3 to get the win. Kaleb Cowart went 2 for 4 with a walk and scored twice. We scored 5 in the 5th to turn a 2-1 lead into a comfortable 7-1 cushion.

                    Tulsa took the next game 2-1. Kyle McGowan pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits, walking 3 and striking out 3.

                    We got them back the next day by the score of 6-1. Scott Snodgress pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, walking 4 and striking out 5 to get the win. Sherman Johnson went 2 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBI and he scored twice.

                    We continued our mastery of the Drillers with a 2-1 win in the series finale. We have now beaten Tulsa 4 out of 6. Austin G Wood pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 7 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4 to get the win. Roberto Baldoquin went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk.

                    We were now 15-13 on the season. And in last place! By a single game. Springfield, Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas were all 16-12. We would host Northwest Arkansas for four games next.





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                    • vrobx1
                      Rookie
                      • May 2017
                      • 450

                      #11
                      Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                      At home for four against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The in-state showdown.

                      They just brutalized us in the series opener 14-5.

                      We lost the next day 3-2. Kramer Sneed pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits, walking 3 and striking out 6.

                      We lost again the next day 3-2 as well. It was our seventh straight loss at home. Kyle McGowan pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 3.

                      Finally, in the series finale, we remembered how to win at home as we came out on top 3-1. Scott Snodgress pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, walking and striking out 9 to get the win. Michael Snyder went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and he scored a run.

                      We were now 16-16 on the season, tied with Springfield at the bottom of the division. Tulsa was at the top at 20-12 and Northwest Arkansas was right below at 19-13.

                      After a day off, we would be hosting first place Tulsa for four games.

                      Reliever Nate Smith was sent down to Single A Inland Empire. He was 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA in 16.2 innings. He was especially bad in his last appearance, the 14-5 loss to the Naturals.

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                      • vrobx1
                        Rookie
                        • May 2017
                        • 450

                        #12
                        Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                        Despite getting 11 hits, we fell 6-3 in the opener against Tulsa. Matt Koch went 2 for 3 with a home run, 2 RBI and a walk.

                        We lost the next game to the Drillers 6-3 as well. Cal Towey, who had been struggling recently, went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and he scored a run.

                        The third loss to the Drillers happened in 10 innings by the score of 5-4. Kyle McGowan pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 3 runs, all earned, on 3 hits, walking 4 and striking out 6.

                        Kramer Sneed got us out of our slide for at least one day as he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 10 to get the win as we shutout the Drillers 3-0. Kaleb Cowart went 1 for 3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

                        We were 17-19. In third place. One game ahead of the Springfield Cardinals who had lost 12 in a row. Northwest Arkansas and Tulsa were tied for first, 6 games ahead of us.

                        We were next scheduled for a road series against Northwest Arkansas.

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                        • vrobx1
                          Rookie
                          • May 2017
                          • 450

                          #13
                          Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                          Merry month of May? More like the miserable month of May.

                          We had gone 5-11 in May. And there were still two weeks to go!

                          Albert Suarez had been terrible in his last two starts, lasting just 8.1 innings combined and going 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA. He did strikeout 7 in those 8 innings.

                          And, in his last 9 games, Cal Towey had gone just 3 for 30 with 3 RBI.

                          On the other hand, Brian Hernandez was hitting .476 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI in that same amount of games.

                          In his last two starts, Kramer Sneed had pitched 11 innings, going 1-1 with a 0.82 ERA, striking out 16. And Scott Snodgress had gone 12.1 innings with a 2-0 record, 1.46 ERA and 14 strikeouts.

                          Chad Hinshaw led the team with a .293 batting average as we were still second in the league in team batting average.

                          Kaleb Cowart led the team with 4 home runs as we were, as a team tied for last in the league in home runs hit.

                          Cowart and Roberto Baldoquin were tied for the team lead with 18 RBI each.

                          Snodgress led the team in all pitching categories with 4 wins, a 3.10 ERA and 41 strikeouts.

                          In the opener at Northwest Arkansas, Snodgress pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits and a walk and struck out 7 but he was tagged with the loss as we fell 4-1.

                          We bounced back the next day with a 4-2 win. Austin G Wood went 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 6 to get the W. Michael Snyder went 2 for 3 with a walk, a home run and 3 RBI. And Sherman Johnson went 3 for 5 with a double and scored twice.

                          Hernandez had another nice game the next day, going 2 for 3 with a home run and a couple RBI but we lost 6-4.

                          We salvaged the split with a 6-3 win in the finale. Chad Hinshaw went 3 for 4 with a double, a home run, 2 RBI and he scored twice. Cal Towey went 1 for 2 with a three run homer and walked twice. Kyle McGowin pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 1 hit and 4 walks, striking out 1 to get the win.

                          At 19-21, we were still in third place, 7 games behind first place Tulsa.

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                          • vrobx1
                            Rookie
                            • May 2017
                            • 450

                            #14
                            Re: JIMMY ROBERTS: A MANAGER'S LIFE

                            At least we hadn't fallen as far as the Springfield Cardinals had. They had lost 15 of their last 16 games after starting the season 16-8.

                            A series in Springfield was up next for us and we looked to take advantage and try and get things going in the right direction again.

                            Kramer Sneed led us to the 1-0 win in the opener. He pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, walking 3 and striking out 4.

                            We were back at .500 the next day as we cruised to an 11-3 win. Eric Aguilera went 3 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and he scored twice. Michael Snyder went 2 for 4 with a walk, 3 RBI and a run scored. And Eric Stamets went 2 for 3 with a double, a pair of walks, an RBI and a run scored.

                            Just as we were starting to get back on the winning track, our team got flipped upside down again. Chad Hinshaw was promoted to Triple A Salt Lake and Bo Way was demoted to Single A Inland Empire. Moving up from Inland Empire to Arkansas were RP R.J. Seidel, C Anthony Bemboom and LF Exicardo Cayones.

                            And we lost the next game in Springfield 7-1.

                            We took the finale 6-4 to leave Springfield at .500. Albert Suarez pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6 to get the win. Stamets went 2 for 5 with a walk, an RBI and scored twice.

                            We were 22-22 on the season, still in third place, and still 6 games behind first place Tulsa.

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