ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

[vic20]

The thing I loved about last year's ASB, and love even more in this year' version, is the ability to create your own baseball team. Your own stadium, players, uni's - it just really gets me excited. I mean last year I spent hours going over my roster, checking stats, checking ratings and planning for the future. . .I find it completely absorbing and I know there are a lot of you on this board that feel the same way.

After a few exhibition games last night I could not wait to start building a team. So, at around 11:30 last night, a team was born:

NL Brooklyn Swingers

Mailman Stadium- I heard during the stadium tour that there was a kosher deli in the concourse of this stadium and I knew it was meant to be NYC- plus I love the "thanks for the fat pitch" letter in CF- and the retractable roof- the place would be perfect for the 2008 Olympic Games that NYC are trying to land. .

This is some of the team I was able to pull together-

C- Craig Wilson, Greg Zaun
1B- Tino Martinez (the "Mailman" is very good to LH power hitters), Tony Clark (got from trading block for Calvin Murray, whom I drafted)
2B- E. Alfonso
SS- M. Bordick
3B- Todd Zeile
RF- R. Hildalgo
CF- Darin Erstad
LF- Carl Everett
SP- Petite, Finley (free agent pick up), and scrub
RP- Ryan Rupe and scrub city

There are a lot better players available this year than last. Last year my best player was Nick Johnson. It was a long first season.

If you have started your team - put down the name, city and some of your key players. I am anxious to see how other new GMs fared in their drafts.

Also, what is your GM rank? I got an A+, but I don't know if I got it because almost everyone on my team has a 1 or 2 year contract (which is great for guys like Martinez and Zeile) or if every expansion team GM starts with a high rating.

And any general comments on the Expansion mode, Stadiums, Mascots, whatever are also welcomed.

Let me know

[Heelfan71]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

I tried to pick up Finley too but I can't afford him! Who did you drop?

[Heelfan71]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

I tried to pick up Finley too but I can't afford him! Who did you drop?

[vic20]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

A 28 year old D- rated pitcher in the low minors!

I think it is a market size problem. . .I was able to pick him up and I am still 100 pts. under budget.

Did you set your franchise up with "realistic" team budgets? If so how many points do the Copperheads have to work with? I have a 600 (i am at work now, so guessing) point budget in Brooklyn.

[vic20]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

A 28 year old D- rated pitcher in the low minors!

I think it is a market size problem. . .I was able to pick him up and I am still 100 pts. under budget.

Did you set your franchise up with "realistic" team budgets? If so how many points do the Copperheads have to work with? I have a 600 (i am at work now, so guessing) point budget in Brooklyn.

[Heelfan71]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

I have 430 budget points and I used them all !

[Heelfan71]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

I have 430 budget points and I used them all !

[Heelfan71]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

Alaska Midnight is the other expansion team.

[Heelfan71]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

Alaska Midnight is the other expansion team.

[vic20]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

Well after an exhausting first spring training the Swingers played the first real game in their history Opening Day against the Florida Marlins @ beautiful Mailman Stadium. It was a clear day and a surprisingly warm 54 degrees. . .

First pitch in franchise history was thrown by Andy Pettitte and promptly smacked into left centerfield for a double. Pettitte went on to give up 2 R in the top of the first. . .but then settled in and shut down the Marlins until the 9th.

In the meantime the Swingers started the season the same way they ended Spring Training- by hitting with power. By the top of the 9th it was 8-2 Swingers, thanks mostly to Carl Everett who went 4 for 5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI. Yeah, I said Carl Everett.

Ok, so cut to the top of the ninth 2 outs. Pettitte is out of gas but with the bottom of the Marlins order coming up I figure he can get one last out and start the Swingers off in style with a CG!

I was wrong. Five hits and one error later the score is 8-6. With sadness in my heart I pull Pettitte after 8.2 innings. My effort to get him a complete game resulted only in bloating his ERA from 2.00 to over 5. Poor guy. I went to the pen and bring out our young closer Scott Chission. .one pitch. .pop foul to Martinez at 1B. .Swingers win.

A few notes:

-I love the fact that Pettitte got roughed in the first and then gave up next to nothing for the next 7 innings. If you watch a lot of Yankee games you know that if you want to get to Andy you have to do it early- once he finds his groove he is killer. It was great to see this happen in ASB.

-The short porch in right at Mailman is no joke. I must have had 5 hits that smacked off of the out-of-town scoreboard. If you are planning on starting a franchise and using this park left-handed power hitters are a must!

-Is Carl Everett kicking *** in everybody’s Franchise. Since the second week of Spring Training this guy has been on fire for me- ended the Spring hitting .487! He keeps this up he will get moved up in the order. . .

-On the other hand Mike Bordick hit .087 in the spring and went 0-5 in the Season opener. .maybe I need another leadoff hitter. . .

More later.

[vic20]

Re: ASB Expansion Talk- Brooklyn Swingers

Well after an exhausting first spring training the Swingers played the first real game in their history Opening Day against the Florida Marlins @ beautiful Mailman Stadium. It was a clear day and a surprisingly warm 54 degrees. . .

First pitch in franchise history was thrown by Andy Pettitte and promptly smacked into left centerfield for a double. Pettitte went on to give up 2 R in the top of the first. . .but then settled in and shut down the Marlins until the 9th.

In the meantime the Swingers started the season the same way they ended Spring Training- by hitting with power. By the top of the 9th it was 8-2 Swingers, thanks mostly to Carl Everett who went 4 for 5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI. Yeah, I said Carl Everett.

Ok, so cut to the top of the ninth 2 outs. Pettitte is out of gas but with the bottom of the Marlins order coming up I figure he can get one last out and start the Swingers off in style with a CG!

I was wrong. Five hits and one error later the score is 8-6. With sadness in my heart I pull Pettitte after 8.2 innings. My effort to get him a complete game resulted only in bloating his ERA from 2.00 to over 5. Poor guy. I went to the pen and bring out our young closer Scott Chission. .one pitch. .pop foul to Martinez at 1B. .Swingers win.

A few notes:

-I love the fact that Pettitte got roughed in the first and then gave up next to nothing for the next 7 innings. If you watch a lot of Yankee games you know that if you want to get to Andy you have to do it early- once he finds his groove he is killer. It was great to see this happen in ASB.

-The short porch in right at Mailman is no joke. I must have had 5 hits that smacked off of the out-of-town scoreboard. If you are planning on starting a franchise and using this park left-handed power hitters are a must!

-Is Carl Everett kicking *** in everybody’s Franchise. Since the second week of Spring Training this guy has been on fire for me- ended the Spring hitting .487! He keeps this up he will get moved up in the order. . .

-On the other hand Mike Bordick hit .087 in the spring and went 0-5 in the Season opener. .maybe I need another leadoff hitter. . .

More later.