Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

[predac0n]

Hi everyone!

So i'm running my usual Marlins franchise & in years past i've run with the Tigers as my AL franchise but at this point the aging Tigers and the fact that i'm just bored with their uniform options I find myself torn between these two teams, hoping this community might be able to help me out with that choice. the AL West is just a really appealing division to me plus it gives me a chance to beat up on those bummy Rangers

Mariner PROS

Starting Rotation
Great Uni's
Strong Lineup
King Felix
Robby Cano
Nelson Cruz
Chance to break a 20 year Playoff drought.

Mariner NEGATIVES

SafeCO is ugly as hell
Bullpen (???)


Astros PROS

Great Uni's
MONSTER LINEUP (This Lineup might be the best Astros lineup EVER since 2000)
Minute Maid Park is easy on the eyes & the working train is cool!
George Springer, Carlos Correa & Jose Altuve?!?!? SICK
Alex Bregman

Astros Negatives

Starting Rotation except for Dallas Keuchel is SUSPECT
Bullpen (???)

[Chunky_Cracker]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

Since you have pretty even pros/cons for both just flip a coin.

[predac0n]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

James Paxton emerging as a legit ACE down the line is a good sign for the Mariners.

Really i'm just torn between the better starting rotation of the Mariners & the ridiculous line up of the Astros. Because with a suspect Astros starting rotation I can always mount a comeback with that line up, same applies to the Mariners but I wouldn't have to rely on comebacks as much if the starters give me more quality starts.

[thizzle]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

Safeco is a beautiful stadium, you should visit.
I love the roof actually closes in this game

[RunN1st]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

I started one with the Mariners and I'm having a good time. Awesome feeling going back-to-back-to-back with Cano, Cruz and Seager. Cheers!

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

I say Astros. If you're playing a club that isn't "yours" irl I think enjoying the stadium is key. I think both are good but you obviously like MM park better, makes it the clear choice as far as I see.

[cwass03]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

Hi everyone!

So i'm running my usual Marlins franchise & in years past i've run with the Tigers as my AL franchise but at this point the aging Tigers and the fact that i'm just bored with their uniform options I find myself torn between these two teams, hoping this community might be able to help me out with that choice. the AL West is just a really appealing division to me plus it gives me a chance to beat up on those bummy Rangers

Mariner PROS

Starting Rotation
Great Uni's
Strong Lineup
King Felix
Robby Cano
Nelson Cruz
Chance to break a 20 year Playoff drought.

Mariner NEGATIVES

SafeCO is ugly as hell
Bullpen (???)


Astros PROS

Great Uni's
MONSTER LINEUP (This Lineup might be the best Astros lineup EVER since 2000)
Minute Maid Park is easy on the eyes & the working train is cool!
George Springer, Carlos Correa & Jose Altuve?!?!? SICK
Alex Bregman

Astros Negatives

Starting Rotation except for Dallas Keuchel is SUSPECT
Bullpen (???)

Safeco ugly?? blasphemy! I admit during day games it could be a little difficult to pick up pitches based on your hitting view. But safeco is a great ballpark.

[Caulfield]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

before you start your season w/either seattle or houston, build a lineup combination from both teams but take the lower overall starter from both teams, play all home games in housto but as Seattle. just by lookin at default rosters youwould wind up w/something like this

catcher carlos ruiz
1b vogelbach (or gurriel if you are looking at valencia as the M's 1b
2b Cano
SS Segura
3b Bregman
lf motter
cf Dyson
rf reddick
dh beltran

sp1 keuchel
sp2 iwakuma
sp3 paxton
sp4 fiers
sp5 gallardo (as much as it pains me to type that)
closer edwin diaz

[BA2929]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

James Paxton emerging as a legit ACE down the line is a good sign for the Mariners.

Really i'm just torn between the better starting rotation of the Mariners & the ridiculous line up of the Astros. Because with a suspect Astros starting rotation I can always mount a comeback with that line up, same applies to the Mariners but I wouldn't have to rely on comebacks as much if the starters give me more quality starts.

McCullers is really, really good, so don't sleep on him in that Astros staff. Plus,they have a top 10 farm system with some very good arms in it.

Francis Martes is pitcher and a top 15 prospect, and you can deal from that stockpile if you really need to improve the rotation.

[Black59Razr]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

I love Seattle on this game! I use them all the time online. I love the ballpark. There is not many great pitcher's ballparks in the AL and this is one of them; probably the best. Also, their bullpen is LEGIT AF! Team has great contact, great speed, great SPs, great bullpen; everything you want if you're looking for a true baseball experience. If waiting around for the 3 run homerun is your thing, Houston is the way to go. I love the Astros in this game too. Lot's of pop and young studs.

[Shergie51]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

McCullers is really, really good, so don't sleep on him in that Astros staff. Plus,they have a top 10 farm system with some very good arms in it.

Francis Martes is pitcher and a top 15 prospect, and you can deal from that stockpile if you really need to improve the rotation.

Well said. Exactly the points i came here to make. McCullers CB is the best in baseball (at least according to Robinson Cano). He gets swings and misses even when they know its coming. Also, I think the rotation is fun to play with because you have decisions to make regarding the 5th starter. You can go with Fiers who is a decent vet but is either great or horrible in a given start. Musgrove has upside but depending on what roster you use his ratings might be horrible. You could even go with Davenski, who is awesome starter they use in the bullpen and has a 'circle-change of death'.
And Kuechel is back to his Cy-Young days and is fun to pitch with. Here is ahint on how to pitch with him:literally throw no pitches in the top half of the strike zone. Throw everything along the bottom line of the strike zone and nibble. Dont be afraid to throw alot of pitches and dont give in and throw meat pitches if u have a 3-0 count. If youre a fan of the high fastball for strikeouts maybe once or twice a game you could throw his 4-seam high and out of the strike zone but i dont. Throw his 2-seam at their knees all game and make them hit dribblers right back to Kuechel (3=time gold glove). lol

Speaking of which i goota go, kuechel is pitching right now vs the angels!

[predac0n]

Re: Houston Astros or Seattle Mariners?

I appreciate all the replies i've gotten on this thread!

I haven't made a choice yet in regards to this franchise because I'm currently battling a head cold

When I say SafeCO is ugly I mean in regards to how it looks in TS, It just hurts my eyes to look at that backdrop (personal gripe). Seriously though the urge to end that 20 year playoff drought is STRONG! Cano, Cruz, Segura, & Seager is STUPID GOOD + Felix, Paxton & Iwakuma is beastly.

Though the thoughts of Springer, Correa, Altuve & Beltran is OVERPOWERED AS HELL, no more centerfield hill, working train & majestic homers look great in MM along with Keuchel, Mccullers & Devenski

In the end I think the young studs of the Astros might win me over but i'll have to run both teams through some exhibition games so I can get a feel of how they play & a feel for the rotation & pen, If they both win me over I might end up doing both eventually when Hybrid rosters drop using one team with OSFM 1.75 & the other with Hybrid just because I've never played Hybrid rosters & i'm interested to see what they are like.