Here we go again...

[MrPibb]

Two weeks ago I had my worst season in gold. I got hammered in a league full of teams with nearly all 100's. I got demoted, kind of pedestrian year, but made the playoffs, promptly got swept by a team will all 100's, and I'm back at gold. I know it's only the beginning of the season, but I'm 2-10 and the team in my division with almost all 100's is 10-2, the others close to it.

Is this how it's going to be? Bouncing between mediocre 90 win seasons followed by getting trounced for a week? I don't expect to win every time but I'm not gonna keep doing this if getting squashed every other week in in my future.

I guess I didn't realize how P2W this game is. Was I wrong to expect more from something that I had to shell out 40 bucks for?

[Torgonius]

Lots of people playing FTP and having success at the higher levels.

You don't tell us anything about the makeup of your team, or what you've learned from defeat to try to improve it.

Yes, every season is up and down. I had a 105 win team last year get bounced in the 1st round. I had another team that had more wins than any other in the league except the team ahead of us in the division, and it lost the WC game and didn't get promoted. My main team, that lost the WC of Gold 3 weeks ago, went to Diamond 2 weeks ago and managed 52 wins, and last week, back in gold, went barely over 500.

Yes, you can spend a crap ton of money on the game if you choose, and you can beat up on teams at the lower levels as you work your way up.

Whining about it solves nothing, though. The fun is doing what you can to improve your team. You can get lots of free card packs just by making a decent tournament team and running them as much as you can. You can earn free packs just from playing OOTP (the game you actually bought, not the add-on PT).

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by MrPibb

I guess I didn't realize how P2W this game is. Was I wrong to expect more from something that I had to shell out 40 bucks for?

Plenty of teams competing in diamond level without spending a dime.

[MrPibb]

I'm a typical team. I have ichiro leading off, then Snyder, Bonds (the 100) and bagwell. Some mix of Piazza, Kiner, Albies, Tulo and Mathews rotated in the order depending on how they're doing and who they're playing. I've finished all but the yankees on my collection missions.

Pitching is Maddux, Johnson, Lyons, Verlander and Carlton. Hader, and Nathan leading the bullpen, Kershaw and Osuna seem to be the only consistant guys after that. I hit gold and lose 100 games, in silver I win 90-105 or so.

I enter tournaments 24/7 and usually get about 20 packs a week, and aside from the 100 bonds, I only seem to get bronze cards I already have.

What sort of whining did you detect? I'm doing the exact same stuff I did the year before that got me 98 wins and now It's gonna be another losing year in gold. Instead of labeling me a whiner (Not at all constructive) throw some knowledge as to what I can do aside from shuffling lineups and benching under performers. it's not like I'm sitting on my guys all week and wondering what went wrong.

More shifts? Aggressive on the basepaths? I had a year where I adjusted to use an opener nearly every game and that pulled me out of a 5-15 start.

From what you just said though, I'm fodder for the higher leagues til I get bumped down.

[dkgo]

If anything it is way too easy this year given how strong collection rewards are for minimal effort, you see 20 teams with the same players

[KikiVincent]

Originally Posted by Torgonius

Lots of people playing FTP and having success at the higher levels.

You don't tell us anything about the makeup of your team, or what you've learned from defeat to try to improve it.

Yes, every season is up and down. I had a 105 win team last year get bounced in the 1st round. I had another team that had more wins than any other in the league except the team ahead of us in the division, and it lost the WC game and didn't get promoted. My main team, that lost the WC of Gold 3 weeks ago, went to Diamond 2 weeks ago and managed 52 wins, and last week, back in gold, went barely over 500.

Yes, you can spend a crap ton of money on the game if you choose, and you can beat up on teams at the lower levels as you work your way up.

Whining about it solves nothing, though. The fun is doing what you can to improve your team. You can get lots of free card packs just by making a decent tournament team and running them as much as you can. You can earn free packs just from playing OOTP (the game you actually bought, not the add-on PT).

How do you get the free packs inside the main game? I'm always in the main game. That would be great.

[Torgonius]

the one everyone does is the historical 27 yankees challenge. several posts about it scattered around here. You can get the pack every 72 hours, assuming the yankees do halfway decent.

[halfbutt]

Originally Posted by MrPibb

I'm a typical team. I have ichiro leading off, then Snyder, Bonds (the 100) and bagwell. Some mix of Piazza, Kiner, Albies, Tulo and Mathews rotated in the order depending on how they're doing and who they're playing. I've finished all but the yankees on my collection missions.

Pitching is Maddux, Johnson, Lyons, Verlander and Carlton. Hader, and Nathan leading the bullpen, Kershaw and Osuna seem to be the only consistant guys after that. I hit gold and lose 100 games, in silver I win 90-105 or so.

I enter tournaments 24/7 and usually get about 20 packs a week, and aside from the 100 bonds, I only seem to get bronze cards I already have.

What sort of whining did you detect? I'm doing the exact same stuff I did the year before that got me 98 wins and now It's gonna be another losing year in gold. Instead of labeling me a whiner (Not at all constructive) throw some knowledge as to what I can do aside from shuffling lineups and benching under performers. it's not like I'm sitting on my guys all week and wondering what went wrong.

More shifts? Aggressive on the basepaths? I had a year where I adjusted to use an opener nearly every game and that pulled me out of a 5-15 start.

From what you just said though, I'm fodder for the higher leagues til I get bumped down.

It seems to me that if you don't spend any $ or vast amounts of time grinding tournaments, you're pretty much doomed to be fodder for the teams that do.

If you say something like this, you will probably be called a whiner and shamed by the people that run the teams that need you around to beat up on.

Just watch as those comments roll in below.

[dkgo]

Originally Posted by KikiVincent

How do you get the free packs inside the main game? I'm always in the main game. That would be great.

You get them from challenge mode occasionally. The easiest way is to start the 27 yankees but unless you value your time at like $3/hr you are better off just buying points instead of grinding for it.

[2tango2]

Same boat- Lower leagues are more fun because of the makeup of the different teams. I'm at 6-12 to start the season. I look at the other teams lineups and almost all of them have close if not the exact line ups as I do. Ichiro, Bagwell, Klein, B. Williams, Cano (A lot of Tulo's that surprised me), Kiner...3rd and catcher is where it differs usually.

I guess one difference is their bullpens are loaded with diamond starting pitchers meh

In any event yeah, not too fun. I've found you're just at the mercy of what the game has pre-programed for your team that year. I had a game where I believe we matched up at every position card for card except for catcher..even the starters were the same (RJ SE) I lost 11-1..hmmmm

Who knows maybe they catch fire and finish 500 lol.

[mofowitdahat]

So far I played only 2 seasons, making playoffs both times. I'm content because I've been lucky to rack up enough PP to buy at least 5 regular packs and 1 gold pack. And now I'm in the Stone League.

Thing is my first week I had a 1st place run but got thru as a WC just to lose. Then the second week I secured the division just to get swept by the WC.

And now since I'm in the Stone League I'm seeing more 90+ cards and bullpens filled with Starter Pitchers

[MrPibb]

Originally Posted by 2tango2

I had a game where I believe we matched up at every position card for card except for catcher..even the starters were the same (RJ SE) I lost 11-1..hmmmm

Oddly enough, that happens quite a bit. My Bagwell and Greg Maddux never seems to be as good as the other Greg Maddux and Bagwell. My D is very solid in case anyone needs to ask...

[bailey]

Instead of looking at the top teams in your league, why not look at the teams that are playing around .500? How many live diamonds are they using? I'd replace most live diamond. I use Grandal as a defensive catcher in the 9th inning save situations. I use the 26th man to carry a 3rd catcher. Even live perfects need to be replaced eventually. I may even pitch Grandal in favor of an historical gold my 3rd team pulled who has even better defense. 2020 MLB Live cards should only be used in tournaments that require them. My team is not even .500 in diamond after making the playoffs at every other level. I am not upset, I am not discouraged. I have 42 weeks left to build a team. Did you complete the live missions?

[comedian2019]

I have been in the same boat for a while. 19 and 20 both. I can win at Silver and Gold, but when I get higher I get slaughtered. Since I can't afford to put money into my team, I just have a bad season and get demoted. Then I get to win again. I have won a BUNCH of World Series...

I personally think they have it set to hard. When you move up to a new league, you basically have to rebuild your team. Players who won batting titles or Cy Young awards last season, not suck. It is a good marketing plan, but makes it tough for the people on fixed income.

I wonder how the virus thing is going to affect people spending money here?

[Torgonius]

Originally Posted by comedian2019

I wonder how the virus thing is going to affect people spending money here?

Since I was allowed to work from home for 2 months, and now only go in on alternate weeks, I used the money I saved on not buying gas on my teams and other fun stuff.

[comedian2019]

I think we should get stimulus PPs.

Everyone should get 1,200PP. If you have kids you do not get the extra, they get it.

[dkgo]

Originally Posted by comedian2019

I have been in the same boat for a while. 19 and 20 both. I can win at Silver and Gold, but when I get higher I get slaughtered. Since I can't afford to put money into my team, I just have a bad season and get demoted. Then I get to win again. I have won a BUNCH of World Series...

I personally think they have it set to hard. When you move up to a new league, you basically have to rebuild your team. Players who won batting titles or Cy Young awards last season, not suck. It is a good marketing plan, but makes it tough for the people on fixed income.

I wonder how the virus thing is going to affect people spending money here?

Ive won like 10 perfect championships without putting money into my team in 19 and 20.

You complain post after post about not being able to spend. Instead of looking for excuses you should be looking for ways to get better. There is a wealth of information across the forums for F2P players.

[trman73]

I never post on these “why am I not winning” threads but this one bugs me.

First, when you write...

I guess I didn’t realize how P2W this game is. Was I wrong to expect more from something I had to shell out 40 bucks for?

...that’s absolutely whining. So don’t be offended when someone calls you out on it. Express frustration? Sure. Ask for tips? Absolutely. The forums are filled with dozens of threads with tips for developing a strong team. State that the cost of the core game somehow entitles you to success in PT? Nope.

I’m only one player, but you can see from my signature that I’ve got two teams in Diamond and another and one in Gold. I’ve spent 15 bucks thus far and blew it on packs for my packs-only team, so my two Diamond teams have been entirely FTP. I’m not succeeding in Diamond right now and don’t expect to. It’s also Week 11 of the game.

I'm a typical team. I have ichiro leading off, then Snyder, Bonds (the 100) and bagwell.

You’re a typical team with a Perfect Bonds. He’s better than any player I have on any of my teams. So you have an opportunity to sell that card and separate yourself from the Ichiro-Bagwell-Snider-Piazza-Maddux-Carlton-etc.-etc. logjam that we see in every Gold league. You can build an excellent Gold team by selling that card, first by completing the Yankees mission then selecting the mission players you want to keep and dumping the rest for upgrades. At this point the Live Mission players are the baseline for all good teams.

Scout your leagues. Make a list of guys you like then see how they perform for other teams in your leagues and determine if they’re worth the investment. That takes five minutes.

In any event yeah, not too fun. I've found you're just at the mercy of what the game has pre-programed for your team that year. I had a game where I believe we matched up at every position card for card except for catcher..even the starters were the same (RJ SE) I lost 11-1..hmmmm

So the only acceptable result would have been a tie? Sometimes Ted Williams went 0-5 in real life. Sometimes Greg Maddux got shelled. There’s no hmmmmm. It’s one game.

This comment is the best...

It seems to me that if you don't spend any $ or vast amounts of time grinding tournaments, you're pretty much doomed to be fodder for the teams that do. If you say something like this, you will probably be called a whiner and shamed by the people that run the teams that need you around to beat up on.

If you don’t spend money, and also don’t do the things that players do to improve their teams, you will be called a whiner???? Yeah, you will, if you say that the $40 investment in the game means you shouldn’t have to do those things to be successful.

It’s money, it’s time, it’s strategy, and it’s luck. You can win with the first one, or the last three. If you don’t put in either of the first two, you’ll fail.

At the end of the day it is simply not true that FTP players can’t succeed at the higher levels of this game. It’s Week 11. There are fortune-changing, miracle pack pulls out there over the next 41 weeks. There are guys who will dump 25 Historical Diamond players into the AH all at once on a Friday for 4,001 PP minimum and no buy-now price, and you can get a 60,000 player for 28,000. There are also people who are willing to share tips and strategies all over these forums.

And yeah, there are whales, and they will crush you 95% of the time. But not 100% of the time. That’s life.

[comedian2019]

In 19 and 20 I had the hitting down pact. I was always in 1st in batting. I had guys like Madlock, Gywnn that had low overall ratings but high contact vs RHP. They rocked. They are all gone in 21. But I am finding new ones!

I mastered the hitting but I have not been able to do that on pitching. It is hit and miss.

I do miss Larry Dierker from 19.

[All_Elite_Stank]

I'm in the same boat, i keep getting bounced and i try my hardest to have different players than everyone else and get better but it's tough. I want to do a full rebuild and auction off my stars (couple 100's and about 15 diamonds) but i feel the only ethical way is to wait until Saturday night so i don't ruin the league by having a dud of a team.

If i subbed out my team with cheap Gold's ($1-2K each) is that tanking? i mean i'm not going iron or bronze's but i think it would really ,make people mad