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JAttractive · 08-08-2002, 11:39 PM

1960:

In this hockey mad town this new game of baseball has not been well received. The Expos drew a league low 1,233,168 fans this year which is almost half of the next *lowest* team. Team owners were so desperate to put people in the stands that they had to cut ticket prices nearly in half from $10 to $6 after only one month of play. However their was a glimmer of hope as attendance slowly rose throughout the year and the team is finally starting to draw some attention from the local media.

(Fan interest began the year at 2 and has raised to 12 to start the new season).

Team owners knew there would be a feeling out process for this game and smartly kept their payroll under 60 million, lowest in baseball. Hindered also by an unlucky drawing that saw them 23rd in the 24 team draft the Expos knew this was not going to be a year to aim too high. So with the 23rd overall pick they chose star right fielder Phil Durso and then stuck to a game plan that would see them target a few choice prospects for the next few rounds. This strategy gave them a player to help put fans in the seats and then by keeping out of the next tier of high priced talent they were able to build a team of mid-range, mid salary veterans with a few young studs in the farm system, most still years away from the big show.

(for the 2,3,4th picks I chose prospects as I knew I would go over-budget fast otherwise. I then handed the rest of the draft over to my AI scouting staff as I am using Talent only for ratings and do not have statistics to go off of).

The team performed predictably poorly finishing second last in all of baseball and last in the National League. Still with 69 wins and a .426 win percentage the team was not entirely horrid and their were a few bright spots on the team. Hopes are high for next year though team management says they are sticking to their original game plan and will build this team slowly with a strong foundation.

Quote from Jattractive:
"We are still a few years off from making any sort of run and I want to build depth in our farm system before I go chasing the damn Yankees (World Series winner) for their crown. And until we get more fans in the seats my hands will be tied financially... though I recognize our teams success will play a big part in winning the city over to this game."

================================================== ==

Team Transactions:

These were all done during the season by placing players on the trading block and drawing interest from AI teams to see what teams wanted what players.

1. LA offers me a 29 year old above average reliever and a 23 year old starting pitcher prospect (slightly above average ratings in AA) for a 27 year old above average reliever. I jump at the chance to get the SP throw-in even if he is not a top prospect. Hopefully he will blossom under my development system.

2. Putting the reliever I got from LA on the block I am offered a high priced (5.8 million) above average 28 year old SP for him from Atlanta. This deal is easily a huge advantage for me talent-wise but financially it will hurt. Luckily my fan interest has increased enough I can absorb his salary for now until I can dump some at the deadline. I take the chance that I can flip this guy later.

3. Anaheim, thick in the playoff hunt desperately wants this new pitcher but continues to offer players I am uninterested in. Finally at the final hour I cross my fingers and attempt to pry a hot young 19 year old SP in A ball and they bite.

==============================================
Overall:

I address my financial concerns by flipping the SP from LA and easily float a few million under budget at seasons end. My farm system is now a bit stronger with the 19 year old SP stud (Michael Lewis) and the 23 year old SP (Brandon Fey) with slightly above average potential. Realistically he seems slow to develop and may never even become a .500 pitcher in the majors by my guesses but hopefully he will shoot up and get out of AA during the next season. Overall it was a worthy gamble and when all is said and I done I have lost only a middle reliever from my original team but have added the two SP prospects (Note I also lost a back up shortstop who had a career ending injury).

With the second overall pick my farm system should look much better at the start of next season.

08-08-2002, 11:39 PM	#2
JAttractive All Star Starter Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Posts: 1,135	1960: In this hockey mad town this new game of baseball has not been well received. The Expos drew a league low 1,233,168 fans this year which is almost half of the next lowest team. Team owners were so desperate to put people in the stands that they had to cut ticket prices nearly in half from $10 to $6 after only one month of play. However their was a glimmer of hope as attendance slowly rose throughout the year and the team is finally starting to draw some attention from the local media. (Fan interest began the year at 2 and has raised to 12 to start the new season). Team owners knew there would be a feeling out process for this game and smartly kept their payroll under 60 million, lowest in baseball. Hindered also by an unlucky drawing that saw them 23rd in the 24 team draft the Expos knew this was not going to be a year to aim too high. So with the 23rd overall pick they chose star right fielder Phil Durso and then stuck to a game plan that would see them target a few choice prospects for the next few rounds. This strategy gave them a player to help put fans in the seats and then by keeping out of the next tier of high priced talent they were able to build a team of mid-range, mid salary veterans with a few young studs in the farm system, most still years away from the big show. (for the 2,3,4th picks I chose prospects as I knew I would go over-budget fast otherwise. I then handed the rest of the draft over to my AI scouting staff as I am using Talent only for ratings and do not have statistics to go off of). The team performed predictably poorly finishing second last in all of baseball and last in the National League. Still with 69 wins and a .426 win percentage the team was not entirely horrid and their were a few bright spots on the team. Hopes are high for next year though team management says they are sticking to their original game plan and will build this team slowly with a strong foundation. Quote from Jattractive: "We are still a few years off from making any sort of run and I want to build depth in our farm system before I go chasing the damn Yankees (World Series winner) for their crown. And until we get more fans in the seats my hands will be tied financially... though I recognize our teams success will play a big part in winning the city over to this game." ================================================== == Team Transactions: These were all done during the season by placing players on the trading block and drawing interest from AI teams to see what teams wanted what players. 1. LA offers me a 29 year old above average reliever and a 23 year old starting pitcher prospect (slightly above average ratings in AA) for a 27 year old above average reliever. I jump at the chance to get the SP throw-in even if he is not a top prospect. Hopefully he will blossom under my development system. 2. Putting the reliever I got from LA on the block I am offered a high priced (5.8 million) above average 28 year old SP for him from Atlanta. This deal is easily a huge advantage for me talent-wise but financially it will hurt. Luckily my fan interest has increased enough I can absorb his salary for now until I can dump some at the deadline. I take the chance that I can flip this guy later. 3. Anaheim, thick in the playoff hunt desperately wants this new pitcher but continues to offer players I am uninterested in. Finally at the final hour I cross my fingers and attempt to pry a hot young 19 year old SP in A ball and they bite. ============================================== Overall: I address my financial concerns by flipping the SP from LA and easily float a few million under budget at seasons end. My farm system is now a bit stronger with the 19 year old SP stud (Michael Lewis) and the 23 year old SP (Brandon Fey) with slightly above average potential. Realistically he seems slow to develop and may never even become a .500 pitcher in the majors by my guesses but hopefully he will shoot up and get out of AA during the next season. Overall it was a worthy gamble and when all is said and I done I have lost only a middle reliever from my original team but have added the two SP prospects (Note I also lost a back up shortstop who had a career ending injury). With the second overall pick my farm system should look much better at the start of next season. Last edited by JAttractive; 08-08-2002 at 11:49 PM.