Take Me To The Top Try Two!

deandean1998 · 12-31-2014, 02:12 AM

Besides the tongue twister of a title, my IPAD decided to lose all of it's memory. So yeah. OOTP15 TMTTTTT!

Now I have a new list, and new rules. The entire idea of this series is simple. Take a team, and take them to the top.

Rules: Before Opening Day, I can make 1 MLB and 1 MiLB signing.

During the season, I can create 3 trades, and accept any offer coming my way via AI.

Waiver claiming has no rules. I can claim whoever I want.

During the offseason, the same trading rules.

Offseason signing gives me a limit of 15 million per person. So if MATT Weiters is wanting 16 million, you better hope he accepts 15. Once every 4 years I can go as high as I want per person.

I cannot sign/trade for the same person two teams in a row.

Now, I'm sure you are wondering what team I am going to be! Well.... The series should be named Take Me To The Trop, as I will start out as the *Tampa Bay Rays*

With strong starting pitching, good contact hitters, and bullpen pieces, this should be easier than most.

Within the first minute, the AI offers Victor Martinez for Joel Peralta and RF prospect Manuel Sanchez. I spent a good 5 minutes weighing the offer. I did accept the offer because I am not a fan of James Loney as a starter. I called Cesar Ramos to take Peralta's spot and sent down Sean Rodriguez. I realize this makes 8 out of 25 people on the roster over 30 (although Peralta is 35) 6 people down in AAA are over 30 which is not good.

deandean1998 · 12-31-2014, 03:18 AM

Roster

SP 1 David Price: If the team decides to suck, he is first to go. He is a pseudo ace with another Ace waiting in the wings.

SP 2: Alex Cobb: A great #2. Once again, young and quite possibly if they suck, trade bait.

SP 3: Matt Moore: The Ace in Training. Will take over Price's job soon. SOOOOONNNNNNN. So yeah pretty soon.

SP 4: Jake Odorizzi: Youngest of the 5 at 23. Needs some time, but seems to be fine at this moment.

SP 5: Chris Archer: I am tempted to trade him. I have a good 5 but I prefer to have an older veteran at the end of the rotation. I don't know why, but I have always done that. Maybe Bedard who is in AAA or possibly Blanton who is cheap but in Oakland. Blanton is a good 5 starter. A good innings eater.

MR Josh Lueke: I do want to get rid of this terrible person, but I do not want to just get rid of him for getting rid of him. Oh morals. Who needs them?

Kirby Yates: Will either strike ya out, walk ya, or allow a hit. Good thing the strike outs happen more often than the other two.

Cesar Ramos: Nothing special. Will be used sparingly until called down.

Grant Bafour: 36, 2 1/2 stars? I cant exactly trade him, but I will hope he is useful.

SU Heath Bell: God. Damnit. One of the worst relievers. He used to be seen as one of the best in the game, but now he has fallen down. He is still rated high, but lets see.

SU Brandon Gomes: 29 and 4 stars. Im not gonna complain.

CL Jake McGee: One of the best in the game. Cannot complain abut him.

(Look out for Erik Bedard who is in AAA. Also be looking for Jeff Beliveau, who is 27 but IMHO underrated)

Batters

C: Ryan Hanigan: 33 can hit a bit and has a good eye. I'll take that kindly.

C: Jose Molina: 38, cannot hit, and is only good at defense. Not really worth it. I will try to package him away for someone.

1B Victor Martinez: Will hit great, will strike out sparingly. Better than....

1B James Loney: Strikes out a bit too much. Not as much power as Martinez. Good glove though.

2B Ben Zobrist: Glove, love, and Eyes. He has a glove of greatness, the fans love him, and he has great eyes. I mean I stare into them every day.

2B Logan Forsythe: A second rate Zobrist, without the eyes.

3B Evan Longoria: The future is now. Great kid, 5 stars.

SS Yunel Escobar: I expect a .220 AVG out of him. But god damn is he good at Defense.

LF David DeJesus: Take Yunel, put him in the outfield, and give him cement for shoes. Ayyyyyyy we found David!

CF Desmond Jennings: Good Lead Off batter, who can also hit for more power than most expect.

RF Wil Myers: Another 23 year old. If Mike Trout is offered, I will take that trade 1 for 1, but other than that, I really m holding on to him.

RF Matt Joyce: The Rays Prodigal Child. Power, Eyes, and Ks. The Old Rays Way (aka The Carlos Pena)

RF Brandon Guyer: Meh. Does not walk, but hits for decent power.

(2B Sean Rodriguez is a name to look for in asd a 25th man, or as a trade piece. CF Kevin Kiermaier needs to hit a bit harder, but he is developing quick.)

I shopped Molina and Forsythe quickly. Molina gave me some jaw dropping offers. (Shark, Quintana, Ryu, Arenado, Mookie Betts) but that seemed so unrealistic i said no. Which i do kinda regret. Imagine a Price, Shark, Moore, Cobb, Odorizzi rotation. Oh my.

deandean1998 · 01-01-2015, 05:41 PM

Although I, on day 1, broke the rules, I broke the rules in a way where it is tougher in some eyes. I signed two MiLB deals, instead of one MLB and one MiLB. I signed Barry Zito to a minor League deal, and 25 year old reliever Ian Kadish to a MiLB deal.

League News:

3/30/14 : Seattle has signed Kendrys Morales to a 1 year 3.2 million dollar deal. (My thoughts: I did want to sign him, but the V-Mart deal came in and I took that instead.)

Seattle's star 2B Robinson Cano is out for the year after a bat swinging injury on his first at bat on the year. The AB did not even count, so Robinson Cano has started with the worst possible way. (My thoughts: This is huge. I believe Ackley will play 2B now.)

3/31/14

Toronto (Morrow 0-0 0.00) vs Tampa (Price 0-0 0.00)

Price starting with a hit, then two wild pitches does not invoke confidence. One of them was Price's fault, the other (which was the next pitch by the way) was Hanigan. Sac Fly to score Reyes started the Rays at a hole with one out. More hits followed, and on the first half inning the score is 2-0. Longoria scores on a Wil Meyers double. The Next inning the Rays erupted for 3 runs due to back to back doubles from Loney and Escobar, to take a 4-2 win. 4 more runs in the next innings made it 8-3. After this point the Rays just took control and they won 11-5. The WP was Price, and the LP is Morrow.

League News: Seattle once again in the news, with them waiving CF Endy Chavez. (My Thoughts: 36, and my OF is a cluster. Not interested.)

4/1/14: MR Cesar Ramos is out for a week, due to a stomach virus.

Toronto (Dickey 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Cobb 0-0, 0.00)

Dickey was mostly shut down, stifling our offence for thed most part except for a 3rd inning 3 run fun. it was 5-3 in the ninth when Toronto CL Steve Delabar allowed a 0 out 2 run HR to Desmond Jennings. In the 10th PH David DeJesus hit a Sac Fly, and we won 6-5. DeJesus also hurt his elbow on his Game winning hit, and he will be out for 6 days. Longoria also got hurt, and it is not known for how long.

Waiver: Milwaukee has put Lyle Overbay on waivers (I do not know why, I have always liked Overbay. But I will not claim him, too old.)

deandean1998 · 01-01-2015, 07:10 PM

4/2/14: Longoria will be out for 5 weeks. 3B 32 year old Wilson Betemit has been called up. But Wil Myers will take his spot at 3rd, while DeJesus and Guyer will take over RF.

Reds MR Sean Marshall has had a 2 week setback.

Dodgers SS/3B Hanley Ramirez is out for 5 weeks due to a hamstring strain.

Toronto (0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa Moore (0-0, 0.00)

FUTURE ACE Tryout #1 with me. Rocked in the first inning, allowing 6!!! runs in .2 innings (6 hits, no HRs though). The final score was 7-1. It was not a good day.

Trade: San Francisco has traded 27 year old 3B Pablo Sandoval to Cleveland 33 CF year old Nyjer Morgan and 19 year old prospect SS Dorssys Paulino. (My Thoughts: WOW. If I knew I could get Sandoval for that, and Longoria was out for the year instead of 5 weeks, I would have pulled that off with anything. I am siding that Cleveland got highway robbery)

4/3/14:

Toronto (Hutchinson 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Odorizzi 0-0, 0.00)

Odorizzi was ok. 5.1 innings of ok starting. The funniest part was Steve Delabar for Toronto. He got the loss and ANOTHER blown save. So I found that funny. Once again no HRs.

Waivers: New York's Alfonso Soriano has been put on waivers, the 36 LF costs 18 MIL (And that is why I will not touch him.. Good power bat, but not worth the 18 Mil.

Washington has put C Jose Lobaton on waivers. (I like him, but until Molina goes, I am not touching any Catchers)

Kansas City put MR Ramon Troncosco on waivers (Not interested)

deandean1998 · 01-02-2015, 10:46 PM

4/4/14

Texas (Lewis 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Archer 0-0 0.00)

This game was pretty dominating from a pitching side. Archer threw 8 innings of 0 runs. In the 9th, up 2-0, Closer Jake McGee allowed 2 runs himself, making it 2-2. It took a bases loaded double by Desmond Jennings to make it a 3-2 win. (Yes a double with the bases loaded only scored one. Think about that.)

Trade: Washington sends 1B Kevin Fransden and Prospect 2B Tony Renda to St. Louis for 1B/OF Matt Adams. (Winner: Washington. Adams is younger and better than Fransden)

4/5/14

Texas (Harrison 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Price 1-0, 6.43)

Once again, Price struggled in the first inning, allowing 2 runs. Tampa, sitting Hanigan and with Longoria hurt, also hurt offensively. Harrison gets the win, as Tampa goes to 4-2.

MILESTONE FOR DETROIT'S MIGUEL CABRERA 2000 hits! Congrats!

4/6/14

News: Cleveland was surprised when the news that Corey Kluber was KOd'd by a pitching machine. He WAS wearing a helmet, but will only miss a game.

Colorado's SP Jorge De La Rosa is out for 4 months. Bummer.

Waivers: Jose Lobaton has been claimed by Kansas City. Congrats KC.

Texas (Ross 1-0 1.35) Tampa (Cobb 0-0, 5.40)

What a great game. It seemed like a redux of yesterday, being down 7-2 in the eighth. Bradndon Guyer hit a double that scored 2, and the score became 7-4. In the bottom of the ninth, Wil Myers grounded into a run scoring double play, making it 7-5 with 2 outs. 2 straight walks brought up James Loney. Loney hits a single, scoring one, making it 7-6. Escobar reached base on an error, making it bases loaded, 2 outs, bottom of the ninth, for Guyer. Guyer hit a 2 run scoring single for a Game Winning Hit. It was great.

News: The firsdt sdhutout of the year was pitched. It was a LA Dodger. Stephen Fife, filling in for Kershaw, throws a 3 hit shutout. If Fife keeps it up, he might force his way onto the best rotation on paper.

01-01-2015, 05:41 PM	#3
deandean1998 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 226	Although I, on day 1, broke the rules, I broke the rules in a way where it is tougher in some eyes. I signed two MiLB deals, instead of one MLB and one MiLB. I signed Barry Zito to a minor League deal, and 25 year old reliever Ian Kadish to a MiLB deal. League News: 3/30/14 : Seattle has signed Kendrys Morales to a 1 year 3.2 million dollar deal. (My thoughts: I did want to sign him, but the V-Mart deal came in and I took that instead.) Seattle's star 2B Robinson Cano is out for the year after a bat swinging injury on his first at bat on the year. The AB did not even count, so Robinson Cano has started with the worst possible way. (My thoughts: This is huge. I believe Ackley will play 2B now.) 3/31/14 Toronto (Morrow 0-0 0.00) vs Tampa (Price 0-0 0.00) Price starting with a hit, then two wild pitches does not invoke confidence. One of them was Price's fault, the other (which was the next pitch by the way) was Hanigan. Sac Fly to score Reyes started the Rays at a hole with one out. More hits followed, and on the first half inning the score is 2-0. Longoria scores on a Wil Meyers double. The Next inning the Rays erupted for 3 runs due to back to back doubles from Loney and Escobar, to take a 4-2 win. 4 more runs in the next innings made it 8-3. After this point the Rays just took control and they won 11-5. The WP was Price, and the LP is Morrow. League News: Seattle once again in the news, with them waiving CF Endy Chavez. (My Thoughts: 36, and my OF is a cluster. Not interested.) 4/1/14: MR Cesar Ramos is out for a week, due to a stomach virus. Toronto (Dickey 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Cobb 0-0, 0.00) Dickey was mostly shut down, stifling our offence for thed most part except for a 3rd inning 3 run fun. it was 5-3 in the ninth when Toronto CL Steve Delabar allowed a 0 out 2 run HR to Desmond Jennings. In the 10th PH David DeJesus hit a Sac Fly, and we won 6-5. DeJesus also hurt his elbow on his Game winning hit, and he will be out for 6 days. Longoria also got hurt, and it is not known for how long. Waiver: Milwaukee has put Lyle Overbay on waivers (I do not know why, I have always liked Overbay. But I will not claim him, too old.) Last edited by deandean1998; 01-01-2015 at 05:43 PM.

12-31-2014, 02:12 AM	#1
deandean1998 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 226	Take Me To The Top Try Two! Besides the tongue twister of a title, my IPAD decided to lose all of it's memory. So yeah. OOTP15 TMTTTTT! Now I have a new list, and new rules. The entire idea of this series is simple. Take a team, and take them to the top. Rules: Before Opening Day, I can make 1 MLB and 1 MiLB signing. During the season, I can create 3 trades, and accept any offer coming my way via AI. Waiver claiming has no rules. I can claim whoever I want. During the offseason, the same trading rules. Offseason signing gives me a limit of 15 million per person. So if MATT Weiters is wanting 16 million, you better hope he accepts 15. Once every 4 years I can go as high as I want per person. I cannot sign/trade for the same person two teams in a row. Now, I'm sure you are wondering what team I am going to be! Well.... The series should be named Take Me To The Trop, as I will start out as the Tampa Bay Rays With strong starting pitching, good contact hitters, and bullpen pieces, this should be easier than most. Within the first minute, the AI offers Victor Martinez for Joel Peralta and RF prospect Manuel Sanchez. I spent a good 5 minutes weighing the offer. I did accept the offer because I am not a fan of James Loney as a starter. I called Cesar Ramos to take Peralta's spot and sent down Sean Rodriguez. I realize this makes 8 out of 25 people on the roster over 30 (although Peralta is 35) 6 people down in AAA are over 30 which is not good.

12-31-2014, 03:18 AM	#2
deandean1998 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 226	Roster SP 1 David Price: If the team decides to suck, he is first to go. He is a pseudo ace with another Ace waiting in the wings. SP 2: Alex Cobb: A great #2. Once again, young and quite possibly if they suck, trade bait. SP 3: Matt Moore: The Ace in Training. Will take over Price's job soon. SOOOOONNNNNNN. So yeah pretty soon. SP 4: Jake Odorizzi: Youngest of the 5 at 23. Needs some time, but seems to be fine at this moment. SP 5: Chris Archer: I am tempted to trade him. I have a good 5 but I prefer to have an older veteran at the end of the rotation. I don't know why, but I have always done that. Maybe Bedard who is in AAA or possibly Blanton who is cheap but in Oakland. Blanton is a good 5 starter. A good innings eater. MR Josh Lueke: I do want to get rid of this terrible person, but I do not want to just get rid of him for getting rid of him. Oh morals. Who needs them? Kirby Yates: Will either strike ya out, walk ya, or allow a hit. Good thing the strike outs happen more often than the other two. Cesar Ramos: Nothing special. Will be used sparingly until called down. Grant Bafour: 36, 2 1/2 stars? I cant exactly trade him, but I will hope he is useful. SU Heath Bell: God. Damnit. One of the worst relievers. He used to be seen as one of the best in the game, but now he has fallen down. He is still rated high, but lets see. SU Brandon Gomes: 29 and 4 stars. Im not gonna complain. CL Jake McGee: One of the best in the game. Cannot complain abut him. (Look out for Erik Bedard who is in AAA. Also be looking for Jeff Beliveau, who is 27 but IMHO underrated) Batters C: Ryan Hanigan: 33 can hit a bit and has a good eye. I'll take that kindly. C: Jose Molina: 38, cannot hit, and is only good at defense. Not really worth it. I will try to package him away for someone. 1B Victor Martinez: Will hit great, will strike out sparingly. Better than.... 1B James Loney: Strikes out a bit too much. Not as much power as Martinez. Good glove though. 2B Ben Zobrist: Glove, love, and Eyes. He has a glove of greatness, the fans love him, and he has great eyes. I mean I stare into them every day. 2B Logan Forsythe: A second rate Zobrist, without the eyes. 3B Evan Longoria: The future is now. Great kid, 5 stars. SS Yunel Escobar: I expect a .220 AVG out of him. But god damn is he good at Defense. LF David DeJesus: Take Yunel, put him in the outfield, and give him cement for shoes. Ayyyyyyy we found David! CF Desmond Jennings: Good Lead Off batter, who can also hit for more power than most expect. RF Wil Myers: Another 23 year old. If Mike Trout is offered, I will take that trade 1 for 1, but other than that, I really m holding on to him. RF Matt Joyce: The Rays Prodigal Child. Power, Eyes, and Ks. The Old Rays Way (aka The Carlos Pena) RF Brandon Guyer: Meh. Does not walk, but hits for decent power. (2B Sean Rodriguez is a name to look for in asd a 25th man, or as a trade piece. CF Kevin Kiermaier needs to hit a bit harder, but he is developing quick.) I shopped Molina and Forsythe quickly. Molina gave me some jaw dropping offers. (Shark, Quintana, Ryu, Arenado, Mookie Betts) but that seemed so unrealistic i said no. Which i do kinda regret. Imagine a Price, Shark, Moore, Cobb, Odorizzi rotation. Oh my.

01-01-2015, 07:10 PM	#4
deandean1998 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 226	4/2/14: Longoria will be out for 5 weeks. 3B 32 year old Wilson Betemit has been called up. But Wil Myers will take his spot at 3rd, while DeJesus and Guyer will take over RF. Reds MR Sean Marshall has had a 2 week setback. Dodgers SS/3B Hanley Ramirez is out for 5 weeks due to a hamstring strain. Toronto (0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa Moore (0-0, 0.00) FUTURE ACE Tryout #1 with me. Rocked in the first inning, allowing 6!!! runs in .2 innings (6 hits, no HRs though). The final score was 7-1. It was not a good day. Trade: San Francisco has traded 27 year old 3B Pablo Sandoval to Cleveland 33 CF year old Nyjer Morgan and 19 year old prospect SS Dorssys Paulino. (My Thoughts: WOW. If I knew I could get Sandoval for that, and Longoria was out for the year instead of 5 weeks, I would have pulled that off with anything. I am siding that Cleveland got highway robbery) 4/3/14: Toronto (Hutchinson 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Odorizzi 0-0, 0.00) Odorizzi was ok. 5.1 innings of ok starting. The funniest part was Steve Delabar for Toronto. He got the loss and ANOTHER blown save. So I found that funny. Once again no HRs. Waivers: New York's Alfonso Soriano has been put on waivers, the 36 LF costs 18 MIL (And that is why I will not touch him.. Good power bat, but not worth the 18 Mil. Washington has put C Jose Lobaton on waivers. (I like him, but until Molina goes, I am not touching any Catchers) Kansas City put MR Ramon Troncosco on waivers (Not interested)

01-02-2015, 10:46 PM	#5
deandean1998 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 226	4/4/14 Texas (Lewis 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Archer 0-0 0.00) This game was pretty dominating from a pitching side. Archer threw 8 innings of 0 runs. In the 9th, up 2-0, Closer Jake McGee allowed 2 runs himself, making it 2-2. It took a bases loaded double by Desmond Jennings to make it a 3-2 win. (Yes a double with the bases loaded only scored one. Think about that.) Trade: Washington sends 1B Kevin Fransden and Prospect 2B Tony Renda to St. Louis for 1B/OF Matt Adams. (Winner: Washington. Adams is younger and better than Fransden) 4/5/14 Texas (Harrison 0-0, 0.00) vs Tampa (Price 1-0, 6.43) Once again, Price struggled in the first inning, allowing 2 runs. Tampa, sitting Hanigan and with Longoria hurt, also hurt offensively. Harrison gets the win, as Tampa goes to 4-2. MILESTONE FOR DETROIT'S MIGUEL CABRERA 2000 hits! Congrats! 4/6/14 News: Cleveland was surprised when the news that Corey Kluber was KOd'd by a pitching machine. He WAS wearing a helmet, but will only miss a game. Colorado's SP Jorge De La Rosa is out for 4 months. Bummer. Waivers: Jose Lobaton has been claimed by Kansas City. Congrats KC. Texas (Ross 1-0 1.35) Tampa (Cobb 0-0, 5.40) What a great game. It seemed like a redux of yesterday, being down 7-2 in the eighth. Bradndon Guyer hit a double that scored 2, and the score became 7-4. In the bottom of the ninth, Wil Myers grounded into a run scoring double play, making it 7-5 with 2 outs. 2 straight walks brought up James Loney. Loney hits a single, scoring one, making it 7-6. Escobar reached base on an error, making it bases loaded, 2 outs, bottom of the ninth, for Guyer. Guyer hit a 2 run scoring single for a Game Winning Hit. It was great. News: The firsdt sdhutout of the year was pitched. It was a LA Dodger. Stephen Fife, filling in for Kershaw, throws a 3 hit shutout. If Fife keeps it up, he might force his way onto the best rotation on paper.