OOTP 13 Career Progress Thread

[Pacoheadley]

Finished my first year with the Padres at a very surprising 82-80. Yonder Alonso got Rookie of the Year, and Orlando Hudson suffered a career ending setback from a torn PCL (I was about to trade him too).

The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series on a miraculous comeback from down 3-0 to the Angels!

AL MVP was Evan Longoria (.260/.419/.484 and 27 HR), and the NL MVP was Ryan Zimmerman (.309/.378/.508 and 26 HR).

AL Cy Young was Felix Hernandez (2.27), and the NL Cy Young was Stephen Strasburg (2.32).

If anyone wants any more info feel free to ask

Oh yea, almost forgot. Adam Wainwright may or may not be having an affair with his massage therapist, and the news broke 2 days after the Cardinals got eliminated from the NLCS, when he lost the game.

[Mr Bismarck]

I have only a basic knowledge of baseball, (I'm English... living in the US), and picked the Marlins and was really up against it from day one, when my owner announced that he expected us to reach the playoffs.

It's fair to say that I disappointed him as we were never even at .500, never mind over it for the whole season. We salvaged some pride with an eight game win streak to end that season that vaulted us over the Mets to a 77-85 record.

Hitting was respectable and was led from the front by SS Jose Reyes who finished the year tied for the NL lead in batting average, (.345), second in WAR, (behind Votto), the clear NL leader in runs scored and the leader of both leagues in Steals.

He also managed two separate twenty-game hit-streaks and one 15 game streak which he will carry into next season.

Despite his stellar season he spent most of the year unhappy as he wanted to bat in the middle of the order. I put him there a few times, just to try to stop him from melting down entirely, but mostly he batted first or second so that I could get someone on base and then try to steal into scoring position.

The need to manufacture runs was great because our pitching was horrible. The starters were 12th in the NL for ERA and the bullpen was dead last.

In one spectacular meltdown, we'd batted Strasbourg out of the game against the Nationals for a 9-3 lead after seven and with two down in the eighth one of our relievers gave up five runs in 0.1 innings. We scored one in the ninth, but then allowed Washington to tie the game and then they won in the first extra inning.

With this in mind I went pitcher-pitcher-pitcher in the first three rounds of the draft, snapping up the beautifully named Jesus "Crime Dog" Martinez ninth overall. I'm going to have to come up with a backstory for that nickname.

I also grabbed a closer with a flaming fastball who smoked his way to five saves in his first five attempts in Single A... and then his elbow fell off. I have no idea how well OOTP models Tommy John surgery, but hopefully he hasn't trashed his career after one month.

When the season ended the rating screen appeared and I scored a solid... one. Out of one hundred.

I wasn't fired though - I guess the boss figures the only way from here is up!

[AC]

2012 MLB Quickstart. I contracted down to 24 teams, no DH in either league, and re-drafted all teams. I had the ninth overall pick. I'm the Twins.

Lineup:
1. Jacoby Elsbury, CF (acquired in a trade for a top prospect and mid-level prospect)
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Jay Bruce, RF
5. JJ Hardy, SS
6. David Murphy, LF
7. Ryan Hanigan, C
8. Nick Punto/Jack Hanahan/Danny Valencia, 3B

SPs
1. Justin Masterson
2. Yu Darvish
3. A.J. Burnett
4. Derek Holland
5. Henerson Alvarez

Closers/Stud releivers
Jordan Walden
Tyler Clippard
Jason Motte
Greg Holland

My pitching staff is the best in the AL and my defense also is near the top. However, my offense stinks. I'm dead last in home runs and near the bottom in most of the other hitting categories. Pedroia is the only starter hitting above .300. Ellsbury has been mostly bad since coming over in the trade. Pujols is hitting .280 with 8 homers. He's not getting many extra base hits at all. David Murphy has been coming on lately and is nearing .300, but he can't hit lefties.

Darvish has been lights out, 7-3 with an ERA under 2.00. Since coming off the DL, Burnett has been hot as well, averaging 11 K's per 9 IP. After getting called up off the reserve roster, Holland hasn't allowed a run 19 innings of relief.

It's the middle of June and I'm right around .500, five games back in the AL Central. I was able to load up on some good prospects in the initial draft, so I do have some trade material if I want to try and make a run this year. I'm confident that my offense will come around eventually. And with the way my pitching staff if playing, I got a shot at making a run.

[Spud Eating Buccos]

Originally Posted by conception

My league has 12 international leagues with roughly 120 teams spread across Europe. Players hit FA after two years and can be signed by the "masters" league, where the best players from all the smaller leagues play each other. In the masters league, players only enter through FA, and all contracts are final- there is no trading. It's an incredibly different way to play because you can't save yourself from bad decisions by trading an unwanted player. At the same time, you pinch pennies every offseason to try and acquire your next core player.

I'm in season 1, and I'm 62-26 but only holding a three game lead in my division (there are no wild cards). Plus I can't acquire that next piece, so if players struggle I have to shuffle players to the minors and back.

I'm thoroughly intrigued by this set up. I have only been playing with a MLB quickstart (only 2nd time in 9 versions of OOTP) so I haven't played around with the custom league set ups, but I might have to pick your brain and see how you did it if I can't figure it out on my own. Thanks for sharing.

[conception]

Originally Posted by Spud Eating Buccos

I'm thoroughly intrigued by this set up. I have only been playing with a MLB quickstart (only 2nd time in 9 versions of OOTP) so I haven't played around with the custom league set ups, but I might have to pick your brain and see how you did it if I can't figure it out on my own. Thanks for sharing.

How I did it is far too much testing. Basically the inferior leagues have very limited financials (salary cap) while the top league has larger contracts and a larger salary cap, with a lot of revenue sharing to keep all teams in the game. I also had to create a dummy draft so the game wouldn't just create FA's for my league.

The lower leagues have players enter FA after just two years, so there is constant player movement.

[SpaceMonkey13]

Originally Posted by Mr Bismarck

I have only a basic knowledge of baseball, (I'm English... living in the US), and picked the Marlins and was really up against it from day one, when my owner announced that he expected us to reach the playoffs....

Your words capture the game well for someone with only basic knowledge. Looking forward to more updates.

FYI...there was a Blue Jays and Padres (?) 1st baseman in the late 80s through early 00s named Fred "Crime Dog" McGriff, I think because his name was similar to a cartoon character. I'm sure you'll come up with a better back story.

[Spud Eating Buccos]

Originally Posted by conception

How I did it is far too much testing. Basically the inferior leagues have very limited financials (salary cap) while the top league has larger contracts and a larger salary cap, with a lot of revenue sharing to keep all teams in the game. I also had to create a dummy draft so the game wouldn't just create FA's for my league.

The lower leagues have players enter FA after just two years, so there is constant player movement.

Thanks, that would have taken more time to figure out than I probably would have patience for. I'm going to mess around with that tonight.

[Mr Bismarck]

Originally Posted by Mr Bismarck

When the season ended the rating screen appeared and I scored a solid... one. Out of one hundred.

I wasn't fired though - I guess the boss figures the only way from here is up!

Just because people who are actually good at this game might not ever see such a thing, here's that score in all its glory.

[md5423]

Finally! i'm starting my fictional league... MLB league stucture, finances, etc.

I am really excited to start playing because I am taking over a team with a budget of $55 mil and a "minimal" market size AND a penny-pinching owner. The team with the 2nd lowest budget is at $86 million! Over 30 million more than I have.

It's gonna be a lot of fun to turn this team around, we have no star players right now and no money to spend.

Would anyone be interested if I wrote about it in the dynasty thread?

[MizzouRah]

Added the 2nd WC this season and with 9 games left, we have a 3 way tie for only 2 WC spots.. this is exciting.

[MizzouRah]

3 games left and we are on a 10 game winning streak!

[ScottP]

Just started yet another game, trying to find a save I'm happy with. I'm playing another fictional league, started in 1987, with the intent on doing an inaugural draft, and then running sim until 2012. But then I noticed the best hitting coach, ever




He's awesome in more ways than one.

[damientheomen3]

Originally Posted by Mr Bismarck

Just because people who are actually good at this game might not ever see such a thing, here's that score in all its glory.

I get a 1 in my first season every time because of my propensity to take a rebuilding team and make them even worse to start things off.

[md5423]

Originally Posted by md5423

Finally! i'm starting my fictional league... MLB league stucture, finances, etc.

I am really excited to start playing because I am taking over a team with a budget of $55 mil and a "minimal" market size AND a penny-pinching owner. The team with the 2nd lowest budget is at $86 million! Over 30 million more than I have.

It's gonna be a lot of fun to turn this team around, we have no star players right now and no money to spend.

Would anyone be interested if I wrote about it in the dynasty thread?

I just made a huge trade in my fictional league and I'm gonna ask you guys for your opinions on it

Alright, so as you can see i took over the worst team in my league. Have finished each of the last 4 season with less than 65 wins each season. We are obviously in a rebuilding state but I just traded for the best 1B in my league, he is 26 years old. I am playing stats-only so you can check his stats in the screenshot i have included.



To acquire him I had to give up my only "star" player... my closer. He is ranked as the 3rd best closer in the league (27 years old, 1.97 ERA with 38 saves last year.. keep in mind, for a 64 win team). Also had to include my #45 overall CF prospect and my major league 1B (16 HR, 49 RBI, .242 AVG in 310 AB last year).

I immediately signed my new 1B to a 5-year extension worth $10,000,000 a year.

Realistically, I will not be a contender for 2-3 years at least so what do you guys think of the trade? Be honest

I'll keep you guys updated

[md5423]

Originally Posted by md5423

I just made a huge trade in my fictional league and I'm gonna ask you guys for your opinions on it

Alright, so as you can see i took over the worst team in my league. Have finished each of the last 4 season with less than 65 wins each season. We are obviously in a rebuilding state but I just traded for the best 1B in my league, he is 26 years old. I am playing stats-only so you can check his stats in the screenshot i have included.



To acquire him I had to give up my only "star" player... my closer. He is ranked as the 3rd best closer in the league (27 years old, 1.97 ERA with 38 saves last year.. keep in mind, for a 64 win team). Also had to include my #45 overall CF prospect and my major league 1B (16 HR, 49 RBI, .242 AVG in 310 AB last year).

I immediately signed my new 1B to a 5-year extension worth $10,000,000 a year.

Realistically, I will not be a contender for 2-3 years at least so what do you guys think of the trade? Be honest

I'll keep you guys updated

We finished ST with a 7-17 record. However, Snyder was a BEAST. 7 HR, 18 RBI, .418 AVG, 1.391 OPS!

Really excited to see how this guy does

[TommyHerr]

I started in 1901, erased all history. I'm playing as the Cardinals and I'm letting the game develop the players.

Through out the years, I have mostly played above .500 ball, however there is at least one team every year that will be .600 or better Its now 1921 and I have finally established a really good team. On paper, by far the best team...all season my offense has been on fire, and most importantly I have avoided the injury bug that has been known to take out my top 4 OF's for several months AT THE SAME TIME, or my whole starting rotation. But now guys are healthy, several batting close to .400 at times.

I was lucky enough to draft Ruth a few years back. The game has him set up to be a quality SP, but I rushed him into playing the field (why not right?). So basically I messed him all up. His power rating is unreal (17 out of 20) but his contact is 9, avoid K's 5 and patience is 5. His fielding is 1...yeah 1.

But as I was saying my offense is rollin, with Ruth batting close to .320 himself and putting up 20 more HRs than the next closest guy (Hornsby), but my pitching is leaving a little to be desired. Nothing like losing a game 17 to 16.

Well mid-august we start to really get going. Streaks...yeah multiple.. of 10 wins in a row. And even better, the 1st place Phils are losing 7 of 10 on a regular basis. 3 of my last 5 games are against the Phils, we are 1 or 2 GB. We win 2 of 3 and then 1 of 2 in the last series. I check the standings, and we are tied with Philly for first. So we have a one game playoff. We slay them. Sweet! After 20 seasons, I am FINALLY going to the playoffs....Not so fast Vince Coleman....thanks to the odd schedules of "back in the day" some how the Reds are a 1/2 game out of first as well with one less game played than the rest of the league . So now I have to prove my dominance to Cincy. We do....so as I was saying Sweet!

20 years and FINALLY a playoff game. But not just a playoff game, its a World Series game cause its "back in the day". I'm taking on the Yanks. They have a quality pitching staff and a really good line up. Its a good series. Ruth hit 5 HRs and batted about .500. My only hiccup was my season MVP (Zach Wheat) was a no show at .072. But we went down a few games and came back. The Yanks clinched it with a 2 to 1 victory.

So what did I learn after 20 seasons of play? Apparently the World Series was a BEST OF NINE in 1921. Yeah, I did not know that. Imagine my surprise when the Yanks won 4 games and I still played 3 more after that. I was thinking "gosh, even OOTP hates the Yankees". But I did some research and from 1919 to 1921 the WS was a best of 9. I feel kind of embarassed not knowing that little fact.

[md5423]

sitting at 26-44 before the draft. I will give a more detailed update after the draft

[SeanFTW85]

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

I get a 1 in my first season every time because of my propensity to take a rebuilding team and make them even worse to start things off.

I kinda do the same thing. I made an expansion team without the draft and just signed a bunch of washed up vets and career minor leaguers to fill my majors roster so I can finish last each year and load up on prospects in the draft. I just clinched my third straight #1 overall pick.

[md5423]

Just something I thought I should share:

a no-hitter and a 1-hitter both in the same day!

Garcia was making his major league debut for my team. He is 25 years old and looks to have a promising future!

[md5423]

Originally Posted by md5423

I just made a huge trade in my fictional league and I'm gonna ask you guys for your opinions on it

Alright, so as you can see i took over the worst team in my league. Have finished each of the last 4 season with less than 65 wins each season. We are obviously in a rebuilding state but I just traded for the best 1B in my league, he is 26 years old. I am playing stats-only so you can check his stats in the screenshot i have included.



To acquire him I had to give up my only "star" player... my closer. He is ranked as the 3rd best closer in the league (27 years old, 1.97 ERA with 38 saves last year.. keep in mind, for a 64 win team). Also had to include my #45 overall CF prospect and my major league 1B (16 HR, 49 RBI, .242 AVG in 310 AB last year).

I immediately signed my new 1B to a 5-year extension worth $10,000,000 a year.

Realistically, I will not be a contender for 2-3 years at least so what do you guys think of the trade? Be honest

I'll keep you guys updated

The Washington Blue Birds organization would like to congratulate 1B Bill Snyder on winning the Coastal League's Hitter of the Year Award. Snyder was absolutely fantastic in his first season with Washington. He compiled 200 hits, 38 HR, and 106 RBI while maintaining a .341 AVG and .449 OBP. All while playing for a 58-104 team. Thanks Bill!

by the way, would anybody be interested in reading if I started a dynasty report about the Blue Birds?