Superstars out of nowhere.

Ayako · 07-14-2015, 05:35 AM

Anyone ever have a player like this? After a weakened pitching staff I turned to the minors to bring up 2 decently rated pitchers. One to be my 3rd starter and the other to be my 5th.

At 27 I had this pitcher be my 3rd starter for his first full season in the MLB based on his ratings and this happened;

After a career ERA over 5 in AA and at 3.92 in AAA the 27 year old rookie leads the league in wins, ERA, WHIP, WAR, and was 4 strikeouts away from leading in that category as well. He ended up winning the Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and making the All-Star team. He had 4 complete game shutouts as well.

After this season he went from 3 star ratings (4 star potential) to 5 star in both categories.

Never seen a player come on like this at a later age with no evidence of it being a possibility.

SirMichaelJordan · 07-14-2015, 08:16 AM

Looks like he started coming along around the age of 25, sometimes these players creep up on you out of nowhere and thats why I love TCR.

Hockey13Playa · 07-14-2015, 08:31 AM

That's so awesome. I love seeing everyone post these success stories like this. I need to start indulging in my world more and finding these type guys.

Wingedlion14 · 07-14-2015, 11:12 AM

I'm not at home, so I can't screenshot, but I've got a really awesome story.

So, at one point as the Yankees my farm system needed 75 players at Rookie ball to fill up, as I had accidentally turned "Minor League managers sign minor league free agents" off (I do that because, well, they're all roster filler mostly, and it saves time). Anyways, I was too lazy to offer minor league contracts to that many players, so I just told the computer to add a bunch of fictional players, and my lower levels were filled with guys who were half-star potential.

One of those guys was named Chuck Brewer, and he is the quintessential teammate. Starting literally from the bottom, he won ROTY in his rookie year, an MVP a few years later, and has consistently been in the top 3 in the voting when he's not injured (unfortunately, he was hurt for 3 playoff runs, missed almost 2 full seasons, and in one year had led the league with 42 HR and 130 RBI before getting hurt on August 29th. And on top of that, while he's been my primary 3B, his best defensive positions are LF and RF, he plays decent CF (his second most-played position), and has had not inconsiderable time at 2B and SS. Basically...he's just a beast.

Combine him with my SS, who has won one MVP and came in 2B two more times, and the last two ROTY winners, my LF and 1B, and my offense is fairly set....too bad we can't pitch....

'94 EXPOS · 07-14-2015, 11:55 AM

From the lessons learned category: as an expansion team I signed a highly rated OF named Mario Velasquez as a minor league FA. He was a 25 year old power hitter who had never tasted the show yet. He had very poor personality traits. Very low work ethic and very low intelligence.

I left him at AAA until late June. Instead of giving him a look with my club I thought I would school the AI and dumped him to the Red Sox for a pitching prospect.

Mario went on to win 3 MVP's and had a HOF career. Whoops! My pitching prospect flamed out in AA.

rstoomeyii · 07-14-2015, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '94 EXPOS

From the lessons learned category: as an expansion team I signed a highly rated OF named Mario Velasquez as a minor league FA. He was a 25 year old power hitter who had never tasted the show yet. He had very poor personality traits. Very low work ethic and very low intelligence.

I left him at AAA until late June. Instead of giving him a look with my club I thought I would school the AI and dumped him to the Red Sox for a pitching prospect.

Mario went on to win 3 MVP's and had a HOF career. Whoops! My pitching prospect flamed out in AA.

I sent 3 prospects who i thought might turn out to be ok players and a good MLB player with 1 year left who i wasnt going to resign, to the the cubs for a young stud pitcher. The young stud pitcher was great, he won two cy youngs and helped me win my only WS in an ongoing 22 year sim. the MLB player i traded had one ok year, resigned elsewhere and wasnt very good there. the 3 "ok" prospects though... 1 turned into a 3 time (and counting) batting champ. another turned into the best reliever in baseball. and the third guy was very young when i traded him but is tearing up AAA.

Fyrestorm3 · 07-15-2015, 11:42 AM

Latest bloomer I've ever seen: I've got a 29-year-old catcher who was drafted out of high school by the White Sox, bounced around to a few different minor league systems, somehow sticking around for 8 years before he landed on my AA team, where he proceeded to suddenly start hitting.

He made his MLB debut at 27 years old, though he only hit .217 over 40 games. But now, 2 years later, he's finally my starting catcher (handily beating out the young kid who was supposed to take over), is rated 5 stars overall, and is headed to the All-Star game in his first full (so far) season.

RchW · 07-15-2015, 01:26 PM

This guy is no superstar. He was a throw in on a trade then used as a backup catcher in 2093. After a season in the minors, he split then won the job at catcher in 2095. I couldn't find anyone better in 2096 so he got the job by default and turned in a complete shock of a season. I was going to non-tender him but again I've had trouble finding a better player. If I get 1.5-2.0 WAR this year it will still be a bonus.

I love it that these players are rare.

NateAndStuff · 07-16-2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '94 EXPOS

From the lessons learned category: as an expansion team I signed a highly rated OF named Mario Velasquez as a minor league FA. He was a 25 year old power hitter who had never tasted the show yet. He had very poor personality traits. Very low work ethic and very low intelligence.

I left him at AAA until late June. Instead of giving him a look with my club I thought I would school the AI and dumped him to the Red Sox for a pitching prospect.

Mario went on to win 3 MVP's and had a HOF career. Whoops! My pitching prospect flamed out in AA.

Oh boy, I've been there. My scout discovered a starting pitcher prospect that didn't look like anything special. He turned 19 and I needed to clear some space in my international complex so I released him. He looked awful and didn't even appear to have a chance at amounting to anything, even in rookie ball. Apparently a few months later, the Yankees signed him. I didn't see or hear anything about this guy and didn't even recognize his name for several years. One Opening Day, I get the top prospects list and there's a Yankees starting pitcher at the very top named Luis Sanchez. I check him out and see that he was a minor league free agent signing..a few months after I released him.

Fast forward to a few years later and he's led the Yankees to two World Series appearances. They lost the first (to my team) and beat the Padres the second time around. He's a 300 strikeout kind of guy. So much regret...

Curve Ball Dave · 07-16-2015, 06:59 PM

Those unlikely success stories make up for the players who were supposed to be all stars and flamed out without ever making an impact

ttaka808 · 07-16-2015, 08:14 PM

I currently have two guys like this in my Expansion Team.

First guy was a free agent signing just to play in AAA. He hadn't been in the majors for four years. Then at the age of 27, he won Rookie of the Year and hasn't looked back since. Perennial All-Star and a One-Time MVP winner.

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The other guy is a catcher I drafted in the 28th round (30 rounds total). He was pretty much complete garbage until one development update bumped him up from a 0.5 star player to a 4 star player at the age of 20.

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07-14-2015, 05:35 AM	#1
Ayako Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Japan Posts: 23	Superstars out of nowhere. Anyone ever have a player like this? After a weakened pitching staff I turned to the minors to bring up 2 decently rated pitchers. One to be my 3rd starter and the other to be my 5th. At 27 I had this pitcher be my 3rd starter for his first full season in the MLB based on his ratings and this happened; After a career ERA over 5 in AA and at 3.92 in AAA the 27 year old rookie leads the league in wins, ERA, WHIP, WAR, and was 4 strikeouts away from leading in that category as well. He ended up winning the Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and making the All-Star team. He had 4 complete game shutouts as well. After this season he went from 3 star ratings (4 star potential) to 5 star in both categories. Never seen a player come on like this at a later age with no evidence of it being a possibility.

07-14-2015, 08:16 AM	#2
SirMichaelJordan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2,716	Superstars out of nowhere. Looks like he started coming along around the age of 25, sometimes these players creep up on you out of nowhere and thats why I love TCR. Last edited by SirMichaelJordan; 07-14-2015 at 08:31 AM.

07-14-2015, 08:31 AM	#3
Hockey13Playa Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,677	That's so awesome. I love seeing everyone post these success stories like this. I need to start indulging in my world more and finding these type guys. __________________ FHM NHL Complete Historical Jerseys & Logos

07-15-2015, 11:42 AM	#7
Fyrestorm3 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tampa Bay, Massachusetts Posts: 2,928	Latest bloomer I've ever seen: I've got a 29-year-old catcher who was drafted out of high school by the White Sox, bounced around to a few different minor league systems, somehow sticking around for 8 years before he landed on my AA team, where he proceeded to suddenly start hitting. He made his MLB debut at 27 years old, though he only hit .217 over 40 games. But now, 2 years later, he's finally my starting catcher (handily beating out the young kid who was supposed to take over), is rated 5 stars overall, and is headed to the All-Star game in his first full (so far) season. __________________ Jersey Template (Photoshop) \| Cap Template (Photoshop)

07-15-2015, 01:26 PM	#8
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	This guy is no superstar. He was a throw in on a trade then used as a backup catcher in 2093. After a season in the minors, he split then won the job at catcher in 2095. I couldn't find anyone better in 2096 so he got the job by default and turned in a complete shock of a season. I was going to non-tender him but again I've had trouble finding a better player. If I get 1.5-2.0 WAR this year it will still be a bonus. I love it that these players are rare. Attached Images __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

07-14-2015, 11:12 AM	#4
Wingedlion14 Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 170	I'm not at home, so I can't screenshot, but I've got a really awesome story. So, at one point as the Yankees my farm system needed 75 players at Rookie ball to fill up, as I had accidentally turned "Minor League managers sign minor league free agents" off (I do that because, well, they're all roster filler mostly, and it saves time). Anyways, I was too lazy to offer minor league contracts to that many players, so I just told the computer to add a bunch of fictional players, and my lower levels were filled with guys who were half-star potential. One of those guys was named Chuck Brewer, and he is the quintessential teammate. Starting literally from the bottom, he won ROTY in his rookie year, an MVP a few years later, and has consistently been in the top 3 in the voting when he's not injured (unfortunately, he was hurt for 3 playoff runs, missed almost 2 full seasons, and in one year had led the league with 42 HR and 130 RBI before getting hurt on August 29th. And on top of that, while he's been my primary 3B, his best defensive positions are LF and RF, he plays decent CF (his second most-played position), and has had not inconsiderable time at 2B and SS. Basically...he's just a beast. Combine him with my SS, who has won one MVP and came in 2B two more times, and the last two ROTY winners, my LF and 1B, and my offense is fairly set....too bad we can't pitch....

07-14-2015, 11:55 AM	#5
'94 EXPOS Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 323	From the lessons learned category: as an expansion team I signed a highly rated OF named Mario Velasquez as a minor league FA. He was a 25 year old power hitter who had never tasted the show yet. He had very poor personality traits. Very low work ethic and very low intelligence. I left him at AAA until late June. Instead of giving him a look with my club I thought I would school the AI and dumped him to the Red Sox for a pitching prospect. Mario went on to win 3 MVP's and had a HOF career. Whoops! My pitching prospect flamed out in AA.

07-16-2015, 06:59 PM	#10
Curve Ball Dave Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,397	Those unlikely success stories make up for the players who were supposed to be all stars and flamed out without ever making an impact __________________ "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing"-Warren Spahn.

07-16-2015, 08:14 PM	#11
ttaka808 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 278	I currently have two guys like this in my Expansion Team. First guy was a free agent signing just to play in AAA. He hadn't been in the majors for four years. Then at the age of 27, he won Rookie of the Year and hasn't looked back since. Perennial All-Star and a One-Time MVP winner. The other guy is a catcher I drafted in the 28th round (30 rounds total). He was pretty much complete garbage until one development update bumped him up from a 0.5 star player to a 4 star player at the age of 20.