2019 Cardinals - Page 21

HockeyHippie · 08-08-2018, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Orcin, they released an August 1st updated roster start. You might want to wait on the next patch and then start with that.

Hmmm, I thought I just downloaded the most recent rosters, wonder if I missed this? Didn't see it in the Add-Ons section either.

+++Edit+++ Nvm, found it:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=291608

HockeyHippie · 08-08-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin

Welcome! That's a great first post - looking forward to more. Thanks for sharing your settings.

That Goldschmidt trade made me feel dirty and start over, so there's that...

haha, thanks!

We probably all have those settings which we carry over year after year, and I know I've taken advantage of the AI more than once in past versions. At some point though, usually around 2022 or so, I'd be 120-40 and cruising into the playoffs. Winning almost every game is fun, but not terribly realistic.

Also, I picked up a few of my settings ideas from this post a few years ago. Couldn't agree more with the quote "A man's gotta have a code." Have really tried to not cheat the game--or myself in the process--the last few seasons/saves I've attempted:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OOTP/commen...and_trick_ive/

Orcin · 08-08-2018, 08:44 PM

When you are playing on something that the developer calls "Challenge Mode", you would think that you can just play the game to win and the challenge would be there. It's not. Regardless, I try to win every year with one of my leagues. I am getting close to the 3,000 win achievement, and then I will stop playing that one.

I am playing the other one (current MLB) for the fun of it. I thought it would be fun to be 120-40, but it turns out that it is more fun for me to have something realistic. Third time is the charm, I hope.

That guy posted some interesting points and a lot that I agree with. Some of his other tips are easily exploited, such as draft pick trading. It sounds like he has developed his own "code". I think it is up to each of us to find that comfort level for ourselves.

HockeyHippie · 08-08-2018, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin

When you are playing on something that the developer calls "Challenge Mode", you would think that you can just play the game to win and the challenge would be there. It's not. Regardless, I try to win every year with one of my leagues. I am getting close to the 3,000 win achievement, and then I will stop playing that one.

I am playing the other one (current MLB) for the fun of it. I thought it would be fun to be 120-40, but it turns out that it is more fun for me to have something realistic. Third time is the charm, I hope.

That guy posted some interesting points and a lot that I agree with. Some of his other tips are easily exploited, such as draft pick trading. It sounds like he has developed his own "code". I think it is up to each of us to find that comfort level for ourselves.

Great points.

And yes, I've managed to exploit the hell out of the AI as well when it comes to draft picks.

Orcin · 08-09-2018, 02:57 PM

Interesting article on VEB about our chase for the elusive Big Bat...

In-search-of-the-elusive-big-bat-2018-edition-bryce-harper-manny-machado-free-agency

The author seems to feel that we have little chance for Machado, and a difficult fit for Harper. He likes our chances at landing Arenado better.

I don't see the Rox trading Arenado and I worry about his stats outside of the home park.

I think our chances of retaining Ozuna look good.

Orcin · 08-09-2018, 09:12 PM

Just finished my career as GM of the Cardinals from 1901-1930. This was my Challenge Mode GM-only league. I got the 3,000 win achievement in 1929, but I played one more year before retiring because 30 is such a nice round number.

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Rogers Hornsby 1915-30:
2318 games, .370/.440./605, 360 HR, 1803 RBI, 158.8 WAR, 9 MVPs

BirdWatcher · 08-10-2018, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin

He likes our chances at landing Arenado better.

I don't see the Rox trading Arenado and I worry about his stats outside of the home park.

As a Rockies fan I certainly hope you are right and that he remains in Denver for many, many years.
This did make me curious to look at his road/home splits. Just a quick glance seems to indicate that his power numbers are pretty comparable on the road to at home (though more home power advantage in 2016, with 2017 and 2018 looking pretty even in that area.) His batting average does suffer away from Coors. But that's really not surprising at all. In the humidor era, Coors is not nearly as much an outlier in terms of the long ball then it was prior. But with it's spacious outfield and thin air, outfielders with great range are exceedingly valuable. So much of the boost in batting average at Coors comes from all the little bloopers that drop in front of outfielders. And there does seem to be some boost to extra base hits with line drives zipping into spacious gaps leading to doubles and triples.
Of course, the great thing about Nolan is that his sterling defense plays well everywhere!

MizzouRah · 08-11-2018, 10:17 AM

30 games left in this 2024 season and I'm 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs in first place with a payroll that's $22M less than last season.

We are really good defensively and rely on Lindor and Harper to drive in runs. Aaron Nola is our ace, so the hope is we can win the division and don't have to burn him in a Wildcard game.

jparker2112 · 08-11-2018, 01:25 PM

Dynasty Thread time i think...

rink23 · 08-11-2018, 03:04 PM

After stumbling out of the gate, going 2-4 in their first two series, my 2021 Cardinals have turned into a juggernaut winning 25 of their next 32, including a 12-game win streak, to sit at 27-11 for the best record in baseball.
They sit 7.5 games in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central, 3.5 ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League and are 1.5 better than the Yankees for best overall mark.
What's weird is outside of the middle three in the order -- where Bryce Harper (.281, 11 HRs, 32 RBIs), Nolan Arenado (.275, 9, 32) and Marcell Ozuna (275, 9, 31) are tearing it up -- there is no one on the team having what I would say is an outstanding season to this point.
It just that it seems to do everything pretty well (defense is still a little suspect, after the 2020 World Series championship team was the best in the game), has a knack of staying in every game leading to a number of late game wins and has benefited from a pretty weak schedule.

The team's record against opponents with winning marks is 6-4 and against losing team's it is 21-7, including 7-1 against the Cubs. The Wee Bears are off to a 15-23 start and in fourth place in the NL Central already 12 games off the pace.
It will be interesting to see how the team fares as it goes up against better competition in the coming weeks.

Orcin · 08-13-2018, 10:48 AM

I just finished my rebooted 2018 season. In this newest version, I made an attempt to stay true to the actual Cardinals roster. I did trade Tommy Pham to Tampa for Justin Williams and made a few other minor deals, the most significant acquisition being LHP Taylor Rogers from Minnesota for Sam Tuivailala.

We finished in third place at 87-75, 13 games behind the Cubs and 4 games behind Cincinnati (!?!?!) for the second wild card. The most surprising player was Gyorko, who had his career year. The most disappointing player was Mikolas (22 starts, 7-11, 6.35 ERA), who ended up in AAA and was shunned at the trade deadline as an overpaid veteran with leprosy.

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Now I can go into the offseason with my version of what the real Cardinals should do. I see the problems as:

1. Improve on the #12 defense, particularly up the middle. DeJong is not a capable shortstop and Fowler was below average when forced back into service in center field. Gyorko was not great at third base either. The obvious solutions are an upgrade in center field and replacing either DeJong or Gyorko with a defensive wiz at shortstop. DeJong/Gyorko could share third base with the other being the infield sub.

2. The offense in general needs to score more runs. I will add the DH in the N.L. for 2019 so that will help but every other team will get the same boost. I must find a position or two to upgrade with an offensive player without damaging the defense. That will be even trickier if either DeJong or Gyorko is replaced in the lineup with a defensive shortstop. Right field is an obvious weakness with both Fowler and JMart being below average for a corner outfielder.

Bader is not going to be the answer in center field offensively for me, even through the real Cardinals seem to be heading in this direction. I think my #1 target in free agency is A.J. Pollock, who could contribute to the solution for both problems.

Orcin · 08-13-2018, 12:58 PM

My dream 2019 Cardinals roster...

Lineup
1B Carpenter
CF Pollock *
RF Harper *
3B Machado *
LF Ozuna
C Molina
2B Wong
SS Simmons +

Bench
C Kelly (25-30% of the starts)
1B/OF left-handed bench bat */+
INF DeJong
OF Bader

Starting Pitchers
Kershaw *
Martinez
Wacha
Mikolas
Weaver
Flaherty
Reyes
Hudson
Gomber

Bullpen
to be assembled, lots of internal options

* free agent
+ trade

This is all entirely possible IF you could get the free agents to come to St. Louis. The money is there, but you would need to unload Fowler to have the roster spot for the LH bench bat (or keep Fowler for that spot if you can't trade him). JMart has options, so he could go to AAA. Gyorko would have to be traded, but you could trade DeJong instead.

My prediction of reality...

Lineup
1B Carpenter
CF Bader
SS DeJong
LF Ozuna
RF Fowler
C Molina
2B Wong
3B Munoz

Bench
C Pena
1B/OF JMartinez
INF Garcia
INF Gyorko

Rotation
Martinez
Mikolas
Wacha
Weaver
Flaherty

Bullpen
a mess as usual

MizzouRah · 08-13-2018, 03:23 PM

I do think in RL the Cardinals should go after Harper. They have the money and could make him our franchise player. He would be THE star in St. Louis. The outfield would be Ozuna/Bader/Harper.

Orcin · 08-13-2018, 03:36 PM

Would Harper come to St. Louis even if the Cardinals offer were the best out there? We have been jilted in the past (Price, Heyward).

rink23 · 08-13-2018, 03:43 PM

I don't see St. Louis as a Harper destination. He seems more like a big-city, cash in on the advertising/marketing machine that goes with it, guy.

He's much more likely to wind up with the Cubs or the Dodgers (and maybe even the Yankees), unfortunately.

Orcin · 08-13-2018, 05:37 PM

So I have two problems and my owner just decided on a whim that I should spend all of my effort on something that solves neither of them. I could just ignore him.

But when your owner gives you the goal to "acquire a Cy Young Award winner", and on the same day Kershaw opts out of his contract to become a free agent, and you have $60 million available to sign free agents... it sure makes you think about it. Maybe if I can dump Mikolas and Fowler on somebody. Keuchel is also available and would meet the goal too. He's a decent consolation prize and certainly cheaper, but Kershaw is a true ace.

Gah… I hate this game and love it at the same time!

MizzouRah · 08-13-2018, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin

Would Harper come to St. Louis even if the Cardinals offer were the best out there? We have been jilted in the past (Price, Heyward).

That's the million dollar question. I would like to think the Cardinals and their fans would be a perfect fit for Harper, but I'm obviously biased.

He elected to stay in St.Louis in my game when his option came up.

rink23 · 08-13-2018, 09:24 PM

He has been great for me also, won MVP of regular season and World Series in 2020, off to great start in 2021. Unfortunately there is a Scott Boras in the real world who will in most likely steer Harper to a major market
.

Orcin · 08-13-2018, 10:02 PM

Neither of you had a problem with his "selfish" personality?

rink23 · 08-13-2018, 10:10 PM

Not at all. In 2019, he suffered a season ending injury in early June or July. In 2020 he was MVP and in 2021 he is off to a great start for a team that is something like 36-17.

08-09-2018, 09:12 PM	#406
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	Just finished my career as GM of the Cardinals from 1901-1930. This was my Challenge Mode GM-only league. I got the 3,000 win achievement in 1929, but I played one more year before retiring because 30 is such a nice round number. Rogers Hornsby 1915-30: 2318 games, .370/.440./605, 360 HR, 1803 RBI, 158.8 WAR, 9 MVPs

08-13-2018, 10:48 AM	#411
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	I just finished my rebooted 2018 season. In this newest version, I made an attempt to stay true to the actual Cardinals roster. I did trade Tommy Pham to Tampa for Justin Williams and made a few other minor deals, the most significant acquisition being LHP Taylor Rogers from Minnesota for Sam Tuivailala. We finished in third place at 87-75, 13 games behind the Cubs and 4 games behind Cincinnati (!?!?!) for the second wild card. The most surprising player was Gyorko, who had his career year. The most disappointing player was Mikolas (22 starts, 7-11, 6.35 ERA), who ended up in AAA and was shunned at the trade deadline as an overpaid veteran with leprosy. Now I can go into the offseason with my version of what the real Cardinals should do. I see the problems as: 1. Improve on the #12 defense, particularly up the middle. DeJong is not a capable shortstop and Fowler was below average when forced back into service in center field. Gyorko was not great at third base either. The obvious solutions are an upgrade in center field and replacing either DeJong or Gyorko with a defensive wiz at shortstop. DeJong/Gyorko could share third base with the other being the infield sub. 2. The offense in general needs to score more runs. I will add the DH in the N.L. for 2019 so that will help but every other team will get the same boost. I must find a position or two to upgrade with an offensive player without damaging the defense. That will be even trickier if either DeJong or Gyorko is replaced in the lineup with a defensive shortstop. Right field is an obvious weakness with both Fowler and JMart being below average for a corner outfielder. Bader is not going to be the answer in center field offensively for me, even through the real Cardinals seem to be heading in this direction. I think my #1 target in free agency is A.J. Pollock, who could contribute to the solution for both problems.

08-13-2018, 12:58 PM	#412
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	My dream 2019 Cardinals roster... Lineup 1B Carpenter CF Pollock * RF Harper * 3B Machado * LF Ozuna C Molina 2B Wong SS Simmons + Bench C Kelly (25-30% of the starts) 1B/OF left-handed bench bat /+ INF DeJong OF Bader Starting Pitchers Kershaw Martinez Wacha Mikolas Weaver Flaherty Reyes Hudson Gomber Bullpen to be assembled, lots of internal options * free agent + trade This is all entirely possible IF you could get the free agents to come to St. Louis. The money is there, but you would need to unload Fowler to have the roster spot for the LH bench bat (or keep Fowler for that spot if you can't trade him). JMart has options, so he could go to AAA. Gyorko would have to be traded, but you could trade DeJong instead. My prediction of reality... Lineup 1B Carpenter CF Bader SS DeJong LF Ozuna RF Fowler C Molina 2B Wong 3B Munoz Bench C Pena 1B/OF JMartinez INF Garcia INF Gyorko Rotation Martinez Mikolas Wacha Weaver Flaherty Bullpen a mess as usual Last edited by Orcin; 08-13-2018 at 01:00 PM.

08-13-2018, 03:43 PM	#415
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 23,730	I don't see St. Louis as a Harper destination. He seems more like a big-city, cash in on the advertising/marketing machine that goes with it, guy. He's much more likely to wind up with the Cubs or the Dodgers (and maybe even the Yankees), unfortunately. Last edited by rink23; 08-13-2018 at 05:05 PM.

08-08-2018, 08:44 PM	#403
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	When you are playing on something that the developer calls "Challenge Mode", you would think that you can just play the game to win and the challenge would be there. It's not. Regardless, I try to win every year with one of my leagues. I am getting close to the 3,000 win achievement, and then I will stop playing that one. I am playing the other one (current MLB) for the fun of it. I thought it would be fun to be 120-40, but it turns out that it is more fun for me to have something realistic. Third time is the charm, I hope. That guy posted some interesting points and a lot that I agree with. Some of his other tips are easily exploited, such as draft pick trading. It sounds like he has developed his own "code". I think it is up to each of us to find that comfort level for ourselves.

08-09-2018, 02:57 PM	#405
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	Interesting article on VEB about our chase for the elusive Big Bat... In-search-of-the-elusive-big-bat-2018-edition-bryce-harper-manny-machado-free-agency The author seems to feel that we have little chance for Machado, and a difficult fit for Harper. He likes our chances at landing Arenado better. I don't see the Rox trading Arenado and I worry about his stats outside of the home park. I think our chances of retaining Ozuna look good.

08-11-2018, 10:17 AM	#408
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,266	30 games left in this 2024 season and I'm 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs in first place with a payroll that's $22M less than last season. We are really good defensively and rely on Lindor and Harper to drive in runs. Aaron Nola is our ace, so the hope is we can win the division and don't have to burn him in a Wildcard game.

08-11-2018, 01:25 PM	#409
jparker2112 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Denver CO Posts: 865	Dynasty Thread time i think...

08-11-2018, 03:04 PM	#410
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 23,730	After stumbling out of the gate, going 2-4 in their first two series, my 2021 Cardinals have turned into a juggernaut winning 25 of their next 32, including a 12-game win streak, to sit at 27-11 for the best record in baseball. They sit 7.5 games in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central, 3.5 ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League and are 1.5 better than the Yankees for best overall mark. What's weird is outside of the middle three in the order -- where Bryce Harper (.281, 11 HRs, 32 RBIs), Nolan Arenado (.275, 9, 32) and Marcell Ozuna (275, 9, 31) are tearing it up -- there is no one on the team having what I would say is an outstanding season to this point. It just that it seems to do everything pretty well (defense is still a little suspect, after the 2020 World Series championship team was the best in the game), has a knack of staying in every game leading to a number of late game wins and has benefited from a pretty weak schedule. The team's record against opponents with winning marks is 6-4 and against losing team's it is 21-7, including 7-1 against the Cubs. The Wee Bears are off to a 15-23 start and in fourth place in the NL Central already 12 games off the pace. It will be interesting to see how the team fares as it goes up against better competition in the coming weeks.

08-13-2018, 03:23 PM	#413
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,266	I do think in RL the Cardinals should go after Harper. They have the money and could make him our franchise player. He would be THE star in St. Louis. The outfield would be Ozuna/Bader/Harper.

08-13-2018, 03:36 PM	#414
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	Would Harper come to St. Louis even if the Cardinals offer were the best out there? We have been jilted in the past (Price, Heyward).

08-13-2018, 05:37 PM	#416
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	So I have two problems and my owner just decided on a whim that I should spend all of my effort on something that solves neither of them. I could just ignore him. But when your owner gives you the goal to "acquire a Cy Young Award winner", and on the same day Kershaw opts out of his contract to become a free agent, and you have $60 million available to sign free agents... it sure makes you think about it. Maybe if I can dump Mikolas and Fowler on somebody. Keuchel is also available and would meet the goal too. He's a decent consolation prize and certainly cheaper, but Kershaw is a true ace. Gah… I hate this game and love it at the same time!

08-13-2018, 09:24 PM	#418
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 23,730	He has been great for me also, won MVP of regular season and World Series in 2020, off to great start in 2021. Unfortunately there is a Scott Boras in the real world who will in most likely steer Harper to a major market .

08-13-2018, 10:02 PM	#419
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,875	Neither of you had a problem with his "selfish" personality?

08-13-2018, 10:10 PM	#420
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 23,730	Not at all. In 2019, he suffered a season ending injury in early June or July. In 2020 he was MVP and in 2021 he is off to a great start for a team that is something like 36-17.