2019 Cardinals

[Orcin]

It is late April 2018 in my second go-round. The team is 13-12 because the pitching sucks. The offense has been great, but MizzouRah made me look at what it would take to acquire Donaldson. The Blue Jays will trade Donaldson for Fowler, Carpenter, and Leone - no money or contract retention involved.

That would be an interesting opportunity to clear the finances for a run at Harper and Kershaw in the offseason. I could probably even sign Donaldson if I don't extend Waino. BUT the fans would lynch me because Fowler and Carpenter have "extreme" popularity. I can't afford to have attendance sink this early in the season.

[ZigZagMan]

Originally Posted by Orcin

It is late April 2018 in my second go-round. The team is 13-12 because the pitching sucks. The offense has been great, but MizzouRah made me look at what it would take to acquire Donaldson. The Blue Jays will trade Donaldson for Fowler, Carpenter, and Leone - no money or contract retention involved.

That would be an interesting opportunity to clear the finances for a run at Harper and Kershaw in the offseason. I could probably even sign Donaldson if I don't extend Waino. BUT the fans would lynch me because Fowler and Carpenter have "extreme" popularity. I can't afford to have attendance sink this early in the season.

Keep in mind that Kershaw might not be available. He has an opt out year but he's getting a pretty hefty salary for 2019 and 2020.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Orcin

It is late April 2018 in my second go-round. The team is 13-12 because the pitching sucks. The offense has been great, but MizzouRah made me look at what it would take to acquire Donaldson. The Blue Jays will trade Donaldson for Fowler, Carpenter, and Leone - no money or contract retention involved.

That would be an interesting opportunity to clear the finances for a run at Harper and Kershaw in the offseason. I could probably even sign Donaldson if I don't extend Waino. BUT the fans would lynch me because Fowler and Carpenter have "extreme" popularity. I can't afford to have attendance sink this early in the season.

I was lucky.. Atlanta signed Machado and Donaldson in 2019 and then put Machado at 3b and benched Donaldson. (although he did get at bats). I didn't have to part with as much.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I was lucky.. Atlanta signed Machado and Donaldson in 2019 and then put Machado at 3b and benched Donaldson. (although he did get at bats). I didn't have to part with as much.

The AI still makes some pretty dumb mistakes. I think this year is better than ever, but it will never beat a competent human. At times, it makes me want to play in an online league but the Cardinals are always taken.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Orcin

The AI still makes some pretty dumb mistakes. I think this year is better than ever, but it will never beat a competent human. At times, it makes me want to play in an online league but the Cardinals are always taken.

It's few and far between and they made HUGE strides this year IMHO. I did have to give up Wacha and Carpenter, so it's actually a decent trade for both teams.

[Orcin]

Just to clarify, the dumb AI mistake here is signing Donaldson to sit on the bench.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Just to clarify, the dumb AI mistake here is signing Donaldson to sit on the bench.

No doubt about it.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by ZigZagMan

Keep in mind that Kershaw might not be available. He has an opt out year but he's getting a pretty hefty salary for 2019 and 2020.

Harper will not be available. He just signed a 7-year contract extension at $250 million with an opt-out after year 5.

New strategy needed.

[pgjocki]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Harper will not be available. He just signed a 7-year contract extension at $250 million with an opt-out after year 5.

New strategy needed.

Trade for Trout: offer Ozuna, Reyes, and Flaherty

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[rink23]

It's been a long time since I've seen this happen, and it occurred at the most inopportune time.
It's the middle of August game against the Brewers down 5-4 in the bottom of the 12th. The Cardinals in the middle of a tight wild card chase with Washington and Arizona.
Manny Machado leads off with a double and scores on a one-out triple from pinch-hitter Carson Kelly to tie it.
Jose Martinez is given an intentional walk, bringing Yadier Molina to the plate.
He lifts a fly ball to left field, it should be deep enough to score Kelly but the young catcher is slow footed.
Instead.
The screen sees a white screen gradually set over it and I get a message that OOTP has crashed and a report is being sent to microsoft or somebody like that.
You come to one of the most intense moments of the season and that happens.
I cannot complain much about OOTP this year. The game has been great. That was my first crash of the season.
But that really grates on me.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by rink23

It's been a long time since I've seen this happen, and it occurred at the most inopportune time.
It's the middle of August game against the Brewers down 5-4 in the bottom of the 12th. The Cardinals in the middle of a tight wild card chase with Washington and Arizona.
Manny Machado leads off with a double and scores on a one-out triple from pinch-hitter Carson Kelly to tie it.
Jose Martinez is given an intentional walk, bringing Yadier Molina to the plate.
He lifts a fly ball to left field, it should be deep enough to score Kelly but the young catcher is slow footed.
Instead.
The screen sees a white screen gradually set over it and I get a message that OOTP has crashed and a report is being sent to microsoft or somebody like that.
You come to one of the most intense moments of the season and that happens.
I cannot complain much about OOTP this year. The game has been great. That was my first crash of the season.
But that really grates on me.

Yeah that would stink big time!

[Airdrop01]

So, this isn’t about OOTP, but it has Card fans so....

Does Jordan Hicks routinely throw 102 MPH SINKERS.??? Not the Yadi pitch. I saw a video of him throw a 102 MHP sinker. No one was on base, but it was a swing and a miss and a passed ball (not charged because no one was on base)

if you can find it, it’s worth watching

[Orcin]

No, he doesn't. He routinely throws 101MPH sinkers. That 102 is an outlier.

He needs to learn to change speeds and develop some command. He sure is fun to watch, but maybe a month in AAA would do him some good. I think he could be a great closer, but I wonder if they shouldn't continue to develop him as a starter until he proves he can't master a third pitch.

[Orcin]

Speaking of bullpens... I am at the current date in my game, and my bullpen just makes me want to puke. My bullpen ERA is 5.29 (#13 in NL). We have 18 wins and just 4 saves as a team. We are winning the blowouts and losing anything that is close.

Gregerson has been good. Tuivalala has been decent and Holland has been ok since joining the club. Norris has been 4.00 ERA tolerable. Lyons, Leone, Cecil, and Bowman have been horrible. I mean 9.00 ERA bad. I have to do something to save my keyboard and mouse from more abuse.

Lyons is out of options and I am tempted to throw him on waivers in order to bring up Sherriff. Leone can be optioned to bring up Hicks. Cecil will likely refuse the DFA and he would clear waivers, so my only solution for him is to eat $22 million. Maybe I can find someone to trade? Stop laughing.

I am mostly here to whine, but I would like to hear about your experiences with some of these guys and who in the organization has been successful in your bullpen.

No need to tell me to go trade for Colome. I have already thought about that. Tampa will give me Colome for Cecil, Leone, AA SP Jake Woodford, and $2.5 million. What am I waiting for? I have no idea.

[pgjocki]

I didn't think I could dislike Cecil more in OOTP than real life but 14 games in and I'm close.

The bullpen is bad I almost feel sorry for Matheny...almost.

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[Airdrop01]

I wish there were a way to make it so the AI only used Lyons and Cecil against lefties, NO MATTER WHAT.

When I play out the games, that's the only way I put them in there....

[Qeltar]

The 2019 Cardinals in my game signed Harper and Pollock. They unfortunately lost Martinez to a season-ending injury but picked up two solid mid-rotation guys, one in a trade and one as a free agent from Japan.

They are scary.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Airdrop01

I wish there were a way to make it so the AI only used Lyons and Cecil against lefties, NO MATTER WHAT.

When I play out the games, that's the only way I put them in there....

I wish there were a way to make Cecil and Lyons capable of retiring any batter - left, right, or no hands. They all hit these two guys.

[rink23]

I play my games out with the 2018 Cards, we are 72-59 in second place in the NL Central nine games behind the Cubs and tied with Washington for the second wild card, 4.5 games behind Arizona, and for most of the season my bullpen has been lights out ranking in the top 3 (mostly No. 1) in ERA from the get-go.
There has been some hiccups since the All-Star break and I've fallen back to third. But I still like how it's performed.
I started out with Dominic Leone as my closer and he's held on the role for the duration. I don't think he gave up an earned run through the All-Star break and has 23 saves for the season.
Like the rest of the pen, he struggled lately with four blown saves since the ASG -- his ERA is up to 2.08 -- but I can't complain as I was afraid this would be role I would have to mix-and-match.
The rest of the pen guys -- Bowman (3.24 ERA), Cecil (3.15), Gregerson (3.52), Holland (3.35), Lyons (3.43) and Norris (2.44) -- all have ERAs I can live with although as a group they have struggled in recent weeks.
Norris has been my eighth inning guy. Holland gets to go after saves in games with a lead of three runs or more. He has six saves.
Gant is in the pen because Luke Weaver is out with an injury. Alex Reyes will move from the rotation and into a relief role upon Weaver's return.
Sam Tuiviailala was traded to the Orioles in a deal to land Manny Machado. He's pitched very well for Baltimore, sporting an ERA of 1.82 in 18 games.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by rink23

I started out with Dominic Leone as my closer and he's held on the role for the duration. I don't think he gave up an earned run through the All-Star break and has 23 saves for the season.
Like the rest of the pen, he struggled lately with four blown saves since the ASG -- his ERA is up to 2.08 -- but I can't complain as I was afraid this would be role I would have to mix-and-match.
The rest of the pen guys -- Bowman (3.24 ERA), Cecil (3.15), Gregerson (3.52), Holland (3.35), Lyons (3.43) and Norris (2.44) -- all have ERAs I can live with although as a group they have struggled in recent weeks.

Yeah, I would be really happy with this. Funny how we started with the same ratings and end up in such a different place. I have not played many games (32) though, so my judgment is a bit hasty. Maybe I will work with this group a little longer.