Love the playoffs...

[tcblcommish]

Man, I love managing into the playoffs. We cruised into the conference top seed pretty easily and won the race around 7 or 8 games in the lead but we were 15 games ahead. Few injuries and then the worry for the playoff roster. Lost my #2 hitter for 4 weeks down the stretch and played an aging vet who really hit well for those weeks but left him off the playoff roster so that he could be back. The other guy I mean.

Playoffs start and I'm playing a younger guy at short until my main guy is back and is playing great. Round 1 was a solid series, won 4 to 2. Second round was good too, also 4 to 2. Finals we jumped up 3 to 1 and then quickly lost the next 2 in blowouts so the series is tied. Couldn't play the last game last night, had to go to sleep. Nervous on playing it tonight.....

I know how those teams in real life feel with the pressure of the choke handle if we lose that game 7.

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[andyhdz]

I think that's the one saving grace for when you start to dominate OOTP. You build a solid team that is far and away better than the rest of the league but you still have to worry about injuries and the playoffs. Nothing is guaranteed even when you build a juggernaut.

[tcblcommish]

I certainly didn't build a juggernaught and I never make many trades unless I'm tanking and try to get realistic trades for younger players and trade some vets. I finally played it and lost in game 7. My starter was outstanding, only gave up 5 hits and a run but I still couldn't do it. Their pitcher pitched the game of his life and was series MVP with his 2 wins in the series.

I limited myself to moves as much as I can and play with what I have. Sort of the Oakland As style and hope for the best each year. I won't give a contract above 20 million per season so that limits me too.

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[andyhdz]

Ugh I had a game 7 loss too. It really hurts and i"m like, "I have to go through this again??" I can imagine how real players, gms feel like. I like your limits. I definitely don't spend more than I have and I try and avoid being the top salary wise but I hadn't considered limiting my player contracts. That would definitely keep me from going out and buying a star player.

[tcblcommish]

Originally Posted by andyhdz

Ugh I had a game 7 loss too. It really hurts and i"m like, "I have to go through this again??" I can imagine how real players, gms feel like. I like your limits. I definitely don't spend more than I have and I try and avoid being the top salary wise but I hadn't considered limiting my player contracts. That would definitely keep me from going out and buying a star player.

Believe me, not spending is very hard when you have a guy that dominates for 5 or 6 years and you have to let him walk or deal him because his demands are so high. It's a real challenge though, I try to be as realistic as I can be and still maintain some balance to keep it fun. I play out all of my games too so I move a lot more slowly through the season but I love the day to day stuff with each game.

I didn't just lose game 7, lol. I lost game 5, 6 and 7 in a row. I have no idea how the managers keep themselves from going crazy or having a stroke. Even in losses, so many of them look like they are fine and just look like it's another game. No idea, I couldn't do it.

Game has always been a blast to me, I've enjoyed every version though I will admit that the later version even more so because they are so in depth.

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[wallewalls]

whenever i lose in the playoffs i get so down that i have to put the game away for a couple of days before moving on. i cannot even imagine how real life gms and players must feel. managing the playoffs is one of the best experiences i've ever had in gaming, and when it pays off and you win the championship it is so rewarding.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by andyhdz

I think that's the one saving grace for when you start to dominate OOTP. You build a solid team that is far and away better than the rest of the league but you still have to worry about injuries and the playoffs. Nothing is guaranteed even when you build a juggernaut.

My juggernaut is wobbling this year with 2 of my SP's having long-term (several months long) injuries, the collapse of my bullpen performance, and injuries of multiple-week duration spreading through my batters like a contagious flu bug.

My AAA roster is getting a real test as I keep having to pull guys up to fill the gaps caused by injuries (and revamp my bullpen). Good thing I've spent so much effort over the game years building up my prospects!

Given where we are in the season, and the teams remaining to play against, I'm confident we will win the division (again). But I'm nervous as heck about the other AL teams that will likely make the post season. This may not be a WS year for my guys. All part of the game.

[The_Offspring187]

I've just in the last couple of years started "watching" every game (I'm the GM but allow the manager I hired to make the decisions during actual games). The team I'm fielding in my current fictional league is the best time I've had during this era (OOTP13, 17, and 18 for me, I was still playing OOTP13 until World Series 2016).

We made the playoffs last season as a Wild Card team and were swept 2-0 in the best of 3 Wild Card series. I wasn't expecting to push for the playoffs so my 89-73 record was a nice surprise.

This year the expectations are higher, especially after rounding out my roster with two big free agent signings: a Cuban CF international free agent, as well as one of the better shortstops in the league. We are off to a roaring start (I actually have a post about it in the Dynasty Reports section) but I'm curious to see how the playoffs go assuming we stay hot enough to make them.

This game, like real baseball, brings hope and wonder with each new season.

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