MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread

[cardsfan2222]

Jeff Karstens and Max Scherzer matched up in game 2 of the Twins series. The Cards took a 4-0 lead in the first, with a 2 run home run by Pujols opening the scoring. In the 3rd, Rasmus led off the inning with a single up the middle. The hits just kept coming after that, mostly singles back up the middle. By the time the inning was over, we had added two touchdowns and a 2 point conversion. 15 runs on 15 hits, by far the best inning I've ever had. Schumaker and Ludwick had the only extra base hits of the inning, and Rasmus managed to make the 2nd and 3rd outs as he batted 3 times.

Leading 19-0 after 3, Karstens was able to pitch aggressively. He ended up going 7 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs to give him his 2nd win of the week. Despite our huge outburst in the 3rd, we only managed 2 hits after the 3rd inning.

[cardsleadtheway]

That sounds like many games I have seen against my A's in real life heh.

I just finished up the off season and started up the spring training. Contemplating a trade, but I will get to that later. As for the off season, we lost Kendall to retirement, Soria and Kilby to the Yankees, and let Greinke walk for nothing since no one would sign him. We picked up a lefty closer in the rule 5 draft, then managed to get Henry Rodriguez back after the Reds nontendered him, signed catchers Yadier Molina and Jesus Montero to 1 year 400K deals, signed CP Anthony Slama and RP Santiago Casillato 200K deals, and finally signed RP Blake Hawksworth to a 400K deal. There will be some competition in spring training as far as the bull pen is concerned. I offered Suzuki a 3 year $21 mil deal, but when he didn't sign it by December 31st, I yanked it for a one year $5 mil deal that he eventually signed. I guess he didn't realize exactly how saturated the market for catchers was.

For spring training, we have quite a few battles going on. Dominique Alonso, Jemile Weeks, and Adrian Cardenas are fighting for the backup IF role; Quentin, Michael Taylor, Brandon Jones, Gerrardo Parra, and Aaron Turner are all fighting for the starting LF job plus the backup(s) outfielder slot; Doug Drabek, Fauntino de los Santos, Ian Krol, Tyson Ross, Pedro Figueroa, and Brian Berglund are in it for the 5th and possibly 4th Start role; and finally we have Hawksworth, Frank de los Santos (rule 5), Matt Capps, Anthony Slama, HRod, Craig Breslow, Julio Ramos, any of the starters that do well are going for the few bull pen positions.

Now about the possible Anderson trade. I am considering sending him to Chicago for an A potential 1B, A potential lefty RP, and B potential CP. It would be a pretty good haul, but also weaken the rotation substantially. I think I have the prospects to cover it though, and they can't just kill it in AAA forever.

[cardsfan2222]

I think I would take the trade. You have plenty of pitchers that should be able to pick up the slack in the rotation. I think you'll like pitching with Hawksworth. He has a really good changeup that gets a ton of groundballs. He doesn't strike out that many guys though, so if you use him in relief he's not a guy to bring in when you need to overpower someone.

Yadi is my most often injured player. He's been on the DL 3 times in the season and a half i've played, and he missed most of last season. I don't think I'll re-sign him because he's not as durable as his major league self.

[cardsleadtheway]

I did indeed do the trade and played/simmed through spring training. Taylor has been hitting the cover off the ball, so it looks like he will get the starting position over a struggling Quentin. I would send Quentin down, after batting around .120 and only one home run, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt due to his past achievements. Alonso, Weeks, and Cardenas all failed to make the cut, so for the time being I will be without a backup IF. I can always call someone up when the real season starts and players start to get tired. I had a tough time deciding between Jones and Parra, as both of them performed very well. Jones has a little more speed and can hit both lefties and righties a little better, whereas Parra has huge contact against righties but nothing against lefties and no power. Dunn and Pena hit around .200 but they are Dunn and Pena so I am not too worried. Suzuki keeps his starting catcher role and Yadier will be the backup. Montero hit a whopping .202 despite getting the most AB's for my catchers. Arencibia did just a little better but not much. Yadier gives me veteran leadership for a backup role and will get at least one start per rotation. If he gets hurt, well I do have backups.

As for pitching, it will be Halladay(R), Gio(L), Mazarro(R), Drabek(R), and surprisingly Fautino de los Santos(R). Krol(L) was expected to be the guy, but he just couldn't get the job done. For the pen, it will be long relievers Ross(R), Hawksworth(R) (exactly as you said, great changeup and groundball pitcher), Frank de los Santos(L) (rule 5 but would have kept him anyway), Middle relievers Breslow(L) and Robert Ly(L) (the new guy), setup men HRod(R) and Fuentes(R), and of course Bailey(R) for closer. I may have to send someone down soon to bring up an infielder, most likely Breslow since I have a lot of lefties in the pen now. But I shouldn't need someone the first week or two. Alonso is the front runner but who knows how things will go in Sacramento.

[Howie5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Howie5

Sox are heating up! Now we are 30-27, 9.5 games behind the Yankees for 2nd in the AL East. Recently, Darnell McDonald has gotten a big pinch hit 2B & followed it up the next day with a 2-4 performance, including a walk-off single. Currently up 2-0 in the series against the White Sox, going for the sweep tomorrow with Lackey on the hill. We then have a 3 game set w/ the As before visiting the Bronx. Here is an example of what my current lineups are like vs RHP w/DH Crawford Ellsbury Gonzalez Youk Pedroia Ortiz Drew Salty Lowrie vs LHP w/ DH Crawford Pedroia Gonzalez Youk Cameron Drew Ellsbury Varitek Lowrie * Pedroia has been hitting better lately, but still at a .235 clip, while Ortiz has been struggling esp. against lefties. Lowrie has been solid while Scutaro is hitting .180 & playing poor defense. He's now on the trading block, even though it'd be nice if he could turn it around.

WELL...that was my last post. I guess we weren't "heating up". Since then, we have lost 7 of 8 & 6 in a row(including a 3 game sweep in the Bronx). 3 gms in a row we gave up double digit runs & the bullpen has been horrendous. Now sitting at 31-34...You guys think I should look at some possible trades after the all star break. I feel like I should bolster my bullpen as my rotation has been pretty good. Offensively, we're just streaky. Lowrie is the starting ss & id rather have him as a utility guy. Making a trade for a ss is something id consider too as I dont believe Yamaco Navarro is ready to have that job. Any input from you all would be great, Its been a frustrating stretch but I dont wanna make any irrational moves due to recent failures. BTW, were now in Toronto for 3 & were leading 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th when Jenks comes in...gives up a 2 un bomb & another run scores later on a salty throwing error. BS.

[The Chef]

Sitting at 18-23 with my Dodgers and have lost 3 in a row and 5 of my last 7 games played. I cant hit for **** (.217 Avg.) and Im even worse as a team with runners in scoring position (.195 Avg.) so its been a miserable season so far. I can pitch as Ive got a team ERA of 3.01 while playing on HoF for pitching but I keep losing games 2-1, 3-2, 2-0 etc. and its starting to become a drag to even keep going. I just dont get the hitting in this years game, I cant use zone and move the PCI, Ive tried zone without moving the PCI and it works when you face middle of the road pitchers but the better guys hit the corners and you cant do much using this hitting method. Im currently back to timing but cant get a decent enough average off of that either.

Stats - Hitting
NAME	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG
Cristian Guzman, 2b	72	6	15	2	0	0	3	6	17	2	1	.208	.262	.236
Juan Uribe, 3b	67	10	21	7	1	3	8	6	11	1	0	.313	.365	.582
David Murphy, LF	95	12	24	4	0	3	14	7	21	0	0	.253	.301	.389
Andre Ethier, RF	160	21	36	8	2	6	14	13	30	1	0	.225	.286	.412
Matt Kemp, CF	160	19	41	11	3	2	22	9	39	13	2	.256	.297	.400
James Loney, 1b	161	7	35	9	1	1	17	5	29	0	0	.217	.237	.304
Mike Napoli, C	70	9	14	5	0	3	9	5	21	0	0	.200	.253	.400
Aaron Miles, 2b	92	10	17	2	2	0	5	6	17	1	0	.185	.232	.250
Ivan DeJesus, 2b	34	1	6	1	0	0	4	2	11	0	1	.176	.216	.206
Marcus Thames, LF	41	3	11	4	0	2	7	2	12	0	0	.268	.311	.512
Rod Barajas, C	95	6	20	7	2	2	7	9	26	0	0	.211	.276	.389
Jay Gibbons, LF	84	11	17	4	3	2	6	10	14	0	0	.202	.295	.393
Rafael Furcal, SS	89	7	28	1	4	1	11	7	17	5	2	.315	.350	.449
Tony Gwynn Jr, LF	37	4	6	1	2	0	1	2	10	1	0	.162	.205	.297

Stats - Pitching
NAME	GP	GS	W	L	SV	QS	HLD	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	ERA
Chad Billinglsey	9	9	3	2	0	6	0	57.2	46	18	5	11	58	0.99	2.81
Clayton Kershaw	8	8	3	2	0	7	0	49.1	40	14	3	19	39	1.20	2.55
Hiroki Kuroda	8	8	1	1	0	7	0	55.0	42	13	1	14	31	1.02	2.13
Ted Lilly	8	8	2	6	0	5	0	56.0	59	23	5	11	36	1.25	3.70
Vicenta Padilla	12	2	4	4	0	1	0	27.0	24	10	2	12	16	1.33	3.33
Lance Cormier	13	0	0	0	0	0	2	19.0	13	5	1	2	14	0.79	2.37
Ronald Belisario	14	0	1	1	0	0	3	21.0	13	6	2	3	14	0.76	2.57
Matt Guerrier	12	0	2	0	0	0	2	18.0	18	9	1	6	17	1.33	4.50
Ramon Troncoso	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3.0	1	0	0	1	3	0.67	0.00
Hong-Chih Kuo	10	0	0	1	0	0	3	11.1	12	3	1	1	9	1.15	2.38
Mike MacDougal	11	0	0	2	0	0	3	14.1	11	2	0	3	13	0.98	1.26
Jonathan Broxton	13	0	1	0	10	0	0	12.2	11	4	0	3	8	1.11	2.84

[northface28]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Chef

Sitting at 18-23 with my Dodgers and have lost 3 in a row and 5 of my last 7 games played. I cant hit for **** (.217 Avg.) and Im even worse as a team with runners in scoring position (.195 Avg.) so its been a miserable season so far. I can pitch as Ive got a team ERA of 3.01 while playing on HoF for pitching but I keep losing games 2-1, 3-2, 2-0 etc. and its starting to become a drag to even keep going. I just dont get the hitting in this years game, I cant use zone and move the PCI, Ive tried zone without moving the PCI and it works when you face middle of the road pitchers but the better guys hit the corners and you cant do much using this hitting method. Im currently back to timing but cant get a decent enough average off of that either. Stats - Hitting NAME AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG Cristian Guzman, 2b 72 6 15 2 0 0 3 6 17 2 1 .208 .262 .236 Juan Uribe, 3b 67 10 21 7 1 3 8 6 11 1 0 .313 .365 .582 David Murphy, LF 95 12 24 4 0 3 14 7 21 0 0 .253 .301 .389 Andre Ethier, RF 160 21 36 8 2 6 14 13 30 1 0 .225 .286 .412 Matt Kemp, CF 160 19 41 11 3 2 22 9 39 13 2 .256 .297 .400 James Loney, 1b 161 7 35 9 1 1 17 5 29 0 0 .217 .237 .304 Mike Napoli, C 70 9 14 5 0 3 9 5 21 0 0 .200 .253 .400 Aaron Miles, 2b 92 10 17 2 2 0 5 6 17 1 0 .185 .232 .250 Ivan DeJesus, 2b 34 1 6 1 0 0 4 2 11 0 1 .176 .216 .206 Marcus Thames, LF 41 3 11 4 0 2 7 2 12 0 0 .268 .311 .512 Rod Barajas, C 95 6 20 7 2 2 7 9 26 0 0 .211 .276 .389 Jay Gibbons, LF 84 11 17 4 3 2 6 10 14 0 0 .202 .295 .393 Rafael Furcal, SS 89 7 28 1 4 1 11 7 17 5 2 .315 .350 .449 Tony Gwynn Jr, LF 37 4 6 1 2 0 1 2 10 1 0 .162 .205 .297 Stats - Pitching NAME GP GS W L SV QS HLD IP H ER HR BB SO WHIP ERA Chad Billinglsey 9 9 3 2 0 6 0 57.2 46 18 5 11 58 0.99 2.81 Clayton Kershaw 8 8 3 2 0 7 0 49.1 40 14 3 19 39 1.20 2.55 Hiroki Kuroda 8 8 1 1 0 7 0 55.0 42 13 1 14 31 1.02 2.13 Ted Lilly 8 8 2 6 0 5 0 56.0 59 23 5 11 36 1.25 3.70 Vicenta Padilla 12 2 4 4 0 1 0 27.0 24 10 2 12 16 1.33 3.33 Lance Cormier 13 0 0 0 0 0 2 19.0 13 5 1 2 14 0.79 2.37 Ronald Belisario 14 0 1 1 0 0 3 21.0 13 6 2 3 14 0.76 2.57 Matt Guerrier 12 0 2 0 0 0 2 18.0 18 9 1 6 17 1.33 4.50 Ramon Troncoso 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.0 1 0 0 1 3 0.67 0.00 Hong-Chih Kuo 10 0 0 1 0 0 3 11.1 12 3 1 1 9 1.15 2.38 Mike MacDougal 11 0 0 2 0 0 3 14.1 11 2 0 3 13 0.98 1.26 Jonathan Broxton 13 0 1 0 10 0 0 12.2 11 4 0 3 8 1.11 2.84

Honestly, id restart, but on timing hitting. Or play a bunch of exhibition games using timing until you get the hang of it. Ive said it before, ill say it again. Using zone hitting without moving the PCI puts the user at a huge disadvantage, anything low or on the black is virtually unhittable. Youre essentially just waiting for meatballs and when you go against legit pitchers or pitchers with high confidence, that wont happen very often.

[CubFan23]

Quote: Originally Posted by cardsfan2222

I think I would take the trade. You have plenty of pitchers that should be able to pick up the slack in the rotation. I think you'll like pitching with Hawksworth. He has a really good changeup that gets a ton of groundballs. He doesn't strike out that many guys though, so if you use him in relief he's not a guy to bring in when you need to overpower someone. Yadi is my most often injured player. He's been on the DL 3 times in the season and a half i've played, and he missed most of last season. I don't think I'll re-sign him because he's not as durable as his major league self.

I picked Hawksworth up off waivers, the Dodgers were sending him down and I grabbed him for my Cubs Pen. I have a couple young relievers and just in case they start to falter I'll have him for backup.

[abjsuperstar]

in twins franchise, allstar level.
record-14-5
called up trevor plouffe and ben revere for backups
started 10-2 but tampa bay gave me issues losing 3 str8 to them but won game 4 which game me back momentum and won 3 str8 at Baltimore and thats where i stand as of now a 4 game win streak

[ootherocoo]

I just finished May in my Mets franchise. It's a good season so far. We finished the month with a 17-10 record. Just some quick rundown of events so far. Ike Davis is scorching hot. Carlos Beltran got injured for 2 weeks (of course). Daniel Murphy broke his leg and is out for months. These are the stats so far.

Angel Pagan - .208 AVG 1HR 8 RBI 10 SB
Jose Reyes - .350 AVG 3HR 15 RBI 12 SB
David Wright - .252 AVG 3HR 13 RBI
Carlos Beltran - .227 AVG 0HR 8 RBI 4 SB
Ike Davis - .304 AVG 10HR 21 RBI
Jason Bay - .283 AVG 7HR 19RBI (I almost traded...may still do it..LOL)
Ronny Paulino - .258 AVG 0HR 4 RBI
Brad Emaus - .313 AVG 1HR 15 RBI (GREAT!!!..very clutch so far)

Now as for my pitching, it's off and on. I NEED PITCHING, especially bullpen help!!!

Johan Santana - 5-1 w/ 4.06 ERA
Mike Pelfrey - 3-3 w/ 2.61 ERA
Ben Sheets - 3-0 w/ 2.20 ERA
Jon Niese - 3-0 w/ 2.36 ERA
R.A. Dickey - 1-2 w/ 7.27 ERA

K-Rod - 11 SV w/ 2.87 ERA