2012 Franchise Progress Thread

[RGmoney]

Cubs Report: 9-4 Record (1st-place)

After taking 2 out of 3 from division foe St. Louis, the Cubbies found themselves all alone at the top of the NL Central with a 1 game lead over the Cardinals. They then had a day off before they headed to the new amusement park in Miami to take on the Marlins.

Game 1 saw Dempster pick up his 1st win of the year, going 7.2 IP, giving up just 2 runs on 8 hits, while striking out 5 and walking 2. Soriano supplied the bulk of the offense, going 2-4 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Both his hits were homeruns, the 1st being a 3-run bomb in the 1st inning, that marked the first Cub homerun at the Marlins' new park. Lahair contributed a 2-4 day, with and RBI and run scored. Final score was 6-2.

Miami bounced back in game 2, but it took them extra-innings to get the 2-0 win. It was an 11th-inning 2-run bomb by M. Stanton that evened the series. The Cubbies took the series with a 4-3 Game 3 win. Both Soriano & Lahair both went yard to supply the offense. Soriano's bomb was his 2nd 3-run jack of the series. J. Samardzja went 8 strong innings to pick up his 1st win of the year. He allowed just 2 runs on 3 hits, while striking out 10 and walking 5. Marmol gave up a run in the 9th, but held on to notch his MLB leading 7th save in as many opportunities.

Brian Lahair is on fire right now. In his last 10 games he's batting .333 with 11 hits (3 HR) and 5 RBI. He's 4th in the league in doubles with 5. At the other end of the spectrum, are Soriano & Soto. Alfonso is hitting just .171 in his last 10 games. Despite the league-leading 4 homeruns (Tied with R. Braun & Cincy's Heisey). Soto's bats must still be down at Spring Training. In his last 10 games, he's batting just .194 with a HR and 2 RBI. Closer Carlos Marmol is a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities with a 1.29 ERA and 4 strikeouts.

The Cubs return home to the friendly confines for a 3-game series with the 4th place Cincinnati Reds (6-7), who are 3 games back of the Cubbies. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Cubs will have to watch out for both Joey Votto & Chris Heisey. In his last 10 games, Votto is scorching the ball with a .429 average, 15 hits, 2 HR, & 11 RBI. Heisy is seeing the ball well in this 10-game stretch, hitting .333 with 11 hits, a HR, and 2 RBI. Struggling are Zach Cozart (.162) and Jay Bruce (.143). The Reds will be without veteran 3B Scott Rolen, who is out 1-2 months with a separated shoulder.

[moemoe24]

I'm 9-4 with my rangers franchise, currently 2 up on the mariners Batting .310 as a team but my pitching is really bad. Team era of .450. Starters are really letting me down. Except for neftali feliz with a 1.50 era, holland is 3.49, Colby Lewis is 5.95 and Yu is in the 5's. Napoli leads the league in hitting with a .435 avg, he is also second in RBI with 13. More updates later.

[Dorfie]

Well, I was really enjoying my Orioles franchise. I've played every game and I'm currently 29-21, but it looks like I'll be starting over. The CPU is starting to make ridiculous trades that are just destroying the realism. Time to start over with 30 team control.

[Jm0ney2001]

My first season with the twins we went 75-87, I played a lot of those games myself. So far in my 2nd season (going to play all 162) started last saturday and I'm 6-10. Playing a series a day and I just love this game. Can't get enough if it. I started cold only winning 3 of my first 13, but last night I swept the athletics (which I couldn't believe bc I had been playing so poorly) tonight I have 3 more against Anaheim. If I take 2 ill be happy.

[ILLICIT206]

Finally won my first series in my M's franchise. Only took until the fourth series of the year, lol. My starter, Blake Beaven, was scratched due to a hip injury, so I had to turn to my long reliever Iwakuma and he and the bullpen held the Indians in check for the most part. Going into the bottom 8th Cleveland was up 2-1 and I tied the game when Munenori Kawasaki doubled to right center, scoring Michael Saunders. I then proceeded to get a runner in scoring position for the next three innings, only to fail to come up with a clutch hit. My bullpen was lights out and in the bottom 12th Chone Figgins singled up the middle, scoring the winning run. Of all people too, as he's been hovering around the Mendoza line and I was considering DFA-ing him. Saved his job for the meantime...

Next game was the first of a three-game set against the White Sox and once again, it went to extra innings. Chris Sale went 8 innings for them, striking out 10. He walked 6 however, but I was unable to do much against him, only getting three hits. Kevin Millwood was on his game for me as well, and I went into the bottom ninth down 2-1. With one outs and a runner on third, I pinch hit Brendan Ryan for Kawasaki, playing the odds against a lefty pitcher, and Ryan came up big, singling through the drawn in infield on the left side to tie the game. Then I won the game in the most unlikely way...

With Ryan at the plate and Alex Liddi on second, I hit one deep in the hole at SS. I sent Liddi home, thinking Ryan would be thrown out but hoping maybe the SS Ramirez will make a throwing error, and Ryan beat out the throw for an infield single! The throw home was way late and game over.

Nice to have my first winning streak...haven't had much offense to start the year so I'm taking baby steps. Next I have Felix taking the mound against Humber and hopefully this game won't reflect what happened in real life...

[ILLICIT206]

Oh yeah, and I dunno how you guys are doing but I'm getting hit with a lot of injuries. I already am down Carp and Gutierrez to start the year, and now Olivo and Ryan have recently been hit. Ryan is just now coming back and Kawasaki has played well in his absence, but I'm in desperate need of some offense and NEED Carp and Gutierrez back. Saunders plays a good CF but just isn't hitting.

[mer1in20]

Currently in a Red Sox Franchise and sit at 15-9 tied with the Stankees for 1st in the AL East. I play every game and use Allstars sliders. Team batting average of .243 which is good for 15th place and have a team ERA of 2.72 which is good for 3rd. My starting pitching has been huge with my starters gonig late into games usually. Salty leads my team in Avg at .333, next highest is Crawford with .286. Pedroia has been on a power surge hitting 7 in 24 games including a walkoff win over the Yanks during that series. Iglesias and Lavarnway made the majors right out of ST but stunk it up and after the first month, I sent them both back down to get more time. Overall, I'm loving it so far. Having a hard time hitting homers sometimes though but overall, I think Allstars sliders are the best out there.

[crpav]

White Sox fan here so of course doing a White Sox franchise. I am 6-0 to start the season but had some nail biting and intense games. First game of the season I won 3 to 2 in extra innings. 3 games ago I won 1 to 0 and the go ahead and eventual winning run was by a grounder hit to the second baseman by Pierzynski that the second baseman could not handle. I was safe by a step once he got the ball and made the throw to first. I had a runner at 3rd with two outs at the time. I was awarded a hit on that one.

2 games ago I was down by 2 in the 8th I got a man on with 2 outs and Cleveland brought in a side armed reliever. I hate deliveries that are awkward I might add. Konerko was up to bat and I usually take pitches especially the first pitch but it looked good and I hit a 2 run opposite field home run to tie it. The game went into extra innings where I scored 5 runs in the top of the 10th, including another 2 run homer by Konerko, and went on to win.

My last game was an offensive explosion. I hit 8 home runs as a team including Konerko's 400 and 401 career homers. I also hit 3 with Adam Dunn which is the second time I hit 3 with him on the short season. I will be adjusting sliders since I think I am good enough now and power is more than I like to see. I also had a dominate performance on the mound with Chris Sale. A complete game 1 ER performance with 14 Ks(I will double check to make sure that is what I had). I had 10 strikeouts in 3 innings to start and struck out Hafner 4 times in the game.

[ILLICIT206]

Quote: Originally Posted by mer1in20

Currently in a Red Sox Franchise and sit at 15-9 tied with the Stankees for 1st in the AL East. I play every game and use Allstars sliders. Team batting average of .243 which is good for 15th place and have a team ERA of 2.72 which is good for 3rd. My starting pitching has been huge with my starters gonig late into games usually. Salty leads my team in Avg at .333, next highest is Crawford with .286. Pedroia has been on a power surge hitting 7 in 24 games including a walkoff win over the Yanks during that series. Iglesias and Lavarnway made the majors right out of ST but stunk it up and after the first month, I sent them both back down to get more time. Overall, I'm loving it so far. Having a hard time hitting homers sometimes though but overall, I think Allstars sliders are the best out there.

7 HR's with one player in April isn't having a hard time hitting HR's! I have 5 HR's AS A TEAM and I'm 14 games in! lol I am playing with the M's though...

[Mercury53]

Quote: Originally Posted by ILLICIT206

Finally won my first series in my M's franchise. Only took until the fourth series of the year, lol. My starter, Blake Beaven, was scratched due to a hip injury, so I had to turn to my long reliever Iwakuma and he and the bullpen held the Indians in check for the most part. Going into the bottom 8th Cleveland was up 2-1 and I tied the game when Munenori Kawasaki doubled to right center, scoring Michael Saunders. I then proceeded to get a runner in scoring position for the next three innings, only to fail to come up with a clutch hit. My bullpen was lights out and in the bottom 12th Chone Figgins singled up the middle, scoring the winning run. Of all people too, as he's been hovering around the Mendoza line and I was considering DFA-ing him. Saved his job for the meantime... Next game was the first of a three-game set against the White Sox and once again, it went to extra innings. Chris Sale went 8 innings for them, striking out 10. He walked 6 however, but I was unable to do much against him, only getting three hits. Kevin Millwood was on his game for me as well, and I went into the bottom ninth down 2-1. With one outs and a runner on third, I pinch hit Brendan Ryan for Kawasaki, playing the odds against a lefty pitcher, and Ryan came up big, singling through the drawn in infield on the left side to tie the game. Then I won the game in the most unlikely way... With Ryan at the plate and Alex Liddi on second, I hit one deep in the hole at SS. I sent Liddi home, thinking Ryan would be thrown out but hoping maybe the SS Ramirez will make a throwing error, and Ryan beat out the throw for an infield single! The throw home was way late and game over. Nice to have my first winning streak...haven't had much offense to start the year so I'm taking baby steps. Next I have Felix taking the mound against Humber and hopefully this game won't reflect what happened in real life...

Major props for using the real Mariners. I about cracked my controller using them until I made some moves to help the team.