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Makin' it rain: Las Vegas Pacmen

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Now I have a better grip on my team I've decided to go with a team thread.

Overall I'm pretty happy with my team and the direction it's in. No one is slated to make more than 7M next year and I have a couple more nice role players due up to join my team next year. I've got a nice core of pre-arb guys and a huge stable of SPs who are young in my organization.

The big thing for me going forward will be finding more one to two-year deal FAs for the next couple years to fill gaps. Also will be trying to get value by trading guys where I have a surplus and get some assets in terms of future talent to make sure once my core goes to arb I can afford all of them.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Not going to lie… kinda missed having a thread for my musings. I am more immersed in the league and with renewed energy in the league (moar owners), I am ready to write again. In this piece I'm going to go over each position currently and the future.

Catcher

Well this was a huge question mark for me going into the season. Kim was good last year but I didn't feel like giving him the 10m that KWest did (and that was a good deal as it turns out). I have a young LH with zero WBL experience but a great AAA year last year in Umarah. The key for me is he hits left handed and is a 70 DEF so the idea was pair him with a lefty masher vet. I signed Lucas Cockburn to $5m one-year deal to do that. Umarah started out not good but ended up having a very solid season (2.0 WAR) and at OD age 25 he should have some reely good years in the future at 490k. Cockburn didn't give me what I needed (-1.0 WAR) and most importantly had a OPS under .600 against LHP. He was awful and won't be back.

THE FUTURE- Umarah will be the starting C for the next couple of years. I have a couple of real good prospects but they're young (17) and a couple guys in the upper minors who could be the lefty masher to Umarah including Indy Bernando Torres who I signed to a MLFA deal. He's my worst case starter for next year but I think I'm going to try and bargain another RH catcher who hits LHP well and hope he isn't as useless as Cockburn. Also won't waste $5m on Cockburn now knowing Umarah is a league average catcher.

First Base

Garcia Curto is probably a horrible fit for my ballpark and hasn't been that good for me. He had a horrific playoffs (1-for-16) and I benched him. A 2.2 WAR with major power last year but this year after having a .900 OPS in the first half was like .500 in the second half. Hersek Ertegun started getting starts at 1B because he was 70 DEF at 1B (Curto is 40) as well as he was hitting better than him at the end of the year.

THE FUTURE - It's kinda interesting what I do forward. No way I will extend or bring Curto back although he was 1.000+ OPS vs LHP. I have a LH Bin Hamal who was my 2038 1st rounder and between AA and AAA with a 1.100+ OPS and despite horrible raw ratings he is 60 DEF at 1B. I will play him next year for sure v LHP and probably platoon him v RHP. Not sure if it'll be at 1B or DH at this point though. His skills though are perfect for my park/offensive philosphy: LH hitter with gap and regular power and a good eye. Vs RHP I could go Cesar Sanchez with Ertegun sliding to 3B. Or maybe Bin Hamal could hit vs LHP if he's good enough. After that I have a player in A ball who is pretty good and just 18 with massive power who is far away but he's the only other long-term option I have at 1B.

Second Base

Kinda an uninteresting position for me since I took over Vegas. The CPU signed Hector Rivera to a six-year, $98m contract so I've been stuck with him. He's a solid defender (+2.2) but his production has been slipping. After being great in 2037+38 (5.2/4.2 WAR) he was hurt most of 2039 and this year was solid but not worth $16.4m (3.2 WAR). He won't hurt my team but his price tag makes him not allow me to go for big-time FAs. I used Vaidhrak as a defensive sub for him because a) he is a great defensive 2B and b) to try and limit injuries chances for Rivera. His BA and OBP are his two biggest strengths but he's not a star but again he won't kill you.

THE FUTURE -- Well for 2041 it's interesting. Rivera has a 16.4m PO that I think he will exercise. If this was reel life, I'd try to get him to agree to a 2/25 contract where he makes a bit less in 2041 but gets that extra year on his deal and 9m more guarenteed money. If he was a FA, I'd try to sign him for 2/18 or something like that. He's just 31 but it seems like to me the aging curve is a bit more harsh in this game. The other thing is there is a serious lack of 2Bs in the game and not many good FAs. So I'd bet I'm going with the same arrangement as 2039 this year which isn't bad. If he doesn't exercise his option then it's a bit of a murky situation. My system doesn't have any short-term (or really long-term) options at 2B so I think I'd go for a year of Vaidrak (who kills LHP but is bad vs RHP and a 80 DEF) to just get the defense. Maybe look to find a FA who hits RHP well and platoon them. But that would mess up SS because...

Shortstop

I used a strict platoon at SS this year. Elard Klattenberg is a SH who hits RHP well but isn't good for LHP. Vaidhrak has a 70 DEF at SS and a 1.000+ OPS against RHP. Kalttenberg was stellar defensively (+14.5 ZR) but had just a .645 OPS. He did have 11 HR and 23 SB but was god awful the last couple months of the year (.542, .403 OPS in Aug/Sept). I was actually pleased though because their combined WAR was about 3.0 which is average and again won't kill you especially when both players are pre-arb. Klatt also had 47 XBH which is a giant number for a SS making 140 starts.

THE FUTURE -- Eh another position I don't have any help on the way. The key is Klattenberg is just 25 and so good defensively that his offense can just be OK and he is good enough. I think the same arrangement this year with 30 yo Vaidrahk (DAMN THESE INTERNATIONAL NAMES) would yield fine results. If there was a position though I would make a blockbuster trade at, it would be SS. Like real life, not many good ones in this game. Also will try and draft one first chance I get or overpay as a IFA. I need some sort of long-term option.

Third Base

This position changed dramatically over the course of the year. I started out with the aforementioned Eretgun who isn't a bad minimum wage player. He's been about 1.8 WAR and was that again but his slash is usually lacking OBP and AVG while his SLG is good. He's just a bad fit for my ballpark. So midway through the year I brought up superstar prospect Cesar Sanchez who had a 1.048 OPS in 34 AAA games as just a 20 yo. He stumbled out of the gate (~.600 OPS first two months) but mashed his last two months (.923 OPS in Sept/over 1.000 OPS in playoffs). His problem? Not a great defender at 3B. He was -1.5 ZR in about 80 GS. The most exciting part about Sanchez for me is my scout has him with 75 potential at eye (already at 60). With his gap power he looks like the perfect #2 hitter for me.

THE FUTURE -- Here is where it gets interesting. My team values defensive especially on the infield. Do I move Sanchez to 1B where he is a lot better? The issue there is then I lose a lot of his value which is a 3B who can hit. I can play him at 1B vs LHP and have Ertegun at 3B vs LHP. But Ertegun isn't even an elite defender and himself much better at 1B. Do I sign a utility guy who is a great defender at 3B to take over for him? Does he improve at 3B being he just turned 21 or is he just below average there his whole career? Also McHeshi is an elite defensive 3B so do I look for a CF to cover for him and move Sanchez to 1B or even DH? The good news is I have lots of options at 3B.

Left Field

I made a trade for 37 yo Antonio Berrios for the year and was happy with the trade early. He had a .900 OPS through the first two months but after that was fairly mediocre and terrible in the playoffs for a 2.4 WAR. The best thing he did was provide stellar defense for me in my big LF. He was a stop gap and did his job. As for his back-up I went with Jon Cooper (got via waivers) and Michele Bucci (got via trade with Cairo). Each spent time in AAA and the WBL and both were OK while good defensively. The advantage Cooper has is he is a better defender at CF/RF whereas Bucci is elite at LF but not great everywhere else. This position was just a hold my ground place for me this year.

THE FUTURE -- Berrios is gone. I will look for another vet who can hit RHP and have Bucci and/or Cooper on the roster for LHP and maybe defense too. Bucci wasn't a wise aquisition because while desperate for LF depth he makes 2.8m the next two years while Cooper will be less than a mil each via arb. My fourth overall pick of last draf Farid is my top OF prospect and a 75 at all three positions so I have a future at LF that is probably about 1.5 years away. Again this position in 2041 looks like a hold the fort although I'd be willing to trade or sign a big-time FA here who hits RHP well for maybe a two year max deal.

Center Field

In 2038 Royce Eddy had a 3.5 WAR year and I thought with his 75 DEF in CF I had a guy for a few years. I was wrong. Eddy forgot to hit and I've DFA'd him once I brought up top prosect Dermott McHeshi. In just 90G the 21 yo McHeshi put up a 3.4 WAR with brilliant defense and hot hitting. He cooled off towards the end of the year but had a .815 overall OPS and a solid post-season (.770). He had a +8.6 ZR in 85 G too in CF which is incredible. I'm happy with him as a perfect fit for my park for a long time. He didn't hit LHP well and maybe he can get some rest days vs LHP in the future

THE FUTURE -- If he stays in CF, McHeshi. If he has to move because Sanchez sucks at 3B than Farid I'd guess but I feel really good here.

Right Field

Like 2B, the CPU hand cuffed me into Phil Thomas into a huge contract with a PO he picked up at 16m for this season. Thomas had been an incredible defender at RF (+15.7 ZR in 100G LY) but was just good this year (+10ZR in 140G). His hitting however went to hell as he's lost 130 points on his OPS since 2038. His WAR has gone from 4.0 to 2.0 to 1.0 the last three years. He hit well vs LHP but batted ninth vs. RHP. No one else played much at RF this season.

THE FUTURE -- Well early in the year when Thomas was playing decently I signed him to a $6m extension. My thinking was I have so many potential holes in 2041 why don't I sew up RF? Also he is 32 yo so he isn't ancient. I will be looking this off-season to grab a RF who hits RHP well and platoon him and use him as a defensive sub. If not, I expect a consolidation year and maybe he can hit the 2 WAR next year. I have a couple long-term prospsects at RF which is good.

DH

The best FA pick up per penny IMO last winter was Czar Lugin. All he did was collect a .936 OPS which was fourth in the league for just over $4m. The bad news is I was an idiot and didn't add a TO for 2041 so I'll lose him to FA. I thought about early in the year going for a 2/18 extension but didn't pull teh trigger. Now he wants 5/85 and for a 37 yo that is just flat out insane but he's a huge reason my team was good. Curto hit vs. LHP (well) at DH.

THE FUTURE -- I'll be fine with tons of options vs. LHP. VS. RHP will be the key. I'm not sure if I will just go in house or find another good FA. I don't think I'll find another treasure like the 1* Lugin but hope I can find someone close.


WISHLIST FOR JUST 2041
- Lefty mashing catcher (although I can promote in house if I can't get for the right price)
- Two good hitter vs LHP at 1B/LF/RF (I can play them either place and move guys around to DH if needed)
- 2B? (Depends on if Rivera exercises his option)

My offense isn't elite but it's more built to my ballpark/defense. I feel like it's good enough. Pitching coming up when I'm able to type again.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
So let's check out my pitching staff…

One of the interesting things about my staff last year and even this year is I had a couple guys who were RP who were good enough to be SP. I ended up switching around RP and SP a bit during the season so I'll look at each pitcher.

LHSP Reptile Tang -- Spent his first two years as a RP in the WBL. 2039 was hurt most of the year. All he did was lead the North in ERA at 2.94. He gets ground balls, he fits my park, he doesn't walk many, has a solid K-rate and the best part is the 26-year old has a little room for improvement according to my scout. He is just hitting arb so he's still cheap which helps me as well. He threw about 215 innings last year but with 75 stamina I'm not that alarmed. I had him on a 108 PC so that might be a soft 215 IP because he doesn't walk many he needs less pitches for those amount of innings. He will be my opening day starter barring a huge trade in 2041. I might look for a long buy out FA extension too after he settles his arb.

RHSP Bailey Challen - He just finished his fourth full year at just 24. His first two years his ERAs were 2.73 and 2.40 before 3.70 last year and a solid 3.40 this season. He has a great K-rate (about 8.5/9) and WHIP (4th in league) but his 44%GB leads to a ton of HRs. He's a six pitch pitcher who sits 99-101 so you think he should start but his 35 stamina scares me a bit long-term. At the same time he hasn't had a major injury in his career. I'm pretty happy to have him as a #3 SP who shifts to the bullpen for the playoffs. In the future if I got enough SPs I might consider making him a RP because of the stamina and inability to keep the ball in the yard. But he's just too valuable as a SP to move him to the pen in 2041.

RHSP Leggang Kusama - Like Tang he's been a RP for me (and started this year in the bullpen) who was dominating in the bullpen (1.64 ERA) before moving to the rotation where he had a 3.57 ERA. His 2.28 playoff ERA was huge too. His 40 stamina scares me but at just 25 he doesn't have that many innings under his belt. His biggest strength is his GB% which is at 69%. He also walked just 31 in 146 IP which helps. He fits my defense and I believe I will keep him in the rotation this year. Again a SP has so much more value than a RP and he has three good pitches plus a bad fourth so that's enough IMO to be a good starter. I had him at a 108 PC too so I think I'll keep that.

RHSP Geiler Shulz- He was one of (a ton) of rookies to give something to my team this year. Unlike the previous three, he is a pure SP. At 24, his 3.44 ERA was great over his 34 starts. The most exciting thing is my scout thinks his stuff and control can get much better. He throws hard (96-98) and has good stamina (55) with four pitches. One complaint is too many HRs and not high enough GB% but as his stuff gets better I imagine that'll be masked a bit. In just his second year will make the minimum next two years and no thoughts of moving him to the bullpen.

LHSP Earnest Kahl - Just 27 but for some reason his ratings are starting to go down. Players seem to age worse in this game than OOTP 13. His ERA has been between 3.61-3.78 the last three years as a consistent (at this point) 5th starter. He has dropped to a 55/50/60 pitcher with four pitches but only two good and a 40 stamina. He's signed through next year and that'll probably be it for him in my organization. I might look to trade him to a team that needs a solid #3-4 pitcher which is what I think he could be on an average pitching team. He is basically just a SP to me so I don't think I'd move him to the bullpen.

RHRP Danny MacDermid - I traded for hsi bloated contract (about 15m/year) for a fourth rounder as one of my first moves in the league. At 31, he started out leading the league in ERA (0.89 in first four starts) then went to hell as a SP (7.59 ERA in May) and sparked a move to the bullpen. In the pen he had 66K in 51 IP and was dominant in the playoffs (0R in 5G). I would've tried to extend him as a MR but he wants 3/36 which isn't happening. I might look for him in FA on a cheap deal as IMO he can be an awesome RP at this point in his career (99-101 mph) but he big problem is the long ball which is why I wouldn't start him anymore.

RHCL Ricard Townsend - Got hurt and missed the last couple months. Didn't have his best year and his career looks like it's going to hell a bit. In 37/38 he had ERAs of 1.90 and 2.00. The last two years he's had high 3 ERAs. In 2039 it was his BABIP going up 70 points. Last year K, BB, HR rates all got a little worse but he got injured and missed the last couple months. He is in his last year of arb and I don't have much of a desire to extend him. It'll be a wait and see with him this season.

RHRP Florian Legrand - At 32 he had been my smoke and mirrors RP the last couple years. Fluke 2.89 and 3.40 ERAs the last two years and a 4.47 this year with a great BABIP. Due to make about $900k in arb I decided to non-tender him. He isn't getting better and IMO isn't worth much. Wouldn't be shocked if I signed him to a MLFA deal in April as I don't see other teams going for him.

RHRP Professor Hung - Ended the year as my CL and this year also was a SP for a bit. He had a 3.47 overall ERA but a 2.47 as a RP (5.60 over four starts). The 29 yo I thought might be a good SP with 55 stamina but with just 2 good pitches he gave up tons of HRs. He could start in a pinch (if I went to seven with OU I was going to start him game 7). He's signed for $6.1m this year and it might be his last with my team. He's a great set up man and has value as a potential SP too which many of my RP do. Threw just three times in the playoffs where most of my games were blowouts either way.

LHRP Ben Parker - This 39 year old was a experiment in many ways. I decided to sign a LH specialist like Bochy does with the SF Giants and he had 59 app but just 22 IP. I figured I wanted a LH specialist because my park is geared towards helping LH hitters. He had just a 2.45 ERA against giving up just 2 R in his last 39 app not giving up a HR the whole season. I just signed him for just over a million and think (from within) I'll do a LH specialist again. Sadly I bet he never plays a WBL game again.

RHRP Teyk-Hyun Han - He's the ultimate BABIP fueled pitcher that I have. His ERA went from 4.90 to 2.80 this year and the biggest reason was his BABIP went down 100 points. Kinda a perfect MR (although I don't use them much because my SPs are good and get deep into games) he doesn't give up HRs but has a middling K-rate and his BB-rate isn't great either. Most importantly he's still pre-arb. Unfortunately he will probably miss all of 2041 with an injury he got in the playoffs which opens up a hole for me. I plan on him being on my team probably for the next couple years but wouldn't ever spend more than $2m for him to be with my squad.

LHRP Ufuk Inan - 25 yo pre-arb BABIP fueled pitcher… sound familiar? LY he had a 2.18 ERA and this year it was double at 4.70 because of … you guessed it his BABIP rising 80 points. LH hitters were 100 points lower on OPS so he just might be my LH specialist next year. Not a terrible option as MR (pitch less) but again with my SPs getting deep into games those guys don't throw much. From a WPA+ (which the game doesn't track) standpoint him being a LH specialist probably has the most value. Maybe a mop up guy too.

RHRP Shrimp Correa - Spent most of the year in AAA but looks like a good MR for next year. 43K 6BB 6HR in 41IP is pretty good raw stats in AAA. Was good in brief WBL spell. 60/55/70 are nice but his problem is he's essentially a one pitch pitcher (Cutter) with his second at just 45/60 pot right now. I think he'll be fine as a MR next year and hopefully at 25 his second pitch will develop. 70 stamina allows him to be an emergency SP type or once the season is over start some games to save innings.

LHSP bin Azar - he has five names so I'm just going with two of his. Stuck in AAA with my organization the last three years. Five pitches (four good) and a LH pitcher make him way better than his 1.5*. He isn't better as a RP which hurts his stock a bit but I could try him out as a second LH specialist this year/long reliever (which I don't need much again). At 27 he ain't getting better but I think he's ready to give me some solid low leverage innings. The Han injury gives him maybe a spot too.

THE FUTURE

I have a few good prospects but overall most of my SP/RP are very young and I'll be good there for a while. They're all aided by my team having the best BABIP too because of my defense. The key is using and finding more guys with better movement to use the defense more and limit HRs against. I was 2nd in the league in HRA but I think I can do better especially in the ballpark I play in which isn't a HR park. As for guys to look out for, Rafeal Franco is a 22 yo who is ready and reely good. The problem is no where for him to pich. Also Ila Karpavov could be an elite LH specialist/set up gut or very good RP so I need to find him a spot as he's ready and 22 with explosive stuff. I have a lull in AA but some good long term projects in A-ball as well with a great rotation there.

Overall my pitching is good now and will be good for a bit. It is the strength of my team (with defense)

WISHLIST

- Pool assets for a dominant RP or two. I believe that's the last part of the team I need to improve significantly.
- Maybe a Clinch type ace?
- Trade pitching depth for hitting prospects.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Shorter post… I swear.

OFF-SEASON DECISIONS

1. To spend or not to spend? I've been about even my first three years in the WBL. This is the year I need to make some money, gather some cash because my team as is (maybe add $20m in payroll) can make the playoffs. I think I might take on one guy in the last year of his contract as a hitter. I also might spend But...

2. Go big in IFA? This would be really my first year in the WBL where I can spend ridiculous amounts in IFA. My roster doesn't need much help and I have tons of room. The IFAs aren't great this year but spending tons of them could help me because...

3. SOS to the Farm System. I was ranked 4th at the start of last year but this year's lineup will feature four of those prospects, one SP and three RP so basically I've graduated seven guys from the system. Now? It's 8th and will dive down to probably 12-13th in the League. I have some good SP in A and one good OF in AA who should help by the end of the year but it's extremely thin. The good news is I have so many minimum guys on my WBL team that I can live without promoting guys for 1-2 years. The bad news is I need depth to make trades.

4. Anyone need a SP? My depth on my WBL team has been SP and yet I can't trade one away. In the UBL, I would've gotten some awesome packages for my SPs but in the WBL with significantly more SP it's been hard to get quality.

5. Finding runs. I do need to improve my offense and losing best hitter (Lugin) doesn't help. A full year of Sanchez/McHeshi (and their improvement) will help. I expect bin Hamal to be better than Curto. I expect to get a better lefty mashing C. But the huge thing is getting two LHs at anywhere of DH, 1B, LF, RF.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Made my first ML signing of the off-season...

Sign DH/C Phillip Oort to a one-year, $9m contract

The first thing is I believe if I held off for a bit I could've gotten him for $5-6m and/or gotten a TO in there too. But this, like Lugin last off-season, was the player I ID'd as the the one I really wanted. As for as his skills, they are eroding at 35 but LY he had a .890 OPS at a similar park when it comes to rates. My park actually will increase his doubles/triples too. He is a 20 DEF at catcher (more on that later) but was just -2.4 ZR in 88 GS. Strangely he is a great base runner (75)/stealer (70) with decent speed (45).

As far as where he fits on my team it depends on what I do the rest of the off-season. As of now I have him as DH v RHP and in games vs LHP he will come off the bench as my top PH once a RHP comes in. I have Bernando Torres as my back-up C who is good vs. LHP but has never played a minor league or major league game. I also think Oort (or Umarah) is a better hitter vs. LHP still too.

So with his OK defense at C, do I make up him back up C and back up DH where he plays often as a DH and a C maybe every 5 games? If I am able to get Lugin back or another DH type how much does that halp my offense especially late in games when they can PH for worse hitters? Do I improve my team runs scored by 15-20 if I have one of them over Torres on my roster?

I think I'm going to go after another DH type if the one that fits comes up.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Las Vegas Sends:
LHP Karpenkov (WBL)
LF Jon Cooper (WBL)
RF Phil Thomas (WBL)

Amsterdam sends:
DLS (WBL)
$3m

My biggest blockbuster since I went for Alfredo Olivas back in the day. I get a huge upgrade at RF for this season. Defensively I improve with a guy who is averaging +20 ZR/year. I have a big RF and I pride my team on defense so this is a big piece in that. Oh and he's a way better hitting than Thomas who has had his career go to hell.

I believe I need to make the playoffs this year and I saw my team as possibly getting some downward years at certain positions. DH and RF I saw as two positions before the trade I wouldn't be better. I also don't know if my pitching will be as good so I need to make 100% sure that I make the playoffs.

The doh Philosphy is to just make the playoffs every year and this in a way goes against it in a way. Yes it is to make sure I make it but this is to try and become more elite.

Karpenkov I see as either an elite RP or a good SP. His issue is 35 stamina and he's never played in the WBL but I think he is by far the best piece in this trade and with the going rate for RP being ridiculous he is very valuable. He is also a LHP which I like.

Cooper I got off waivers from Amsterdam. He's an elite defender and a solid hitter at arb-2. I will miss him as my 4th OF is now not as good with him gone. Thomas had been an elite defender but is now just average. His STaRrRz are almost even with DLS and he will be better in the ballpark he is going to. I traded him because I have no use for him/shed $6m. I wouldn't be shocked if he plays the whole year if his WAR is within 1.5 of DLS. The $3m helps pay the salary.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
A couple moves before the year starts...

Signed LF Antonio Berrios to a one-year, $4.9m contract

Kinda like last year I have a huge void at LF and go with solid Berrios. I love his 75 DEF and LH ability. I'm going to try and play him less this year as LY he wilted as the year went on. Still posted a solid 2.4 WAR but just a 103 OPS+ which needs to be better. No risk on the deal at just one year too.

Signed MR Tacito Franchi to a one-year, $1.8m contract

After I traded Karpenkov I needed another solid MR. I was shocked to se Franchi still out there and not asking for that much. LY he had a nice with a 3.43 ERA with a high .313 BABIP. His BABIP will be lower on my team. My one major issue with him is he is not great at keeping the ball in the yard which is my #1 skill I like for a RP.

Signed UTIL Chi-Ju Duan to a one-year, $900k contract

This is actually my most interesting of the three deals. First he is a bad hitter but a LH hitter which adds a little value. Way more interestingly he is a 80 at 2b/3b and a 75 at SS. This means I can use him a defensive sub at 3B (w/ Vaidrak at 2B) and help me late in games. Also when I have a high GB% pitcher going (like Kusama) I could plug him in for Rivera at 2B or Sanchez at 3B. If I go with a 11-man pitching staff Duan could be a super sub and add a ton of value to my club.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Ready for Opening Day and here is my position by position analysis of my team. I'm organizing it as improved position/same/worse as opposed to last year. I'll probably have a random questions/answers post today as well. I've got WBL on the mind.

I was happy winning 101 games last season but the North is a lot better this year. I also did have a couple injuries last year but nothing that killed my team. I believe it was just Berrios (who always gets hurt) and Townsend (did hurt me in the playoffs losing a RP) so I was lucky in that respect. I agree with the pre-season predictions that just Tankee will be under .500. The NL is going to be awesome and not as easy to get into the playoffs this year.

POSITIONS IMPROVED: 3B, CF, RF, Bench

3B/CF I didn't change at all but will be better over the course of 162 than last year. McHeshi in CF is maybe the best defensive CF in the game and a good hitter who gets a full year in the WBL. Sanchez at 3B is a OBP machine who is getting better defensively who like McHeshi only spent half the year in WBL. Both are in their age 22 season so I expect them to also improve their rate stats as well. Duan as Sanchez' defensive caddy will bring a little extra value to 3B as well.

DLS is a giant upgrade to Phil Thomas in RF offensively and defensively. DLS had a 7.0 WAR advantage on Thomas last year. It won't be that big this year (I predict about 2.0) but he fills a huge hole in my lineup.

The Bench is just way better than it was last year. Duan can do a lot of things and can be a PR specialist too. Vaidrak can defend and hit LHP. Bucci isn't terribe? The big addition is Eretgun who IMO could start at 3B for a lot of teams in the league. He will play 1B and a little RF as well. MY back up C is a good hitter too.

POSITIONS ABOUT THE SAME: C, 1B, 2B, SS, LF, RP

Catcher I could actually see a bit of an improvement. I think Umarah will be about the same (solid avg/obp with gap power) but his back up is improved. Skid Row kills LHP and is decent against RHP. Cockburn last year was just awful against both so maybe a 1.0-1.5 WAR improvement there. Umarah will probably be around the same.

bin Hamal might be the key to my team this year. At 1B I don't have much else but I do finally get a LH at 1B after Curto LY. Also Ertegun with him will improve the defense by a lot. Hitting wise bin Hamal Ks so much I don't know if it'll be offset by his power/eye. I could see him being sent down after about 4-5 sims. I could see him having an OPS around .875.

2B/SS are almost exactly the same. Hector Rivera at 2B isn't someone who kills you. His $16.4 salary sucks but he is just solid. Using Vaidrak as his defensive caddy adds about 2-3 ZR of value to the position. Duan also will give him a little rest vs. RHP. At SS Klattenberg vs. RHP/Vaidrak vs. LHP again. Klatt had about 50 XBH and 23 SB but a god awful OBP. Sitll they combined for about a 2.5 WAR last year which I will take at SS in a league without much good SS play.

Antonio Berrios was basically replacement level with 103 OPS+ and I re-signed him. I don't like Bucci replacing Cooper for the rest ABs. At the same time I think I will have Berrios rest more because he wilted as the season went on. I don't feel great about this position though. Maybe a late season trade.

My RP adds Franco and bin Azar who should be good. They get Townsend back from injury while losing Han to injury who has been solid. I think it'll be a wash compared to last year. RPs are just crap shoots and they were about where they should be last year.

POSITIONS WEAKER: DH, SP

As of now I just see a big drop off at DH. Lugin last year was 4th in OPS and just flat out awesome. Oort I hope to do the same thing this year but I wouldn't bet on it. I see a big drop off here. Also vs LHP Curto was 1.000+ at DH and this time around I don't have an obvious DH v LHP.

SP I've been lucky with injuries so far. I do have depth there with RPs who can fill in and one at AAA who is ready. But I fear the injury bug will hit me.


OVERALL

This is another team built on defense. I also have speed which is the opposite of what I usually want on my teams. Hitting wise I expect to score more runs even though I lost Lugin. I expect offensive numbers to improve at four positions and go down at probably 2. I just see my lineup as a lot more complete after having complete holes at CF, 3B and RF for huge parts of last year.

Again I see my team as being top 2-3 in runs against if not the best. Hitting wise I hope to be top 4 but probably will be 5th or so.

My weakness is pretty clear. I have no help on the way so injuries would kill my team. Last sim I signed about 5-6 AAA filler guys who could be decent but I can't afford injuries at all. Also some pitchers having down years could hurt me.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Here are the questions I have for the upcoming year/random thoughts post...

1. 11-man staff?

I've been thinking about going with an 11-man pitching staff. The main reason is my SPs usually go deep into games so I have sims where certain guys in my bullpen don't pitch. I see other teams have MRs who throw 75-85 innings and mine are closer to 55-60.

The other side is this allows me more specialists on my bench which IMO should help late in close games.

I'm thinking about sim by sim looking at how tired my bullpen is and promoting/demoting accordingly. Also thinking about puttig Kahl or other SP in the pen for certain sims (like the first) where there are extra days rest. Will depend on how much time I want to spend on the game.

2. Who to extend? Who to walk?

One of the big questions for my team as the season goes on is which guys to extend and which to let walk. I have possible FAs at backup C, UTIL, 2B, LF, RF, DH, SP5, CL, SU8, MR, MR. That's a lot. But I also have (as of now) $68m in extension space.

As the year goes, I rather evaluate guys than sign them at the start of the year. My attitude has always been I rather overpay by $3m/year on a guy I want than spend money on a guy I don't want. I learned my lesson from the moronic $6m signing of Phil Thomas last year and won't make that mistake again. I don't imagine extending the back up C, Berrios in LF, Ooort at DH.

But Rivera at 2B is a guy I want to extend because of the lack of good players there. I just checked and he wants 6/105 so that isn't happening yet. Duan I might re-sign if he proves useful enough. Townsend the CL wants about 3/20 right now and I might re-sign him. Professor Hung wants about 2/20 which is too much but I might take him. Franchini is a maybe. Kahl the #5 SP I wouldn't sign for more than a year extension. His skills have diminished and there are tons of great SPs in FA every year.

DLS is the one to really watch. He wants a monster deal and I have space for a monster deal. But is he worth it? Do I roll the dice and see if I can get him cheaper in FA?

3. Not last in SB?

Every year I'm usually last in SB in my league. This year with guys like Sanchez, DLS, Klattenberg, McHeshi and even Oort I have players who can actually run. I also think this team isn't as good hitting as my Winnipeg teams so they need SBs more than I used to.

It goes against my ideas on how to build a team but these are the cards I was dealt.

4. SOS to Farm System (still)

I still need to find a way to get some talent into my system. Maybe trade away pieces or something but it seems like no one wants to trade prospects in the league.

5. The "Window" Closing?

Right now I'm set up perfectly for a run. All my SPs are pre-FA and I have players who are pre-arb at SP2, C, 1B, 3B, CF, three RP who are all key to my team too. Salary wise I have to pay a lot of people in the upcoming years so I'll have to make decisions.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
The DLS Factor: Does Las Vegas extend him?

As the season there are a lot of things I'm going to look at and monitor. To me the biggest on the field story is simply will I hit enough HRs to have a good team? I could write a long post about that but I'll look at the biggest off the field story: Do I extend DLS?

First of all in the trade I gave up a great 4th OF (Jon Cooper) and a very good SP/elite RP in Karpenkov which isn't a giant price but also isn't a cheap one. I got Cooper via waivers but I love his game and could use him this year. Karp is the big prize as there's a lack of quality LHP in the game IMO.

DLS doesn't exactly fit my park offensively too. My park favors LH hitters. It does help guys who hit for gap power like him but it's not going to get his best numbers like he had at Amsterdam last year. On the other hand I have a very big OF so defensively having a good RF helps and he's been the best RF defensively in the game for a while. SSS but he hasn't been great so far. The good news is he had a good week last week.

With those factors in mind, what is DLS worth in a long term deal? Right now he wants 35M/year over six. There is just one guy making more than $25m/year in the league (Pottenger) and he is at a premium offensive position. I don't know if I'd sign him for more than $25m/year. If he wants that then I'd just take my chances in FA that I can get him back.

Reasons to keep: he isn't that old (28) and should have 3-4 more real good seasons. Elite defensively. I don't have any long-term deals and nothing on the books next year except arb (with just one over $10m and only two over $3.2m). I have $83m in space. Don't have to worry about RF for a few years in an org where I don't have obvious long-term solutions at 1b, 2b, SS (not sold on Kattenberg), LF, DH. Only one injury more than two weeks the last six years.

Reasons to let go: Might be able to get him cheaper in FA. Have some OF options in the minor league system. OF is a position where you can find FAs quite easily. Keep my payroll flexibility. Need to re-sign guys at other positions so save money on RF where I can go cheap on FA. Not getting the best out of him in my ballpark. Decline is coming.

The verdict is if I can get him to sign for under $20m/year I might go as far as three or four years. If not, play out the year with him and maybe at the deadline trade him or just hold onto him and see how my team does.
 

OU11

Pleighboi
Utopia Moderator
I can't believe he wants that much, maybe Quale is right about the person who wins the Bat or Arm Wizard award's demands skyrocketing.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
In an extremely strange turn of events I just went into his extend page and he wants 23m/year for six. I offered 19m/year for four and a strange salary scale (it goes down about 2.5 mil a year starting at 24m because I have guys who are cheap now expensive later). I think he will accept it.
 

OU11

Pleighboi
Utopia Moderator
In an extremely strange turn of events I just went into his extend page and he wants 23m/year for six. I offered 19m/year for four and a strange salary scale (it goes down about 2.5 mil a year starting at 24m because I have guys who are cheap now expensive later). I think he will accept it.

Good, I was feeling kinda bad about that :laughing:
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Eh comes with the territory. I was in shock when I just looked and he was interested. It's officially 4/80.8M.

I'm going with 24M at the start and it scales down to $17m in his last year.
 

OU11

Pleighboi
Utopia Moderator
I should front load more often. I haven't had the need to do it yet though, should have done it with Wong's in hindsight. Wazir and Nico both signed for less than I thought they would so I just went even numbers with how my current budget is sitting.
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
That's a good deal doh. Nice work. Front loading is great if you have room in the budget. Gives you flexibility going forward.

I wish my my budget wasn't so bad. Silky could prob be extended cheap with how he is playing. By mid-season he will want $35m :laughing:
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
I am happy front loading this one because all my best players are pre-arb or arb guys so I have tons to spend next off-season. There are probably 2-3 guys I want to extend.

Hopefully DLS takes the extension tho :laughing:

Another good thing is I might be able to load up my OF so McHeshi can move to 3B (improve defense there) and Sanchez can move to 1B/DH.
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
McHeshi is my favorite player of yours. Been following him a while and tried to trade for him.
 

fignuts

See You Next Wednesday
Pic or gtfo.

Ywmpqzu.gif
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Made some changes to the lineup/pitching wise...

Signed Czar Lugin to a one-year, $5m contract

After finishing fourth in OPS in the NL last year I let Lugin go because of age. I thought Phillip Oort who had nearly a .900 OPS last year would fill his shoes. He has not so I signed Lugin. He will DH every other game (I'm not 100% giving up on Oort yet) and play 1B every 4th game.

Sent down 1B bin Hamal and SS Kattenberg; Start Vaidrakh

bin Hamal was my rookie that I pray does well. LY he had a 1.100+ OPS between AA and AAA but evidently isn't ready as he posted an awesome .442 OPS at 1B. It's a SSS (30 ABs) and I need his power but I just can't afford where I am in the standings to waste ABs on him so I sent him to AAA. He still have development left (especially in his power) so hopefully he can come back later in the year. His ABs will go to Ertegun/Lugin.

Kattenberg posted a 2.0 WAR last year with great defense and tons of XBH/a few SBs but this year has been an abomination. A .515 OPS isn't going to cut it and his defense has been good but not elite. Duan/Vaidrakh are both better defenders and Vaidrakh has been better defensively and has a SSS .900+ OPS. LY he had a 113 OPS+ too so I'll just let him hit vs. RHP and have Duan start a 1-2 times a week at SS too.

Bring up Shrimp Correa; Put Professor Hung into SP, send Kusama to RP (ending the 11-man staff experiment for the time)

The biggest problem I think I have with my 11-man staff is that I have a LH specialist whose gotten a total of five outs so far this year.

Anyways I bring up Correa who had a sub 3 ERA in AAA which with my terrible defensive AAA team and how that league plays is huge. Hung has been good in the bullpen (2.70 ERA) but he desires to be a SP while Kusama wants to be in the pen and was horrific as a RP (6.50+ ERA).

I'm hoping these changes do something. Normally I'm a big picture, let things happen type of guy. I'd probably let bin Hamal/Oort get out of their slumps but with how the NL is and how I've done so far (13-18) I can't afford to waste any time.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Las Vegas sends:
DH Phillip Oort (WBL)
SS Ivan Knudsen (AAA)
3rd Round pick

Buffalo sends:
MR Jamie Lee (WBL)

So I made this trade a few sims ago. In some ways it is a salary dump as Oort was a disaster for me. Making $9m he had just a .522 OPS after having a .522 slugging % last year. Maybe it's because I put him at DH and not C? I do not know though.

Knudsen is a AAAA player. He's spent the last three years on my AAA team sporting over a .850 OPS over the time. Good defender at 2B/SS and IMO can work in a platoon at either position as he hits RHP well. All about his eye and gap power though so I don't know if his 40 contact is good enough in the WBL. It's worth a try though.

Lee has seen his ERA skyrocket over the last few years. 2.95 to 4.32 to 7.66 to 9.82 this years. His BABIPs have gone from .255 to .326 to .393 to .450 this year. I'm baking lowering his BABIP (I lead the league in lowest BABIP) will cure a lot of other problems. His K-rate has been steady at around 12 per 9 which I like. His HR/9 has been over 2 the last two years after being under 1 his first two so I think getting more outs via BABIP will help with that a lot. 8K, 2BB, HR in 8.1IP so far for me is a step in the right direction.

Overall not just a salary dump but a chance to hope Lee is good. Knudsen could be useful for me next year at 2B but is blocked by similar (and better) skillset of Kattenberg at SS.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Random thoughts on the year…

I've had some players have much worse years than last year and it's killed me. Specifically first in the rotation:

-- Tang went from top ERA in the NL to a 3.97 (over a run higher). HRs allowed a BABIP and a slight decrease in K-rate have all been factors.
-- Ernest Kahl went from 3.47-3.71 range ERA the last four years to 4.37 this year. His issue has been BABIP and walk rate going up a ton. His HR allowed has actually been better.
-- Geiler Shulz had a 3.44 ERA last year to 4.22 this year. Everything is worse despite about the same BABIP.

My bullpen has actually been better thanks to the additions of Correa/Franco. Bringing back Kusama and Professor of late has helped the cause a bit.

There have been a few disasters in the lineup. I didn't think I'd have enough power but could make it up other ways. Man I was wrong… some examples:

-- At catcher, Umarah has had a brutal season. He hit 12 HRs last year and .774 OPS. This year? 1 HR, .650 OPS. Just a disaster.
-- My 2B Rivera is normally solid and isn't a black hole at his position. This season he's lost 50 points on his OPS
-- Shortstop has been the worst drop off. Last year the platoon of Kattenberg/Vaidrak was worth about 3 WAR. This year they have a combined -3 VORP with Kattenberg sporting a .195 average. Not good.
-- I didn't expect DLS to put up close to 8 WAR again and his defense has been elite but the loss of 130 points of his OPS is concerning. The good news is since I put him at lead off he's hit a lot better.

Berrios/Lugin have been my best two hitters this season but only started a combined 95 games this year.

The good things about this year:

-- Ertegun has finally had a breakout year with a .829 OPS. I hope next year he is my super back up at 1B/3B/RF getting ABs vs LHP.
-- McHeshi .833 OPS as a 22-year old is good especially his 14 HRs. If he can be a elite defender with 20+ HRs, gap power and .300 average I'll love him at CF for years.
-- Sanchez turned a corner offensively. At a young 22, he's got a .366 OBP which will be his calling card (still developing his eye with 75 potential).
-- Correa/Franco at 2.84 ERA have both had great rookie years in the bullpen.

All the said, I don't think the season is over. If I get some consistency from my rotation and Berrios/Lugin stay healthy I can make a run. The big problem is getting zero from C/SS and not much from 2B. The way my lineup is my best hitters aren't "carry the team" guys so I need good hitters 1-9.
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
Is there more offense in the division this year? My staff has had similar struggles.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Ertegun as a super-backup? Perhaps we talk in the offseason if you see him that way.
I've been trying to trade him for years where the hell have you been? :laughing:

I originally had him slated to start vs LHP at 1B, defensive sub at 1B, start every 20th game at 3B and RF, start every 5th game at 1B vs RHP with Bin Hamal as the 1B vs. LHP. Bin Hamal started out awful (just 30 ABs but I couldn't afford to wait him out) and Ertegun has had a good year. IMO he can be a top 5 3B in the league but I have Sanchez there.

Is there more offense in the division this year? My staff has had similar struggles.

I'm thinking that some power was added to the division or maybe has been more healthy this year. My staff's had lots of problems with HRs against (they've almost all had a significant increase).
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
I'm thinking that some power was added to the division or maybe has been more healthy this year. My staff's had lots of problems with HRs against (they've almost all had a significant increase).

:trollface:
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
My staff hasnt really seen a difference in HR, but BABIP definitely seems higher. I guess it could be my defense.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Defense in the game in general is a joke. I have all 75-75-75 in my OF, 70-55-65-55 in IF. So basically all Gold Gloves in OF, very good at 1B/SS and slightly above league average at 2B/3B.

I lead the league at .702 DEff. In MLB, that's about 17th.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Couple notable transactions:

Las Vegas sends:
2nd Rounder
Leslie Jordan (AAA)

BA sends:
SS Porky Ogawa (WBL)

This was my only move of the deadline. I was really looking to adding a rental to sure up my #5 SP or catcher position but I couldn't find someone cheap and I had already exhausted almost all of my draft picks.

Ogawa is a need/team fit. His 80 DEF at 2B/75 at SS fits with how I value defense on my team. His 65 power and 24 HRs this year was badly needed by my team. Also the fact that he's a switch hitter helps as well. I just wish he was better against RHP than LHP. But power from the left side fits into my park as does decent gap power. I try to usually go for players who walk more but I have enough walking on my team and need some power badly. To get power at SS is a huge advantage.

Two more big things with him: 1. He is signed through next year (and I'm about to extend him). I have my 2B Rivera entering his FA year so I can get a player at SS or 2B to pair with him for next season. 2. Kattenberg had been such a black hole that literally anything is better than him.

Losing a 2nd Rounder certainly hurts. I need to replenish my farm system.

Leslie Jordan was a 2nd rounder in 2038 which I believe was our first draft. He's just 23 and provides depth to my system. I'm not quite sure how good he will be in the WBL. He has a solid K-rate but does walk a lot of guys. His 60 movement should keep the ball in the yard. I see him as a #4/5 type guy.

Signed LF Antonio Berrios to a one-year $4.6m extension

Berrios has been awesome for me this year (3.4 WAR in just 89 GS) which is third in the NL. The two guys ahead of him have each started 20 more games too. I see this as his last year with me as a bridge to my first year with Farid in the bigs. I think Farid will make his debut sometime mid next season.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Thoughts on the end of the year…

It looks like a three team for two spot race coming down the wire. Seoul could make a push too. Some random thoughts:

McHeshi Injury Hurts

He's put together the 4th best WAR in the NL with surprising power (25 HR, .500 SLG) and a great average. I had to make a decision with him too. I decided to put him on the DL which means I lose him the next two full sims. If I didn't, there was a chance he is ready by late the next sim.

I've decided to call up old Pac Man Royce Eddy who is an elite defender and solid vs LHP. He can also pinch run. Bucci will start against LHP with Eddy as his defensive replacement.

Home, Sweet Home

I always try to gear my teams to fit my park. LH hitting. Gap Power. LH pitching. This year I'm 13 games over .500 at home while just two on the road. Huge for my team: I have seven more home games than road games left. It'll be virtually even after this week I have six at home this week.

Schedule Advantages

Looking at the end of the year, the last month is virtually all in the same division. Teams now face their own division then two series out of the division before finishing up with seven straight series' inside their division. I have an advantage over teams in the running for the Lamb (MOS, HEL, SEO)… looking at the current in division series and two non-division series:

Moscow v. Berlin, KWest, Aussies
Helsinborg v Seoul, False Bay, KWest
Las Vegas v Istanbul, BA, Kabul
Seoul v Helsinborg, Cairo, False Bay

Getting two against Tankee is a nice bonus as is not having to face a SL team with a winning record. Seoul probably has the 2nd easiest. They also get to have a four game series with Istanbul during the last month while the other three all get three game

Final Series Key

Last series of the year for me will be against Moscow. Could decide the first or second Lamb.

No Rest for the Weary

I was thinking about using some four-man rotations so I don't have to start Atkinson but after a Monday off day this sim I have just one off-day left on my schedule.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
With the minor league season over, I've decided to name my top 20 prospects… will update this post later

1. 23 yo OF Numad Farid, AAA (Iran)

The 5th overall pick of the 2040 draft had a .857 OPS in AA before ending the year with a week in AAA. He's an elite defender (75+ at all three positions) and skills fit my park (LH hitter, gap power, solid regular power). He fits to take over at LF for Berrios.

ETA: Mid 2042

2. 18 yo RHSP Jose Romero

3. Paz

4. Mobbs

5. Felliti

6. Hollingsworth

7. Opie

8. Medina

9. Garcia

10. Manley

11. Bogers

12. Ebdussud

13. Clancy

14. Rivera

15. Flores

16. Wilkins

17. Spagnulo

18. Barnes

19. Atif

20. Sellars
 

Yankee151

Hot Girl Summer
Actually listing out prospects is a great exercise. The OSA top 20 list is always pretty wrong in comparison to my own values.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Actually listing out prospects is a great exercise. The OSA top 20 list is always pretty wrong in comparison to my own values.
Yes it doesn't have Paz in my top 20 when he's 4-5* potential catcher with 80 power potential.
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
This is his first season out of the complex. In sure he will pop up next year. It's also based on OSA ratings, not your scout's.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
So as I sit here at the end of my year I am fairly satisfied with how this year turned out. I had a lot of regression but my main pieces seemed to deliver. Away we go with a position by position look into my organization.

Catcher

What a black hole of a position this season. LY as a rookie lefty hitting Umarah was extremely solid (.774 OPS, 2.0 WAR) and the minimum from someone who starts just 120 games a 2.0 WAR at catcher will do. This year he was flat out bad (.670 OPS, -0.3 WAR) with his power draining (12 to 4 HRs) being the main culprit. A lot was BABIP based (.313 to .276) but losing 35 points on his ISO hurts. My backup wasn't good either as I started with Lentulov before calling up Bernardo Torres who had just a .642 OPS.

Future

I think both players are better than they played this year and as of now I'll be going with both next year in their roles. Unless a stud catcher comes along via trade or FA I think both will have consolidation years and put together a solid platoon. I might rest Umarah a bit more too. Esteban Paz in A ball just finished his age 17 year with a very respectable .755 and with 80 power potential according to my scout has about a mid 2044 ETA for me if he isn't traded first.

First Base

The year started with a bin Hamal v RHP/Ertegun v LHP platoon. It ended up with Erty getting 136 starts at 1st. He produced a .791 OPS, 2.8 WAR and +7 ZRs at first. A bad July (.632) prevented him from having a monster year. Bin Hamal had 37K in 84 AB. He's still just 24 but I fear his K rate might be just too much for him to be great in the WBL. The encouraging news is he was much better in his second stint with the big club with 3 HRs in about 50 ABs. He has elite power and sported a 1.103 OPS in AAA so I think he will eventually break out. The 45 contact and 40 avoid Ks both scare me though and he has no chance v LHP.

Future

At this point I still need to see what bin Hamal has. This year I couldn't give him too many ABs because I believed it would be too tight a race to waste them. The good news is this year he got 75 more starts in AAA which I think will help his development. I have two interesting prospects in A-Ball that are very raw and far away.

Second Base

This has been the least interesting position for me. I inherited a $16.4m/year deal for Hector Rivera who was again solid. He started 154 games for the second straight year putting up a 2.5 WAR

STAT HEAD ALERT: As I just said he had a 2.5 WAR. Last year he had a 3.2 WAR. ZRs was about the same. His OPS went up 2 points and OPS+ just down 1 yet he lost 0.7 WAR. Seemed odd.

Future

Rivera is a FA and I have a couple options. Porky Ogawa will either start here or SS next year depending on what I do. I could start Kattenberg and find a vs. RHP hitter pair in my organization. I have a few AAA types that are solid and could do it. I could also see if I can get Rivera at a huge discount or another FA.

Shortstop

My 2040 situation was a lot better than 2041. Kattenberg regressed at the start of the year with his OPS dropping 30 or so points and his defense being not as good. Vaidrahk last year killed LHP but this year couldn't do much and got old. I traded for Porky Ogawa who doesn't bring OBP but brings Power against RHP which is what my team desperately needs. He's also an elite defensive player. He ended up leading the league in HRs by 7 amongst SSs.

Future

Ogawa is signed through 2044. He will be here or 2B for the future. I have a guy I like in AAA in Spagnolo.

Third Base

It was a great age-21 year for Cesar Sanchez who put together a 3.6 WAR. He is still developing and once his eye is fully developed (up to 75) I see him as a .400 OBP machine. Still young and getting better defensively as well. Excited to see his future with my team.

Future

Sanchez show. Might try to get a LH hitting back up at 2B/3B/SS like Duan again and give him maybe a little more time off. Hope he also hits some more HRs.

Left Field

I went with Berrios in left again and he had a monster season. He put together a .902 OPS with a 4.9 WAR (in just 119 GS). Of course he got hurt which is what he does. Michele Bucci as his backup wasn't good or bad. I still am waiting on him to actually hit LHP well.

Future

I signed Berrios to a one-year deal and would love just a 2.5 WAR year from him. He lost a little defensively and his numbers are declining but I think he will be good another year. I have a surefire prospect in Farid who will be ready mid next year. I also signed Sam Boessen to give Berrios every 5th or so day off next season as I want to rest him more. Bucci should start vs. LHP to start the year at least.

Center Field

Demott McHeshi was fourth in WAR in the NL before he got hurt. Not bad for a age-22 year. He's elite defensively and offensively good at everything, great at nothing. Hopefully the injury thing isn't going to come back again as I am thin behind him at CF.

Future

McHeshi although I'm hoping to find a lefty mashing defensive CF to give him some more days off.

Right Field

The DLS trade was the biggest of my off-season. I was happy with it as DLS with a .767 OPS. Way more importantly he was an outrageous +23 ZR in RF. He's signed for a 4/81 contract but if he continues to put up 5+ WAR years it is worth it. He struggled a bit to start the year but once I put him at leadoff he hit .308 with a .388 OBP.

Future

DLS for a bit. Boessen will get some starts here too against RHP.

DH

Well what a disaster to start the year. Oort (.522 OPS at 9M) and Bin Hamal both shit the bed so re-enter Czar Lugin who again was very good. He had a .950+ OPS until a .684 OPS September and a .206 OPS in the playoffs. Former pitcher Falacheria had a.880 OPS vs LHP.

Future

Not sure. Boessen right now is my default vs. RHP DH. Maybe two-way player Cliff Johnson can DH vs. RHP and former pitcher Falacheria can DH vs. LHP is the worst case scenario.
 
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doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Ask and you shall receive.. I'll post up pitcher thoughts then might do the Doh Philosophy on simulation baseball.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Some thoughts on going into the off-season (no real moves have been made) and decisions to make:

Do I stick with the Umarah (LH) and Torres (RH) platoon at C?

I think I will unless a big-time catcher is on the move. Umarah had a good 2040 then bad 2041. I think i'll try to give him extra rest and hope he hits like he did in 2040 and not 2041.

Berrios goes Jim Unknown

My star LF who put up a 4.7 WAR while being out a month decided to walk away from $4.6m and retired. The Sam Boessen random signing late last year looks huge. As of now a him v RHP/Bucci v LHP and defensive replacement platoon is the way to go. There are a couple FAs that interest me. The other thing is Farid is waiting in the wings and IMO might just need 1-2 months at AAA before he is ready.

Who's on First; What's on Second?

The Erty trade has left a bit of a void at 1B. Bin Hamal in theory should work vs. RHP and I could slide Sanchez over for LHP (with McHeshi going to 3b) or just get a lefty masher. Or play Falacheria vs. RHP. 2B might be a bit harder to replace. No one is out there in the trade market and I don't have any obvious in house solutions. I might play Kattenberg and find a lefty masher to platoon with him. The big thing is I either want someone who rakes or someone who is a great defender over someone who is solid at both.

Farm Reinforcements

The Erty trade provided me with one reely good 2B prospect and another guy in Goose who I like as a utility player. I still think I need to get more players to the farm and hope to spend my whole $4m in IFA.

Last two SP spots

I am set in the bullpen and at 1-3 SP. I need to complete my rotation. I think one of the guys I'll target I will get this sim on FA who is a perfect #5 SP for me. Very cheap and a great ERA/FIP just not great ratings. Probably not a guy anyone else wants. As for the other SP, I want more of a #2-3 type so I can slide Shulz to the 4. If I strike out on FAs or can't spin a deal via trade, I am happy to promote Kusama or Hung to the rotation from the bullpen.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Only trade of the off-season...

Las Vegas sends:
3B Hersek Ertegun (WBL)
2043 3rd

Istanbul sends:
False Bay's 2043 1st
3B Orozco (AA)
MIF Goosens (AA)

I like Ertegun but with him playing 1B and Sanchez at 3B he lost a lot of his value so I decided to trade him away. I figured I could get the same production from one of the 50 good 1Bs who hit LHP as well as he does. He's a solid player who is still cheap.

Added bonus of shedding $4+M this year in salary and his arb holds for the next year or so.

Orzco is listed in this deal as a 3B but I plan to have him play 2B. He's a solid overall player and I actually think if he got enough reps he could play SS too. I think vs. RHP I'll have him play SS and vs. LHP I'll have him play at 2B to get both ratings up. As of now I'd probably slot him as my fifth best prospect and my ETA for him is about 2043.

Dr. Goossens hits for zero power but is a switch hitter and is a very good defender. I like him as utility player.

Also I will be rooting against @jdlikewhoa hard this year so I can get a top 5 pick.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Off-Season Moves… after the Ertegun trade I made a few more moves this off-season:

Las Vegas sends:
1st Round pick

Amsterdam sends:
2-1
2-7
5th rounder

I wanted more picks so I made this deal. The good news is the guy I would've taken 14th overall (Joe Wright CF) was also on the board at 2-1 so I basically got two bonus picks. I am looking for depth in my system...

False Bay ends:
61st overall (4th round)
77st overall (5th round)

Las Vegas sends:
$1.5m

Which led me to buying 4th and 5th round picks. Maybe a bit too much cash but I have lots of it to burn.

Las Vegas sends:
Next years 2nd
CL Richard Townsend (UBL)

Dublin sends:
Abel Hernandez (UBL)

This was a quick deal. Just one offer and Radman agreed.

Hernandez suffered playing in Dublin giving up 1.8 HR/9 last year. His K/9 and BB/9 were both outstanding with about a 6:1 K/BB ratio. His ratings and RHP are very similar to Bailey Challen who has been very good for me. My ballpark and defense will both help Hernandez. Three things I didn't like: he's 33, fragile and owed 38m the next two years. But I feel like he is good enough to start a playoff game and I needed another start of that quality.

Townsend is rather young at 27 and has had some great years but his HR rate hasn't been great of late. Strange because he has a 60 movement rating. He's owed 14.5m the next two years with a TO for a third at about 7m. I tried to move him for a while but no one seemed intersted. He was expendable as I have a lot of quality arms in my bullpen.

Losing the second will hurt but I have an extra first next year so I'll be fine.

Signed 1B/DH Alberto Ramos to a one-year, $4m deal

One of the first FAs signed in the entire league, Ramos brings on base skills and some power to the table. He will DH vs RHP and play 1B v LHP. He has a bad year last season but I'm banking he will have a BABIP closer to .336 than .240. When he had a .336 BABIP in 2039, he had a .895 OPS including .395 OBP. Last year it was just a .729 OPS. Defensively and RH wise he doesn't fit my ballpark but I hope his walk rate is a good one.

Signed LHSP Coffin Park to a one-year, $4m deal

He replaces Ernest Kahl as my #5 SP. He's had a K-rate over 11 per 9 in 7 of 9 years is the good news. The bad is he just came off his lowest K-rate of his career (9.0). He does walk a lot of batters but I'm thinking with my good defense and low BABIPs that will go down. He fits my park as a LH who will limit LH power. I think he could have a huge year for me and I'm really looking forward to it. The key will be his K-rate getting back to 10 per 9.

Signed LF Henry Brown to a one-year, $7.7m contract

He's 40 but one of the GOAT when it comes to hitting in the WBL. He's listed as "wrecked" but has started 100+ games the last four years while posting averages all at least .300. He fits my park and I hope he will be a doubles machine for my team. His speed should also lead him to have some triples as well. Depending on the hitting of Ramos, bin Hamal and Sam Boessen, I may move him to DH to save him by the end of the year. I'm also giving him one day off per week and adding a defensive replacement caddie to him to preserve him from getting tired as well as limit the chances he gets hurt. I'm hoping for a .320 or so average and some gap power from him.

Signed 2B Gabriel Ramos to a one-year, $6m contract with a $7m Team Option

I've been eyeing Ramos for a while. I like his skills and as a LH he really fits my park. I wish his defense was a little better and the right side of my IF is going to have terrible range but I'll live with it. The one thing is he is "wrecked" but I'm going to try and limit chances at injury two ways: Elard Kattenberg will start every 10th game or so vs. RHP and 3rd vs. LHP and Kattenberg will also be his defensive caddie. Katt is 75 at 2B and will hep a ton with defensive. The TO will be exercised depending on a combination a) health b) performance and c) the development of some prospects particularly Orozco.
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
Was the cash swapped on your and JD's deal?

EDIT: Also love your Park and Ramos deals. Nice low-risk moves. Park is inconsistent as hell, but will strike a lot of guys out. He could be moved to the pen too. Ramos hits when he is healthy. Do you plan on starting him?
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Was the cash swapped on your and JD's deal?

EDIT: Also love your Park and Ramos deals. Nice low-risk moves. Park is inconsistent as hell, but will strike a lot of guys out. He could be moved to the pen too. Ramos hits when he is healthy. Do you plan on starting him?
1B Ramos will start to start the year. If him or bin Hamal go to hell time to sign the Czar again.

I think having a good defense will help Park a lot. I think some of his walk issues the last two years stem from high BABIPs. He fits my team pretty good.
 

Orlando

Well-Known Member
Utopia Moderator
Our defense wasnt too bad in 2040. He did get injured for a bit though. He is worth the $4M for sure.
 

doh

THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
Our defense wasnt too bad in 2040. He did get injured for a bit though. He is worth the $4M for sure.
He had a .335 BABIP which should go to under .300 with me compared to your 2040 year so that'll help. I love him as a #5 SP though and I think he has more potential than Kahl but isn't as consistent.
 
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