|
|
Post by glenn on Sept 17, 2013 15:57:41 GMT -5
This time around, I focused on rebuilding the rotation from the beginning. So far, I've acquired Wade Miller from the Astros, Kerry Wood from the Cubs, and veteran Bret Saberhagen from the Red Sox. My Bucs have begun 8-8. I knocked my payroll down from $83 million to $51 million by ridding the team of most of their high-priced players. This is the way it has to be done, as Neal Huntington has done in real life since 2007.
|
|
|
|
Post by Oldtimer on Sept 17, 2013 16:05:08 GMT -5
Welcome, again ... looking forward to your rebuilding seasons ... 
|
|
|
|
Post by reflections on Sept 17, 2013 16:07:28 GMT -5
Saberhagen was so underrated in odd numbered years.
|
|
|
|
Post by markvacc1 on Sept 18, 2013 13:03:10 GMT -5
What scale do you use?
|
|
|
|
Post by glenn on Sept 18, 2013 16:26:47 GMT -5
I use 1-100, with 60-man rosters and early draft entry.
What I'm finding out early on is that the AI in-game manager is a tough opponent, and I have to use all of my managerial wiles to defeat it.
|
|
|
|
Post by prisonerno6 on Sept 21, 2013 10:36:14 GMT -5
Glenn, how do you fill out the other teams?
Do you let the game pick the players or use the Commissioner option to place certain key players on their historical team?
|
|
|
|
Post by glenn on Sept 21, 2013 16:12:47 GMT -5
I let the game routines fill out the AI rosters. There are plenty of amateur FAs still available, though, and this allowed me to sign Joaquin Benoit and Jeremy Guthrie. Even at that, most teams carry a full 60-man roster. However, I anticipate wholesale changes in 2002, as there are many 1 year players.
I hope that in using early draft entry that the ratings don't get screwed up in subsequent years. That's the only thing I fear about using this setup.
Now, as you recall, I used the same setup in PS 5 with the Brooklyn Dodgers (except without finances). It worked fine through the three years of 1946-1948. In 2001, though, I started with 2140 historical players, and the ratings looked OK. I have no idea how many new players will be added in 2002. AFAIK, there are no guidelines on how many players the game can handle. This has me concerned.
|
|
|
|
Post by glenn on Sept 28, 2013 22:07:57 GMT -5
Well, I'm in early May 2001 and my lineup has been completely rebuilt. Trader KG has been very busy so far, and my lineup vs RHP is LF Shannon Stewart, CF Brian Hunter, 3B Aramis Ramirez, RF Dave Martinez, C Joe Girardi, SS Neifi Perez, 1B Steve Cox and 2B Quilvio Veras. The starting rotation is Kerry Wood, Wade Miller, Bret Saberhagen, Rick Ankiel* and Ramon Martinez. My current payroll now totals $54.6 million, the lowest in the majors. This is not yet a contending team, just a respectable one.
I'm concentrating on developing pitching, defense and speed. Power hitting will be focused on later.
|
|
|
|
Post by glenn on Oct 12, 2013 16:04:09 GMT -5
Trader KG is still at work. On May 5, I acquired veteran LH C Darrin Fletcher from the Blue Jays for P Mike Lincoln. This provides me with a C platoon of Fletcher and RH Joe Girardi. On May 8 I got SP Cliff Lee* from the Indians for P Bronson Arroyo. I'm stocking up the farm system with great pitching prospects, and will continue to do so in 2002 and beyond. My team is currently 16-19, 4th in the Central. Remember, the real-life Bucs finished 62-100 in 2001. I'm working on restoring MY team to contention within 5 years, i.e. by 2005-2006.
Yes, indeed, I'm determined to rewrite history, with a different cast of characters. Few of the originals are left, with the notable exception of Aramis Ramirez, who as everyone knows was traded off. Well, I hope to keep him as long as I can afford him. In 2001 I have the 23 year old signed for 5 years @ $2.7 million.
As for the pitching staff, I have 25 year old Wade Miller (5 yrs @ $2.5 million), 24 year old Kerry Wood (4 yrs @ $1.5 million) and 22 year old Rick Ankiel* (5 yrs @ $365,000). In the minors are SPs Dave Williams* (22), Cliff Lee* (23), Jeremy Guthrie (22), Jaret Wright (26) and Ian Snell (20).
|
|
|
|
Post by glenn on Oct 20, 2013 18:31:26 GMT -5
I made yet another trade to add to my farm system. I sent 34 yr old Josias Manzanillo to the Dodgers for 22 yr old SP prospect D.J. Houlton. This move reduces my payroll by $2 million. This allows me $43 million in cash reserves towards the 2002 draft. I am hellbent towards building a strong farm system, and perhaps getting a few veteran FAs. I hope to see results from pursuing this strategy by 2005-2006. In the pipeline are six SPs: Dave Williams*, Jeremy Guthrie, Cliff Lee*, D.J.Houlton, Ian Snell and Jaret Wright.
As for batters, I'm taking a close look at 2B Jose Castillo. This young man is hitting . 282/2/18 in AAA, and is developing his defensive skills.
|
|
|
|
Post by glenn on Nov 5, 2013 20:16:00 GMT -5
My Bucs are struggling at 23-33, but I'm building up my farm system and looking to the future. You wouldn't recognize the 2001 Bucs by looking at my roster. I don't have any so-called "superstars", but I do have a solid core of good young players to build upon. My early focus is more upon my GM role than it is managing every game, but I can see steady progress being made. All I have to do is exercise patience, and watch the youngsters develop as time passes. I DO love this game.  |
|
