GWJ OOTP League Thread

tboon wrote:

My biggest challenge during free agency was getting some more pop in the lineup.

I imagine your Will Petty should develop nicely into a power-hitter with all kinds of other tools to boot. I'm sorry that Chris Howard deal didn't work out too great for you. I thought Howard had a few HRs left in him.

Yes, hopefully Petty turns into the real deal. Howard would have been a fantastic addition and may have been able to get Denver over the hump and into the playoffs, but oh well.

I'm hopeful that some other FA acquisitions will provide a little power to team small ball.

What is the sim schedule for the holidays? I'm going to be away from OOTP from Saturday to Wednesday and I'm trying to figure out how many sim days I will miss.

It's a sin and a shame we've gotten this far in our season without someone posting this. I'm tempted to change the names of everyone's position players for April Fool's day.

pizzaddict wrote:

What is the sim schedule for the holidays? I'm going to be away from OOTP from Saturday to Wednesday and I'm trying to figure out how many sim days I will miss.

New file!

Since it's the pre-season still, we're going to keep going a week-a-day until Spring Training ends, and then we'll pause until Thursday so everyone can get ready for the regular season.

New file ya'll!

So, Spring Training is done. To that end, we will not be updating again until SUNDAY, so everyone has a chance to set up their rosters for the new year.

REMEMBER: If you don't have your roster down to 25 dudes by Sunday, I will make moves for you. I'm not going to screw anyone over, like releasing your best players, but I AM going to get your roster down to 25, come heck or high water, and there's a chance it may result in some financial pain for your team, so, just a heads-up.

So exciting! I can't wait!

Guess I need to get back on track.

Apparently, being a shortstop for Atlanta is not good for your health.

Heh, I was just about to comment on how I felt lucky I only added 1 guy to the DL this Spring.

Incidentally, there are 3 Manuel Lopez in our universe, 1 is a MR on my DL, 1 is a SP on Seattle's trading block, and 1 manages the Dallas Dirigibles.

Wow, holy Rule 5 Draft eligible players, Batman! You guys enjoy, I had to put a few of my "lesser" players on waivers temporarily to get them off of my 40-man roster, because I need to add several of my top prospects to the secondary roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. It's frustrating only because most of the ones I want to protect honestly aren't ready to play in the big leagues yet, but should be within a couple seasons. How have they already played 5 years?!

Farscry wrote:

Wow, holy Rule 5 Draft eligible players, Batman! You guys enjoy, I had to put a few of my "lesser" players on waivers temporarily to get them off of my 40-man roster, because I need to add several of my top prospects to the secondary roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. It's frustrating only because most of the ones I want to protect honestly aren't ready to play in the big leagues yet, but should be within a couple seasons. How have they already played 5 years?!

I usually wait until after the season. That way don't have to lose players on waivers that are my back ups. After the end of season you have until Dec to make room for placing top players on 40-man roster. When Pred sets up draft you can take players off of the draft list by placing them on 40-man roster. If you need to make room you can release some marginal players because balance of contract is at lowest point if you need to. IMPORTANT to make sure you have room on 40-man roster at that time to place your valued prospects.

Good luck to all!!!!!

UGH! I've been struggling to get my roster down to 26 guys, finally did it, and just now realized it needs to be 25.

In my solo league the size of the active roster got changed to 26 guys at some point so I've been used to that.

BTW, just put a player on the trading block. Erkan Gunver is a making Minimium pay, would make a good backup 1B, just have a log jam at that position now.

tboon wrote:

I want both. My best power hitter last year a) was one of catchers (who are terrible) and b) hit 21 HR last year. Only three guys hit more than 15 (IIRC). I had speed and control to spare (shoot, Denver won 93 games after all, I think we were close to the top in the league for SB) but no power. I would rather have control and speed but you also need a little pop to keep things on an even keel.

My biggest challenge during free agency was getting some more pop in the lineup.

Speed is nice, but it's hard to keep fielders and pitchers honest to get the SB you want when there's not a monster ready to crush a HR at the plate.

I know it's spring training, but I'm a little surprised at my power output so far...it looked like some of my better power hitters were starting to decline, but my top 5 batters with over 50 AB are above .900 in OPS? Maybe that can make up for my atrocious infield defense.

I'm down to 25 players on my active roster and I'm ready for Opening Day. Woot!
I'm also looking forward to Prederick's season preview write-up.

[size=30]North American Baseball League 2015 Season Preview[/size]

New season, new challengers, new hope for the fans of each of the NABL's 24 teams. Who will take home the title this season? Can Buffalo become the first back-to-back champions in league history? Can Charlotte finally end their jinx and actually win the title?

OFFSEASON REPORT

Well, obviously, the biggest story in the offseason was Brooklyn becoming the #1 payroll in baseball, tying their futures to the performance of Clayton Green and Herman Cherry. The pair are making a combined $100M this season, higher than the total payrolls of half the league. It's pretty much Championship or bust in Kings County this year.

Ramon Gomez's return to Vancouver after looking like he was on his way out was a big story, but with the Kings' arrow pointed pretty firmly downwards, the biggest winner this offseason looks to be Boston, who scored several FA signings that could make a big difference. Nolan Laming has always been reported to be a competent pitcher, even if his numbers took a terrifying jump upwards last season. Is he worth $25M though? Matt Everhart is also expected to make an immediate impact at Catcher, and Pat Dailey's a cheap upgrade in the bullpen, assuming he holds up to his end of the bargain.

Dallas, on the other hand, the team that won 111 games last year, may have gotten significantly worse, trading 19-game-winner Chris McDaniel to Pittsburgh for Emilio Mesa and Raul Gonzalez. Dallas still features three young, skilled top-of-the-line pitchers, but McDaniel was the rotation's veteran anchor, and the youngsters will have to grow up fast to keep them in the hunt.

SEASON PREVIEW:

NL Eastern Division: One of the most cutthroat divisions in baseball only got more competitive this year, although we see significant separation between the 1st and 2nd place teams. We have Pittsburgh winning the division by nearly 10 games over Brooklyn, but the two teams are so well-matched, that is a gap that could easily close, or be flipped. This is the biggest-hitting division in baseball, with three teams showing the potential to belt 200+ HRs in 2015, so fans should stay entertained for all 162 games.

NL Western Division: The West belongs to Buffalo now, but that doesn't mean it'll be a cakewalk. We're predicting that four of the division's six teams will finish over .500, meaning the race for 2nd place and a playoff spot should be one of the most entertaining in the league. Even with Vancouver's quality weakening as their roster ages, we can't separate them from Seattle and Denver. Buffalo should win the division in style, but for the rest, expect things to get ugly.

SL Eastern Division: Four years of heartbreak for fans in Charlotte. Four years, they've made the playoffs, making the Championship series in three of those years, and yet, Charlotte's trophy cabinet remains empty. We think they'll win the division again, but the title? Too hard to say. It will be interesting to see if New Orleans' brand of smallball will pull them even with Charlotte however (if they had a little more speed, we'd have them winning the division). Miami and Atlanta should round out the top four, although we're unsure of how to predict who the playoff spot will go to here. One smart trade could turn Atlanta into a serious challenger, so keep your eye out.

SL Western Division: Mark it down, the best team in baseball is the San Diego Surfers. They will win the west at a canter this year, easily beating out Dallas for the top spot. Dallas will make the playoffs, as the West is the weakest division in the league, But we think they'll lack the pitching to keep up with the quality San Diego can put out week after week. Meanwhile, Houston may put together a record year for futility. <60 wins is a distinct possibility.

Players to Watch:

Clayton Green, Herman Cherry - BRK: Normally, we do individual players for these notes, but the $100M men are inseparable at this point. A combined 71 years old, the pair basically must turn in All-Star caliber years to come anywhere near justifying their contracts. The deal will either be a masterstroke from Brooklyn, or one of the most enormous wastes in league history.

Loren Gill - VAN: The decline of Vancouver's once-vaunted pitching was noted by all at the end of last season, but their hitting keeps rolling on. Ramon Gomez's powers may be waning, but Gill is coming off a 40 HR season, and is expected to near 50 this time around. If he can get his K's under 100, he'll be in the conversation for the league's most dangerous hitter.

Brian Burke - SD: Not that we expect that conversation to run particularly long. Burke is coming off a ludicrously historic season (a .428 batting average is the highest in league history... by nearly .50 points), and should provide more of the same this year. If he makes a significant increase in his power numbers, opposing teams will be best advised to just walk him, and hope they can get everyone else out.

Jason Huffman/Edward Carruth/Jake Dunn - SD: This trio actually isn't the best top 3 starters in baseball (that honor goes to Dallas), but they are three legitimate 20-game-winner threats, and are also capable of clocking up some serious mound time in the process. We'd LOVE them if they were a little more K-capable, but with a strong defense behind them, none of the three should see their ERAs above 3.80 by the end of the year.

Fred Snyder - PIT: Last year's Rookie of the Year should be looking forward to a strong sophomore campaign. We think his rookie year may represent his average abilities (.336/35 HRs/107 RBIs), but if that's his "average", he'll be good for a good long while.

So! New file!

Boston, I apologize, you had 36 men on your roster, so I had to cut down. I had to do some serious jiggering.

Prederick wrote:

Meanwhile, Houston may put together a record year for futility. <60 wins is a distinct possibility.

Hell yeah! Predicted to be not the worst! Things are already improving in Portland!

...except, Portland is in the NL, not SL.

EDIT: Aaand crap. One of my big rookie closers just landed himself on the 60 day DL. On the plus side, my owner expectation this year is just to get close to .500 ball. Here's hoping

If Van Wright stays healthy he looks like he's going to put up huge numbers this year, which will be a nice bounce back from last year.

We sprint out of the gate this season playing against playoff teams and division leaders in the first 5 series.
I just hope we survive the month of April.

Yay, I'm the best! I wouldn't have put myself there, but I'll take it. Hopefully Huffman's early injury doesn't nag. That'll teach him not to run around the bases.

'Pologies for the slight delay, New Year's and all. That said, remember, new season means new sim schedule.

We go Sunday-Monday-Wednesday-Friday, unless otherwise noted until the playoffs.

Anyway, new file!

Dallas is red hot out of the gates, starting their season 10-1, and Miami is just behind at 10-2.

We've had three, count 'em, THREE one-hitters thrown this season, but no-one's managed a no-no.

COMMISH'S NOTE: I think my graphics card may be reaching the end of its tenure, as i'm having some serious video issues this last week. If I can't find a fix, we may have to go on hiatus for a little while as I look for a solution.

Prederick wrote:

Boston, I apologize, you had 36 men on your roster, so I had to cut down. I had to do some serious jiggering.

Apologies, I missed an update or two and forgot to cut down to 25.

I want to put all my players in a plane and fly the plane into a mountain in the Bermuda Triangle while it is on fire. Grrrr, learn to hit the #$%^ing baseball you overpaid jackholes!

N-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-new file!

I know it's early, but....

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/6hWMO.png)

(trust me, after last season, I never even got a whiff of .500 baseball)

And I have a one star center fielder who is just going crazy hitting for average. Add to that the losses I'm having are mostly just one run differences and I'm happy to say I'm glad with how this season is turning out so far.

Man, the NL East is going to be a dogfight this year, although I guess that's the norm. 3 teams in the top 10 power rankings...damn.

Aw, Ward's hitting streak got busted. Still, I can't complain AT ALL about his performance so far this season.

Yay, I'm almost back to .500. I was dreading downloading that file.

Seattle may be out of running as #1 SP out for year. Will find out if hitting can carry this team. :>{

New file!

Boston, Wayne Boyce refuses demotion.

Dear Boston, quit winning so many games. Simmer down. Kthxbai.