Post by Erbes on Dec 22, 2012 2:27:31 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]ROUNDTABLE!!![/glow]
I gathered up my homies for a once in a lifetime (not!) roundtable! I got Ashes, Steve, and breakthewalls to chime in on some leaguewide and team-centric questions. Let the fun begin!
1. We're 3 months into the inaugural season, how do you feel about the league at this point? Do you see any big adjustments that are needed?
BTW: I'm amazed at the activity of the majority of GM's so far, it's one of the best starts to a league I've been a part of in my short time as a GM in OOTP5. I joined LBB about a year ago, so I still have a lot to learn in the game, but I've turned a horrid Colorado team over there into a 102 win team after 3 years in the league. I feel like this league has a lot to look forward to, with all of our favorites being in the drafts to come, and with the current pace of the league, we shouldn't catch up to real life for a few years at the very least! As for adjustments, I believe that the only thing that may need tweaking is the Awards system. I do believe you should only be able to claim things a certain number of times a season, but not have it such a small number that half the teams hit the max a season.
Ashes: he league is nice. It was a fun change for me getting into a new sim program, but that novelty is starting to wear off. I need to learn things more because I don't understand why certain people suck balls and others are godly. Oh well. I have to say though, I'm quickly feeling the sim schedule is too slow for my liking. But I dunno.
Steve: I was pretty impressed with how quickly everything was set up and underway. Player editing was for the most part very accurate. My biggest gripe at this point are the GMs. Sure there are active ones, but a few teams are definitely without leadership at this point. Either guys need to step it up, or we need to be actively looking for new GMs. I also wish there was more depth at the prospect level. It makes it really tough to move guys when there's not much to trade for. I'd expect that to correct itself after a few drafts though.
Erbes: I really think the key to the league was getting it up and started quick. I know some people were not a fan of simming every day for like 4 days, but it really needed to happen especially with a new file. I agree with Steve that new GMs need to be recruited. When you've only got 25 guys who have signed in in tha past 24 hours you've got a problem. I was hoping to grab a couple more GABL GMs, but they have a pretty deep hatred over there of me for some reason...
2. On the flipside, what am I doing great? Don't hold anything back here; I really want to showered in compliments!
BTW: I think that you've been very punctual with sims, and I love coming home and finding a random fun sim. The 4 sims a week is what really got me into this league though. I find 3 sims a week to be slow at times. You've also been great about not interfering with trades. I think that the offhand steal is good now and then, because it does reflect real life. Carl Pavano for Pedro Martinez anyone?
Ashes: You're doing a great job. Things are moving well enough I suppose and you seem consistent. That's always good. I don't have much more to say, you're doing an awesome job.
Steve: I mean it's pretty tough to judge since the last BBSBL commish set the bar impossibly high, right? As I said before, the speed at which everything happened has been awesome, and I really like some of the adjustments made for rewards. Gives a certain dynamic feel to the league. Erbes is also a great personality, the kind of guy you'd grab a beer with and then let play with your nipples.
Erbes: LOL @ Steve! I really hate vetoing trades. I think it causes people not to go for big trades. That's why I assembled the veto committee. No one person should have power like that. And for the most part simming is pretty painless, especially now that I figured out that I should upload through Filezilla instead of OOTP.
3. Let's talk about the first major trade in the league... aptly dubbed the "Helton Rape." Was it really that bad of a trade?
BTW: Yes. It was terrible. If Toronto doesn't win a World Series by 2002 he's the worst manager ever.
Ashes: I shudder to think what Helton would've done in that sham of a ballpark, but hey like I said apparently I know nothing about this game.
Steve: Everyone judges their players differently. If he got what he wanted out of the deal, then that's great. Either it will work out for him, or it won't. Only time will tell. That said, I would have never made that deal. If I was moving Helton, I'd want better return that that. It would pretty much have to be a perfect deal. Helton is a future MVP.
Erbes: It was a bad deal. To Nanz's dismay, Helton is the best rated player in the game. Sorry A-Rod! He will excel at everything. If I'm not getting back Maddux plus like 3 prospects I don't trade Helton for anything. He was built tailor made for Coors. Worst part is that Colorado might not even make the playoffs...
4. Styro was the first to take advantage of a PD reversal when he used it on John Patterson. Is this a good addition to a league like this or do you think it will get abused? How do you feel about the Rewards System in general?
BTW: I love the rewards system. It gives it more of an interactive feel, and it keeps people interested who would otherwise be inclined to quit when a centerpiece takes a dive. I fully plan on using the Rewards to make Nomar a monster before I franchise him.
Ashes: I like the reversal of bad PDs since I got fucked over by one (Which still leaves a REALLY sour taste in my mouth about the whole aspect of the game). As for the Cash Reward system, it'd be great if a certain thing were addressed to make the player of week/month awards a bit more realistic/accessible. Overall it seems solid though, maybe costs are a bit high. But I'm still getting used to things, so I don't know.
Steve: I really like this. PDs are a great concept in general, but OOTP more or less butchered it. Plus, by only allowing you to reverse one talent hit, it forces the GM to decide where he really wants to save his guy. Really no way to abuse it. I'm still up in the air on all of the talent/ratings boosts available. It'll encourage activity, but we'll see how it fleshes out. Maybe I just need to test it out with my PP cash to see how it feels.
Erbes: Some reward system to reverse PDs is a must. OOTP will rape your guys with no lube and call it day without blinking an eye. Not sure how I feel about increasing ratings and such quite yet, but we'll see how that pans out. I'm mostly undecided because I don't know if there's a huge difference between a guy who has a 9 in homers or a guy who has a 10. I guess we'll find out!
5. How does everyone feel about their team so far? Any big surprises or disappointments?
BTW: I feel like my team is exactly where I want it to be. Strong major league team, with a decent system full of darkhorse stars. Getting that increase to Wil Cordero was a godsend considering my weakness at IF depth.
Biggest Surprise: Jose Canseco's monster year so far
Biggest Dissapointment: My main man Mo mangled his toe
Ashes: I hate my team. We're fucking garbage. We can't hit to save our lives. Sammy Sosa is fucking scary bad, it makes no sense. In general I can't stand how my team is playing, I don't know how to fix it outside of moving my home games to Colorado, and I'm not even excited to see sims any more.
Steve: I'm pretty surprised we're above .500 at the All-Star break. Our lineup has been awesome outside of Mike Matheny. Pitching has been atrocious though. Pretty disappointed in them. A few just aren't pitching to their ratings. Then you have Jeff Cirillo, the NL MVP.
Erbes: I'm surprised we're in it. After shipping off pieces like O'Neill and Cone I thought we would slip. Having a ridiculously good bullpen has been huge. Bernie has been awesome. Biggest disappointment is Jeter. Not going to lie, made him a little better than he should have been, but I'm disappointed with him so far.
6. What's the plan for your team over the next 2-3 seasons? Tearing it down, building it up?
BTW: When I got the opportunity to take my hometown Red Sox for the first time in a sim league, my main objective was an obvious and clear one. Win a World Series BEFORE 2004. There's no reason I can't do it considering the talent that was on the team in the mid 90's. The team just suffered from being extremely bad in the clutch and horrible managing.
Ashes: Uh I guess hope some guys develop a little more. No way I make the playoffs so I guess I just have to gear up for next year. Really disappointing. Pitching has little value here it seems like, good offense is impossible to find for me. It's really frustrating.
Steve: I'm pretty up in the air on this team right now. I feel like they shouldn't be any good and want to rebuild, but they're playing decently and I don't like the crop of spects I've been offered at all. I'm still really playing things conservatively since we don't know much about how these guys sim yet. I wouldn't want to trade away a Tommy "The Hawaiian" Whiteman. How these next few sims after the break go will determine my direction.
Erbes: At first I was all about the rebuild. I was pretty content in selling off my vets, but now I'm like uhhhh I have a top 5 team in the league. Of course I'm trying to win. Plus, I can't let the Red Sox run away with the division. What kind of Yankees fan would I be?
7. Looking around the league, and considering only guys in the Bigs right now, give me the top 5 most valuable guys.
BTW: 1. Curt Schilling, PHI: 29, prime of his career, and signed to an extremely cost friendly contract until 2001. What's better than 6 years of a true Ace in his prime?
2. Manny Ramirez, CLE: 24, a wet dream of all the players you could Franchise. He's going to be a monster for the Tribe for a long time to come.
3. Mark McGwire, BOS: 32, but he's the premier hitter in the MLB at the moment. Anyone would love to have a guy who has a shot at hitting 60 HR's year in and year out.
4. Derek Jeter, NYY: 22, same reasoning as Manny, but this guy has a couple years to possibly take a PD bump and become a surefire superstar. At Brilliant in hits, and average in walks, the Rewards system was made for this guy to get a bump in Walks and become the premier leadoff hitter for the next 15 years.
5. Carlos Delgado, TOR: 24, yet again, the perfect player to Franchise and give a bump in Hits through the reward system. He has the potential to be the next Mark McGwire in this league.
Ashes: Just pick anyone from Colorado's lineup. Look pretty damn valuable to me. I guess McGwire, ARod, Smoltz/Maddux, and then yeah fill it out with a take-your-pick from Colorado.
Steve: Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. A-Rod. Bonds. Schilling.
Erbes: I pretty much agree with Steve. Maybe sub out John Smoltz for Jeter only because of age. Pitching is soooo much more valuable than hitting in OOTP. I feel like pitchers have to account for at least 3 of the top 5.
8. What are your thoughts on Coors Field? If you think the fences should be moved in, by how much would you recommend?
BTW: I think the stadium could use minor tweaks to lower BA. I think that the HR factors are spot on.
Ashes: It's fucking stupid. Fix it. I don't know how, because I don't understand it, but I know it's outrageous. Fix it.
Steve: I mean, I don't know why they'd be moved in? I'd probably just lower the park ratings for average. As someone pointed out, they're not hitting too many more homers than they actually did in '96.
Erbes: I'm really torn on this. That division is pretty horrific when it comes to competition so it comes as no surprise to me that his hitters are raking in that park. On the other hand, the splits Broph posted are pretty nuts. I'll probably end up turning down the average/doubles.
9. Who are your favorites for the MVPs, Cy Youngs, and World Series Champion?
BTW:
MVP:
AL: Mark McGwire, BOS: You can't not go with the guy with a slashline of .321/.445/.709 through the first three months, with a shot at breaking the single season HR record of 61
NL: Larry "Fucking" Walker, COL: I don't even need to explain this one. .373/.454/.680 on pace to challenge the single season hits record of 257
Cy Young:
AL: Tie: Roger Clemens, BOS & Randy Johnson, SEA: This is a two dog fight, with both players fighting for the #1 spot in a lot of categories, though the slight edge goes to Clemens with his 16 Quality Starts compared to Johnson's lowly 10.
Oh and NL Cy Young winner is Greg Maddux, ATL: The man is a machine at this stage in his career, no way he doesn't win it.
Oh shit. add in my World Series prediciton is the Braves winning it all for the next 5 years lol
Ashes: McGwire/Walker, Clemens/Smoltz, and I'll go Boston vs. Atlanta with Atlanta winning. Unless Rockies make it and NL wins the All-Star Game. Then Rockies.
Steve:
- MVPs = Mark McGwire and Larry Walker.
- Cy Youngs = Mike Mussina and Greg Maddux.
- World Series = Braves. Awesome team with an awesome GM. Matt better not fuck this up.
Erbes:
- MVPs = Bernie and Walker
- Cy Youngs = Rocket and Maddux
- World Series = Yankees. Is it too cliche to pick them over the Braves?
10. If you could swap teams with anybody in the league, who would it be and why?
BTW: TORONTO. Cmon is this a serious question? The man has set up for a future with 5 aces and trade bait to make the most ridiculous lineup of all time. It'll take a true idiot to screw that up.
Ashes: Blue Jays. They have such stacked youth it's ridiculous.
Steve: Eh, I guess I'll say the Cubs. Play has put together a pretty sweet looking farm system there in a short time. They'll be contenders in a few years. It's just too bad they're the Cubs.
Erbes: Mehhh not sure what Steve is smoking, but it's easily the Blue Jays or Braves. Jays system is sick and Braves have awesome pitching mixed with a young Andruw Jones. Nasty combo.
11. Did Texas and Montreal make smart moves franchising I-Rod and Pedro respectively?
BTW: Pedro is a no brainer Ace of the future, so Montreal made the right choice locking him up with him set to leave after 1997. I-Rod on the other hand, a bit more dicey. I'm interested to see how that turns out considering his numbers don't look like superstar material at the moment.
Ashes: Fuck if I know. I don't understand that shit nor I can begin to guess on the implications of doing so. I'll flip a coin. Yes.
Steve: It's tough to say at this point since I'm not sure how that rule will end up working in reality. I definitely think those are two great guys to franchise though. So uhhhh good work I guess.
Erbes: No brainer on Pedro, meh on I-Rod. I would have waited on him. He doesn't look like superstar potential. And when contracts start to get whack and he has to pay him what could be up to $20M a year... yikes.
12. Who is your real life favorite team and heading into 2013, how are ya feeling about the season ahead?
BTW: My favorite team is the Boston Red Sox, and I'm very hopeful that the team can be effective in 2014/2015. As of right now I'll enjoy going to games for a cheaper price to watch the players I still enjoy having on the team compete. I think they're doing a commendable job getting a likable product back on the field after the disaster they produced over the last season and a month.
Ashes: None. I hate baseball. I heard Astros are going to the AL. That's silly. AL is pussyball. I'm sure they'll lose for another 10 years. Marlins bore me. Can't name a player on either team. Only teams I cared about when I was younger. I hope baseball goes out of business.
Steve: Brewers. 88-74, miss the 2nd wild card by 2 games. We'll be in it but at this point, we still just don't have the pitching to get it done. We may yet sign a starter but he'll probably blow. I was hoping for McCarthy but nope. Rotation will be something like Gallardo-Fiers-Peralta-Estrada-Narveson. We need a good FA in there because that's not a playoff team's rotation. Although we did shave some shit from the bullpen in K-Rod and Jose Veras and Kameron Loe and Manny Parra etc etc and signed a few better looking guys. Lineup will carry us most of the way. Loved how Segura looked at the end of the year so he'll be one to watch for. C'est tout.
Erbes: I hate what the Yankees are doing right now, but I understand it. The thing that pisses me off the most is that Cashman couldn't spend $3M at the Winter Meetings to snag Eric Chavez, but he can spend $12M on a horrible Kevin Youkilis. Yuck! Should be an interesting year. I'm guessing they grab the 2nd Wild Card spot and get bounced in the 1st round like usual. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Jays not be good. I feel like super teams like that never pan out.
WOWOWOW I WAS WAY TOO DRUNK TO DO THIS TONIGHT! Nah I wasn't... only like 5 vodka tonics. Yum! This is worth a 5 if anybody is wondering. People should model their articles after this beaut from now on...
