Post by Spencer on Oct 18, 2013 0:22:09 GMT -5
This will be a state of the league type roundtable. How is BBSBL doing right now. Whats going on?
1. The two top teams reside in Chicago. The Cubs and White Sox lead their Leagues in wins. Are these two teams the teams to beat? What makes these teams so good? If they meet in the World Series who has the upper hand?
Steve(MIL) - Of course they’re the teams to beat. They have been for about 4 seasons now. Sure, the Padres, Giants, Yankees, etc. could make some noise. It’s a Chicago league though. Just all around complete teams. Pitching in this league is pretty nice overall, but these two have very strong staffs. Plus great lineups. Could easily see White Sox winning it all this year, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Play won it the season that I finally didn’t pick him to win it all. They’re also both in fairly weak divisions though, so that may make them look better in the regular season. Still, I think it’s Waldo’s year.
Ashes - I think they are the teams to beat in their respective leagues. The White Sox offense is unreal, when did Ray Durham get this good? Everything seems to be clicking for them. I mean if you can have Charles Johnson hitting .255 with 2s and Bonds hitting .281 with 4s, then I don't know what else to say. Their offense is scary powerful, and they have great pitching. Going to be tough to beat them in the AL. The Cubs are very similar, except their pitching is even better. Easily the best staff in the league, probably ever. It's hard to imagine the Cubs not finally winning it all, but play usually finds a way to choke here, so we'll see what happens. I'd definitely give the Cubs the upper hand if the two met in the Series.
Steve(PIT) - I would say so, but it doesn't matter in the Playoffs...the playoffs are a crap-shoot...I say this all the time. Now, just look at Play's squad...best SP I've ever seen assembled...Santana/Wood/CC/Wilson...unreal. All four guys have WHIPS under 1...Santana and Wood have sub 2 ERAs...ridiculous. Manny/Berkman are a great 3/4...I think Play's weakness is his bullpen by far, but if his SPs do the job, it won't matter.
To the South Side...Fernandez already has 20 wins...sick. Rueter has been excellent. Their hitting is always good...it's not what it was though...besides Bradford, I'm not a fan of their bullpen. Anyway, they look good, but I could easily see them losing in the AL.
If they met, I'd say the Cubs have a distinct advantage with Sabathia/Wilson over Loaiza/Adams...it would be a great WS if this happened.
Me - Ya I truly believe these are the teams to beat. NYY doesnt impress me much, SEA is an up and comer but they arent ready. To me the White Sox are a shoo in for the AL Crown. In the NL its much tougher. Not only is PITT sick in their division but there are 4 other legit really good teams in the NL. Id say 6 of the top 8 teams are in the NL. But if the Cubbies can get through the NL they match up real well with anyone. That pitching staff is insane. 3 legit stud SPs that would be aces on any other team. Then Paul Wilson who is a stud too. Amazing pitching and they still have top tier young talent and a very good offense. Only drawback is that Play doesnt seem to have any postseason mojo in BBSBL. Well see.
2. Looks like we finally have some nice new GMs. Its taken forever to fill up some of these spots. Lets talk a little about each new GM. List the strengths and weaknesses of each GM and what they have to look forward to with their new team. If you don't know the new guy, just post about their team and give them some advice based on their teams current talent level. Greeme in Tampa Bay. Greggor in Anaheim. Kobe in Atlanta.
Steve(MIL) - Greg’s biggest weakness is that he’s an old fart. His biggest strength is that he’s an awesome old fart. Greg is a great GM. Erbes really fucked up by firing him originally. Angels will be fine. Some nice young pieces in Werth, Phillips, and Santana. For the others, I think I always mixed up Greeme and Kobe in BBS, and I’ve never played OOTP with them so no comment on their strengths and weaknesses here. I’m not worried about them being successful though. Greeme is going to have a rough time in Tampa to start, but they have lots of cash and a nice system so he’s in a pretty good position. It’ll be interesting to see what direction Kobe goes with the Braves. The system isn’t too strong and I’m not sure if the team is good enough to hang with the big boys right now. Also just realized that Kobe is actually the Twins, so take all that and apply it to Temp. Kobe and the Twins will be in a similar situation to Greeme, but without as much money or talent. Should probably keep losing and hope for someone like Verlander.
Ashes - Yeah, the only new GM I knew we had was in Atlanta, and I didn't even know it was kobe. Don't really feel like looking at the teams, so I'll just guess using what I remember of the teams. Tampa Bay kinda sucks, tough situation there, so Greeme will probably have a hard time, especially with adjusting to everything. He's active, so I'd imagine he'll get the hang of things and make something out of that expansion team, but I don't imagine it being anytime soon. Anaheim has been a stagnant franchise forever, and with Greggor taking over, I'd imagine that trend will continue. Hopefully Kobe tears everything down in Atlanta, because it's annoying seeing that team be competitive every year given all the advantages that franchise had starting out.
Steve(PIT) - What the fuck kind of question is this? Their strengths and weaknesses???...I don't know. I've never been in leagues with these guys except Greggor (somewhat). I'll go the second route on this question. Also, Kobe is with Minny.
Regarding Tampa...they need bats...I like their SP of the future, and that's key, but they need to draft, and target young bats via the trade market. Be patient in FA...get some decent guys and then trade them to garner more draft picks. That's the key to any rebuild...accumulate a lot of draft picks, and be smart in FA. Pick your spots. Tampa has a decent future.
Now to Anaheim...they need to trade their veteran guys as soon as possible...another rebuilding squad here...love Werth/Phillips, but they need more help...Blevins/Weaver are nice, but that's really it. They need more young talent...Easley should create a good market...very nice bat, but he has to be traded now. Can't wait any longer there. The Angels have a lot of work to do to get on that right track.
Finally, the Twinkies...another team that needs bats...I like Weeks/Cuddyer if they're TIA eligible, but that's it. Zambrano/Pettyjohn is good, but I'd consider trading them, and starting a full rebuild again...not a lot to be excited here. All of these teams lack that star bat...that's vital for any team.
Me - First off sorry to Temp for missing him. Very solid Gm in a very good position to compete from ay 1.
Greeme - Extremely active and usually has some different ideas on competing. Lacks OOTP knowledge so the learning curve will be in play. Activity is so important though I think it will help him a ton. As for his team he just needs to stave off bad PDs with that cash he inherited. Draft well. Be smart in FA and continue to ad bats like Greg Colbrunn this year. Solid guys, not world beaters. Defense. Speed. Pitching. OBP. OPS.
Greg - Its been so lon since Ive been in an OOTP league with him I forgot his strengths and weakness. I think I stole him outta GABL and recruited him to BBS. Was never dominant but he learned and progressed nicely. Hes very patient and that usually translates better to OOTP then FBB. As for his team I think he has some nice talent. Financialy hes in great shape and now its time to add and win becaue he needs to turn around his Fan Interest. Jayson Werth is a stud. Franchise material. They have some nice young pitching. The division will be strong soon. Very important to draft well this year and then acquire some more talent in FA. Hopefully they can jump ahead of Oakland and Texas and be #2 in the AL West next year.
Kobe - Kobe was his best at BBS at the end. I think he finally stopped letting people talk and get in his head. I remember tons of deals that really ruined his chances. Seemed like hed get on a roll. Then make a bad move and then it would fall apart. But like I aid, at the end of the last BS he was very good. He has no OOTP experience so that might hurt some. I really hope he sticks with it. Activity was always a strength with him. He really needs to load up on Board Cash. Protect all his young pitching assets. Draft some hitters. Hit FA strong. Once again. Dont overpay, but try and get solid players for cheap.
Temp - I dont remember him in my stint in SLOB. I remember him being active, but dont remember hiss style or his success. As for this ATL club. Id just dump a little salary and go right back out competing. Maybe move 15-20 million. Load up on spects. And then go out and compete again. Too much high end talent here to blow it all up. Need to compete again, and soon.
3. Looks like Erbes has been doing some draft already. Its nice to see him making progress on it early. Please discuss how much better it will be to not have a layoff between the WS and the draft. Also discuss 2 players in this draft you love and why.
Steve(MIL) - Some guys like having a little break there, but the league always kind of drags and almost dies when there’s a week off. It’ll be really nice to be able to finish up the season and jump right into the draft. In terms of guys I’m looking forward to in this draft, I’ve always been a big Verlander fan. Would love to have him on my team. Also love Carlos Santana. Watching him hit the ball is like Oye Como Va! List of guys I don’t want: Yovani Gallardo. His drunk ass can go sit in the corner with Ryan Braun.
Ashes - It's good that he's starting earlier. I missed the last few offseasons, but I'd imagine they must not have gone any smoother than the ones I was around for. Hopefully we can get the ball rolling earlier and not have such a lull between seasons. That gets boring. I don't any players coming out in this draft off the top of my head (Since I stopped caring about baseball around 2003 and no one pays attention to the MLB Draft the year it happens) so let me google magic some stuff. Um, I guess Matt Kemp is decent, right?
Steve(PIT) - Obviously it would be better, but it is what it is...can't do nothing about it.
Justin Verlander...dude is filthy, and he'll be a stud...he's most likely the number 1 pick even though we are SP heavy in this league...I'd be shocked if he wasn't.
Ben Zobrist...he's got so much value for his ability to play multiple positions...has a great eye, and has some decent power. Zobrist will be a very nice player in this league.
Me - Id love if the draft was done b the end of the year. two reasons really. First its so nie to see players after each sim. Just one or two guys added. If youre tanking you can check them out. If you only have a 2nd, you can kinda look and see if someone will slip. Maybe someone has some strengths that you like. Etc. its fun. Secondly obviously the end of season Wait. No one likes it. This is a fast paced ADD league. We want to go go go. If the draft is done we ca just get right into motion. Itll be huge for activity momentum.
As for players well obviously Hunter Pence. Love him. Great Giant. probably wont be rated super well but whatever. Solid MLB player. Good defender. Solid speed. Good arm. Fun player. The second player is Dexter Fowler. Hes kinda a bust but I love his speed. and range. Fun player to watch in Coors. Also pretty frustrating Im sure.
4. Losing GMs is always hard. Matt was one of the best here. Mark had the ability to be a top tier guy. Multiple new GMs have signed up and left without much o an impact. Why did we lose these guys? Was it something inherently bad about BBSBL that lost these guys? Can we do anything to make this situation better? Or are these guys just not cut out for BBSBL?
Steve(MIL) - Not something inherently bad. It’s just a very interactive league. It makes things very tough when others are able to reverse PDs, use TIAs, etc and you don’t necessarily have the time to build up the board cash for that. Matt and Mark are both super busy right now so it makes sense. Although the size of the file is also to blame. 20 mb is way too large and can take a few minutes to download. In terms of the guys who signed up and never returned, that happens everywhere. Can’t narrow that down to something with this league. We’re at the point where we can afford to try out new GMs. We’ll get some duds who disappear, but we’ll get some solid GMs too.
Ashes - BravesGM started loaded and Mark is washed up, who cares. Jk about the latter, obviously. I don't know any of the new guys that signed up and left, but I'd imagine it was either because A) They were scrubs and had no business being here to begin with, or B) Play scared them off. I noticed crazymike around, that's interesting, saw him get raped by Spencer, so damn. There's nothing inherently bad about BBSBL. These OOTP leagues seem shaky as fuck to begin with in terms of GMs and GM activity, so I'd say we are pretty damn solid in that regard. The key is to have a great core, and try to find diamonds in the rough with new guys. It happens.
Steve(PIT) - I don't know...with those two, it seemed like life just intervened, but regarding the many that have signed up and then just leave...I guess they never got fully invested into it. I don't know. I'm not going to lie, it was tough for me in the beginning to get use to this league. All of the Rewards and Rules...it took me a lot of time, but once I figured it out, I was good. That's why I started off so slowly.
I honestly don't think we can do anything about it...we always say "if you ever need help, then PM so and so"...so it's whatever. Any league is like that, where there are a few openings, and you get turnover...the important part of the league is the core.
Me - Matt was kinda bitchy and moany this version. it sucked. I always really liked Matt alot and in this version I felt like he had changed. I hate to lose a GM of his quality, but I dont miss his posts. I really think were better off with Temp for now. Mark was a mess. He just didnt have time. Seemed liked he really wanted to get into this and get it, but he didnt have the time for it. Sucks.
I think it takes a certain amount of dedication to make it in BBSBL. You have to be up for it. The speed. The pace. The nonsense. The ineptitude and stupidity. It takes quite a bit of patience to deal with some stuff here. But it also gives you that manic ADD that BBS had. Which is addictive. So its worth it. Just that certain GMs arent cut out for it.
5. I have long worried that the ability to reverse PDs will eventually lead to a talent spike in BBSBL. Is this something that worries you? If so what are some preventative measures we could take to counter act it?
Steve(MIL) - Nah, I’m not too worried about that. There’s already a limit on PD reversals for individuals, and you’re not going to reverse all of your PDs. Seems reasonable to let your best players keep their talents. I guess it’s just something we have to monitor, and if we start to notice anything we act on it. I don’t think it will be a problem though.
Ashes - I don't know, are things out of control? Seems fine to me. I keep seeing amazing PDs offset by someone else getting a shitty PD. I can't see people being able to reverse them all, but I suppose there could be some concern. Really don't know how you would change it other than doing away with it completely, which would be ass. Maybe make it more restrictive on younger or older guys, depending on which is more pressing. I notice that even with reversing talent PDs, it doesn't change the fact that sometimes those PD hits hurt the actual ratings of the player. For me, Victorino was doing amazing to start the year and was 6/6 in Hits, but he took a PD hit and his ratings dropped, which the PD reverse didn't fix. Also happened to Sabathia when I had him and had to reverse a PD. Sucks.
Steve(PIT) - It does...there's so much upper echelon talent, and then I'm wondering why some of my guys aren't performing...This is probably an awful idea, but maybe only allow PD Reversals for players under the age of 25. That could help.
Me - I love the ability to edit but I think the PD reversals need a revamp. I think naturally PDs even out an OOTP league. When we mess with them we mess with the balance of the league. Id like to look into it before we get too far into the future. IDK. Maybe like only PDs to players under 28? Maybe increase the cash that it takes to reverse PDs? I love the reward system, but the reversal of PDs will catch up with us eventually IMO.
6. The Franchise Player has been debated a ton lately. Homegrown versus anyone? Age limits. Locked talents until a certain age. Ideally what would each of you want the Franchise player to be. State it like it would be stated if you ran the league.
Steve(MIL) - The only thing I don’t like about the rule is the homegrown aspect. I’d say you can franchise anyone, whether you drafted him or traded for him. Maybe keep talents locked until age 35. But saying a guy has to be drafted by you doesn’t make much sense. Like, Adam Wainwright really wouldn’t be a franchise guy for the Cardinals just because he was drafted by the Braves? If you acquire the guy before he’s 25 and you keep him through his late 30s, that’s a franchise player.
Ashes - I don't think there should be any restriction regarding where the player was drafted. Age limit is fine. The locked talents until whatever age is fine. I do feel you should have the option to try to lock the player into a cheaper contract as opposed to being forced to accept the 10 year, $15 mil contract. I mean, if my franchise player is Loyal, there's no way he wouldn't accept less money. That's probably my biggest qualm with it. I feel like maybe if he doesn't accept your contract offers, then you have the option of taking the franchise contract. To add some risk there you could say if the player says he won't negotiate/breaks off talks, then boom, you lost your franchise player.
Steve(PIT) - Anyone...the homegrown thing is just flat-out fucking dumb...this is a SIM League so why do we really care. I guess Big Papi isn't a franchise guy for Boston since he wasn't developed through their minors from the beginning?
I think it should be anyone...locked in talents until age 35...that's pretty much it. Now, let me franchise Hanley! In reality, I wouldn't even have a Franchise Player...I'd get rid of it.
Me - I love the idea of 3 Franchise guys. 1 Homegrown talent. Really reward a team by allowing that player to be elite. Locked talents. Extra rewards. Fan increase. The 2 Core players that can be relatively locked acquired players. Obviously an increase to Fan Interest for both, but a hit if any of the are traded. Fun interactive idea that will make things more interesting.
7. Lets talk age and development. Development is based on talent. But does age affect development? Do you under value older talented players that arent developed? Is someone like Joesph Jackson on San Diego still valuable? Or is he less valuable because of his age?
Steve(MIL) - It’s always a risk with those guys because every sim I feel like they’re going to take a PD hit. I’ve got one right now in Jinshirou Kensaku. Outstanding talents but underdeveloped at age 26. I love those guys though because of how much everyone else undervalues them. Can get a lot of steals out of it. In most cases, they still develop, they just got a late start. Jackson is going to be absurd.
Ashes - Age actually does affect development. I had found a post from one of the developers awhile ago that described the guys in their teens take a lot longer develop, and that the development spike doesn't start to occur until the 21-23 range. Not only that, but guys in their teens are more prone to PDs, so I'm pretty wary of them now. I definitely think Joseph Jackson has value. With those Brilliant talents, he's going to develop. Look at old Woody Williams' ass. Had that monster PD a long time ago and he exploded. I wouldn't value Jackson as a top piece right now though, need to see his production improve big time. Jackson's growth has to come in the Majors now, so it could go either way. I'd value a guy like Sabin or Baxter over Jackson significantly.
Steve(PIT) - Whatever is good to great value for me in trades is what I value...anyway, it all depends on what somebody wants for an under-developed player...so I don't know. It all depends on where the guy is at, too...can he develop quickly enough to the point where he'll be a worthy player for me. Once they turn age 26, they develop quickly...Anyway, I sure as shit value Joseph Jackson (I believe this question was asked before Jackson's PD explosion)...come on, Aaron, lets make this happen, haha!
Me - In this league specially age isn't that important. Id rather have a 28 yo great talented player then a 17 year old great talented player. Ive had lots of success with older players with talents exploding. It is nice for trade circumstances that not all GMs view these players the same. Part of the strategy I guess. I think its fun to discuss things like this to get different perspectives.
8. Lets get an early jump on the Winter Meetings. What has happened this year that has become a point of emphasis moving forward? What can we change about BBSBL to make it better short term and long term?
Steve(MIL) - I think we should probably take a deeper look at the financial system. I get that the disparity in markets and payrolls is like real life. But it still takes a lot of the fun out of it when it’s so much easier for the larger markets to make money and pay guys. I’m not saying we necessarily need a cap, but I think we need to implement something. We’ve thrown around some ideas, had a thread or two. But nothing’s ever been done. Basically, fuck off Spencer.
Ashes - Just keep making the draft process better. I still wanted to see something with steroids, but I guess that's long forgotten. You could have a mafia-like secrecy thing with steroids, like Erbes randomly chooses certain players on teams and you get the option to use steroids or not with the possible consequences of being named in the Mitchell Report with other penalties being applied to that player if caught. I dunno, would've been fun.
Steve(PIT) - The Franchise Player...get rid of it...My main issue is, we got too much pitching in this league, and I think this year's draft class doesn't help the cause either. So I don't know how we can even that out. That's an issue in my opinion.
Me - Get that draft file done in season. No post season wait. Fix the Franchise rule. Introduce Core Players. Reduce or increase the amount on PD reversals. All of these things are relatively major but will help the league a ton. Although ratings arent out of control yet, its still early on in the process. Lets get it under control before its a problem, not after.
9. One of the best aspects of sim leagues is falling in love with one of your players. You all have some nice talent. Who is someone that has really gotten your attention this year? Talk about this player for a bit and what your long term plans are for him.
Steve(MIL) - Love Youkilis. Gotten some offers for him but highly doubt I would move him unless it would be just stupid to turn down. He’s playing 3B right now but I may move him to 1B. Gonna be sick when he’s ready next season. Guy who took me by surprise this year was Kyle Kendrick. Extremely unremarkable in real life but he got a nice PD here and now he’s sick and only 18. Can’t wait to watch him develop. Also really excited to move Kensaku up to the majors and see how he fares while so underdeveloped. The crowds in Milwaukee are going to eat up the Asian Sensation.
Ashes - See that guy Miguel Cabrera? Yeah, he's pretty good. B/B/P/B/B/G. Sexy. I expect his HRs to explode next season, and he'll take over the league. Expect 15+ years of rightful dominance from the best player. I'll also enjoy Shale crying that Wright isn't getting recognition with his gaudy numbers while Cabrera roams the NL. Which will be always. I expect at least 6 MVPs from him, and he'll probably go down as the greatest hitter ever. Can't wait for my 3/4/5 of Vlad/Cabrera/Howard. Yessir!
Steve(PIT) - Well, Hanley/Kubel are obvious...they are going to be a main focal point for me in the future. I'll tell you what, I love Michael Bourn...obviously, the rewards helped him, but he looks like he could be a very nice leadoff hitter in the future. Great D, a dominant base stealer, and can hit for average. He's performed well at the Minor League Level.
I'll give you a Major Leaguer, too...Jeremy Affeldt...My IRIs have now exploded him into my Ace...he's been fantastic this year, and might have the best swing and miss stuff in the whole league.
Me - William Workman. Oh boy. Just love him. Got him for Rueter. Was like wow, how did I get this guy. TIAd him. Hes so sick. G/A/G/B/B A duration, loyal, durable. So fun. As a rookie 13 wins in 23 starts. Love this kid. Secondly Ill go with Chris Gissell. Used that freebie TIA to BRILL his HITS. So sick. B/A/G/G/B. B duration. 2 relatively young SP studs to pair with Pittsley. Love these 3. Keepers for sure.
10. Lastly, what does your team need? What are your outlooks for this year and the immediate future. Where do you expect to finish this year?
Steve(MIL) - We’re super mediocre. .500 team that will probably finish 4th. Pitching is pretty solid but we’re missing some bats in the lineup. Can’t wait to get Choo, Youkilis, Pagan, Soto, McGehee up to fill it up. Should probably look to move one of my pitching spects for a nice hitter, but haven’t had much luck in that area. I’ve kept the payroll fairly low so I’m hoping to be able to spend on a good FA next offseason. I made some big offers this last year but nobody wants to come to Milwaukee. We’ll just have to trick them.
Ashes - I badly need pitching. I moved Sabathia to lock Cabrera in, and then Lackey ended up PDing his way into a future Sabathia-type, which was awesome. I'll give Clint a shot soon, and next season Lowry will probably be ready, but I definitely need one more ace on my staff, if not two (depending on how guys like Casilla/Lowry end up). My outlook for this year is probably solid, I'll win 90+ games, but I'll probably miss out on the playoffs. The Expos are a little better than me, and the Braves are as annoying as ever. I'm not going to tear things down, but I'll probably re-tool and run an even lower payroll next season. My core is still crazy young with guys like Chavez/Hudson/Guerrero/Lackey all being around the 25-27 age range, then I have the new blood like Cabrera/Casilla/Victorino with guys like Howard/Hart/Lowry/LaRoche/etc coming soon, and finally I have the "old" guys like Sweeney/Stark/Belliard who will probably be on their way out since they are all in their prime and very good players but don't exactly fit in with the upcoming movement here. I'll probably finish 2nd in my division with around 93-94 wins and miss out on the division and the wildcard by 3-5 games. I'll be competitive next season, and I'll win it all the season after that.
Steve(PIT) - Nothing...I just need to wait for guys like Utley/Hanley/Gerut to develop their power...that's when we will take that next step I believe...My outlook going into this year was to be around an 80 win squad...we're on pace for around 95...so I'm thrilled, and I think getting a Wild Card is very much in the discussion. I think we can get the NL WC IF our hitting steps up...if not, I think SF takes it.
Me - really needed some guys that could hit LHP and a MR. I think I got all that and more tbh. Id be shocked if I didnt overtake SD for the NL West crown. I think I have as much talent as them and the ability to add more payroll if needed. Cordero is a plus too. I added 3 very good hitters and a very good MR. Might want to g out and get 1 more P. But ya, I think Ill win 100 and another NL West crown. Doubtful I get passed Chicago though.
1. The two top teams reside in Chicago. The Cubs and White Sox lead their Leagues in wins. Are these two teams the teams to beat? What makes these teams so good? If they meet in the World Series who has the upper hand?
Steve(MIL) - Of course they’re the teams to beat. They have been for about 4 seasons now. Sure, the Padres, Giants, Yankees, etc. could make some noise. It’s a Chicago league though. Just all around complete teams. Pitching in this league is pretty nice overall, but these two have very strong staffs. Plus great lineups. Could easily see White Sox winning it all this year, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Play won it the season that I finally didn’t pick him to win it all. They’re also both in fairly weak divisions though, so that may make them look better in the regular season. Still, I think it’s Waldo’s year.
Ashes - I think they are the teams to beat in their respective leagues. The White Sox offense is unreal, when did Ray Durham get this good? Everything seems to be clicking for them. I mean if you can have Charles Johnson hitting .255 with 2s and Bonds hitting .281 with 4s, then I don't know what else to say. Their offense is scary powerful, and they have great pitching. Going to be tough to beat them in the AL. The Cubs are very similar, except their pitching is even better. Easily the best staff in the league, probably ever. It's hard to imagine the Cubs not finally winning it all, but play usually finds a way to choke here, so we'll see what happens. I'd definitely give the Cubs the upper hand if the two met in the Series.
Steve(PIT) - I would say so, but it doesn't matter in the Playoffs...the playoffs are a crap-shoot...I say this all the time. Now, just look at Play's squad...best SP I've ever seen assembled...Santana/Wood/CC/Wilson...unreal. All four guys have WHIPS under 1...Santana and Wood have sub 2 ERAs...ridiculous. Manny/Berkman are a great 3/4...I think Play's weakness is his bullpen by far, but if his SPs do the job, it won't matter.
To the South Side...Fernandez already has 20 wins...sick. Rueter has been excellent. Their hitting is always good...it's not what it was though...besides Bradford, I'm not a fan of their bullpen. Anyway, they look good, but I could easily see them losing in the AL.
If they met, I'd say the Cubs have a distinct advantage with Sabathia/Wilson over Loaiza/Adams...it would be a great WS if this happened.
Me - Ya I truly believe these are the teams to beat. NYY doesnt impress me much, SEA is an up and comer but they arent ready. To me the White Sox are a shoo in for the AL Crown. In the NL its much tougher. Not only is PITT sick in their division but there are 4 other legit really good teams in the NL. Id say 6 of the top 8 teams are in the NL. But if the Cubbies can get through the NL they match up real well with anyone. That pitching staff is insane. 3 legit stud SPs that would be aces on any other team. Then Paul Wilson who is a stud too. Amazing pitching and they still have top tier young talent and a very good offense. Only drawback is that Play doesnt seem to have any postseason mojo in BBSBL. Well see.
2. Looks like we finally have some nice new GMs. Its taken forever to fill up some of these spots. Lets talk a little about each new GM. List the strengths and weaknesses of each GM and what they have to look forward to with their new team. If you don't know the new guy, just post about their team and give them some advice based on their teams current talent level. Greeme in Tampa Bay. Greggor in Anaheim. Kobe in Atlanta.
Steve(MIL) - Greg’s biggest weakness is that he’s an old fart. His biggest strength is that he’s an awesome old fart. Greg is a great GM. Erbes really fucked up by firing him originally. Angels will be fine. Some nice young pieces in Werth, Phillips, and Santana. For the others, I think I always mixed up Greeme and Kobe in BBS, and I’ve never played OOTP with them so no comment on their strengths and weaknesses here. I’m not worried about them being successful though. Greeme is going to have a rough time in Tampa to start, but they have lots of cash and a nice system so he’s in a pretty good position. It’ll be interesting to see what direction Kobe goes with the Braves. The system isn’t too strong and I’m not sure if the team is good enough to hang with the big boys right now. Also just realized that Kobe is actually the Twins, so take all that and apply it to Temp. Kobe and the Twins will be in a similar situation to Greeme, but without as much money or talent. Should probably keep losing and hope for someone like Verlander.
Ashes - Yeah, the only new GM I knew we had was in Atlanta, and I didn't even know it was kobe. Don't really feel like looking at the teams, so I'll just guess using what I remember of the teams. Tampa Bay kinda sucks, tough situation there, so Greeme will probably have a hard time, especially with adjusting to everything. He's active, so I'd imagine he'll get the hang of things and make something out of that expansion team, but I don't imagine it being anytime soon. Anaheim has been a stagnant franchise forever, and with Greggor taking over, I'd imagine that trend will continue. Hopefully Kobe tears everything down in Atlanta, because it's annoying seeing that team be competitive every year given all the advantages that franchise had starting out.
Steve(PIT) - What the fuck kind of question is this? Their strengths and weaknesses???...I don't know. I've never been in leagues with these guys except Greggor (somewhat). I'll go the second route on this question. Also, Kobe is with Minny.
Regarding Tampa...they need bats...I like their SP of the future, and that's key, but they need to draft, and target young bats via the trade market. Be patient in FA...get some decent guys and then trade them to garner more draft picks. That's the key to any rebuild...accumulate a lot of draft picks, and be smart in FA. Pick your spots. Tampa has a decent future.
Now to Anaheim...they need to trade their veteran guys as soon as possible...another rebuilding squad here...love Werth/Phillips, but they need more help...Blevins/Weaver are nice, but that's really it. They need more young talent...Easley should create a good market...very nice bat, but he has to be traded now. Can't wait any longer there. The Angels have a lot of work to do to get on that right track.
Finally, the Twinkies...another team that needs bats...I like Weeks/Cuddyer if they're TIA eligible, but that's it. Zambrano/Pettyjohn is good, but I'd consider trading them, and starting a full rebuild again...not a lot to be excited here. All of these teams lack that star bat...that's vital for any team.
Me - First off sorry to Temp for missing him. Very solid Gm in a very good position to compete from ay 1.
Greeme - Extremely active and usually has some different ideas on competing. Lacks OOTP knowledge so the learning curve will be in play. Activity is so important though I think it will help him a ton. As for his team he just needs to stave off bad PDs with that cash he inherited. Draft well. Be smart in FA and continue to ad bats like Greg Colbrunn this year. Solid guys, not world beaters. Defense. Speed. Pitching. OBP. OPS.
Greg - Its been so lon since Ive been in an OOTP league with him I forgot his strengths and weakness. I think I stole him outta GABL and recruited him to BBS. Was never dominant but he learned and progressed nicely. Hes very patient and that usually translates better to OOTP then FBB. As for his team I think he has some nice talent. Financialy hes in great shape and now its time to add and win becaue he needs to turn around his Fan Interest. Jayson Werth is a stud. Franchise material. They have some nice young pitching. The division will be strong soon. Very important to draft well this year and then acquire some more talent in FA. Hopefully they can jump ahead of Oakland and Texas and be #2 in the AL West next year.
Kobe - Kobe was his best at BBS at the end. I think he finally stopped letting people talk and get in his head. I remember tons of deals that really ruined his chances. Seemed like hed get on a roll. Then make a bad move and then it would fall apart. But like I aid, at the end of the last BS he was very good. He has no OOTP experience so that might hurt some. I really hope he sticks with it. Activity was always a strength with him. He really needs to load up on Board Cash. Protect all his young pitching assets. Draft some hitters. Hit FA strong. Once again. Dont overpay, but try and get solid players for cheap.
Temp - I dont remember him in my stint in SLOB. I remember him being active, but dont remember hiss style or his success. As for this ATL club. Id just dump a little salary and go right back out competing. Maybe move 15-20 million. Load up on spects. And then go out and compete again. Too much high end talent here to blow it all up. Need to compete again, and soon.
3. Looks like Erbes has been doing some draft already. Its nice to see him making progress on it early. Please discuss how much better it will be to not have a layoff between the WS and the draft. Also discuss 2 players in this draft you love and why.
Steve(MIL) - Some guys like having a little break there, but the league always kind of drags and almost dies when there’s a week off. It’ll be really nice to be able to finish up the season and jump right into the draft. In terms of guys I’m looking forward to in this draft, I’ve always been a big Verlander fan. Would love to have him on my team. Also love Carlos Santana. Watching him hit the ball is like Oye Como Va! List of guys I don’t want: Yovani Gallardo. His drunk ass can go sit in the corner with Ryan Braun.
Ashes - It's good that he's starting earlier. I missed the last few offseasons, but I'd imagine they must not have gone any smoother than the ones I was around for. Hopefully we can get the ball rolling earlier and not have such a lull between seasons. That gets boring. I don't any players coming out in this draft off the top of my head (Since I stopped caring about baseball around 2003 and no one pays attention to the MLB Draft the year it happens) so let me google magic some stuff. Um, I guess Matt Kemp is decent, right?
Steve(PIT) - Obviously it would be better, but it is what it is...can't do nothing about it.
Justin Verlander...dude is filthy, and he'll be a stud...he's most likely the number 1 pick even though we are SP heavy in this league...I'd be shocked if he wasn't.
Ben Zobrist...he's got so much value for his ability to play multiple positions...has a great eye, and has some decent power. Zobrist will be a very nice player in this league.
Me - Id love if the draft was done b the end of the year. two reasons really. First its so nie to see players after each sim. Just one or two guys added. If youre tanking you can check them out. If you only have a 2nd, you can kinda look and see if someone will slip. Maybe someone has some strengths that you like. Etc. its fun. Secondly obviously the end of season Wait. No one likes it. This is a fast paced ADD league. We want to go go go. If the draft is done we ca just get right into motion. Itll be huge for activity momentum.
As for players well obviously Hunter Pence. Love him. Great Giant. probably wont be rated super well but whatever. Solid MLB player. Good defender. Solid speed. Good arm. Fun player. The second player is Dexter Fowler. Hes kinda a bust but I love his speed. and range. Fun player to watch in Coors. Also pretty frustrating Im sure.
4. Losing GMs is always hard. Matt was one of the best here. Mark had the ability to be a top tier guy. Multiple new GMs have signed up and left without much o an impact. Why did we lose these guys? Was it something inherently bad about BBSBL that lost these guys? Can we do anything to make this situation better? Or are these guys just not cut out for BBSBL?
Steve(MIL) - Not something inherently bad. It’s just a very interactive league. It makes things very tough when others are able to reverse PDs, use TIAs, etc and you don’t necessarily have the time to build up the board cash for that. Matt and Mark are both super busy right now so it makes sense. Although the size of the file is also to blame. 20 mb is way too large and can take a few minutes to download. In terms of the guys who signed up and never returned, that happens everywhere. Can’t narrow that down to something with this league. We’re at the point where we can afford to try out new GMs. We’ll get some duds who disappear, but we’ll get some solid GMs too.
Ashes - BravesGM started loaded and Mark is washed up, who cares. Jk about the latter, obviously. I don't know any of the new guys that signed up and left, but I'd imagine it was either because A) They were scrubs and had no business being here to begin with, or B) Play scared them off. I noticed crazymike around, that's interesting, saw him get raped by Spencer, so damn. There's nothing inherently bad about BBSBL. These OOTP leagues seem shaky as fuck to begin with in terms of GMs and GM activity, so I'd say we are pretty damn solid in that regard. The key is to have a great core, and try to find diamonds in the rough with new guys. It happens.
Steve(PIT) - I don't know...with those two, it seemed like life just intervened, but regarding the many that have signed up and then just leave...I guess they never got fully invested into it. I don't know. I'm not going to lie, it was tough for me in the beginning to get use to this league. All of the Rewards and Rules...it took me a lot of time, but once I figured it out, I was good. That's why I started off so slowly.
I honestly don't think we can do anything about it...we always say "if you ever need help, then PM so and so"...so it's whatever. Any league is like that, where there are a few openings, and you get turnover...the important part of the league is the core.
Me - Matt was kinda bitchy and moany this version. it sucked. I always really liked Matt alot and in this version I felt like he had changed. I hate to lose a GM of his quality, but I dont miss his posts. I really think were better off with Temp for now. Mark was a mess. He just didnt have time. Seemed liked he really wanted to get into this and get it, but he didnt have the time for it. Sucks.
I think it takes a certain amount of dedication to make it in BBSBL. You have to be up for it. The speed. The pace. The nonsense. The ineptitude and stupidity. It takes quite a bit of patience to deal with some stuff here. But it also gives you that manic ADD that BBS had. Which is addictive. So its worth it. Just that certain GMs arent cut out for it.
5. I have long worried that the ability to reverse PDs will eventually lead to a talent spike in BBSBL. Is this something that worries you? If so what are some preventative measures we could take to counter act it?
Steve(MIL) - Nah, I’m not too worried about that. There’s already a limit on PD reversals for individuals, and you’re not going to reverse all of your PDs. Seems reasonable to let your best players keep their talents. I guess it’s just something we have to monitor, and if we start to notice anything we act on it. I don’t think it will be a problem though.
Ashes - I don't know, are things out of control? Seems fine to me. I keep seeing amazing PDs offset by someone else getting a shitty PD. I can't see people being able to reverse them all, but I suppose there could be some concern. Really don't know how you would change it other than doing away with it completely, which would be ass. Maybe make it more restrictive on younger or older guys, depending on which is more pressing. I notice that even with reversing talent PDs, it doesn't change the fact that sometimes those PD hits hurt the actual ratings of the player. For me, Victorino was doing amazing to start the year and was 6/6 in Hits, but he took a PD hit and his ratings dropped, which the PD reverse didn't fix. Also happened to Sabathia when I had him and had to reverse a PD. Sucks.
Steve(PIT) - It does...there's so much upper echelon talent, and then I'm wondering why some of my guys aren't performing...This is probably an awful idea, but maybe only allow PD Reversals for players under the age of 25. That could help.
Me - I love the ability to edit but I think the PD reversals need a revamp. I think naturally PDs even out an OOTP league. When we mess with them we mess with the balance of the league. Id like to look into it before we get too far into the future. IDK. Maybe like only PDs to players under 28? Maybe increase the cash that it takes to reverse PDs? I love the reward system, but the reversal of PDs will catch up with us eventually IMO.
6. The Franchise Player has been debated a ton lately. Homegrown versus anyone? Age limits. Locked talents until a certain age. Ideally what would each of you want the Franchise player to be. State it like it would be stated if you ran the league.
Steve(MIL) - The only thing I don’t like about the rule is the homegrown aspect. I’d say you can franchise anyone, whether you drafted him or traded for him. Maybe keep talents locked until age 35. But saying a guy has to be drafted by you doesn’t make much sense. Like, Adam Wainwright really wouldn’t be a franchise guy for the Cardinals just because he was drafted by the Braves? If you acquire the guy before he’s 25 and you keep him through his late 30s, that’s a franchise player.
Ashes - I don't think there should be any restriction regarding where the player was drafted. Age limit is fine. The locked talents until whatever age is fine. I do feel you should have the option to try to lock the player into a cheaper contract as opposed to being forced to accept the 10 year, $15 mil contract. I mean, if my franchise player is Loyal, there's no way he wouldn't accept less money. That's probably my biggest qualm with it. I feel like maybe if he doesn't accept your contract offers, then you have the option of taking the franchise contract. To add some risk there you could say if the player says he won't negotiate/breaks off talks, then boom, you lost your franchise player.
Steve(PIT) - Anyone...the homegrown thing is just flat-out fucking dumb...this is a SIM League so why do we really care. I guess Big Papi isn't a franchise guy for Boston since he wasn't developed through their minors from the beginning?
I think it should be anyone...locked in talents until age 35...that's pretty much it. Now, let me franchise Hanley! In reality, I wouldn't even have a Franchise Player...I'd get rid of it.
Me - I love the idea of 3 Franchise guys. 1 Homegrown talent. Really reward a team by allowing that player to be elite. Locked talents. Extra rewards. Fan increase. The 2 Core players that can be relatively locked acquired players. Obviously an increase to Fan Interest for both, but a hit if any of the are traded. Fun interactive idea that will make things more interesting.
7. Lets talk age and development. Development is based on talent. But does age affect development? Do you under value older talented players that arent developed? Is someone like Joesph Jackson on San Diego still valuable? Or is he less valuable because of his age?
Steve(MIL) - It’s always a risk with those guys because every sim I feel like they’re going to take a PD hit. I’ve got one right now in Jinshirou Kensaku. Outstanding talents but underdeveloped at age 26. I love those guys though because of how much everyone else undervalues them. Can get a lot of steals out of it. In most cases, they still develop, they just got a late start. Jackson is going to be absurd.
Ashes - Age actually does affect development. I had found a post from one of the developers awhile ago that described the guys in their teens take a lot longer develop, and that the development spike doesn't start to occur until the 21-23 range. Not only that, but guys in their teens are more prone to PDs, so I'm pretty wary of them now. I definitely think Joseph Jackson has value. With those Brilliant talents, he's going to develop. Look at old Woody Williams' ass. Had that monster PD a long time ago and he exploded. I wouldn't value Jackson as a top piece right now though, need to see his production improve big time. Jackson's growth has to come in the Majors now, so it could go either way. I'd value a guy like Sabin or Baxter over Jackson significantly.
Steve(PIT) - Whatever is good to great value for me in trades is what I value...anyway, it all depends on what somebody wants for an under-developed player...so I don't know. It all depends on where the guy is at, too...can he develop quickly enough to the point where he'll be a worthy player for me. Once they turn age 26, they develop quickly...Anyway, I sure as shit value Joseph Jackson (I believe this question was asked before Jackson's PD explosion)...come on, Aaron, lets make this happen, haha!
Me - In this league specially age isn't that important. Id rather have a 28 yo great talented player then a 17 year old great talented player. Ive had lots of success with older players with talents exploding. It is nice for trade circumstances that not all GMs view these players the same. Part of the strategy I guess. I think its fun to discuss things like this to get different perspectives.
8. Lets get an early jump on the Winter Meetings. What has happened this year that has become a point of emphasis moving forward? What can we change about BBSBL to make it better short term and long term?
Steve(MIL) - I think we should probably take a deeper look at the financial system. I get that the disparity in markets and payrolls is like real life. But it still takes a lot of the fun out of it when it’s so much easier for the larger markets to make money and pay guys. I’m not saying we necessarily need a cap, but I think we need to implement something. We’ve thrown around some ideas, had a thread or two. But nothing’s ever been done. Basically, fuck off Spencer.
Ashes - Just keep making the draft process better. I still wanted to see something with steroids, but I guess that's long forgotten. You could have a mafia-like secrecy thing with steroids, like Erbes randomly chooses certain players on teams and you get the option to use steroids or not with the possible consequences of being named in the Mitchell Report with other penalties being applied to that player if caught. I dunno, would've been fun.
Steve(PIT) - The Franchise Player...get rid of it...My main issue is, we got too much pitching in this league, and I think this year's draft class doesn't help the cause either. So I don't know how we can even that out. That's an issue in my opinion.
Me - Get that draft file done in season. No post season wait. Fix the Franchise rule. Introduce Core Players. Reduce or increase the amount on PD reversals. All of these things are relatively major but will help the league a ton. Although ratings arent out of control yet, its still early on in the process. Lets get it under control before its a problem, not after.
9. One of the best aspects of sim leagues is falling in love with one of your players. You all have some nice talent. Who is someone that has really gotten your attention this year? Talk about this player for a bit and what your long term plans are for him.
Steve(MIL) - Love Youkilis. Gotten some offers for him but highly doubt I would move him unless it would be just stupid to turn down. He’s playing 3B right now but I may move him to 1B. Gonna be sick when he’s ready next season. Guy who took me by surprise this year was Kyle Kendrick. Extremely unremarkable in real life but he got a nice PD here and now he’s sick and only 18. Can’t wait to watch him develop. Also really excited to move Kensaku up to the majors and see how he fares while so underdeveloped. The crowds in Milwaukee are going to eat up the Asian Sensation.
Ashes - See that guy Miguel Cabrera? Yeah, he's pretty good. B/B/P/B/B/G. Sexy. I expect his HRs to explode next season, and he'll take over the league. Expect 15+ years of rightful dominance from the best player. I'll also enjoy Shale crying that Wright isn't getting recognition with his gaudy numbers while Cabrera roams the NL. Which will be always. I expect at least 6 MVPs from him, and he'll probably go down as the greatest hitter ever. Can't wait for my 3/4/5 of Vlad/Cabrera/Howard. Yessir!
Steve(PIT) - Well, Hanley/Kubel are obvious...they are going to be a main focal point for me in the future. I'll tell you what, I love Michael Bourn...obviously, the rewards helped him, but he looks like he could be a very nice leadoff hitter in the future. Great D, a dominant base stealer, and can hit for average. He's performed well at the Minor League Level.
I'll give you a Major Leaguer, too...Jeremy Affeldt...My IRIs have now exploded him into my Ace...he's been fantastic this year, and might have the best swing and miss stuff in the whole league.
Me - William Workman. Oh boy. Just love him. Got him for Rueter. Was like wow, how did I get this guy. TIAd him. Hes so sick. G/A/G/B/B A duration, loyal, durable. So fun. As a rookie 13 wins in 23 starts. Love this kid. Secondly Ill go with Chris Gissell. Used that freebie TIA to BRILL his HITS. So sick. B/A/G/G/B. B duration. 2 relatively young SP studs to pair with Pittsley. Love these 3. Keepers for sure.
10. Lastly, what does your team need? What are your outlooks for this year and the immediate future. Where do you expect to finish this year?
Steve(MIL) - We’re super mediocre. .500 team that will probably finish 4th. Pitching is pretty solid but we’re missing some bats in the lineup. Can’t wait to get Choo, Youkilis, Pagan, Soto, McGehee up to fill it up. Should probably look to move one of my pitching spects for a nice hitter, but haven’t had much luck in that area. I’ve kept the payroll fairly low so I’m hoping to be able to spend on a good FA next offseason. I made some big offers this last year but nobody wants to come to Milwaukee. We’ll just have to trick them.
Ashes - I badly need pitching. I moved Sabathia to lock Cabrera in, and then Lackey ended up PDing his way into a future Sabathia-type, which was awesome. I'll give Clint a shot soon, and next season Lowry will probably be ready, but I definitely need one more ace on my staff, if not two (depending on how guys like Casilla/Lowry end up). My outlook for this year is probably solid, I'll win 90+ games, but I'll probably miss out on the playoffs. The Expos are a little better than me, and the Braves are as annoying as ever. I'm not going to tear things down, but I'll probably re-tool and run an even lower payroll next season. My core is still crazy young with guys like Chavez/Hudson/Guerrero/Lackey all being around the 25-27 age range, then I have the new blood like Cabrera/Casilla/Victorino with guys like Howard/Hart/Lowry/LaRoche/etc coming soon, and finally I have the "old" guys like Sweeney/Stark/Belliard who will probably be on their way out since they are all in their prime and very good players but don't exactly fit in with the upcoming movement here. I'll probably finish 2nd in my division with around 93-94 wins and miss out on the division and the wildcard by 3-5 games. I'll be competitive next season, and I'll win it all the season after that.
Steve(PIT) - Nothing...I just need to wait for guys like Utley/Hanley/Gerut to develop their power...that's when we will take that next step I believe...My outlook going into this year was to be around an 80 win squad...we're on pace for around 95...so I'm thrilled, and I think getting a Wild Card is very much in the discussion. I think we can get the NL WC IF our hitting steps up...if not, I think SF takes it.
Me - really needed some guys that could hit LHP and a MR. I think I got all that and more tbh. Id be shocked if I didnt overtake SD for the NL West crown. I think I have as much talent as them and the ability to add more payroll if needed. Cordero is a plus too. I added 3 very good hitters and a very good MR. Might want to g out and get 1 more P. But ya, I think Ill win 100 and another NL West crown. Doubtful I get passed Chicago though.