2011 Offseason SIM 3 Complete - Next SIM Sat 6/6

[BradZ]

Just noticed OF Tom Swanson hung them up. He's a franchise leader in several categories. He was never as good as he was supposed to be, but was still a damn fine ballplayer. He never would negotiate with us last season after I lowballed him at the end of 2010 and no one else ever picked him up. Enjoy your retirement Grinder.

[Z]

Crazy to see Duane Porter finally retire. He was the last active player from the 1980s.

He and Jose Guzman are the only two BLB players to play in four different decades.

[Lintyfresh85]

Real happy with the off-season... I think as long as we stay healthy we should have enough talent to finally compete.

[funclown]

Nice res-scout. It took a couple of seasons since he was originally in 2007, but former 1st rounder SP Omura is finally back in the top 100 (Ranked 96). Scout has him at a 5-6-6 with a little more room left in stuff development.

Still only 23 years old, he's gonna blocked for awhile.

We're gonna have a nice AAA team again this season.

[Carlos]

Marshburn wants a six-year deal at age 39. Amazing.

[funclown]

Marshburn wants a six-year deal at age 39. Amazing.

Thats one of the big flaws in the game. The players in they're prime (26-31 per OOTP player aging) really need to be the greedy ones versus the older guys. After 35, your probably going to be a merc chasing one or two year deals.

This where I wish the player's greed has more of an impact aka prefer to go thru arbitration versus willingly accept a long term extension. Might make for alot more trades.

[Carlos]

Thats one of the big flaws in the game. The players in they're prime (26-31 per OOTP player aging) really need to be the greedy ones versus the older guys. After 35, your probably going to be a merc chasing one or two year deals.

This where I wish the player's greed has more of an impact aka prefer to go thru arbitration versus willingly accept a long term extension. Might make for alot more trades.

I think it's realistic that guys will take long-term deals at a young age. A lot of MLB players do it for the security. The plan is always to cash in at age 30 because you start to decline and it's the last time you'll make big money. The 6-8 years prior is always just an exhibition of your skills to force a team's hand.

So I think that's realistic. But I do agree that the guys that hit 30 aren't asking for the money they should be asking for. AND if they do, they don't deserve it. They should want longer deals but at more realistic dollars. Tom Estes shouldn't be asking for $20 MM a year.

Carl Crawford's contract would say Estes should, but the game needs to do a better job of understanding that no one in the league has a 200 million payroll so things need to be adjusted for that model. OOTP still hasn't figured that part out.

At least the demands go down over time toward the realistic. It just takes the fun out of battling over a free agent when everyone pretty much agrees to stay away from the guys asking for too much. Though, I guess the same happens to Boras clients.

As for 35+ year olds...I don't mind them asking. I just wish they lowered their years faster than they do. Marshburn should ask for a long term deal to see if anyone bites. No one has? Okay, might want to cut that thing down by half. That lack of intelligence to recognize things aren't going your way as other free agents are being signed is severely lacking in the AI.

[umd]

I know Pat will be much better, but I really like what I've done with this team. With Robby English, we have one of the best rotations in baseball and each pitcher is in their prime or about to enter it. If I decide to trade English (which I want to do) we will still have an elite staff since I think Honea and Bourne will take the next step and Tom Bell can still be a mid rotation starter.

I love my bullpen and it may be the best I've ever had. Burns and Marrujo are great MR options, Bryant is one of the best lefty specialists in the BLB, and a back end of Manning, Salazar, Bell, Gruell, and Melgoza are all closer caliber with only one being paid like one in Manning. We have AAA depth there too with Goodhart and Nourse.

I think I filled a giant hole in CF and the cleanup spot with Gutierrez. He'll bat between Salcedo and his high OBP and Nara who continues to improve. Castillo offers another power bat. Travis Anthony is turning into a star, Garza has finally begun to realize his potential and Dave Bryan has emerged as a terrific PH, while Alex Godinez offers defense. Tom Cole and Damian Dowling have been solid players for us and the addition of Villareal and Sherrod adds more defense.

I think we will be a much better defensive team. If needed I can put a plus defensive team on the field at every position and we have improved our overall depth.

I'd still like to moving Manning and English, but if I keep them they are still 2 very high end players who can make us even stronger.

[Z]

Marshburn wants a six-year deal at age 39. Amazing.

You try telling Sonny Fucking Marshburn he won't be a productive player at age 45.

I will do no such thing. He is immortal.

I can't remember a 39 year old playing above average defense in the outfield in my 30 years in the BLB.

Except for Sonny Marshburn.

[Pat]

I know Pat will be much better, but I really like what I've done with this team.

It's going to be a very interesting year in the Stout. Potentially, I think both our teams could win 100 games. I also expect Morgantown and Seattle to improve in the win column.

I don't know if my team will be "much better." It will be exciting to see what the pre-season predictions look like.

[Pat]

Itīs annoying to donīt have stars to see current and potential, I found that very usefull in the minors...

We removed that feature about 20 seasons ago to make it more "realistic."

It's definitely harder on new owners but you will get the hang of it...eventually.

[mike]

It will be exciting to see what the pre-season predictions look like.

Yes. Very interesting to see how they shake out

Also, the re scout was very kind to Oscar Angulo. He's going to have a really good year this year as the 4 in our rotation.
On the farm: Ted Kessler is now up to 97-99, 7/5/6 POT, Dusty Orbon now up to 6/6/6 POT and our recently acquired 6'8 18 year old Zack Cook took a bump in velo as well as POT control and is up to 6/6/5. Very excited to see our A ball rotation this season with '11 1st rounder Bynum, Kessler, Orbon, Cook and Spann (ACQ from TOR). And we are very much looking forward to seeing Kayden Smoke Walker in AA along with Antonio Perez (our INTL signing) and Tom Michie.

[funclown]

I know Pat will be much better, but I really like what I've done with this team. With Robby English, we have one of the best rotations in baseball and each pitcher is in their prime or about to enter it. If I decide to trade English (which I want to do) we will still have an elite staff since I think Honea and Bourne will take the next step and Tom Bell can still be a mid rotation starter.

I love my bullpen and it may be the best I've ever had. Burns and Marrujo are great MR options, Bryant is one of the best lefty specialists in the BLB, and a back end of Manning, Salazar, Bell, Gruell, and Melgoza are all closer caliber with only one being paid like one in Manning. We have AAA depth there too with Goodhart and Nourse.

I think I filled a giant hole in CF and the cleanup spot with Gutierrez. He'll bat between Salcedo and his high OBP and Nara who continues to improve. Castillo offers another power bat. Travis Anthony is turning into a star, Garza has finally begun to realize his potential and Dave Bryan has emerged as a terrific PH, while Alex Godinez offers defense. Tom Cole and Damian Dowling have been solid players for us and the addition of Villareal and Sherrod adds more defense.

I think we will be a much better defensive team. If needed I can put a plus defensive team on the field at every position and we have improved our overall depth.

I'd still like to moving Manning and English, but if I keep them they are still 2 very high end players who can make us even stronger.

You'll probably win your division, your issues is probably the playoffs once again. Are you better then Philly or Carolina is most likely your concern.

Pat isn't your competition. I guess he is in some regard, but its all about the ring your chasing.

[funclown]

It's going to be a very interesting year in the Stout. Potentially, I think both our teams could win 100 games. I also expect Morgantown and Seattle to improve in the win column.

I don't know if my team will be "much better." It will be exciting to see what the pre-season predictions look like.

Morgantown is on tear down mode and Seattle will hiccup here and there. Its still a 2 team race til further notice.

[Pat]

Pat isn't your competition. I guess he is in some regard, but its all about the ring your chasing.

With the new Wild Card rules, it's much more important to win the division. Because of that, I would definitely consider the Bats to be Death Valley's main competition.