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Pretty solid sim for the defending champs.
The Good
Free Agent Signings: I signed three of the four free-agents I was after (the one that got away is now playing in Virginia.) I signed catcher Jerry Fortin to an incentive based contract, with a team option. Basically, it is a one-year $5,000,000 deal. My scouts all have him at 5-5-6-6-5. He had a .722 OPS for Virginia last year. I expect that number to go up. I will platoon him at catcher, play some 1B, PH a lot, and if he hits well enough, I might try and sneak him in at 3B and LF. Plus, this year we have interleague play, so he will play some catcher while my starter is DH'ing. I also signed OF Jesus Noboa for $2,000,000. He can play all OF positions at a high level, "7" on all base running, and my scouts have him at 4-5-5-4-5. He will be my #4 OF. And last, I signed 35-year-old RP Andy Boutwell, who had a 6.22 ERA last year for $750K. My scouts say he is still rated at 3-6-5, and I was desperate for a left handed RP after losing one via trade and the other in the expansion draft. The combined three players raised my fan interest I think 12-15.
The play on the field: The Bats started 2-2, then won nine straight. I know ST doesn't mean much, but I would rather be winning than losing. Plus, of my starting position players, only one is struggling. Last year it seemed like half my team was. As for pitchers, everyone has done really well except two players, and one of them is SP Romano Gonzalez, so I'm not worried. Plus...no injuries.
The Bad
Struggling players: Top prospect, RF Michio Nago really struggled this spring. I did not plan on this, and really don't have much of an alternative option. He went 7-35 with a .508 OPS...12 strikeouts, 1 walk...If he can't get it together, I will probably have to start Noboa or make a move. My other guy who struggled hard was MR Oliver Ganesvoort. He pitched 11 innings, gave up 13 hits, and 11 walks, for a 7.15 ERA. He is old, 34 next month, and his ratings recently took a minor hit, which makes me nervous. If he can't get his act together, I should be fine, but he has been really reliable the past two seasons.
The Good
Free Agent Signings: I signed three of the four free-agents I was after (the one that got away is now playing in Virginia.) I signed catcher Jerry Fortin to an incentive based contract, with a team option. Basically, it is a one-year $5,000,000 deal. My scouts all have him at 5-5-6-6-5. He had a .722 OPS for Virginia last year. I expect that number to go up. I will platoon him at catcher, play some 1B, PH a lot, and if he hits well enough, I might try and sneak him in at 3B and LF. Plus, this year we have interleague play, so he will play some catcher while my starter is DH'ing. I also signed OF Jesus Noboa for $2,000,000. He can play all OF positions at a high level, "7" on all base running, and my scouts have him at 4-5-5-4-5. He will be my #4 OF. And last, I signed 35-year-old RP Andy Boutwell, who had a 6.22 ERA last year for $750K. My scouts say he is still rated at 3-6-5, and I was desperate for a left handed RP after losing one via trade and the other in the expansion draft. The combined three players raised my fan interest I think 12-15.
The play on the field: The Bats started 2-2, then won nine straight. I know ST doesn't mean much, but I would rather be winning than losing. Plus, of my starting position players, only one is struggling. Last year it seemed like half my team was. As for pitchers, everyone has done really well except two players, and one of them is SP Romano Gonzalez, so I'm not worried. Plus...no injuries.
The Bad
Struggling players: Top prospect, RF Michio Nago really struggled this spring. I did not plan on this, and really don't have much of an alternative option. He went 7-35 with a .508 OPS...12 strikeouts, 1 walk...If he can't get it together, I will probably have to start Noboa or make a move. My other guy who struggled hard was MR Oliver Ganesvoort. He pitched 11 innings, gave up 13 hits, and 11 walks, for a 7.15 ERA. He is old, 34 next month, and his ratings recently took a minor hit, which makes me nervous. If he can't get his act together, I should be fine, but he has been really reliable the past two seasons.
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