Sim #1 (3/30-4/22)
Sim Record: 11-6
Team Record: 11-6
Sim Recap: Well, this sim was kind of a mixed bag for the Nationals. We got off to the start we have wanted record wise, and we are only 1.5 GB the division leading Mets, who by some miracle went 12-4. There were a lot of good things, but they were almost overshadowed by a few bad things. First the good, then the bad.
The Good...
-We went 11-6, and are tied for 2nd place in the division with the Braves. - One of our top prospects, SS Maels Cabanillas, gained a lot of talent. His contact went from a 6 to a 7, his eye from 5 to 7, and avoid k's from 5 to 6. He now has 7/8/10/7/6 talent and has pretty good development.
- Another one of our top specs, 1B Julian Armijo, went up overall in contact, and went up a few other points in scattered areas. He was projected to make it to the big show late this season, but if his development continues he may be up in a few sims.
- Gordon Moore leads the league in walks, with 18.
- Our pitching staff is ranked 5th in the league with a 4.06 ERA.
- Rookie SP Damon Whitten was flat out amazing. He went 3-0 in 4 starts, with a 3.07 ERA, 25 K's, 1 CG, and 1 SHO. He was our opening day starter, and pitching a complete game, 3 hit shutout with 7 K's.
The Bad...
- This type of thing amazes me about OOTP. Our top pitching spec, Damon Whitten was amazing, better then I had even hoped for, and yet he lost 2 talent point in control. I just don't get it.
- Out offense came up really short of what I had expected, we are ranked 19th in the league, with 91 runs scored, and we are 23rd in avg, at .271
- Our CF William Wright is supposed to be a stud, but you would never guess with the way he plays. He hit .208 this sim wiht only 2 HR's, and 11 K's.
- LF Elijah Dukes lost contact, which was a big concern for us. Now only time will tell if he can even play at the MLB level.
- Despite winning on opening day (which was a promo day I might add), and having a winning record for the first time in a while, my fan interest dropped.
Standings:
AL:
Code:
AL East
Baltimore 12-4
Toronto 10-5
Boston 9-6
New York (A) 6-11
Tampa Bay 6-11
AL Central
Kansas City 12-4
Minesota 9-7
Chicago (A) 8-8
Cincinati 7-8
Detroit 7-9
AL West
Texas 9-8
Oakland 6-10
Seatle 6-10
Anaheim 6-12
NL:
Code:
NL East
New York (N) 12-4
Atlanta 10-5
Washington 11-6
Florida 8-9
Philadelphia 8-9
NL Central
Houston 10-6
Clevland 9-7
St. Louis 7-9
Milwaukee 7-11
Chicago (N) 6-11
Pittsburgh 5-12
NL West
Los Angeles (N) 11-6
San Fransisco 9-8
Arizona 8-9
San Diego 7-9
Colorado 4-11
Series Recaps:
vs
Game 1:
Arizona - 0
Washington - 4
(This was our home opener and I did a noddin' head doll promotion, and we won.)
Game 2:
Arizona - 4
Washington - 6
Game 3:
Arizona - 6
Washington - 5
What he said: "Well, let's see, the guy is 6"4, his fastball is 100 mph, and he isn't afraid to thow it inside. Yeah I'd say he's intimidating." - Arizona's 1B George Varnado, who went 0-3 with 2 K's against Nationals rookie pitcher Damon Whitten.
Analysis: Not a bad way to start the season, but we should have swept them. They are not a very good team, and if we want to prove ourselves we have to be able to handle teams like there. Bennet let us down in the third game, he gave up 5 ER in 5.1 IP, but other then that it was a good series.
@
Game 1:
Washington -5
Pittsburgh - 4
Game 2:
Washington - 6
Pittsburgh - 8
Game 3:
F/10
Washington - 7
Pittsburgh - 6
What he said: "I think that's the way we need to play ball all this season, I mean, we didn't get down on ourselves, and really gave em' a good fight" - Nationals 2B Cam Slyder after the Nationals put up 2 runs in the 9th and 1 in the 10th to beat Pittsburgh in the last game of the series.
Analysis: Pittsburgh, has been the most dominant team in the NL for years, and although they are off to a slow start this year, they still have one hell of a team, so this was a nice series win for us.
vs
Game 1:
San Fran - 0
Washington - 4
Game 2:
San Fran - 2
Washington - 5
Game 3:
San Fran - 4
Washington - 7
Game 4:
San Fran - 3
Washington - 2
What he said: "Heh, he told me that he really liked my fire, but to try not to make a habit of it" - Nationals CF William Wright after being tossed in the 4th inning of game 1 for arguing a called 3rd strike.
Analysis: San Fran is another really good NL team, so we have now won 5 of 7 against two really good teams, and another sereis that we could have swept, but San Fran's Ace Lou McNmara pitched a hell of a game in Game 4 that prevented it.
@
Game 1:
Washington - 4
Colorado - 3
Game 2:
Washington - 6
Colorado - 5
Game 3:
Washington - 6
Colorado - 8
What he said: "It was fun to catch up with some old friends and play at Coors Field again. Man do I love to play at that field." - Nationals 3B on his return back to his former team the Colorado Rockies.
Analysis: I'm a little dissapointed again that we couldn't finish the sweep, especailly against a team like Colorado who is in the middle of a heavy rebuild and have almost no MLB talent.
@
Game 1:
Washington - 9
Cleveland - 10
Game 2:
Washington - 1
Cleveland - 6
Game 3:
Washington - 10
Cleveland - 1
What he said: "He's a dirty player. I mean, we were really handling him so he decides he want to start throwing at us, I mean that's not how you play baseball, and it's not even just Dawson, their whole team plays dirty" - Cleveland's SS Daniel Mitchell after being hit in the ribs by a Bill Dawson 95 MPB fastball, after Dawson had given up 6 ER in just 3 innings.
Analysis: We really can't afford to go out and lose 2/3 to teams like Cleveland. They aren't a bad team, but with the talent we have, there is no excuse for losing 2/3 to Cleveland.
The next sereis is only 1 game in, so I will do it next Write-Up.