I am an OOTP God!

frangipard · 03-23-2014, 10:25 PM

No, really, I am -- the game just told me so, after I posted what it says was the perfect season score of 124.

Unbelievable year. I started a Houston Astros franchise I figured would keep me occupied while waiting for OOTP15 to drop. First year 104 losses. Second year 94 losses. 2015 started and the owner had no expectations. My goal was to play .500 and hope that in year 4 I might have a shot at the playoffs.

On June 28, the team was 36-40. I was getting a very solid season out of Drew Smyly, a career 15-32 pitcher I made into my #1 starter; C/DH, #3 hitter and fan favorite Jason Castro was bouncing back from a terrible 2014 season; and I had ROY candidates in RF and LF, with George Springer posting what would eventually a be 20/20 season and playing Gold Glove defense, and Tim Wheeler on pace for 30 HR. Speed and defense kept the team in a lot of games (ended up first in the AL in SB and defensive efficiency), but the lineup wasn’t scoring (10th in the league in scoring, 12th in HR) and the back end of the rotation was terrible.

And then it started. The team went on a 20-6 tear from June 28 to the trading deadline. Smyly was turning into a left-handed baseball Jesus, winning 8 straight decisions and posting sub-2.00 ERAs in both June and July.

Which was kind of frustrating. At the deadline, we were 57-46 and in line for a wild card berth. The fans are wanting me to trade some of the prospects I have for immediate help. First base has been a garbage fire all year long (Carlos Pena, Justin Smoak), and I get offers to trade away prospects for a veteran 1B every day. But there’s no way this team is going to keep it up, and I don’t want to get fooled by a hot month; so I pass on the offers, and actually deal away my #3 starter to the Yankees. I dump Smoak and in the end make no immediate-help acquisitions beyond a bullpen arm and Conor Gillaspie, who will platoon at 1B with Russ Canzler, a AAAA guy who’s been tearing up the PCL.

The decision seems a wise one when, on August 3^rd, cleanup hitter Wheeler tears his achilles. A power-starved team just lost its cleanup man. Two weeks later, SS Johnathan Villar also goes down for the season. I wait for inevitable fade.

Nope. 20-8 in August. 3B Dominguez picks up the slack, rebounding from a terrible first half. CF Anthony Gose comes off the DL and takes back his leadoff spot. Delino DeShields Jr. is terrific in a September callup. And Smyly … oh Smyly. On September 21, Smyly beats Chicago to run his record to 18-2, 2.33 ERA. The team is tied for first place.

From May 23-September 21, Smyly wins 17 straight decisions. The team is 22-2 in his starts.

Alas … for reasons unknown, following that start, the roof seemed to cave in … the team loses 7 of the next 9, including Smyly’s first loss since May. They fall out of first, and 2 games back going into the final weekend – against powerful Boston – and they seem headed to wildcardsville.

Nope again. Smyly tosses a four hitter to win the first (final season line, 19-3 2.28), Castro goes 5-5 to help win the second, and Seattle loses two staright, Last game of the season finds the ‘Stros tied for first. In the seventh inning Castro doubles in 2B Jose Altuve to put the team up 4-1 … but he pulls up with a strained groin and comes out of the game. Springer, the next hitter, walks, and then Gillaspie hits a grounder to Xander Bogaerts, who takes the play at second unassisted … but there is a collision, and now Springer is being helped off the field with a concussion.

The Astros win their game, but so does Seattle.

The worst news … Castro and Springer are both out for over a month, ending their seasons. Their #3 and #4 hitters, lost in the same inning.

Dispirited, the team drops the playoff game to Seattle. They’ll now have to face the Angels in the wild-card game. Of the 9 players who accumulated the most ABs for the team, only 5 will be on the roster for the playoffs. The team only has 12 position players who are even eligible for the postseason roster. Five of those spent time in the minors this season. They will be starting Carlos Correa at SS … he was in AA ball two months ago!

No chance.

Right?

03-23-2014, 10:25 PM	#1
frangipard OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 748	I am an OOTP God! No, really, I am -- the game just told me so, after I posted what it says was the perfect season score of 124. Unbelievable year. I started a Houston Astros franchise I figured would keep me occupied while waiting for OOTP15 to drop. First year 104 losses. Second year 94 losses. 2015 started and the owner had no expectations. My goal was to play .500 and hope that in year 4 I might have a shot at the playoffs. On June 28, the team was 36-40. I was getting a very solid season out of Drew Smyly, a career 15-32 pitcher I made into my #1 starter; C/DH, #3 hitter and fan favorite Jason Castro was bouncing back from a terrible 2014 season; and I had ROY candidates in RF and LF, with George Springer posting what would eventually a be 20/20 season and playing Gold Glove defense, and Tim Wheeler on pace for 30 HR. Speed and defense kept the team in a lot of games (ended up first in the AL in SB and defensive efficiency), but the lineup wasn’t scoring (10th in the league in scoring, 12th in HR) and the back end of the rotation was terrible. And then it started. The team went on a 20-6 tear from June 28 to the trading deadline. Smyly was turning into a left-handed baseball Jesus, winning 8 straight decisions and posting sub-2.00 ERAs in both June and July. Which was kind of frustrating. At the deadline, we were 57-46 and in line for a wild card berth. The fans are wanting me to trade some of the prospects I have for immediate help. First base has been a garbage fire all year long (Carlos Pena, Justin Smoak), and I get offers to trade away prospects for a veteran 1B every day. But there’s no way this team is going to keep it up, and I don’t want to get fooled by a hot month; so I pass on the offers, and actually deal away my #3 starter to the Yankees. I dump Smoak and in the end make no immediate-help acquisitions beyond a bullpen arm and Conor Gillaspie, who will platoon at 1B with Russ Canzler, a AAAA guy who’s been tearing up the PCL. The decision seems a wise one when, on August 3^rd, cleanup hitter Wheeler tears his achilles. A power-starved team just lost its cleanup man. Two weeks later, SS Johnathan Villar also goes down for the season. I wait for inevitable fade. Nope. 20-8 in August. 3B Dominguez picks up the slack, rebounding from a terrible first half. CF Anthony Gose comes off the DL and takes back his leadoff spot. Delino DeShields Jr. is terrific in a September callup. And Smyly … oh Smyly. On September 21, Smyly beats Chicago to run his record to 18-2, 2.33 ERA. The team is tied for first place. From May 23-September 21, Smyly wins 17 straight decisions. The team is 22-2 in his starts. Alas … for reasons unknown, following that start, the roof seemed to cave in … the team loses 7 of the next 9, including Smyly’s first loss since May. They fall out of first, and 2 games back going into the final weekend – against powerful Boston – and they seem headed to wildcardsville. Nope again. Smyly tosses a four hitter to win the first (final season line, 19-3 2.28), Castro goes 5-5 to help win the second, and Seattle loses two staright, Last game of the season finds the ‘Stros tied for first. In the seventh inning Castro doubles in 2B Jose Altuve to put the team up 4-1 … but he pulls up with a strained groin and comes out of the game. Springer, the next hitter, walks, and then Gillaspie hits a grounder to Xander Bogaerts, who takes the play at second unassisted … but there is a collision, and now Springer is being helped off the field with a concussion. The Astros win their game, but so does Seattle. The worst news … Castro and Springer are both out for over a month, ending their seasons. Their #3 and #4 hitters, lost in the same inning. Dispirited, the team drops the playoff game to Seattle. They’ll now have to face the Angels in the wild-card game. Of the 9 players who accumulated the most ABs for the team, only 5 will be on the roster for the playoffs. The team only has 12 position players who are even eligible for the postseason roster. Five of those spent time in the minors this season. They will be starting Carlos Correa at SS … he was in AA ball two months ago! No chance. Right? Last edited by frangipard; 03-23-2014 at 10:28 PM.