Ken Griffey Jr's Winning Run Takes Over The Show

[FirstTimer]

A long time ago on a system far, far, away…..

Explanation/Overview: This franchise will serve to follow the newly fictionalized careers of some of our favorite video game baseball players in MLB 12: The Show. From Big MaGoo of the Chicago White Sox to Muscles McFee of the San Francisco Giants these lost players from my favorite baseball game of all time are making a comeback. I will be using 30 team control in Franchise mode to play, simulate, and report on the games. I will also guide/oversee trades and free agent signings along the way. I will try to cover and update about as many of the teams as possible. If you have questions, comments, or want more info on a certain team or player, please don’t hesitate to ask and I will put something together. This is an entirely new universe of The Show.

Rosters: My own custom set. OS Fictional Rosters were used as a base. Big props to those guys from putting in most of the work. Once those were posted to the vault, I took them and added in 150+ CAP’s that I had made based on the roster of Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run as well as some “easter egg” characters from past baseball games and baseball movies. My roster will be available in the vault tonight around 5:30pm CST under the name FTIrish93 .

Sliders: TNK’s All-Star sliders from OS

[Bomberooski]

Following

[FirstTimer]

American League Players to Watch

AL East

Baltimore Orioles
SS Lou Junior
SP Gary McGlinty

Boston Red Sox
1B/DH Brooker Brooks
SP Sparky Butane

New York Yankees
OF Jose Crushito
SP Hot Coles

Tampa Bay Rays
C Crash Davis
SP Nuke LaLoosh

Toronto BlueJays
2B Motor Martin
SP Greg Frost

AL Central

Chicago White Sox
1B/DH Big MaGoo
SP Dusty Turner

Cleveland Indians
OF/DH Frank Liberty
SP Ronny Rosin

Detroit Tigers
1B/DH Chief Caboose
SP Octane McBain

Kansas City Royals
OF Buffalo Hanson
SP Henry Hoodwink

Minnesota Twins
OF Mack O’Mighty
SP Nate Nitro


AL West

Los Angeles Angels
OF King Crockett
SP Cobra Kane

Oakland Athletics
OF Bull Gigante
SP Scrooge McClain

Seattle Mariners
OF Herman Paste
SP Bolt Lightning

Texas Rangers
OF Crush Feraza
SP Ripper Yates

[FirstTimer]

National League Players to Watch

NL East

Atlanta Braves
3B Cutter Wells
SP Mike Marksman

Miami Marlins
OF Sluggo Steel
SP Greg Henter

New York Mets
1B Butch Heddo
SP Bolt Buzzard

Philadelphia Phillies
2B Tony Franzone
SP Snake McMillian

Washington Nationals
OF Crash Cronkite
SP Shark Gonzalez

NL Central

Chicago Cubs
OF Rebel Ruiz
SP Henry Rowengarner

Cincinnati Reds
SS Pop Risley
SP Ryan Sizzler

Houston Astros
OF T-Bone Malone
SP Ted Brogan

Milwaukee Brewers
OF Arms Brody
SP Curly Berkman

Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Tony Topper
SP Racoon Davis

St Louis Cardinals
SS Jimmy Dazzle
SP Harry Heater

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks
C Jose Luna
SP Dan Williams

Colorado Rockies
OF Alan Parker
SP Wally Slinger

LA Dodgers
C Tony Tolony
SP Typhoon Kuroi

San Diego Padres
3B Anvil Groves
SP King Pete

[FirstTimer]

American League Division Preview Capsules



American League East

Projected Finish:
Tampa Bay
New York
Boston
Toronto
Baltimore

Tampa will depend on their top flight pitching staff to win the division. Nuke LaLoosh, Luis Ramirez, Tim Hammond, Steve Roberts, and John Moore make up one of the best rotations in baseball. Closer Rick Randolph is top flight. The offense will need enough fromC Crash Davis and OF’s Jesus Alvaredo and Dan Edwards to win the division….The Yankees need big seasons from starters Steve Nebraska, Hot Coles and Tom Foolery to stay with Tampa. The offense should be more than adequate with OF Roy Hobbs, 1B/DH Tubbs Thumper, OF Jose Crushito, and 3B Bayou Buster sitting in the middle of the lineup….Boston’s offense will struggle with only 1B/DH Brooker Brooks and OF Stud Williams being fearsome hitters. Will need big seasons from OF Scooter Nelson and OF Ed Vick to contend. Williams could be an MVP candidate. Boston has two top line starters in Sparky Butane and Slip Slyden but they fall off after that rather hard…..Toronto’s pitching behind Cy Young candidate Greg Frost and rotation mate Bob Leonard is good enough however the offense’s only real threat is 2B Motor Martino. OF Price Oldman and 1B Scott Cougar don’t command much respect…..Baltimore is bad. SS Lou Junior and OF Curt VanDamme give the offense it’s only real pop. Gary McGlinty and Trix McGee top the rotation but the rest of the rotation and bullpen is weak. Perhaps the worst defensive team in baseball.



Brooker Brooks

American League Central

Projected Finish:
Detroit
Cleveland
Chicago
Minnesota
Kansas City

The Tigers are one of the best offensive teams in baseball. 1B/DH Chief Caboose sits in the middle of an order that includes OF’s Brad Barnes and Turbo Taines, 3B Gary Kryten, and 2B Dash Holmes. Pitching is average. Octane McBain is a top of the staff starter but Smokie Salmon is a #3 at best. Lots of middle to bottom of the rotation types…Cleveland has a big power lineup but not much balance. OF/DH Frank Liberty, OF Crusher Curtis, OF Juan Ortega, and 2B Luis Santana can drive in runs but will enough people be on base? OF Jimmy Stealth is too streaky out of the leadoff spot. The rotation is underwhelming. Ronny Rosin won’t wow you but is good for 15 wins a season. CP Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn is the best in the majors….Chicago is a middle of the pack team with marginal defense. They could win the division, or could finish last. The lineup has some pop with 1B/DH Big MaGoo and C Jack Parkman. OF Paul Comet is good out of the leadoff spot. OF Brock Storms need to be above average for this team to compete. Pitching should be good enough. Ramon Miranda and Sid Bryer top the rotation. CP Matt Arnold is top 5 for his position. But can they get the ball to him?.....Minnesota could surprise some people. The offense has three star caliber players in 2B Jet Salsbury, OF Mack O’Mighty, and OF Husky Harwood. The pitching needs to step up. Nate Nitro should be good enough for 17+ wins, but there are very few other sure things….Kansas City needs big years from OF’s Buffalo Hanson, Butch Mason, and 3B Chad Hacker. They are good but likely not good enough to carry a team with no pitching outside of Henry Hoodwink. Spencer Robinson is a great closer but unproven in big spots.



Big Magoo

American League West

Projected Finish:
Anaheim
Seattle
Texas
Oakland

Anaheim has great balance. From OFer’s Zip Mahoney, King Crockett, and Speedy Blaylock to an infield with SS Scoot McCracken, 1B Buff Dixon, and 2B Tony Love. Dixon could win MVP hitting in this lineup. Kid is the real deal. The rotation is not spectacular but solid. Cobra Kane and Mel Clark are the two best of an overall above average group. Clark is old, and has injury concerns. Steve Jackson at the end of game is a huge help. The defense is slightly below average but the offense and pitching are likely capable of carrying the team with no problems.....Seattle can out hit any team. OF’s Herman Paste, Moray Ramirez, Viper Clayton, and Slash Canon along with 1B Viper Ramirez make for a Murderer’s Row. Paste is the best player in baseball. The pitching is dreadful. Bolt Lightning is for real l at the top of the rotation but it’s a waste land after that. Luckily Seattle’s defense is so good it may help out the rest of the staff. Just not deep enough to challenge the Angels….For the Rangers pitchers Ripper Yates, Carlos Gomez, and Saul Sanchez top an above average staff. OF’s Blazer Brown and Crush Feraza anchor the lineup but there isn’t much else to scare pitchers. Fereza is possibly MVP caliber. 1B Bud Bushman is good but not good enough to push this team over the top. If the pitching and defense show up this team could push for a wild card berth…..Oakland’s pitching will need to rule the day. They are in a great ball park for it though. Scrooge McClain and Jim Clark are a formidable top of the rotation pair. The bullpen is excellent as well and closer Matt Bryant is the best in the division. The offense is streaky at best. OF Bull Gigante is their really only power bat. OF Scorch McFadden is the best lead off man in baseball but there isn’t much else. 1B Buddy Benched need to step up.



Herman Paste

[FirstTimer]

National League Division Preview Capsules




National League East


Projected Finish:
Philadelphia
Atlanta
Miami
New York
Washington

Philadelphia and Atlanta should have a real battle. The other three teams aren’t real players. 1B Biff Armor, 2B Tony Franzone, C Ox Bunyon, and OF Denny Rails make out a balanced and dangerous lineup as well as a great defensive unit. Pitching wise the rotation with Snake McMillian and Casper Verone is very good. The issue is that neither are top flight. Will it be enough in a short series in the playoffs?....Atlanta, if it all comes together, could win the World Series going away. But will it? The offense is headed by 3B Cutter Wells, 1B Stevie Swift, and OF’s Moose McFly, Rocket O’Hara, and Adonis Shaw. The pitching staff has three huge arms in Mike Marksman, Lefty Gunnison, and Rod Pearson. In the playoffs they will be tough to beat. Will the hitting and defense be consistent enough? If it is. It’s over….Miami features the best pitcher in baseball in Greg Henter. Flex Bowman is a quality lefty but the rest of the rotation leaves much to be desired. 2B Swifty Munoz sets the tables for OF’s Jack Hammer, Rip Hayes, and Sluggo Steel. The other lineup pieces aren't really difference makers, especially in such a pitching heavy division…..In most other divisions the Mets could play for 3rd. They just aren’t deep enough rotation or lineup wise to make a dent in the NL East. Bolt Buzzard and Pedro Taraza are the lead arms but there’s not much else. 1B Butch Heddo could win the triple crown but OF’s Rock Ready and Gunner Fields are above average at best. There’s not much hope here for a miracle season. Just not enough “upside” on the roster….Washington and New York are fairly similar. Shark Gonzalez and Cal Ebbets lead a top heavy rotation. Gonzalez could be Cy Young material in a few years. The lineup has some power with 3B Jolt Stewart and OF Crash Cronkite. OF Scooter Salzar is a great CF’er but there are too many blank spots in other places for Washington to be a threat.


Butch Heddo

National League Central

Projected Finish:
Chicago
Cincinnati
Milwaukee
St. Louis
Pittsburgh
Houston

Maybe the most balanced division in baseball. The top 4 teams all have a legitimate shot at the division crown….Chicago has the best corner OF’s in baseball with RF Rebel Ruiz and LF Gerald Warren. CF Neil Swain is solid there and good at the leadoff spot. The infield doesn’t have nearly the firepower but 2B Mosh Pittman and 1B Steady Gibbons are good enough to set the table. The rotation is young and has some live arms. Cory Howard, Slider Fulton, and Henry Rowngarner have top flight stuff but aren’t great true pitchers. Yet. Chet Stedman is the old man of the group. If he can have a good season it will help the team separate….Cincinnati will depend heavily on it’s pitching lead by Lightning Pete, Ryan Sizzler, Jesus Fries, and Bryant Walker. The hitting is top heavy. SS Pop Risley could be the best all around player at his position in the game. OF Brutus McBain and C Mick Crosby provide the power. OF Curtis Swing starts it all out at the top of the lineup. He should be the favorite to win the batting title. But is there enough hitting coming from the others?....Milwaukee is an odd team. They don’t appear to be be as good as they are on paper. The lineup as some pieces in OF’s Arms Brody and Earl Roberts as well as in young slugging 1B DJ Hustle. The pitching rotation features Curley Berkman and Slack Calson then nothing much more to write home about. The defense is bad yet the team always hangs around. More bust than boom potential here but should be good enough to make things interesting…..if St. Louis had even average pitching this team, and maybe the World Series could be theirs for the taking. The lineup includes OF’s Tony Gage, Mac Harris, and Mookie Rollins. The infield features 1B Pine Splinters, 2B Alec Roberts, SS Jimmy Dazzle, 3B Anthony Malone, and C Dee Majors. 7 of the 8 positions they have legitimate All Star caliber players. Possible MVP’s at two of them. Majors is top tier MVP stuff. Gage is a real five tool player. Dazzle is the best defender at his position and maybe in baseball. The pitching just isn’t there. Or doesn't seem to be. Harry Heater is a great young arm. Jamey Jones is a nice piece. After that there is virtually nothing…..Pittsburgh is mind numbingly below average. OF Tony Topper is one of the better young players in the game but outside of fellow OF Romeo Montaro they haven’t surrounded him with much of anything. Racoon Davis takes the lead of the pitching staff. Martin Taylor and Kimitara Shimizu are #4 pitchers right now who will be over matched at the top and middle of the rotation…..Houston won’t be able to score enough to win much. OF T-Bone Malone, 1B Slick Fitz, and 2B Razor Sizemore can all hit but there is no balance to the lineup. SS Rocky Rhodes is on his last legs. Pitching wise it starts and ends with B.B. Babcock and Ted Brogan in the rotation. Maybe the worst team in baseball.


Rebel Ruiz

National League West

Projected Finish:
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Colorado
San Diego
Arizona

A possible top heavy division with two sleeper teams……The Dodgers lineup can rake. One of the 5 best in baseball. OF’s Benny Rodriguez, Will Donaldson, Blade Frazie, and Grande Carena are all all star caliber. The deepest overall OF in baseball by far. All can hit and three of the four are plus defenders. Splitting time between Donaldson and Frazee will be interesting. Rodriguez is one of the most well rounded players in the game. Things aren’t quite as good on the infield. 1B Bopper O’Riley is a solid enough all around player. C Tony Tollony is MVP level. The pitching staff is headed by young Typhoon Kuroi and Knuckles McGee. The pitching is slightly below average overall but the offense and defense are so good it may not matter too much in the long run…..San Francisco might be able to challenge LA, but do they have enough hitting? The pitching is there. Sleek McClain, Kyle McNasty, and Alex Vaughn lead the rotation and closer Ken Dickey is the best in the NL. The batting order could do enough. OF’s Muscle McFee and Sandy Falcon are plus defenders and McFee is one of the best players in baseball. Falcon is a leadoff hitter with 20+ homer power. 3B Bull Higgins and 1B Ed Batsby are Tollony and O’Riley light. The dark horse here is 2B Kenny Jackson. If he has a good year this race could go down to the final game.….Colorado just isn’t balanced enough and isn’t a good enough hitting team to overcome the lack of pitching. OF’s Alan Parker and Grizzley Wilkin along with 1B Tiger Montoya fill in nicely in the middle of the order but they don’t have enough around them. Wally Slinger is a very nice piece at the top of the rotation but the Rockies don’t have enough after him and in Coors Field that’s a big problem….San Diego is the opposite of Milwaukee. They seem on paper to be better than they are. 3B Anvil Groves, 1B Roberto Guevara, and OF’s Sam Scorcher and youngster Don Cain should be more than enough to make some headway in a division that lacks pitching. For some reason it doesn’t appear to be. King Pete and Will Windup top a rotation that after them falls off rather quickly but in PETCO should be enough. But isn’t. Could be a trendy pick to get into the playoffs as a wild card…..Arizona’s situation is odd as well. They have some great pitching in Edgar Montaro, and Dan Williams, one of the best set up men in Gabe Alvarez, to go along with a solid lineup headed up by C Jose Luna. Nothing ever seems to come of it though. Could finish as high as 3rd but doesn’t have as high a ceiling as a team like San Diego or Colorado possibly do.



Grande Carena