AstroEric Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 I'm getting frustrated with trying to make cyberfaces, so I thought I'd actually sit down and play the game for awhile. I think I've got everything set in my rosters and such that I want to, and so...we commense. First, I guess I should mention a few things, the first stolen from Lual: Version: PC using EA Patch #3 Difficulty: All-Star Sliders: Default Datafile: Default Rosters: Ultimate Rosters V2.52 with modifications Other: StrikeZone ON / Hot Colds ON / Pitch Cursor FADE / Fielding MANUAL I take part in MAFTA -- the MVP/AstroEric Fair Trade Agreement. The roster modifications listed above involve my insertion of myself and a few friends of mine into the line-ups of our favorite teams. I signed up as the Astros' fifth starter, my Dad as a Cubs left-fielder, my friends/co-workers Jeff and Jeremy as a Red Sox 3B and an Indians 2B respectively. Everybody got to pick their player types, and of course everyone gave themselves all-star abilities, but I tempered those with some weaknesses when I put them in MVPEdit. I also, for the helluvit, threw in a guy I sometimes go to batting practice with as El Jacob for the Iowa Cubs and a co-worker who walks around saying, "Sammy Sosa" all the time on the Ottawa Lynx as Issac Sosa. Here's some scouting reports: Let me know if things get too image-intensive. I'm trying to get things to look just so, and getting frustrated by the limitations of BBCode. Up Next: Astros Outlook --Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted August 19, 2005 Author Share Posted August 19, 2005 See below for the Astros' Media Guide. --Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 The images look great, but as far as time goes, I'd have to wonder how many more games you could get in in the time it takes you to make the images. They do look great, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooseknucks Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 This is a ... Wow ... talk about eye candy! Good luck and I will be following! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mroctober430 Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 Sweet start up. I'll be following aswell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted August 20, 2005 Author Share Posted August 20, 2005 2005 HOUSTON ASTROS MEDIA GUIDE pt. I THE ORGANIZATION AT A GLANCE Last Season: 92-70, 2nd in NL Central, Wild Card Leader, National League Division Series winner Team Owner: Drayton McLane General Manager: Tim Purpura, who took over the role from long-time Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker at the completion of the 2004 season. Manager: Phil Garner returns for a second year as manager after leading the Astros on a run to the playoffs after last year's All-Star break. Home Field: Minute Maid Park, seats 40,950, built in 2000, renamed from Enron Field in 2002, known for the "Crawford Boxes," a short porch of seating in left field. Farm System: Round Rock Express - AAA, Corpus Christi Hooks - AA, Asheville Tourists - A OUTLOOK FOR 2005: The Astros will depend on younger players like Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg to replace stars Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent who signed with other teams in the off-season, as well as on the perennial "Killer B's" -- Bagwell, Biggio and Berkman. Rookie centerfielder Willy Taveras made the roster in spring training and the Astros believe that his speed and OBP make him an ideal candidate for the lead-off position. Adam Everett and Brad Ausmus return as shortstop and catcher respectively. Mike Lamb, Orlando Palmeiro, Jose Vizcaino, Eric Bruntlett and Raul Chavez fill out the bench. The Astros enter the season with a stellar rotation consisting of Roger Clemens (who signed a one-year contract in the off-season, delaying retirement for another year), Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettite, Brandon Backe (who helped lead the Astros' charge for the post-season in 2004) and rookie Eric Newsom, fresh up from AAA. In the bullpen, the Astros will be looking hard at rookies Esquivel Astacio and Wandy Rodriguez to fill the role of middle relief after losing vet John Franco to a broken leg in spring training. Returning from 2004 are Chad Qualls, Chad Harville, Dan Wheeler, and Russ Springer, with rookie Mike Burns rounding out the crop of young relief hurlers. Brad "Lights Out" Lidge, who set the National League record for strikeouts by a reliever in 2004 will return to his role as closer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted August 20, 2005 Author Share Posted August 20, 2005 Various clippings from the Houston News-Observer during the off-season, shortened for shortening's sake: January 09, 2005 2005: A year to rebuild? Failing to re-sign sluggers Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran in the off-season, the Houston Astros that won the 2004 Wild Card race are looking more and more like a high school team whose infield graduated. And with Clemens expected, with no assurance of Beltran's bat in the lineup, to actually make good on his plans to retire, the Astros have once again returned to the process of rebuilding. It's nothing new. We did it at least three times in the 90s, between successful seasons that ended with dismal post-season losses. I think I speak for all Astros fans when I say that I'm disappointed -- we had a great shot at the World Series, didn't quite succeed. But there were hopes that 2005 could be the year, hopes that were dashed on the jagged rocky dollar signs being flashed by Beltran's manager Scott Boras. .... January 22, 2005 Astros regain Rocket fuel The Astros made Roger Clemens an offer he could't refuse to the tune of $18M a year Thursday, baiting the 2004 Cy Young winner out of retirement. ..... When asked whether there was a point to spending so much money on Clemens when 2004's big bats of Beltran and Kent were going to be swinging elsewhere, GM Tim Purpura stated, "We believe we have a team of contenders. Every year, every team goes out to try to win the World Series. Why should we give up before the season begins?" .... February 16, 2005 Asheville Tourists left fielder Hunter Pence stands against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains during Tuesday's press conference. Astros reacquire single-A Tourists McCormick Field in Asheville, NC was once the host to a number of current major leaguers who came up through the Astros farm system -- Biggio, Abreu, Lofton, and others, before the field was overtaken by the Colorado Rockies during expansion in 1994. But on Tuesday, the Astros and the Asheville Tourists announced that the team has been re-affiliated with Houston, replacing their single-A affiliate, the Avalanche in Salem, Va. .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go_bucs2000 Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 seems like it will be a good one i will follow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garnak Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Great job setting it up, I'll be watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 3, 2005 Author Share Posted September 3, 2005 2005 HOUSTON ASTROS MEDIA GUIDE pt. II OPENING DAY ROSTER (Um...so I'm going to fill this in tomorrow night when I'm at work. I'm eager to start playing games. --Eric) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 3, 2005 Author Share Posted September 3, 2005 May 29, 2005 Astros - Express exhibition fills highlight reels Left: Express centerfielder Barry Wesson takes away an extra base hit with a diving catch at the wall. Right: Express catcher Humberto Quintero strikes out on a splitter from Astros pitcher Eric Newsom. By Alana Treader / MLB.com When it comes to covering Sunday night's 3-0 win by the Astros over their AAA affiliate Round Rock Express, the question isn't so much what to write about, but what to leave out. This was the sort of game where Astros rookie centerfielder Willy Taveras' could put the first pitch of the game into deep right field and beat out a close play at third and yet not even be in the top five for plays of the game (though this was partially because the Astros failed to capitalize on this opportunity and went down promptly in order to end the first inning). This was a game where Express centerfielder Barry Wesson could make an incredible diving catch against the wall to rob Jason Lane of an extra base hit, a catch so phenomenal that some compared it to the infamous play Jim Edmonds made in game 7 of last year's NLCS, and it wasn't even the biggest news at the end of the ninth inning. This was one for the books, or as Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey put it afterward: "I think the people got their money's worth tonight. It was a good game. I felt a little guilty for being paid to watch it." There was the Taveras triple. There was the amazing diving play. There was Jason Lane diving into first base to beat out the infield single. There was Vizcaino being nailed at third on a bullet by Express rightfielder Luke Scott. And then there were the homers. In the top of the fourth inning, Jeff Bagwell had worked a 3-2 count when he pulled a curve that went 450 feet down the line and just went to the left of the foul pole by inches. Resisting the urge to pull a Carlton Fisk, Bagwell returned to the batter's box and drove another curve, this time dead straightaway over the centerfield wall. "I'd just missed on the curve before and he [Express starting pitcher Taylor Buchholz] put another one across the plate, so I smacked it," Bagwell said. "I didn't have any plans for it to go over the fence, but it did and it helped the team so I'm pretty happy." Cut to the bottom of the 7th with Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg trying to will his own towering foul ball to collide with the foul pole. Ensberg returned to put a four-bagger over the left field wall. "It was so close," Ensberg said. "But I figured if Baggy could do it, I could too." Perhaps the biggest story of the night, however, was the rookie pitching that could have fooled many into thinking two veterans were on the mound. Astros rookie Eric Newsom pitched a solid 7 innings that yielded 8 hits and no runs with 9 K's. Express pitcher Buchholz took the loss but he kept the Astros guessing most of the night, giving up 7 hits and three runs, all on homerun balls. Former Round Rock pitchers Wandy Rodriguez and Ezequiel Estacio combined to finish the game for the Astros, with Astacio striking out two in the ninth to earn the save. "It's a strange feeling," Rodriguez said, "To be here on the old field with the Astros and to think, 'I have made it,' but also to know that if you want to stay there, you have to pitch your best everytime you get sent out." Craig Biggio left the game in the 6th inning after tripping over first base and straining his forearm on the landing. Biggio is expected to start Tuesday night's spring training game. Manager Phil Garner allowed his rookie pitching staff a few moments celebration before pulling them back down to Earth. "It was a good win. But like I told [Newsom and Astacio], it doesn't count because the season hasn't started yet," he said. "Give me a win like this come next August, then we can celebrate." BOX SCORE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ------------------------------ HOU 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 10 0 RR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 ------------------------------ W: Newsom L: Buchholz Sv: Astacio The Houston Round-Up: Hitting Taveras - 1/4, Triple Berkman - 2/4, 1 HR, 1K Bagwell - 1/3, 1 HR, 1BB Ausmus - 2/3 Pitching Newsom - 7 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 9 K Rodriguez - 1 IP, 1 H Astacio - 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K Coming Next: The season begins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 3, 2005 Author Share Posted September 3, 2005 (So this is what I have in mind. I played the version of the annual exhibition game to experiment with how to run and document a dynasty, and I'm mostly happy with the results. Everyone let me know what I can improve on though [aside from my video card...I can't afford another one right now] ...the season is about to get underway. --Eric) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybernetic Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 you could shorten the summary of the game.. it would save time.. I usually just do a paragraph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 15, 2005 Author Share Posted September 15, 2005 Apr. 5, 2005 - OPENING DAY! Astros bats come alive late in game Left: Lance Berkman belts a three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th. Right: Rookie Willy Taveras is thrown out retreating to third base after a throw home from Cards centerfielder Jim Edmonds. By Alana Treader / MLB.com The Astros battled Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter Tuesday night for 7 scoreless innings before a three-run Lance Berkman homer put the good guys on top to end the game 4-1. Berkman's homer came after Astros had spent the previous innings leaving an frustrating number of runners on base, scoring only one run on a Morgan Ensberg solo shot to the Crawford Boxes. But the 401-foot homer was all it took for the Astros and starter Roy Oswalt to claim victory over last year's post-season rival Cardinals. BOX SCORE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------- STL 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 HOU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 4 8 0 ----------------------------- W: Oswalt L: Tavarez Sv: Lidge The Houston Round-Up: Hitting Berkman - 2/4, 1 HR, 3RBI Ensberg - 1/4, 1 HR Lamb - 1/1, 1 R Pitching Oswalt (1-0) - 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K Lidge - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 SV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 15, 2005 Author Share Posted September 15, 2005 Apr. 6, 2005 Clemens, Ensberg power Astros to win Left: Clemens displays some acrobatics on a throw to first. Right: Bagwell stretches to finish a double play as Albert Pujols charges. By Alana Treader / MLB.com Roger Clemens held the Cardinals to a single run on three hits with 10 strikeouts, and Morgan Ensberg drove in five with a pair of homers as the Astros took the two-game season opener with a 9-1 victory. Clemens helped his own cause with an RBI double in the second inning and Ensberg topped a two-run homer in the first inning with an encore three-run homer in the eighth. The Cardinal's lone run came on a solo homer by pinch hitter John Mabry in the ninth inning. BOX SCORE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------- STL 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 1 HOU 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 X 9 13 0 ----------------------------- W: Clemens L: Mulder The Houston Round-Up: Hitting Biggio - 1/4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI Ensberg - 2/4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI Berkman - 2/4, 2 R, 1 RBI Lane - 1/4, 3B Everett - 3/4, 1 R, 1 RBI Clemens - 1/3, 2B 1 RBI Pitching Clemens (1-0) - 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 10 K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 15, 2005 Author Share Posted September 15, 2005 Apr. 8, 2005 Pettitte outlasts Ortiz in early pitcher's duel Left: Adam Dunn beats out a tag from Brad Ausmus to score the Red's only run. Right: Andy Pettitte hurls to third for the force out to end the inning. By Alana Treader / MLB.com Reds pitcher Ramon Ortiz no-hit the Astros for five innings, but Andy Pettitte rode a pair of two-run homers to beat the Reds 4-1. Astro bats were silent until a single by Morgan Ensberg followed by a two-run homer by Bagwell in the bottom of the fifth inning. Craig Biggio followed with a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth and Lance Berkman capitalized on the opportunity, driving a 3-2 fastball into the Crawford Boxes. The Reds scored their run after Astros rightfielder Jason Lane misplayed a routine flyball that gave Adam Dunn a triple, as officials scored no error on the play. He later beat the throw home on a Jason LaRue grounder to short. BOX SCORE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------- CIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 0 HOU 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 X 4 6 1 ----------------------------- W: Pettitte L: Ortiz Sv: Lidge The Houston Round-Up: Hitting Berkman - 1/4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI Bagwell - 1/3, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI Pitching Pettitte (1-0) - 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K Lidge(S, 2) - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroEric Posted September 15, 2005 Author Share Posted September 15, 2005 Apr. 9, 2005 Griffey's greed, Backe's bomb put Astros on top Left: Pitcher Brandon Backe supports his own cause with a homer. Right: Ken Griffey Jr. gets tagged while advancing to third. By Alana Treader / MLB.com Winning was all pitcher Brandon Backe had on his mind in the bottom of the sixth when he stepped into the batter's box. With two outs already on the board, manager Phil Garner decided to keep the pinch hitters on the bench to give the fatigued pitcher one more inning to get the win. Backe responded by tying the game on an 0-2 fastball that landed two rows back in the Crawford Boxes. ... Reds pitcher Brandon Claussen held the Astros to two hits, both homeruns, but his offense blew chances to start rallies twice as rookie centerfielder Willy Taveras threw out Ken Griffey Jr. with deadly accuracy at second base in the sixth, and two innings later, at third base. The Red's single run came after Morgan Ensberg threw over Bagwell's head on a routine groundball and Edwin Encarnacion advanced to third, later to be driven in by a Sean Casey single. BOX SCORE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E ----------------------------- CIN 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 HOU 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 X 2 2 1 ----------------------------- W: Backe L: Claussen Sv: Astacio The Houston Round-Up: Hitting Berkman - 1/3, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI Backe - 1/2, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI Pitching Backe (1-0) - 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K Astacio (S, 1) - 2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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