Making The Grade... An Oakland A's Dynasty 2006

[rolliefingers08]

Making The Grade... An Oakland A's Dynasty 2006

I'm back for 2006! With the major MVP overhaul to 06, I've fallen in love with playing this game all over again.

The A's minor league rosters leave a lot to be desired, with it being this early in the season, Ultimate Rosters isn't updated that deeply yet, so I did a bit of improvising and along the way I might just create some players in the game to make up for it.

As for the major league team, I changed some attributes to make the team more realistic, and I think it's going to work out great. The time to win is now, so lets get started...

Game Settings:

Version: MVP 06


Difficulty: All Star Dynasty


Sliders: My own mix


Datafile: MD's 3.1


Rosters: Ultimate Rosters 6.2 with some edits


Progression: Bill's Progression Fix v3, darkenigma510's Free Agency Mod


Other: Strike Zone OFF, Hot/Cold Zone FADE, Pitch Cursor ON, Fielding MANUAL

Many of you have seen my style before, which I started because of Lual and Apr. Play every game, report every game. Early on, the reports will be skimpy, but as the races heat up, the reports will get much better.

Team preview coming up... I'm going to skip the minor league previews because I doubt anyone cares and it's too much extra effort.

Enjoy :)

[rolliefingers08]

A's Break Camp With Final 25

Manager Ken Macha finalized his 25-man Major League roster today, making his final decision on assigning RHP Brad Halsey to triple-A Sacramento.

Here's a look at the A's roster:

Although nothing is official yet, the batting order and pitching rotation are projected to be as follows:

vs. RHP

1. Mark Ellis - 2B

2. Mark Kotsay - CF

3. Bobby Crosby - SS

4. Eric Chavez - 3B

5. Frank Thomas - DH

6. Nick Swisher - LF

7. Dan Johnson - 1B

8. Milton Bradley - RF

9. Jason Kendall - C

vs. LHP

1. Mark Ellis - 2B

2. Mark Kotsay - CF

3. Milton Bradley - RF

4. Eric Chavez - 3B

5. Frank Thomas - DH

6. Bobby Crosby - SS

7. Jay Payton - LF

8. Nick Swisher - 1B

9. Jason Kendall - C

Starting Rotation

1. Barry Zito - L

2. Rich Harden - R

3. Danny Haren - R

4. Esteban Loaiza - R

5. Joe Blanton - R

Bullpen

LRP - Kirk Saarloos

MRP - Jay Witasick

MRP - Kiko Calero

LOOGY - Joe Kennedy

SU - Justin Duchscherer

CL - Huston Street

The A's season gets underway quickly, as they host Opening Day at the McAfee Coliseum against the New York Yankees. Barry Zito is set to face Randy Johnson in front of what will be a very hostile crowd.

[aaronuconn]

YES YES YES. The best dynasty creater at mvpmods is back with his A's dynasty for 2006. This is a great thing people. Good luck Rolliefingers.

[TheNateGBent]

Your fielding a very young team, but theres so much talent in it, you should do well. I can't wait to see Rich Harden in action.

[Tigers94]

wheres O.Dotel?? just wondering

[kgbaseball]

He's with the Yankees now

[D-Unit]

wheres O.Dotel?? just wondering

the yankees signed him to a two year deal in the offseason. hes recovering from tommy john surgery so he wont be back until may or june.

[rolliefingers08]

You'll all be happy to know that since the last dynasty, I've bought a new video card so my pictures will actually look... well.. really good

It really helps when the players are a lot more realistic. I'll just have to figure out how to get rid of all these goggled players.

[rolliefingers08]

Game 1 of 3: New York Yankees (0-0) @ Oakland Athletics (0-0)

Zito Burned In Opener

Left: Jeter dives into third on a bases clearing triple. Right: Chavez drove in 3 late, but it wasn't nearly enough.

WP: Randy Johnson (1-0) LP: Barry Zito (0-1)

Box:


	  R   H   E


NYY   11  17  0


OAK   4   14  1

The A's took the field with a ton of energy tonight after Huston Street and Eric Chavez collected their awards, but they hit a giant wall named Randy Johnson and the Yankees.

The home team took the early lead in the 1st when Chavez singled home Mark Kotsay to go up 1-0, but after loading the bases in the 2nd, Barry Zito gave up a triple to Derek Jeter, scoring all three and giving the Yanks a 3-1 lead. It got worse in the 4th when Jorge Posada hit a 3 run jack, Jeter singled home another, and Alex Rodriguez hit a 2-run double to make it 9-1.

Kirk Saarloos relieved Zito but in the 6th he gave up a jack to A-Rod to make it 10-1. Chavez showed some life for the A's, driving in a run in the 8th. Marco Scutaro had a pinch hit double in the 9th, and was driven in by Kotsay to make it 11-3, then Chavez brought home Kotsay, but it was too little too late and the A's went down 11-4.

Clubhouse Talk:

Zito: "I just didn't have anything going out there tonight. Once I didn't get a few calls, my game plan fell apart and things just got worse.

A's Hitting:

Chavez: 2/5, 3 RBI, K

Kotsay: 3/5, 2B, RBI, 3 R

A's Pitching:

Zito: 4.0 IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Saarloos: 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Witasick: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Injury Report: Milton Bradley went down in the 5th chasing a Jeter flyball, and will miss a week with a minor meniscus sprain.

Tommorow: Rich Harden takes the hill, facing Mike Mussina in game 2.

[rolliefingers08]

Game 2 of 3: New York Yankees (1-0) @ Oakland Athletics (0-1)

Yankee Bats On Fire Again

Left: Sheffield watches his HR fly in the 3rd. Right: Giambi goes back to back to make it 5-0.

WP: Mike Mussina (1-0) LP: Rich Harden (0-1) S:

Box:


	  R   H   E


NYY   10  14  0


OAK   2   6   0

With Rich Harden taking the mound, the A's thought it would be a different story than the one from the previous night where the A's lost 11-4. They were sorely mistaken however, as the Yankees' bats continued to crush the ball off the young Canadian.

The Yankees kicked it off in the 2nd with a 2 run homer by Gary Sheffield, and was later followed by an RBI double from Jorge Posada to make it 3-0. In the 3rd, Sheffield and Jason Giambi hit back to back jacks, giving the Yanks a 5-0 lead. The bleeding didn't end as Harden left the game after 6 innings, allowing 8 runs on 11 hits.

Kiko Calero gave up another 2 runs in 1.2 innings of work, and Joe Kennedy got off with 1.1 shutout innings. Frank Thomas and Nick Swisher had RBI's late in the game, but it didn't make a difference as the A's dropped their 2nd in a row, 10-2.

Clubhouse Talk:

Macha: "For starters, our pitching needs to be flat out better. The guys have been missing their spots and can't keep the ball down. And once something happens, we've got to figure a way out of it. Some luck needs to come our way sooner or later."

A's Hitting:

Thomas: 1/4, RBI, K

Swisher: 1/4, RBI, 2B

A's Pitching:

Harden: 6.0 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Calero: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Kennedy: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

Tommorow: Danny Haren goes out to avoid the sweep against Chien-Mien Wang.

[rolliefingers08]

Changed datafiles to BigShmooz. No matter what I did with MD's datafile, I could hit my spots pitching, but the guys would be swinging at ANYTHING in the zone, and taking anything out of the zone, and ALWAYS hitting it, even when I changed sliders.

The new datafile I tested in about 5 or 6 games and it's taking some time getting used to a slightly different batting view, but I'm really liking it so far. No more ridiculous blowouts like these two games.

[rolliefingers08]

Game 3 of 3: New York Yankees (2-0) @ Oakland Athletics (0-2)

Damon Comes Through In Extras For The Sweep

Left: Sheffield robs Thomas of a homer in the 9th. Right: Williams scores the winning run in extra innings.

WP: Kyle Farnsworth (1-0) LP: Joe Kennedy (0-1) S: Mariano Rivera (1)

Box:


	  R   H   E


NYY   3   10  0


OAK   1   11  0

The A's took to the field in the 3rd game of the opening series with Danny Haren on the hill, trying to avoid a Yankee sweep.

Both Haren and Yankees starter Chien-Mien Wang were brilliant through the first 4 innings, but the Yankees finally got to Haren in the 5th when Derek Jeter singled home a run to make it 1-0. Eric Chavez tied it for the A's in the 6th with an RBI double over the glove of Alex Rodriguez.

Haren left after 6 innings, striking out 4 and walking one. Justin Duchscherer didn't allow a hit over 2 innings of work, and Joe Kennedy pitched a scoreless 9th to take the game to the bottom of the 9th.

With 2 out in the 9th, Frank Thomas hit a first pitch fastball deep to opposite field, the fans getting ready to start their cars and go home, when Gary Sheffield jumped about 300 feet in the air and robbed the A's of a walkoff home run.

The catch inspired the Yankees, when in the 10th with 2 on, Johnny Damon hit a single to score 2 runs, making it 3-1 Yankees. The A's couldn't answer in the bottom of the inning, with Mariano Rivera locking up the sweep.

Clubhouse Talk:

Chavez: "We had a much better effort out there today, it's too bad we couldn't pull it out. Hopefully we can carry it into Seattle."

A's Hitting:

Crosby: 4/5, 2 2B

Chavez: 2/5, 2B, RBI

A's Pitching:

Haren: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Duchscherer: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Kennedy: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Witasick: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Tommorow: The A's fly to Seattle with Esteban Loaiza making his first start in green and gold.

[rolliefingers08]

Game 1 of 4: Oakland Athletics (0-3) @ Seattle Mariners (2-1))

A's Winless Woes Continue

Left: Kendall goes yard in the top of the 3rd. Right: The M's celebrate their victory.

WP: Gil Meche (1-0) LP: Esteban Loaiza (0-1) S: Eddie Guardado (2)

Box:


	  R   H   E


OAK   1   9   1


SEA   2   10  0

Veteran starter Esteban Loaiza made his first start as an Athletic on this rainy night in Seattle, hoping to curb the 3 game winless streak to start the season. He looked good early on, striking out Ichiro and Richie Sexson to start the game.

The A's took their first lead of the young season, on a home run by none other than Jason Kendall, who went homerless in 2005. The solo shot put the A's up 1-0, but not for long as the Mariners came back in the bottom of the inning with Raul Ibanez driving in a run to tie the game.

Jeremy Reed gave the Mariners a lead in the 6th with a solo homer to right, but Loaiza bounced back and pitched a hitless 7th to keep the A's in the game. Kendall started a rally in the 8th that ended with a Frank Thomas flyout to DEEP left field, but that was all the A's could muster as Eddie Guardado closed it out to keep the A's winless.

Clubhouse Talk:

Loaiza: "Right now our guys just need a number under that win column, and once we do that things will fall back into place for a club as good as ours."

A's Hitting:

Kendall: 3/4, 2B, HR, RBI

Thomas: 2/4, 2B, K

A's Pitching:

Loaiza: 7.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Calero: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Tommorow: Cupcakes takes on the young stud Felix Hernandez.

[D-Unit]

good luck against felix. awesome dynasty.

[Tomackze]

wow 0-4. Good luck with your dynasty man...

[rolliefingers08]

Game 2 of 4: Oakland Athletics (0-4) @ Seattle Mariners (3-1)

MAAAARCOOOOOO! Scutaro Swings The A's To First Win

Left: Hernandez frustrated Johnson and most of the A's bats in the game. Right: Hard working dirt on the uniform got the A's this win.

WP: Justin Duchscherer (1-0) LP: Eddie Guardado (0-1) S: Huston Street (1)

Box:


	  R   H   E


OAK   4   8   0


SEA   1   8   1

The winless A's sent Joe Blanton out to the mound to face off against the young stud Felix Hernandez of the Mariners. Both were perfect through 4 innings, but the M's got to Blanton in the 5th when Ichiro tripled home a run to take a 1-0 lead. Hernandez was brilliant through 8 innings, striking out 7 and allowing just 3 hits.

Mark Kotsay chased Hernandez from the game with a walk to lead off the 9th, and promply stole 2nd off Eddie Guardado. Bobby Crosby bunted him over to 3rd, and Eric Chavez singled up the gut to tie the game up at 1-1.

In the 10th, another A's rally started with a walk. This time it was Dan Johnson, who left for Bobby Kielty to pinch run. Jay Payton hit an infield single, and once again the A's went with their little-used small ball to setup a run. Mark Ellis came off the bench to bunt them over, and Marco Scutaro came through in the clutch just as he did so often in 2005 with a single to score both runs and take a 3-1 lead.

A wild pitch and a Crosby single brought Scutaro home to pad the lead to 4-1, and Huston Street sent it home in his first work of the season to earn the save.

Clubhouse Talk:

Scutaro: "I was looking for something on the outer half and when I got it, I made my cut. It's great to get the first one down."

A's Hitting:

Scutaro: 2/4, BB, RBI, R

Payton: 2/4, SB, R

A's Pitching:

Blanton: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Kennedy: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Duchscherer: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Street: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Tommorow: Barry Zito goes for his first win of the season against Jamie Moyer.

[rolliefingers08]

Game 3 of 4: Oakland Athletics (1-4) @ Seattle Mariners (3-2)

Big Inning Kills A's

Left: Ichiro makes a great sliding grab in the 5th. Right: Macha makes the call to the pen as he removes Zito.

WP: Jamie Moyer (1-1) LP: Barry Zito (0-2)

Box:


	  R   H   E


OAK   1   11  1


SEA   4   7   0

Jamie Moyer proved age doesn't mean a thing on this day, besting his 26 year old counterpart Barry Zito.

Zito spotted the ball well early on, but once the Mariners got a rally going, it just didn't stop. After an Ichiro walk, Carl Everett doubled him home. Richie Sexson singled, and then Adrian Beltre homered to take a 4-0 lead.

Jay Payton had an RBI triple in the 4th, but Moyer was up to his hold ways. The soft tossing lefty struck out 8, and despite allowing 11 hits, went the distance for a complete game in the 4-1 win.

Clubhouse Talk:

Macha: "Moyer shut us down out there today. We got some guys on base, but he's a crafty guy and he knows how to get outs."

A's Hitting:

Payton: 2/3, 3B, RBI

Johnson: 2/4

A's Pitching:

Zito: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

Calero: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Tommorow: Rich Harden finishes the 4 game set against Joel Pineiro.

[aaronuconn]

Nice dynasty, but how did u post a game 1 min after posting one before?

[Viceman2004]

Haha good question...

Good dynasty. I currently am in year 2 of my dynasty with the Ms. I just traded for Griffey.

-VC

[rolliefingers08]

I have to upload pictures and that takes a bit of extra time, so what I did is alt-tab the game after I played it, get the two picures I wanted, write up the game, and save it.

Then after they were played, I uploaded the pictures and made the posts.

I do this quite a bit as it's just a time saver for me.

[aaronuconn]

Wow, thats a good idea, and a time saver. Keep it up... well maybe not the losing part but i know you will get out of the slump.

[rolliefingers08]

Hah yeah... I've got the sliders close to the way I want them. I wish I could still have the old batting view, but this is the best datafile I've ever had so I'll put up with it.

I'm having trouble with batting a bit, because of the view, the strike zone is now higher than it used to be (I have the zones off, so I'm going off what I know) and I'm still thinking with a strike zone where it was before. Swinging at balls on the shins and leaving the belt high pitches.

Got the pitching down well, although my top guys are still struggling.. :(

[rolliefingers08]

Game 4 of 4: Oakland Athletics (1-5) @ Seattle Mariners (4-2)

Harden Gets Ripped To Close Series

Left: Ibanez trots the bases after his 3-run shot in the 4th. Right: Ichiro's balancing act ended an A's rally in the 7th.

WP: Joel Pineiro (1-0) LP: Rich Harden (0-2)

Box:


	  R   H   E


OAK   3   8   1


SEA   8   15  3

It was a sloppy day in Seattle for both clubs to wrap up the 4 game series, but the A's couldn't keep up with the offensive explosion from the Mariners.

Adrian Beltre doubled home a run in the 3rd to open the scoring. Willy Bloomquist hit a 2-run homer, Raul Ibanez hit a 3-run homer, and Richie Sexson had a 2 RBI double, all in the 4th inning to put the M's ahead 8-0. The A's made some noise in the 6th, however. Bobby Crosby hit a 2-run homer off Pineiro, which was followed up an out later by a solo shot from Frank Thomas to cut the lead to 8-3.

In the 7th with 2 on and 1 out, Nick Swisher hit a deep liner to right, which Ichiro came out of nowhere to get a glove on, but it dropped in.... or so it appeared. Runners already in motion, any hesitation was gone when the ball popped away from Ichiro's glove, but it somehow bounced off his head, rolled down his shoulder, and into his glove for the out. Jay Payton was doubled up at first to end the rally, and any hope of getting back into the game. The Mariners bullpen settled down and shut down the A's to take it 8-3.

Clubhouse Talk:

Harden: "I got hit. No other way to put it. I wasn't struggling with control, kept the ball on the plate, but they just killed me today."

A's Hitting:

Crosby: 3/3, HR, 2 RBI

Thomas: 1/4, HR, RBI, K

A's Pitching:

Harden: 4.0 IP, 14 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Saarloos: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Witasick: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Injury Report: Mark Ellis dove for a grounder up the middle and had trouble getting up. He left the game and was later diagnosed with a strained hip flexor, and was placed on the 15-day DL. He is expected to miss a month, and 2B Keith Ginter has been recalled from triple-A Sacramento.

Tommorow: Off day as the A's travel to Minnesota.

[D-Unit]

I have to upload pictures and that takes a bit of extra time, so what I did is alt-tab the game after I played it, get the two picures I wanted, write up the game, and save it.

Then after they were played, I uploaded the pictures and made the posts.

I do this quite a bit as it's just a time saver for me.

i do the same. i put all the pictures and write up the game on microsoft word, then just copy and paste. so i have every game written up on my computer. and nice layout and stuff. but good luck with breaking out of the slump.

[deadmatt]

tough break to the start of the season man, i hope you can turn it around in the next series!!

i would also like to know what datafile your using as i would like to have some more competition!