Ultimate Roster Project (PC,Xbox,PS2)

[Totte]

Thanks southside! I love how you broke down the news, added a quote and then a note on what needed to be changed. That definitely helped me out a ton :hail:

[Totte]

Oh, I know exactly what you mean - I'm up to my neck in "normal life." I'm going to take the mom out for dinner tonight, but I'll shoot you an e-mail when I get back.

Before I leave, a small thing I keep meaning to post but forget - Fred Lewis is now #20.

Fixed Lewis.

I'll drop you an e-mail with the rosters and a document stating minor stuff I'd like you to fix before you send the rosters back my way.

Thanks and tell your mom I said hi :wink:

[philliesphan18]

Totte - Is their an advantage to installing UR 8.1 plus? Is that any different than the UR that comes with the 07 mod?

[sfgiantsflgators]

Fixed Lewis.

I'll drop you an e-mail with the rosters and a document stating minor stuff I'd like you to fix before you send the rosters back my way.

Thanks and tell your mom I said hi :wink:

Sounds great.

...and is that supposed to be a yo-momma type joke? :muffy:

:biglaff:

[Totte]

Totte - Is their an advantage to installing UR 8.1 plus? Is that any different than the UR that comes with the 07 mod?

No, that's exactly the same. UR 8.2 will be very different in many ways though.

[Totte]

Sounds great.

...and is that supposed to be a yo-momma type joke? :muffy:

:biglaff:

Haha no :rocklicker:

[el_jefe061]

What's the windup going to be for Matsuzaka? I think it should be Ishii, because looking around the boards everyone is saying Seo. Just look at his delivery and look at Ishii's, they're very similar, especially the posture.

[southside_hitmen]

Haha no :rocklicker:

haha, that's awesome Exactly what I was thinking, he even had the wink smiley when he said it.

[Hory]

No, that's exactly the same. UR 8.2 will be very different in many ways though.

No they are not, the cyberface numbering is different, at least after MVP 07 Patch 1 anyway.

[philliesphan18]

No they are not, the cyberface numbering is different, at least after MVP 07 Patch 1 anyway.

So is there an advantage with one or the other?

[Totte]

What's the windup going to be for Matsuzaka? I think it should be Ishii, because looking around the boards everyone is saying Seo. Just look at his delivery and look at Ishii's, they're very similar, especially the posture.

Since everyone's saying Seo (even the Asian users of this boards), that's what I'll ride with.

[Totte]

No they are not, the cyberface numbering is different, at least after MVP 07 Patch 1 anyway.

You got a good point there :wtg:

[southside_hitmen]

Ubaldo Jiminez (COL-AAA) is adding a slider - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...7news&fext=.jsp

But through repetitions with roving pitching coach Jim Wright, Tulsa pitching coach Bo McLaughlin and Colorado Springs pitching coach Chuck Kniffin, the arm loop has been all but eliminated on his fastball, curve and changeup.

Apodaca said the hook occurs mostly on the slider Jimenez is adding, but it will be corrected as he becomes comfortable.

My guess is that it will sit in the 85-87 range with right slight or right diag break.

[Totte]

So is there an advantage with one or the other?

No not really. Kinda just depends on if you have the 07 mod installed or not

[el_jefe061]

Since everyone's saying Seo (even the Asian users of this boards), that's what I'll ride with.

Just compare Matsuzaka's delivery. This is driving me nuts. Matsuzaka doesn't rock back like that, his posture is posture is straight and upright. Ishii and Matsuzaka both have that low crouch as they push off the rubber. Both deliveries are pretty much the exact same, the Seo delivery looks nothing like Matsuzaka's.

And as for the Asian thing, I am half Asian (Not that being Asian would have any help in knowing Matsuzaka's delivery.)

[Totte]

Ubaldo Jiminez (COL-AAA) is adding a slider - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...7news&fext=.jsp

My guess is that it will sit in the 85-87 range with right slight or right diag break.

Added, thanks :D

[Totte]

And as for the Asian thing, I am half Asian (Not that being Asian would have any help in knowing Matsuzaka's delivery.)

What I meant was people that have been watching the Asian baseball scene for as long as they can remember. Having seen Matsuzaka grow into his shoes and become what he is today.

[el_jefe061]

Yeah, but seriously, just watch a video. There's no backwards rock like the Seo delivery, that's what's separating it between what his is really like and what is in the game.

[southside_hitmen]

Some Pirates edits - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...7news&fext=.jsp

Freddy Sanchez is moving to 2B, since he's a utility man, I owuld make his 1st pos 2B.

The Pirates have several decisions to make before the season begins. Perhaps one of the most interesting battles so far, though, is one concerning two Joses -- Bautista and Castillo -- and the one remaining infield spot.

With 2006 National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez likely shifting to second base this year, newcomer Adam LaRoche manning first base and Jack Wilson returning to shortstop, the hot corner is up for grabs, and Bautista is determined to fight his way into the Pirates lineup, wherever that may be.

Jose Bautista is battling for the 3rd base spot, and much has been made of his utility side in the article. 1st pos -3rd, 2nd pos - UTIL.

Fortunately for Bautista and to the delight of Pirates manager Jim Tracy, Bautista can play anywhere.

Well, almost anywhere.

"I don't know about catching," Bautista said with a laugh. "I've never done that, but I'll pitch a couple of innings."

It's an attitude he's kept with him when he played five positions with four Major League teams over the last three seasons, and a mindset that makes a guy like Bautista hard to ignore.

Tracy has long been a big fan of utilitymen, and the fact that Bautista has played at second and third base, in each of the outfield spots and even a game or two at shortstop and as a designated hitter isn't lost on him.

For now though, it seems Bautista is duking it out with Castillo for an everyday spot at third.

Jose Castillo is also in the mix at 3rd. He's listed in the UR as a 2B/SS. I would at least add that his 2nd Pos should be INF.

Challenging him for the daily role in the lineup is Castillo, the incumbent second baseman who said a series of personal issues contributed to a 2006 falloff that saw him make a career-high 18 errors and produce the lowest batting average (.253) in his three Major League seasons.

[TwentySeven]

Ian Kinsler and Kyle Sleeth also seem to have been left with top-100 status from the 2005 list, despite not appearing on the '06 or '07 lists.

Jeff Clement and Jay Bruce seem to never have gotten top-100 status, despite being top-100 in '06 (and now '07).

Also, I agree with El_Jefe that Matsuzaka seems to be using the Ishii delivery.

Akinori Iwamura appears set to wear the number 1 for the D-Rays.

[southside_hitmen]

Some other minor leaguers who could use speed, baserunning, and aggressiveness boosts.

Mike Rodriguez (HOU-AAA) - 28 steals last year in the PCL, current speed rating of 53 - suggested 76-80, agg 12, baserun 12

Curtis Pride (LAA-AAA) - 21 steals last year in the PCL, current speed rating of 68 - suggested 74-77, agg 11, baserun 11

Justin Christian (NYY-AA) 68! steals in the Eastern league last year, current speed of 92 - suggested speed 96+, bump up baserunning and stealing aggressiveness too (agg 15, baserunning 14), as only thrown out 13 times in 81 attempts.

Melvin Dorta (WAS-AA) - 33 steals in Eastern league last year, current speed rating of 77 - suggested slight bump into the 81-84 range, agg 13, baserun 12

Eric Patterson (CHC-AA) - 38 steals in Southern League last year, current baserunning and aggressiveness at 8 (50) .Thrown out 12 times, so don't go nuts on the ability, but definetly bump up the agressiveness as he attempted 50 steals last year. Suggestion - agressiveness 13, baserunning 12

Jose Campusano (FLA-A) - 37 steals last year in AA, current agressiveness at 8 - suggestion - bump up agressiveness to 12-14 area.

Calix Crabbe (MIL-AAA) - 32 steals last year in AA, current agressiveness at 9, baserunning at 6 - suggested bump to agressiveness 13, baserunning 12

Joey Votto (CIN-AA) - 24 steals last year in AA, current speed at 67 - suggested bump to 74-77 range. also bump up agressiveness from 1(!) to 11, and baserunning to 11-12 range

Jeremy Owens (TB-AAA) - 24 steals in AA, current speed 54, agressiveness 3, baserunning 5 - suggested 74-77 range in speed, agressiveness 11, baserunning 11-12 range

Elito Johnson (TB-AA) 20 steals, thrown out 18 times in AA, current aggressiveness 9, baserunning 11 - suggested agressiveness 13, baserunning 7-9

Mike McCoy (STL-AA) - 30 steals in AA, curent aggressiveness at 8, baserunning at 10, speed at 80 - suggested bump into 83-85 range for speed, aggressiveness 13, baserunning 12

Jason Bourgeois (CWS-AA) - 23 steals last year in AA, current aggressiveness at 9, baserunning at 6 - suggested agg 11, baserunning 12, also needs a bump in plate discipline to the 3-5 area (up from 1)

Jordan Czarniecki (COL-AA) - 20 steals in AA last year, current speed 58, agg 4, baserunning 6 - suggested speed 73-76, agg 10, baserunning 13

Emilio Bonifacio (OAK-A) - 61 steals in A last year, current speed of 86, agg 8, baserun 7 - suggested 94-97, agg 15, baserun 14

Shuan Cumberland (TB-A) - 29 steals in A last year, current speed 79, agg 7, baserun 8 - suggested speed 82-84, agg 12, baserun 12

[cybernetic]

Cleveland renewed the contracts of INF Josh Barfield, RHP Fausto Carmona, RHP Tom Mastny and LHP Rafael Perez.

[southside_hitmen]

Jared Wells (SD-AAA) uses a hard slider, not a curve.

In short, Wells got away from doing the things that made him successful in 2005 when he went 11-3 with a 3.44 ERA at Class A Lake Elsinore. That included relying too much on his low 90s fastball and hard slider. "That's not like me," he said.

Wells is intent on mixing in his changeup more this season, a pitch that he had only had some comfort throwing in the past. That's something he's been focused on the first few weeks of Spring Training.

"I'm pretty comfortable with throwing it. Now I'm figuring out when I want to throw it," Wells said. "Once I get past one inning [in Spring Training] I can use it more."

He'll consistently chew up innings. "He has the quickest arm in the organization," Bryk said. "His fastball and slider are plus pitches and his changeup has come a long way. He didn't have to use his changeup much last year, but now he's going to have to use it more and he's worked on it. I think he has a chance to be a front-end starter; at least a No. 3."

I would take out the curveball and replace with the slider. I would say right diag or right slight, with more movement on it then you have on the curveball. Probably sits in the 84-87 range.

Jeff Francouer and Brian McCann (ATL) have upcoming salaries of 384,000 and 440,000 respectively. Adrian Gonzalez (SD) will make 380,500.

In fact, his $384,000 salary for the 2006 season was $4,000 more than the current minimum salary, which was significantly increased with the new collective bargaining agreement that was signed in October.

Francoeur was hoping that this increased minimum salary would be factored into his 2007 wages. But when the Braves announced Saturday that they'd exercised their right to simply renew him, the 23-year-old right fielder was reminded that he has virtually zero negotiating rights as a non-arbitration-eligible player.

Francoeur's raise wasn't nearly as generous as the one Howard received when the Phillies opted to give him $900,000. But it was certainly more accommodating than the one provided to Gonzalez, who received a $58,000 raise, putting his salary $500 more than the minimum.

McCann saw his salary rise from $333,500 in '06 to $440,000 this year.

B.J. Upton (TB) is working on being a "super" utility man this spring.

Upton return to short: B.J. Upton, once a highly touted shortstop prospect, is working to become a "super" utilityman this spring, which will include appearances by Upton at third base, second base, outfield and shortstop.

In the late innings of Friday's game against the Yankees, Upton returned to familiar ground at shortstop and looked particularly smooth, which prompted the question to Maddon about whether Upton could return to shortstop.

"Absolutely, there's a chance," Maddon said. "He's going to return to the position that he shows us he's the best at or most comfortable with -- and the most consistent. And again, I thought he looked good [Friday], and I think a part of that is because he's not had the pressure applied to him to be the everyday shortstop right yet."

Maddon pointed out that Upton initially arrived to the Major Leagues in 2004 as a shortstop at age 19.

"This young man got to the Major Leagues very quickly, and I think that retarded his development in some ways," Maddon said. "I want to try and have us recapture some of those moments, subtract some of the pressure. Let him learn how to be a hitter here, a baserunner here, learn the game here and then develop defensively -- that's a lot to lay on a young man. And, I think, sometimes it's not always the kid's fault either. Sometimes, organizationally, you do something that's not really appropriate. And I think that right now we're trying to get him on track."

And he does look at home playing shortstop.

To me that means 2nd Postiion - Utility

The Astros RF spot is in flux.

The 'right' choice: Garner has made no decision on which of the three candidates will land the starting job in right field. Don't look for him to make one anytime soon, he said.

Garner plans to give Richard Hidalgo, Luke Scott and Jason Lane long looks before picking one of the three as his Opening Day starter.

Each of the three has his plusses, and Garner, if what he said Saturday gave any hints, might be leaning a bit toward Scott.

"Every manager who's had him has liked him," Garner said. "He can win ballgames for you, and he's the best defensive player."

Yet Garner seemed intrigued with Hidalgo, who played from 1997 to 2004. He had one season [2002] in which he batted .309 with 28 homers and 88 RBIs. Hidalgo didn't play in the Majors last season.

"I think he certainly has his heart and his mind in the right place," Garner said of Hidalgo. "He's back in camp to fight for a job."

Berkmann looks to make the full-time switch to 1st base with Loretta backing him up. Biggio will start at 2nd, Everett at SS, Ensberg, Lee in LF, Burke in CF, and then the position battle in RF with Luke Scott as the early contender. Chris Burke's 2nd Pos needs to be CF, while Luke Scott's 1st Pos needs to be RF. The line-ups need to be adjusted as well to reflect those changes (Berkmann at 1st, Burke in CF, Scott/Lane in RF)

Tommy Murphy (LAA) could use a little bump in throwing strength

With above-average speed and a powerful throwing arm, Murphy, a switch-hitter, is a versatile option for Scioscia and his staff. The 27-year-old native of Suffern, N.Y., batted .229 in 70 at-bats with the Angels last year, hitting .302 in 73 games at Triple-A Salt Lake.

I would suggest 12-13 range in throwing strength, with a 10-11 rating in accuracy

Jason Grilli (DET) has a sinker - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...7news&fext=.jsp

By contrast, Jason Grilli won't be evaluated in game action. That includes a rough afternoon Saturday in which he allowed nine runs, seven earned, on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings.

With a Major League roster spot secured for the first time in his career, Grilli said he's working on a change in his footwork. He's planting on the first-base side of the pitching rubber in an effort to improve his sinker. However, he wouldn't use that as the reason for Saturday's struggles.

"He made bad pitches," Leyland said. "When you make bad pitches against really good hitters, they get hits."

Who knows if it's a sinker or actually a 2-seamer with sink to it, but he does throw one. Either way, with his fastball at 90, I would say the velocity of either should be 88. If its a 2-seamer go left slight on the break.

Anibal Sanchez (FLA) has a slider - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...7news&fext=.jsp

Sanchez faced eight Cardinals on Saturday without allowing a run or a hit, striking out two and walking one. In the first inning, he threw 28 pitches, 11 for strikes.

In an encouraging sign, his fastball touched 92 mph, showing velocity is not a concern. He was clocked between 85-92 mph on an assortment of fastballs and sliders.

I would say 85-87 for velocity, with right slight or right diag break

Jonathon Papelbon (BOS) wants to put more focus on his curve

The fastball and splitter will always be there. Papelbon is trying to get the curve and slider back to where he needs them.

Because it was such a short stint -- 26 pitches, 18 for strikes -- Papelbon only needed to snap one curveball.

"My slider and curve are slowly coming," he said. "I'm slowly starting to feel better. As each day goes on, I'm getting more confidence."

I would say replace the slurve, and by replace I mean I would just rename it, and keep all the other values the same. But if he calls it a curve, it's a curve.

[cybernetic]

Another Toronto note.. INF Ryan Roberts played some time at SS in the game on Friday against Boston so you can change him to 2B/INF now.. also 3B Rob Cosby played in LF and now plays 3B/1B/RF/LF so call him 3B/OF now

[Totte]

You guys sure don't look lazy during the weekends

Thanks