MLB Showdown 200-2001 Sim League: Update after Game 159

This post brings the latest update in the Sim League series. Old posts are below:

1. Introduction to the league and rules
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams
4. Update after Game 40
5. Update after Game 80
6. Update after Game 100
7. All-Stars
8. Update after Game 120
9. Update after Game 141: No-hitter!
10. Update after Game 153

Teams have now played 159 games each, and with 3 games left, there are still a few races coming down to the wire. Full stats after 159 games can be found here. This is a mini-update, so I'm not going to go into as much depth as usual - just wanted to build suspense before posting the full end of season standings. 

2019 Pennant Run Collection

One of the most interesting aspects of the early Showdown sets were the (poorly named) Pennant Run cards, which represented hot stove moves for various existing cards, projecting hot prospects as rookies, and welcoming back studs who missed the previous season with injury. For examples, see Chuck Finley to the Indians and Shawn Green to the Dodgers in 00 PR, Corey Patterson, Albert Pujols, and CC Sabathia in 01 PR, and Andres Galarraga in 00 PR. Plus, it seemed like a fun place for the card creators to make projections and experiment a little.... honestly, I love the idea and how they become quasi-fantasy cards that let fans of teams get their hopes up for the production they'll receive from a prize acquisition in the offseason.

In that vein, we made a couple last season (including the "PR homer boost" given to A-Rod in the 01 PR edition):

Now, we've got a hearty collection of brand new cards for y'all to enjoy while we celebrate the return of baseball. Big shout outs to Matt (artwork on several cards) and Patsen (baseline charting of prospects) for their respective help in crafting these beauties!!!

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: Update after Game 153

This post brings the latest update in the Sim League series. Old posts are below:

1. Introduction to the league and rules
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams
4. Update after Game 40
5. Update after Game 80
6. Update after Game 100
7. All-Stars
8. Update after Game 120
9. Update after Game 141: No-hitter!
   

Teams have now played 153 games each. Full stats after 153 games can be found here. 

ALL DECADE LEAGUE NL All Star Team

The All Decade league All Star break rolls on, as last week we revealed the standings after 90 games and the AL All Star team! Now, we reveal the winner of the "last man" on the AL All Star roster after a hotly contested fan vote and the NL All Star team! Keep an eye out on my twitter for last man in NL polling!

Without further ado, the last member of the AL All Star team:

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: Update after Game 141, plus ***NO-HITTER ALERT***

This post brings the latest update in the Sim League series. Old posts are below:

1. Introduction to the league and rules
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams
4. Update after Game 40
5. Update after Game 80
6. Update after Game 100
7. All-Stars
8. Update after Game 120

Teams have now played 141 games each. Full stats after 141 games can be found here. 

2001 Challenge

Following the fun of the most recent challenge from Win Dance Repeat, it made a few of us think about how much we enjoyed the trading aspect, and then using your new built team to try to make a run with the A's in the playoffs. Peter and I went back and forth about it, before coming up with a fun challenge to test multiple GMs abilities in perfecting a roster. So with that in mind here is my 2001 challenge to those that are brave enough to sign up. Now most of the spots are filled, but there is still one team looking for a GM.
             

MLB Opening Day 2020

Oakland A’s Moneyball Challenge Series – ALCS (Challenge #3)

In this challenge, you get to take control of the Oakland A’s. Everyone knows Billy Beane as the moneyball man, and this is the chance to rewrite history and win the championship that has alluded the franchise for years. This challenge will consist of four parts, each one relying on the decisions and outcomes of the previous. The challenges are:

1 – Trade Deadline

2 – ALDS

3 – ALCS

4 – World Series

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: First 120 Games

We are now done with 120 games in the 2000-2001 MLB Showdown Sim League. If you need a refresher on the previous installments in this series, check below. The link to the full season standings and stats so far is here.

1. Introduction to the league and rules
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams
4. Update after Game 40
5. Update after Game 80
6. Update after Game 100
7. All-Stars

Eastern Conference:

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: All Stars Announced

Thanks to everyone who voted for the All Stars! In this post, I'll reveal the results of the voting, as well as the All-Star Game stats. Here are the previous posts in the Sim League series for those who missed them:

1. Introduction to the League and Rules
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams
4. Update after Game 40
5. Update after Game 80
6. Update after Game 100 (and All-Star ballots)

The all-star game will be played as a best of 9 series, so that each of the five starters on each team will be guaranteed a start. If a team's three outfielders are all LF/RF, one will be allowed to play CF with no fielding penalty. 

Eastern Conference All-Stars

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League 100 Game Update: All-Star Edition

We are now 100 games into the simmed 2000-2001 MLB Showdown season. If you want a refresher on the league, check out the first few posts in the series:

1. Introduction to the league and rules
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams
4. Update after Game 40
5. Update after Game 80

The link to the full stats and standings after 100 games can be found here. In today's update, in lieu of my normal team-by-team recap, I will post standings, leaders, and then post the All-Star ballot for people to vote on. Scroll to the bottom of the post to see the ballots!

ALL DECADE LEAGUE: 90 Game Mark and AL All Stars

Long time, no post on this league -- but here comes the 90 game mark for the ALL DECADE LEAGUE (thanks to the simulation help of Savard the Goat)! If you need a reminder of this league, check out the league preview here!

Big, big, big thank you to Savard for his assistance on this project -- get ready for LOTS of All Decade League stats! Instead of a measly 36 game season, I'll be releasing a FULL 162 game season!!! For more accuracy, each team gained a fifth starter and two more bullpen arms. So get ready for that in the stats.

Oh, 162 games isn't enough for you? ME NEITHER! Thanks to Savard, we're going to be releasing several seasons to show the result variance and show how anything can happen in Showdown! So, without further ado, the standings and stats from the first 90 games of the All Decade League!

MLB Showdown: '70-'74 Preview, Prize cards, Custom rules/additions.

Today I want to follow up with ideas that I briefly mentioned during my last post, and drop a few more small additions to showdown that might help your gaming experience.

One of the things I mentioned last time was tournaments and prize cards.  My league used to run 20-40 game seasons pretty regularly, but as we've gotten older and packed on responsibilities, tournaments became a reasonable option.  Our tournaments vary depending on how many people show up, but they follow the general rule that you play 4 seed games and the top 2 records play a one game championship.  

In addition to prize money, we wanted to add something special to each tournament since we knew we weren't getting together as often as before, so we came up with the idea of tournament prize cards.  These cards are given out to a tournament winner and have the special ability to be used for 1 at bat in any future tournament at no cost.  For example, our first tournament prize card was Hector Espino or "The Mexican Babe Ruth".  Tournament prize cards are typically seasons that wouldn't be covered otherwise  (different leagues, shortened season, playoffs etc), so some possible future examples will be shown in this post.

Oakland A’s Moneyball Challenge Series – ALDS (Challenge #2)

In this challenge, you get to take control of the Oakland A’s. Everyone knows Billy Beane as the moneyball man, and this is the chance to rewrite history and win the championship that has alluded the franchise for years. This challenge will consist of four parts, each one relying on the decisions and outcomes of the previous. The challenges are:

1 – Trade Deadline

2 – ALDS

3 – ALCS

4 – World Series

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: Games 41-80 Update

We are now around the halfway point in the sim league! For earlier posts, check out:

1. Introduction and Rules
2. Eastern Conference Preview
3. Western Conference Preview
4. First 40 Games Recap

The link to the full stats and standings after 80 games can be found here. I'll recap what happened in games 41-80 below. Unless otherwise noted, the stats in the team by team recaps are for games 41-80 only. 

Standings after 80 games

Eastern Conference

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: First 40 Games

Post #4 in the 2000-2001 Sim League brings results from the first 40 games. For a refresher on the league, check out the first three posts:

1. Introduction to the League
2. Eastern Conference Teams
3. Western Conference Teams

The full standings and stats can be found here. I'll recap the first 40 games below. Let me know in the comments what you think about the season so far! 

Eastern Conference

Williams Division 

Providence leads the Williams Division, 2 games ahead of Ottawa, and is the overall #3 seed in the conference. Their rotation has been excellent, led by 2001 Base Pedro Martinez (5-1, 1.77 ERA). Three other starters have pitched very well, 2000 PR Brian Anderson (4-2, 3.38), 2000 PR Vladimir Nunez (2-3, 2.87), and 5th starter 2000 Base Pat Hentgen (6-0, 2.39). Closer 200 Base Alan Embree has been great as well, successfully converting all 12 save opportunities with an 0.77 ERA. The hitting has been decent, with 2000 Base Jim Thome (.279/10 HR/28 RBI) and 2001 Base Gary Sheffield (.291/9/22) hitting for power and 2001 PR Jose Ortiz hitting .324. 

2000 Oakland A’s Moneyball Challenge Series – Trade Deadline (Challenge #1)

In this challenge, you get to take control of the Oakland A’s. Everyone knows Billy Beane as the moneyball man, and this is the chance to rewrite history and win the championship that has alluded the franchise for years. This challenge will consist of four parts, each one relying on the decisions and outcomes of the previous. The challenges are:

1 – Trade Deadline

2 – ALDS

3 – ALCS

4 – World Series

MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: Western Conference

Post #3 in the MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League series! Today I will be introducing the Western Conference rosters for the 24 team league. As with last post, let me know in the comments who you think will win each division (and who the two wild cards are).

Prior posts:

1. League Intro
2. Eastern Conference Teams

Willie Mays Division

The four teams in the Mays division are Anchorage, Calgary, Portland, and Vancouver.

1. Anchorage