Amazed at how well this team is performing given the talent available. Very wise to build up your pitching staff using the draft in my opinion. Loving the series so far.👍👍💪
Thanks... I'd like to say it's skill, but I think it's mostly luck! I can't start off the series saying that I don't really care about 2024 and just want to get to the offseason, and then pat myself on the back when the team is doing surprisingly well! Hopefully some of the decisions we've made are good, but they've generally been more focused on 2025 and beyond than this season!
Definitely a much better first half of the season than I expected based on your pre-season thoughts. The boys did good so far and some nice draft picks and trade moves as well. Certainly learning something every episode I watch.
I’m always way behind on your series’ (currently working through the Buffalo Wings series) but I wanted to say how much I love your content, the pacing and the way you go back and re-evaluate the decisions you made is far and away my favourite of any OOTP play-through!
I actually am watching this series and the Wings playthrough currently. Will start Detroit Tigers playthrough tomorrow thinking of dumping Javier Baez in a force trade to the Dodgers....lol.
You gotta stop saying "around the world" while I have this playing in the background. It forces me to go back and listen again in case you're talking about me, lol.
I've noticed Jonathan Aranda tends to move from the Rays pretty often in my games, and turns into an amazing 2nd baseman pretty quickly. Might be someone to target
@@oldschoolsports yeah, I was picturing an off season trade. He's still super young, so the cost of acquiring him at the deadline would likely have been prohibitively high
I find that one of the quirks of the '25 AI is that even though other GMs prioritize drafting batters over pitchers, they seem to prioritize pitchers over batters (or at least view them equally) once those drafted players are tradeable. It seems to me that a good draft strategy, all things being equal, would be to have a bigger emphasis on drafting pitchers early with an eye on trading for bats with that ammunition. There's got to be at least a little arbitrage value there.
That's interesting, thanks for sharing. I've definitely noticed what's going on in the draft, but have not paid close enough attention to notice what you mentioned in the trade market. Always good to find some market inefficiencies to arbitrage!
Listening to your comments on Mason Miller, I understand in this iteration of the game it can be more effective, but I just can't bring myself to utilize the Stopper role in the bullpen. It's old fashioned, but I just like having a closer and my two 7th and 8th inning setup men. It just seems like baseball done right!
I think that makes sense. Probably am not going to change the formula here in '24 since what we're doing is somehow working, but think he will be Stopper or a starter next season!
I think you drafted the right players. The moves you made at the trade deadline made sense too. Curious to see if you'll achieve your goal of 70+ victories. Good luck !
Can't fault you for taking Marsten. I would have taken Braden Montgomery, but you prioritize pitching more than I do. Not that there is such a thing as a sure thing in the MLB draft, but I think college hitters are more likely to develop then the high school arms. I would have commented to pick Montogomery if I had gotten to the previous video in time.
I liked the draft group, a bit of luck and some calculated moves turned out great, plus you have the minors staff to support their development. Pretty amazing the pitching has propped up the team all the way to the trade deadline. I also think you made some good moves in the trades. Interested in how the acquisitions play out for you. I take it the two trade proposals were lousy? Overall great job working with not a whole lot and building a base to work from into the future. Looking forward to next episode!
Thank you, I'm having a lot of fun with the A's, always fun to play with a different team with different constraints and try to come up with a plan that will eventually work!
drafting hs arms is way more of a risk in real life than in ootp. i feel like the highest potential players in my drafts are mostly high schoolers with a few 19-20 y/o juco players and very few true college players with upside, so the highest ceiling option at any given pick is usually going to be a high school bat or starting pitcher
Agree with avoiding the Adames trade. I care more about winning the WS than the playoffs, so I would have been fine if you didn’t go for any rentals at all.
If we had the money/need to re-sign Adames it might make more sense to get him on board, but I think he would be a huge luxury item for the potential 2025 A's!
In terms of high schoolers, i don't think it matters, if they have a high ceiling and a lot to like about them you can develop them with the right coaching and development budgets. And i too have had a lot of success with high schooers. I think you definitely busted the myth with your playthroughs... even if they don't get to where u want them they often end up being good bullpen arms.
Hey old school knowing your an NFL fan. There is a really good management game, Draft Day Football. They have a demo on their website, game looks like a game you would love. It's a game by Wolverine Studios
I have played their games in the past, but not in the past few years at this point, so I may need to check them out again. I found their games to be a little simpler than OOTP, and preferred the extra complexity in Out of the Park.
Nothing special, just a generic home PC bought at Best Buy about four years ago, not some fancy, high-powered gaming PC, the game probably would run faster if I had one of those!
Idk if it will play out for u in ur A’s franchise but in the 2 i have done in ur farm Darrell Hernaiz 2B turned into a .280-.300 plus hitter for me both times. Tyler soderstrum C, i converted to 1B and developed into 30+HR guy with good AVG both times. And Jacob Wilson SS develops into a good hitter as well. Im still learning this game as i am struggling to rebuild this team with the trash budget u get, but those have been guys ive leaned on
Thanks for the tips, I have been keeping an eye on all three of those guys, as they look to be the best of a bad farm system! Hernaiz has been in AAA this year and is living up to what you suggested... batting .320 for the year at this point, I have given him some playing time at 1B and LF also to make him as versatile as possible (right now he can play every position in the IF plus LF). He should be in the mix for the roster next season, could be a September call up this year. Totally agree that I will need to move Soderstrom from C, the big question is whether his bat will justify playing him at 1B/DH/LF. He did very well in AA, hitting .314 with 32 HR in just 271 AB, but the he hurt his ACL right when I was getting ready to promote him. Has been out close to a month, with two weeks left for the injury. Once he is healthy I will promote to AAA for the last couple weeks of the season. Not having quite as much luck with Wilson this far, he is hitting .263 in high A ball, still will probably promote him to AA for the last month of the minor league season to see how he handles that level.
@@oldschoolsports nice good to see Hernaiz is still a dawg. Soderstrum bat for me delevopled really good, think he developed to a 55 at 1B for me so not great but not bad. And Wilson took about 3-4 yrs for me to get him to the bigs but how he starting for u is similar to what i had seen.
It's pronounced Shee-full-bine. It means "crooked leg." In German the second letter in the ei or ie combination is the one that gets pronounced. Expect some stints on the IL. I drafted him in the third in my save because I thought he was a good value there, despite the low work ethic. He turned out to be a bum and I ultimately released him.
Losing teams don't need great closers. I would also trade Bleday, as his bat profile not great and he still has some value as a 4th or 5th OF for a continder.
I thought Bleday might have some value too, but I got garbage offers for him. Ended up waiving and DFAing him to save the guaranteed MLB minimum, and no one grabbed him, so we'll have him stashed at AAA in case maybe he has more value to someone next year around the deadline!
Amazed at how well this team is performing given the talent available. Very wise to build up your pitching staff using the draft in my opinion. Loving the series so far.👍👍💪
Thanks... I'd like to say it's skill, but I think it's mostly luck! I can't start off the series saying that I don't really care about 2024 and just want to get to the offseason, and then pat myself on the back when the team is doing surprisingly well! Hopefully some of the decisions we've made are good, but they've generally been more focused on 2025 and beyond than this season!
Definitely a much better first half of the season than I expected based on your pre-season thoughts. The boys did good so far and some nice draft picks and trade moves as well. Certainly learning something every episode I watch.
That's good to hear!
I’m always way behind on your series’ (currently working through the Buffalo Wings series) but I wanted to say how much I love your content, the pacing and the way you go back and re-evaluate the decisions you made is far and away my favourite of any OOTP play-through!
Thank you, I appreciate you watching!
I actually am watching this series and the Wings playthrough currently. Will start Detroit Tigers playthrough tomorrow thinking of dumping Javier Baez in a force trade to the Dodgers....lol.
The content keeps comin! Thank you. I also stay away from prospects with negative traits if any possible way.
Thanks for continuing to watch... the pace will slow once my weekend ends!
You gotta stop saying "around the world" while I have this playing in the background. It forces me to go back and listen again in case you're talking about me, lol.
Ha, it's subliminal advertising!!!
@@oldschoolsports I don’t hate it, lol.
I've noticed Jonathan Aranda tends to move from the Rays pretty often in my games, and turns into an amazing 2nd baseman pretty quickly. Might be someone to target
Thanks, I'll check him out... once the season is over and I can make trades again!
@@oldschoolsports yeah, I was picturing an off season trade. He's still super young, so the cost of acquiring him at the deadline would likely have been prohibitively high
@@Jeancey Hopefully we'll start building up some better currency in our minor league system to use in trades going forward!
I find that one of the quirks of the '25 AI is that even though other GMs prioritize drafting batters over pitchers, they seem to prioritize pitchers over batters (or at least view them equally) once those drafted players are tradeable. It seems to me that a good draft strategy, all things being equal, would be to have a bigger emphasis on drafting pitchers early with an eye on trading for bats with that ammunition. There's got to be at least a little arbitrage value there.
That's interesting, thanks for sharing. I've definitely noticed what's going on in the draft, but have not paid close enough attention to notice what you mentioned in the trade market. Always good to find some market inefficiencies to arbitrage!
Listening to your comments on Mason Miller, I understand in this iteration of the game it can be more effective, but I just can't bring myself to utilize the Stopper role in the bullpen. It's old fashioned, but I just like having a closer and my two 7th and 8th inning setup men. It just seems like baseball done right!
You are definitely Old School!
I’d definitely rock Mason Miller in the Stopper role. Getting him 90+ IP makes a lot of sense as we wait to start him down the line
I think that makes sense. Probably am not going to change the formula here in '24 since what we're doing is somehow working, but think he will be Stopper or a starter next season!
This is good stuff. I love the Athletics.
Thank you for watching!
That was the right call with Mason Miller. He should be traded for prospects, not a rental.
Yeah, especially as a rental for a .500 team that is lucky to be in the playoff race!
I think you drafted the right players. The moves you made at the trade deadline made sense too. Curious to see if you'll achieve your goal of 70+ victories. Good luck !
Thank you... I'm pretty confident we'll get to 70... not so sure about 81-81!
Can't fault you for taking Marsten. I would have taken Braden Montgomery, but you prioritize pitching more than I do. Not that there is such a thing as a sure thing in the MLB draft, but I think college hitters are more likely to develop then the high school arms. I would have commented to pick Montogomery if I had gotten to the previous video in time.
Love the content man keep up the good work and hope nothing but the best for you 👍💪
Thank you, I appreciate it!
thumbs up for Old School Hagar reference
I liked the draft group, a bit of luck and some calculated moves turned out great, plus you have the minors staff to support their development. Pretty amazing the pitching has propped up the team all the way to the trade deadline. I also think you made some good moves in the trades. Interested in how the acquisitions play out for you. I take it the two trade proposals were lousy? Overall great job working with not a whole lot and building a base to work from into the future. Looking forward to next episode!
Thank you, I'm having a lot of fun with the A's, always fun to play with a different team with different constraints and try to come up with a plan that will eventually work!
drafting hs arms is way more of a risk in real life than in ootp. i feel like the highest potential players in my drafts are mostly high schoolers with a few 19-20 y/o juco players and very few true college players with upside, so the highest ceiling option at any given pick is usually going to be a high school bat or starting pitcher
Totally agree the hit rate on young arms is higher in OOTP than real life!
Great video!
Thank you! I'm enjoying these early days with the A's... but Fisher may eventually beat me down!!!
Agree with avoiding the Adames trade. I care more about winning the WS than the playoffs, so I would have been fine if you didn’t go for any rentals at all.
If we had the money/need to re-sign Adames it might make more sense to get him on board, but I think he would be a huge luxury item for the potential 2025 A's!
In terms of high schoolers, i don't think it matters, if they have a high ceiling and a lot to like about them you can develop them with the right coaching and development budgets. And i too have had a lot of success with high schooers. I think you definitely busted the myth with your playthroughs... even if they don't get to where u want them they often end up being good bullpen arms.
Agreed, I'm usually willing to take a chance on them... can't score a goal if you don't take the shot!
Performance of Miami in your save 🤯
Maybe even a bigger surprise than the A's!
Hey old school knowing your an NFL fan. There is a really good management game, Draft Day Football. They have a demo on their website, game looks like a game you would love. It's a game by Wolverine Studios
I have played their games in the past, but not in the past few years at this point, so I may need to check them out again. I found their games to be a little simpler than OOTP, and preferred the extra complexity in Out of the Park.
Just started watching-I got a lot of episodes to go lol
Ha!
Comment for engagement
One thing i always wondered is what pc specifications do you have?
Nothing special, just a generic home PC bought at Best Buy about four years ago, not some fancy, high-powered gaming PC, the game probably would run faster if I had one of those!
shortlist rainer please, would be interesting to see his development as someone you were considering
Good idea, I've gotta start tracking those guys!
Idk if it will play out for u in ur A’s franchise but in the 2 i have done in ur farm Darrell Hernaiz 2B turned into a .280-.300 plus hitter for me both times. Tyler soderstrum C, i converted to 1B and developed into 30+HR guy with good AVG both times. And Jacob Wilson SS develops into a good hitter as well. Im still learning this game as i am struggling to rebuild this team with the trash budget u get, but those have been guys ive leaned on
Thanks for the tips, I have been keeping an eye on all three of those guys, as they look to be the best of a bad farm system!
Hernaiz has been in AAA this year and is living up to what you suggested... batting .320 for the year at this point, I have given him some playing time at 1B and LF also to make him as versatile as possible (right now he can play every position in the IF plus LF). He should be in the mix for the roster next season, could be a September call up this year.
Totally agree that I will need to move Soderstrom from C, the big question is whether his bat will justify playing him at 1B/DH/LF. He did very well in AA, hitting .314 with 32 HR in just 271 AB, but the he hurt his ACL right when I was getting ready to promote him. Has been out close to a month, with two weeks left for the injury. Once he is healthy I will promote to AAA for the last couple weeks of the season.
Not having quite as much luck with Wilson this far, he is hitting .263 in high A ball, still will probably promote him to AA for the last month of the minor league season to see how he handles that level.
@@oldschoolsports nice good to see Hernaiz is still a dawg. Soderstrum bat for me delevopled really good, think he developed to a 55 at 1B for me so not great but not bad. And Wilson took about 3-4 yrs for me to get him to the bigs but how he starting for u is similar to what i had seen.
@@LegendaryJmez Hopefully I'll have similar success with all of them, we can use the help in MLB!
Chatterton might’ve been an interesting pick
We're going to the playoffs!
I wish I shared your confidence... and I hope you are right!
I think that you should have went through the trade deadline day instead of sim it, just in case you got an offer
]
Did you look at the FA Market near the Deadline?
I did... it was pretty much garbage... and I say that as the A's!
It's pronounced Shee-full-bine. It means "crooked leg." In German the second letter in the ei or ie combination is the one that gets pronounced. Expect some stints on the IL. I drafted him in the third in my save because I thought he was a good value there, despite the low work ethic. He turned out to be a bum and I ultimately released him.
Ha, makes sense when you explain it for me... forgot I had you as a resource for the occasional German player!
@@oldschoolsports He's an American of German descent. Finish your beer, there are sober kids in India!
Losing teams don't need great closers. I would also trade Bleday, as his bat profile not great and he still has some value as a 4th or 5th OF for a continder.
I thought Bleday might have some value too, but I got garbage offers for him. Ended up waiving and DFAing him to save the guaranteed MLB minimum, and no one grabbed him, so we'll have him stashed at AAA in case maybe he has more value to someone next year around the deadline!
Blackburn needs to go too.
Agreed!!!
I drafted Sterling in the second. Another bum.