#Shots Friday: Managers

It finally happened, one of our two stand outs from last year finally caught lightning in a bottle. @tomwyliehart scored the only shot of the day with Chris Davis going deep for him last week. That would be the first of the year for both people. I would like to remind everyone that he did go on a tear last year scoring 6 consecutive weeks with a shot. Hope everyone has their favorite work appropriate beverage handy while we release our final 5 manager cards for our first ever class. This is a 20 card class and we will be taking votes here in the next couple weeks for what you all think should be the changes to them before we set them in stone. Hope everyone enjoys while being unproductive at work.

MLB Showdown: Custom Historic Cards 

We allow our fans who purchase sets from us to make 10 custom cards for their own collection. We add that if they simply pick a player and year we will make the cards as if we made their card from that year. Meaning the card that we make are legal cards to be used. They will be completely compatible with our sets and the 00/01 sets. When players choose to do this we like to pass the spoils on to you guys. We all owe @jgmoney0 and his crew for these 10 cards. They are big Mariners fans so we got 10 of the best Mariners cards ever. We will do half today and half next week. Enjoy.

Ken Griffey Jr. 1997- You don’t get a video game with your own Super Nintendo Video Game without being an all-time great player. Hard to believe his 1997 year was his only MVP season. His 1998 season was almost identical no idea how 3 people had better seasons than that. He could hit for power and field. His card is fantastic and worth more than any other centerfielder at the moment. The reason is he may be the best centerfielder in Showdown history. A 9, 15-20 HR, 12-14 2B, 11 1B+ with a speed A(20) with CF+3. Not a lot more you could ask for. Not a lot more you could pay for ether with 700 points. If you are going to pay for one superstar he may be worth it because he can steal enough to turn singles into doubles. The fear of a 700 point player is the IBB, but he can punish that strategy too.

MLB Showdown 2012: Starters 450-490 Points

Lance Lynn

2012

6

490

5

0

20

17-19

16

11-15

8-10

3-7

1-2

Jarrod Parker	2012	5	480	6	0	20	17-19	0	10-16	7-9	3-6	1-2
Madison Baumgardner	2012	5	480	7	0	20	17-19	16	12-15	6-11	3-5	1-2

Jason Vargas	2012	4	480	7	0	20	18-19	17	11-16	7-10	3-6	1-2
Homer Bailey	2012	4	480	7	0	20	18-19	17	12-16	8-11	3-7	1-2
CJ Wilson	2012	4	460	6	0	20	19	17-18	13-16	8-12	3-7	1-2
Brandon Morrow	2012	4	450	5	0	20	19	18	10-17	8-10	3-7	1-2
Ryan Dempster	2012	4	450	6	0	20	18-19	17	12-16	8-11	3-7	1-2
Jonathan Neise	2012	4	450	6	0	20	18-19	17	12-16	7-11	3-6	1-2

Jake Peavy	2012	3	470	7	0	20	18-19	0	9-17	6-8	3-5	1-2
Doug Fister	2012	3	450	6	0	20	18-19	0	14-17	8-13	3-7	1-2

Cliff Lee

2012

2

450

7

0

20

19

0

13-18

9-12

3-8

1-2

#ShotsFriday: Managers

A slightly successful #shotsfriday this week. I am always a fan of homers picking homers so let us all enjoy our favorite work appropriate beverage this morning knowing that Pedro Alvarez hit a ball into the Eddie Zone for @eddiezone44. That is the first of year for both of them. More Pirates to follow I hope. We had lots of picks but only one person on the board last week. We need more predictions. I have set the prize for this year’s winner. This year’s winner gets to pick 3 players cards to be made and added to Showdown world in their honor.

2011 Team Tournament First Round Series

We need people to volunteer to player series using 2011 teams (the 20 person team that come with the set). The request we have is that everyone keep the stats of their series and then send them back to us on the blog. This will allow us to see all 600 cards in action. This also gives people the chance to have some bragging rights for your favorite team. This is going to be a 30 team tournament (Rangers and Cardinals get a first round bye). All series are 7 game series (first to 4 wins). When requesting games just check in with comments or via E-mail with Redsoxman2011@gmail.com. We will put up a post of official rules for the league up here in a following post. It will be a pure league (no strategy cards with no limit on stealing and intentional walks). Here are the first round match-ups. Once you make a claim I will update on this page. To make a claim send and E-mail or put a comment at the bottom of this post. 

Game will likely be easiest played on Google hang outs using the Dice app http://jonswope.com/2012/05/29/fair-dice-in-google-hangouts/

In person games are allowed if you have people who are wanting to play in person. Remember the point of all of this is to collect data so we can make more educated judgements about players. Without further ado here are the first round match ups

Cardinals (1)

Bye

Indians (8) @Mlbshowdownguru

White Sox (9) @Markrom3

Red Sox (5) @Mlbshowdownguru

Royals (12) @Markrom3

Rays (4)  @Markrom3

Padres (13) @mlbshowdownguru

Brewers (3)

Orioles (14)

Angels (6) @markrom3

Marlins (11) @Mlbshowdownguru

Dodgers (7)   @Ruffridinnole

A’s (10)        @Eddiezone44

Astros (15)

Phillies (2)

Yankees (2)

Cubs (15)

Mets (10)

Jays (7)

Giants (11)

Rockies (6)

Mariners (14) @mlbshowdownguru

Tigers (3) @piatz1019

D-Backs (4)

Twins (13)

Braves (5)   @MLBShowdownguru

Pirates (12)  @Eddiezone44

Nationals (9) @MLBShowdownguru

Reds (8)       @Eddiezone44

Rangers

Bye

MLB Showdown 2012 : Starters 500-540 

Tim Hudson	2012	6	540	6	0	20	17-19	16	13-15	6-12	3-5	1-2
Stephen Strasburg	2012	6	500	5	0	20	18-19	16-17	12-15	10-11	3-9	1-2
Mat Latos	2012	6	500	6	0	20	16-19	15	11-14	7-10	3-6	1-2

James Shields	2012	5	510	7	0	20	17-19	16	13-15	9-12	3-8	1-2
Hirioki Kuroda	2012	5	500	7	0	20	17-19	16	12-15	7-11	3-6	1-2
Matt Harrison	2012	5	500	7	0	20	17-19	16	11-15	6-10	3-5	1-2
Wade Miley	2012	5	500	6	0	20	17-19	0	11-16	7-10	3-6	1-2

Kyle Loshe

2012

3

540

7

0

20

19

0

12-18

7-11

3-6

1-2

RA Dickey

2012

2

500

8

0

0

0

19-20

15-18

11-14

3-10

1-2

#ShotsFriday: Thank You 

               The cream has begun to rise to the top this year for our prediction makers. @jamesmruffin now has 3 home runs thanks to the years leading fist pumper, Carlos Beltran. Beltran has gone deep for 3 straight weeks. We would still like some suggestions on what you all think would be fair compensation for winning our yearly award. I am still leaning toward allowing our winner to pick a player and year to add to have his card added to the MLB Showdown world (ex. Babe Ruth 1920). Make sure you get your picks in for #shotsfriday for who you think will go deep.

MLB Showdown 2012: Starters 550-590

CC Sabathia	6	580	7	0	20	17-19	16	12-15	8-11	3-7	1-2
Chris Sale	6	570	6	0	20	18-19	16-17	12-15	8-11	3-7	1-2
Yu Darvish	6	570	6	0	20	18-19	16-17	12-15	9-11	3-8	1-2
Zack Greinke	6	570	7	0	20	17-19	16	12-15	7-11	3-6	1-2
AJ Burnett	6	570	6	0	20	17-19	16	13-15	7-12	3-6	1-2
Yovanni Gallardo	6	560	6	0	20	18-19	16-17	12-15	8-11	3-7	1-2
Cole Hamels	6	550	7	0	20	16-19	0	11-15	8-10	3-7	1-2

Jered Weaver

5

570

6

0

0

17-20

0

10-16

7-9

3-6

1-2

Felix Hernandez	4	580	8	0	0	18-20	17	13-16	9-12	3-8	1-2
Matt Cain	4	570	7	0	0	18-20	0	12-17	9-11	3-8	1-2

Johnny Cueto

3

570

7

0

0

19-20

0

13-18

8-12

3-7

1-2

MLB Showdown 2012: Starters 550-590 points

                The year of the pitcher is beginning to become more like the Obama term of the pitchers. There seem to be so many solid ERA, durable, quality starters in the world now. CC Sabathia has always been the representative of this group. He got hurt this year but effective in his time. Greinke is had another fantastic year. Yu Darvish came over and had a nice rookie year with 16 wins. AJ Burnett seemed to be the leader of the Pirates pitching staff as a veteran. Jered Weaver with his 2.81 ERA had a nice 20 win season. I can’t finish this without giving a nod to King Felix for having another fantastic year with absolutely no help from his teammates in Seattle.

#ShotFriday Manager Cards

We had some repeat success for our #shotsfriday picks last week. @Roktikitiki got a second homer in as many weeks from Mark Trumbo to give them both 2 on the year. @Jamesmruffin also got a repeat blast from Carlos Beltran also giving him 2 on the year. Remember to send in your own pick for who you think will go deep this Friday. We accept predictions all week long so send them in at your own convenience. Also put comments below on what you think a fair reward would be for the winner of the #shotsfriday yearly contest. I am leaning toward allowing the winner to create their own custom card to add to the Showdown world. I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts.

MLB Showdown 2012: Corner Outfield 400+ Pointers

Player	On	Points	Speed	Field	Bats	Homer	Triple	Double	Single+	Single	Walk	FB	GB	SO
Ryan Braun	10	650	A(20)	1	R	17-20	0	15-16	13-14	10-12	5-9	4	3	1-2
Shin-Soo Choo	10	440	A(19)	1	L	20	0	17-19	16	11-15	7-10	6	4-5	1-3
Matt Holliday	10	430	B(15)	1	R	19-20	0	16-18	0	10-15	5-9	4	0	1-3
Melky Cabrera	10	400	B(16)	2	S	20	18-19	16-17	15	7-14	5-6	4	2-3	1

Jose Bautista	9	440	B(14)	2	R	17-20	0	16	0	12-15	6-11	2-5	0	1
Carlos Gonzalez	9	420	A(20)	1	L	19-20	18	16-17	15	7-14	3-6	2	0	1

Alex Rios

8

410

A(20)

2

R

18-20

16-17

13-15

12

7-11

6

4-5

3

1-2

MLB Showdown 2012: Starters 600+

Max Scherzer	2012	6	620	6	0	20	17-19	16	12-14	11	3-10	1-2
David Price	2012	6	600	6	0	0	16-20	0	13-15	9-12	3-8	1-2

Clayton Kershaw

2012

5

630

7

0

0

18-20

17

12-16

10-11

3-9

1-2

Justin Verlander

2012

4

630

8

0

20

19

18

14-17

12-13

3-11

1-2

MLB Showdown 2012: Starters +600 points 

                This class of “elite” pitchers is not what year’s class was. Verlander was a slightly milder version of himself this year. He played great this year but didn’t have that same aura of invincibility this year that he had last year. His 2.40 ERA last year ballooned up to 2.64 (though he went from fourth to third in the league). If he had the same 24 wins as last year I wonder how we would have viewed his year. Clayton Kershaw has figured something out (like how to face the Giants or Padres every other game). He has learned to throw strikes and trust that stuff. David Price has also proven to be an elite pitcher consistently. Everything about him is elite besides his pickoff move. Max Scherzer is not the ERA title contender the other three are. However, no one struck out more players per 9 than Scherzer with 11 per 9 innings. That is the 19^th best in a single season every behind the following names, Martinez, Wood, Gooden, Ryan, Schilling and Randy Johnson.

MLB Showdown 2012: Pitchers +600 Points

David Price	6	600	6	0	0	16-20	0	13-15	9-12	3-8	1-2
Max Scherzer	6	600	6	0	20	17-19	16	12-15	11	3-10	1-2

Clayton Kershaw

5

630

7

0

0

18-20

17

12-16

10-11

3-9

1-2

Justin Verlander

4

630

8

0

20

19

18

14-17

12-13

3-11

1-2

#ShotsFriday MLB Showdown Managers

        We have a tie on the leader and Twitterboards again. A little competition at the top with our graphics man @Roktikitiki scoring a home run with Mark Trumbo last week. Also @jamesmruffin had Carlos Beltran with a homer to put him in a 3 way for first with our other pro Dr Juice @markrom3 with 1 and his pick was Justin Upton. We have a little something from both of our great pros. Dr Juice is putting out his logo down below which he hopes to turn into fabulous merchandise one day to support his experiments. @roktikitiki is showing off the first of our newest strategy cards for our 2012 class. The goal is to have a 100 card strategy card set released by the end of the year but our first 5 should be a treat. They are manager cards should be interesting read more below and see his fantastic graphics. Much better than when I was in charge of that department. Remember tweet us in your predictions for who will hit a home run in a Friday game. We are accepting tweets all week so use our hash tag #shotsfriday. We are trying to come up with a good reward for the winner. Comment on some idea below