I received a free season-long sim baseball team on WhatIfSports for having a team on FoxSports, and I'm loving it. Why?

Years ago, when I was working in Vermont, we had a sim baseball league, using the old Full Count Baseball program. I had a Great Teams one that I inherited (1957 Braves and 1976 Red Sox), and a regular one that I had for two season (and I only got to play for one, because I transferred to Arizona shortly before the regular season ended and the stats disks arrived). I barely missed the playoffs that season, with players like Tony Fernandez, Lou Whitaker, Eddie Murray, Darren Daulton, and George Bell, and a solid pitching staff with Dennis Eckersley as my clsoer.

My sim team right now, the division-leading (20-11) ROBOSOX:

C: K. Johjima 06 and M. Lieberthal 04
1B: C.Fielder 92 and K. Hernandez 83
2B: R. Sandberg 96 and J. Bell 01
3B: K. Kouzmanoff 07 (J. Bell backs up here, too)
SS: S. Owen 87
OF: E. Burks 93, H. Aaron 74, C. Snyder 87, and G. Matthews 86.
I've had a little help from my AAA SS and OF, too. Both were hitting well over .300 until this last game, when I sent them back down.

Pitching isn't spectaculat, but they've found a way.
Starters: B. Saberhagen 96, J. Moyer 88, O. Hershiser 94, B. Hubbell 24, and B. Hurst 86 (staff ace w/4 wins and a 3.60 ERA)
Relief: A. Sanchez 06 and E. Hanson 89 (long relief), B. Wagner 04, H. Slocumb 96, BJ Ryan 05, and D. Henry 92 (setup), BJ Ryan 06 (closer) and R. Face 68 (mopup and staff punching bag).

The salary cap is 80Mil, which is why I don't have players at their peak, except for Hurst (that Red Sox team had exceptional pitching, and that was his finest season). But so far, so good. I'm leading my division by three games, and while I lost my last game, I had just had a seven game winning streak.

Has anyone else played any sim leagues?

I am in a lifetime keeper Strato league. In my opinion it is the most fun I have in any fantasy sports. I spend more time researching my rookie draft each year then I do in all my other fantasy leagues combined (you can die Anibal Sanchez....die die die!)

If you are interested in the particulars let me know.....it is as close to true managing a team as I have found, and I have tried most of them.

I have tried Whatifsports, and it can be fun experimenting with lineups an dplayers.

I just made a couple of moves yesterday. I dumped Face (worthless), picked up Sean Marshall 06 (or is it 07?) and Lou Brock 76 was brought aboard and Gary Matthews 86 waived (can't beat those stolen base numbers and about 100 more plate appearances).

Like I said, I played Full Count all those years ago. We didn't use salary numbers, we just picked players. I find the cap to be restricting, but a fun challenge.

And good ol' Anibal may spot start for me, as I also dumped a seriously underachieving and quite expensive Brett Saberhagen.

Huh, Sounds like fun. Are there any free Sim leagues out there?

TSN has a 1986 league for free right now.

The season ended today, and I went 98-64, winning my division by 24 games. However, in the Divisional Series, I'll be facing a guy with 107 wins!

I also get a discount on my next team, unless I win the World Series. Then I get a bunch of credits (enough for a couple of teams, I think), and my team moves onto the Champions League Tournament.

I also discovered some Sim Studs, if they can repeat their performances in the future:

1B: Cecil Fielder 1992. Real Life: .244/35/124
Sim: .324/47/169

2B: Ryne Sandberg 1996: RL: .244/25/92
Sim: .278/27/125

3B: Kevin Kouzmanoff 2007: RL: .275/18/74
Sim: .357/20/110

I also got over 100 RBI from Cory Snyder 1987 and Ellis Burks 1993.

My pitching wasn't spectacular (team ERA was over 4.80), but I got solid production from Bruce Hurst 1986 (16-8 ), and BJ Ryan 2006 (1-0, 39 sv/41 svo).

nice, good luck in the playoffs

Congrats

Excellent! Good luck!

Thanks everyone. The games start tomorrow (10AM my time).

I'm already planning to create another team when this season ends.

And yes, Joel, I'm going to get Anibal Sanchez again (and stash him in AAA until near the transaction deadline!)

And I may carry an extra fielder, and let my AAA pitchers help out more.

Keep us up to date with what happens...this is really interesting to me and I would like to follow along....good luck to you...

I lost Game 2 3-1, with 1996 Greg Maddux outdueling 2006 Justin Verlander. My sole run came on a Cecil Fielder solo dinger.

Next game at 10 PM my time.