'09 Version: Franchise vs. Season

[Mike Lowe]

I know most seemed to lean towards Season in 2008. What are we thinking for those who have seen/used franchise mode thus far in 2009?

I like being able to see minor league stats and am leaning towards franchise mode. I am happy to see, at least in spring training, that it appears some of the more quirky things are removed such as riding a team bus etc. Perhaps this will show up during the regular season again like in 2008?

Regardless of whether or not what IS in and what ISNT in, how are things working so far? I was always the most broke team riding a PACE bus around town.

[Gim77]

I'm still trying to figure the offseason out but the one thing I don't like is how you can't fire a coach midseason like last year. It's now like the free agent bidding system, but the stats are not based by overall which makes it extremely difficult to pick out the better of the new coaches. They only add to your team's overall stats, I would of liked it a little more involved than that. The free agent system takes a while to get used to with everything thats involved. In the early going, it seems like you can stiff alot of your younger players that are not arbitration eligble. Spring training is the same like last year except expanded rosters. I still can't figure out how to set my 25-man roster, the cpu does it automatcally once I hit end spring. Calling players up is extremley tedious. You first need to send your mlb player down, then remove him from the 40 man. Then you need to target your AAA guy and add him to the 40 man, then add him to your mlb roster. The interface for that is god awful. Trades are the same, I didn't notice any difference. Arod is God in this game, Ellsbury stole 100 bases my first year and Ichiro is the new Ortiz apparantley. I can't think of anything else atm.

[GTjeff519]

just offering my opinion to the last part of gim77's post. arod was great in my simmed franchise, but the only stat he led was in homers with 51, howard had 58 in the NL. ellsbury stole 59 bases and ichoro hit .302, 17 homers, 78 rbi.

unfortunately that bus is still there. poor ole matt murton on my team hates being seen riding the bus. hehe.

[Mike Lowe]

I just must be doing things wrong...I could never keep players rested, even when playing through coach recommendations not to do so, nor could I afford a decent for of transportation. I was just below .500 (Phillies) and was dead last in finances.

Advice? Maybe that's my problem? I don't mind the franchise stuff but if it's going to be a game killer, I'd hate to start only to have to restart.

Thanks for the input thus far!

[Mike Lowe]

Bump. Still looking for some pros and cons for 09.