English League Baseball's Blackpool Seasiders

[lencombs]

Introducing my English Baseball League. League Structure is based on the 2016-17 England top 4 divisions Soccer.

League Concept: I have played baseball sims from strat-o-matic as a child, until this ootp today. I joined this site in 2002 and have played nearly every version of OOTP since. I also play EA's FIFA Soccer, and FM Football Manager. I consider the Relegation and Promotion dynamic league system in soccer to be superior to the current static MLB format so wanted to merge my two passions. Instead of implementing relegation and promotion rules on a US universe, I am creating a baseball universe where the top players go to England, like in soccer.

There are 92 Major League level teams in 4 leagues, with top 3 promotion, bottom 3 relegation between leagues. Player Database is worldwide, not just United Kingdom regions.

Premier League 20 teams Reputation 10
Champions League 24 teams Reputation 9
League One 24 teams Reputation 8
League Two 24 teams Reputation 7

Finances are slightly higher with each higher leagues reputation.
All teams play 162 games in league.

I will be playing as GM and Coach for the Blackpool Seasiders starting in SkyBet League Two (LG2). My goal as Blackpool GM is to gain promotion 3 times from LG2 to Premier, and win the Premier League World Series.

I'm using reserve rosters because I don't want to run minor league teams for 92 teams. I actually prefer running a full set of minor leagues for my team so using reserve rosters is new to me.

All 4 leagues will start with a draft.

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[lencombs]

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Meet the Premier League:

Chelsea Blues
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City Citizens
Liverpool Reds
Arsenal Gunners
Manchester United Red Devils
Everton Toffees
Southampton Saints
Bournemouth Cherries
Watford Hornets
Swansea City Swans
Sunderland Black Cats
Stoke City Potters
Leicester City Foxes
West Ham United Hammers
Burnley Clarets
Hull City Tigers
West Bromwich Albion Baggers
Middlesbrough Smoggies
Crystal Palace Eagles

[lencombs]

Drafts held for all four leagues tonight. One glitch I had was all 4 of my leagues used players from the UK region even though I had selected using real world baseball countries. After I noticed this happen after the first league drafted, I double checked the settings for other leagues but they still had a draft pool of 90% players from England or Wales.

Not a game breaker, i'll adjust my league narrative a bit from being World's best players coming to play in England, to a more home grown talent league of English lads.

To the draft, Blackpool had the 7th overall pick in SKyBet League 2 and after much deliberation I selected this RF. Finley "Bingo" De'ath. Lol, I didn't edit the name, and hopefully he will be Death to opposing pitchers for me for several years. Contact and power, especially hard on right hand pitching. Just average defensively but I'm counting on him to motor the middle of my lineup.
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Leyton Orient had the #1 overall pick and they selected Everton Gassaly. Gas is right, his stuff is off the chart, i'm using a 1-100 scale, show ratings >100 and his stuff is at 121. Stamina is 87 [IMG][/IMG]

I drafted a very young team and as a result a lot of my salaries were assigned less than 6 years service status. My team as a result has the lowest payroll of the league. My owner informed me he would like us to play close to .500 ball. So ideally I have some time for my young team to develop before being fired.

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My top concern to re-sign is my 2nd starting pitcher 27 year old Everton Bedlow. I approached him and he said he would re-sign but is looking for a raise from 8.1 Mil this year to 10.5 and escalating thereafter for 7 years. That is about 3 years longer than I would prefer to sign a 27 year old, especially sight unseen. I'm not worried about the extra money since our's is so low, but I hate being tied to contracts when a players performance drops off a cliff. I will probably offer him 5 years, and a little more money than he's asking for.

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The preseason predictions have Blackpool in the lower third at 78-84 which is in line with my owner expectations to play close to .500.

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My other goal from my owner is to upgrade the CF position. My starter is excellent defensively, which all CF's need to be, but I will start looking at possible upgrades to meet the goal.

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[lencombs]

The English Baseball Leagues seasons started for all 4 leagues and played through the opening month of April. Blackpool is off to an excellent start at 15-12. It is still very early in the season but a promising start to the teams goal of playing close to .500 No trades for Blackpool yet, using the drafted roster. I am going to be patient with the team and allow time for players stats to stabalize awhile before looking to make any moves. Blackpools starting 1B suffered a broken hand in the opening week and is out 6 weeks. I called up a reserve player for the mean time.

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I have a reliever with half star OVR talent that my bench coach keeps inserting into the starting rotation because his stamina is 81. if I ask bench coach for staff. So I can't ask bench coach for staff until I get rid of this guy.



My top draft pick Finley De'ath had a great opening month for Blackpool batting .367 with 8 HR's and 25 RBI's. Hoping for this sort of performance for years from the 25 year old 7th pick overall in the league.

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Thoughts and prayers to the great people of Manchester with the tragic act of violence this week. Two Manchester teams in this league are both in the highest Premier League, and Manchester City currently sit at 2nd and early title contenders. Man United is in 13th at 10-12 early.

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So my #2 SP 27 year old lefty Everton Bedlow approached me about his contract expiring. Before the season he asked for a 7 year 10.5mil extension. I didn't offer it, and now he asked for 14.5 mil and 9 years.
He's 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA. I should have signed him before the season.

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I'm going to counter with 6 years, player option after year 3, and team option for year 6. He'll be 30 in 3 years anyway if he does opt out, and if he starts to decline we can get out of the last year. Hopefully he will sign, and negotiating mood doesn't worsen.

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SP Bedlow accepted my initial offer which is a relief. I didn't want his negotiating attitude and or performance to turn angry. He was my top priority to re-sign before next year and it is over with early in the season. I cost myself some salary by not doing it before the season but wanted to see him in action some first.
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40 games in, and at the quarter pole of the inaugural season Blackpool is head above water at 21-19. Our owner goal is play close to .500 and upgrade the CF position which I have yet to address. I am wanting to trade as little as possible this year and give my young draft class time to develop a bit.

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[jparker2112]

Quickstart please? LOVE the idea!