Expansion Franchise Opportunity

jeffblake · 11-03-2023, 11:37 AM

The World Baseball League (a fictional league) is currently accepting applications to start an expansion franchise from scratch. We just completed the seventh season of our file. We use Stats+, and we use Slack as our communication tool. We just finished the 2006 season; the inaugural season was 2000, about 16 months ago.

The league moves very fast. We sim five days a week (M,T,W,F,Su), 7 days at a time. During the offseason, we sim 7 days a week. A typical season lasts just over two months. The regular season export rate for the past 3 seasons has been over 94%. League rules state all GMs must export at least 50% during the season or be removed from the league, but really, anything less than 85% export rate by a GM is frowned upon. Candidates to create a new expansion franchise will be expected to export at a very high rate and to be very active on Slack, our communication tool. We are extremely competitive but also extremely friendly.

12 of 16 GMs remain from the original inaugural season, and we played together in another league for several years before that. The other four GMs have been a part of the league since the 2001/2002 seasons, so for 5-6 seasons. We are a very stable league and we greatly value that stability.

GMs earn points for exporting, participating in our regular podcasts, posting press releases, creating articles about the league, and other things. These points can then be used in the offseason to purchase name changes of minor league players, bid to host the All-Star Game, add seats to their stadium, or to increase fan interest.

EXPANSION:
We will accept applications to take over the expansion franchise over the next two to three weeks. Around mid-December (at our league’s 2007 All-Star Break), league members will vote on which applicant will become the new GM. That person will immediately join our slack community to get to know everyone, and will have access to the file as a non-GM to familiarize themself with the league.

On the first day of the offseason (around mid-January), the two new franchises will be created (the other new GM has already been selected). The new GMs will pick the location and team name of their major league team and each of their four minor league affiliates, and be given a league average budget, loyalty and fan interest. They will participate in free agency, and then the Rule V draft. After the Rule V draft, we will have the expansion draft. Each existing team will protect 24 players, with players having less than 3 years service time auto-protected.

The two expansion teams will then receive the first two picks in each round of the following amateur draft, as well as the last 2 picks of each round in the draft from rounds 8 to 15 to help fill out their minor league systems. Extra draft picks will be created to facilitate this. Other measures might be taken to fill out expansion teams’ minor league rosters with scrub level players.

Four seasons later (following the 2011 season), we will repeat the process, adding two more expansion franchises.

Constitution: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e...CZmkSGWKiT/pub

OOTP 24
Regular league Podcast
Trophy for the league champ
Individual Ratings: 20-80 scale (potential only)
POT/OVR: 5 Star Scale
DH: Both leagues
Scouts/coaches: ON
Contract extensions: 7 year max, contract extensions allowed after 3 years of ML service time.
Draft pick trading is allowed, and draftees are immediately able to be traded.
Lottery for the top 4 picks (or picks 3-6 in expansion seasons)

Please email me at Jeff@JeffBlakePhoto.com if you are interested. Explain your reason for interest, and why you feel you should be considered. Thanks!

jeffblake · 11-06-2023, 01:45 PM

Three prospective GMs have applied, looking for a few more before we vote in a few weeks.

jeffblake · 11-08-2023, 07:40 PM

Last chance to apply before we vote this weekend! We've had 6 excellent entries so far. And we'll be expanding again in 4 seasons (about 8-9 months).

11-03-2023, 11:37 AM	#1
jeffblake Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 11	Expansion Franchise Opportunity The World Baseball League (a fictional league) is currently accepting applications to start an expansion franchise from scratch. We just completed the seventh season of our file. We use Stats+, and we use Slack as our communication tool. We just finished the 2006 season; the inaugural season was 2000, about 16 months ago. The league moves very fast. We sim five days a week (M,T,W,F,Su), 7 days at a time. During the offseason, we sim 7 days a week. A typical season lasts just over two months. The regular season export rate for the past 3 seasons has been over 94%. League rules state all GMs must export at least 50% during the season or be removed from the league, but really, anything less than 85% export rate by a GM is frowned upon. Candidates to create a new expansion franchise will be expected to export at a very high rate and to be very active on Slack, our communication tool. We are extremely competitive but also extremely friendly. 12 of 16 GMs remain from the original inaugural season, and we played together in another league for several years before that. The other four GMs have been a part of the league since the 2001/2002 seasons, so for 5-6 seasons. We are a very stable league and we greatly value that stability. GMs earn points for exporting, participating in our regular podcasts, posting press releases, creating articles about the league, and other things. These points can then be used in the offseason to purchase name changes of minor league players, bid to host the All-Star Game, add seats to their stadium, or to increase fan interest. EXPANSION: We will accept applications to take over the expansion franchise over the next two to three weeks. Around mid-December (at our league’s 2007 All-Star Break), league members will vote on which applicant will become the new GM. That person will immediately join our slack community to get to know everyone, and will have access to the file as a non-GM to familiarize themself with the league. On the first day of the offseason (around mid-January), the two new franchises will be created (the other new GM has already been selected). The new GMs will pick the location and team name of their major league team and each of their four minor league affiliates, and be given a league average budget, loyalty and fan interest. They will participate in free agency, and then the Rule V draft. After the Rule V draft, we will have the expansion draft. Each existing team will protect 24 players, with players having less than 3 years service time auto-protected. The two expansion teams will then receive the first two picks in each round of the following amateur draft, as well as the last 2 picks of each round in the draft from rounds 8 to 15 to help fill out their minor league systems. Extra draft picks will be created to facilitate this. Other measures might be taken to fill out expansion teams’ minor league rosters with scrub level players. Four seasons later (following the 2011 season), we will repeat the process, adding two more expansion franchises. Constitution: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e...CZmkSGWKiT/pub OOTP 24 Regular league Podcast Trophy for the league champ Individual Ratings: 20-80 scale (potential only) POT/OVR: 5 Star Scale DH: Both leagues Scouts/coaches: ON Contract extensions: 7 year max, contract extensions allowed after 3 years of ML service time. Draft pick trading is allowed, and draftees are immediately able to be traded. Lottery for the top 4 picks (or picks 3-6 in expansion seasons) Please email me at Jeff@JeffBlakePhoto.com if you are interested. Explain your reason for interest, and why you feel you should be considered. Thanks! Last edited by jeffblake; 11-08-2023 at 07:39 PM.

11-06-2023, 01:45 PM	#2
jeffblake Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 11	Three prospective GMs have applied, looking for a few more before we vote in a few weeks.

11-08-2023, 07:40 PM	#3
jeffblake Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 11	Last chance to apply before we vote this weekend! We've had 6 excellent entries so far. And we'll be expanding again in 4 seasons (about 8-9 months).