1973 Off-season Thread

[Young Drachma]

Canada
USA
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Japan
Mexico
Puerto Rico


We'd need an 8th country and none of the candidates out there really meet the smell test. I say we draft an 8th country, some unlikely place that doesn't really dominate baseball right now, but that we think should, create a bunch of VL players for them and have them join our lil' baseball frenzy, a la South Africa did in the WBC in real life.

[Commo_Soldier]

Who is the premier Aruban player in FOOL?

[Chief Rum]

The US might have too many good players actually. It might be more exciting to run a WBC in the form of the Little League. We'll set out regions of the US like they do for the LLWS, and have the players born in those regions play for those teams. Like a Pacific, Midwest, South, Atlantic sorta deal.

[Young Drachma]

Exports time.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I am going over the player nationalities right now. I was thinking it would be neat if we could stage our own WBC sometime.

Whats that Chief?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Commo_Soldier

To be fair I had him for three years, so I have looked at this more than anyone else.

Australian I would say Lang

You are correct again. You're some nationality aficianado, I see.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

Whats that Chief?

World Baseball Classic.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

The US might have too many good players actually. It might be more exciting to run a WBC in the form of the Little League. We'll set out regions of the US like they do for the LLWS, and have the players born in those regions play for those teams. Like a Pacific, Midwest, South, Atlantic sorta deal.

Yeah, it seems way too heavy weighted on the US side

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Commo_Soldier

Who is the premier Aruban player in FOOL?

Damn, I just looked at Aruba. I thought no one came up, though.

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

You are correct again. You're some nationality aficianado, I see.

No you are just using Brownstone players. I hope I would be able to identify their nationality. That is why I asked the Aruban one.

[Chief Rum]

I just checked. That's right, forgot that. Yup, pretty good player there from Aruba.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I've created a stat here called the Right Track Index (RTI). RTI takes a team's VOCL over a three year period, weighting the most recent year higher, the next year less and the 3rd year less than that (55-30-15) to evaluate whether a team is on the 'right track' or not. The higher the number, the more 'on track' they are.

Our numbers are skewed in the sense that Valdosta has won three titles in a row and are clearly a juggernaut for the ages.

But that said...

Here's the numbers:

Team			RTI
Valdosta Peanuts	667.2
Colorado Rancheros	90.7
Boston Settlers		-114.6
Brooklyn Brownstones	66.7
Rio Grande Roadrunners	66.3
Atlanta Firecrackers	-33.5
Quad City Thunderstorms	-342.7
Compton Brothers	-23.1
Ann Arbor Wolverines	-95.0
Baltimore Terrapins	-440.7
Toronto Atlantics	-564.9
New York Highlanders	-557.2
Hartford Harpooners	-731.7
El Paso Alligators	-721.9
Columbus Crusaders	-727.4
Texas Copperheads	-901.0

RTI tells us that at the end of 1972, Valdosta is clearly on a track all their own. This measure would be coupled with a RTI Chg that would reflect from year to year how much a team gained or lost in RTI, to really be able to track their performance over a particular period of time.

For me personally, it tells me that even though I know my team is getting out of a crazy situation, having just had our first two winning seasons in franchise history in the last two years, that we've still got a lot of work to do to be amongst the contenders like Colorado, Rio Grande, Brooklyn and Valdosta, all teams that have won titles in recent years.

Again, awesome work guys. Love reading this stuff!!!

[Young Drachma]

Trades processed now.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

World Baseball Classic.

DUHH!!! lol I thought it was some other game you played somewhere else. Like the werewolf stuff you run.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by muns

DUHH!!! lol I thought it was some other game you played somewhere else. Like the werewolf stuff you run.

Chief is a werewolf?? I knew something was off about that guy.

[Chief Rum]

No one's saying, so I'll throw it out there. It is Anibal Ramirez.

Here's another one: Who is the best premier Dutch player in FOOL?

Here's a hint: he's a recent POY winner.

[Commo_Soldier]

Man I was just looking at the nationalities of players. Man Jamaica only only has one player, but what a player that will be a FA next year. 2B Anthony Payton of the Pirates who's potential is 99/99/84/87/72 and he is already close to max in all of those areas.

[Young Drachma]

Ivan Garcia signed a 5-year deal worth $27.1 million with New York

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Ivan Garcia signed a 5-year deal worth $27.1 million with New York

Nice price cut for New York saving $2.5 million per year.

[Young Drachma]

RF Roy Richardson signed a 2-year deal worth $4.75 million with Colorado.

SP Roger Moore signed a 3-year deal worth $7.5 million

CF Ruben Mendoza signed a 3-year deal worth $26.79 million with Columbus

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Ivan Garcia signed a 5-year deal worth $27.1 million with New York

Nice to see the AI not going with what he wanted. He wanted a 5-year deal worth 39,175,00

[muns]

Chief real nice signing, I was wondering if anyone bothered to look that deep into the file...... Thought i might get him on the cheap. KUDOS to you!!! He was on like the 17 or 18th page.

[Young Drachma]

Joey Higman signed a 1-year deal worth $17.94 million with Baltimore

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Joey Higman signed a 1-year deal worth $17.94 million with Baltimore

WOW!!! congrats Eric.... im gonna be real interested to see what he wants to resign now.... Please do let us know.

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Joey Higman signed a 1-year deal worth $17.94 million with Baltimore

Great, he goes to the team I despise the most in the CL.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

Chief real nice signing, I was wondering if anyone bothered to look that deep into the file...... Thought i might get him on the cheap. KUDOS to you!!! He was on like the 17 or 18th page.

Thanks. I couldn't pass up a guy with strong ratings like that who was asking for so little. He gives me a leadoff hitter to replace Garcia, who signed for much, much more. Only downer is he isn't a good CF (but he might end up there anyway).

[Young Drachma]

MR Walt Withcombe signed a 2-yeal deal with Columbus for $8.5 million

[Young Drachma]

CL Anthony Zijm signed a 3-year deal worth $21 million with Toronto

[muns]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Joey Higman signed a 1-year deal worth $17.94 million with Baltimore

anyone come close to that offer??? I only went to like 10.5 for 5 years, with the mvp incentive it was like 12 mil......

[Chief Rum]

Digging the Higman to Baltimore move. One year deal, too. I wonder what he was offered by other teams?

Baltimore and Atlanta making a lot of noise, Valdosta is still dangerous and tons of high talent teams in the CL like Brooklyn and Rio Grande still out there.

The CL is going to be a very interesting league to watch. Reminds me of the RL 4-5 years ago, when Compton, Colorado, Ann Arbor, Boston and Hartford all looked like top notch title contenders.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

anyone come close to that offer??? I only went to like 10.5 for 5 years, with the mvp incentive it was like 12 mil......

You should have offered much more. He is worth taking up a 1/4 of your cap, at his age.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Thanks. I couldn't pass up a guy with strong ratings like that who was asking for so little. He gives me a leadoff hitter to replace Garcia, who signed for much, much more. Only downer is he isn't a good CF (but he might end up there anyway).

I cant blame you one bit. Thats a huge steal for you that def improves you. Im surprised he got released in the last file.....

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by muns

anyone come close to that offer??? I only went to like 10.5 for 5 years, with the mvp incentive it was like 12 mil......

I offered him a 4 year deal for $11 million with up to $17 million in incentives.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

You should have offered much more. He is worth taking up a 1/4 of your cap, at his age.

I thought about going with an offer of 18 which when I did the math I didnt think anyone could touch. I then looked at my spects and saw that 1b-Walter Little who is 21 might develop in 2 years with a lot better power numbers..... I then thought even with Higman at what 25-26 then, I still might have trouble getting what I thought he would be worth and thought better of my offer.

Im hoping in 2-4 years my guys will all be ready, and then I can spend the 18 mil or whatever on a guy that would help me win that year.

Even with Higman I wouldnt be able to touch you and the rest of the RL.... So to me It wasnt worth the risk of spending that much money

[Young Drachma]

I'm packing up the file now.

[Alan T]

This year will definitely be fun in the CL!

[Commo_Soldier]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

No one's saying, so I'll throw it out there. It is Anibal Ramirez.

Here's another one: Who is the best premier Dutch player in FOOL?

Here's a hint: he's a recent POY winner.

Since no one is guessing it is Ite Beans.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Canada
USA
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Japan
Mexico
Puerto Rico


We'd need an 8th country and none of the candidates out there really meet the smell test. I say we draft an 8th country, some unlikely place that doesn't really dominate baseball right now, but that we think should, create a bunch of VL players for them and have them join our lil' baseball frenzy, a la South Africa did in the WBC in real life.

Both Puerto Rico and the Dominican got screwed, as well as China, Taiwan, South Korea and Venezuela. Is there a way to amp up the nationalities in some of these areas?

Might be better to go with four or even eight American teams, then have the nations that can carry themselves (Cuba, Japan, Canada), then have a Carribean team (Puerto Rico, Dominican, etc.), a Central American team (Mexico and Central America) and a South American team. Maybe a Europe team or an Asia team. That would be six to eight non-American teams. Maybe create eight American teams then. Have four divisions of four teams that play round robin.

Best two in each group advance to next round, where they play round robin again. Best two on each side of the bracket play each other in a best-of-three series to go to the final. One big Final for all the moolah.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Commo_Soldier

Since no one is guessing it is Ite Beans.

Yup, you got it. Obviously, I knew that one.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

I cant blame you one bit. Thats a huge steal for you that def improves you. Im surprised he got released in the last file.....

He was released in the last file? Had no idea. I only went looking in hios direction because the younger guys I went for signed elsewhere (deservedly for more money). Heck, I think I had a filter on to take out the older players, so I wouldn't have seen him anyway.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by muns

I thought about going with an offer of 18 which when I did the math I didnt think anyone could touch. I then looked at my spects and saw that 1b-Walter Little who is 21 might develop in 2 years with a lot better power numbers..... I then thought even with Higman at what 25-26 then, I still might have trouble getting what I thought he would be worth and thought better of my offer.

Im hoping in 2-4 years my guys will all be ready, and then I can spend the 18 mil or whatever on a guy that would help me win that year.

Even with Higman I wouldnt be able to touch you and the rest of the RL.... So to me It wasnt worth the risk of spending that much money

Yeah, I could see that. Although even with Little, you're in the right league to have two 1B-men.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

He was released in the last file? Had no idea. I only went looking in hios direction because the younger guys I went for signed elsewhere (deservedly for more money). Heck, I think I had a filter on to take out the older players, so I wouldn't have seen him anyway.

Im just assuming he was, cause I didnt see him in the first FA stage, and I go through and through it...... maybe i just missed him, but I def dont remember seeing him cause I would have made an offer on him then too.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Both Puerto Rico and the Dominican got screwed, as well as China, Taiwan, South Korea and Venezuela. Is there a way to amp up the nationalities in some of these areas?

I've increased the foreigner percentage by a lot, so we should see an increase going forward. It's at 25% now. I can also rig the draft files to have more foreigners in them going forward, too. It'll mean I'll have to create them, but still...it's an idea.

[muns]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Yeah, I could see that. Although even with Little, you're in the right league to have two 1B-men.

Your right, and to be perfectly honest with you, that thought didnt even cross my stinking mind....

Ahhh well thats 2 lessons learned for me in 2 nights.... I biffed up on an trade last night that im regretting, so might as well add this one to the mix as well.

[muns]

Id like to trade one more guy. OF/DH/ Rookie of the year last season Freddie Gonzalez can be had..... Would be a nice piece to add in the RL

[Young Drachma]

File is up, sorry.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

File is up, sorry.

Hey, cool! I'm tied for first place!


*enjoying it while it lasts*

[Young Drachma]

Here's the cap story:

Rank Team Payroll
1 Compton Brothers $68,242,530
2 Baltimore Terrapins $67,920,350
3 Columbus Crusaders $64,999,900
4 Colorado Rancheros $64,710,625
5 Atlanta Firecrackers $64,625,530
6 El Paso Alligators $62,856,500
7 Boston Settlers $62,842,180
8 Rio Grande Roadrunners $60,068,900
9 Valdosta Peanuts $58,913,850
10 Brooklyn Brownstones $57,485,750
11 Quad City Thunderstorms $56,719,600
12 New York Highlanders $56,521,330
13 Ann Arbor Wolverines $49,466,440
14 Texas Copperheads $44,443,200
15 Hartford Harpooners $43,175,200
16 Toronto Atlantics $42,200,220

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

Hey, cool! I'm tied for first place!


*enjoying it while it lasts*

Actually, I liked a lot of your moves. And technically, Toronto was middle of the pack last year in the CL. There is more optimism now for Toronto than two years ago when DDD left, that is for sure.

[Chief Rum]

I am probably inclined to move Alvarado for relatively cheap now, if anyone is so inclined. I could use a little more breathing room below the cap, and Alvarado is in his walk year anyway. I already have two fine catchers to play, so he is surplus to requirements.