[ifspuds]

Bay League Season-Ending Meetings
City of Elliott Springs, Offices of Tornadoes owner David DiStefano

John Baxter stood outside the door to the meeting room. According to his aides, the rest of the Bay League owners were already inside and three fights had nearly broken out already. Petty nonsense, all of it, but looking at it objectively, it could almost be seen as a good thing. Passionate men made for a passionate league, and he could work with passion. He had a vision for this undertaking, and it wasn't going to be accomplished by the fearful and tentative.

He opened the door and stepped inside to a surprisingly quiet room. Glares across the table and clenched teeth spoke volumes, though. He walked around the wide, round table to sit at the open spot. "Good afternoon, gentlemen," said Baxter. "With the schedule expansion to 98 games already agreed upon, we have one more important topic to cover. Benjamin, would you please start?"

Benjamin Chin, the Deepvale owner, cleared his throat and adjusted his thin spectacles on his nose. Chin was the most circumspect, diplomatic man Baxter had ever met, a born mediator and an invaluable member of the group. Baxter held Chin's opinions in high regard, especially when they didn't agree. He had confidence Chin's disagreement would be from a reasoned point of view, not knee-jerk opposition like Michael Hernandez's, or fawning agreement like Carroll Eichhorn's. But most importantly for today, Chin was acting head of the league structure committee.

"The committee would like to recommend to the body that we bring additional teams into the fold..." Chin began, cut off by Allison's Timothy Martin.

"Preposterous. We're already beginning to suffer a talent shortage. Have you seen the players who have submitted their names for next year's draft?" said Martin. "Teams in the bottom of the standings will be mired there for years, and see how long the Bay League lasts when half the teams can't draw 50 spectators to a game."

Chin's lips pressed in a thin line, the closest to overt disapproval he would ever show. "A point well taken, and one considered by the committee in depth. But to finish my statement, we are proposing that the additional teams be affiliated with existing Bay League teams in a manner reminiscent of the Earthside minor league-major league arrangement."

When no one spoke up immediately, Chin continued. "This would allow us to appease those mid-sized communities who want a Bay League presence, thereby controlling potential competition. And, should expansion become feasible in the future, it would provide for immediate additional Bay League teams."

David DiStefano of Elliott Springs, their host, spoke up. "Which communities are you proposing, Ben? And what time frame would this happen over?"

Chin turned to his fellow committee member, Martin Greenberg of Gentry Hills, who fielded the question. "Each Bay League team would take a nearby town as its affiliate. We will take recommendations from each team as to what community would best fit that requirement. This will not happen for next season, or possibly even the 2018 season. We are targeting 2019 for now, with the intent of investing in the city leagues of the chosen communities to bring their facilities and player pool up to the necessary standards."

Baxter leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of his lips. It was all he could do to keep from crowing in happiness. His vision was becoming a reality, step by slow step, and better yet, it was looking entirely like someone else's idea.