Looking for an OOTP22 Fictional League with a solid core of owners, 11 years of consecutive league history, and a different type of challenge from MLB-format leagues in the form of Promotion and Relegation? Then the Independent Baseball League is for you!
Founded in OOTP 20, now in OOTP 22, the Independent Baseball League started in 2021 and is now at the second month of the 2032 season, with the draft in progress. The League has 24 teams across three tiers (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), each with full minors and 40 man roster. Teams play 140 games a year in-season. At the end of the playoffs, 2 teams from each league are promoted/relegated.
The league sims 4 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), with each sim covering typically 7-9 in-game days, depending on the placement of off-days in the schedule for the regular season. Off-season sims (not including stops for special events, such as arbitration) are either one or two in-game weeks long. Generally speaking, we will cover about 4 League years every 12 months. It's a steady pace, but one that keeps the league moving.
Some things we do that we think are cool include:
- Real-time sim commentary on Slack
- Commish keeps off-season lively with notes about players and signings
- Users get to create players for winning Championships and develop them from age 18
- Personality improvements as a reward for participation
- Teams can rebrand/relocate after a GM completes a season
- Commissioner very open about communication and league process
The Important Details:
- Constitution Located Here
- Communication Mode: Slack (will provide invite after talking with you)
- Stats+ Site: Located Here
- Current version: OOTP 22, move to newest version by league vote and not before 50% off sale
- Current Season: 2031 offseason (started 2021)
- Players: 100% Fictional
- DH: Required
- Minors: AAA, AA, A, A- and R
- International Complex
- Ratings scale is 20-80
- Roster expansion with about 30 days remaining in season
- Full Amateur Draft
- Rule 5 Draft
- Budgets vary by Tier
- Trading Allowed except with any AI -controlled teams
- Scouting on
- Coaches are off
- Incentives in place to encourage participation in league awards
- Rule Changes are voted on and approved by owners
State of the League:
The League just finished an extremely successful and competitive 2031 season, where many of the promotions/relegations/playoff spots came down to the final series of the year! Participation is high and there is a great group of owners who are active on Slack and working to not just improve their teams, but add other dimensions as well, like improved graphics and press releases. We're now in 2032, and we've got two openings ready for you!
Open Teams:
Iowa Hawkeyes (Currently 8th in Gold)
The Haweyes are falling on hard times, after struggling to keep an active GM in place. They coasted into the playoffs in 2031, but have crashed in 2032 and are likely to be relegated for only the third time in the 12 years of the league and for the first time since 2023. (A league readjustment in 2030 kept them in Gold.) The team has a good market size and a bit of room to work in the 2032 off-season. The outfield, when healthy is a team strength. Their pitching, however, is weak, especially in the bullpen. Sadly, they also have the worst farm system in Gold. This team needs the attention a good GM can give it. We've seen other situations where a solid GM took a middling to bad team and kept it out of relegation. A challenge, but a worthy one!
Seattle Supersonics(Currently 2nd in Bronze, 2 games back of first)
The Supersonics were not so super last year, falling out of Silver and down into Bronze, but like many recently relegated teams, they find themselves poised to move back into their old league at the end of the season. But it's extremely competitive-in Bronze, there are 5 teams within 3 games of each other for that #2 slot and a spot in the Silver League. Seattle's a small market team in our world, so that means a modest budget and room for free agents awaits you. It does, however, have the 2nd best minor league system in Bronze, starters that OOTP thinks are some of the best in Bronze, and overall team stats that bear that out across Bronze itself. A classic small market special for the right owner!
The season is here! GMs are trying to find those later round steals in the draft. Banter and commentary aplenty on our Slack! This is a perfect time to join, see what you have, and make plans to rule the league in 2032 and beyond!
If you're interested in joining the IBL, please send me a message and let's chat! We look forward to having you as our newest GM!