Relaunching Breaking the Slump: The Columbia Alliance

gubaru · 11-14-2005, 12:52 AM

Breaking the Slump: The Columbia Alliance is being relaunched. The Columbia Alliance is an attempted third major league beginning play in 1930. The league consists of 24 teams and will use an alternate financial system to simulate the economics of Depression Era baseball. Players will be drawn from MLB and the Negro Leagues with fictional players fleshing out the talent pool.

The league was started this July by The Professor but has been suspended since Nate fell victim to commissioner burnout. I am going to try to run the league as close to the original vision as I can but, as Nate mentioned when he started the league, it will be a work in progress for a while until we find the balance between the house rules and ease of play. There are still a couple loose ends to be tied up after the league fills up: the broadcaster draft and the signing of sponsors.

This will be my first stint as a commissioner but I have been involved in the running of the WHBL for a while now and there is a great deal of experience I can draw from within the pool of owners in the league.

Highlights of the league include:

Custom financial system to help reflect the era. Financial details are availble either in a spreadsheet or via the Financial Report link on the team web page.
Hirable manager and broadcasters and Radio Networks which can affect fan interest and, in the case of radio, market size.
Sponsors (2 per year) that can be keys to the financial success of the teams.
Off-season raids and reentry drafts coupled with player sales and trades to ensure some player movement without free agency.
Talent only.

The initial draft was completed and the first sim run during the league's initial launch. There has been some discussion about resimming the first sim.

The currently available teams are:

The Bruins were drafted by Cooleyvol and are a large market team with the pieces to make a run at early glory in the league.

The Hops have a solid base of players in or just entering their prime years with some nice youngsters and a few vets sprinkled in. A larger than average market should help them keep and add to the base.

I am the original Houston owner but I'd rather run just the league and not a team in it as well.

Please check out the main website, the League Rules and forum. If you are interested in joining after looking things over, please contact me via either PM here or through the contact function at the site.

enuttage · 11-14-2005, 06:38 PM

For anyone teetering on the brink and thinking about joining, I can't possibly say enough nice things about gubaru, and have no doubt that this league will be a fantastic one in the long run.

He's done an incredible job running things in the WHBL and he's a class act.

On top of that, the GM pool includes quite a few former and current commishes.

The talent is there. We just need to fill out the rest of the league.

If you're in doubt, don't be. It should be both fun and very well run.

-E

JDScorch · 11-15-2005, 01:25 AM

Should be a great league folks with some interesting new concepts. Jump in now!

jwcurry · 11-15-2005, 02:19 AM

This looks to be a great league and I know, we have a committed commish plus....a great group of owners. C'mon and be a start of something from the get-go.

Jerry Curry
GM - Portland Beavers

rem · 11-15-2005, 08:01 PM

I am sure that Jason (gubaru) will be an awesome commish.

gubaru · 11-18-2005, 12:36 AM

Still looking for owners.

For anyone intimidated by the rules, please remember that we will be evaluating things as we go and I'll be more than happy to help out as the season unfolds. There will also be a discussion after the first season regarding what is working and what is more trouble than it's worth.

JDScorch · 11-18-2005, 12:16 PM

C'mon folks I often hear complaints about crappy owners or unreliable commish's, and here you have a solid base of experienced owners and a committed commish. Don't hesitate, let's give this a whirl!

enuttage · 11-18-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDScorch

C'mon folks I often hear complaints about crappy owners or unreliable commish's, and here you have a solid base of experienced owners and a committed commish. Don't hesitate, let's give this a whirl!

Yeah, this is SO true. If stability is a concern of yours, don't worry about it.

This league will purr.

-E

JDScorch · 11-23-2005, 01:26 AM

Grab a team, we'd love to have ya. You can't all be waiting for OOTP7 to join up are you?

gubaru · 11-23-2005, 01:27 AM

Bumped to include link to financial system information in the initial post.

gubaru · 11-23-2005, 03:22 PM

Buffalo and Dallas have been taken.

The Professor · 11-27-2005, 10:35 AM

Just wanted to bump this and add my strongest endorsement. This was an enormous undertaking and Jason has made it his own. If you want to try something different, this is it.

This is baseball in the Golden Age, featuring a combination of Negro League stars, MLB veterans, Pacific Coast Leaguers and unique fictional stars. Baseball business is more than just putting a good team on the field, though, and that is what BTS is meant to recreate. With a generous heaping of help from the outside, BTS features complete stadium rules (imagine in seasons down the road when your 'ol ball yard becomes a bona-fide 'Green Cathedral'), a system for signing sponsors, building radio networks, and even signing up the 'Voice' of the team to broadcast your franchise's games. Managers matter. It's all there.

This is a challenge unlike almost any other in the OOTP universe and you have a commissioner who seems dedicated to making it work, to exploring the boundaries of what an OOTP league can be. I'll be honest, BTS was to be my masterpiece -- but time, external events and, yes, a case of burnout (not necessarily from it, but from the internet in general) made it impossible for me to carry it forward.

Maybe that was fortuitous. I think the league is in even better hands and with a cast of great owners will be a rousing success! Jump on this one while you can.

pat · 11-27-2005, 07:22 PM

This is pretty interesting. Good premise.

gubaru · 11-30-2005, 10:10 PM

Still looking for the eight teams listed above.

I think this league has a lot of potential. As Nate said, it's a chance to mimic both the business and on the field aspects of baseball. There are more chances to use your strengths and more ways to out think the competition.

It's also a chance to build something that could be great from the start. I really hope to run this league with feedback and ideas from the owner base. I'll make decisions when they're needed but I'd love to see this work in a manner similar to a real league where the commisioner is responsible for making sure things are fair, promoting discussion and building consensus among owners.

jwcurry · 12-01-2005, 04:21 AM

Bump....

Give BTS a try, you'll be joining a very enthusiastic gropu of owners committed to getting this league off the ground, and doing what it takes for it to succeed.

Very unique league, take a minue and read the thread. I think you'll be impressed. Only 8 teams left.

Jerry
Portland Beavers GM

waylander · 12-01-2005, 01:46 PM

7 teams left....

Louisville has a new owner

With the current caliber of gm's (and commish) I couldn't resist.

--way

gubaru · 12-06-2005, 02:04 PM

New Orleans is taken. Still looking for the other six.

gubaru · 12-09-2005, 04:11 PM

Baltimore is now filled. Still waiting for a few more owners to get things underway. Any questions, drop me a line.

gubaru · 12-10-2005, 12:45 AM

And then there were three.

gubaru · 12-15-2005, 10:49 PM

Kansas City has been filled.

11-14-2005, 12:52 AM	#1
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Relaunching Breaking the Slump: The Columbia Alliance Breaking the Slump: The Columbia Alliance is being relaunched. The Columbia Alliance is an attempted third major league beginning play in 1930. The league consists of 24 teams and will use an alternate financial system to simulate the economics of Depression Era baseball. Players will be drawn from MLB and the Negro Leagues with fictional players fleshing out the talent pool. The league was started this July by The Professor but has been suspended since Nate fell victim to commissioner burnout. I am going to try to run the league as close to the original vision as I can but, as Nate mentioned when he started the league, it will be a work in progress for a while until we find the balance between the house rules and ease of play. There are still a couple loose ends to be tied up after the league fills up: the broadcaster draft and the signing of sponsors. This will be my first stint as a commissioner but I have been involved in the running of the WHBL for a while now and there is a great deal of experience I can draw from within the pool of owners in the league. Highlights of the league include: Custom financial system to help reflect the era. Financial details are availble either in a spreadsheet or via the Financial Report link on the team web page. Hirable manager and broadcasters and Radio Networks which can affect fan interest and, in the case of radio, market size. Sponsors (2 per year) that can be keys to the financial success of the teams. Off-season raids and reentry drafts coupled with player sales and trades to ensure some player movement without free agency. Talent only. The initial draft was completed and the first sim run during the league's initial launch. There has been some discussion about resimming the first sim. The currently available teams are: Chicago Bruins Milwaukee Hops Houston Buffaloes The Bruins were drafted by Cooleyvol and are a large market team with the pieces to make a run at early glory in the league. The Hops have a solid base of players in or just entering their prime years with some nice youngsters and a few vets sprinkled in. A larger than average market should help them keep and add to the base. I am the original Houston owner but I'd rather run just the league and not a team in it as well. Please check out the main website, the League Rules and forum. If you are interested in joining after looking things over, please contact me via either PM here or through the contact function at the site. Last edited by gubaru; 01-08-2006 at 01:19 PM.

11-14-2005, 06:38 PM	#2
enuttage Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hill Country Posts: 2,428	For anyone teetering on the brink and thinking about joining, I can't possibly say enough nice things about gubaru, and have no doubt that this league will be a fantastic one in the long run. He's done an incredible job running things in the WHBL and he's a class act. On top of that, the GM pool includes quite a few former and current commishes. The talent is there. We just need to fill out the rest of the league. If you're in doubt, don't be. It should be both fun and very well run. -E __________________ The former GM of the WHBL Managua Four Roses *"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."*

11-15-2005, 01:25 AM	#3
JDScorch Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 234	Should be a great league folks with some interesting new concepts. Jump in now! __________________ SO49 Minnesota Giants 1955, 1959, 1969 Champs MCBL Chicago White Sox 1954 amd 1956 Champs MLBC Philadelphia Phillies 1959, 1960 and 1974 Champs

11-15-2005, 08:01 PM	#5
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	I am sure that Jason (gubaru) will be an awesome commish. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

11-18-2005, 12:16 PM	#7
JDScorch Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 234	C'mon folks I often hear complaints about crappy owners or unreliable commish's, and here you have a solid base of experienced owners and a committed commish. Don't hesitate, let's give this a whirl! __________________ SO49 Minnesota Giants 1955, 1959, 1969 Champs MCBL Chicago White Sox 1954 amd 1956 Champs MLBC Philadelphia Phillies 1959, 1960 and 1974 Champs

11-15-2005, 02:19 AM	#4
jwcurry Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 12	This looks to be a great league and I know, we have a committed commish plus....a great group of owners. C'mon and be a start of something from the get-go. Jerry Curry GM - Portland Beavers

11-18-2005, 12:36 AM	#6
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Still looking for owners. For anyone intimidated by the rules, please remember that we will be evaluating things as we go and I'll be more than happy to help out as the season unfolds. There will also be a discussion after the first season regarding what is working and what is more trouble than it's worth.

11-23-2005, 01:26 AM	#9
JDScorch Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 234	Grab a team, we'd love to have ya. You can't all be waiting for OOTP7 to join up are you? __________________ SO49 Minnesota Giants 1955, 1959, 1969 Champs MCBL Chicago White Sox 1954 amd 1956 Champs MLBC Philadelphia Phillies 1959, 1960 and 1974 Champs

11-23-2005, 01:27 AM	#10
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Bumped to include link to financial system information in the initial post.

11-23-2005, 03:22 PM	#11
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Buffalo and Dallas have been taken.

11-27-2005, 10:35 AM	#12
The Professor Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East of East Posts: 3,020	Just wanted to bump this and add my strongest endorsement. This was an enormous undertaking and Jason has made it his own. If you want to try something different, this is it. This is baseball in the Golden Age, featuring a combination of Negro League stars, MLB veterans, Pacific Coast Leaguers and unique fictional stars. Baseball business is more than just putting a good team on the field, though, and that is what BTS is meant to recreate. With a generous heaping of help from the outside, BTS features complete stadium rules (imagine in seasons down the road when your 'ol ball yard becomes a bona-fide 'Green Cathedral'), a system for signing sponsors, building radio networks, and even signing up the 'Voice' of the team to broadcast your franchise's games. Managers matter. It's all there. This is a challenge unlike almost any other in the OOTP universe and you have a commissioner who seems dedicated to making it work, to exploring the boundaries of what an OOTP league can be. I'll be honest, BTS was to be my masterpiece -- but time, external events and, yes, a case of burnout (not necessarily from it, but from the internet in general) made it impossible for me to carry it forward. Maybe that was fortuitous. I think the league is in even better hands and with a cast of great owners will be a rousing success! Jump on this one while you can. __________________ History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are."

11-27-2005, 07:22 PM	#13
pat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 2,748	This is pretty interesting. Good premise. __________________ Co-Founder & Technical Director at ExaWeb Corporation, an SEO company in the Philippines. Previous Leagues - Time Warp Baseball / International Federation of Baseball / Professional Baseball Replay League / No Pepper Baseball League / MLB Pro Current OOTP 24 Leagues - Sim Sports Gaming - (2016-Present) Washington Nationals (2016-2022) *2017 Champions Oakland Athletics (2023-Present)

11-30-2005, 10:10 PM	#14
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Still looking for the eight teams listed above. I think this league has a lot of potential. As Nate said, it's a chance to mimic both the business and on the field aspects of baseball. There are more chances to use your strengths and more ways to out think the competition. It's also a chance to build something that could be great from the start. I really hope to run this league with feedback and ideas from the owner base. I'll make decisions when they're needed but I'd love to see this work in a manner similar to a real league where the commisioner is responsible for making sure things are fair, promoting discussion and building consensus among owners.

12-01-2005, 04:21 AM	#15
jwcurry Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 12	Bump.... Give BTS a try, you'll be joining a very enthusiastic gropu of owners committed to getting this league off the ground, and doing what it takes for it to succeed. Very unique league, take a minue and read the thread. I think you'll be impressed. Only 8 teams left. Jerry Portland Beavers GM

12-01-2005, 01:46 PM	#16
waylander Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 123	7 teams left.... Louisville has a new owner With the current caliber of gm's (and commish) I couldn't resist. --way

12-06-2005, 02:04 PM	#17
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	New Orleans is taken. Still looking for the other six.

12-09-2005, 04:11 PM	#18
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Baltimore is now filled. Still waiting for a few more owners to get things underway. Any questions, drop me a line.

12-10-2005, 12:45 AM	#19
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	And then there were three. Last edited by gubaru; 12-10-2005 at 02:27 AM.

12-15-2005, 10:49 PM	#20
gubaru Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 326	Kansas City has been filled.