PBL Recruiting 3 New Owners, 2007 Just Underway -- TOR, CLE, & FLA have openings

[kybjones]

PBL just began it's 4th season on Sunday. As the moment, Toronto, Cleveland, and Florida are open and without owners.

A few things to know about PBL:
- "Professional Baseball League" is a very active league with a high percentage of original owners.
- Re-established in May 2004.
- Uses OOTP 6.11
- Sims 10 league days every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evening.
- Started with 2004 CBL rosters.
- 1-100 actual ratings scale, 1-10 talent ratings scale
- Coaches and Scouts turned off.
- OOTP financials used. Original television contracts from 2004 will be renegotiated by the game engine after the current season.
- In the spirit of competition, soft salary cap of $90,000,000 is in place. Hard salary cap of $110,000,000. Teams with payroll costs exceeding $90,000,000 for a season will pay a luxury tax. The luxury taxes collected are distributed to the 10 lowest revenue teams so long as they meet minimum payroll requirements. Full details in rules.
- Some trading restrictions in place for newly-signed Free Agents and newly-extended players. Restrictions based on salary and/or length of contract in place to discourage abuse of Money Available for sake of gaining or retaining immediate trade assets. League feels this provides a good mix to the free agent pool, more GM financial accountability, as well as better roster stability than often found in OOTP leagues. Full details in rules.
- Sim cash incentive for articles and occasionally sports pools such as our current, ongoing NFL playoff pick-em pool.
- Stadium builds or expansions as well as relocation is permitted with league approval and financial considerations paid. See rules for details.
- Simultaneous Japanese league (CPBL) simulated which occasionally offers talent from the Far East in the Free Agent pool.
- Changes to league put up for vote on message board.
- Full rules are listed in the message board. If any questions, feel free to ask here or via AIM.

Please visit the PBL website at http://pbl.ootp-online.com/.

Open Franchises:

Toronto - 83-79 in 2006, currently 8-11, playoff contender, good farm system, good financials. Pitching is paramount in Toronto this season. Roy Halladay, Jason Schmidt, Horacio Ramirez, and Tony Armas lead an imposing staff versus the rest of the AL. Vernon Wells leads an impressive collection of valuable contract contributers including Erubial Durazo, Trot Nixon, and and Casey Kotchman on to the Skydome turf.

Florida - 67-95 in 2006, currently 10-9, in transition, very good farm system, average financials. Incumbant SS Nomar Garciaparra and maturing OF Miguel Cabrera are the cornerstones of a workmanlike offense that is feeling the aches and pains of growing up with some young, unproven starting pitching specimens including Zach Greinke, Jeff Allison, and Taylor Bucholz. Fans are hoping that some key free agent acquisitions can bring the team into contention while a very impressive farm system develops.

Cleveland - 80-82 in 2006, currently 8-11, very good farm system, slighty above average financials. Realigned from AL Central to the NL Central in 2007 in place of Pittsburgh in hopes of balancing power between the two divisions. Pitching is the name of the game on Lake Erie these days. Kevin Millwood anchors an improving, maturing rotation that includes C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, and Francisco Cruceta while some of the best arm prospects in the league prepare themselves in the minors. A young lineup, including Jody Gerut, Ben Broussard, and Khalil Greene, team with veterans Aaron Boone and Coco Crisp to form one of the most efficient offenses in the league for it's payroll.

Financial incentives (such as a cash negative-to-default reset, etc.) may be considered in order to fill the spots quickly, pending league approval, as we would like to be full by the end of the first week of 2007 play.

If you are interested in one of these teams, please contact Chibighurt or the commissioner at JoeyIsTheGame on AIM or JoeyIsTheGame@aol.com via email.

Congratulations to our three previous champions on their World Series victories:

2004 Los Angeles Dodgers (JPRedSoxFan) - Led by stellar ace Jason Schmidt and the hot hitting Shawn Green, the Dodgers were able to withstand St. Louis, Houston, and Boston for it's latest world championship.

2005 Houston Astros (Sidzbak) - Thanks to an complete team effort in Game 7, the Lance Berkman, Jeff Kent, and Jeff Bagwell's Astros were able to make a surprise comeback to up-end the WS favorite, Boston.

2006 Atlanta Braves (un570p48l3puj0l5) - After entering the season looking to rebuild and dealing star player Austin Kearns for prospects, J.D Drew, Chipper Jones, and the Braves made a surprising run to the NL Pennant before ousting 3-time bridesmaid, Boston to retain the NL's run of 3 consecutive WS crowns.

We look forward to contact from any prospective owners. Thanks again for considering PBL.

[Jonzard]

Been in since start, enjoyed it a lot.