Wartime Baseball League - A "What If" 2005 League Concept

Tito · 03-28-2005, 03:51 PM

Tequilaworm and I have been contemplating starting a new league. I favor 2005 because I want to be the 2005 Mets, he favors an 80's league. While tossing around thoughts, I had this idea:

What if:

BACKGROUND
1. The Iraq War was even more devastating, resulting in 12,000 U.S. casualties from 2001-2004.
2. President Bush, in 2003, calls for a reinstatement of the draft. The measure narrowly passes the Legislature, and is enacted in 2004.
3. Up to twenty percent of all American males 18-29 will be called into duty for a minimum of 1.5 years and a maximum of 5 years.

It's now January, 2005, and the U.S. Gov't. is about to have it's draft lottery (it's an annual lottery as opposed to a rolling system)...

BASEBALL IMPLICATIONS

1. All U.S.-born players are eligible to be drafted by Uncle Sam.

2. According to U.S. needs, professional baseball will lose players aged 18-29 in these percentages:
2005 - 20%
2006 - 15%
2007 - 10%
2008 - 05%

3. Players are randomly assigned to the following:
National Guard: 1.5 years
Navy: 2.0 years
Army: 2.5 years
Marines: 3.0 years
Special Forces: 5 years (this is a division that a random # of players will voluntarily select ala Pat Tillman)

4. In anticipation, the MLB purchased a comprehensive insurance policy that covers all salaries from drafted players while on active duty. Thus, owners would not be further penalized. In return for the millions in coverage that MLB saved owners, MLB was given the right to control and equalize broadcasting and merchandising revenue based on the average of all teams in 2004.

5. The owners, realizing that veteran teams would not be as affected, instituted a salary cap of $90 million effective 2007.

6. Realizing that the Yankees get killed in this new agreement (a guaranteed loss of millions and good players) the following rules were adopted: 3* and above players traded by the Yankees in order to get under the cap would have half their salaries paid by MLB--the new team would only be responsible for 1/2 the players' salary. MLB would also absorb 80% of the team's losses in 2005 and 40% in 2006.

6. With all of America focused on the war, fan interest decreased for all teams to 40. This resulted in 6 owners folding their franchises: Tampa Bay, Detroit, Washington, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Colorado.

7. A draft would be held to select players from the folded franchises.

8. After the 2008 season, a new President will be in place. The league will decide on who's President: one will continue the draft, the other will abolish it.

I was thinking of a random casualty factor, but that could be perceived as insensitive.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

mandersen · 03-28-2005, 04:20 PM

Sounds interesting. Keep me in mind if you run with it. Usually well thought out leagues stay around a little longer than most of these 05 leagues seem to be doing. I'd be interested in the Cubs. mandersen@gotucson.com, AndersenMat is the AIM.

AJ0726 · 03-28-2005, 08:14 PM

Not sure I'd be into that...but if you start up a new league using the 2005 rosters...I'd love to join......

My team list

1. Mets
2. Tampa
3. Florida
4. Cleveland
5. Texas

send me a PM.....thanks my AIM is AJ0726 or isles38@optonline.net

And1pg2 · 03-28-2005, 08:25 PM

War idea is intrifuing keeps us posted, I may be interested.

Kaell · 03-29-2005, 11:07 AM

you can count me in .. im in a few leagues with these guys and they are great to work with and are team player like gms .. its not about them all the time ..

Tito · 03-29-2005, 11:38 AM

thanks, Kaell
I don't think Tequilaworm is sold on the wartime idea....it would require a lot of extra work. But we will be doing "something."

I'd like thoughts on this concept, and;
new concepts that are innovative--an idea for a league nobody's thought of...maybe we could take that project on.

Matteo · 03-29-2005, 11:41 AM

Quote:

6. With all of America focused on the war, fan interest decreased for all teams to 40. This resulted in 6 owners folding their franchises: Tampa Bay, Detroit, Washington, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Colorado.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ0726

1. Mets
2. Tampa3. Florida
4. Cleveland
5. Texas

AJ0726 · 03-29-2005, 01:27 PM

Matteo, if you look at my 1st posting regarding the possible league..I stated, I would like to join a new league..but didn't like this war time idea.

and that I'd join, if they decided to do just a leauge with the 2005 rosters (all teams).

Fool Inc. · 03-29-2005, 02:09 PM

You folded Detroit!? That makes no sense what-so-ever. They are an original AL club, a big market, and the owner just started to put money into the team.

Tito · 03-29-2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fool Inc.

You folded Detroit!? That makes no sense what-so-ever. They are an original AL club, a big market, and the owner just started to put money into the team.

In 2003, Detroit became a huge hub for war equipment and supply manufacturers. The Stadium was sold and reconfigured and became the central manufacturing plant for Boeing Co., which makes Apache Longbow helicopters for the Army. Raytheon Missile Systems, which make missiles for several military branches and Honeywell Aerospace, which makes engine parts and avionics for a variety of military aircraft, also leased space in the former grounds of the stadium.

[In making each division a 4-team division, I had to make some cuts. It was either Cleveland or Detroit, and CLE has taken more steps in the right direction. You could make a strong case for KC folding, though]

Tigers2156 · 03-29-2005, 06:23 PM

Detroit being one of the hubs of war time manufacturing would also be a good arguement for not folding the Tigers as there will be people around with enough cash to go to the games.

Fool Inc. · 03-29-2005, 07:23 PM

Why weren't the Marlins cut then? They have no market. They couldn't sell out when they were winning.

Jeremy Weimer · 03-29-2005, 08:19 PM

Honestly, why does it matter what teams he cut? It's his league idea and if he comes up with logical explanations as to why each team stayed or was cut as he provided for Detroit, then it really shouldn't matter.

03-28-2005, 03:51 PM	#1
Tito Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 149	Wartime Baseball League - A "What If" 2005 League Concept Tequilaworm and I have been contemplating starting a new league. I favor 2005 because I want to be the 2005 Mets, he favors an 80's league. While tossing around thoughts, I had this idea: What if: BACKGROUND 1. The Iraq War was even more devastating, resulting in 12,000 U.S. casualties from 2001-2004. 2. President Bush, in 2003, calls for a reinstatement of the draft. The measure narrowly passes the Legislature, and is enacted in 2004. 3. Up to twenty percent of all American males 18-29 will be called into duty for a minimum of 1.5 years and a maximum of 5 years. It's now January, 2005, and the U.S. Gov't. is about to have it's draft lottery (it's an annual lottery as opposed to a rolling system)... BASEBALL IMPLICATIONS 1. All U.S.-born players are eligible to be drafted by Uncle Sam. 2. According to U.S. needs, professional baseball will lose players aged 18-29 in these percentages: 2005 - 20% 2006 - 15% 2007 - 10% 2008 - 05% 3. Players are randomly assigned to the following: National Guard: 1.5 years Navy: 2.0 years Army: 2.5 years Marines: 3.0 years Special Forces: 5 years (this is a division that a random # of players will voluntarily select ala Pat Tillman) 4. In anticipation, the MLB purchased a comprehensive insurance policy that covers all salaries from drafted players while on active duty. Thus, owners would not be further penalized. In return for the millions in coverage that MLB saved owners, MLB was given the right to control and equalize broadcasting and merchandising revenue based on the average of all teams in 2004. 5. The owners, realizing that veteran teams would not be as affected, instituted a salary cap of $90 million effective 2007. 6. Realizing that the Yankees get killed in this new agreement (a guaranteed loss of millions and good players) the following rules were adopted: 3* and above players traded by the Yankees in order to get under the cap would have half their salaries paid by MLB--the new team would only be responsible for 1/2 the players' salary. MLB would also absorb 80% of the team's losses in 2005 and 40% in 2006. 6. With all of America focused on the war, fan interest decreased for all teams to 40. This resulted in 6 owners folding their franchises: Tampa Bay, Detroit, Washington, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Colorado. 7. A draft would be held to select players from the folded franchises. 8. After the 2008 season, a new President will be in place. The league will decide on who's President: one will continue the draft, the other will abolish it. I was thinking of a random casualty factor, but that could be perceived as insensitive. YOUR THOUGHTS?

03-28-2005, 04:20 PM	#2
mandersen Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 221	Sounds interesting. Keep me in mind if you run with it. Usually well thought out leagues stay around a little longer than most of these 05 leagues seem to be doing. I'd be interested in the Cubs. mandersen@gotucson.com, AndersenMat is the AIM. __________________ Legend Killer HOFFBL Cubs Original GM HOFFBL Rockies Original GM

03-29-2005, 11:07 AM	#5
Kaell Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 23	you can count me in .. im in a few leagues with these guys and they are great to work with and are team player like gms .. its not about them all the time .. __________________ WSIBL New York (N) SWBL New York Corporate League Baseball Working Designs LBA Dark Cove EPL K. Jet & K. Elessedil EPL New Orleans GM and Bank Manager PSB - Cincy Reds NEBL - Buffalo GM NEBL - S.Connery & C. Lambert WPBL- Cleveland Indians http://sttfrk.com/plb/plb.php - Lincoln Last edited by Kaell; 03-29-2005 at 11:17 AM.

03-29-2005, 06:23 PM	#11
Tigers2156 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13	Detroit being one of the hubs of war time manufacturing would also be a good arguement for not folding the Tigers as there will be people around with enough cash to go to the games. __________________ "And somewhere at the bottom he fell into darkness. That much he knew. He had fallen into darkness. And at the instant he knew, he ceased to know". Martin Edin, Jack London.

03-28-2005, 08:14 PM	#3
AJ0726 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14	Not sure I'd be into that...but if you start up a new league using the 2005 rosters...I'd love to join...... My team list 1. Mets 2. Tampa 3. Florida 4. Cleveland 5. Texas send me a PM.....thanks my AIM is AJ0726 or isles38@optonline.net

03-28-2005, 08:25 PM	#4
And1pg2 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 979	War idea is intrifuing keeps us posted, I may be interested.

03-29-2005, 11:38 AM	#6
Tito Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 149	thanks, Kaell I don't think Tequilaworm is sold on the wartime idea....it would require a lot of extra work. But we will be doing "something." I'd like thoughts on this concept, and; new concepts that are innovative--an idea for a league nobody's thought of...maybe we could take that project on.

03-29-2005, 01:27 PM	#8
AJ0726 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14	Matteo, if you look at my 1st posting regarding the possible league..I stated, I would like to join a new league..but didn't like this war time idea. and that I'd join, if they decided to do just a leauge with the 2005 rosters (all teams).

03-29-2005, 02:09 PM	#9
Fool Inc. Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dearborn Heights, MI Posts: 342	You folded Detroit!? That makes no sense what-so-ever. They are an original AL club, a big market, and the owner just started to put money into the team.

03-29-2005, 07:23 PM	#12
Fool Inc. Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dearborn Heights, MI Posts: 342	Why weren't the Marlins cut then? They have no market. They couldn't sell out when they were winning.

03-29-2005, 08:19 PM	#13
Jeremy Weimer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,411	Honestly, why does it matter what teams he cut? It's his league idea and if he comes up with logical explanations as to why each team stayed or was cut as he provided for Detroit, then it really shouldn't matter.