Major Leagues* Baseball Association

[jerheme]

The Salvation of Baseball or the end?

In September of 2022, the Minor League players managed to unionize by joining the MLBPA. The MLB owners group recognized this move as legit. They had no choice. Now the minor league players were in line for major pay raises (among other benefits) in their very own MiLB CBA. Something MLB ownership didnÂ’t want to see happen. This led to a radical new idea, the birth of a new Association of leagues called the Major Leagues Baseball Association.

The MLB owners decided they would rather downsize the minor leagues than have the headache of a massive bill at the end of a MiLB CBA. They also realized that they would get sued if they downsized teams again. They were willing to turn a majority of the MiLB into Associated but fully independent franchises, so to speak. However, the only way to entice new owners for these small market teams was to offer promotion and relegation like Premier League football. If you buy a former minor league team you have a shot and win your way into the Major Leagues. Think of the profits! Potential owners all over the world lined up for this idea. Plus, all the cities that were working towards getting an expansion team were interested in buying low and trying to win in.

The more they discussed it the more the MLB owners liked the idea of relegation too. While it is potentially disastrous for a franchise it also incentivizes winning in a unique way. Instead of being awarded an early draft pick for finishing low, you risk relegation.

The draft is an admitted loss. Every professional sport in America has one, but in this model of hundreds of professional, well-paying teams, your scouts must find the kids and sell the kids on the idea of your city, your franchise, and your pay scale. Yes, the MLB franchises will have more money to spend than the smaller guys, but they have to be careful about balance, too much unproven youth could mean relegation.

The MLB owners each kept one minor league team to develop young players. These remaining 30 MiLB teams play in one league from their parent Spring Training stadiums to keep costs down. There is one new CBA for these players and only MLB teams have minor league teams. Former MiLB teams will have to use their inactive roster spots for development. If a team is promoted to the MLB they will get a minor league team and Spring Training Stadium as both will be forfeited upon relegation (as a fair sale to the promoted teams). The relegated MLB team can retain as many minor league players as their roster allows, but at their new league pay scale through arbitration. Anyone they do not take with them will be added to the promoted team's minor league system. The MLB owners fought for larger inactive/reserve rosters for the lower leagues, so they could retain a hearty amount of prospects if relegated as they deemed that as their best shot at returning.

Here are the details of the new Major Leagues Association:

• 30 MLB owners sold all their MiLB affiliates to new owners. Before the sales, each franchise selected MiLB players to keep on their one MiLB team. These players will be paid better than in the past but not the levels of those in the association.

• The former MiLB players not selected were automatically signed to their new contracts on their current teams as decided by arbitrators and the new pay scales in each leagues CBA. This is to give players stability, prevent year 1 moving costs, and give home fans a familiar roster to cheer for.

• All leagues in the Association, including the MLB will sign free agents from a giant pool including major league and international talent.

• Free Agents can sign anywhere they wish. You might see a top prospect in East Tennessee decide to sign with the Smokies instead of a MLB team and be assigned to the minors. The risk is the MLB teams have a far better shot of still being in the MLB than the Smokies have of reaching that pinnacle. Though one could choose to do their “minors” experience in a lower league at a better salary and then sign with a MLB team in free agency.

Leagues below the MLB will have 26 man active rosters (not including inactive/reserve):

5 Levels of Leagues
Major League

-AL-15 teams
-NL-15 teams

MiLB
-Arizona League-15 teams
-Florida League-15 teams

Supreme League (formerly AAAÂ’s IL & PCL)

-East Division -15 teams
-West Division -15 teams
-140 games

-Ultra League (formerly AAÂ’s EL, SL, & TL)

-East Division -15 teams
-West Division-15 teams
-140 games

High League (formerly AÂ’s MWL, NWL, & SAL)

-East Division- 15 teams
-West Division – 15 teams
-120 games

Pro League (formerly AÂ’s CAR, CAL, and FSL)

-North Division – 15 teams
-South Division – 15 teams
-120 games

• The bottom team in the MLB AL and MLB NL will be relegated to Supreme every year. While the two teams that make the Supreme Championship will move up to MLB. There is no mercy year if they finish last they will be re-relegated. The rest of the leagues move 2 teams up and down likewise.

• Cash prizes will be given to Champions of Supreme (20M), Ultra (15M), High (10M), and Pro (5M) Leagues to help them with being competitive at the next level. Second place does not get a cash prize but they still get promoted.

• Pro League specific. If you finish last three seasons in row, your team will be contracted.

• No salary caps in any league

• [Shared Rule 5 draft across all levels (as in, the lower levels can draft, they have no non-rosters to protect

• Only having 1 minor league team will push MLB franchises to promote exciting young players sooner.

As an intentional side effect, the DSL was closed and all players made free agents.

As an unintentional side-effect of this large Association of Professional baseball all the American Independent Leagues closed and one small one formed called the American Independent League. Some former independent league team owners bought new Professional teams. Players in defunct independent leagues can try for spots in the new professional league system.

New Rules Across Entire Association

• No defensive shifts

• Reliever only must face one batter

• Pitch clock

• Larger bases

[jerheme]

League Updates

• Supreme League National TV Contract via MLB.tv for 20M & an average local media tv deal of 150K

• Oklahoma City Dodgers renamed Redhawks

• Syracuse Mets bought by the Montreal Expos expansion group, moved to Montreal, and renamed Expos. They will play in renovated 60K seating

• Olympic Stadium.

• Worcester Red Sox renamed Woo Sox

• Iowa Cubs renamed Dawgs

• Nashville Sounds bought by Music City Baseball expansion group, renamed Stars. Building new stadium that will seat 44K.

• Charlotte Knights bought by the Charlotte expansion group, expanded seating to 30K

• Memphis Redbirds expanded seating to 30K

• Scranton Rail Riders expanded seating to 30K

• St. Paul Saints expanded seating to 20K

• Sugar Land Space Cowboys expanded seating to 23K

• Ultra League National TV Contract via MLB.tv for 15M & an average local media tv deal of 100K

• Springfield Cardinals renamed Robins

• Reading Fighting Phils renamed Fightin

• Mississippi Braves bought by the Portland Oregon expansion group, moved to Portland, and renamed Beavers

• San Antonio Missions bought by San Antonio expansion group

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos expanded seating to 25K

• Birmingham Barons expanded seating to 33K

• Corpus Cristi Hooks expanded to 35K

• Midland Rock Hounds opened new stadium (Die Hard Battery Stadium) seating 30K

• Montgomery Biscuits expanded seating to 30K

• Portland Beavers building a new stadium (Aflac Stadium) that will hold 41K

• Rocket City Trash Pandas expanded seating to 30K

• Tennessee Smokies building a new Knoxville Stadium that will hold 35K

• High League National TV Contract via MLB.tv for 10M & an average local media tv deal of 70K

• Rome Braves renamed Romans

• South Bend Cubs renamed Silver Hawks

• Spokane Indians renamed Stags

• Pro League National TV Contract via MLB.tv for 5M & an average local media tv deal of 20K

• Salem Red Sox renamed Rebels

• San Jose Giants renamed Bees

• Palm Beach Cardinals renamed Waves

• St.Lucie Mets renamed Juicy

• Dunedin Blue Jays renamed Dare Devils

• Frederickson Nationals renamed Presidents

• Tampa Tarpons bought by new Canadian owners, moved to Calgary, and renamed Champions

[jerheme]

Hired as GM & Manager of the Rocket City Trash Pandas (5 years 190K) by new owner Ben Graff.

Graffs Goals:
2022-23 Team Record - Achieve a Winning Record
2022-25 Upgrade pos. - 3B
2022-26 Increase Profit - End with 1M

Budget: 25M (13 for players)
Lost 17 players to Los Angeles Angels Prospect grab before the sale to Mr. Graff

Coaching Staff:

• Brian White hired as Pitching Coach (1 year in IL)
• Gary Gaetti hired as Bench Coach (Durham Bulls hitting coach, Sugar Land Skeeters manager, 20 years in MLB as player)
• Bo Jackson hired as 1B Coach (no coaching experience, Alabama sport legend, former MLB and NFL player)
• Kevin Williams hired as 3B Coach (no coaching experience)
• Kevin Witt hired as Hitting Coach (hitting coach for New Orleans Baby Cakes, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and Jupiter Hammerheads, 5 years MLB service)
• Chris Stender hired as scouting director (No formal experience, but is supposed to be good, lol)
• Dustin Luepker hired as Team Trainer (Marlins Trainer)
• Aaron Adams hired as Assistant GM (no prior experience)

Coach Roles:
Catchers- Kevin Williams (good)
Infielders- Gary Gaetti (average)
Outfielders- Bo Jackson (legendary)
Base Running- Bo Jackson (good)

Free Agency & Transactions:

• RP Kolton Ingram re-signs 2 years 650K per (first above MiLB signing in team history)
• DH Preston Palmiero re-signs 3 years 1.5M
  
• We acquired CF Cabrera Weaver (speedster), C Adam Hackenburg, and SP Matthew Thompson from Birmingham in exchange for SP Brent Killam and SP Aaron Hernandez
  
• We acquired CF Kingston Liniak (3.5* Potential) from Erie in exchange for CF Mike Peabody, LF Edwin Yon, and 3B Carson Matthews
  
• We acquired 3B Thomas Gravello (4.5* Potential) from Richmond in exchange for 2B Jeremiah Jackson
  
• We signed 20 year old RP Victor Farias (4.5* Potential) for 100K (Nationals org)
• We signed 19 year old RF Yemal Flores (4* Potential) for 100K (Phillies org)
• We signed 18 year old LF Luis Baez (3* Potential) for minimum (Houston org)
• We signed 17 year old RP Luis Gonzalez (2.5* Potential) for minimum (Phillies org)
• We signed 23 year old SP David de la Garza (3.5* Current) for 5 years 6.5-9M (International FA from Mexico)
• We signed 23 year old SS Ronny Brito (1.5* Current) for 2 years 650K (Dodgers org)
• We signed 30 year old SP Myles Smith (1.5Current) for 550K (Independent Leaguer)
• We signed 29 year old LF Gio Brusa (Power threat) for 3 years 170K (Giants org)
• We signed 21 year old RF Alec Sayre (3* Potential) for 3 years 190K (Twins org)
• We signed 20 year old LF Tyler Whitaker (3.5* Potential) for 170K (Astros org)
• We signed 27 year old CL Junior Garcia (2* Current) for 3 years 550K (Diamondbacks org)
• We signed 25 year old LF Randy Norris (1.5* current) for 5 years 275K (Giants org)

Out of our current roster, we have no clear captains but we have 4 team leaders (Hackenburg, Chaney, Russell, and Palmeiro). No sparkplugs, no pranksters, disruptors, outspoken or selfish. One unmotivated player in Smith.

Spring Training in Texas
Every player active for Spring other than RP Luis Gonzalez and RP Eric Torres (players 41 & 42)

Postion Rankings (in UL) Heading Into Spring
C Hackenburg 18
1B Coutney 9
2B Kolwyck 18
3B Gavello 8
SS Brito 15
LF Brusa 6
CF Liniak 1
RF Cabbage 1
SP de la Garza 1
RP Ingram 29
CL Garcia 12

March 9- We acquired CF Travis Jankowski and 400K from Expos in Supreme League for CF Kingston Liniak, RF Casey Dana, and RF Alec Sayre. Jankowski is MLB ready so he should crush UL pitchers.

We added RP Gonzalez and RP Torres to active Spring Roster

March 18- RP Victor Farias placed on IL with strained shoulder (4-5 weeks)

Spring Rankings

• Finished 5th in West Division
• No Hitters Led any Statistic
• 3 Pitchers Led Statistic:
• IP- de la Garza
• SD- Donovan
• K- Silseth

Surprises: Swanda (1.44 ERA), Donovan (8 SD, 2.77 ERA), Palmeiro (5 HR), Selma (.351 AVG), Gobbel (.375 AVG)
Let downs: de la Garza (4.26 ERA), Ingram (8.44 ERA), Armstrong (10.00 ERA), Brito (.207 AVG), Brusa (2 HR), Coutney (.159 AVG)

Pre-Season Predictions
9th in Ultra League West Division
Top 10 Hitters- Jankowski
Top 10 Pitchers- de la Garza & Silseth

Ultra League Top 200 Prospects (UL League only)
Rocket City Ranked #2

1. SP David de la Garza (1)
2. 3B Thomas Gavello (17)
3. RF Tyler Whitaker (29) Reserve Roster
4. RP Hector Yan (45)
5. RP C.J. Mayhue (49)
6. C Edgar Quero (62)
7. RF Yemal Flores (63) Reserve Roster
8. 2B Lewin De La Cruz (97) Reserve Roster
9. RF Trey Cabbage (153)
10. LF Luis Baez (175) Reserve Roster
11. 1B Sonny DiChiara 191

2023 ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDA'S OPENING DAY ROSTER
(28 until May 1st)

Rotation: de la Garza, Silseth, Swanda, Thompson, Smith

Bullpen: Garcia, Rincon, Mayhue, Ingram, Donovan, Chaney, Darrell-Hicks, Yan

Catchers: Hackenburg, Quero

Infielders: Selma, Brito, Gobbel, Kolwyck, Gavello, DiChiara, Sierra

Outfielders: Jankowski, Cabbage, Brusa, Russell, Weaver

Designated Hitters: Palmiero

[jerheme]

APRIL 2023

4- Loss Arkansas Travelers home opener 5-12
5- Won big 13-4 (4 HRs, Kolwycz 5/5, Jankowski 4/5)

7- Lost Arkansas away series 1-3

10- Lost Corpus Cristi Hooks home series 1-2.
After a slow 2-5 start, we noticed our bullpen isn't sharp.
Signed free agent RP Penn Murfee to 3 year 800K per deal. Murfee has pitched 2 years of MLB with Mariners and should overcome most Ultra League hitters. We will use him as our stopper and let Donovan be a middle man.

RP Michell Darrell-Hicks placed on reserve roster
RP Ivan Armstrong activated from reserve roster
LF Gio Brusa placed on IL with torn quad (out 5-6 weeks)

12- SP Matthew Thompson placed on IL with shoulder subluxation
RP Chase Chaney will join rotation
LF Randy Norris activated from reserve roster

14- Split Chatanooga Lookouts away series 2-2

15- Bullpen refresh- Armstrong and Mayhue to reserve roster, Darrell-Hicks and Kochanowicz activated

17- Swept Birmingham Baron home series 3-0
Darrell-Hicks back to reserve roster after 2.1 inning relief appearance. Armstrong activated.

18 Signed free agent RP Wyatt Mills to 2 year 800K deal. Mills has pitched in the MLB for the Mariners and Royals the last two seasons and should improve our bullpen even more.

RP Jack Kochanwicz placed back on reserve roster
RP Victor Farias removed from IL and placed on reserve roster

21 Won Northwest Arkansas Naturals away series 2-1

22 It leaked from my office that we are in trade talks with a MLB team. The fan base is buzzing.

23 CF Travis Jankowski stole 16 straight bases to start the season before getting caught today

24 Lost Frisco RoughRiders home series 1-2

25 We made the first trade between the Ultra League and MLB. The Giants sent us minor league 3B Casey Schmitt and SP Sean Hjelle along with 5M in cash to cover costs, in exchange for 3B Thomas Gavello (.130), 3B Ben Gobbel (.118), and reserve players RP Michael Darrell-Hicks and RP Victor Farias. Schmitt is the best defensive 3B in the MiLB but can also hit, (and can pitch in a pinch), while Hjelle's (6'11) a MLB ready pitcher for our rotation (slotted at #3).

SP Myles Smith sent to reserve roster
RP C.J. Mayhue activated from reserve roster t0 bullpen duty

27 Won Tulsa Driller home series 2-1
RP Dakota Donovan placed on reserve roster after a disastrous appearance (0.2IP 6R)
1B Matt Coutney activated from reserve roster (DiChiara & Selma both in slumps)
SP Matthew Thompson activated from IL
RP Junior Rincon placed on reserve roster
SP John Swanda to bullpen duty

30 Lost Hartford Yard Goats away series 1-2

Record: 13-13 5th
UL Rookie of the Month- DH Preston Palmiero
UL Player of the Month- DH Preston Palmiero


1st place- Somerset Patriots & Frisco Rough Riders
Last Place- Pensacola Blue Wahoo's & Tulsa Drillers

Trash Panda's Stat Leaders
AVG- Palmerio (.388), Cabbage (.384), Jankowski (.378)
HR- Palmeiro (8), Cabbage (7), Kolwyck (4)
RBI- Palmeiro (43), Cabbage (25), Jankowski (19)
SB- Jankowski (19), Kolwyck (6), Russell (6), Weaver (6)
BB- Jankowski (28), Palmeiro (17), Selma (14)
W- de la Garza (3), Silseth (2)
SV- Garcia (3)
K- Silseth (37), Thompson (22), Swanda (22)
ERA- Ingram (3.55), Hjelle (4.50), Armstrong (4.82)

Typical April Lineup...
CF Jankowski
LF Russell
DH Palmeiro
RF Cabbage
3B Schmitt
C Hackenberg
1B Selma or DiChiara
SS Brito
2B Kolwyck