Evolution: Neloxian Baseball Revisited

[darkcloud4579]

It's been a while, so..let's go over what teams are where and how the leagues are setup.

The NPL is the same. No changes there since the last post about that.

NELOXIAN FIRST DIVISION (NFD)
---
Orange Division
---
Turtle Beach Bombers
Mapletown Prime
Mt. Regal Bernardos
West Nelitz Vistas

Silver Division
----
Sarta Emilae Statesman
Grensmett Ghouls
Brynsel Brigade
Coorsville Chocolatiers

Grey Division
----
Cassius Claymakers
Crystal Lake Motors
Southstate Capital
Nicosa Kingfishers

NELOXIAN SECOND DIVISION(NSD)
Red
----
Becheolivia Bengals
Carsons Welch Apples
Valleyville Alleycats
Mount Lara Avalanche
Lakeside Shores Storm (from NTA in 1959)

White
----
Des Villes Dinosaurs
Nelympia Prime
Reyevist Royals
Crystal Beach Bums
North Bay Sorcerers

Orange
-----
Eaglestown Red Barons
Parkvonta Bengals
Morrisberge Barristers
Kindermost Tempest
West Villa Blue Birds (expansion, 1959)

Blue
---
Ovolo Originals
West Nelitz Nightcrawlers
Halliday Grease Monkeys
Cornersberg Firefighters
Nelitz Nine

[darkcloud4579]

ACTIVE NFD TEAMS, RECORDS, PLAYOFFS/TITLES
Brynsel Brigade
1940-1960 840-1440 .368 0 0
Cassius Claymakers
1924-1960 2182-1893 .535 13 4
Coorsville Chocolatiers
1943-1960 1054-884 .544 8 0
Crystal Lake Motors
1901-1960 1169-1112 .512 7 1
Grensmett Ghouls
1901-1960 1935-1827 .514 11 4
Mapletown Prime
1901-1960 3330-3138 .515 17 3
Mt. Regal Bernardos
1940-1960 1001-1279 .439 3 2
Nicosa Kingfishers
1901-1960 829-1111 .427 1 1
Sarta Emiliae Statesman
1924-1960 2204-1870 .541 11 3
Southstate Capital
1901-1960 3175-3291 .491 9 3
Turtle Beach Bombers
1901-1960 3066-3401 .474 10 5
West Nelitz Vistas
1940-1960 947-1334 .415 2 0
Teams that have moved up or folded are not included above
----------
NELOXIAN FIRST DIVISION PAST CHAMPIONS
1901 Becheolivia 4.24 .250 NFD
1902 Becheolivia 4.44 .258 NFD
1903 Becheolivia 4.78 .265 NFD
1904 Becheolivia 4.76 .260 NFD
1905 Becheolivia 4.92 .266 NFD
1906 Becheolivia 5.04 .265 NFD
1907 Becheolivia 4.75 .263 NFD
1908 Becheolivia 4.52 .262 NFD
1909 Nanagoodson 4.57 .258 NFD
1910 Nanagoodson 4.24 .255 NFD
1911 Nanagoodson 4.33 .257 NFD
1912 Nanagoodson 4.22 .254 NFD
1913 Prince Village 4.16 .251 NFD
1914 Prince Village 4.02 .252 NFD
1915 Nanagoodson 4.12 .255 NFD
1916 Nanagoodson 4.11 .252 NFD
1917 Prince Village 4.16 .259 NFD
1918 Prince Village 4.22 .261 NFD
1919 Becheolivia 3.90 .251 NFD
1920 Becheolivia 4.31 .267 NFD
1921 Becheolivia 4.50 .269 NFD
1922 Becheolivia 4.31 .269 NFD
1923 Becheolivia 4.34 .270 NFD
1924 Sarta Emiliae 5.58 .280 NFD
1925 Mapletown 5.83 .285 NFD
1926 Turtle Beach 6.90 .291 NFD
1927 Turtle Beach Bombers 5.95 .282 NFD
1928 Nelitz Dominion 5.75 .278 NFD
1929 Fifty Lakes Professional 4.49 .256 NFD
1930 Becheolivia Cheese 4.37 .254 NFD
1931 Astern Valley Winemakers 4.48 .259 NFD
1932 Astern Valley Winemakers 4.29 .260 NFD
1933 Astern Valley Winemakers 3.92 .253 NFD
1934 Astern Valley Winemakers 4.03 .252 NFD
1935 Nelitz Dominion 3.93 .251 NFD
1936 Nelitz Dominion 4.12 .249 NFD
1937 Astern Valley Winemakers 4.04 .247 NFD
1938 Sarta Emiliae Statesman 4.00 .247 NFD
1939 Southstate Capital 3.77 .240 NFD
1940 Southstate Capital 3.47 .231 NFD
1941 Grensmett Ghouls 3.23 .220 NFD
1942 Turtle Beach Bombers 2.61 .203 NFD
1943 Turtle Beach Bombers 3.12 .218 NFD
1944 Crystal Lake Motors 3.02 .219 NFD
1945 Cassius Claymakers 2.80 .214 NFD
1946 Cassius Claymakers 2.79 .215 NFD
1947 Mapletown Prime 2.63 .213 NFD
1948 Cassius Claymakers 2.65 .212 NFD
1949 Cassius Claymakers 2.35 .202 NFD
1950 Sarta Emiliae Statesman 2.39 .209 NFD
1951 Mapletown Prime 2.63 .214 NFD
1952 Mt. Regal Bernardos 2.47 .209 NFD
1953 Mt. Regal Bernardos 2.60 .216 NFD
1954 Southstate Capital 3.05 .226 NFD
1955 Grensmett Ghouls 3.03 .225 NFD
1956 Grensmett Ghouls 3.45 .237 NFD
1957 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.23 .229 NFD
1958 Turtle Beach Bombers 3.48 .237 NFD
1959 Grensmett Ghouls 3.62 .239 NFD

[darkcloud4579]

NELOXIAN PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS/RECORDS, PLAYOFFS/TITLES
Anderson United
1901-1960 2214-2521 .468 5 0
Astern Valley Winemakers
1901-1960 1177-1504 .439 5 0
Becheolivia Cheese
1901-1960 1309-1372 .488 7 0
Crystal Empire
1901-1960 3524-3589 .495 10 1
Fifty Lakes Professional
1901-1960 1378-1304 .514 11 1
Mapletown Candystripers
1901-1960 3531-3588 .496 12 4
Mapletown Express
1901-1960 3663-3448 .515 17 4
Mount Lara Blue Collars
1923-1960 2512-2310 .521 10 2
NBC Capital
1923-1960 2576-2249 .534 13 5
Nelitz Dominion
1901-1960 1356-1326 .506 8 2
North Bay Insurance
1901-1960 3926-3184 .552 24 11
Queens Parke Pioneers
1901-1960 3340-3775 .469 9 1
Raspberry 1924
1901-1960 2192-2548 .462 7 1
Royal Kingsbridge
1901-1960 3521-3590 .495 8 3
Saint Etienne Excelsior
1901-1960 3876-3235 .545 23 9
Seminary
1923-1960 2474-2349 .513 12 5
South Nelitz Steel
1901-1960 3518-3598 .494 15 4
St. Langsburg Victors
1920-1960 2629-2505 .512 11 4
The Sons of Evanston
1923-1960 2349-2481 .486 9 1
Turtle Beach Commodores
1923-1960 2314-2511 .480 3 0

[darkcloud4579]

NELOXIAN SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONS
1901 Morrisberge 4.41 .261 NSD
1902 West Nelitz 4.43 .257 NSD
1903 West Nelitz 4.13 .253 NSD
1904 West Nelitz 4.28 .257 NSD
1905 Becheolivia 4.12 .249 NSD
1906 West Nelitz 4.46 .251 NSD
1907 Morrisberge 4.58 .261 NSD
1908 West Nelitz 4.66 .258 NSD
1909 West Nelitz 4.31 .253 NSD
1910 West Nelitz 4.47 .258 NSD
1911 West Nelitz 4.50 .259 NSD
1912 West Nelitz 4.48 .263 NSD
1913 Des Villes 4.35 .256 NSD
1914 Becheolivia 4.34 .257 NSD
1915 Grensmett 4.53 .261 NSD
1916 Becheolivia 4.48 .266 NSD
1917 Des Villes 4.15 .254 NSD
1918 Des Villes 4.15 .257 NSD
1919 Des Villes 4.20 .255 NSD
1920 Morrisberge 4.24 .256 NSD
1921 West Nelitz 4.35 .261 NSD
1922 Des Villes 4.29 .265 NSD
1923 Des Villes 4.45 .272 NSD
1924 Prince Village 5.06 .284 NSD
1925 Morrisberge 5.56 .294 NSD
1926 Nicosa Kingfishers 5.07 .284 NSD
1927 Nelympia 4.79 .266 NSD
1928 Nelympia 4.41 .258 NSD
1929 Morrisberge 4.18 .252 NSD
1930 Eaglestown Red Barons 4.15 .252 NSD
1931 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.80 .245 NSD
1932 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.84 .245 NSD
1933 Nelympia 3.95 .247 NSD
1934 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.81 .244 NSD
1935 Nelympia 3.79 .241 NSD
1936 Nelympia 3.60 .237 NSD
1937 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.45 .233 NSD
1938 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.35 .230 NSD
1939 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.37 .234 NSD
1940 Nelympia 3.12 .229 NSD
1941 Nicosa Kingfishers 3.07 .228 NSD
1942 Nelympia 2.98 .223 NSD
1943 Mount Lara Avalanche 3.56 .234 NSD
1944 West Nelitz Nightcrawlers 3.66 .241 NSD
1945 Kindermost Tempest 3.74 .244 NSD
1946 Halliday Grease Monkeys 3.42 .241 NSD
1947 West Nelitz Nightcrawlers 3.17 .232 NSD
1948 West Nelitz Nightcrawlers 3.01 .225 NSD
1949 Nelitz Nine 2.95 .224 NSD
1950 Kindermost Tempest 2.85 .220 NSD
1951 Halliday Grease Monkeys 2.73 .218 NSD
1952 Mount Lara Avalanche 2.84 .225 NSD
1953 Ovolo Originals 2.96 .227 NSD
1954 West Nelitz Nightcrawlers 2.77 .222 NSD
1955 Valleyville Alleycats 2.66 .219 NSD
1956 Crystal Beach Bums 2.57 .216 NSD
1957 Valleyville Alleycats 2.47 .214 NSD
1958 Crystal Beach Bums 2.33 .211 NSD
1959 West Villa Blue Birds

ACTIVE NSD RECORDS/PLAYOFFS/TITLES
Becheolivia Beagles
1901-1960 2748-3077 .472 13 3
Carsons Welch Apples
1901-1960 1772-1662 .516 13 0
Cornersberg Firefighters
1901-1960 794-975 .449 3 0
Crystal Beach Bums
1901-1960 859-909 .486 9 2
Des Villes Dinosaurs
1901-1960 2945-2879 .506 23 6
Eaglestown Red Barons
1901-1960 1915-1558 .551 23 1
Grensmett Ghouls
1901-1960 1004-1388 .420 2 1
Halliday Grease Monkeys
1943-1960 1029-739 .582 14 2
Kindermost Tempest
1901-1960 856-913 .484 8 2
Lakeside Shores Storm
1901-1960 93-11 .894 1 0
Morrisberge Barristers
1901-1960 2997-2832 .514 19 5
Mount Lara Avalanche
1943-1960 1002-766 .567 11 2
Nelitz Nine
1943-1960 790-978 .447 5 1
Nelympia Prime
1901-1960 2976-2848 .511 19 7
Nicosa Kingfishers
1901-1960 1081-623 .634 13 8
North Bay Sorcerers
1943-1960 878-891 .496 6 0
Ovolo Originals
1943-1960 957-811 .541 10 1
Parkvonta Bengals
1901-1960 2580-3244 .443 11 0
Reyevist Royals
1901-1960 900-1180 .433 3 0
Valleyville Alleycats
1943-1960 1110-659 .627 13 2
West Nelitz Nightcrawlers
1901-1960 2940-2886 .505 27 14
West Villa Blue Birds
1959-1960 94-10 .904 1 1
Teams that moved up from the township, obviously only have records since joining the 2nd Division

[darkcloud4579]

NFD and NSD owners are talking about implementing relegation among their own leagues, but rather than just taking the worst team and moving them down, the NFD is considering a playoff, scheduled at the end of the season. 2nd and 3rd worst teams would face off in a one-game playoff, with the loser facing off against the worst team in a best of three game playoff, with the loser heading to the 2nd division.

Meanwhile, the champion of the NSD would automatically be promoted.

While this proposal has yet to be approved, you could see it in action as early as 1963. More information to follow.

[darkcloud4579]

The owners in the Neloxian Premier, First and 2nd Divisions, have agreed to a relegation plan today, 1964 will be the first season for this new process.

The plan will work as follows: (every fourth year in all cases)

Premier League
---
The team with the worst record, will be demoted to the NFD

1st Division
---
The team with the best regular season record, will be promoted to the NPL.
The team with the worst record will be relegated to the NSD.
The teams with the 2nd and 3rd worst records, will play a best-of-three game series, with the losing team in that series being relegated to the NSD.

2nd DIvision
----
The team with the best regular season record, will be promoted to the NFD
The team that wins the NSD Championship Series will be promoted to the NFD.
(In the event, this is the same team, the other NSD Championship Finalist will be promoted to the NFD)

[elmwood44]

Great stuff DC!!!

I have been a fan of all your dynasties but I am really into this one. I love the totally fictional aspect!.

I believe I am going to pull for The St. E Excelsiors!!!

[darkcloud4579]

Originally Posted by elmwood44

Great stuff DC!!!

I have been a fan of all your dynasties but I am really into this one. I love the totally fictional aspect!.

I believe I am going to pull for The St. E Excelsiors!!!

Awesome, glad that you're reading. You never can be too sure, you know?

[darkcloud4579]

The Neloxian Leagues are preparing for their first ever relegation/promotion.

PREMIER LEAGUE (NPL)
----
IN: Coorsville Chocolatiers
OUT: Mapletown Candystripers (to the NFD)

FIRST DIVISION (NFD)
----
IN: Mapletown Candystripers, Mt. Lara Avalanche, Valleyville Alleycats
OUT: Sarta Emiliae Statesman, West Nelitz Vistas, Coorsville Chocolatiers

SECOND DIVISION (NSD)
---
IN: Sarta Emiliae Statesman, West Nelitz Vistas
OUT: Mt. Lara Avalanche, Valleyville Alleycats


The Mapletown Candystripers, who have won a Neloxian Series in the past will be demoted.

"It's tough for a proud franchise to be asked to go to a lower league. This is the part that so many of the owners and teams dreaded when this proposal went through. But it certainly gives you a new incentive to try hard to win," said Jack McMurphy, GM of the 'stripers.

In the NFD, the Sarta Emiliae Statesman, a team that draws well enough to have received consideration in the past to move to the Premier League, will be moving down to the NSD, after a 42-72 season.

The West Nelitz Vistas lost the decisive third game of a best-of-three game series, resulting in their demotion to the 2nd division.

Despite losing in the NFD Division Series, the Coorsville Chocolatiers who finished with a 73-41 record this season, will be promoted to the Premier League.

The 2nd Division will send the Mt. Lara Avalanche, who won the NSD title and the Valleyville Alleycats (69-35) to the First Division.

[darkcloud4579]

Baseball isn't like soccer or other sports. It takes time to get a winner together and a fluke season can happen, sure, but...if a team has the talent to sustain success, then its more likely they'll do it over a four year period.

What we didn't want, is to see teams moving up and down all the time to the point where you couldn't tell who was where. That'd be annoying.

So, this way, it ensures that we can monitor it better, it'll make for a better story and every four years its adds a new dynamic to the season, to the standings and the schedule.

So, the next season that will determine promotion/relegation for the following year is 1967 (for the 1968 season).

[darkcloud4579]

PREMIER LEAGUE
Division Series (BEST OF THREE)
---
Seminary (88-46) def. Astern Valley (79-55) 2 games to 0
North Bay (86-48) def. Becheolivia (85-49) 2 games to 0
Turtle Beach (75-60) def. NBC (83-51) 2 games to 0
Anderson (80-54) def. Royal Kingsbridge (75-59) 2 games to 1

Association Series (BEST OF FIVE)
-----
DOMINION ASSOC.
---
Seminary def. North Bay 3 games to 2

NATIONAL ASSOC.
----
Turtle Beach def. Anderson 3 games to 2

Neloxian Series (BEST OF SEVEN)
----
Seminary def. Turtle Beach 4 games to 3

Seminary 1964 Neloxian Series Champions!
---------------------------------------------------

FIRST DIVISION PLAYOFFS
Division Series (BEST OF THREE)
----
Mapletown (Candystripers) (86-28) def. Nicosa (69-45) 2 games to 0
Southstate (72-42) def. Mapletown (Prime) (69-45) 2 games to 0

First Division Finals (BEST OF FIVE)
----
Mapletown def. Southstate 3 games to 1

SECOND DIVISION PLAYOFFS

Division Quarterfinals (BEST OF THREE)
----
Sarta Emiliae (102-2) def. Parkvonta (55-49) 2 games to 0
Kindermost (67-37) def. Halliday (56-48) 2 games to 1
Des Villes (65-39) def. Nelitz (61-43) 2 games to 0
West Nelitz (99-5) def. Ovolo (62-42) 2 games to 0

Division Semi-Finals (BEST OF FIVE)
---------
Sarta Emiliae def. Kindermost 3 games to 0
West Nelitz def. Des Villes 3 games to 0

Division Championship (BEST OF FIVE)
----
Sarta Emiliae def. West Nelitz 3 games to 1

NELOXIAN TOWNSHIP ASSOC. PLAYOFFS
Outermont def. Turtle Beach 4 games to 2 in Township Finals

[darkcloud4579]

NPL
Division Series
----
North Bay (92-42) def. Becheolivia (76-58) 2 games to 1
Seminary (80-54) def. Astern Valley (91-43) 2 games to 0
Turtle Beach (70-65) def. NBC (86-48) 2 games to 0
Royal Kingsbridge (79-55) def. Coorsville (78-56) 2 games to 0

Did you notice that in just their 2nd NPL season, Coorsville already made the playoffs? See why relegation happens every 4 years, rather than every season?

Association Series
----
DOMINION ASSOC.
---
Seminary def. North Bay 3 games to 0

NATIONAL ASSOC.
----
Royal Kingsbridge def. Turtle Beach 3 games to 2

1965 NELOXIAN SERIES
Seminary def. Royal Kingsbridge 4 games to 3

FIRST DIVISION PLAYOFFS
------------------
Division Series
----
Southstate (65-49) def. Crystal Lake (78-36) 2 games to 0
Mapletown (Candystripers) (67-47) def. Turtle Beach (65-49) 2 games to 1

Division Finals
----
Southstate def. Mapletown 3 games to 1

SECOND DIVISION PLAYOFFS
-----
Division Quarterfinals
----
West Nelitz (100-4) def. Des Villes (55-50) 2 games to 0
Morrisberge (56-48) def. Nelympia (74-30) 2 games to 0
Kindermost (72-32) def. Halliday (58-46) 2 games to 0
Sarta Emiliae (100-4) def. Nelitz (58-46) 2 games to 0

Division Semifinals
-----
West Nelitz def. Morrisberge 3 games to 0
Sarta Emiliae def. Kindermost 3 games to 0

Division Championship
------
Sarta Emiliae def. West Nelitz 3 games to 0

NELOXIAN TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATION
Township Finals: Outermont def. Morrisberge 3 games to 0

[scuffleball]

You can bet I'm reading!

I love your setup and promotion/relegation system. Very nice.

[darkcloud4579]

Npl: $73,045
Nfd: $10,819
Nsd: $518
Nta: $10

For a little comparison:

The average player salary (1928) in the Premier League was $1,955
In the 1st Division, its $204
In the 2nd Division, its $32
In the NTA, its $11

[darkcloud4579]

NPL
----
Division Series
----
Seminary (69-65) def. St. Langsburg (76-58) 2 games to 0
North Bay (72-62) def. Becheolivia (75-59) 2 games to 1
NBC (73-61) def. Coorsville (76-58) 2 games to 1
Saint Etienne (73-61) def. Turtle Beach (70-64) 2 games 1

Association Series
-----
DA
---
North Bay def. Seminary 3 games to 1

NA
---
NBC def. Saint Etienne 3 games to 0

NELOXIAN SERIES
---
North Bay def. NBC 4 games to 1

NFD PLAYOFFS
----
DIVISION SERIES
Southstate (85-29) def. Crystal Lake (75-39) 2 games to 1
Mapletown Prime (62-52) def. Mapletown (68-48) 2 games to 1
You have to love it. The Mapletown team that was already in the NFD, lets everyone know that they're not gonna be 2nd fiddle in their own town, to a team that wasn't good enough to hang in the Premier League, by winning this series.

FIRST DIVISION FINALS
-----------
Southstate def. Mapletown 3 games to 0


SECOND DIVISION PLAYOFFS
----
Division Quarterfinals
---
West Nelitz (99-5) def. Morrisberge (55-50) 2 games to 0
Kindermost (76-28) def. Eagletown (58-46) 2 games to 1
Nelympia (63-41) def. West Villa (59-45) 2 games to 1
Sarta Emiliae (99-5) def. Halliday (61-43) 2 games to 1

Division Semifinals
-----
West Nelitz def. Kindermost 3 games to 0
Sarta Emiliae def. Nelympia 3 games to 0

Division Championship
-----
West Nelitz def. Sarta Emiliae 3 games to 2

TOWNSHIP FINALS
---
Sharptown def. Outermont 4 games to 2

[darkcloud4579]

Teams are going to work extra hard this off-season to ensure that they DON'T get relegated after the 1967 season.

The sense of urgency is no small thing and so, teams are going to work ferverishly during this off-season and that could mean disaster for teams hoping not to get players poached from their rosters.

"We've never dealt with this before, at least, with all the build of three years for teams to know what its like to be afraid to lose it all," said Matt McKenna, a sports writer for The Mapletown Daily, "so, you can expect that a lot of players are going to be bought out of their contracts if they're in the 2nd Division, while teams at the higher levels are going to be scrapping for wins left and right."

If relegation had been this season, Anderson United (54-80) would've been relegated from the NPL and Southstate Capital (85-29), who capped off their season with the 1st Division title would've moved up.

Cassius (40-74) of the NFD would've gone down to the 2nd division, with Nicosa and Turtle Beach duking it out for that the not-so-coveted 2nd relegation spot.

Sarta Emiliae and West Nelitz (99-5, both) have essentially turned the Second Division into their own personal playgrounds during the past three seasons, claiming each of the titles since being relegated.

Their players have been surprising loyal to the franchise during that time and that's helped their cause immensely. But the league wants to find ways to prevent future relegated teams to the 2nd division -- because the pay and play disparity between the 1st division -- from having that sort of success.

The league is considering a variety of measures including a player dispersal or allowing players on relegated teams from the 1st to the 2nd division to opt out of their contracts immediately.

"We want to increase the level of fairness among the teams. What we've seen the past few years is anything but that," said 2nd Division Commissioner Larry McCreedy.

[darkcloud4579]

To deviate from the normal pace of this a bit and to give it a more "dynasty" feel, well...just to mix things up a bit, Dark Cloud is going to assume ownership of the Parkvonta Packers of the Neloxian Township Association (NTA).

The Township Association will, beginning during the next relegation/promotion cycle promote the team that wins the Township Series.

The worst team in the 2nd division, will be folded and an expansion team will be added to the Township to replace the team that was promoted.

The Packers play at 2,000 seat Packers stadium in Parkvonta, Larqsville. The idea is to try to get the team to the Premier League. The soonest we'd be able to do that is 1976, if we could do it on the first try each time.

The Packers finished 4 games out of first in their division last season, but have had success in the past. From 1959 (the year the team was founded) to 1962, the team won the Township Series 4 straight seasons (which is no small feat, when you consider that the Township playoffs are just as long as the Premier League playoffs)

The Township plays a 74-game season, but employs a split season schedule.

[darkcloud4579]

The Township Association is essentially a one-part "independent" leagues and one-part semi-pro. It's the first stop for prospects who are not readily identified by teams on their reserve rosters or youth clubs, while for others, its just an opportunity to play the game they love in the summer.

The games don't generally attract a ton of fans and there isn't a whole lot of money being passed around. Players from the NPL and NFD are not allowed to sign with Township teams, not that they would want to. Every once in a blue while, a player will be loaned to a township team. Either as a personal favour to a GM or to give a fading player a chance to play in front of his hometown fans or to learn how to become a coach, while still playing.

But all in all, the league is full of players who you'll never become familiar with, as when teams do get the chance to move up...the Township team generally purges its roster as soon as it can.

Here are the teams
-----
STATE LEAGUE
---
S1
--
Outermont Flangers
Verna Vipers
Queens Parke Marshalls
Halliday Heinsohns

S2
---
Sarta Emiliae Acorns
Julietascene Giants
Mt. Regal Brigades
Des Villes Lasers

CONFEDERATE LEAGUE
----
C1
--
Sharptown Cats
Cinnamon Canyon Jesters
Morrisberge Hangmen
Turtle Beach Mastodons

C2
---
St. Langsburg Wizards
Parkvonta Packers
Nanagoodsen Destroyers
Raspberry Wine Raptors

[darkcloud4579]

For some odd reason, the past thirty years or so -- I haven't been watching closely -- and the township league had teams that were ENTIRELY comprised of pitchers. It explained why league averages were under .200, but since it was a league I didn't care about, I didn't bother to find out why until now.

So, I cleared all the rosters and created about 4000 new players in the free agent pool. They range from "draft eligible prospects" to "inexperienced & raw" so...it should increase play in this league substantially.

Can't believe this was happening, but glad I looked. None of the leagues have a draft, perhaps that's why it happened for this long. I dunno.

Actually, after further review..I think its because the 2nd division and township associations are not allowed to sign players from the 1st division and premier league. Both of the latter leagues had thousands of free agents, while the township association had none (before i created a ton) and the 2nd division had just over 250..most of them pitchers.

So..now I know and can inject talent into leagues, which should increase gameplay long term.

[darkcloud4579]

In anticipation in what ought to be the most hotly contested Township season probably in history, Parkvonta GM Dark Cloud spent the off-season retooling the entire ballclub, including hiring 4 new scouts, firing the team's manager and bench coach and hiring the pitching coach as manager.

With these changes and a retooled roster among the many throughout the NTA, Dark Cloud has high expectations for the club.

"We've made it clear that our goal is to get to the top. But the only way to do that, is to ensure that we start from here and do our best. We only get one shot to get there every four years and so, its not as if we get a second chance," he said.

DC spent years as an Assistant GM for the Seminary club in the Neloxian Premier League. After years of dutiful service on one of the most successful clubs in NPL history, he assumed he'd get a shot as a GM of a big league club. But no one came calling.

So, he decided to take matters into his own hands. By selling shares of the club he'd accumulated as his duties increased over the years -- and so he wouldn't leave -- he managed to secure enough money to purchase a team from the Township Association and installed himself as GM.

"It's a risky bet, because if we fail then it will point directly back to me," he said during an interview. "But I'm confident that we'll do the right thing and assemble a team down here that people will be really proud of, no doubt."

The team's days in Parkvonta might be numbered, however, as this tiny market might not be enough for a club that is seeking to move up to the "big time."

For this season, the team will remain in Parkvonta, but don't be surprise if a name change is on the horizon for the club.

"We're looking to rebrand the image of the club and to give people a whole new look at this team and what we're doing."

Some say, that the move is risky if the fail to move up, however.

"If they're trying to create a brand in anticipation of a move that might not happen, who knows what will become of it long-term," said an industry analyst.

Whatever the team's name, the season will begin soon and the questions will be answered on the field, not in the boardrooms or in press releases.