Monty Brewster Baseball Association Recruiting Thread (historical)

[Recte44]

Greetings, fellow OOTP'ers. I'm here today to tell you a little about the MBBA (Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association) and why it is a great place to be.

First, the Premise:
JANUARY 1973: Major League Baseball passes the Designated Hitter rule for use in the American League on a trial basis. Oakland owner Charlie Finley lobbied hard for the rule and his counterparts obliged. The National League did not approve the rule, and were far from alone in opposing it. Many Americans were against the latest thing to disrupt the National Pastime. In 1969, Curt Flood successfully challenged the reserve clause in baseball, beginning arbitration. Challenges to bring about true free agency for players are lurking on the horizon. Along the way, a society for preservation of the National Pastime was formed. The society decided to launch their own baseball league that would abolish the Designated Hitter and fix financial and player association problems before they arose. "Businessman" Montgomery "Monty" Brewster, who has come into millions of dollars from a deceased uncle, donated the money to the league and is the society's chairman. The MBBA will consist of 2 leagues of 12 teams divided into 3 divisions each. Expansion will be considered as league continues. Owners must have the leagues current version of OOTP and may only control 1 team. Violations of these or any rules described below may merit league enforced punishment, or in extreme cases, banishment from the MBBA. This is a league "for the owners, by the owners", so the majority of our rules are determined by the owners in a democratic spirit. We are all assumed to be in various degrees of maturity and will be expected to dust it off on occasion. Simply put it’s this easy--------
1. Have fun
2. Try your best
3. Treat others as you would like to be treated (or better!)

Some backstory on our history:
I started the MBBA with the 1973 season. We're currently in our 18th season and have a fairly solid reputation of being one of the more active leagues out there. We are a fictional league, but incorporate Defectors from MLB and another newer feature: The Scout-an-MLB'er Program.
We boast an active forum community that is made active by an outstanding group of owners and our highly sophisticated Participation Point System .

What we're looking for:

Currently I'm looking for an owner for the Calgary Marauders. Calgary is involved in a rebuilding process and are currently 27-34 on the season. They do have a nice core of young batters led by CF Patrick Casavant, RF Sadaharu Oh, Jr., and 1B red Leinenkugel; as well as 26 year old All-Star starting pitcher Santos "Butterball" Vasquez.

How can you get involved?
Come to the forum , check out our website , take a look around, talk to some people. If you decide this might be something you'd want to be a part of, CHECK OUT THIS THREAD!

[Recte44]

Greetings, fellow OOTP'ers. I'm here today to tell you a little about the MBBA (Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association) and why it is a great place to be.

First, the Premise:
JANUARY 1973: Major League Baseball passes the Designated Hitter rule for use in the American League on a trial basis. Oakland owner Charlie Finley lobbied hard for the rule and his counterparts obliged. The National League did not approve the rule, and were far from alone in opposing it. Many Americans were against the latest thing to disrupt the National Pastime. In 1969, Curt Flood successfully challenged the reserve clause in baseball, beginning arbitration. Challenges to bring about true free agency for players are lurking on the horizon. Along the way, a society for preservation of the National Pastime was formed. The society decided to launch their own baseball league that would abolish the Designated Hitter and fix financial and player association problems before they arose. "Businessman" Montgomery "Monty" Brewster, who has come into millions of dollars from a deceased uncle, donated the money to the league and is the society's chairman. The MBBA will consist of 2 leagues of 12 teams divided into 3 divisions each. Expansion will be considered as league continues. Owners must have the leagues current version of OOTP and may only control 1 team. Violations of these or any rules described below may merit league enforced punishment, or in extreme cases, banishment from the MBBA. This is a league "for the owners, by the owners", so the majority of our rules are determined by the owners in a democratic spirit. We are all assumed to be in various degrees of maturity and will be expected to dust it off on occasion. Simply put it’s this easy--------
1. Have fun
2. Try your best
3. Treat others as you would like to be treated (or better!)

Some backstory on our history:
I started the MBBA with the 1973 season. We're currently in our 18th season and have a fairly solid reputation of being one of the more active leagues out there. We are a fictional league, but incorporate Defectors from MLB and another newer feature: The Scout-an-MLB'er Program.
We boast an active forum community that is made active by an outstanding group of owners and our highly sophisticated Participation Point System .

What we're looking for:
Currently I'm looking for an owner for two teams.


First, the Calgary Marauders. Calgary is involved in a rebuilding process and are currently 27-34 on the season. They do have a nice core of young batters led by CF Patrick Casavant, RF Sadaharu Oh, Jr., and 1B red Leinenkugel; as well as 26 year old All-Star starting pitcher Santos "Butterball" Vasquez.


Secondly, the Long Beach Surfers. The Surfers are right in the thick of the Frick League Wild Card race. CF Monty Lynch is one of the MBBA's biggest new stars, while their pitching rotation is anchored by one of the top starters, Justin Alexander. He went 25-3 last season (WOW!).

How can you get involved?
Come to the forum , check out our website , take a look around, talk to some people. If you decide this might be something you'd want to be a part of, CHECK OUT THIS THREAD!

[mad0die]

Great league. I've been in it since it began with the 1973 season. Now in 1990. History, comraderie, competition, activity - this league has it all.

[Recte44]

[Recte44]

[Recte44]

Calgary Marauders (use in lieu of hyperlinks due to the high volume of players names that will be bandied about here)

June 21, 1990

The Calgary Marauders haven't been good in quite some time now. For the first half of the 1980's they owned the Frick League Pacific under owner James Crider. Mr. Crider could see the writing on the wall, however, and he sold the team to Wally Christensen in 1986. Starting with that year, the Marauders have experienced a bad stretch which has actually resulted in quite a few interesting youngsters on this roster.

The Pitching Staff:
Rickie Lake is listed as the #1 starter, but at this point he probably shouldn't be in the league anymore. The #1 pick in 1985 had a nice run, but has lost all semblance of movement and that doesn't play here. The real ace is Santos Vasquez, their #1 pick in 1987. Vasquez made his first All-Star appearance last season but apparantly that wasn't enough to vault him ahead of the man nicknamed "Ace". Next up is 1988 defector Charlie Lea. He was given a ton of cash (as Bisbo loved to do) but hasn't been consistent enough to earn it in spite of having decent enough talent. This season the Marauders got a real steal in the SaLM'er program by picking up Jim Neidlinger, their #4 starter. A case could be made that he is pitching as well as Vasquez right now, and he is a keeper. 25 year old Daniel Kinard is the fifth starter, a fast mover through the system since being chosen in the 2nd round back in 1987. He looks to have a decent future though it might be in relief.

Closer Jose Nunez's outlook can best be summed up by looking at this season as the best he might ever do, and last season as the worst he might be expected to do. He's got great stuff, for sure, but there are plenty of guys like this in the minor leagues. That's for a reason. Adan Alva would be a much better choice as the closer at this point, as he's more talented across the board than Nunez. His 1988 season was a solid, but unspectacular stint as a closer and he's developed since then. I remember his awesome 1980 minor league campaign that resulted in a Minor League Pitcher of the Year award for him. Not to say he could be that good as the Calgary closer, but there's certainly a lot more intrigue to that proposition than there is with Nunez. Bob Dunbar is really a solid middle reliever who is sucking up an awful lot of payroll. Good teams just don't spend that much money on middle relievers with his track record. Kyle Claibourne would be a much better rotation option at this point than Lake. Gabriel Plasencia is now cast properly as a reliever (though not tagged as such), but he continues to tease with his talent and lack of production. Abdal Tutmosa was once a top spec, got some injuries, started decently for a stretch, and now has been relegated to the bullpen. He'd be a great specialization candidate, along with Plasencia.

The Position Players:
Catcher Troy Rowe had a nice season last year, but just doesn't seem to have the offensive capabilities to be counted on much. His defense keeps him in the game and he'll contribute there. He's no Dickey Brinkman, but he's a serviceable catcher for now. Backup Jim Kaflutnshnutn is batting .128. That seems about right.

First baseman Red Leinenkugel is just getting started. Having to fill the shoes of Bombo Vadabonceour is no fun, but Red's off to a nice start. As his power develops, this should be a guy in the running for All-Star appearances yearly. For some reason, the Marauders have been sitting Leinenkugel against lefties in favor of retread Koukalouka Ioneki. I don't approve. Johnny Ice is not the answer as the starting second baseman. Calgary was dazzled by an over-his-head cup of coffee with Vegas in 1986 and since then haven't noticed that Ice is a nice utilityman to have but not a starting option. Jeffrey Mejias is terrible as a starting shortstop. He shouldn't even be in the league. Guillermo Ramirez, who is getting some platoon time at second with Ice moving to short against lefties, also has no business getting playing time here. Celso Serna is getting the heavy side of a third base platoon with once-phenom Brad Nowell. Serna's a decent player if kept in a platoon situation at third base. Nowell has all the tools to be the decent partner against lefties but hasn't produced in that role this season, although he thrived in it last season.

Left fielder Lem Galarraga is really the Calgary franchise offensive player right now. He had more trade value a couple years ago but Calgary held him, and now are probably stuck with him. Ron Kittle offers a decent alternative versus lefties, but can't hit a lick versus righties and isn't long for the MBBA. CF Patrick Casavant is a talented underachiever right now. One has to wonder if his lack of plate discipline will serve as a deterrent to his career. RF Andy Foster strikes out a ton, but is still a decent player, and probably the most marketable chip that the new owner should be looking to deal. With rookie Sadaharu Oh, Jr. waiting in the wings (and outperforming nearly every Calgary player in 217 AB's thus far), Foster is on his way out of Alberta.


On the Horizon:
Oh, Jr and Leinenkugel are highlighting the future youth movement of the Marauders which is in fast forward right now. Other names you can expect to see sooner than later include:

SP Allen Izatt- Izatt is possibly the best starting pitching prospect in the minor leagues right now. If anyone could become close to "the next Nebraska", this guy is it. ETA: Late 1991

LF Johnnie Iraq- An uber talented outfielder and offensive prodigy, this 19 year old still has quite a bit of growing to do in the minor league level before taking over in the Calgary outfield alongside Casavant and Oh, Jr. ETA: Late 1992

SP Ken Gladden- He might project as more of a relief type due to his lack of stuff, but he's certainly stingy on the longball, which will come in handy in the FLP. ETA: 1990


Overall Viewpoint:
I think Calgary has some players. Some of the decision making (or lack thereof) this season has been strange, but a new owner could certainly make an adjustment or two to get the Marauders right in the thick of the FL Wild Card race quickly. The future of this franchise is in direct corrolation with the development (or trade of) Izatt and Iraq. They are two rare talents that, fully developed, could turn the fortunes of a franchise around very quickly with a nice supporting cast. The Marauders have a nice supporting cast. What they lack are the true superstars that they hope Izatt and Iraq can become. This is definitely a franchise that can be very interesting to ownership suitors.

[Recte44]

Long Beach Surfers (use in lieu of hyperlinks due to the high volume of players names that will be bandied about here)

June 21, 1990

Once the Salt Lake Missions, the Long Beach Surfers have been the #2 team in the Frick for the last three years after edging out Las Vegas in 1987 for the division title. The Surfers have long had a powerful lineup and some decent pitching. This season, they made a few moves on the trade market in the offseason, and throughout this season have been quiet even though a move or two would give them what they need to seriously challenge for the Frick League playoffs. A new owner should be able to quickly step into this situation and win now.

The Pitching Staff:
The Surfers are operating under a four man rotation this season. When you have an ace the likes of Justin Alexander, that's not such a bad idea. Looking at his career, it's like two careers in one. With Las Vegas, and after Las Vegas. Since escaping the Hustlers when they were bad, Alexander has been one of the league's premier pitchers. This peaked with a 25-3 season last year and he somehow still didn't win Pitcher of the Year honors. Good grief, MBBA. Veteran lefty knuckleballer Tex Avery was picked up from Omaha this offseason in a move for slugger Justin Smith and, as many predicted, hasn't responded well to the air in Long Beach, being extremely susceptible to the gopher ball. Marcel Reyes is a career Mission/Surfer, and in his twelfth season he's been as steady as ever. Fourth starter Aubrey Lewis will need to improve his control to ever succeed as a starter.

Closer Adam Mienel is one of the best in the MBBA. With the trend on inducting relievers into the HOF, he might have a shot at that honor when his playing days are over. Set-up man Steve Ontiveros defected from MLB in 1985 and has been overmatched at times. This season he's been downright horrendous. Michael Poffenberger has been handing opposing teams runs on a silver platter. The fact that these two are the set-up men tells you a thing or two about Long Beach's major issue. Thomas Cha has an ERA of 12.42 right now. Abraham MacKenzie has not a bit of control skills, but has performed admirably in this mess. Pat Larkin has been ineffective. Darrel Akerfelds has arguably the best results of any reliever, but he's stashed as the last man on the staff.

The Surfers will need to fix this bullpen quickly to move forward.


The Position Players:
Long have the Surfers been known as a home run hitting team. This season is no different, as their overall offensive numbers aren't fantastic but they are third in the MBBA in homers. They have a lot of talented offensive players.

Robin Larker can't hit for contact at all, but his power makes up for it and makes him a passable catcher for now. Darryl Cias is the perfect backup, and a nice pinch hitter if you need a single in the clutch. The Surfers chose to carry a Rule 5 pick all season, and Tyrone Van Slyke looks like a younger version of Cias.

If you asked the casual fan what the big problem with Long Beach is, the subject of 1B Ted Sale would certainly be one of the things first mentioned. Sale is one of the most talented players in the league, but in his sixth season has yet to show Long Beach any production on a real consistent basis. This season he has really been a disappointment, and a change of scenery might be the best thing for Sale. He could certainly bring back decent value in a deal, possibly bringing the Surfers badly needed pitching help. Gary Skinner, as a reserve, is a real bonus guy to have coming off the bench and that does seem his natural role. Corner reserve Bill Powers was once a big prospect in the 1980's but now shouldn't be taking up a roster spot.
Shortstop Ulysses Chang was another one time uber-spec who has had problems with his contact, but his power is just enough to keep him in the lineup, much like Larker. At second and third base, the Surfers employ a platoon of three men. Thomas Angus plays 2B versus RHP and 3B versus LHP. As the club's leadoff hitter, one could single out Angus for a lot of the team's offensive struggles this season. He is not a full time player and is overmatched in this role. Sue Callas, who plays 3B against RHP only, is another one of these power-only guys that LBC seems to be obsessed with. His production has fallen off over the years as well. Nate Jirlbert can really rake against LHP, and that's why he is in there at second base.

Left fielder Mike Fuentes has been one of the top offensive outfielders in the Frick League for several years, but this season seems to have fallen off as well. The right field tandem of Lamar Jimenez and Gene Richards is completely unacceptable. The franchise seems to be in centerfield, as Monty Lynch is putting on a one man show this season. Really, with all the negative things about Long Beach right now, it seems that Lynch has willed them to a winning record this season and can expect to be a huge contributor for years to come.

On the Horizon:
SP Micheal Shellenbarger was acquired along with Avery for Justin Smith and could single-handedly swing that trade in the Surfers' favor. However, he just hurt himself and will be out for six weeks. The Surfers will hold their breath in the meantime hoping for him to come back strong. ETA: Mid-1991

C Oscar Mazzarella will make Robin Larker a backup before too long. This year's #1 pick has been flying through the system and should be a factor soon. ETA: Late 1990.

Luckily the Surfers won't have to put up with Angus at SS for too long. They talked SS O'Shea Jackson out of his career as "Ice Cube" with the rap group N.W.A. and he projects to be a solid, if unspectacular shortstop for them with great defense. ETA: 1991

Overall Viewpoint:
The Surfers are in position to make a strike right now, but unlike Calgary they seem to need more of a makeover. The all power concept hasn't worked for them. This is a franchise that will need a flurry of moves to reshape their image. They could look at the team they are trying to catch in Nevada as a decent model to shape themselves after.

[ronzonie007]

There's no finer league the OOTP Universe, as far as I'm concerned. Good people, good competition, high activity. Browse through the forums and introduce yourselves. I've been with the league since the beginning, and it remains my #1 league!

[fanatix111]

I love the MBBA. If you're looking for a serious league, this is a great one to start with.

I would post under my real OOTP name (steinr99), but unfortunately the mods are a bunch of disease-ridden whores and won't unban me. They banned me for a month and here we are 6 months later and still nothing.

You can go straight to hell TCDale, and take your mother with you!

[Recte44]

[Recte44]

Greetings, fellow OOTP'ers. I'm here today to tell you a little about the MBBA (Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association) and why it is a great place to be.

First, the Premise:
JANUARY 1973: Major League Baseball passes the Designated Hitter rule for use in the American League on a trial basis. Oakland owner Charlie Finley lobbied hard for the rule and his counterparts obliged. The National League did not approve the rule, and were far from alone in opposing it. Many Americans were against the latest thing to disrupt the National Pastime. In 1969, Curt Flood successfully challenged the reserve clause in baseball, beginning arbitration. Challenges to bring about true free agency for players are lurking on the horizon. Along the way, a society for preservation of the National Pastime was formed. The society decided to launch their own baseball league that would abolish the Designated Hitter and fix financial and player association problems before they arose. "Businessman" Montgomery "Monty" Brewster, who has come into millions of dollars from a deceased uncle, donated the money to the league and is the society's chairman. The MBBA will consist of 2 leagues of 12 teams divided into 3 divisions each. Expansion will be considered as league continues. Owners must have the leagues current version of OOTP and may only control 1 team. Violations of these or any rules described below may merit league enforced punishment, or in extreme cases, banishment from the MBBA. This is a league "for the owners, by the owners", so the majority of our rules are determined by the owners in a democratic spirit. We are all assumed to be in various degrees of maturity and will be expected to dust it off on occasion. Simply put it’s this easy--------
1. Have fun
2. Try your best
3. Treat others as you would like to be treated (or better!)

Some backstory on our history:
I started the MBBA with the 1973 season. We're currently in our 18th season and have a fairly solid reputation of being one of the more active leagues out there. We are a fictional league, but incorporate Defectors from MLB and another newer feature: The Scout-an-MLB'er Program.
We boast an active forum community that is made active by an outstanding group of owners and our highly sophisticated Participation Point System .

What we're looking for:
Currently I'm looking for an owner for the Hackensack Bulls.


The Hackensack Bulls are a team on the rise, and right in the thick of the Frick League Atlantic race. LF Glen Groves is the clear leader of this team, but there is plenty more talent to work with. CL Brian Fisher was also selected to the recent All-Star roster. Veteran SP Braggo Franco and young SP Williamson "Fadeaway" Prushnok form a top tandem in the rotation. RF Clemente Serrano and SS Tim McGraw (yes, that Tim McGraw) are top young players on this squad. They are ready to contend right now. All they need is an active owner.


How can you get involved?
Come to the forum , check out our website , take a look around, talk to some people. If you decide this might be something you'd want to be a part of, CHECK OUT THIS THREAD!

[bbrowne74]

This is a great league to be involved in. It has a great group of guys from diverse backgrounds. If you're looking for an active league to be involved in and to spur the baseball juices just before Spring training you'd do yourself a service to check 'em out.

[Cliche]

great league full of great guys...

come and join up if you think you can handle the awesome.

[draven085]

Aside from having a great group of owners that I consider friends as well as people I enjoy kicking the crap out of, the MBBA does a wonderful job of meshing fictional and historical players. The premise behind this league is one of the best I've come across and it's implementation is simply excellent. If you're looking for a top-notch, active online league then this is the place for you.

[Recte44]

:bump:

The new Long Beach owner didn't take. We're on the lookout once again!

[Bisbo]

As the firmly-entrenched Calgary owner, I take umbrage at our Commissioner's post, above. It is indicative of the violently anti-Canadian bias that permeates this league. However, as the new owner of the Long Beach Surfers, you will not suffer from this bias; indeed, you will be firmly entenched in the 25 team-strong US clique. Unfortunately, you will not be entitled to compete for the Trebek Trophy, which is occasionally awarded to the Canadian team with the most wins at the end of the season. Come check us out - this is a longstanding league with knowledgeable and entertaining owners - the perfect OOTP experience. Long Beach is a talented team waiting for a good owner.

[Recte44]

Sorry, Biz. Typo. But we REALLY ARE looking for a dedicated Long Beach owner. If you want to join a league where the expectation is all 24 owners actively participating, this is what you've been looking for.

[Recte44]

Still on the lookout for a nice fit as a Long Beach owner. In fact, the current Hawaii Tropics owner may be willing to switch with you.

[Jonathan Chance]

I might well be interested. Could I change 'Long Beach' to 'Redondo Beach'?

[jahm]

i would like to join your league.
name-jeff williams
email-jeffamy999@verizon.net
aim-jeffamy999
own-6.5

thank you