Evolution: Neloxian Baseball Revisited

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DOMINION ELITE
The former Parkvonta Packers franchise have undergone a makeover in anticipation of the 1967 season. Purchased by former Seminary Asst. GM Dark Cloud last off-season, the club has been renamed Dominion Elite.

"We wanted a name that could be recognized through the Dominion of Sanfranchez, rather than a name that was local." Parkvonta is a community of just over 31,000 people and given the rumors that the team will move to a larger market if they indeed manage to win the Township Series -- no small feat -- and gain the coveted spot in the Second Division, en route to their final destination -- the Premier League.

"It's not going to be easy and obviously, its never been done this way before. So, we're facing an uphill battle. But if we manage to do it first, everyone will remember that."

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What many people probably don't realize is, despite being able to move up, Township teams aren't really organized under the conception of someday being Premier League or First Division clubs.

The fact is, the game starts to cost a lot more money once you leave the township and a ton more once you leave the 2nd Division and most team owners -- or in the case of teams owned by communities -- don't want to expend that sort of cash.

"Township teams have their place in the Neloxian baseball hierarchy and they like where they are for the most part," said Danny Brickell, a baseball writer for the Dominion News-Observer in North Bay.

The clubs in the league don't pay their players a ton and players usually leave the league when they get any sort of experience, in search of greener pastures and simply, more money.

Dominion Elite, with their GM who spent years as the Asst. GM for Seminary in the Premier League, has defied odds to a degree since taking over the former Parkvonta Packers franchise.

"He's investing a lot of money into that club and that's not something you see in this league." Free agents from the top two leagues are not allowed to sign with 2nd and NTA clubs, but that doesn't stop teams from seeking out transfers or loan agreements with teams who have players on their reserve rosters or simply, working hard to seek out young talent.

"A team would much rather have a kid play and see whether he's worth the investment down the road, rather than have him on the reserve roster for 3 years and not see much of him at all because he's just too young. That's a big dilemma for clubs at the higher levels," said Brickell.

Despite that, the talent levels are so close in the township, that the edge really only comes in the playoffs. "Because of the way that league is setup, if you make the playoffs, that's when you get to make your mark. But its a tough road to make it all the way to win the Township Series."

But that's exactly what Dark Cloud and the Dominion Elite are going to try to do.

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Mostly because the split season format doesn't really seem to work right in OOTP2006, I changed the Township Association from that format to a wild card format. So, there will be two division champs in each league, along with two wild cards from each.

It just seems a more straightforward way to do it, so that's how its going to work from now on and no, it has nothing to do with the team I'm running in the dynasty, but more owning to the fact that I've all but ignored the Township since starting this universe and now I'm figuring out how screwed up things were in this league and so I can fix them whether I have team there or not, really.

[Eugene Church]

Intriging league.

I rarely have time to read a dynasty report, but decided to give yours a look.

The name "Neloxian" grabbed me.

[darkcloud4579]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Intriging league.

I rarely have time to read a dynasty report, but decided to give yours a look.

The name "Neloxian" grabbed me.

I appreciate you stopping by!

[darkcloud4579]

In the Township, Dominion Elite was promoted to the 2nd division, while the Reyevist Royals folded after 67 years between the township and the NSD. The Turtle Beach Fowls were a new expansion team to replace them, as the Cornersberg Firefighters were demoted back to the Township.

In the 2nd Division, the Sarta Emiliae Statesman are headed back to the 1st division after sporting the league's best record in 1967, while the surprise team to go with them are the Parkvonta Bengals, who moved to Becheolivia to start the 1968 season.

Joining the NSD after an unsuccessful year in the First Division are the Mt. Lara Avalanche and the Grensmett Ghouls.

Southstate Capital, who reeled off three straight Division titles in the first division (1965-1967) are moving up, while Fifty Lakes Professional will rejoin the first division after a several decades hiatus.

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Needless to say, this year's promotion/demotions have an air of disappointment for many clubs, while other proud clubs are moving forward to higher leagues.

TOWNSHIP ASSOC.
The Castle Parke Stars join the league for their first season of Township play as an expansion club.

SECOND DIVISION
Cinnamon Canyon won the 1971 Township Series and join the [B]NSD/B] after 70 years in the Township, making 24 appearances in the playoffs and claiming their first title last year. Better late than never and what a year to do it, eh? The team's new name is Triangle BB

The Des Villes Dinosaurs are gone after a losing season, joining the NSD from its inception and claiming 6 titles in franchise history. The players were dispersed throughout the league and the team folded.

The Sarta Emiliae Statesman, a once proud franchise is BACK in the Second Division after a poor showing in the First Division last year. This was a team that was once considered to be headed to the Premier League, due to strong attendance and a legacy of success including 3 NFD titles since their inception in 1924 and yet, they failed to put it together when it mattered most.

Joining them in relegation are the Brynsel Brigade, who since joining the NFD back in 1940 had only one playoff appearance and no titles to their credit. So perhaps the Second Division is where they belong. Ticket sales for this season actually ROSE for the club, upon news that they were moving to the Second Division, probably owning to the fact that fans are expecting that the team might be successful for the next few years.

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FIRST DIVISION
After sporting the best record in the NSD, the franchise from Grensmett is elevated to the First Division, after a four-year stay in the 2nd Division. While the team never won a title during their stay in the NSD, they finished first in their division four-straight times. The club has adopted the name Grensmett Granite after a sponsorship deal with the Granite company located just outside Grensmett.

Perhaps the most embarassing and "sad" new entry for fans of Neloxian baseball over the years, are the revelation that Saint Etienne Excelsior, a club with 9 Neloxian Series titles in its history and that won 4657 games during their Premiership career (1901-1971) have been demoted. The outcry for this demotion was exacerbated by the fact that the Excelsior (39-95) had their worst season in franchise history and was only the second time in franchise history that the team lost 39 games (1926 was the only other time) and so..many said the system was "broken" and should take other factors into account.

League officials say that the policy isn't designed for that and that, they would take a look at it for future years, but..."relegation/promotion is designed to penalize good teams, but its designed to improve play on the field and improve team desire throughout seasons. Not just in relegation years, but for the long haul," said a league official.

Some are calling for "the process" as it has come to be called, to happen every two years, while others want it to occur every six. Some are calling for it to be scrapped all together, with the best teams in the "best markets" being selected for each league.

But smaller cities are rejecting these calls and who can blame them? For the possibility that a team could start out in the 2nd Division and make its way to the top tier of Neloxian baseball in less than a decade, is quite the incentive for all sorts of teams.

"We're playing hard everyday, knowing we have a chance to make it," said a player.

PREMIER LEAGUE
Nicosa is a proud baseball city and its shining day is about to come. Founded in 1901, the Kingfishers won the First Division title in 1971, sported the league's best record and are now in the Premier League, as the first team to EVER to play at all four levels of Neloxian baseball.

"This is an amazing accomplishment and the sort of thing that the process was all about when we innovated it. The idea was to reward successful teams, no matter where they were located in the Dominion of Sanfranchez, no matter how big their city or how deep their pockets, but simply how great the team played."

The Kingfishers won the Township Series in 1915 and made the playoffs 11 times before moving to the Second Division in 1926. They won a staggering 8 Second Division titles from 1931-1941, which included a three-peat (1937-39), before the club moved up to the First Division in 1943.

They won two titles in the First Division (1957 was the other), with last year's title being the most meaningful championship series title beyond the other 10, as that one propelled the club to the peak of Neloxian baseball.

The question becomes, can this club become the first to claim titles at all levels -- a feat that might never be duplicated -- or will they be back in their familiar stomping grounds after four short years?

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It was supposed to end better than this. But despite leading the ballclub to titles in both the Township Association (1967) and NSD (1969), the club had their worst season in the year that was supposed to be their best, going 34-70 and narrowly escaping being folded or reapplying to join the Township that they left.

"We're grateful that the team managed not to lose itself at the end, but, there is a great deal of disappointment about how we finished last year. For that reason, I have decided to sell the club, as I think this is in the best interest of the organization long-term," said Dark Cloud in a statement last September at the end of the regular season.

Rumors are flying that he will accept a job back in the Premier League -- where he spent years as an Assistant GM with Seminary -- or he might head elsewhere, but, there is little disputing his success with the club, going 315-175 in five years, with four playoff appearances and two league titles -- in two different leagues -- to his credit.

"He proved, if nothing else, that he makes a decent GM. I think he's embarassed to a degree and felt that after the team failed to move up, that he'd blown his promise and that it was better to get out while he still had some dignity. But there are a lot of unsuccessful teams out there that would be delighted to take on a guy who won over 60% of his games and has NPL experience," said one baseball writer close to the club.

DC has not made an announcement on his future, but one is expected prior to the Winter Meetings.

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CURRENT (1972)
TOWNSHIP: $135
SECOND DIVISION: $6,229
FIRST DIVISION: $32,038
PREMIER: $108,744

(1966)
Npl: $73,045
Nfd: $10,819
Nsd: $518
Nta: $10

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

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NELITZ -- A little known provision in the relegation agreement that left owners on the hook for money in salaries, even as their revenues were slashed due to relegation has left owners across the divisions protesting the move.

Owners voted across the board to suspend "the process" for the 1975 season, meaning teams would stay in the leagues they are currently in.

Meanwhile, players at all levels are demanding pay raises, asking for the chance to promote like they would have normally or to get the money due to them, even if the teams don't promote/relegate.

Players are stating that the league has "failed to live up to" its end of the bargain, while owners are saying that the process occured at the behest of the owners and so, players have no gripes.

But the players are talking strike and the two sides have intensified talks as the weeks have gone on.

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MARCH 1, 1975

The owners from the Neloxian Premier, First and Second Divisions are continuing talks with representatives from the players, regarding players feeling as if they've been stolen from, in regards to money from not being promoted or from teams that are relegated getting an opportunity to play on a bigger stage.

"Players feel like they have a right to the new system and the owners are saying no," said one baseball analyst who covers the game for the Dominion News Network.

In the end, there is no real indication as to what will happen as the season gets underway. But for now, most feel that the fact that the two sides are willing to continue talking is a good thing.

"We hope that there will be some resolution," he said.

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SEPTEMBER 1, 1975. - The players in the Neloxian Premier League, as well as the First and Second Divisions have agreed to sit out the playoffs for their respective leagues, as a protest to the owner's decision at the end of the 1974 season to postpone the promotion/relegation "process" indefinetely.

Owners are considering a variety of proposals including releasing all of their players for being in breach of their contracts and signing replacement players, yet most are concerned for the "sanctity" of the game and the appearance that replacement players would have -- especially in the NPL, where crowds often tops 50,000 fans per game -- and so, there has been no comment from any of the owners regarding the players announcement.

This would be the first season in the 76 year history of professional baseball in Sanfranchez that the Neloxian Series and other playoffs did not occur. The Township Series will go on as planned, according to a spokesman from the Neloxian Township ***ociation, which is not considered a division of professional baseball since its players are only paid stipends.

The NFD and NSD end their seasons on September 1st and 2nd respectively, so there seems little chance of a change in those leagues and Neloxian Premier League players, whose regular season ends later in the month have also agreed to the same agreement.

"It's sad it has to be this way. But we're not happy with what they've done to us either," said St. Etienne Excelsior Catcher Jake Prettyman, a 13-year veteran at both the NFD and NPL levels.

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JAN 1, 1976 - After the embar***ment of a cancelled post-season due to a player strike, the Neloxian leagues are considering a variety of drastic measures to start 1976 that will change the face of Neloxian baseball as we've come to know it.

Some of the radical changes are pointed mostly as the size of the Premier League and First Division.

"Teams feel as if there isn't much of a difference between the NPL and the NFD and so, there are some that are pushing hard for a merger," said Jack Barry, a writer for the Evanston Republic in Navelth.

Other owners are saying that the Premier League is truly a "top tier" league and deserves to stay at its current size of just 20 total teams.

"Most of the opponents are in the opposite spectrum and want just two single table ***ociations in the NPL and want to boot teams down to lower divisions, but that's all about money and little else."

Whatever decisions are made, they need to be made quickly, as fans are reluctant to embrace the league as the new season is primed to begin in March and players are on the fence as to where they're going to be.

"There is a possibility that players who are NSD guys now, might be playing on Premier League teams in a few months. That's going to change the financial landscape a ton."

It is not clear what would happen to the NFD and NSD if their teams were merged into the Premier League, however.

"It's all up in the air right now and no one knows what's going to happen. Neloxian baseball has never been this much in flux before."

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If you've been a fan of Neloxian baseball, perhaps it was p***ed down to you from a grandparent or from your mom. Neloxian baseball as you know it, is about to radically change.

A plan is expected to be announced tomorrow to merge the Neloxian Premier League and Neloxian First Division into a new Neloxian Premier Baseball (***) ***ociation, that will begin play this season, scrapping the old alignments.

The old Second Division will become the Neloxian Baseball Conference (NBC) and will serve as a feeder league to the ***. No plans for promotion/relegation have been revealed as part of the current plan, which was billled as a compromise between the two sides -- the players and league officials -- who were at an imp***e over the last failed promotion.

Because the NBC will become the defacto 1st division, salaries for those players will increase, as will those for players who are moving up to the Premier League.

Many around baseball circles have said that a plan like this is forty years overdue.

"The Premier League was too small for all of those talented players out there that simply never got a shot. It's about time that the owners got together and decided to open up the party to everyone," said Matt Jacoubek, a baseball writer for the Saint Etienne Press.

The new Premier League will contain 32 teams.

The impact on the Township ***ociation has not been yet known or what will happen with the ***ociation that remains as the First Division, as there will be no teams left there.

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In addition to renaming the Premier League, the subleagues have been renamed.

The Dominion ***ociation is now the Neloxian League and the National ***ociation is now the Continental League.

The *** season is now 150 games long.

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The Neloxian Baseball Conference will play 124 games.

The Township ***ociation's alignment will remain the same currently.

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A prep league for players under 21 will begin in 1976. Junior League Baseball will play a 20-game season and will feature teams from 8 countries during its first season. The winners

At the completion of each year, top players will be eligible to sign with teams from other leagues or they will be released and newer players will be invited to play.

The league, depending on its success, may add other countries down the road.

"We want to showcase top young talent around the world and Junior League Baseball will allow us to do this," said Mat Kiernen, Commissioner of the Junior League and ***ociate Director of Neloxian Baseball, LLC.

The 1976 alignment will be:

GROUP A
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Australia
USA
Netherlands
Puerto Rico

GROUP B
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Japan
Dominican Republic
Sanfranchez
Canada

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NELITZ - After a self-imposed exile, it took the a serious change in the baseball landscape to bring back Dark Cloud to baseball. But this time, duty calls for his nation as he'll be the new GM of the first season of Junior League Baseball and Team Sanfranchez.

"I'm really excited to get back into this. We've got a great group of young Neloxian players who are poised to bring home a title to Sanfranchez and we can't wait to see them get out there and perform," he said at the press conference announcing his return to baseball.

When asked why he decided this was the time to come back, he said "Baseball around the world is growing and changing dramatically. I think now is as good a time as any."

April 7th signals the start of the JLB inaguaral season.

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Unlikely leaders early.

Australia leads Group A with a 4-1 record, with Team USA in last with a 2-3 record so far.

In Group B, Canada is 4-1 and the Dominican Republic has yet to win a game, going 0-5 to start the season. Sanfranchez is 1-4, adding insulting to injury as the early favourites to win the group are faltering, with the season 1/4th out of the way complete.

"If we can't turn it around quickly, we're going to be in for a world of hurt," said Sanfranchez GM Dark Cloud.