Heartland Baseball League Looking for Three (Stats Only)

udbacker58 · 09-02-2016, 11:12 AM

We are currently using OOTP16 but are discussing switching to OOTP17, if you are interested, let me know even if you only have one of the versions.

The Heartland Baseball League is a 16 team, semi-stats only, fictional league set in the Midwest. The league started in 1978 and we just finished the 2005 season. We play a balanced, interleague schedule(16/4) of 144 games beginning April 1 and ending in September. The top two teams in each league(North/South) complete in the playoffs for a shot at the Heartland Series. All major pitching and hitting ratings/potentials are hidden while the minor ones(fielding, speed, pitcher endurance) are available. Each team has three levels of minors and we boast a full feeder system of college and high school teams.

This league has been active since January 2013 and we still have several original owners. The commish does not run a team, just the league. We sim in the PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and we sim 1/3 of a month at a time making each regular season complete in about six weeks. We then sim the offseason one month at a time so that they move rather quickly as well. There is no arbitration so players are eligible for free agency after four seasons in the bigs and they become minor league free agents after spending four years in the minors. There is also a $5 million salary cap. We use OOTP16 with no immediate plans to move to 17.

Currently we are looking to fill 3 teams. For all interested, please PM me here on the OOTP boards.

The South Bend Silver Sox are in search of a new GM. The Silver Sox are definitely a rebuilding project and a club a new GM can put their stamp on. Be careful what you wish for though, as any new GM should be prepared for a struggle early on. They have suffered from a recent revolving door of GMs, resulting in 15 consecutive losing seasons. They have two former star sluggers who are past their primes (though still useful pieces) that will be difficult to move, and they have no pitching at the major league level. However, they do have the #3 farm system in the league and do have a number of young prospects who could be coming up to make a difference soon. If you are looking for a challenge and want to turn a perennial loser around, South Bend is the team for you!

The Cedar Rapids Rebels are on the other end of the spectrum. They have arguably the most talented team overall but have disappointed the three years since their last league championship, falling 1 game short of the playoffs twice and losing in the North Championship Series in 2004. The roster is littered with future Hall of Famers, but they are all getting long in the tooth. Father time is looming and the farm system is bare, will you try and re-enforce the roster for another title run or burn it to the ground?

The Bullfrogs are the creamy middle. This 2000 expansion team made the playoffs in 2003, their 4th year in existence. They have been over .500 each of the past 3 seasons and sport one of the best offenses in the HBL. The pitching staff has been a disappointment but they may be just a pitcher or two away from a run of playoff berths. Can you acquire the arms to support this great offense?

bpbrooksy · 09-07-2016, 10:44 PM

This is hands-down the best OOTP league I've ever played in. For me, stats-only is the most rewarding style of gameplay, because you have to look a lot more closely at your players, really analyze your decision-making process, and immerse yourself that much deeper into the league. The reward is immense satisfaction when you put together a winning, contending, or championship team.

(Not to mention the awesome, engaged community of GMs.)

Go Jackalopes!

09-02-2016, 11:12 AM	#1
udbacker58 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,140	Heartland Baseball League Looking for Three (Stats Only) We are currently using OOTP16 but are discussing switching to OOTP17, if you are interested, let me know even if you only have one of the versions. The Heartland Baseball League is a 16 team, semi-stats only, fictional league set in the Midwest. The league started in 1978 and we just finished the 2005 season. We play a balanced, interleague schedule(16/4) of 144 games beginning April 1 and ending in September. The top two teams in each league(North/South) complete in the playoffs for a shot at the Heartland Series. All major pitching and hitting ratings/potentials are hidden while the minor ones(fielding, speed, pitcher endurance) are available. Each team has three levels of minors and we boast a full feeder system of college and high school teams. This league has been active since January 2013 and we still have several original owners. The commish does not run a team, just the league. We sim in the PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and we sim 1/3 of a month at a time making each regular season complete in about six weeks. We then sim the offseason one month at a time so that they move rather quickly as well. There is no arbitration so players are eligible for free agency after four seasons in the bigs and they become minor league free agents after spending four years in the minors. There is also a $5 million salary cap. We use OOTP16 with no immediate plans to move to 17. Currently we are looking to fill 3 teams. For all interested, please PM me here on the OOTP boards. The South Bend Silver Sox are in search of a new GM. The Silver Sox are definitely a rebuilding project and a club a new GM can put their stamp on. Be careful what you wish for though, as any new GM should be prepared for a struggle early on. They have suffered from a recent revolving door of GMs, resulting in 15 consecutive losing seasons. They have two former star sluggers who are past their primes (though still useful pieces) that will be difficult to move, and they have no pitching at the major league level. However, they do have the #3 farm system in the league and do have a number of young prospects who could be coming up to make a difference soon. If you are looking for a challenge and want to turn a perennial loser around, South Bend is the team for you! The Cedar Rapids Rebels are on the other end of the spectrum. They have arguably the most talented team overall but have disappointed the three years since their last league championship, falling 1 game short of the playoffs twice and losing in the North Championship Series in 2004. The roster is littered with future Hall of Famers, but they are all getting long in the tooth. Father time is looming and the farm system is bare, will you try and re-enforce the roster for another title run or burn it to the ground? The Bullfrogs are the creamy middle. This 2000 expansion team made the playoffs in 2003, their 4th year in existence. They have been over .500 each of the past 3 seasons and sport one of the best offenses in the HBL. The pitching staff has been a disappointment but they may be just a pitcher or two away from a run of playoff berths. Can you acquire the arms to support this great offense?

09-07-2016, 10:44 PM	#2
bpbrooksy Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 99	This is hands-down the best OOTP league I've ever played in. For me, stats-only is the most rewarding style of gameplay, because you have to look a lot more closely at your players, really analyze your decision-making process, and immerse yourself that much deeper into the league. The reward is immense satisfaction when you put together a winning, contending, or championship team. (Not to mention the awesome, engaged community of GMs.) Go Jackalopes!