The Scottish Baseball Association

[Big Six]

I'm fully aware that I am probably among the contenders for the dubious title of Most OOTP Dynasties Begun, And Never Completed To Any Real Extent. The boards are now liberally sprinkled with threads I've begun, describing leagues and associations I once thought were going to be great and turned out to be easily forgotten. Sometimes they simply didn't grab my attention; other times they began promisingly, only to be derailed by a computer issue or a real-life event that (understandably) diverted my attention.

Having said all that, I enjoy playing OOTP very much. I also enjoy writing very much. That's why I keep trying different ideas here, in the hopes that one of them will turn out to be the story that lives on beyond a few weeks or so. I feel a little like Irving Berlin, dreaming of something that's "just like the ones I used to know."

I just came home from a wonderful family vacation to the British Isles, a trip my wife and I have dreamed of taking together since we were dating. All of us fell in love with Scotland, and that's going to be the setting for this fictional league story.

The Scottish Baseball Association consists of twelve teams, located throughout the country. The largest Scottish cities, Glasgow and Aberdeen, are much, much bigger than the others, and they weren't given teams. The idea of having teams representing cities with 500,000 people in the same league with teams from cities one-tenth as large didn't seem quite right to me.

The twelve cities with Association clubs will be:

East Division
Aberdeen
Dundee
Dunfermline
Inverness
Livingston
Perth

West Division
Ayr
Cumbernauld
East Kilbride
Hamilton
Kilmarnock
Paisley

The division winners will play a seven-game series for the National Cup.

Each team will have affiliates in two minor leagues, which will bring baseball to 24 more Scottish towns. Only Scots will be eligible to play in the league.

Finances are off and trades will be set to a low level, so supporters of the different clubs will be able to see many of their favorites play their entire careers.

Lots of very good dynasty stories have been written about fictional leagues. Hopefully we will all find this one to be lots of fun, and hopefully at least a few of you will want to follow along.

After I get the leagues set up, I will post with more information about the teams, and the story will begin...

[KingChaz17]

Good luck, I'll be following this one.

[Big Six]

Thanks, and welcome to the forums! I hope you enjoy following the story.

[Big Six]

The initial player draft is over, and the finest ballplayers from across Scotland have all been assigned to their teams.

Before the season begins, I'll give you a short preview of how each team stands as spring training approaches. First, the six teams of the Eastern Division. I'll preview them three at a time.

Aberdeen Highlanders
Developmental Affiliates: Greenock Schooners, Bathgate Railroaders
Best Player: OF Liam Kenneill. The #3 overall pick in the initial draft, Kenneil, 29, is a five-tool star.
Best Pitcher: Ben MacWatters. This 35-year-old veteran is the definition of the crafty southpaw.
Other Key Players: 1B Benjamin Williamson, OF Rory Malloch, RHP Callum McQuilly.

Dundee Argyles
Developmental Affiliates: Airdrie Emeralds, Renfrew Electrics
Best Player: OF Sean Wright. Nobody was surprised when the Argyles made Wright, 26, the #1 overall pick in the draft. He should be the league's best all-around hitter.
Best Pitcher: Rhys Scobie. He doesn't throw hard, but his assortment of offspeed pitches keeps hitters guessing.
Other Key Players: 2B Jonathan Ankers, 3B Matthew McNeil.

Dunfermline Shelties
Developmental Affiliates: Clydebank Captains, Peterhead Blue Claws
Best Player: OF David MacGill. Big-time power is MacGill's calling card.
Best Pitcher: Connor MacFetridge. The complete package. The Shelties' #1 pick, sixth overall.
Other Key Players: SS Scott MacAuliffe, RHP Kieran Taylor.

[Big Six]

Inverness Beacons
Developmental Affiliates: Motherwell Lookouts, Elgin Iron Dukes
Best Player: 2B Leon Crichton. An on-base machine with an old-school attitude.
Best Pitcher: Fraser Caird. This power righthander features mid-90s heat.
Other Key Players: OF Shaun Menzies, LHP Andrew MacTavish.

Livingston Eagles
Developmental Affiliates: Rutherglen Grays, Bishopbriggs Greyhounds.
Best Player: OF Charles Elphinstone. The 8th overall pick, Elphinstone is a Triple Crown candidate.
Best Pitcher: Andrew Moore. This righthander possesses a veteran's poise, a lively arm, and a great 'stache.
Other Key Players: Of Robbie MacBrayne, RHP Kyle Chalmers.

Perth Blue Sox
Developmental Affiliates: Bearsden Bruins, Bellshill Black Cats.
Best Player: 2B Jordan Moore. He's the complete package, with great power for a middle infielder...and he's only 21. How he lasted until the #5 pick in the draft is beyond me.
Best Pitcher: Mark MacLeod. When a lefty throws a 98 MPH fastball, he's something special.
Other Key Players: RHP Kyle Sullivan, OF Aiden MacWhirter.


The logos I'm using are part of justafan's outstanding collection. In fact, I chose the names for the teams in my association based on the availability of justafan's logos. Honestly, I wouldn't think of starting an OOTP game without them.

[Big Six]

Now, it's on to the Western Division.


Ayr Paladins
Developmental Affiliates: Irvine Argonauts, Musselburgh Wizards.
Best Player: OF Daniel MacLeod. Potentially the league's best power hitter...but will a questionable work ethic get in his way?
Best Pitcher: Aidan Pollock. A workhorse RHP with four plus pitches.
Other Key Players: 2B Louis Nicholson, RHP Lucas Bell.

Cumbernauld Bulls
Developmental Affiliates: Stirling Guardians, Dumbarton Fireflies.
Best Player: OF Sam Geddes. At age 24, Geddes is one of the league's most exciting young stars.
Best Pitcher: Benjamin "Booker" Corsie. A tall, powerful righthander who can still bring the heat at age 36.
Other Key Players: OF Euan Black, CL Declan Jones.

East Kilbride Archers
Developmental Affiliates: Dumfries Wolves, Alloa Warbirds.
Best Player: SS Jay Atholl. The #4 overall pick, Atholl is a prototype leadoff hitter and a slick fielder.
Best Pitcher: Stephen Davis. He doesn't throw hard, but he keeps the ball down and makes very few mistakes.
Other Key Players: 3B Jordan McGahey, RHP Lewis "Alchemist" Soutar.

[Big Six]

Hamilton Blacksmiths
Developmental Affiliates: Wishaw Bluebirds, Arbroath Merry Men.
Best Player: C Dylan Teall. Only an average defender, Teall is a rarity: a catcher with plus speed. He can hit for average and power, too.
Best Pitcher: Rory MacTaggart. This southpaw has a big, strong frame, but he earns his living with his fantastic knuckler.
Other Key Players: OF Paul Skene, CL Hamish MacGillivray.

Kilmarnock Terriers
Developmental Affiliates: Falkirk Rams, St. Andrews Lynx.
Best Player: OF Darren Grant. The Terriers got the face of their franchise with the #9 pick, a multitalented young outfielder.
Best Pitcher: James McGregor. His hard, sinking fastball and wicked change are a devastating combination.
Other Key Players: 3B Aidan MacLennan, RHP Daniel MacBride.

Paisley Underdogs
Developmental Affiliates: Kirkcaldy Clams, Kirkintilloch Abbots.
Best Player: 1B David "Twinkle Toes" MacBride. This veteran has a big laugh, a big bat, and a big clubhouse presence.
Best Pitcher: Hamish Malise. Perhaps the league's top pitcher, an ace with no real weakness. An easy choice for the U-Dogs with the #2 overall pick.
Other Key Players: SS Sam Williamson, RHP Robbie Darroch.


These previews took some time to put together, but I'm glad I did them. They've helped me get to know the teams and the players, and I'm already starting to immerse myself in the league.

[Big Six]

1 April 2013



Today is Opening Day in the Scottish Association, in the fullest sense of the word! Across Scotland, baseball fans are eagerly awaiting the thrills the Association's inaugural season might bring.

Coming out of spring training, the future might look brightest up in the Highlands, where Inverness supporters are pleased with their club's 17-7 record in exhibition play. The Beacons finished three games ahead of Dundee, their nearest competitor. Meanwhile, three Western Division teams--Cumbernauld, Ayr, and East Kilbride, all finished at 12-12, which was enough to lead the division table.

The experts think Inverness' strong showing is a sign of what's to come during the regular season, and likewise, the Western race is predicted to be a close fight among teams with records just above .500.



Most of the players who are predicted to stand out from the pack this season are fairly familiar to readers of the Season Previews. Aberdeen outfielder Peter Wemyss emerged as a contender for the batting title after a productive spring. Matt Moncrieffe of Dunfermline and Ross Macjarrow of Ayr also look like they could be on their way to good 2013 seasons.

[Big Six]

1 May 2013



One exciting month of Scottish Association baseball is in the books, featuring a mixture of predictability and surprises.

Nobody should be too startled to learn that Dylan Teall of Hamilton won the first Batter of the Month Award, especially after you take a look above at how often he appears on the leader boards. He slashed .400/.480/.791, with 9 doubles to go along with his 8 homers. That was enough to enable Teall to edge out batting leader Liam Kenneil of Aberdeen for the BOM prize.

Teall didn't get enough help from his teammates for the Blacksmiths to play much better than .500 baseball, which puts them three games off Cumbernauld's pace in the West. The Bulls got great pitching from Benjamin Corsie and stalwart bullpen work from closer Declan Jones; again, neither of those qualify as surprises.

On the other hand, the power displayed by East Kilbride 1B Taylor MacPhee caught a lot of observers off guard. MacPhee belted 9 homers to lead the league, and he also demonstrated a powerful left cross in a fight with Aberdeen reliever Christopher Douglas. Both were suspended for two games.

Two of the players who were selected in the first round of the opening draft were injured in the season's first month. Perth phenom Jordan Moore homered three times in the season's first week, before a knee sprain sent him to the DL. He hasn't played since April 6, but should be back in action next week.

Charles Elphinstone's situation was worse. On April 27, the Livingston left fielder separated his shoulder, and he isn't expected to return until after the All-Star break.

And, add to the list of surprises the story of Ayr outfielder Alexander Pascoe. He is currently batting .200, but on April 28, he hit for the cycle in an 8-7 loss to Livingston.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be keeping an eye on that close race in the Eastern Division, with four teams currently within two games of the top spot.

[Big Six]

1 June 2013



Both division races were scrambled thoroughly during May. Frontrunning teams found themselves at the bottom of the standings, while others surged to the top.

In the East, Inverness suffered through a 8-19 May that plummeted them into last place. Two six game losing streaks did the majority of the damage. Meanwhile, Dunfermline got hot and played themselves into a first place tie with Dundee, a game ahead of Aberdeen. All three Eastern front runners have better-than-average offenses, but Dundee's pitching has been significantly better so far. And, the Argyles have Sean Wright, the league's second most productive hitter behind Aberdeen's Liam Kenneil, according to WAR.

Kilmarnock and Hamilton have opened up a little space between themselves and the other teams in the West. The Shelties' offense boasts the league's best OPS, while the Blacksmiths have the best team ERA.

May in Brief

• Batter of the Month: Kilmarnock 3B Aidan MacLennan (.357-6-22 in May)
• Pitcher of the Month: Hamilton RHP Rory MacTaggart (5-2, 1.58 in May). MacTaggart fired (fluttered?) a two-hit shutout at the Terriers on 26 May.
• Trade winds: The same day that MacTaggart bedeviled the Terriers with his dancing knuckler, Livingston traded veteran OF Robbie MacBrayne to East Kilbride for RHP Adam MacGowing and a minor leaguer. Both MacBrayne and MacGowing are 36 years old, and both are off to slow starts.
• Take five: Two batsmen smacked five hits in a single game during May: Perth OF Taylor MacVarish and Kilmarnock SS Declan Logan.
• On the shelf: Catching is rough on the knees. Just ask Hamilton star Dylan Teall, who will miss about a month with a case of knee tendinitis. Teall is hitting .360 with 12 doubles, 10 homers, and 33 RBI in 42 games.
• So long: Livingston C Finlay Livingstone suffered a concussion in spring training. At first, the Eagles medical staff believed he would be able to return to action by midsummer, but on the 20th, Livingstone announced his retirement at the age of 28. He was the Eagles' Round 6 selection in the dispersal draft.

The annual rookie draft will take place in two weeks, and it looks like Cumbernauld, Inverness, and Livingston will be "battling" for the #1 overall pick.

[Jabez54]

Got a nice blend among the teams ... Love it, mate !! :

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Jabez54

Got a nice blend among the teams ... Love it, mate !! :

Thanks, Jabez. The teams are starting to take on their own characters, even though I'm only two months into the first season. I'm looking forward to seeing them become even more real over time. Now they're like the first lines of a sketch, and hopefully they will develop into full images that seem real. I got to that point with a fictional league I started on OOTP 6.5 a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. That level of immersive fun is what I'm hoping for here.

Thanks for commenting! I enjoy it when readers join in, because when I reply, I usually get to take a look at my league in a different way.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Jabez54

Got a nice blend among the teams ... Love it, mate !! :

Thanks, Jabez. The teams are starting to take on their own characters, even though I'm only two months into the first season. I'm looking forward to seeing them become even more real over time. Now they're like the first lines of a sketch, and hopefully they will develop into full images that seem real. I got to that point with a fictional league I started on OOTP 6.5 a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. That level of immersive experience is what I'm hoping for here.

Thanks for commenting! I enjoy it when readers join in, because when I reply, I usually get to take a look at my league in a fun, different way.