IMPORTANT: OOTP 20 and Expansion to 32 Teams

[recte44]

Two important announcements that received 100% approval from the Governing Board.

Announcement #1: Conversion to OOTP v20 will be made during the off-season of 2038-2039 (this year), assuming reports continue to be solid.

Announcement #2: Expansion to 32 teams is expected in the off-season of 2039-2040, with new teams seeing their first action in 2040. The final decision will be dependent upon our trust our ability to acquire two reliable GMs. Process for this expansion will be developed and released NLT the off-season of 2038-2039.

[bigmike13]

Thanks to the board for staying progressive. Just one if the things that make this league the best in OOTP.

[Edward Murphy]

looking forward to it.

[niles08]

Excellent. As I loaded up 20 this morning to poke a bit I was wondering when we would be converting.

Also very excited for future expansion.

[GoldenOne]

So, if we buy 20 now can it be used for this season? Would it still be compatable with what we are running for now or would I only be able to use it separately?

[usnspecialist]

So, if we buy 20 now can it be used for this season? Would it still be compatable with what we are running for now or would I only be able to use it separately?

Yes you can buy it now, but no it won't work for the Brewster. You can import the league in, and poke around at things, but you won't be getting updated files or anything until we flip over.

[GoldenOne]

So, if we buy 20 now can it be used for this season? Would it still be compatable with what we are running for now or would I only be able to use it separately?

Yes you can buy it now, but no it won't work for the Brewster. You can import the league in, and poke around at things, but you won't be getting updated files or anything until we flip over.

Check. Prob wont import it in or anything -somehow I would just end up screwing something up and have to reload both version.

[Ted]

Thanks for the announcement, and a big giant sigh regarding expansion.

[Ted]

Also, again regarding expansion, please let us know before THIS offseason how many players we can protect and who will be eligible to be drafted. It would be nice to have a full offseason and regular season to get ready.

[felipe]

Good news

Ohio could really use a big league team

[Ted]

Alright, I can't help myself. It won't change anything, but I question the wisdom of expanding when your last two expansion franchises are terrible, and 8 of the teams that were in the bottom twelve in the league at the time of the last expansion (four years ago) are still in the bottom twelve (although two of those briefly poked their heads above water). Expansion throws a monkey wrench into the rebuilding process for bad teams. It screws with parity. You need time to normalize. We aren't even remotely close. A big part of the reason Boise and Wichita are so bad is that maybe eight or so teams contributed nothing to them in terms of talent, because it was too close to the previous expansion process.

I have said my piece. I also yielded my spot on the GB some time ago. See Chris's team news number 17 for my thoughts on some hurdles with division size, schedules and playoff structure, that I think are far more difficult than the bad schedule we are forced into with 30 teams. You won't hear another peep out of me.

[Spiccoli]

Alright, I can't help myself. It won't change anything, but I question the wisdom of expanding when your last two expansion franchises are terrible, and 8 of the teams that were in the bottom twelve in the league at the time of the last expansion (four years ago) are still in the bottom twelve (although two of those briefly poked their heads above water). Expansion throws a monkey wrench into the rebuilding process for bad teams. It screws with parity. You need time to normalize. We aren't even remotely close. A big part of the reason Boise and Wichita are so bad is that maybe eight or so teams contributed nothing to them in terms of talent, because it was too close to the previous expansion process.

I have said my piece. I also yielded my spot on the GB some time ago. See Chris's team news number 17 for my thoughts on some hurdles with division size, schedules and playoff structure, that I think are far more difficult than the bad schedule we are forced into with 30 teams. You won't hear another peep out of me.

Lol... I don’t believe you

I’m also a little surprised we’re expanding already. My concern was about having quality GM’s though.

[RonCo]

Alright, I can't help myself. It won't change anything, but I question the wisdom of expanding when your last two expansion franchises are terrible, and 8 of the teams that were in the bottom twelve in the league at the time of the last expansion (four years ago) are still in the bottom twelve (although two of those briefly poked their heads above water). Expansion throws a monkey wrench into the rebuilding process for bad teams. It screws with parity. You need time to normalize. We aren't even remotely close. A big part of the reason Boise and Wichita are so bad is that maybe eight or so teams contributed nothing to them in terms of talent, because it was too close to the previous expansion process.

I have said my piece. I also yielded my spot on the GB some time ago. See Chris's team news number 17 for my thoughts on some hurdles with division size, schedules and playoff structure, that I think are far more difficult than the bad schedule we are forced into with 30 teams. You won't hear another peep out of me.

It is completely fine to be anti-expansion if you just prefer smallerer leagues. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But I'll take issue with your assessment of the competitive balance of the league--which I continue to maintain is sublime when it comes to online leagues. I can spew details, of course, but I'll keep it out of this thread. Perhaps I'll turn it into a feature you can argue with there.

A couple thoughts to keep in mind:

1) We're announcing two seasons out so people can prepare
2) I'd suggest Boise and Wichita are not "so bad." 70+ win teams are to be expected, and we'll see how they are in two more seasons. [aside, 8 MLB teams won fewer than 70 games last year]. Stu and Jeff are highly experienced GMs.
3) To Scott's point regarding GMs...I suggest that the real question that should probably be asked regarding expansion is not "wins" so much as franchise health--though wins is important for long term mental health of the GM, too! That said, the board is in 100% consensus that the final decision to expand is predicated on being comfortable that we have two good and reliable GMs to fall back on. If we aren't convinced, we won't expand.

And, yes, per the announcement, the goal is to work through all the details and announce the actual process a season in advance.

[felipe]

Yes

Averaging out wins over the three years since expansion; I believe that Wichita has outperformed ten other BBA teams; nine of which didn’t start from scratch.

Which is why we have the eleventh pick in the Amy draft.

That aside, I understand Teds concerns.

[recte44]

I'll switch teams with the worst team in the league and then once I get them to the playoffs, I'll switch to the worst team in the league again. How about that?

[recte44]

I'll switch teams with the worst team in the league and then once I get them to the playoffs, I'll switch to the worst team in the league again. How about that?

Betcha I could flip the script on 4-5 franchises within a decade. There's no problem with parity that cannot be solved by astute management. You just have to find the undervalued skills and make it work.

[usnspecialist]

I'll switch teams with the worst team in the league and then once I get them to the playoffs, I'll switch to the worst team in the league again. How about that?

I can think of a few GMs in this league who can do that (hell I did with Havana), but the point is that there are a few GMs in this league that are a cut above the rest and it shows by a lot of those teams making the playoffs on a routine basis.

[RonCo]

Kyle did it in three weeks with Huntsville -- though Huntsville wasn't completely in disarray, only getting there...and obviously, he understood who Huntsville is better than anyone else on the planet.

[RonCo]

That said, Kyle hasn't made the playoffs. So I guess per that measure Huntsville sucks.

[RonCo]

Making the playoffs is a very good measure to pay attention too...but it's only one of several.