2019 Winter Meetings Thread

[24Rocks]

Hello everyone!

Here is a quick rundown of where we are in terms of 2019-2020 schedule, OOTP15 upgrade, and our sim schedule over the next week or so?

-2019 Amateur Draft is complete and results inputted in the game
-AFBL simmed until 12/31/2019 so this is our final 2019 and OOTP14 new file upload!
-No sim FRIDAY (7/18)
-Final 2019 and OOTP14 team exports are due SATURDAY (7/19) morning by 8am CT
-OOTP15 upgrade will be happening this weekend and our 1st file will be released at some point this weekend (instructions will be emailed and posted, there will be a MANDATORY response to me via the forum or email to let me know that you completed the upgrade process!)
-No sim MONDAY (7/21) to allow everyone to get their game ready to go in OOTP15
-No sim TUESDAY (7/22)
-First OOTP15 exports due by WEDNESDAY (7/23) morning by 6am CT
-2020 Spring Training Sim 1 will be Wednesday (7/23) at 6am CT
-2020 Spring Training Sim 2 will be Friday (7/25) at 6am CT
-2020 Opening Day will be Monday (7/28) when we?ll be back to our normal sim schedule of Mon-Wed-Fri sims with exports due by 6am CT on sim days
________________________________________

Here is what was discussed and then decided on by the Commish from the Winter Meetings along with upcoming rule changes/additions for the 2020 season (as well as 2021)?

Winter Meeting Topics Decisions:
DH: no change, continued to be disabled for majors (enabled in minors)
Sim schedule: no change, stays with 10-11 game days per sim otherwise noted by Commish
FA claiming: no change, stays with 1 FA claim per real-life calendar day based on Central Time
Interleague play: no change, stays enabled with 4 games against each opponent of the other league
Playoff format: changing to 7-7-9 from 5-7-7
Expansion: target year TBD but will be occurring in the 2022-2025 timeframe

Rule Changes for 2020 Season:
-Playoff Format moves from 5-7-7 to 7-7-9 (2-3-2 for 7 games, 2-2-2-1 for 9 games)
-Spring Training moves from 24 games to 28 games (OOTP15 adds more ST options, default is now 5 weeks)
-Spring Training roster size moves from 40 players maximum to 50 players maximum (more than 50 seems like overkill)
-International Complex (new feature in OOTP15) introduced
   -Max size is 50 players
   -International Scouting Discoveries per team is set to "Default (8 per year)" [Free players! All discovered and signed by CPU]
-AFBL Schedule adjusts to break for an entire week for the All-Star Game and Break around the real halfway point (80 or so games)

Rule Change for 2021 Season:
-International Free Agents enabled
   -Generate International Amateur Free Agents is set to "Default (24 per year)"
   -International Amateur Free Agent Reveal Date is set to "September 1st each year"
   -These players are off limits for FA claims and will feed into the AFBL Amateur Draft Pool as additional players

Can we make sure season DOESN'T start the day after Spring Training ends PLEASE and sounds good

[mstreeter06]

Can we make sure season DOESN'T start the day after Spring Training ends PLEASE and sounds good

That's a good idea. I'll see what I can do!

[24Rocks]

Can we make sure season DOESN'T start the day after Spring Training ends PLEASE and sounds good

That's a good idea. I'll see what I can do!

Thank you!!

[claphamsa]

Unless there are multiple people opposed to it, I'm planning on expanding the playoff format from 5-7-7 to go to a 7-7-9 format for the upcoming season. I like the idea of a possible full 7 games to decide the Wildcard Series and then make the Federation Cup a best of 9 which will add to the excitement.

i vote no

[stevee]

Just an odd question as I'm catching up on this thread - does anyone know if the game does anything differently with draft classes if a DH rule is enabled, ie. will there be a few better hitters or does that not affect the draft at all?

[mstreeter06]

Just an odd question as I'm catching up on this thread - does anyone know if the game does anything differently with draft classes if a DH rule is enabled, ie. will there be a few better hitters or does that not affect the draft at all?

Another good question that I don't have the answer to. I'd guess that the game's AI would factor it in but not sure. I can poke around the OOTP forums unless someone here knows.

[JKGuy16]

Unless there are multiple people opposed to it, I'm planning on expanding the playoff format from 5-7-7 to go to a 7-7-9 format for the upcoming season. I like the idea of a possible full 7 games to decide the Wildcard Series and then make the Federation Cup a best of 9 which will add to the excitement.

i vote no

I think it would be beneficial to include reasoning here. I respect everyone's opinion, but just saying yes or no without a reason is not really all that productive.

[mstreeter06]

Unless there are multiple people opposed to it, I'm planning on expanding the playoff format from 5-7-7 to go to a 7-7-9 format for the upcoming season. I like the idea of a possible full 7 games to decide the Wildcard Series and then make the Federation Cup a best of 9 which will add to the excitement.

i vote no

I think it would be beneficial to include reasoning here. I respect everyone's opinion, but just saying yes or no without a reason is not really all that productive.

Not sure Stephen can hear you over all them banjos playin' 

[Chappy]

Clapham fears change.

[claphamsa]

Clapham fears change.

mostly this. if it aint broke dont fix it.

[mikezone13]

Clapham fears change.

mostly this. if it aint broke dont fix it.

Well it is broke, NJ has 7 playoff appearances and only one trip to the AFBL Championship Series, even though we won it

[claphamsa]

thats a feature....

[Troyaof]

thats a feature....

And shouldnt be changed.
I dont see the need to lengthen the playoffs but my vote never seems to carry

[mstreeter06]

thats a feature....

And shouldnt be changed.
I dont see the need to lengthen the playoffs but my vote never seems to carry

AFBL needs the extra revenue to pay off their 2 new stadiums