Mon Dec 19, 2016 2:36 pm
Andy: Thanks for pinch hitting for me while I was away from my computer working in Court this morning.
I know that the rookies to this concept are having a lot of angst, but it is unnecessary.
As I've said several times previously, we have been waiting for SOM to put the league in the proper form, which means establishing the correct draft order, putting teams in the proper divisions and having access to league mail. In an ideal world that would have happened yesterday or even first thing this morning, but it did not. Obviously, I had no control over when SOM would act. The good news is that as I was writing this response, SOM finally put the league in its proper format.
Note also that, as previously stated, I disclosed what I wrote in league mail. I expected SOM to have put the league in the proper format earlier, which would have included access to league mail. Everyone now has access to such.
Most, if not all, of the answers to your questions can be found by simply spending a little time reading the rules and the posts in this thread. If you have a question, please take the time to look for the answer in the rules and other posts in this thread before posting a semi-irate question or sarcastic comment here. While I try to be courteous and provide answers as quickly as possible, I do not sit in front of the computer 24/7 on the SOM website and I am not "Google" or "directory assistance", which provide instantaneous answers, so there may be a delay in answering questions, especially those where reading the rules and prior posts will provide an answer.
What Andy and I wrote about drafting teams in this format is not inconsistent. It was written as a prophylactic measure and advance warning about the SOM quirks and nuances involved in drafting one team at a time in this format. We are just trying to minimize issues and frustration that we know from our experience has occurred previously in this concept and will likely occur again if caution is not taken. Drafting a team is just like adding players to an established team, but because of the minimal roster requirement of 24, the SOM computer program will not allow a manager to remove someone from the team unless there will be a minimum of 24 players left. As Andy advised, you must watch your money also. If you run out of money before your roster has enough players to allow a drop, either SOM will have to intervene, or a trade will have to be made with a cooperating manager to meet roster and cap requirements before another move can be made.
As for the "exceptions" to the eligibility requirements, they are what they are and are listed right here in the rules in black and white for all to see in advance of the draft. To the extent that the question is "why" there are exceptions, the players listed as exceptions are long associated with one franchise and went to other franchises in the twilight of their career. As Commissioner, I exercised my discretion in setting the rules, and I expected that if someone had a problem with this or any other rule, they would not have joined the league.
Now that SOM has put us in the proper format, Bill (1787) can draft his team. Bill, when you are finished, please post in league mail, so that bontomn can select his franchise and draft his team. Also, all mangers should remember that we are using unique stadiums in this league, so you cannot use a stadium previously chosen by another team. The stadium chosen need not be associated with your franchise. Don't forget to change your team name to the franchise name with the number of your pick. For example, if I take the White Sox with my 6th pick, the team name would be Chicago White Sox 6.
Have fun and good luck. - Bernie
