Colby-Meer Trophy

I'm giving declaring a rivalry between Oedipus and PTI, as they were expansion cousins. It is to be known as the Green Wooden Monkey Award -- apparently 2004, the year the two teams joined the league, was the Chinese year of the Green Wooden Monkey. Look it up!

Time for some rivalry trophies

One of the coolest features of our new ESPN site is the ability to create all kinds of trophies and awards, which ESPN will retain for posterity in each team's trophy case. Tom came up with the idea for some rivalry trophies, like are commonplace in college football.

I'm creating the Comiskey Cup, which will be awarded annually to the White Sox Fan who has the best cumulative record against other White Sox Fans -- think the ICA's version of Philadelphia's Big Five.

Apparently only I have the power to create new trophies and award them, but I'm having lots of fun with this. If anybody wants a trophy created, drop a line or add to the comments area.

Roll Out the Expansion Effort

Today, I received our first application for expansion.

If all 10 owners were able to find one person who would make a good owner to apply for an expansion franchise, we would have a pool of applicants that would very well serve us.

I hardly think that one per owner is a difficult burden.

Please brainstorm a few people you know from work, from your social circles, who have an interest in baseball. Talk up our league, and give them an app. The league is better for it.

Mid-Season Tailgate

Let's pick a date for the Second Annual ICA Mid-Season Tailgate Festival.

Last year, of course, we saw a thrilling Brewers victory over the Marlins at Miller Park. This year, we're going to an American League ballpark, U.S. Cellular Field.

I'm in favor of doing it earlier in the season, ideally before our trading deadline. It would be fun to be able to talk trades while tailgating.

Here's a few possible games. Let's settle on one before too long so we can get a block of tickets, as mid-summer Saturday games will certainly sell out.

3 p.m. Saturday, July 7 vs. Twins (Beach Towel Day)
6 p.m. Saturday, July 28 vs. Blue Jays (Fireworks Night)
6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11 vs. Mariners (Fireworks Night)

If there's interest in a Sunday or Friday game instead, those are options too. So what's the consensus?

Change your mock drafts (trade update)

The Outlaw Stars send 3b-Garret Atkins to the Walden Warriors for SP- Roy Halladay.

I'm on board with ESPN!

When you get a chance, check out ESPN.com's fantasy baseball setup. It's incredible. It's got everything we could ever ask for, even allowing for customizable year-to-year keepers -- it will save our 13-man rosters, in other words.

I made a sample account, and I encourage all of you to play around with it. Screenname choochy657, password fuggin.

(FYI, I accidentally set the sample league to head-to-head points instead of head-to-head categories, so don't freak that it looks a little odd.)

I can't wait for the Subcommittee! Who's coming, and who's hosting it?

To divide or not to divide?

Some of the sites we’ll be considering at the Commissioner’s Special Subcommittee on Yahoo Exit Strategy (Feb. 22, 7:30, location TBD) include the option (and in some cases, require) the creation of divisions. In such a scenario, the first place team in each division gets a bye.

We’ve talked before about creating divisions, and while there seemed to be some interest, we never established a formal plan. So my question to the group: If we decide to go with a division set-up next year, are you on board with it, and if so, how should we lay out the divisions?

Here’s a few non-radical options (you can read my Radical Realignment Proposal here).

Last Year’s Standings: The top 5 in one division, the bottom 5 in the other.
Positive: We guarantee at least one new playoff team.
Negative: We punish successful teams.

Age: Curt, Meer, Figgs, Feigh, Kirb (The Old School). Jason, Newman, Weiland, Tom, Colby (The Nu Skool).
Positive: It’s well balanced and relatively arbitrary.
Negative: None, that I can see.

Drawing Out Of A Hat
Positive: Completely random.
Negative: Might not be balanced.

AL Fans/NL Fans: Jason, Newman, Kirb, Colby, Feigh (AL). Curt, Meer, Figgs, Tom, Weiland (NL).
Positive: Well-balanced, and league biases would create an interesting dynamic.
Negative: It’s far from arbitrary. Although that could be considered a positive.

Core/Expansion: Jason, Newman, Kirb, Tom, Feigh (Original 5). Colby, Curt, Meer, Figgs, Weiland (Non-Original 5).
Positive: Plenty of natural rivalries.
Negative: It’s kinda divisive.

So, what's everybody think?

Volunteers, Mount UP

Per my email, here's a list of what I'm shooting for for draft day. Hit reply if anything strikes your fancy. Thanks!

*Two dry-erase boards. One would be where the commish writes each pick, one would be where teams can post needs/wants/availables, and where trades are posted. Bigger the better.

*A roll of scotch tape.

*A podium for Adam.

*The ICA Commissioner's Seal printed in color on a the biggest white cardstock paper you can do. 8 x 11 will suffice, but aim bigger.

*The ICA Seal printed in color on a the biggest white cardstock paper you can do. See above.

*I would like, but don't need, to see an attempt at a custom logo for the ICA draft. The NFL doesn't use the league logo on their draft, they have a special draft logo. Don't need it, but I'd like to see it.

*Each team's logo printed in color on white cardstock paper.

*A webcam and a microphone. We'll have to ask around for this. I intend to broadcast our the first two rounds of the draft on YouTube to enhance the marketability of expansion.

*I need a wi-fi ready laptop. Actually, I'd like a few. It'd be nice to set up an "information station." (Feigh's got this).

*A visible clock. Preferably something bigger and brighter than your microwave. LED light? This might be tough, too. Also, a small table that would be set up near the commissioner's podium, whereby he could quickly adjust it...

*We need a small table.

*I would like a volunteer page. Preferably a woman who would dress quasi-attractively and get her Vanna White on. Don't need it.

*Ten expansion applications printed out and stapled.

*Two rulebooks printed out for reference.

*One Choochlopedia printed out.

*Last year's statbook printed out (contact Meer).

*The NFL Soundtrack.

Commissioner's Special Subcommittee on Yahoo Exit Strategy

I'm calling the meeting for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at a Chicagoland location to be determined. Ideally the place will have WiFi. If you want to volunteer a place, please do. If the scheduled time proves unpalatable, and you really want to attend, let me know that also.

In the meantime, here's a list of league platforms we will consider. I'd like some input before the meeting from anybody. (Am I missing any sites?)

Yahoo
ESPN
CBS Sportsline
SportingNews

Different Arbitration Brainstorm

Crafted in the spirit of "Keeping it Simple, Stupid"

*It begins with the 2013 season (five full seasons from expansion).
*Owners request arbitration to mandatorily released players in a sealed envelope at the winter meeting.
*When said player is drafted, the drafter and original owner both brainstorm their own price for said player to be returned to the original owner.
*Other present owners vote on most fair price of the two offers.

Basically, this is exactly what I presented at the owners' meeting, minus the part where the player can turn down arbitration (the coinflip).