9/25/13

• Division Champions from September 24 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Hall of Fame - Ruth Division: Seattle Survivors (owners Scott Campbell & Leif Jonson - 2nd win in 2013 for Leif) - Returns to playoffs for the first time since 2007
  • Shadowball - Memphis Red Sox Division: Louisiana Born on the Bayou Boys (owner Michael Lehman - 6th win in 2013) - 5th division win - first since 2009
  • Chevy Chase - Ty Webb Division: Detroit Dusty Bottoms (owner Mike Prohaska - 5th win in 2013) - New owner - first division win since 2009
  • Perfect World - Kenny Rogers Division: Ehime Ichiban (owner Tom Twomey - 17th win in 2013) - Defending league champ - 4th straight division title
  • Winners Circle - Alexander Division: Santa Fe Gun Runners (owner Robert Elias - 8th win in 2013) - Highest finish had been 2nd place
  • Winners Circle - Spahn Division: Uruguay Urusai (owner Tom Twomey - 18th win in 2013) - Repeat division winner
  • Federal - St. Louis Terriers Division: Lexington Rupps (owner J.C. Freeman - 2nd win in 2013) - Defending conference champ
  • Motor City - Gehringer Division: Macon Whoopie (owner Stephen Chase) - Initial Season
  • Longball - McGuire Division: Nokomis Choo Choo Trains (owner Jacob Vass - 2nd win in 2013) - 8th division title - Won 4 League Championships
  • Blame Canada - Stan Division: South Alabama Juggurnauts (owner Christian Zaccaro) - First division win
  • Triple Crown - Yastrzemski Division: Hornsby Cards (owner Michael Quinn - 13th win in 2013) - 5th franchise season - first 4 were all 4th place finishes
  • Triple Crown - Klein Division: Underwater Flying Submarines (owner Jason Kiernan) - New owner - first franchise division title
  • Cleveland Rocks - Boudreau Division: The Flats ! (owner James Doud) - Initial Season
  • Cleveland Rocks - Averill Division: Kentucky Sluggers (owner Tom McGraw) - Initial Season
  • Deuces Wild - Biggio Division: Yellowstone Geysers (owner Jamison Reese - 2nd win in 2013) - Repeat division winner
  • K Street - Sutton Division: Aksarben Bugeaters (owner Don Kruse - 7th win in 2013) - 4 previous division wins - all 4 teams went to finals but has yet to win title
  • Geek Pride - Dorsey Division: Seattle Grunge (owner Philip Dang - 3rd win in 2013) - Initial season
  • Geek Pride - Berners-Lee Division: Mt. Airy Diplomats (Micah Bustard) - Initial season
  • Blue and Gray - Jackson Division: Charleston Cannon Fodder (owner Jerry King) - 5th division title - League champ in 2009
  • Superman - Brandon Routh Division: Dodge City Oracle (owner Brad Matthews) - 99 losses in 2012 - new owner takes division title

9/22/13

• Division Champions from September 22 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Perfect World - David Cone Division: Arkansas Hogs (owner Michael Quinn - 11th win in 2013) - Return to playoffs after division wins in 2010-11
  • Beatleball - Lennon Division: Rome Gladiators (owner Danny Zaccaro - 3rd win in 2013) - Defending League Champion
  • Firemen - Smith Division: Mammoth Grizzlies (owner Michael Quinn - 12th win in 2013) - New owner - team finished 4th in 2012
  • Firemen - Wagner Division: Reggae Boys (owner Ricardo Alexander - 3rd win in 2013) - Finished 3rd last year in league's first season
  • Firemen - Eckersley Division: Axacan Lost Spaniards (owner Robert Elias - 6th win in 2013) - New owner - team was 3rd last season
  • Reality Bites - Amazing Race Division: Detroit Realists (owner Mike Prohaska - 4th win in 2013) - Second division win - last was in 2010
  • Three of a Kind - Speaker Division: Hudson River 3-Eyed Fish (owner Tom Twomey - 15th win in 2013) - 5th division win in league's 6th season; League champ '08
  • Golden Throat - Ernie Harwell Division: Massapequa Chiefs (owner Vito Selvaggi) -3rd straight title; League champ in 2011
  • Murderers' Row - Big Donkey Division: Mayan Shamans (owner Kevin Connors - 3rd win in 2013) - First win after 2 straight 2nd place finishes
  • Commissioners - Frick Division: Cincinnati The dl2 (owner Michael Horvitz) - First title in franchise history
  • They Might Be Giants - Marichal Division: Edgewater Underwear Thieves (owner Tom Twomey - 16th win in 2013) - Division winner in league's first season last year
  • They Might Be Giants - Terry Division: Istanbul not Constantinople (owner Adam Wilson) - 4th place in 2012 to Division Champ in 2013
  • Geek Pride - Tomlinson Division: Phantastic Phenoms (owner David Henning - 2nd win in 2013) - Initial season
  • Batman - Keaton Division: Infinity Island Shadows (owner Robert Elias - 7th win in 2013) - New owner - closest team finish had been 22 GB in 2012
  • Batman - Clooney Division: Gotham City Knights (owner Jon Swanson - 2nd win in 2013) - Repeat division winner
  • Superman - Dean Cain Division: Morristown Feelin Friskies (owner Jamison Reese) - 4th place finish last year in league's first season

9/20/13

• Division Champions from September 19 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Shadowball - Pittsburgh Crawfords Division: Jersey City Dirty Bombs (owner Tom Twomey - 12th win in 2013) - 5th division win - first since 2009
  • Fenway Fenatics - Boggs Division: Hawaiian Surfer Dudes (owner Andrew Lehman - 2nd win in 2013) - Won division in 2011 too
  • Chevy Chase - Clark W. Griswold, Jr. Division: Bath County Black Sheep (owner Tom Twomey - 13th win in 2013) - Defending league champ - 4th straight division title
  • Perfect World - David Wells Division: Mississippi Mudjackers (owner Gregory Mills) - First title after three straight 3rd place finishes
  • Beer - Water Division: Foster's Cardinals (owner Michael Quinn - 6th win in 2013) - New owner - first division win for franchise
  • Beatleball - Starr Division: Underground Cardinals (owner Michael Quinn - 7th win in 2013) - Won division and conference last year
  • Reality Bites - Fear Factor Division: Minneapolis Coonhounds (owner Jon Swanson) - Second division win - last was in 2010
  • Kings of Queens - Koosman Division: Greek Gods (owner Roland Dupont) - Best finish had been 2nd last season
  • Four Star - Patton Division: Miami County Mercenaries (owner David Henning) - New owner turns around 95-loss team from last year. 2011 League champion
  • Four Star - MacArthur Division: Men Injecting Men 2 Still Roided Up (owner Christian Ingram - 2nd win in 2013) - Defending conference champ
  • Three of a Kind - Wagner Division: Kansas City Crusaders (owner Matt Strawbridge) - Repeat division winner
  • Three of a Kind - Beckley Division: Death Valley Chubascos (owner Allan Hodgson) - Conference champion in 2009
  • Federal - Brooklyn Tip-Tops Division: Del Mar Longshots (owner Ken DeGroot - 2nd win in 2013) - 3rd place last season in league's first year
  • Federal - Buffalo Buffeds Division: Buffalo Wings over America (owner Michael Lehman - 4th win in 2013) - Defending division champ
  • Motor City - Horton Division: Gratiot Cards (owner Michael Quinn - 8th win in 2013) - Initial Season
  • Motor City - Greenberg Division: Detroit 8 Milers (owner Mike Prohaska - 3rd win in 2013) - Initial Season
  • Longball - Robinson Division: Trinidad Island Vikings (owner Leif Jonson) - Defending league champ. 2008 BW Bash champ; 6th division win
  • Cleveland Rocks - Harder Division: Toledo Torpedoes (owner Tom Twomey - 14th win in 2013) - Initial Season
  • Phightin' Phils - Alexander Division: Hannibal Cannibals (owner Michael Lehman - 5th win in 2013) - Repeat division winner
  • K Street - Seaver Division: Wayne Mad Generals (owner Robert Elias - 5th win in 2013) - First division title in 9 years of league. Had finished 2nd 3 times
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Sutton Division: South Hills California Elite (owner Michael Quinn - 9th win in 2013) - Repeat win for division - won League title in 2009
  • Batman - Kilmer Division: Brinkley CP Bulldogs (owner Michael Quinn - 11th win in 2013) - Defending league champ - only team to win this division in 4 years of league
  • Batman - Bale Division: KC Sporting Quadricorns (owner Michael Walker) - Won conference in 2012
  • Pacific Northwest - Huskies Division: Kingston Don Dadda (owner Ricardo Alexander - 2nd win in 2013) - Initial season
  • Pacific Northwest - Cougars Division: North By Northwest Crop Dusters (owner Danny Zaccaro - 2nd win in 2013) - Initial season

9/18/13

• Week 25 Transactions Posted - Week 26 Deadline - Setting your lineups for the first week of the playoffs - is Saturday September 28 at Noon Eastern.
• Division Champions from September 17 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Fenway Fenatics - Cronin Division: Utopia Unibrows (owner Tom Twomey - 7th win in 2013) - 3rd Division win - Defending league champ
  • Chevy Chase - Emmit Fitz-Hume Division: Quahog Drunken Clams (owner Don Kruse- 3rd win in 2013) - Returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2008
  • Perfect World - Randy Johnson Division: California Overalls (owner Craig Burke) - First division win
  • Winners Circle - Mathewson Division: Longfellow Public Television Donors (owner Jacob Vass) - Repeat division winner
  • Kings of Queens - Harrelson Division: Dunder Mifflin Sabres (owner Don Kruse - 4th win in 2013) - Three straight division wins - Conference title in 2011
  • Four Star - Bradley Division: NYC2ATL Jr Blackbirds (owner Ricardo Alexander) - Defending league champion
  • Redbirds - Smith Division: Cape Horn Penguins (owner Doug Schnack) - Won division last year too
  • Redbirds - Dean Division: Detroit Thundercats (owner Mike Prohaska - 2nd win in 2013) - Third straight title - Conference champ in 2011
  • Motor City - Newhouser Division: Windsor Wolverines (owner Tom Twomey - 8th win in 2013) - Initial Season
  • Blame Canada - Kyle Division: Windsor Runaway Shania Twains (owner Danny Zaccaro) - Won in 2011 too
  • Golden Throat - Bob Prince Division: St. Louis Browns (owner Michael Quinn - 5th win in 2013) - Franchise's fifth straight title; Won the league in 2010
  • Golden Throat - Jack Buck Division: Blair Bears (owner Don Kruse - 5th win in 2013) - Defending league champ; 5th division title for franchise
  • Experts - Print Division: Men Injecting Men - Fantasy on Roids (owner Christian Ingram) - Previous high finish was 2nd in 2010
  • Experts - Blogs Division: Malta Falcons (owner Sherman Wan - 5th win in 2013) - Took over midseason and won franchise's first title
  • Moneyball - Art Howe Division: Crumpton Roches (owner Jesse Roche - 6th win in 2013) - Initial season
  • Moneyball - Scott Hatteberg Division: Jenks Jerks (owner Tom Twomey - 9th win in 2013) - Initial season
  • Moneyball - David Justice Division: Coco's Crispies (owner Andrew Lehman) - Initial season
  • Triple Crown - Robinson Division: Kylertown Shoeless Joes (owner Aaron Tiracorda) - Defending conference champ
  • Triple Crown - Medwick Division: Boston Lobstahs (owner Michael Travers) - First title; never higher than 3rd before this season
  • Commissioners - Ueberroth Division: Miami Fruitcakes (owner Philip Dang) - 3rd division win - won the Conference in 2010
  • They Might Be Giants - Hubbell Division: Long Island Lightning (owner Philip Dang - 2nd win of 2013) - 4th place and only 45 wins in 2012
  • Minnie & Paul - Oliva Division: Kansas City Monarchs (owner Don Kruse - 6th win in 2013) - Returns to playoffs after 2011 division win
  • Minnie & Paul - Blyleven Division: Tonga Tarantuala Hawks (owner Tom Twomey - 10th win in 2013) - Three straight division wins - Conference title in 2011
  • Superman - George Reeves Division: Minnesota Gophers (owner Jerry Stevens) - Finished 4th last year in league's first season
  • Pacific Northwest - Beavers Division: Bluff Creek Sasquatch Hunters (owner Robert Elias - 4th win in 2013) - Initial season
  • Pacific Northwest - Ducks Division: Sagle Shroomage (owner Tom Twomey - 11th win in 2013) - Initial season

9/16/13

• I thought there was a lineup-setting problem that affected the score of a game and was all set to change the result, but I finally realized the situation and the game score will NOT be modified, although there are some things that could be examined in the future.  I haven't mentioned this in many, many years - so here's a recap:
  • In order to automate setting lineups, some assumptions must be made.  The primary assumption here is that the "best" lineup of available options when choosing between choices that will leave a Benchwarmer Batter is to have the Benchwarmer(s) as low as possible in the lineup - even if it means filling the DH spot with a bench player and leaving a position open (with 2 automatic errors) -- this may be something to change, but the idea here is to have a hole in the bottom of your lineup and not in the 4th or 5th spot.
  • It may happen in some cases that the DH stays at DH and a bench player fills a position spot...again something in the future that may need fixing as it goes against the spirit of moving the DH into a position first.  Still - the more important idea here was to leave open spots in the batting order at the end.
  • There's a huge loop in the lineup-setting process that checks as many possible lineup solutions as we can in filling all the open lineup slots with bench players.  However, that same resetting of the entire lineup DOES NOT happen with callups of taxi squad players and minor leaguers.  We use the best available lineup after checking all the bench players - and then if there are any remaining holes in the lineup, we try to fill those specific openings - we don't try to rearrange all the previously-placed bench players as well. (We're literally just trying to fill any remaining holes, not redo the entire lineup).
  • This may leave some Benchwarmers in place if a minor-leaguer can't fill a specific open position.
  • It's not perfect - it might be fixed in the future - but it's worked that way since the September callup rule was added in 2006 and the lineup-setting process was automated in 2003.

9/15/13

• Division Champions from September 12 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Shadowball - Birmingham Black Barons Division: Tombstone Gun Fighters (owner Robert Elias - 2nd win in 2013) - 7th division win - still looking for first league title
  • Bronx Bombers - Gehrig Division: Go Richmond Spiders! (owner Jesse Roche - 5th win in 2013) - 2-time defending league champion
  • Bronx Bombers - DiMaggio Division: Zephyr Cove Zombies (owner Michael Lehman) - Repeat division winner
  • Beer - Malt Division: Canadian Moosehead (owner Mike Cerny) - New owner - 3rd division crown for franchise
  • Beatleball - Harrison Division: Margaritaville Parrotheads (owner Tom Twomey - 4th win in 2013) - Repeat win in the division; League champ in 2010
  • Reality Bites - American Idol Division: Parkville Dorados (owner Michael Gaston) - After 4 2nd place finishes in 6 seasons, makes playoffs for the first time
  • Kings of Queens - Hernandez Division: Little Neck Cards (owner Michael Quinn - 3rd win in 2013) - New owner - team won division in 2010
  • Three of a Kind - Connor Division: Damien Boys of Summer (owner Michael Quinn - 4th win in 2013) - 3rd title - League champ in 2009
  • Federal - Baltimore Terrapins Division: Devil's Den Sharpshooters (owner Robert Elias - 3rd win in 2013) - Defending league champion
  • Longball - Killebrew Division: San Marcos Speed Sloths (owner Tom Twomey - 5th win in 2013) - Followed up 2012 Conference title with 4th trip to playoffs
  • Blame Canada - Eric Division: Mogadishu Pirates (owner J.C. Freeman) - First division win
  • Deuces Wild - Musial Division: Washington Insiders (owner Don Kruse - 2nd win in 2013) - 3rd division title; Conference champ in 2012
  • Deuces Wild - Brett Division: Savannah Engineers (owner Willis Lee) - Returned to playoffs after 2011 division win
  • Murderers' Row - Big Poison Division: Fordham Flashes (owner Dave Regan) - Surprisingly took Regan 4 years to win his first division crown here
  • Commissioners - Chandler Division: Detroit Pizza Pizzas (owner Mike Prohaska) - 5 years, 5 division wins - plus League champ in 2011 & 2012
  • Commissioners - Giamatti Division: South Park Butters (owner Tom Twomey - 6th win in 2013) - Also 5 years, 5 titles - looking for first league crown
  • They Might Be Giants - Ott Division: San Jose Usurpers (owner Michael Lehman - 2nd win of 2013) - Won conference in 2012
  • Minnie & Paul - Carew Division: Old Hickory Longshots (owner Ken DeGroot) - 3rd time in playoffs - won the league in 2011
  • Blue and Gray - Sherman Division: Vicksburg Siege (owner Michael Lehman - 3rd win of 2013) - 1 game out in 2012 - wins first division title in 2013.

9/12/13

• There are no free agent signings this week. Week 25 Transactions are only cuts and IR moves.

9/11/13

• Division Champions from September 8 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Hall of Fame - Cooperstown Division: Oaxaca Revolution (owner Sherman Wan - 2nd win in 2013) - 7th Division Title, first since 2010. League Champ 2008-09
  • Fenway Fenatics - Doerr Division: Giza Resistance (owner Kevin Connors - 2nd win in 2013) - First-year owner - League Champion in 2011
  • Chevy Chase - Fletch F. Fletch Division: Santa Ana Ball Bearings (owner Brian McGettigan) - 2nd playoff appearance - defending Conference champ
  • Beer League - Yeast Division: The Natty Lights (owner Jesse Roche - 2nd win in 2013) - 4th straight division win - defending League Champ
  • Winners Circle - Galvin Division: Crumpton Roches (owner Jesse Roche - 3rd win in 2013) - Defending League Champion
  • Beatleball - McCartney Division: London Groove Armada (owner Sherman Wan - 3rd win in 2013) - 3rd consecutive title - League champ in '11 and '06
  • Redbirds - Slaughter Division: Montara PacSox (owner Sherman Wan - 4th win in 2013) - Defending League Champ - 3rd straight division win
  • Longball - Mays Division: Mudville Nine (owner Rob Behymer) - 4th trip to playoffs, first since 2010
  • Experts - Airwaves Division: Crumpton Roches (owner Jesse Roche - 4th win in 2013) - 3rd straight win - 4th overall - has yet to advance to finals
  • Moneyball - Ron Washington Division: Mudville Nine (owner Michael Quinn) - Initial season
  • Phightin' Phils - Ashburn Division: Kalas City Broadcasters (owner Robert Elias) - 3rd consecutive division win
  • Minnie & Paul - Viola Division: Minneapolis Millers (owner Michael Quinn - 2nd win in 2013) - Defending league champ; 3rd division title

9/9/13

• Late on this (I'll spare you the technical issues I've had over the last few weeks), but here's a new page: A listing of all the transactions for your team all season on one page.

9/5/13

• This is the final week (Week 24) to sign free agents. Week 25 Transactions are only cuts and IR moves.

9/3/13

• Orphan Clearance - $5 gets you a free team in 2014 - two left: $30 price reduced to $5 for the remainder of 2013 plus you get that team for free in 2014 if you keep it.  Free team does not apply to orphans picked up on Season Ticket plans.  See the list of available orphan teams and let me know your choice.  You'll be locking up a team with waiver priority for late-season call-ups and prime position for this winter's Redistribution Draft.

9/2/13

• Reminder: Roster expansion for "callups" occurs in Week 23-25 to allow your taxi squad and minor league players to contribute to game action.
• The Second Set of Division Champions from August 26-September 2: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Firemen - Franco Division: Smoke on the Water (owner Sherman Wan) - New owner turned around 105-loss team from 2012
  • Kings of Queens - McGraw Division: Woodside Dingos (owner Tom Twomey - 2nd win in 2013) - 4th consecutive division title - Leauge champion in 2011
  • Golden Throat - Haray Carey Division: Newport News Aliens & Predators (owner Tom Twomey - 3rd win in 2013) - Defending league champ; 5th division title for franchise
  • Murderers' Row - Big Ed Division: Crumpton Roches (owner Jesse Roche) - League champion and Benchwarmer Bash winner in 2011
  • Phightin' Phils - Klein Division: Backwoods Sasquatch (owner Kevin Connors) - Division champ 2011; Conference champ 2012; do they get to League champ this year?
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Reese Division: Aksarben Krusaders (owner Don Kruse) - Missed playoffs in 2012 after two straight division wins

8/30/13

• Trades are finished for the season.

8/26/13

• Reminder - Trade Deadline this Wednesday
• Roster expansion for "callups" occurs in Week 23-25 to allow your taxi squad and minor league players to contribute to game action.  It won't count yet in Week 22, but you can begin to put your players into order now in the lineup change form.

8/25/13

• Things to know headed into the final 5 weeks of the season - the postseason - and prepping for 2014.
• Our first Division Champion:
  • Beer League - Hops Division: Kingfisher Ale Slammers (owner Tom Twomey) - Repeat division winner from 2012 - League champ in 2011.

8/22/13

• This is the final week for trades (due 8/28).

8/20/13

• Don't Forget: Transaction deadline switches to Wednesday this week.
• Orphan Clearance - Final Call: $30 price now reduced to $5 for the remainder of the season plus you get that team for free in 2014 if you keep it.  Free team does not apply to orphans picked up on Season Ticket plans.  See the list of available orphan teams and let me know your choice.  All out of contention, but you could be locking up a team with waiver priority for late-season call-ups who get added to the player list and prime position for this winter's Redistribution Draft.

8/15/13

• You have two more weeks left to complete trades.

8/3/13

• We hit the 2/3 mark of the regular season with Game 100

7/23/13

• REMINDER - This is the FINAL week for contract extensions during the 2013 regular season.
• Contract extensions -  due Friday 7/26 7 PM Eastern.
  • You must have all the cash on hand to sign a contract.  You already have the extra 1000 in cash given to all teams at the end of July.  The cash you have on hand is all that you have to sign contracts.
  • You're doing this to save money on 2014 salaries - not to pick which players you want to keep next season.  Cash balances do not get reduced until April 2014 next spring - this is NOT a "use it or lose it" situation for your cash!
  • Rules for Contract Extensions and Discussion about extensions in old blog entries.
  • Some examples of good contract signings in 2011 and bad contract signings.  Look for some 2012 examples later this week.

7/22/13

• Orphan Blowout: Down to a handful of orphans.  The $30 regular price is now just $10 for the final 10 weeks of the season plus you get that team for free in 2014 if you keep it.  Free team does not apply to orphans picked up on Season Ticket plans.  See the list of available orphan teams and let me know your choice.

7/20/13

• To make signing contracts easier - we distributed the extra 1000 cash for all teams THIS week instead of next week.
• We're still supposed to be on Thursday transactions, but with the 1-day extension for Week 15, my inability to get transactions done on Friday night, and the big All Star break, we can postpone the deadline an additional day - this will give you a bit of extra time in finalizing your contract extensions.
• As a first round choice who did not sign, Phil Bickford (Toronto draftee) will be removed from the player list once he's off all rosters or at the end of the season, whichever occurs first.  No need to waste a roster spot on him...

7/11/13

• Reminder - this is the FINAL WEEK to get salary rebates for cut players.  Deadline Friday
• Also...just a quick reminder with all the trades going on - you do NOT get any transaction/roster limit warnings for trades - too many moving parts.  You have to keep track of that yourself - make sure you're looking at your 40-man limit plus the limits on players over salary 250.

7/6/13

• Note - this is the FINAL WEEK to get salary rebates for cut players.

7/3/13

• With Game 75 we've hit the halfway point of the 2013 regular season

6/17/13

• Continuous, but sometimes slow, improvements: It was getting pretty clear that I could no longer do the "Team History" section of the team rosters manually, so I stopped the 2012 season updates and started making changes to allow an automatic lookup.  That's now ready and all 32 leagues that existed in 2012 are now updated - and in the future this should be posted and updated in November.
• In a similar way, other pages will be converted from manual creation to database lookups - hopefully soon: League History and League Records, neither of which I've had time to get done for the last several years.

6/16/13

• First round draft picks for 2013 are now in the player list.  If the players do not sign a contract, they are removed from the game (you don't get to keep them for the next draft).
• Your first chance to sign the new draft picks is this week with deadline of Friday at noon Eastern.  The transaction order for this week should be set and posted by Wednesday night.

6/12/13

• New orphans...old orphans...it's time to start Orphan Blowout: $30 price now reduced to $15 for 2/3 of the season plus you get that team for free in 2014 if you keep it.  Free team does not apply to orphans picked up on Season Ticket plans.  See the list of available orphan teams and let me know your choice.

6/8/13

• First round draft picks:  The players will show up on the BWB Player List after the Week Eleven transactions post.  Your first chance to sign them will be Week Twelve (deadline Friday June 21 - you'll have June 15 through noon on June 21 to submit your picks).  The standings after Week 10 will determine the transaction order for that week.
• Last call for payment - Payment was officially due Week 1.  Check out the team payment summary to verify your status.  I've also sent out notices to the few teams still unpaid.  Teams not paid by Saturday June 8 at noon Eastern will lose your team.  If you know you're dropping out, let me know so that we can orphan your team before that.

5/26/13

• All teams received an extra million in cash for the May distribution (another one comes at the end of June and end of July).

5/6/13

• Still not paid yet? - Payment was officially due on the Week 1 deadline.  Head to the team payment summary to figure it out.  This will include information on how to pay via PayPal/credit card (preferred) or by check.  Teams not yet paid are now subject to blocked lineup changes in addition to transaction restrictions.  Teams not paid by Week 10 (June 8) will lose their teams.  If you know you're dropping out, let me know so that we can orphan your team...

4/25/13

• Blog posting coming soon (sometime Saturday-Sunday) with further discussion about when starts count in the pitching queue.  But in a short statement, you should be safe to add any pitchers you picked up in the Week 3 transactions to your rotation in Week 4 and get credit for starts.  Pitchers that you're moving from spot, taxi, or minors to the starting rotation in Week 4 will not get credit for any starts before the week's deadline (Sunday April 28).

4/20/13

• Not paid yet? - Payment was officially due on the Week 1 deadline.  Head to the team payment summary to figure it out.  This will include information on how to pay via PayPal/credit card (preferred) or by check.  Teams not yet paid are now subject to transaction restrictions.
• New multiteam tool!  This already existed on a single team basis - the ability to clear out your entire transaction list or clear out any incomplete transactions (no round listed, no transaction type, etc.).  NOW, you can clear transactions for all your teams with a single click (OK, sometimes 2 clicks).  See transactions for all your teams as a starting point.

4/19/13

• Reminder on the 2013 rule change - as you switch pitchers from Spot roles to the regular rotation, you are "resetting" their start queue.  Any queued start remaining from their time as a spot starter is dropped.  Pitchers coming into the queue (including those moving from spot to rotation) will not have any starts count before that week's lineup deadline.  This is to cut down on the potential for "streaming" in pitching performances that you already know occurred.
• Are you having a problem with the BWB site "logging you out" periodically (maybe even often)?  Are you using Chrome as a browser?  I use Firefox and IE regularly with the site and don't experience any similar problem - but a couple people have reported the problem and both were using Chrome.  I'll start checking into it but if you've also had it happen and found a workaround/fix, let me know.

4/7/13

• Reminder that Week One lineups are due Monday April 8 at Noon Eastern.
• Payment information - Payment is officially due on the Week 1 deadline.  Head to the team payment summary to figure it out.  This will include information on how to pay via PayPal/credit card (preferred) or by check.  Teams not paid by Week 2 will start to have transaction restrictions.

4/4/13

• Note on the rule changes posted for when player stats start counting: The rule change about setting the date for the lineup and pitchers for stats to begin will be put off for 2013 based on some implementation concerns and some worries about unintended consequences.  The rule regarding clearing the start queue for pitchers moving from spot starter to the main rotation will remain (I think this will actually take care of most of the worry about streaming in known pitching performances).  The display of start dates for stats on the team roster page and lineup change page will be removed in the next couple of days.

4/2/13

• All transaction/lineup deadlines throughout the season are moving back 9 hours.  The weekly deadlines will now be at NOON EASTERN on the listed date.  There used to be a time when the deadlines were midnight Eastern that I could run transactions, etc. the same night.  With the move to 3 hours later, that was typically not possible - and this now allows people morning adjustments and still have a deadline before that next day's games.
• Meanwhile, the 2013 schedule is on the web.

3/31/13

• Due Noon EDT on Monday April 1 - Week Zero Transactions - check the schedule page for more details as well as the rules for "inactive owners" (if your roster does not reach minimum levels by the end of this week, you've been inactive this pre-season).  Things to consider:
  • You must have a legal roster after this week's transactions.
  • Salary rebate for cut players goes up to 80%.
  • Cash balances for returning leagues (not newly drafted ones) must be at or below 5000 after this week's transactions (including salary rebates...so be careful if you're cutting guys or trading them away this week).  Balances above 5000 will be reduced to that level.
  • All teams will then get 2000 in Opening Day cash...in a little loophole in the calculation, you can actually count on that 2000 to use for transactions this week if you're short on cash.
  • No new players added yet - see the home page note below on 3/27.
  • Transaction order will be reset to the reverse of 2012 standings (or team total salary for new leagues) for the Week One transactions (due April 6).
  • You don't have to have a lineup set until April 6, but it doesn't hurt to start setting it now.
  • This is a 2009 posting, so ignore the dates and the specific names of new leagues, but here is some additional discussion about Week Zero in the Benchwarmer Blog

3/27/13

• Welcome to Benchwarmer Baseball - It's a different form of fantasy baseball as we play individual head-to-head games simulated from daily MLB stats - this isn't a Rotisserie game.
  • This is fantasy baseball 365 days a year.  Teams are putting finishing roster touches to get ready for the 2013 season.
  • Check out the Benchwarmer Baseball Tour for an introduction.
  • We are not drafting any additional new leagues in 2013 - But, would you like to attempt to turn around a struggling team?, these orphan teams are still available...pick up an existing team and rebuild it, rather than start from scratch.
  • Want to sign up for an orphan team in 2013?  If you're new to BWB, you can sign up here.  Existing BWB owners can pick up brand new extra teams.
• Some notes about new players...
  • After the addition of guys on 40-man rosters in December/January, the next time we add players is when they appear in a regular season MLB game.
  • Players are added to the list only at the time we process weekly transactions, so that all teams have an equal opportunity and at least 4-5 days to see that players have been added.
  • Our Week Zero deadline is Mon April 1 and Week One (when BWB Opening Day lineups are due) is Sat. April 6.  Expect that the Week Zero transactions will get posted on the night of April 1.
  • We process stats every few days - and with only 1 game on March 31, I don't expect to really do any stats on April 1 prior to posting the Week Zero transactions.  So the first time that any new players will show up will be the following week.  Any players who appear in MLB games for the first time on or before April 6 will get added to the player list in time for the Week Two transactions (deadline 4/13).  If they do not appear by that time, then they'll likely be available for the Week Three submission (due 4/20).
  • Week 1 & 2 transaction order is in reverse order of 2012 standings - the same as was the case for the Redistribution Draft (new leagues are in reverse order of total team salary after Week Zero).  Starting with Week 3 we look at 2013 win-loss records to set the order.

3/26/13

• Geek Pride League Phase Two, Part Three Draft completed and posted. Rosters, cash balances, and free agent list now reflect the results.  See the Geek Pride Draft Central for details.  Draft is complete!  Your league now enters weekly transactions starting with this week (April 1 deadline).

3/25/13

• Moneyball League Phase Two, Part Three Draft completed and posted. Rosters, cash balances, and free agent list now reflect the results.  See the Moneyball Draft Central for details. Draft is complete!  Your league now enters weekly transactions starting with this week (April 1 deadline).

3/23/13

• Rules Changes/Process Changes
  • We're going to do some things to tighten up moving players in and out of the lineup (the primary focus being starting pitchers) so that we reduce the effects of knowing the MLB results and adjusting your BWB roster.  See the rule change and discussion on the Benchwarmer Blog
  • Kind of fits in with my preference, but the early comments were all for keeping a maximum of 4 pickups per week and not increasing the number or making them unlimited.  No change anticipated here, but comments are still open.
• Good luck to BWB Experts League participant Scott Swanay today in Tout Wars mixed league auction.
• Lots of site/page changes today, so running behind on the transactions and draft processing - will try to get as much done as possible tonight.

3/22/13

• See the Benchwarmer Blog for notes on rule changes in general and a specific rule change proposal open for comment - Should BWB allow more than 4 rounds of picks each week for transactions?
• Reminders: Geek Pride League draft picks due tonight (Friday) - Moneyball League picks due Saturday night.
• Thinking ahead: Friday night is the deadline for Week minus One transactions.  Check out the schedule/deadline page for some planning about what you need to do for Week Zero and Week One.  Lineups are due Week 1, but there's a one-week lag between picking up a player and using him.  So if you need to fill spots for Opening Day, you need to pick them up by April 1.

3/19/13

• Motor City League Phase Two, Part Three Draft completed and posted. Rosters, cash balances, and free agent list now reflect the results.  See the Motor City Draft Central for details. Draft is complete!  Your league now enters weekly transactions starting with this week (Friday deadline).
• Benchwarmer Baseball welcomes the newest team owners to the Experts League - Please check out their sites:
  • David Temple from the podcast Stealing Home
  • Kyle Ratke from LeagueSafe Post
  • Brian Dorsey from Rotoballs

3/18/13

• We're done with signups for new 2013 leagues, but if you'd like to attempt to turn around a struggling team, these orphan teams are available...pick up an existing team and rebuild it, rather than start from scratch.

3/16/13

• Cleveland Rocks League Phase Two, Part Three Draft completed and posted. Rosters, cash balances, and free agent list now reflect the results.  See the Cleveland Rocks Draft Central for details. Draft is complete!  Your league now enters weekly transactions starting with this week (Friday deadline).

3/15/13

• Are you new to Benchwarmer Baseball?  Want some more expansive explanation of the rules and processes?  The Benchwarmer Blog has some help for you.  The examples and some details like dates may be a bit dated, but the concepts are the same.  Any conflicts in rules are settled by rules here on the main website - contact me with any questions.
  • Did you take over an Orphan Team for 2013?  You've landed in a league where most or all of the other owners already know what's going on.  Here are a series of postings from the Benchwarmer Blog to fill you in on some of the things you need to know - it's called Orphan School
  • The Orphan School posts included this link too - and this is appropriate for people in new leagues too - it's the BWB Primer.

3/10/13

• Pacific Northwest League: Phase Two Draft - Part Four completed and posted.  Rosters, cash balances, and free agent list now reflects the results. See the Pacific Northwest Draft Central - Draft is complete!  Your league now enters weekly transactions starting with this week (Friday deadline).

3/7/13

• This link is always found on the Help Page: As you're putting together your 2013 roster, particularly if you're new to BWB you might want to check out the sample scoring page that allows you to play around with a batting order and see how it can affect your offensive score for a game.
• If you're new (or as a reminder to returning players) - a move to injured reserve (IR) is permanent for the entire 2013 season.  You will not be able to activate that player again (he can only get back on an active roster if he is cut or traded).

3/5/13

• Payment information - If you're a returning owner from 2012, you don't need to pay for teams until April 1 - but now's the time to take care of that.  If you're new in 2013, you'll need to pay for your teams before joining leagues.  Either way, head to the team payment summary to figure it out.  This will include information on how to pay via PayPal/credit card (preferred) or by check.

2/25/13

• Contract extensions are now open.  The strong suggestion is unless you need to get your cash balance to 5000 or below by April 1 that there is no rush and great risk to do these now.  You have until the end of July to complete multiyear contracts.

2/3/13

• Redistribution Results Index Draft complete - Rosters updated with new players
• Free agency and trades are open.  This week's deadline is Friday night Feb 9 at midnight Pacific.  Transaction order for this week is the same as for the Redistribution Draft.

1/17/13

• Quick web hint: if you've got multiple teams and you're ever in a situation where you can't seem to switch from team to team (the "Switch Leagues" and "Multiteam Tools" links are gone), just click Leagues at the top of any page and you'll get to the right spot.  I think there's something in the code on roster pages during Redistribution Draft time that doesn't save the status correctly...this seems to happen more this time of year.

12/30/12

• Results of carryover choices posted.  View the Transactions page to see the cuts in your league.
• The 2013 Redistribution Draft is now open.  You have 3 weeks to make your selections (see the link on your team roster).  Deadline is Sunday night 1/20/13 at midnight Pacific.

12/26/12

• New players are now in the BWB player list.  Look for players marked as "added in January 2013."  No further additions until after Opening Day.

12/24/12

• Carryover selections for 2013 are locked.  Look for results to be posted by the end of Sunday, Dec. 30.
• Our first 2013 league is full and ready to draft! - the Pacific Northwest League is the first to kick off:
  • Phase One Draft list is due Monday night, January 7 (midnight Pacific).
  • See the Pacific Northwest Draft Central

12/16/12

• We're now in the final week to make your carryover choices - the deadline is Sunday, Dec. 23.  You may keep up to 28 players on your roster - everyone else will have to go into the free agent pool.  You must have enough cash to pay for all the players now and this is all the cash you will get until Opening Day.  And you must comply with all roster limits for salaries over 250.
• Just in time for the last week - if you've got more than one team you can check all your teams for errors in carryover selections.  You can also find this link on the multiteam tools page.

12/11/12

• I think we're now final on the list of teams/owners coming back in 2013.  Here's the current list of orphan teams that are available.  Email us if you want to pick up one of these teams.

12/8/12

• Fall Trading Period #2 (Week 30) Transactions - Results posted. Trades are closed until after the Redistribution Draft

11/25/12

• Fall Trading Period #1 (Week 29) Transactions - Results posted. The 2nd trading period is now open with deadline Friday Dec. 7.
• Any trades with Bryan Lahair were voided as he's now signed to play in Japan and is out of the BWB player universe.  Lahair has been removed from all rosters and the master player list (Brooks Conrad too)

11/18/12

• Prep for 2013:
  • Are you keeping your team(s) in 2013?  Please visit your team roster pages or go here to indicate whether or not you're going to retain ownership of the team in 2013.  Deadline is November 30 or your team will be classified an orphan team.
  • Post-season Fall Trading - Now open - deadlines are Friday 11/23 and Friday 12/7.  See the transaction schedule  There is no salary component to these trades - the new owners will be fully liable for the 2013 salary that will be charged in December.  You must be confirmed as returning with your team in order to play a role in a trade.
  • Roster limits are not enforced now - including trades.  When you cut down to 28 players, that will get all teams in line.
  • 2013 Salaries:  Final salaries are posted.
  • All 2013 positions set.  Some positions for minor leaguers were not final at the October 30 posting.
  • You can also start picking your players to keep/cut.  You can keep up to 28 on your roster.  Final decisions are due December 23.

10/30/12

• Moving Forward into 2013:
  • 2013 Salaries: Preliminary Salaries Posted.  The salaries are subject to premium increases and are not final.  Final salaries are likely to be set just before Thanksgiving.
  • 2013 Salary Cap is 42787, up from 41974 last year.  New leagues get 43000.  Check the team finances page to see the actual cash distributed to each league.  All teams have received this cash.

10/29/12

• Benchwarmer Bash. Finals Complete - Games 1-7 posted.
  • Congratulations to Jesse Roche winner of the 2012 Benchwarmer Bash with Crumpton Roches from the Winners Circle League.
  • Greg Flees is the runner up with Wisconsin from Bleed Dodger Blue.
  • Jesse is our first 2-time Bash winner.  He won in 2011 with a different team.
  • Jesse gets 2 free seasons in BWB - Greg gets 1 free season.

10/28/12

• Benchwarmer Bash. Semifinals Complete - Games 1-6 posted.
  • Sets up the final of Greg Flees' Wisconsin vs Jesse Roche's Crumpton
  • Updated Bash Bracket

10/27/12

• Benchwarmer Bash. Quarterfinals - Complete - Games 1-7 posted.
• Congratulations to owners with multiple league championships:
  • Tom Twomey - 6 (18 division champions)
  • Mike Prohaska - 4 (11 division champions)
  • Michael Quinn - 4 (13 division champions)
  • Jesse Roche - 3 (4 division champions)
  • Robert Elias - 2 (4 division champions)

10/26/12

• Benchwarmer Bash. We're down to the final eight:
  • Eight Federation champions advance to the Quarterfinal round of the Benchwarmer Bash.
  • The top seed advanced in 6 of the 8 Federations and we have the top 3 teams (out of 512) in Power Index represented.
• Benchwarmer Bash.  Federation Finals Complete - Games 5-7 posted -- click on Federation Results links to see game scores.
• Benchwarmer Bash.  League champions advance to fight it out to be the single winner for all of Benchwarmer Baseball.  We start off with Federation Semifinals - Games 1-7 posted.

10/19/12

• 2012 Benchwarmer Playoffs Complete - Game 7 posted.
  • See your league home page for a link to the playoff results
  • OR - start here: Playoffs for all leagues
  • Want to ignore all the "losers" tournaments? - Championship Series for All Leagues
  • Benchwarmer Bash for league champions begins with Federation play next week.  Lineup changes, if desired, for the Bash are due TONIGHT at midnight Pacific.
• Congratulations League Champions:
  • Batman - Brinkley CP Bulldogs - Michael Quinn
  • Beatleball - Rome Gladiators - Danny Zaccaro
  • Beer - The Natty Lights - Jesse Roche
  • Blame Canada - Cro-Town Crushers - Craig Bennett
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Wisconsin Dawgs - Greg Flees
  • Blue and Gray - Fort Snelling Pioneers - Andrew Lehman
  • Bronx Bombers - Go Richmond Spiders! - Jesse Roche
  • Chevy Chase - Bath County Black Sheep - Tom Twomey
  • Commissioners - Detroit Pizza Pizzas - Mike Prohaska
  • Deuces Wild - Bemidji Blue Ox - Sam Campbell
  • Experts - St. Louis Prefectos - Michael Quinn
  • Federal - Devil's Den Sharpshooters - Robert Elias
  • Fenway Fenatics - Utopia Unibrows - Tom Twomey
  • Firemen - Venice Beach Longshots - Ken DeGroot
  • Four Star - NYC2ATL Jr Blackbirds - Ricardo Alexander
  • Golden Throat - Newport News Aliens & Predators - Tom Twomey
  • Hall of Fame - Detroit Wolverines - Mike Prohaska
  • K Street - New Jersey Roid Ragers - Tom Twomey
  • The Kings of Queens - Detroit Skyliners - Mike Prohaska
  • Longball - Trinidad Island Vikings - Leif Jonson
  • Minnie & Paul - Minneapolis Millers - Michael Quinn
  • Murderers' Row - Guttenberg Gandolfinis - Tom Twomey
  • Perfect World - Ehime Ichiban - Tom Twomey
  • Phightin' Phils - SGV Dukes - Michael Quinn
  • Reality Bites - Sea Isle City Sandsharks - Robert Elias
  • Redbirds - Montara Pac Sox - Sherman Wan
  • Shadowball - Las Vegas Billionaires - Jim Sowerby
  • Superman - Hollywood Exabitionists - Michael Lehman
  • They Might Be Giants - Detroit Hotel Detectives - Mike Prohaska
  • Three of a Kind - Wyalusing Whiffers - Jay Snyder
  • Triple Crown - Oakdale Barrons - E.J. Camburn
  • Winners Circle - Crumpton Roches - Jesse Roche

10/17/12

• Players of the Year rankings are final for 2012.

10/15/12

• Benchwarmer Bash page is posted.  We'll fill in details as teams qualify. NOTE: Only league champions will advance to the Bash in 2012 - there are no wild card teams.

10/12/12

• 2012 Benchwarmer Playoffs - Results for Games 6-7 game posted - 1st week is complete

10/6/12

• Tiebreakers for division ties and playoff matchups.

10/3/12

• Congratulations to owners with multiple division wins:
  • 18 Teams - Tom Twomey
  • 13 Teams - Michael Quinn
  • 11 Teams - Mike Prohaska
  • 5 Teams - Don Kruse
  • 4 Teams - Robert Elias, Michael Lehman, Jamison Reese, Jesse Roche
  • 3 Teams - Anthony Citarella, Ken DeGroot, Michael Himich, Andrew Lehman, Doug Schnack, Jacob Vass, Sherman Wan
  • 2 Teams - Greg Flees, J.C. Freeman, Jerry King, Tom Kohl, Tom McGraw, Jon Swanson

10/2/12

• Week 25 Statistics and Players of the Week.  Players of the Year are not yet final rankings.

10/1/12

• Final set of Division Champions from September 30 tiebreaker games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Hall of Fame - Cobb Division: Leucadia Longboarders (owner Jeffrey Deeble) - League champion in 2007 - that was their last time in playoffs
  • Fenway Fenatics - Doerr Division: St. Louis Redbirds (owner Michael Quinn - 12th win in 2012) - 4th place and 35 GB in 2011
  • Beer - Malt Division: Sam Adams Love Schnack (owner Doug Schnack - 3rd win in 2012) - League champ in 2009
  • Batman - Clooney Division: Gotham City Knights (owner Jon Swanson - 2nd win in 2012) - First division title
  • Superman - Christopher Reeve Division: Jor El Cards (owner Michael Quinn - 13th win in 2012)

9/30/12

• Division tiebreakers complete - see results below
• Five division ties to break- will require one more game Sunday night - with Michael Quinn in three of the ties:
  • Hall of Fame: Cobb Division: California Bears (Micheal Quinn) at Leucadia Longboarders (Jeffrey Deeble) - Result: Leucadia 7  California 2 - Box
    • Leucadia won season series 12-6.
    • Leucadia won 4 of 6 games in the final three weeks.
    • Record for last 10 games: California 8-2, Leucadia 7-3
  • Fenway Fenatics: Doerr Division: St. Louis Redbirds (Michael Quinn, 35 GB in 2011) at Defending league champ Crumpton Roches (Jesse Roche). - Result: St. Louis 4  Crumpton 2 - Box
    • Crumpton won season series 11-7.
    • Crumpton won 4 of 6 in the final three weeks
    • Record for last 10 games: Both 6-4
  • Beer League - Malt Division: Sam Adams Love Schnack (Doug Schnack) at Canadian Moosehead (Derrick Silensky) - Result: Sam Adams 5  Canadian 1 - Box
    • Canadian won season series 11-7
    • Canadian took 4 of 6 in the final two weeks, including a sweep in games 148-150 to force the tie.
    • Record for last 10 games: Both 5-5
  • Batman League - Clooney Division: Diamond Rats (Michael Himich) at Gotham City Knights (Jon Swanson) - Result: Gotham City 3  Diamond 2 - Box
    • Gotham City won season series 10-8
    • Gotham City took 4 of 6 in final two weeks.
    • Record for last 10 games: Gotham City 5-5, Diamond 4-6
  • Superman League - Christopher Reeve Division: Fukushima Zombies (Jerry King) at Jor El Cards (Michael Quinn) - Result Jor El 6  Fukushima 2 - Box
    • Jor El won season series 10-8
    • Teams split 3-3 in the final three weeks.
    • Record for last 10 games: Fukushima 6-4, Jor El 4-6

9/29/12

• Week 25 - Games 149-150 posted.  Regular season done...almost
  • We have at least four divisions ending in ties (I'll check/post it later on Saturday night).
  • Game 151 for division ties will get posted on Sunday.
• New Division Champions from September 29 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Perfect World - David Cone Division: Black Eye Skulls (owner Michael Himich - 2nd win in 2012) - 3rd place in 2011
  • Beer - Yeast Division: The Natty Lights (owner Jesse Roche - 4th win in 2012) - 5th division title - hasn't been to finals since 2008
  • Winners Circle - Alexander Division: Vandalay Architects (owner Don Kruse - 5th win in 2012) - 4th place, 31 GB in 2011
  • Reality Bites - Bachelor Division: Memphis Bighitters (owner Michael Quinn - 10th win in 2012) - Defending league champion
  • Four Star - MacArthur Division: Men Injecting Men 2 Still Roided Up (owner Christian Ingram) - Best previous finish was 3rd place in 2011
  • Redbirds - Slaughter Division: Montara Pac Sox (owner Sherman Wan - 3rd win in 2012) - 3rd division win - 2nd straight
  • Three of a Kind - Wagner Division: Mumbai Marauders (owner Matt Strawbridge) - First title in five seasons
  • Triple Crown - Yaztrzemski Division: Little Mack Attack (owner Tom McGraw - 2nd win in 2012) - Won division in 2010 too
  • Triple Crown - Klein Division: Pennsyltucky Wood Hicks (owner Robert Emerson) - Finished 1 game back in both 2010 and 2011
  • Phightin' Phils - Klein Division: Backwoods Sasquatch (owner Kevin Connors) - Defending division winner
  • Blue and Gray - Sherman Division: Fort Snelling Pioneers (owner Andrew Lehman - 3rd win in 2012) - Two in a row
  • Batman - Kilmer Division: Brinkley CP Bulldogs (owner Michael Quinn - 11th win in 2012) - 3rd straight win
  • Superman - Brandon Routh Division: Davenport Prodigals (owner Daniel Foley, Jr.)

9/28/12

• New Division Champions from September 27 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Chevy Chase - Ty Webb Division: Forest City Fog Monsters (owner Gary Renwick) - 2nd trip to playoffs; Conference champ in 2010
  • Chevy Chase - Fletch F. Fletch Division: Santa Ana Ball Bearings (owner Brian McGettigan) - 1st division title after 4 2nd place finishes
  • Kings of Queens - Hernandez Division: Detroit Skyliners (owner Mike Prohaska - 10th win in 2012) - First season with team; franchise repeats as division winner
  • Four Star - Eisenhower Division: Generation of Heroes (owner Jamison Reese - 4th win in 2012) - New owner this season; climbs from 105 losses in 2011
  • Four Star - Bradley Division: NYC2ATL Jr. Blackbirds (owner Ricardo Alexander) - New owner this season; 21 GB in 2011
  • Longball - Robinson Division: Trinidad Island Vikings (owner Leif Jonson) - 5th division title but no league wins yet; BW Bash champ in 2008
  • Longball - McGuire Division: Nokomis Choo Choo Trains (owner Jacob Vass - 3rd win in 2012) - 7th division win in 9 seasons; 4 league championships
  • Blame Canada - Eric Division: Quebec Frenchies (owner Andrew Lehman - 2nd win in 2012) - 2nd place in 2011
  • Blame Canada - Stan Division: Ft. Lauderdale Fightin' Blumpkins (owner Brad Barfield) - Repeat division winner
  • Experts - Blogs Division: St. Louis Prefectos (owner Michael Quinn - 8th win in 2012) - New owner; franchise won the league title in 2011
  • Deuces Wild - Cobb Division: Foggy Bottom Plumbers (owner Yuri Belova) - Won division in 2011
  • K Street - Blyleven Division: Asia Analog Kid (owner Anthony Citarella - 3rd win in 2012) - League champion in 2005 and 2010
  • Murderers' Row - Big Poison Division: Palookaville Pugs (owner Sherman Wan - 2nd win in 2012) - Repeat division champ
  • Murderers' Row - Big Ed Division: Detroit Rock Cities (owner Mike Prohaska - 11th win in 2012) - Division champ in 2010
  • Murderers' Row - Big Puma Division: Guttenberg Ganfolfinis (owner Tom Twomey - 17th win in 2012) - 3rd straight title; League winner in 2010
  • They Might Be Giants - Marichal Division: Edgewater Underwear Thieves (owner Tom Twomey - 18th win in 2012)
  • They Might Be Giants - Ott Division: San Jose Usurpers (owner Michael Lehman - 4th win in 2012)
  • Blue and Gray - Lee Division: Badtown Brawlers (owner Michael Himich - 2nd win in 2012) - Won the division in 2009
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Sutton Division: South Hills California Elite (owner Michael Quinn - 9th win in 2012) - Last time in playoffs was 2009 - won the league title
  • Superman - Dean Cain Division: Ames Twisters (owner Tom Kohl - 2nd win in 2012)

9/27/12

• New Division Champions from September 25 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Hall of Fame - Ruth Division: Nordeast Knotholes (owner Jacob Vass - 2nd win in 2012) - 2-time defending league champion, plus won in 2002
  • Shadowball - Memphis Red Sox Division: Chico's Bail Bonds (owner Michael Horvitz) - 4th division title for franchise
  • Fenway Fenatics - Boggs Division: Texas Rednecks (owner Rick Funk) - 2nd place in 2011
  • Beatleball - Lennon Division: Rome Gladiators (owner Danny Zaccaro) - 1st division title for franchise in league founded in 2004
  • Beatleball - Starr Division: Underground Cardinals (owner Michael Quinn - 6th win in 2012) - New owner; franchise won conference title in 2007
  • Redbirds - Smith Division: Cape Horn Penguins (owner Doug Schnack - 2nd win in 2012) - New owner - first division win for franchise
  • Federal - Baltimore Terrapins Division: Devil's Den Sharpshooters (owner Robert Elias - 4th win in 2012)
  • Golden Throat - Bob Prince Division: St. Louis Browns (owner Michael Quinn - 7th win in 2012) - 4th straight division win; League champ in 2010
  • Murderers' Row - Big Donkey Division: Chicago Public Enemies (owner Jerry King - 2nd win in 2012) - 3rd straight division win; made it to finals in 2011
  • Commissioners - Ueberroth Division: Strike Force (owner Michael Himich) - Division winner in 2009
  • They Might Be Giants - Terry Division: Des Moines Hawkeyes (owner Tom Kohl)
  • Minnie & Paul - Oliva Division: Detroit Yoopers (owner Mike Prohaska - 8th win in 2012) - 2nd place in 2011
  • Blue and Gray - Grant Division: Detroit Repeat Offenders (owner Mike Prohaska - 9th win in 2012) - Only team to win division in league's 4 seasons; League champ 2010
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Reese Division: Crestwood Creepers (owner Tom McGraw) - Team never finished above 4th place until this season
  • Superman - George Reeves Division: Hollywood Exabitionists (owner Michael Lehman - 3rd win in 2012)

9/25/12

• Week 25 Transactions - Results posted. Week 26 lineup deadline (week 1 of playoffs) is Friday night, October 5 at midnight Pacific.

9/24/12

• With 6 games to go: No teams have clinched division titles yet in either Murderers' Row or Superman League.  Next game postings will be very late on Monday night.

9/23/12

• New Division Champions from September 22 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Bronx Bombers - Rizzuto Division: Reese's Pieces (owner Jamison Reese - 3rd win in 2012) - 3rd place in 2011
  • Chevy Chase - Clark W. Griswold, Jr. Division: Bath County Black Sheep (owner Tom Twomey - 15th win in 2012) - 3rd straight division win - has never advanced to finals
  • Chevy Chase - Emmit Fitz-Hume Division: Gashouse Gorillas (owner Michael Quinn - 4th win in 2012) - 3rd straight division win - has never advanced to finals
  • Winners Circle - Matthewson Division: Longfellow Public Television Donors (owner Jacob Vass) - 2nd place in 2011
  • Beatleball - McCartney Division: London Groove Armada (owner Sherman Wan) - Defending league champ; BW Bash runner up in 2011
  • Firemen - Eckersley Division: Miami Valley Mystic Revelation (owner David Henning)
  • Reality Bites - Fear Factor Division: Nashville Longshots (owner Ken DeGroot - 3rd win in 2012) - Repeat winner from 2011
  • Kings of Queens - McGraw Division: Woodside Dingos (owner Tom Twomey - 16th win in 2012) - Defending league champion
  • Three of a Kind - Beckley Division: Wyalusing Whiffers (owner Jay Snyder) - First franchise trip to playoffs since 2008
  • Three of a Kind - Connor Division: Damien Boys of Summer (owner Michael Quinn - 5th win in 2012) - Division features four teams all owned by guys named "Michael"
  • Federal - Buffalo Buffeds Division: Buffalo Chips (owner Michael Lehman - 2nd win in 2012)
  • Federal - St. Louis Terriers Division: Lexington Rupps (owner J.C. Freeman - 2nd win in 2012)
  • Longball - Mays Division: New Jersey Rain Storm (owner Chris Bellina) - Repeat division win from 2011
  • Blame Canada - Kyle Division: Detroit Canucks (owner Mike Prohaska - 7th win in 2012) - 2nd place in 2011
  • Golden Throat - Jack Buck Division: Lincoln Salt Dogs (owner Mike Cerny) - 5th division title for franchise - new owner this season
  • Experts - Print Division: St. Lawrence WHIP (owner Craig Burke) - Conference champion in 2009
  • Deuces Wild - Brett Division: Bemidji Blue Ox (owner Sam Campbell) - Highest finish had been 3rd place
  • Phightin' Phils - Ashburn Division: Kalas City Broadcasters (owner Robert Elias - 3rd win in 2012) - Conference winner last year
  • Blue and Gray - Jackson Division: Charleston Cannon Fodder (owner Jerry King) - 4 years of league - 4th division win; League champ in 2009
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Campanella Division: Wisconsin Dawgs (owner Greg Flees - 2nd win in 2012) - New owner - first division win for franchise

9/22/12

• Before Saturday's games - Eight games remained in the regular season...57% of divisions were not yet clinched.
• New Division Champions from September 21 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Shadowball - Birmingham Black Barons Division: Tombstone Gun Fighters (owner Robert Elias - 2nd win in 2012) - 6th division title in 8 years
  • Winners Circle - Galvin Division: Crumpton Roches (owner Jesse Roche - 3rd win in 2012) - New owner - franchise was 20 GB in 2011
  • Firemen - Franco Division: Just the Facts - Armando Falcon Task Force (owner Tim Bohen)
  • Three of a Kind - Speaker Division: Hudson River 3-Eyed Fish (owner Tom Twomey - 12th win in 2012) - 4th division win - league champion in 2008
  • Experts - Web Division: NYC FantasyBaseballSherpa.com (owner Scott Swanay) - Closest finish had been 17 GB
  • Phightin' Phils - Roberts Division: SGV Dukes (owner Michael Quinn - 2nd win in 2012) - Defending league champion
  • K Street - Seaver Division: New Jersey Roid Ragers (owner Tom Twomey - 13th win in 2012) - First time in playoffs since 2007
  • K Street - Perry Division: D.C. Lobbyists (owner Jon Swanson) - 1st division win in 8th season - Lost 100 games in 2011
  • Minnie & Paul - Viola Division: Minneapolis Millers (owner Michael Quinn - 3rd win in 2012) - Repeat winner from 2011
  • Bleed Dodger Blue - Drysdale Division: Oklahoma Gushers (owner Tom Twomey - 14th win in 2012) - New owner - first division win for franchise

9/21/12

• New Division Champions from September 20 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Shadowball - Pittsburgh Crawfords Division: Cal Tech Atoms (owner Doug Schnack) - Wins league in even years - 2008, 2010….2012?
  • Fenway Fenatics - Cronin Division: Utopia Unibrows (owner Tom Twomey - 11th win in 2012) - Repeat division winner
  • Fenway Fenatics - Fisk Division: St. Croix River Cats (owner Brad Richter) - 4th place in 2011
  • Perfect World - Randy Johnson Division: Midwest Malingerers (owner Don Kruse - 3rd win in 2012) - Defending conference champion
  • Firemen - Smith Division: Venice Beach Longshots (owner Ken DeGroot - 2nd win in 2012)
  • Reality Bites - Amazing Race Division: Sea Isle City Landsharks (owner Robert Elias) - 4th straight division title; League champ in 2006 and 2010
  • Kings of Queens - Koosman Division: Kansas Bucks (owner Greg Flees) - 3rd straight division title
  • Golden Throat - Ernie Harwell Division: Massapequa Chiefs (owner Vito Selvaggi) - Defending league champion
  • Triple Crown - Robinson Division: Kylertown Shoeless Joes (owner Aaron Tiracorda) - Won division in 2009
  • Triple Crown - Medwick Division: Oakdale Barons (owner E.J. Camburn) - 4th straight title; 1st for new owner
  • Deuces Wild - Musial Division: Washington Insiders owner Don Kruse - 4th win in 2012) - Returns after 2009 division win
  • Phightin' Phils - Alexander Division: Hannibal Cannibals (owner Michael Lehman) - Finished 4th last year

9/18/12

• New Division Champions from September 17 games: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Bronx Bombers - DiMaggio Division: Lexington Wildcats (owner J.C. Freeman) - Finished 2nd, 22 GB in 2011
  • Perfect World - David Wells Division: Adrenaline Mob (owner Anthony Citarella - 2nd win in 2012) - Defending League Champion
  • Perfect World - Kenny Rogers Division: Ehime Ichiban (owner Tom Twomey - 7th win in 2012) - 3rd straight division title
  • Winners Circle - Spahn Division: Uruguay Urusai (owner Tom Twomey - 8th win in 2012) - 2nd place in 2011
  • Firemen - Wagner Division: Banta Inn Spirits (owner Jamison Reese - 2nd win in 2012)
  • Redbirds - Dean Division: Detroit Thundercats (owner Mike Prohaska - 5th win in 2012) - Two seasons for Mike with team - two division winners
  • Federal - Brooklyn Tip-Tops Division: Detroit Stars (owner Mike Prohaska - 6th win in 2012)
  • Longball - Killebrew Division: San Marcos Speed Sloths (owner Tom Twomey - 9th win in 2012) - New owner gets team to the top for the first time since 2006
  • Blame Canada - Kenny Division: Cro-Town Crushers (owner Craig Bennett) - Conference champion in 2011
  • K Street - Sutton Division: Aksarben Bugeaters (owner Don Kruse - 2nd win in 2012) - 4th division title; previous 3 also won the conference
  • Commissioners - Giamatti Division: South Park Butters (owner Tom Twomey - 10th win in 2012) - Only team to win division in league's 4 seasons
  • Minnie & Paul - Carew Division: Old Hickory Longshots (owner Ken DeGroot) - Defending League Champion

9/17/12

• Reminder - Free Agent signings are closed in Week 25 (you can't sign someone just for the playoffs)

9/14/12

• Next set of Division Champions from September 13: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Beer - Water Division: Elsinore Hosers (owner Anthony Citarella) - Defending conference winner; League champ in 2008
  • Reality Bites - American Idol Division: Mighty Mice (owner Roland Dupont) - 4th time franchise is on top, but yet to advance to finals
  • Minnie & Paul - Blyleven Division: Tonga Tarantula Hawks (owner Tom Twomey - 6th win in 2012) - Won the conference title in 2011
  • Batman - Keaton Division: Detroit Riddlers (owner Mike Prohaska - 4th win in 2012) - Defending league champion

9/12/12

• New Division Champions from September 11: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Hall of Fame - Cooperstown Division: Detroit Wolverines (owner Mike Prohaska - 3rd win in 2012) - Repeat winner from 2011
  • Beer - Hops Division: Kingfisher Ale Slammers (owner Tom Twomey - 3rd win in 2012) - Defending league champion
  • Beatleball - Harrison Division: Margaritaville P(arr)otheads (owner Tom Twomey - 4th win in 2012) - New owner in 2012; Franchise won league title in 2010
  • Redbirds - Brock Division: Manalapan Monchichis (owner Tom Twomey - 5th win in 2012) - 2nd division win in 5 years

9/11/12

• Some reminders of late-season transactions/lineups:
  • Week 24 (Deadline Saturday night): This is the FINAL week for any free agent pickups.
  • Week 25: Cuts and IR moves only.
  • Playoff lineups: The "expanded rosters" of Weeks 23-25 no longer hold.  Playoff results are dependent on the 26 active players.  You must maintain normal roster limitations, so in some situations you might need to make room by cutting a player or putting one to IR if you want a minor-leaguer to be in your lineup or on your bench.
  • Playoff results are calculated from random selections from the last half of the season (MLB games 81-160...up to 162 or beyond for pitching performances).

9/10/12

• Division Champions crowned September 8: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Shadowball - Chicago American Giants Division: Las Vegas Billionaires (owner Jim Sowerby) - 4th division title - won league in 2007
  • Four Star - Patton Division: Kelly's Heroes (owner Andrew Lehman) - First division win
  • Experts - Airwaves Division: Crumpton Roches (owner Jesse Roche - 2nd win in 2012) - Franchise repeats division win with new owner
  • Commissioners - Chandler Division: Detroit Pizza Pizzas (owner Mike Prohaska - 2nd win in 2012) - Defending league champ; 4 straight division titles

9/7/12

• Division Champions crowned September 5: (See standings for all leagues)
  • Hall of Fame - Wagner Division: Boar's Nest (owner Tom Twomey) - 2 straight titles under Tom; Franchise has 9 total
  • Bronx Bombers - Gehrig Division: Go Richmond Spiders! (owner Jesse Roche) - Defending league champion
  • Golden Throat - Biggio Division: Newport News Aliens & Predators (owner Tom Twomey - 2nd win in 2012) - 4th division win for franchise - under new ownership in 2012
  • They Might Be Giants - Hubbell Division: Detroit Hotel Detectives (owner Mike Prohaska)

9/3/12

• Thanks for the response on the orphan blowout - all orphans are gone.
• Standings for all leagues.
• Our first Division Champions from end of Week 21:
  • Bronx Bombers - Ford Division: Chicago Haymarket Bombers (owner Michael Quinn) - Repeat division winner from 2011
  • Kings of Queens - Harrelson Division: Dunder Mifflin Sabres (owner Don Kruse) - Conference champion in 2011
  • Deuces Wild - Biggio Division: Yellowstone Geysers (owner Jamison Reese) - New owner turned around 95-loss team from 2011
  • Batman - Bale Division: KC Sporting Quadricorns (owner Michael Walker) - First division title for KC

8/28/12

• Trades are closed for the 2012 season.
• Roster expansion for "callups" occurs in Week 23-25 to allow your taxi squad and minor league players to contribute to game action.  It won't count yet in Week 22, but you can begin to put your players into order now in the lineup change form.

8/21/12

• Amazingly enough, some teams are close enough to division titles where we see magic numbers show up in the standings.  It's possible one or two could clinch in Week 20.

8/20/12

• Major items to remember this week.
  • We shift weekly transactions to SATURDAYS.
  • August 25 marks the 2012 Season trade deadline.

7/31/12

• Contract Extensions closed for 2012.

7/28/12

• Remember - trades are not yet included in error-checking for cash or roster limits.
• Contract extensions - SUNDAY NIGHT (7/29) - Extended through Monday 7/30 7 PM Eastern.
  • You must have all the cash on hand to sign a contract.  You already have the extra 1000 in cash given to all teams at the end of July.  The cash you have on hand is all that you have to sign contracts.
  • Rules for Contract Extensions and Discussion about extensions in old blog entries.
  • Some examples of good contract signings in 2011 and bad contract signings.
• As a first round choice who did not sign, Mark Appel will be removed from the player list once he's off all rosters or at the end of the season, whichever occurs first.  No need to waste a roster spot on him...

7/25/12

• I'm working on updating the statistical records for each league and all of BWB (really!), but it will still take a while to post everything.  In the meantime, here are a couple of records of note:
  • Some of you are gunning for the most wins in a season.  You've got a big target now - the new record was set in 2011.  Here are the top 4:
    • Detroit - Commissioners League - 111 wins (2011) - owned by Mike Prohaska
    • Boar's - Hall of Fame - 109 (2007)
    • New Jersey - K Street - 107 (2007)
    • Milford - Hall of Fame - 107 (2005)
  • Recently set - South Park Butters in Commissioners League (owned by Tom Twomey) just ripped off 22 wins in a row from Games 65-86.  The big thing here is that the streak covered the entire 3-week stretch of divisional play and South Park moved from 5 games down and in 3rd place to leading the division by 10 games.  By the way, Tom broke the record of 21 games set in 2011 by...the South Park Butters.  Just missing this year...in Bronx Bombers, Chicago (owned by Michael Quinn) won 20 in a row between Games 66-85.

7/18/12

• For Weeks 16-20, the lineup/transaction deadline shifts to SUNDAY nights.
• Improvements to the transaction error-checking effective today:
  • Checking your potential for running out of cash now includes any contract extensions you submitted.
  • A bug with guys on IR was fixed.  Previously, dropping a guy on IR made it look like you were freeing up a roster space (including limits on players over 250 salary), but since the guy on IR already didn't count, that was incorrect.
  • Effects of trades are still not tracked for possible problems - you'll need to inspect your own rosters manually to make sure it will go through.  Hope to have that error-checking added in August.

7/6/12

• We've hit the halfway point of the 2012 season with Game 75.

6/26/12

• All teams received an extra 1 million BW Bucks this week.  One more cash distribution during the last transaction session in July.

6/21/12

• NEW STATS!!!
  • By listed lineup slot
  • By lineup slot as used in games
  • By position

6/13/12

• Starting this week - lineups and transactions are due on MONDAY nights.
• First round draft picks for 2012 are now in the player list.

6/11/12

• Payment deadline - Those teams still unpaid by Tuesday night will lose their teams.  I'm counting on full payment to pay for daily MLB stats and the website for the remainder of 2012...turning them into cut-rate orphans is just a last resort....
  • Not sure of your status?  See Payment Summary
  • These guys have emails that are getting returned on notices due to bad email addresses - if you know any of them, please have them change their email in the system and contact me or they're going to lose their team(s):
    • Pat Quickiee
    • Brian Wallin

6/8/12

• We've hit the 1/3 mark of the season

6/7/12

• Potential hole in the transaction error-checking process.  It may not calculate roster limits correctly if you're cutting someone who's currently on IR.  Players on IR are already not counted against any of your roster limits and the process may be giving "extra credit" now when you're cutting someone on IR.

6/2/12

• MLB Amateur Draft - One of three ways that players get added to the BWB player list is when selected in the first round of the draft.  With the draft coming up on Monday, when can you expect to see the new prospects show up?
  • Players will show up for the first time after the Week 10 Transactions/Lineups are processed (deadline Tuesday, June 12 - expect posting on Wednesday or Thursday).
  • So the first transaction period to sign them will be the Week 11 Transactions - with a deadline of Monday, June 18 (see transaction schedule).  Transaction order will be based on the standings at the end of Week 9.
  • These are planned dates. Circumstances may arise that delay this an extra week.

5/31/12

• All teams received an extra 1 million bucks this week.  You'll get two more cash distributions - one at the end of June and one at the end of July.

5/17/12

• NEW!!!: Transaction error-checking now includes potential errors you might run into with roster sizes and limits and running out of cash.  It does not yet include any roster/cash changes as a result of trades or contract extensions, but should be a help for many of you.  It may not be perfect - so let me know if you find any situations where it doesn't seem to calculate correctly.

5/10/12

• NOTE THE DAY SHIFT: Transactions for Weeks 6-10 are due on Tuesdays.
• Beginning today, lineup changes are blocked for unpaid teams along with transactions.  You have until Week 10 to pay or else you will lose your team.  Payment Summary

5/7/12

• Have you been hanging on to guys on IR but don't really intend to keep them for 2013? Or waiting to see if some guys start performing in 2012?  Week 5 marks the last where you get 80% of salary rebated.  After Wednesday's submission, rebates start decreasing 4% each week.

5/1/12

• Getting closer to a better warning system for transactions that may put you in violation of roster limits and/or not enough cash to sign players.  As a first step to that, the salary rebates on your transaction submission page and your listing of transactions for all your teams should now correctly reflect multi-season contracts.

4/23/12

• Payment was due on Week 1 deadline - April 11 - BWB delayed implementing restrictions, but if you're not paid by Week 3 deadline (April 25) - this means confirmed...including checks received - you will be locked out from adds/drops/trades (you'll be OK for this week - restrictions will start with Week 4 submissions).  You'll be locked from lineup changes if not received by Week 5.
  • Payment Summary
  • If you're running multiple teams (or want to increase your number), check out our multi-team packages.

4/20/12

• Should have reminded you before transactions this week, but we run 2 weeks behind in applying standings to transactions.  Once we complete Week 1, those week-ending standings will determine the Week 3 transaction order.  And the revenue for games won and division position for Week 1 get applied during the Week 3 transactions.

4/15/12

• Working on some web code to help you out with roster/cash limitations when you try to sign and trade players, but that's a complicated mess, so it will come eventually...in the meantime, make sure you're checking your rosters - and the limits posted beneath your rosters - as you submit transactions or you may miss out on some players you need.

4/7/12

• 2012 Schedule Posted
• Due TONIGHT - at Midnight EASTERN - Extended to 8AM EDT on Sunday morning - Week Zero Transactions - check the schedule page for more details as well as the rules for "inactive owners" (if your roster does not reach minimum levels by the end of this week, you've been inactive this pre-season).  Things to consider:
  • You must have a legal roster after this week's transactions.
  • Salary rebate for cut players goes up to 80%.
  • Cash balances for returning leagues (not newly drafted ones) must be at or below 5000 after this week's transactions (including salary rebates...so be careful if you're cutting guys or trading them away this week).  Balances above 5000 will be reduced to that level.
  • All teams will then get 2000 in Opening Day cash...in a little loophole in the calculation, you can actually count on that 2000 to use for transactions this week if you're short on cash.
  • No new players added yet - see the note below from March 22.
  • Transaction order will be reset to the reverse of 2011 standings (or team total salary for new leagues) for the Week One transactions (due April 11).
  • You don't have to have a lineup set until April 11, but it doesn't hurt to start setting it now.
  • This is a 2009 posting, so ignore the dates and the specific names of new leagues, but here is some additional discussion about Week Zero in the Benchwarmer Blog

4/5/12

• Firemen League Draft Central - Startup Draft - Phase Two Complete. League will start now with free agent transactions with the Week Zero submission (Saturday 4/7).

4/4/12

• Superman League Draft Central - Startup Draft - Phase Two Complete. League will start now with free agent transactions with the Week Zero submission (Saturday 4/7).

4/2/12

• They Might be Giants Draft Central - Startup Draft - Phase Two Complete. League will start now with free agent transactions with the Week Zero submission (Saturday 4/7).

3/22/12

• Some notes about new players...
  • After the addition of guys on 40-man rosters in December/January, the next time we add players is when they appear in a regular season MLB game.
  • Players are added to the list only at the time we process weekly transactions, so that all teams have an equal opportunity and at least 4-5 days to see that players have been added.
  • Our Week Zero deadline is Sat April 7 and Week One (when BWB Opening Day lineups are due) is Wed. April 11.  Expect that the Week Zero transactions will get posted on Sunday April 8.
  • Any players who appear in MLB games for the first time on or before April 7 will get added to the player list in time for the Week One transactions.  If they do not appear by that time, then they'll likely be available for the Week Two submission (due 4/18).
  • So...if Yu Darvish pitches for Texas in either of their first 2 games, look for him between 4/8-4/11 to add him to your roster...otherwise it won't be until Week 2.
  • Any players who appear for the first time in the Japan games between Oakland and Seattle (Yoenis Cespedes anyone?) will not be available until the Week One transactions.
  • Week 1 & 2 transaction order is in reverse order of 2011 standings - the same as was the case for the Redistribution Draft (new leagues are in reverse order of total team salary after Week Zero).  Starting with Week 3 we look at 2012 win-loss records to set the order.

3/19/12

• Superman League Draft Central - Resolution of contested picks complete...Phase One is done - players are now on your rosters and each team received an extra 10 million in cash - we now move on to Phase 2, with your first set of picks (10 rounds) due THURSDAY night 3/22 at midnight Pacific.
• Welcome to Benchwarmer Baseball - It's a different form of fantasy baseball as we play individual head-to-head games simulated from daily MLB stats - this isn't a Rotisserie game.
  • This is fantasy baseball 365 days a year.  Teams are now making adjustments to their rosters for the 2012 season.
  • Check out the Benchwarmer Baseball Tour for an introduction.
  • Our new 16-team leagues are full for 2012.
  • But, would you like to attempt to turn around a struggling team?, these orphan teams are available...pick up an existing team and rebuild it, rather than start from scratch.
  • Want to sign up for an orphan team in 2012?  If you're new to BWB, you can sign up here.  Existing BWB owners can pick up brand new extra teams.

3/16/12

• This link is always found on the Help Page: As you're putting together your 2012 roster, particularly if you're new to BWB you might want to check out the sample scoring page that allows you to play around with a batting order and see how it can affect your offensive score for a game.

3/14/12

• They Might be Giants Draft Central - Startup draft - Phase One - complete.  The first set of Phase Two picks are due Sunday night at midnight Pacific.

3/8/12

• Multi-Team Tools.  Now has a method to attempt to sign a player as a free agent for every team you own.

3/6/12

• Federal League Draft Central - Startup Draft Complete
  • Weekly picks/drops/trades now begin with Week -4: Deadline Saturday 3/10
  • For new leagues there is a 2-week reprieve in salary rebates - you can cut players by 3/17 and receive a 100% salary rebate rather than the standard preseason 50%
• Did you take over an Orphan Team for 2012?  Some of the details and links in these articles need to be updated, but here's a series of postings from the Benchwarmer Blog to fill you in on some of the things you need to know - it's called Orphan School

3/2/12

• The offseason transaction order for weekly signings is run a little differently.  We do it as a kind of ongoing "waiver" wire.  As you pick a player, you go to the bottom of your league's order.  Because it's set manually, it will generally be updated 1-3 days after the transactions post.

2/29/12

• Contract extensions for 2013 and beyond are now open.  Annual strong advice is don't use them now unless you have to...returning teams can take a maximum of 5000 cash into the season as of Week Zero.  Otherwise, it's best to wait until closer to the July deadline for extensions.

2/23/12

• Weekly Free Agency/Trades: Preseason deadlines are on Saturday nights at midnight Pacific.  Results will generally be posted on Sunday or Monday.  See 2012 Transaction Deadlines
• Payment now due - If you're brand new, you must pay before you join a league.  If you joined BWB in 2011 or earlier, you must pay by Week 1 (April 11) or you will face transaction/lineup restrictions.
  • Payment Summary
  • If you're running multiple teams (or want to increase your number), check out our multi-team packages.

2/21/12

• Redistribution Draft - Full results now posted.

2/20/12

• Redistribution Draft - The draft is complete and players are now on your rosters - however, we're still redesigning how the results are posted, so there are no draft details yet.  In the meantime, check out some stats about the draft submission.
• Weekly transactions are now open: Sign free agents, cut players, make trades.

2/15/12

• Federal League Draft Central - Startup Draft Phase 2, Part 2 - results posted

2/14/12

• Redistribution Draft - The deadline for picking was Saturday night.  It takes a while to go through everything, so we're targeting Monday, Feb. 20 for the completion of posting the results.  That will make Friday, Feb. 24 the first option for submitting cuts, free agent pickups, and trades.

1/31/12

• Multi-Team Tools.  Now contain a display of all your Redistribution Draft lists on one page.

1/29/12

• Multi-Team Tools.  Do you run teams in multiple leagues?  There's a new page with a set of tools and functions with you in mind.  Look for more to be added soon, but off the top there's a page that will show a rundown of all the players on all of your teams plus a method to add a player to the Redistribution Draft list for every one of your teams.

1/20/12

• Federal League Draft Central - Phase One Draft Complete - Phase 2 is open...Picks are due on Wednesday night, Feb 1 at midnight Pacific

1/19/12

• Drops processed for returning leagues.
• Redistribution Draft - picks will be due on Friday Feb. 10.
• See 2012 Transaction Deadlines

1/18/12

• Returning Leagues - Player cuts...getting close - one more night.  Look for cuts to be posted Thursday night.  The schedule for submitting Redistribution Draft choices will be adjusted accordingly.  Look for at least 2 full weeks.

1/8/12

• One more delay -With some late-assigned orphans, and me still needing to work on rosters for the remaining orphan teams, the deadline for carryover choices is pushed back to Friday, Jan 13 (midnight Pacific).

1/2/12

• New Players - 116 new players added to the master player list based on the MLB 40-man rosters.  No more additions until after the season begins.