[USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season

[Andrew R. Klein]

The weekend of March 29th is hard for me, but any other weekend works.  
I'd rather draft really early (weekend of March 15) than April 11.  I 
could also come in for a draft most Friday nights.

-Andy

MBBlocker at aol.com wrote:
>
> Gang:
>
>  
>
>   Let the planning for USML 2008 begin!  Incredibly, this will be our 
> 20^th consecutive season in existence.  For those who may not know, 
> our league?s birthplace was a dingy, college-style apartment in the 
> heart of Lincoln Park.  Ten owners ? including two of our league?s 
> current members -- attended the inaugural USML draft in that tiny 
> apartment.  From those humble beginnings, we have persevered over 20 
> seasons, and along the way, endured multiple strikes, the Steroids 
> Era, and even the coming and going and then The Return of Brad 
> Jansen.  But I digress.  Let?s get right to the matters that need our 
> league-wide attention (as opposed to, say, the NFL playoffs, which is 
> only relevant to half of the league?s membership).
>
>  
>
>   Draft Day:  The Major League Baseball season will begin on Monday, 
> March 31, 2008, so the question is whether we want to draft before or 
> after opening day.  The options do not look great either way.  The 
> weekends of March 22 and 29 likely will bookend many school spring 
> breaks.  The weekend of April 4 is a non-starter for me because of the 
> Sidley partners meeting.  The weekend of April 11 is a possibility, 
> but well into the real baseball season.  Another possibility is to 
> draft on a weekday evening right before or after opening day.  Please 
> send around an e-mail with your availability and preferences for a 
> draft date.  As I get responsive e-mails, I will compile the 
> information and re-circulate it.
>
>  
>
>   Draft location:  My impression from Draft Day 2007 is that the 
> Sidley conference center downtown was perceived to be an excellent 
> draft site.  Let me know if anyone objects to holding the draft there 
> again this year.  Keep in mind it will be alcohol-free if we hold the 
> draft there. 
>
>  
>
>   Stat Service:  We will likely need to choose a new stat service 
> again this year.  It is pretty clear from last year that we cannot 
> stay with All Star Stats.  It was expensive and routinely failed us.  
> Our prior service, TQ Stats, was and is inexpensive, but has not 
> received good reviews from those that used it last year.  Jeff Winick 
> and I have done some investigating and are inclined to try the service 
> offered by CBS Sportsline (the same company that runs the football 
> pool in which many of us participate).  The advantages:  it?s run by a 
> reputable company, its cheap ($79 per league per season), and it 
> appears to offer all of the features we care about.  I have set up 
> (but not yet paid for) our league on the CBS Sportsline site, and you 
> should each receive an e-mail later tonight about accessing the site.  
> Please tour the site and share any impressions you may have.  Also, if 
> you have suggestions for alternate website, please let us know.
>
>  
>
>   Rules Discussion:  Now is the time to start proposing any new 
> rules.  If there are any proposed amendments to our rules please 
> circulate those soon so we can debate them and vote.  If you are among 
> the minority that does not enjoy the rules debates, please just ignore 
> the e-mail traffic relating to the new rule topics.  I would prefer to 
> see proposed amendments circulated by the end of this month, with 
> voting on the rules in early February.  Let me know if you think those 
> deadlines are acceptable. 
>
>  
>
>   League size:  We currently have 11 teams.  Fruiter?s recent e-mail 
> notwithstanding, I assume all current owners will be participating in 
> 2008 unless we hear otherwise.  If there is any groundswell to expand 
> to 12 and a willing owner is available, please speak up soon.  
> Otherwise, 11 it is.
>
>  
>
>  That is it for the moment.  Another update will follow shortly.  
> Please send around an e-mail soon with your preferred draft dates. 
>
>  
>
>   -- Mark B.
>
>  
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape 
> <http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489> 
> in the new year.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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