[USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season

[springkerb at aol.com]

I have conflicts the weekends of March 7-9 and April 4-6.? I strongly prefer drafting early to drafting late.? I can do a weeknight draft.

Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew R. Klein <anrklein at yahoo.com>
To: USML Announcements <announce at usml.net>
Sent: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 8:57 am
Subject: Re: [USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season



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 20th 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 in the new year. 


______________________________________________
nnounce mailing list
nnounce at usml.net
ttp://lists.usml.net/mailman/listinfo/announce
 




_______________________________________________
nnounce mailing list
nnounce at usml.net
ttp://lists.usml.net/mailman/listinfo/announce


________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever.  Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lyra.siteprotect.com/pipermail/announce/attachments/20080111/8c652c95/attachment-0001.htm