State of the ABL - End of the 2020 Season
Mar 1, 2018 6:42:21 GMT -8
CardsGM_Sean, johnw- ATL, and 3 more like this
Post by aaron_commissioner on Mar 1, 2018 6:42:21 GMT -8
I thought it would be useful and informative to write an update at the end of every season. Introducing the first State of the ABL:
The ABL has weathered change the past season. Following some conflict after the conclusion of the 2019 season, our commissioner unexpectedly stepped away. After a few days to determine the direction of the league, I stepped in to the leadership role. One of the first changes made as commissioner was establishing a leadership committee to encourage more feedback and communication regarding rules and changes. The 2020 season then followed, complete with unique experiences and surprises. Teams like the Mariners, Braves, Brewers, and Twins saw unprecedented success and added new names to the competitive teams. This season also coincided with the 2018 Winter Olympics. Our league had friendly rivalries and support for their home nations. Finally, StatsPlus was added as an ABL feature and will be more prominent in the future.
The ABL has many strengths on which it is founded. Even through a significant transition this past offseason, we only lost two GMs. The continuity of the ABL speaks volumes to the quality of our GMs and overall experience. Our league is also unique in the limited number and complexity of our rules. Our Constitution is easy to digest, and new GMs can come in and quickly compete. Finally, the ABL is full of diversity. He have a wide array of ages, countries, experiences, personalities, and opinions represented here. For the most part, interactions on Slack have remained positive and productive. Embracing our differences can only make us stronger.
However, there are still areas for improvement in our league. While the rules are limited, it also leaves room for grey area. I hope to add clarity to the rules moving forward, and be consistent with their enforcement. Specifically, our league can work to improve the number of DFA / DL players left after exports. While no penalties are planned currently, this could change if improvement is not seen. Finally, as engaged as many GMs are on Slack, I would love to see more writing about league events and performances in the forums. This will never be a requirement, but it brings more realism to OOTP leagues, which I think is beneficial to everyone.
What can we expect in 2021? The Expos will be back! Montreal will welcome back an MLB franchise for the first time since ____. As far as rule changes, Players-To-Be-Named-Later (PTBNL) will be permanently banned. However, draft picks and recent draft signees will be allowed to be moved, even after the draft. Expect more integration of the StatsPlus site, including more voting and draft picks through the site. Also, live sims may be more common in 2021. We will experiment with it to end 2020 and may include them as often as once or twice per week in 2021. Finally, we will continue monitor the league for future changes, including adding support for small market teams and limiting contracts in effort to promote a more robust free agent market.
Finally, I want to personally thank you for your participation in making the ABL great. I have expressed how positively the ABL has affected me even before taking up this role. Although this has added responsibilities to my plate, I am incredibly thankful for all of you and for the positive interactions we have an a daily basis. After a potential crisis, you have been a huge part in sustaining the success of this league. Thank you, and on to another successful year in 2021!
All the best,
Aaron, ABL Commissioner
The ABL has weathered change the past season. Following some conflict after the conclusion of the 2019 season, our commissioner unexpectedly stepped away. After a few days to determine the direction of the league, I stepped in to the leadership role. One of the first changes made as commissioner was establishing a leadership committee to encourage more feedback and communication regarding rules and changes. The 2020 season then followed, complete with unique experiences and surprises. Teams like the Mariners, Braves, Brewers, and Twins saw unprecedented success and added new names to the competitive teams. This season also coincided with the 2018 Winter Olympics. Our league had friendly rivalries and support for their home nations. Finally, StatsPlus was added as an ABL feature and will be more prominent in the future.
The ABL has many strengths on which it is founded. Even through a significant transition this past offseason, we only lost two GMs. The continuity of the ABL speaks volumes to the quality of our GMs and overall experience. Our league is also unique in the limited number and complexity of our rules. Our Constitution is easy to digest, and new GMs can come in and quickly compete. Finally, the ABL is full of diversity. He have a wide array of ages, countries, experiences, personalities, and opinions represented here. For the most part, interactions on Slack have remained positive and productive. Embracing our differences can only make us stronger.
However, there are still areas for improvement in our league. While the rules are limited, it also leaves room for grey area. I hope to add clarity to the rules moving forward, and be consistent with their enforcement. Specifically, our league can work to improve the number of DFA / DL players left after exports. While no penalties are planned currently, this could change if improvement is not seen. Finally, as engaged as many GMs are on Slack, I would love to see more writing about league events and performances in the forums. This will never be a requirement, but it brings more realism to OOTP leagues, which I think is beneficial to everyone.
What can we expect in 2021? The Expos will be back! Montreal will welcome back an MLB franchise for the first time since ____. As far as rule changes, Players-To-Be-Named-Later (PTBNL) will be permanently banned. However, draft picks and recent draft signees will be allowed to be moved, even after the draft. Expect more integration of the StatsPlus site, including more voting and draft picks through the site. Also, live sims may be more common in 2021. We will experiment with it to end 2020 and may include them as often as once or twice per week in 2021. Finally, we will continue monitor the league for future changes, including adding support for small market teams and limiting contracts in effort to promote a more robust free agent market.
Finally, I want to personally thank you for your participation in making the ABL great. I have expressed how positively the ABL has affected me even before taking up this role. Although this has added responsibilities to my plate, I am incredibly thankful for all of you and for the positive interactions we have an a daily basis. After a potential crisis, you have been a huge part in sustaining the success of this league. Thank you, and on to another successful year in 2021!
All the best,
Aaron, ABL Commissioner