Branch Rickey Filled. See You Next Year. Topic








We are unique to HBD in that we have a strictly enforced $20M Prospect Cap that stops tanking cold. Most effective anti-tanking measure ever! See Private World Rules in second panel below. Our newest feature--MEET THE BRANCH RICKEY OWNERS--is located in the third panel below.
 
 
 
Branch Rickey has a wonderful, new Commissioner (mr_wonderful) and the same overall stable, fun-loving, no-drama (ok--we have food fights now and then on Fajita Night) world that has kept us in low turnover in recent seasons. Alas, we have more openings than usual this year. You'll find a link to the teams below. There's practically one for every taste from SLIGHT FIXER-UPPER to NUKE THIS TEAM. If you find something you like send a site mail to our new Commissioner (mr_wonderful.)
 
 
 
American League
 
 

Norfolk     (104-88)   (#34 pick)     For all the talent this winner has, its payroll boasts a modest $78M figure. Ace Enrique Ogando leads this merry band followed by the robust trio of Brad Williams, Kyle Brush, and Paul Maeda. After spending too manyseasons below .500 this squad has established itself, with back to back 90 and 104 win seasons, as a team turning over a new leaf. Built to win now and for many seasons to come.   Taken by italianajt
 
Ottawa     (80-82)     (#17 pick)     Ottawa has a nice nucleus of talent to build on. Start with Luis Sierra and Dexter Sutton on offense. Then move to one of the best 1-2-3 punch combos of a rotation in Yamil Volquez, Yamil Castro, and Kiki Hernandez and you have the start of something special. But wait--there's more! Gerald Lynn, Bucky Goodwin, Pat Nichting and Sherry Christenson prove the future is bright with this team. Approximately $56M in committed salary.   Taken by mark102857
 
Toledo     (58-104)     (#3 pick)  Reclaimed by original owner
 
Boston     (78-84)     (#13 pick)     Some nice pieces in Rico Espinosa, Benji Tatis, and Louie Cook. Down on the farm you'll find Rodrigo Vizquel, Harry King, Louie Vazquez and Donaldo Trinedad. With only $36M committed this team has a lot of flexibility.   Taken by jetsons
 
Houston     (86-74)     (#22 pick)     Skeeter DePaula, D.T. Strickland, and Evereth Chavez headline the MLers while Sherman Jennings and Matt Newhauser bring promise to the future. Just under $45M committed salary.  Reclaimed by original owner
 
Jacksonville     (57-105)     (#2 pick)  No ML stars to speak of. Just $32M in committed salary. But a lot of future in $12.8M IFA Felix Koh, #4 pick Doug Wells, Andrew Beachy and David Acosta. Add the #2 pick to the mix and you are well on the way to a strong foundation for a rebuild.   Taken by mcandrews
 
 
National League
 
 
Montreal     (74-88)     (#10 pick)      Lenny Butler, Wesley Etherton and Paul Koh headline the offense here while Zach Stanton and Buddy Howell hold down the top two rungs in the rotation. Dustin Chase and Stefen Mendoza offer some hope for the future. $72M in committed salary.   Taken by kingdean
 
Tampa Bay     (79-83)     (#14 pick)     Sammy Freeman, Willy Taylor and Hank Barker are this team's offensive stars. Steve Osbourne and Derrik Park make a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation. There are some middling prospects down on this farm this organization needs to make a concerted push to bring in new blood. Committed salary comes in around $62M.   Taken by cdc80uf

Atlanta
     (69-93)     (#6 pick)     Santiago Pelaez, P.T. Liriano and Fernando Banuelos lead a cast in need of a rebuild. Fortunately the following players  will be joining the fight back to winning ways soon enough: $17.5M IFA Horacio Diaz, #1 overall pick Chet Martin, #7 pick Ted Strauss along with comers Nicholas Booker, Bing Clayton and a host of other decent young prospects. Throw in the #6 pick and this squad will rebuild quickly. Approx. $33.5M in committed salary.   Taken by aaronbrown99
 
Helena     (88-74)     (#23 pick)  Having averaged 91.5 wins over the past 4 seasons this team is in ready-to-win-NOW mode. Thomas Reynoso, J.A. Turner,Jim Stewart, Robbie Becker are just some of the potent players on the Helena squad. Add Chris Bird, Charlie Bergesen and Anthony Ogea down on the farm and you have a few good chips to deal if you need that push into the playoffs. In the neighborhood of $52M committed salary.   Taken by mike1184



12/24/2014 5:42 PM (edited)



Private World Rules
 
 
Branch Rickey is unique among HBD world in that we have a $20M prospect cap. This  includes both Amateur Draft and International Free Agents.  It is not only one of the most anti-tanking measures we've seen, but it brings a competitive balance as well. The rule tends to attract the kind of owner who is fed up with teams that starve their FA budget, stack their prospect budget, and intentionally lose over 100 games per season. The following are the shorts version of our PWR:
 
1. Win floor 50/110. Teams failing to meet these liberal standards will be removed. Teams losing 100 games in 3 consecutive seasons will also be removed.
 
2. $20M prospect budget (described above)
 
3. All teams must sign a minimum of 15 amateur picks. This measure helps to restock the minor league free agent pool.
 
4. Care and grooming of minor leagues expected. 
 
5. Cash in trades will not exceed to total amount of contracts being sent.
 
Those are the rules simplified. They are fleshed out on the PWR board. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about these measures which have served us well.



12/17/2014 3:06 AM (edited)



 


MEET THE BRANCH RICKEY OWNERS



In our little corner of the world we believe when you get to know us we will start to grow on you much as an inflamed colon grabs your attention. Like some rare fungi that takes up residence under your toenails we are here for the long haul and hope you come to spend several seasons with us. Here are a few of the gents who will become your neighbors once you join the rarified ranks of Banch Rickey:




buffalo_rob, Can you guess where he’s from? Wrong!! He’s from Texas and was born and raised in Buffalo. A life long Bills fan, BR loves taking abuse from Cowboys fans. He is a Sergeant at a correctional facility in charge of anal cavity searches.
 
 
 
davidbutler9 is a married father of 2 who works long hours as a restaurant manager. He looks forward to his daily (hopefully) escape in HBD even for just a few minutes.


Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy, Arfy….  
                             
--Guest Arfy bio written by nyaggie98. Bio based on Arfy's favorite word.
 
 
 
Besides an addiction to fantasy baseball mr_wonderful is a writer, a husband, father of 3 daughters--two of whom have special needs-- who works as an administrator in a non-profit ministry. When he isn't in church on the weekends you can usually find him on the beach clubbing baby seals. Hey, a fella's gotta have a hobby . . . 
 
 
 
 gregor199 spends his time sitiing at a computer in a car dealership making sure the 1% pays for the repairs on your car. Washington is where he lives and Seahawks are the only football team. A wife and two dogs keep him busy when he ain't playin' HBD.
 
 
 
 
Stonewalter lives in a small town near Seattle. He has been a professional actor for over 40 years and is right now dancing in his 23rd production of "The Nutcracker". He has 3 sons who have yet to give him a grandchild. He will retire soon to Panama.
 
 
 
 
Smitty69 lives in Texas and once shot a man for snoring – with a water gun. As required by state law, Smitty69 loves BBQ. He also loves his three daughters and on most days, he loves HBD except when his 80+ rated pitchers give up 5 runs in the 1st inning.
 
 
 
 
nyaggie98 is a father of a four year old girl. He came to Branch Rickey to learn the finer points of losing in the playoffs by fellow Branch Rickey coach Arfy. He enjoys being a smart butt and believes there are no stupid questions . . .  just people like Arfy who aren't very bright.
 
 
 
 
PhilBar is a die hard Mets fan who, like the Mets, starts the season with high hopes. But as the season progresses, (usually after the first 3 games), he finds reality setting in portending another disappointing season. His Mets may not be as good as other teams, but he still loves the game.
 
 
 
jtedford is a music professor and violinist who is married to a soprano and has 2 beautiful children, both of whom are constantly dancing, singing, and learning violin, astrophysics, and sarcasm (2 of them are potential careers and the third is in case neither career works out).
 
 
 
Coming from a long blood line of Transylvanians, lfkbibanul has lost interest in humans and immersed himself into fantasy baseball among other sports he discovered in the true north strong and free. While hockey is first and foremost, the passion for baseball is forever growing. 


sylemark lives in rural Nevada and works in a Lake Tahoe casino as a pit boss. He is also one of the nation's foremost wild horse photographers ("I think there are three of us!" ) and travels all over the west to horse shows and rodeos to sell his pictures. 


As a little league coach, btoy1975 knew he was getting too immersed in his love of baseball data when he created spray charts and scouting reports for his son's coach pitch team. He is the night shift supervisor in a plastics plant in Michigan and is often very sleep deprived.

 
 aaronbrown99: His real name is obvious, but what does the 99 mean? His 3 loving kids would says it his IQ. Is he a fan of german pop singer Nena? His best season record is 99-63, coincidence?
 
12/22/2014 12:42 AM (edited)
Reserved
12/17/2014 3:04 AM
Arf
12/19/2014 5:54 PM
Branch Rickey Filled. See You Next Year. Topic

Search Criteria

Terms of Use Customer Support Privacy Statement

© 1999-2024 WhatIfSports.com, Inc. All rights reserved. WhatIfSports is a trademark of WhatIfSports.com, Inc. SimLeague, SimMatchup and iSimNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Used under license. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.