This Offseason Schedule 

As I said, we are currently at the end of the 2004 season in-game, and ready to expand again.  The overall ideal structure for our league now is 3 divisions and a wild card, but in order for that, we need at least 24 teams.  At present, we have 18, and the plan was to add 2 teams each in 2004, 2006, and 2008.  This expansion rotation will add the Roswell Greys and the Calgary Lumberjacks to the Hamlet.  

So, we'll again be having an expansion draft to stock those teams.  Each team will have the opportunity to protect their top 30 players, and 50 of their top 55.  

Immediately, before we do anything else in the offseason, each owner will need protect to his first top 30 players, and then rank his next 25 players from 1-25 in order of importance.  Also, if an owner fails to rank his players by the agreed deadline, then the protected list will automatically be his 25-man major league roster plus his top 10 minor league prospects, rated by the game.

The selecting process would look like this:

• First 30 protected "untouchable" players.

• Expansion owners select 2 players from ranked list of 25.

• The next highest remaining 10 players from the ranked list are automatically protected.

• Expansion owners select 1 player from the ranked list of 25.

• The next highest remaining 5 players are protected.

• Finally, expansion owners select 2 players from the list.

 Once this is over, we will conduct the Rule 5 draft, the amateur draft, and free agency.  Roswell and Calgary will not be eligible for any of the regular drafts or free agency this season.