We are currently in the home stretch of our 15th season, Y2K. We're looking for a new owner for the Orioles in the competitive AL East.

The team has been well maintained by the same owner for 10 seasons, but he's trying to cut back. They have a solid lineup, but like many teams could use some upgrades at pitching.

The O's own the 13th/14th pick in the 2001 draft, but did trade away their 3rd rounder to acquire Scott Williamson.


If you're not familiar with the league, here's the gist of it:

We're a single-season progressive that began in 1986. Real life teams, close to real life alignment 4-4-4, DH in the AL only. We use a mix of 6/4 real life and CGI below average AAA guys, but the twist is that you may only draft, trade for, or in any way acquire guys who played for your franchise in real life.

We have other rules, but the main ideas follow:

Keeper Rules - All players that fall in to the 3 keeper categories below will be forced on their respected franchise. They can not be traded or cut.

CAREER KEEPERS - Any player who has played his entire career for one team (or entire WiS career) will belong to that team. If a player has played for several teams but has only racked up 50 AB or 25 IP in a season for one team he will also belong to the team for which he played the bulk of his career. So if Player A plays four full seasons for the Dodgers, then goes to the Cubs where he only nets 30 ABs and is traded to the Mets where he gets another 30 he will be still be considered a Dodgers Career Keeper.

TEAM ICONS - Any player whose first ten or more eligible WIS seasons are with the same team, and who has had no more than 3 WIS seasons with other teams (including expansion teams) will be designated a Team Icon and belong to the team whom he played 10 years for.

-Any player who racked up more than 25 IP/50 AB with a single active franchise, regardless of seasons with a defunct franchise (Brewers, Tigers, Rockies, Marlins, D-Backs, Rays) will be the property of the active franchise.

- Any Team Icon being may be placed on IR any season he did not play for your franchise.

- Any player who played every game for an expansion/defunct team or has fewer than 25 IP/50 AB will not be eligible to be drafted by any team.

If you don't think you can make a winner out of the Orioles, the small-market Cincinnati Reds have 8 WS titles under their belt.

Baltimore Orioles

2001 roster before cuts

C Charles Johnson (LAD, CWS)
C Brook Fordyce (CHW, CIN, TB NYM)
C Ramon Hernandez (OAK, SD, CIN, BAL
1B Todd Zeile (BAL, PHI, NYM, STL, CHC, LAD, TEX, MON/WAS, NYY)
1B Kevin Millar (BAL, BOS, TOR)
2B Delino DeShields (MON, LAD, STL, CHC)
3B Cal Ripken (CK)
3B Aubrey Huff (BAL, SFG, HOU)
SS Miguel Tejada (OAK, HOU, SD, SF)
OF Brady Anderson (BOS, CLE)
OF Jeffrey Hammonds (CIN,MIL, COL, SF)
OF Chris Singleton (CHW, BAL, OAK)
OF Luis Matos (CK--AAA eligible in '01)
OF Melvin Mora (BAL, NYM)
OF Jay Payton (NYM, OAK, BAL, BOS, SDP)

Pitchers:

Arthur Rhodes (SEA, CIN, PHI, CLE, OAK, FLA)
Pat Hentgen (TOR, STL)
Mike Trombley (MIN, LAD)
Buddy Groom (DET, FLA, OAK, ARI, NYY)
Jaret Wright (CLE, NYY, ATL, SD)
Russ Ortiz (SFG, BAL, ATL, ARI, HOU)
Kris Benson (NYM, PIT, BAL)
Bruce Chen (ATL, PHI, NYM, CIN, WAS/MON, BAL, KC)
Scott Williamson (BAL, CIN, BOS, CHC, SDP)
Rob Bell (CIN, BAL, TEX)

Orioles will add Brian Roberts to the roster in 2001 as a career keeper.

Currently in the playoffs.