Calling All Wannabe PORKERS! Expansion!

Are you a fan of the 1970's Expos, Royals, Padres and Brewers? Remember great players like Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Steve Rogers, Randy Jones, Dave Winfield, George Brett and Dennis Leonard?

Are you also a fan of the early 2000's teams? Some of the great players like Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Mike Napoi, Dan Uggla, Ryan Braun, Edwin Encarnacion, Evan Longoria,Troy Tulowitzki, Ben Zobrist, Miguel Cabrera, and Justin Upton? But also Brandon Webb, Homer Bailey, Dontrelle Willis, Justin Verlander, Andrew Miller, James Shields, and Scott Kazmir?

Then you likely have what it takes to take one of the four expansion franchises for the PORK 1973/2003 Expansion draft!

What exactly is PORK? We are a 20 team double progressive, entering its 10th season. We are not your typical double progressive. Starting in 1963/1993 every owner chose a 1963 franchise and a 1993 franchise (in reverse snake style, first come first served). Eg. I chose 1963 Astros and 1993 Rangers, for my team Texas Horny Toads, playing in the Astrodome. Since there were 20 1963 teams, we have 20 franchises. You must play in one of your two franchises home stadium that season.

Each team automatically has the option of keeping its rookies (Hence Progressive Optional Rookie Keeper league, or PORK). So for 1963 and 1993, all of the players (who's first game that season was with 93 Texas or 63 Astros) would be on my team. I then made a 25 man roster from those players.

Every season, you have the option of keeping your rookies. So over the years I've been able to keep 60's Astros Rookies like Rusty Staub, and 90's Rangers Rookies like Kevin Brown. You don't have to keep the duds!

As we are entering the 70's and some of the great rookie players on the 67 expansion franchises we are looking to add 4 new teams!

So on a first come, first served basis, we are looking for teams to choose one of the remaining four 1973 franchises:
Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers.

You must also choose one of the remaining ten 2003 franchises: Anaheim Angels, Arizona Diamonbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

When you sign up, you do so by choosing either one of the 1973 teams or one of the 2003 teams. Once we have four owners, we'll then choose in reverse order the alternate season team (ie if you chose 1973 team first, you choose a 2003 team in second round or the reverse).

Below I'll explain how the expansion draft will occur, how you will create your team from these players, and how the free agency draft works.

Any questions, send them my way!

Subject: PORK Expansion Draft Process

Once you have your chosen 1973 and 2003 Expansion teams, you automatically have the rights to all the WIS rostered players for those two teams, who's first game played that season was for your franchises.

The catch is that the current 20 owners (once they know who are the expansion teams) have the right to protect THREE players who are on the 8 expansion franchises (ie 4 new teams of 2 franchises each).

So example, the 1973 Expos have Ken Singleton on that squad. His current rights are owned by the Cleveland Metropolitans (1972 Mets and 2002 Indians). That owner has every right to protect Ken Singleton; in which the new owner of the 1973 Expos would not be able to have him on their roster.

Similarly the 2003 Florida Marlins have Derrek Lee on that squad. His current rights are owned by the LA Fillies (1972 Dogers and 2002 Phillies) -- he was traded by the Padres team with whom he was a rookie - and the current owner has every right to protect Derrek Lee.

We came up with the 3 protected players rule through a ballot/discussion thread.

So with the remaining "non-protected" list of players from your 1973 and 2003 franchises, you must select a 25 man roster from these players, and list it on the Expansion Team thread (which will be coming).

As noted you obviously have the rights to all 1973 and 2003 "Rookies" on those two teams (as they would not already be on anyone else's roster) -- and if you have a look at some of the 73 or 03 rookies available for those teams, there are some very good ones!

And every subsequent season, you get first dibs to keep or discard any rookies on your teams!

Subject: PORK Free Agency Draft Process

Once every team has listed their 25 man roster for the coming season, there is a free agency draft (following a worst to first schedule).

The free agency players available consist of all rookies on the teams that are not in our league. So that would be rookies on the remaining six 2003 franchises that are not selected, and ultimately any rookies on teams coming into the league in 1977 once we get to that season. In addition, the players available for that draft is any "unkept" rookie from the 24 1973 teams and 24 2003 teams, any unselected free agents who progressed from the 1972 or 2002 seasons, and I guess anyone else I missed.

So the free agency draft is maximum 5 rounds -- all teams are expected to carry 30 players into the season, with the 5 additional players being placed in AAA. All 30 players who progress to the next season are available to be keepers for the following season.

Caveat: you can actually have more than 25 "keepers" prior to the free agency draft (ie you can keep 26 or 28 players, or even 30 players) but then you would have fewer draft picks in the free agency draft.

Although I said expansion teams must keep 25 players from their 45 odd players available to their two franchises, they can if they choose, keep as many as 30 of these players going into the free agency draft. Of course, that may not be in your interest going into the first FA draft, as you may have more gaps than you wish. But it is your choice.

I find AAA is a great way to "stash" a player who has a good season in a few years, but is not quite up to snuff that season.

Subject: PORK League Rules

A detailed copy of the league rules is available on the league thread and can be read by anyone who is accepted into the league, or can refer to this link.

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=493448&threadID=10942491#l_10942491

https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=493448&threadID=11312151#l_11312151


Just so you understand, that two of the expansion franchises will be in the NL, and two will be in the AL.

Preferably it would make sense if both selected teams are NL teams, it would be in the NL or vise versa for AL teams, but that isn't necessary. Also I am happy to take volunteers to be in the NL, but if no one wants to I will assign to owners.

Just so you understand, the NL has no DH, and the AL has a DH.

This was done to make the league more interesting, and most similar to current MLB. Some owners are happy and some don't like having a 40 HR player acting as a pinch hitter. I for one, prefer NL rules and stategy, but each to their own.

Once things are set up, I am considering an NL only vote if they want to adopt the DH, but that would be for the 1974/2004 season, at earliest.

Once we have 24 teams, we would have three division winners in each league, and one wild card team in each league.

Further questions can be answered in the league rules, or by dropping me a line.

Cheers,

LJ

PORK (Progressive Optional Rookie Keeper) League Expansion Sign Up for 1973 and 2003 Season.

We are currently in the 1972/2002 season early on. Draft will be for the upcoming 1973/2003 season.


Please choose one of the four remaining 1973 Franchises: Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals

or

Please choose one of the ten remaining 2003 Franchises: Anaheim Angels, Arizona Diamonbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays.

Second Round please choose team from season you didn't take in the first round (ie: if you took a 2003 team round one, then choose a 1973 team round two and vice versa). This is on a first come first served basis, but order is reversed in second round.


Round One
1. 1973 Milwaukee Brewers - shaggyno9
2. 1973 Montreal Expos - epup1975
3. 2003 Florida Marlins - fabulous
4. 1973 Kansas City Royals - cpmitchno1

Round Two
4. 2003 Anaheim Angels - cpmitchno1
3. 1973 San Diego Padres - fabulous
2. 2003 Arizona Diamonbacks - epup1975
1. 2003 Tampa Bay Devil Rays - shaggyno9

Shouldnt we be able to see a list of players that will not belong to our new teams BEFORE we select the teams we want?

Why would I take St. Louis and then find out I dont get Pujols, Edmonds, Rolen, or Renteria?

Good point, but current owners wouldn't know who to protect until they find out what teams are being taken. One can also assume if they like St. Louis that those players will likely be protected. Note also, that whereas Pujols, Rolen and Renteria had many good years to come, Edmonds had just 2-3 good years after 2003. This draft has a lot to do with rookies 1973 and 2003 going forward.

Then what you are saying is that most of the top stars for all the available teams have already been removed by the current owners, leaving just skeletel remains of the available teams, ....correct ?

Depends on your perspective - most of the stars on the 72/02 teams are set to retire soon, so this expansion draft is more about developing teams from the great rookie classes from 73/03 onward.

I'm interested but won't be able to make a decision on a team just yet.

Milwaukee is on both lists, is that an oversight?

Not an oversight.
Milwaukee Brewers were not available during the 1963 draft, and the Milwaukee Brewers were not selected in the 1993 draft.

1970's Montreal Expos Rookies: taken
1973 - Steve Rogers P
1974 - Larry Parrish 3B
1974 - Barry Foote C
1975 - Gary Carter C
1976 - Andre Dawson OF
1976 - Warren Cromartie OF
1976 - Ellis Valentine OF
1978 - Scott Sanderson P
1978 - Dennis Schatzeder P
1979 - David Palmer P

1970's Milwaukee Brewers Rookies: taken
1973 - Gorman Thomas OF
1974 - Robin Yount OF
1974 - Sixto Lezcano OF
1974 - Charlie Moore C
1974 - Bill Travers P
1975 - Jerry Augustine P
1975 - Bill Castro P
1976 - Jim Gantner 3B
1976 - Moose Haas P
1977 - Bob McLure P
1977 - Larry Sorensen P
1978 - Paul Molitor 2B

1970's Kansas City Royals Rookies: Taken
1973 - Doug Bird P
1973 - Gene Garber P
1973 - Mark Littell P
1973 - Frank White 2B
1974 - George Brett 3B
1974 - Al Cowens OF
1975 - Dennis Leonard P
1976 - Ruppert Jones OF
1977 - John Wathan C
1978 - Rich Gale P
1978 - UL Washington SS
1978 - Willie Wilson OF
1979 - Dennis Quisenberry P

1970's San Diego Padres Rookies: Taken
1973 - Johnny Grubb OF
1973 - Dave Winfield OF
1973 - Randy Jones P
1974 - Dan Spillner P
1975 - Mike Ivie 1B
1976 - Bill Almon SS
1977 - Gene Richards OF
1977 - Bob Shirley P
1978 - Ozzie Smith SS

2000's L.A./ Anaheim Angels Rookies: Taken
2003 - Chone Figgins OF/3B
2004 - Casey Kotchman 1B
2005 - Ervin Santana P
2006 - Mike Napoli C/1B
2006 - Kendry Morales 1B
2006 - Howie Kendrick 2B
2006 - Joe Saunders P
2006 - Jered Weaver P
2007 - Eric Aybar SS
2008 - Darren O'Day P
2009 - Kevin Jepsen P

2000's Arizona Diamondback Rookies: Taken
2003 - Lyle Overbay 1B
2003 - Chris Capuano P
2003 - Jose Valverde P
2003 - Brandon Webb P
2004 - Chris Snyder C
2004 - Chad Tracy 3B
2005 - Connor Jackson 1B
2006 - Stephen Drew SS
2006 - Carlos Quentin OF
2007 - Miguel Montero C
2007 - Marc Reynolds 3B
2007 - Justin Upton OF
2008 - Max Scherzer P
2009 - Geraldo Parra OF

2000s Cincinnati Reds Rookies:
2003 - Ryan Freel OF
2003 - Willy Mo Pena OF
2005 - Edwin Encarnacion 3B
2007 - Joey Votto 1B
2007 - Josh Hamilton OF
2007 - Homer Bailey P
2008 - Ryan Hannigan C
2008 - Johnny Cueto P

2000's Colorado Rockie Rookies:
2003 - Garrett Atkins 3B
2003 - Javier Lopez P
2004 - Brad Hawpe OF
2004 - Matt Holliday OF
2004 - Jeff Francis P
2006 - Chris Iannetta C
2006 - Troy Tulowitzki SS
2007 - Ubaldo Jiminez P
2008 - Seth Smith OF
2009 - Eric Young 2B
2009 - Dexter Fowler
2008 - Jay Bruce OF

2000's Detroit Tigers Rookies:
2003 - Jeremy Bonderman P
2003 - Nate Robertson P
2003 - Fernando Rodney P
2005 - Curtis Granderson OF
2006 - Justin Verlander P
2007 - Jair Jurrjens P
2007 - Andrew Miller P
2008 - Matt Joyce OF
2008 - Armado Gallaragha P
2009 - Alex Avilla C
2009 - Rick Porcello P

2000's Florida Marlins Rookies: Taken
2003 - Miguel Cabrerra 3B
2003 - Dontrelle Willis P
2005 - Jason Vargas P
2006 - Dan Uggla 2B
2006 - Hanley Ramirez SS
2006 - Josh Willingham OF
2006 - Josh Johnson P
2006 - Ricky Nolasco P
2006 - Anibal Sanchez P
2009 - Chris Coghlan OF

2000's Milwaukee Brewers Rookes:
2003 - Bill Hall 2B/OF
2003 - Scott Podesnik OF
2005 - Prince Fielder 1B
2005 - Ricky Weeks 2B
2005 - J.J. Hardy SS
2005 - Corey Hart OF
2006 - Carlos Villaneuva P
2007 - Ryan Braun 3B/OF
2007 - Yovani Gallardo P
2009 - Casey McGhee 3B

2000's Pittsburgh Pirates Rookies:
*note - Jason Bay's first Rookie team was 2003 San Diego Padres; Jose Bautista's first Rookie Team was 2004 Baltimore Orioles
2004 - Mike Gonzalez P
2005 - Freddy Sanchez 3B
2005 - Nate McLouth OF
2005 - Paul Maholm P
2005 - Ian Snell P
2006 - Matt Capps P
2007 - Rajai Davis OF
2008 - Ross Ohlendorf P
2009 - Andrew McCutcheon OF
2009 - Jesse Chavez P

2000's St. Louis Cardinal Rookies:
2003 - Kiko Calero P
2003 - Danny Haren P
2004 - Yadier Molina C
2006 - Skip Schumaker 2B
2006 - Adam Wainwright P
2008 - Chris Perez P
2009 - Colby Rasmus OF
2009 - Jason Motte P

2000s Tampa Bay Devil Ray Rookies: Taken
2003 - Rocco Baldelli OF
2004 - Jorge Cantu 2B
2004 - B.J. Upton OF
2004 - Scott Kazmir P
2005 - Jonny Gomes OF
2006 - Akinori Iwamura 2B
2006 - Ben Zobrist SS
2006 - James Shields P
2008 - Evan Longoria 3B
2009 - Wade Davis P
2009 - Jeff Niemann P
2009 - David Price P

I'll join with the 73 Brewers.