[Pun]

Well, I'm probably going to sound like a bitter prick with this post, but so be it. When discussing the new owner, we need to decide what draft position he's going to get.

After talking with Lucky, he's mentioned him starting over and getting the #1 pick. Well, that's all well and good if it's an expansion. But this is a new owner taking over a team. In real baseball, a new owner isn't automatically getting the #1 pick in the draft.

As bad as it sounds, Gimmick "earned" that pick, and I did as well by giving up other picks to get it. It even changes my keeper strategy based on what pick(s) I get.

I'm just trying to throw it out there, because I think it's something that needs to be talked about.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

We're not expanding, we're just replacing so I think the replacement owner should inherit whatever spot Vols has. Like you said, it's not fair to whoever "won" the #1 pick.

[Sparty]

I say they inherit the franchise.

[Jack Quinn]

yeah, let him pick his five keepers once the pool expands and everyone is dumped if he doesn't like Vols keepers, I am willing to concede that much. But giving him the #1 pick seems a little unfair to the rest of us.

[DevSop]

I understand them getting the choice of inheriting Vols team or starting over, but even if they start over...I don't think they should be rewarded with the #1 pick. I'd put them in between the consolation and playoff teams. I think that'd be 6th and they can pick the midde of every round. And I'd give them the option of 3 keepers who get dropped if they want to start over.

[Lucky]

The rules are the rules and I wouldn't think it kosher to change them now just because people don't like how its playing out. A new owner gets an option. (a) Take over the existing team and everything that comes with it including minor leagues and draft picks. (b) Start from scratch and select 5 keepers from the free agent pool and get the top pick. Odds are any new owner will take (b) unless the previous owner stocked up a lot of draft picks or has a stacked minor league lineup.

So this poll would be moot towards the 2010 season because (no offense Pun) it just reads like us changing things up on the fly to benefit existing owners.

All that said, this poll is doubly moot because I misspoke to you when I sent that PM. Here's the rule as officially written in the rule thread.

- If new owner chooses to start fresh he will receive the top pick in the draft (after Consolation winner) and be allowed to choose 5 keepers from the free agent pool prior to the start of the Free Agent Period.

So this tells us two things.

1) No one reads the rules before asking questions or wanting the rules changed.
2) I haven't updated the rules page since we eliminated the Free Agent Period.
3) GM's #1 pick is GM's #1 pick, regardless of what the new owner does.

Thus I officially declare this poll pointless.

[Pun]

If that's the case then, I don't think the keepers should be finalized until after the new owner has declared his choice. My keepers are going to depend on whether or not I have pick #1 and #2 or whether I have #2 and #3.

Edit - Wait, when is the consolation winner's pick? Is it #2? So would I have #1 and #3?

[Lucky]

Consolation winner gets #1. New owner gets #2. Your pick would drop to #3.

The problem with changing up any of these rules now is its essentially taking away power from the new owner because he's not here. That seems dirty to me at this stage. The rules have been in place for years and this is the 3rd season we're using them. No one objected to it when Grover, MKid, or GM came in.

The new owner (in theory) has the worst shake in the league. He had no say in building Vols' team or draft and if he starts from scratch he's just building his keeper roster off of scraps, has no minor leaguers, and no extra picks like others had. Thus, he gets the one edge we can give him in the 1st rd. Its a debatable subject but the problem here is that if we're just deciding it based on what's "fair" to us with out considering his side, we're doing it wrong.

My problem with moving the keeper deadline until AFTER the new owner makes a decision is then he's flying blind. He has no idea what the free agent pool looks like and has to guess at it being stronger than Vols' roster. Since the new owner is already coming in with (potentially) no minor leaguers, no traded picks, and little say on his keeper set I don't want to limit him further.

[Attitude Adjuster]

Keep the rules the way they are. Quit bitching. The Old Man has spoken.

[Lucky]

I think this is the first time you've ever been on my side of one of these things.

[Attitude Adjuster]

You're kinda like my wife. I can complain about you, but no one else can.

[Lucky]

Lou is officially our 12th Owner. He has yet to decide which option he's taking as we're temporarily locked out of ESPN's site and we can't see Vols' roster until they get the 2010 game up.

[Jack Quinn]

Yay Lou!