I really like my teams and have spent (as have most of us) much time figuring out how to improve them and tinkering to find out how to get the most out of the guys I have and get the type of team I like.

I'd really hate to part with them, especially the ONE of the 4 which I actually created from a formation draft and which has never failed to win its division (maybe till this year). I had a very lucky draft, probably because I didn't have time to overstudy - I was on a business trip to Hungary and each night had from midnight to 1 PM to set up my draft list over a 14400 baud phone line. That team is special to me.

That said, the number of managerless teams is affecting the fun of the game. Maybe part of the problem is teams like the one I described which perennially are strong and eventually frustrate the rest of the division.

Perhaps it is time to start all over, reduce the leagues, get rid of most of the 20 team leagues with 24 team leagues (my preference), and give everyone an equal starting point once again.

Strong teams will get drafted which again will perennially dominate, but everyone now playing would feel they had an equal starting point.

If you took over a 45-115 team now, you would know you were going to continue to lose for at least several years. Some of us like that as a challenge (I do), but maybe new people come in expecting to rebuild quickly, get frustrated, and drop out again. Perhaps some sort of "clean start" is needed.

I'd rather we had Launch Leagues to train new blood and found a way to help newbies get off to a good start when they take over a team.

Example: If you are new to PB and take over a team who had a sub 500 record: Every one PROTECTS 14 players and the newbie gets any 5 of the remaining players. If multiple newbies they alternate picks.

Alternatively, do it at the FA draft and let the Newbies get 5 picks off the top of the list, then do the draft as normal.

For PBers who already own a team, they would not get such free picks. Only newbies.

Just some random ramblings from a PB fan.

David Fisher

99RT5 - Orcutt Orcas
98RT1 - Bement Bulls
K15 - Salusan Bulls
D5 - Malaga Pirates