Announcing Large Feeder League Expansion

[Wind Dancers]

Announcing the Addition of 36 Feeder Teams into the Current Setup

With a few goals in mind, I’m glad to announce a large chunk of new teams being added to the current system to both beef up talent and move away from international randomness focus. Here were my goals entering into this:

1. More Feeder Teams, less INT Prospects. I think most of us agree that we’d rather draft a player with 4+ years of HS/College stats than sign or receive an international player with no background. We will still have international discoveries/signings, just in a slightly reduced capacity.
2. More HS Talent. Traditionally, the PEBA draft is VERY college heavy so 32/36 of our new feeder teams are actually being entered into the HS leagues. HS players tend to have a bit higher potential (which they tend to age out of a bit) and those that do not get drafted or sign will get moved up into our college leagues.
3. Diversify. As of 2 seasons ago, our international feeder teams have begun producing talent FROM that country. So we are now seeing some unique players that will be draft-eligible in 2-3 years from places like France, Germany, Spain etc. PEBA is international so a few more nationalities will be more fun. I’ve added a few teams from traditional baseball nations (Korea, Taiwan) and a few that will be more fun to write about (Ireland, Guam).
4. More Talent. Self-explanatory, more players equals potentially more talent in each draft.

We will keep an eye on how this change affects things, as we can always adjust moving forward. We WILL start doing a yearly clear-out of unused players to avoid unnecessary bloat on the league file. But now introducing our new layout:

ICOL - 2 Conferences, 3 Divisions each

Pacific League

PL Big6 Division (Named after real life Big6 Tokyo League because the Teams are the same)
Keio University Unicorns - Tokyo, JPN
University of Tokyo Imperials - Tokyo, JPN
Rikkyo University Bishops - Tokyo, JPN
Meiji University Troika - Tokyo, JPN
Hosei University Avocat - Tokyo, JPN
Waseda Bear - Tokyo, JPN

PL Supreme Division
Jeju City University Eruption - Jeju City, South Korea (Renamed from Hitosubashi)
Aoyama Gakuin Mighty Missionaries - Tokyo, JPN
Chuo University Fire - Tokyo, JPN
Taiwan Tech University Typhoon - Taipei, Taiwan (NEW)

PL Down Under Division
University of Queensland Koalas - Brisbane, AUS (NEW)
Outback State University Crocs - Queenstown, AUS
Curtin University Cockatoos - Perth, AUS
University of Sydney Wallabies - Sydney, AUS

Atlantic League

AL Europe Division
Aix-Marseille Universite Geckos - Marseille, FRA
Oxford Dark Blues - Oxford, UK
Cambridge Light Blues - Cambridge, UK
Delft Engineers - Zwartewaterland, NED
Atletico Castille Sociedad Deportiva Leones - Madrid, ESP
ETH Zurich Physicists - Zurich, SVI

AL Ontario Division
Sarnia Canada Baysiders - Sarnia, CAN (NEW)
Hamilton Canada Terrors - Hamilton, CAN
Chatham-Kent Canada Black Bears - Chatham-Kent, CAN (NEW)
Windsor Canada Goths - Windsor, CAN

AL Central American Division
Ciefuegos Peloteros - Cienfuegos, CUB
Pontificia Universidad Padres - Santiago de los Caballeros, DOM
San Juan College Oceans - San Juan, PUE
Instituto Politécnico Nacional Mules - Mexico City, MEX


IHS - 2 Conferences, 3 Divisions each

Pacific Conference

Nihon Division
Tennoji HS Sensei - Osaka, JPN
Kochi HS Shogun - Kochi, JPN
Osaka Toin HS Eijisu Masters - Osaka, JPN
Tokoha Gakuen Kikugawa HS Jiten - Shizuoka, JPN
Chiben HS Namami Samurai - Nara, JPN
Sendai Ikuei HS Daimyo - Miyagi, JPN
Kisarazu Sogo HS Ninja - Kisarazu, Chiba, JPN
Kanaashi Nougyou HS Loggers - Akita, JPN (NEW)

Pan-Asia Division
Yeosu HS Porpoises - Yeosu, South Korea (NEW)
Andong HS Folk Warriors - Andong, South Korea (NEW)
Ulsan HS Mechanics - Ulsan, South Korea (NEW)
Tainan City HS Old Guard - Tainan City, Taiwan (NEW)
Hsinchu HS Shock - Hsinchu, Taiwan (NEW)
Taitung HS Hermits - Taitung, Taiwan (NEW)
Zhoushan HS Islanders - Zhoushan, China (NEW)

Oceanic Division
Port Lincoln HS Trawlers - Port Lincoln, AUS (NEW)
Rockingham HS Settlers - Rockingham, AUS (NEW)
Canberra HS Mountaineers - Canberra, AUS (NEW)
Dunedin HS Scots - Dunedin, NZ (NEW)
Guam HS Marines - Dedado, Guam (NEW)
Manila HS Water Buffalo - Manila, Philippines (NEW)
Jakarta HS Komodo Dragons - Jakarta, Indonesia (NEW)

Atlantic Conference

Europa Division
Club Deportiva Zaragoza Toros - Zaragoza, ESP
Eton Rifles - London, UK
Hoorn Schooners - Amsterdam, NED
Bogaerts Bricklayers - Brussels, BEL
Lycée Fénelon Linguists - Paris, FRA
Hildegard Saints - Cologne, GER
Collegio San Carlo Kings - Milan, ITA
Dublin Shamrocks - Dublin, IRE (NEW)

Canadian Division
Canuck HS Battlecats - Vancouver, CAN
Point Grey HS Hounds - Vancouver, CAN
Immaculata HS Stallions - Kelowna, CAN
Bowness HS Spartans - Calgary, CAN
Hunting Hills HS Stags - Red Deer, CAN
Strathcona HS Leopards - Edmonton, CAN
South Kamloops HS Colossus - Kamloops, CAN

Caribbean Division
Guantanamo Diamond Cats - Guantanamo, CUB
Island HS Wonders - San Juan, PUE
Nassau HS Coasters - Nassua, BAH
Montego Bay HS Mariners - Montego Bay, JAM
Gonaives HS Freedom Fighters - Gonaives, HAI
San Felipe HS Spaniards - Puerto Plata, DOM
Matanzas HS El Poeta - Matanzas, CUB


US HS - 2 Conference, 3 Divisions

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
Benedictine Prep HS Infantrymen - Goochland, VA
East Rutherford HS Cavaliers - Forest City, NC
Seton Hall Prep Pirates - West Orange, NJ
Union City HS Hillers - Union City, NJ
James River HS Rapids - Bon Air, VA
South Caldwell HS Spartans - Hudson, NC
Annapolis HS Jaguars - Annapolis, MD

Deep South Division
Blanchard HS Ligers - Blanchard, OK
Barbe HS Buccaneers - Lake Charles, LOU
Klein-Collins HS Hellcats - Spring, TEX
Moody HS Trojans - Corpus Christi, TEX
Cy-Fair HS Bobcats - Jersey Village, TEX
Katy HS Tigers - Katy, TEX
Central HS Wildcats - Little Rock, ARK

Gulf Conference Division
Bishop Moore HS Hornets - Orlando, FLA
Winter Springs HS Bears - Winter Springs, FLA
Sarasota HS Sailors - Sarasota, FLA
Palm Beach Gardens HS Gators - Palm Beach Gardens, FLA
West Lauderdale HS Knights - Collinsville, MISS
DeSoto Central HS Panthers - Southaven, MISS
Mobile Christian HS Cheetahs - Mobile, ALA
Carrollton HS Spartans - Carrollton, GA (NEW)

Western Conference

Midwest Division
Dakota HS Wildcats - Macomb, MI (NEW)
Boone HS Matadors - Boone, IA (NEW)
Oswego HS Lynx - Oswego, IL (NEW)
Bellevue West HS Lightning Hawks - Bellevue, NE (NEW)
Mankato West HS Reds - Mankato, MN (NEW)
Lodi HS Devils - Lodi, WI (NEW)
Castle HS Lords - Newburgh, IN (NEW)

Pacific Division
Wilson Classical HS Bruins - Long Beach, CAL
Brophy Prep Broncos - Phoenix, ARI
Chatsworth HS Chancellors - Los Angeles, CAL
Lakewood HS Lancers - Lakewood, CAL
De La Salle HS Myrmidon - Concord, CAL
Horizon HS Huskies - Scottsdale, ARI
Jesuit HS Corsairs - Carmichael, CAL
Rio Rancho HS Goats - Rio Rancho, NM (NEW)

Northwest Division
Rocky Mountain HS Bears - Meridian, ID (NEW)
Billings West HS Black Bears - Billings, MT (NEW)
Tumwater HS Thunderhawks - Tumwater, WA (NEW)
Sprague HS Torchbearers - Salem, OR (NEW)
Snow Canyon HS Winter Warriors - St. George, UT (NEW)
Yerington HS Tigers - Yerington, NV (NEW)
Chatfield HS Mustangs - Littleton, CO (NEW)

[Alleghenies]

This is great. Does this start next season or now?

[Wind Dancers]

These teams will be entered post-draft this season so they will play their first season NEXT year.

[DavidB]

Yes, like the idea, and more talent at draft time would be more fun.

[Ghosts]

Excellent decision! I love the re-focus toward the amateur draft and think this change will improve the PEBA experience. Thanks for thinking through this and taking point on instituting positive change, Dylan.

Two questions:
1. Has the number of created IAFAs been reduced? (EDIT: Per Dylan, this setting has been reduced one down to "Normal")
2. What about scouting discoveries?(EDIT: Per Dylan, this setting has been reduced one down to "Normal")

[Borealis]

Thanks Dylan for spearheading this!

Dylan spends a lot of time digesting the whole development thing, and we all would like to see an uptick in the quality of draftable players. For simplicity sake, assume changes to be basically for next season. There may also be some tinkering under the hood to come - but that's for another day...

[John]

Very exciting! I look forward to the new teams bearing fruit!

[Denny]

This is great! Will make those later round picks actually worthwhile.

Next, I wish there was a way to make the various draft pool players' value less obvious....in MLB we see great players come from all over the place, not just the top ten picks of the first round.

[Ghosts]

This is great! Will make those later round picks actually worthwhile.

Next, I wish there was a way to make the various draft pool players' value less obvious....in MLB we see great players come from all over the place, not just the top ten picks of the first round.

That would mean either turning up the inaccuracy of scouting or increasing the randomness of the development engine.

I would be a fan of both of those options, within reason. Still, it would be frustrating to have first round picks flame out more often, so we would have to be collectively willing to take the good with the bad. Worth a discussion for sure, in my opinion!

[Akira]

Would have been neat to be able to use each of our HS alma maters as feeder teams.

[Borealis]

Would have been neat to be able to use each of our HS alma maters as feeder teams.

Oh... that's fun!!

[MikeB]

[Fishermen]

Nice, I will always be a fan of more quality talent into the PEBA.

Side-topic, I am also very happy with increasing the randomness of the development engine.

[Sandgnats]

Thanks Dylan for spearheading this!

Dylan spends a lot of time digesting the whole development thing, and we all would like to see an uptick in the quality of draftable players. For simplicity sake, assume changes to be basically for next season. There may also be some tinkering under the hood to come - but that's for another day...

Indeed. Great work on this Dylan. You are truly the man.

[Badgers]

Sounds like I will need to get my scout to work! Cant wait for the drafts with these new feeder teams.