IT'S GOT TO BE HANDLED CAREFULLY

Our revised MVRL Baseball League, that is. And I know it will be. I wonder how many other leagues go back as far as we do. With a majority of the same owners, too.

These, then are my thoughts about expansion and new stuff for the coming season. As a traditionalist, a purist, I'd like to keep as much of the old rules and regs as is feasible. If they've worked for so many years, then there must be something to it. Yet, I'm fully aware of the tinkering we've done each year or so, and those innovations have served to strengthenn the league.

With the return of Ryan F. (hey, we may need another article in the Post Dispatch on our league. We were featured in an article about rotisserie baseball in 1993) and Scott, some fine tuning is in order. I like the suggestions, well most of them anyhow, that have have appeared on the message board, so here are some of mine:

1. Let's have 13 owners and re-enact the rule that the last place team gets bumped out of the league for one year (or more). The owner can petition to re-join after the one-year hiatus.

2. Allow Allen Karch to co-own the Flying Chaucers this year and expand again in 2007 if necessary to allow him his own team.

3. Allow an additional AL player for the season. No protecting from one season to the next for any Al-er. They can be selected at any time and come from any AL team.

4. Reduce the number of players and reserves according to Marc Daniels' suggestion.

5. Allow Ryan and Scott to select players according to Marc and Derek's suggestion.

6. Appoint two owners to keep track of trades a la the football league.

7. Raise the entry fee $5 and pay more for 2nd and 3rd place.

8. Update all current MVRL plaques (see Short Sledge--they're already paid for) and purchase new ones (I'll spring for them) and hang them in an honored place in Mt. Vernon, since it is the MVRL.

That's all I can think of, but I know I've omitted a lot of alterations that need to be made. We're in good hands, and I'm ready for the season.