Fantasy College Football Team Rankings: Big East Offenses

Now we move on to begin previewing the Big East starting with the offenses.

Big East Team Offensive Rankings:
1. West Virginia(Starters returning: 8)
The Mountaineers return Pat White at quarterback as well as the entire offensive line, which is one the best units in the nation. Running back Noel Devine is back, but depth behind him is inexperienced. The receiving corps sees Dorrell Jalloh and Tito Gonzalez coming back, but it seems this is the only position of concern for new coach Bill Stewart.

2. South Florida(Starters returning: 8)
Matt Grothe returns at quarterback and he has receivers Taurus Johnson and Carlton Mitchell to throw to. Running back Mike Ford is expected to take over for Benjamin Watson, and become a consistent threat in the running game. The offensive line returns four starters and they're one of the biggest units in the country that should get the job done for the offense.

3. Rutgers(Starters returning: 7)
The biggest loss will be running back Ray Rice, who is gone to the NFL and will be replaced by Kordell Young. This means returning starting quarterback Mike Teel will be leaned on more heavily as they will likely become more of a passing team. Teel isn't short on weapons with 1,000-yard receiver Tiquan Underwood, Kenny Britt, and Tim Brown returning and they have plenty of experience.

4. Connecticut(Starters returning: 8)
Tyler Lorenzen is back at quarterback and he has two solid running backs with returning starter Andre Dixon and Donald Brown to hand the ball off to. The offensive line returns three starters, but two of them could be replaced. Receiver Brad Kanuch is the only experienced player at that position, and Steve Brouse is back at tight end. They play a brutal schedule beginning in October.

5. Pittsburgh(Starters returning: 6)
LeSean McCoy returns at running back after rushing for over 1,300 yards a year ago. Bill Stull is the new starting quarterback, and he did get some game experience last season. Derek Kinder, who could contend for the Biletnikoff Award, is back as is starter Oderick Turner, so it appears there will be more balance to lighten the load on McCoy. The offensive line returns only two starters though.

6. Louisville(Starters returning: 3)
The only returning starters for new coach Steve Kragthorpe are tackle George Bussey, center Eric Wood, and receiver Scott Long. Quarterback Hunter Cantwell has a big arm, but may find it tough to use because of the lack of an experienced deep threat. Receiver Trent Guy has promise, and will be looked upon to provide that for Cantwell. Bilal Powell is the starting running back, and he only has 24 carries in his time at Louisville.

7. Cincinnati(Starters returning: 6)
The Bearcats return three starting receivers in Marty Gilyard, Dominick Goodman, and Marcus Barnett. The entire left side of the offensive line is back, but the rest of them lack experience. Quarterback Demetrius Jones is the starter, and he's recovering from shoulder surgery. Jacob Ramsey will likely see the majority the carries at running back this year.

8. Syracuse(Starters returning: 6)
Andrew Robinson is back at quarterback and when he's given time to throw, he can get the job done. The offensive line returns three starters, but that has been a problem area for the last few seasons. Mike Williams is one the best receivers the Orange have had, but hands have been a problem at times. Fullback Tony Fiammetta returns, and Doug Hogue will start at running back. Watch for Averin Collier, a top national recruit, to get some touches, too.

Stud offenses: West Virginia, South Florida, Rutgers
Rising offense: Pittsburgh
Falling offense: Louisville

Overall analysis: West Virginia and Rutgers are missing key players from a year ago, but they should not have much trouble scoring this year despite that. South Florida has plenty of experience and talent to be an option during the season on offense. Connecticut can be great if they get consistent balance on offense as well as show they can score against good teams this year. Pittsburgh has a real shot to surprise many because they don't look to be a one-dimensional offense. The lack of experience or talent around the bottom three teams are more than enough to stay away from them unless they show you otherwise.

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Fantasy College Football Team Rankings: Big 12 Defenses

Today, we continue on with the Big 12 defenses. Enjoy.

Big 12 Team Defensive Rankings:
1. Kansas(Starters returning: 9)
The Jayhawks are returning three starters on the defensive line and everyone at linebacker. They also have three returning starters in the secondary, though the free safety spot will likely see Justin Thornton as starter. This unit led the Big 12 in total defense a year ago, and they're led by middle linebacker Joe Mortensen. Russell Borsen and John Larson form a solid duo at both defensive end spots.

2. Oklahoma(Starters returning: 6)
With middle linebacker Curtis Lofton gone, Ryan Reynolds will have to stay healthy in replacing him. Gerald McCoy, DeMarcus Granger, Auston English, and Jeremy Beal form what could be the nation's best defensive line. Both Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes return at the safety spots, but inexperience could be an issue at the outside linebacker and cornerback spots.

3. Missouri(Starters returning: 9)
Three starters are back on the defensive line and three return in the secondary. All-American William Moore is coming into the season off surgery, but should be ready for the opener at free safety. Brock Christopher returns to man the middle linebacker spot as does leading tackler Sean Weatherspoon at the weakside linebacker spot. They should improve on the 96th ranked pass defense from a year ago.

4. Texas Tech(Starters returning: 8)
The defensive line returns all starters, and Rajon Henley and Colby Whitlock are tough to block in the middle. Linebackers Brian Duncan and Marlon Williams are back as is free safety Darcel McBath, who has plenty of game experience. Jamar Wall, who led the Red Raiders in intereptions last year, is back at cornerback. This was the best defense in the Big 12 the last eight games of 2007.

5. Texas(Starters returning: 5)
The Longhorns come back with three starters on the defensive line, and Roy Miller has a chance to breakout at defensive tackle. Rashad Bobino returns at middle linebacker as does cornerback Ryan Palmer, but both safety spots will have new starters. The team needs to get a better pass rush and consistent play out of the back seven to help hide weaknesses from a defense that ranked 109th against the pass last season.

6. Kansas State(Starters returning: 6)
Ian Campbell is moving from linebacker to defensive end in the 3-4 scheme, and no one else has experience on the defensive line. If Antwon Moore, who missed all of last season, comes back strong this defense should improve. The secondary has experience and are led by safeties Gary Chandler and Chris Carney. They don't get many favors having to play Louisville, Texas A&M, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri on the road as well as Oklahoma at home.

7. Colorado(Starters returning: 8)
The defensive line is strong and returns three starters led by tackle George Hypolite. Jordon Dizon, and All-American linebacker in 2007, is gone but there is depth to replace him with players on the current roster seeing time last season. The biggest concern is the secondary where free safety Ryan Walters is their best player, but the pass-happy Big 12 might be too much for this inexperienced unit in 2008.

8. Nebraska(Starters returning: 6)
This was one of the worst defensive units in the country last year ranking 112th in total yards per game. They do return the entire defensive line, but no experienced linebackers behind them. Ndamukong Suh is expected to stuff the run at nosetackle. Safety Larry Asante and cornerback Armando Murillo are the only returning starters, so the front seven will have to play better to help them.

9. Iowa State(Starters returning: 7)
The secondary returns all four starters, while the front seven has only three returning starters. Both defensive ends, Kurtis Taylor and Rashawn Parker, are back, but defensive tackle will be a problem. Linebacker Jesse Smith is the Cyclones best player, and he's expected to be even better in 2008. Free safety James Smith was the team's leading tackler last year.

10. Texas A&M(Starters returning: 4)
The only returning starter in the front seven is defensive end Cyril Obiozor, likely the team's best defensive player. Von Miller and Jonathan Hayes are athletic linebackers, but the experience is lacking from the group. The secondary should be good with Alton Dixon and Devin Gregg leading the way at the safety spots. The defense will be faster, but they could be a year away from being an effective group.

11. Baylor(Starters returning: 6)
The defensive line shows promise and end Jason Lamb returns to give the team a much needed pass-rush. Linebacker Joe Pawelek returns to lead a good linebacking corps after he led the team in tackles a season ago. Dwain Crawford moves to cornerback from safety and Krys Buerck is a converted wide receiver now playing corner. The Bears have an ultra tough non-conference and conference schedule.

12. Oklahoma State(Starters returning: 6)
The 101st ranked defense a year ago only sees one starter along the defensive line returning. Andre Sexton is moving from safety to linebacker while corner Jacob Lacey is the best player returning in the secondary. The team expects JC transfers, defensive tackle Swanson Miller and safety Lucien Antoine, to help improve the defense, but it's asking alot to vastly improve much after last year.

Stud defenses: Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech
Rising defense: Kansas State
Falling defense: Texas A&M

Overall analysis: This is a pass-happy conference, so teams won't likely be shutting each other down that much. Kansas, Missouri, and Texas Tech have enough experience coming back to handle passing teams while Oklahoma will likely drop off a little, but they have too much talent and favorable schedule to drop off a lot. Kansas State should improve, but it likely won't show with the schedule they see. If Texas doesn't improve against the pass, they'll have trouble stopping anyone in this conference. Other teams like Nebraska, Baylor, and Oklahoma State were lit up too much last year while Colorado has too many holes in the secondary. Outside of the first four team units, it's probably best to avoid the others until proven otherwise.

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Fantasy College Football Team Rankings: Big 12 Offenses

Today, we start with previewing the Big 12 offenses for fantasy college football.

Big 12 Team Offensive Rankings:
1. Oklahoma(Starters returning: 8)
The entires offensive line returns and so does their quarterback. Sophmore Sam Bradford returns at quarterback, and he won't be short on weapons around him. Running back DeMarco Murray provides a breakaway threat while Chris Brown is more of a power runner. Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly is gone, but Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, and tight end Jermaine Gresham are back.

2. Missouri(Starters returning: 6)
Quarterback Chase Daniel returns and has a great receiving corps to throw to led by speedster Jeremy Maclin. Tight end Chase Coffman is back as is receiver Tommy Saunders. The Mizzou Tigers return three starters on the offensive line. Running back Tony Temple is gone, but Jimmy Jackson and Derrick Washington should step in to cover his loss.

3. Texas Tech(Starters returning: 10)
The Red Raiders have quarterback Graham Harrell returning and arguably the best receiver in the country in Michael Crabtree, too. The offensive line returns all starters and Edward Britton, Eric Morris, and Detron Lewis round out an excellent receiving unit. Shannon Woods and Aaron Crawford will share the running back duties.

4. Texas(Starters returning: 7)
Quarterback Colt McCoy is back, but the offense will miss the departed Jamaal Charles at running back. Receiver Limas Sweed is also gone, but Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are looking to cover the loss. The offensive line returns four starters, but this wasn't a strength last year as McCoy took too many hits and the holes in the running game weren't consistent either.

5. Kansas(Starters returning: 6)
The Jayhawks were the surprise team in the country last year, and they should be strong on offense again. Quarterback Todd Reesing is back, but gone is running back Brandon McAnderson. They do have capable replacements in Jake Sharp, but watch for last season's National Junior College Offensive POY Jocques Crawford to get some touches. Three starters on the offensive line return.

6. Nebraska(Starters returning: 6)
Offense is the strength of the Cornhuskers once again coming off a season in which they ranked 9th in total yards per game last year. Quarterback Joe Ganz played well at season's end last year, and he'll have receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson to throw to. Running back Marlon Lucky returns and he's the team's most versatile player. The offensive line returns four starters.

7. Oklahoma State(Starters returning: 7)
Zac Robinson returns at quarterback, and he has talented receivers to throw to led by sophmore Dez Bryant. Running back Kendall Hunter rushed for close to 700 yards as a true freshman and he will have help from Beau Johnson, too. Brandon Pettigrew returns at tight end and he has a real good chance to be an All-American. The offensive line returns four starters.

8. Texas A&M(Starters returning: 5)
The offensive line will be only returning two starters to protect quarterback Stephen McGee. Massive fullback Jorvorskie Lane returns, and speedster Mike Goodson gives them a change of pace running back. Pierre Brown is the only returning starter at receiver, but consistency from the unit is an issue. New coach Mike Sherman is innovative enough to get the most out of his offense.

9. Kansas State(Starters returning: 7)
The Wildcats have quarterback Josh Freeman returning, but there is cause for concern in the running game. Leon Patton is experienced, but he was disappointing last year at running back. The offensive line returns three starters and should be a better. Deon Murphy is the top receiver returning, but he missed spring practices because of academic issues.

10. Colorado(Starters returning: 6)
Cody Hawkins is back at quarterback, and he has three starters returning on the offensive line. Josh Smith and Patrick Williams form a nice duo at wide receiver, but they could see highly recruited freshman Darrell Scott stepping in to start at running back soon. Demetrius Sumler should be the starter by the time the season gets underway, but watch for Scott to get plenty of touches.

11. Baylor(Starters returning: 7)
The offensive line returns four starters, but the Bears are unsettled at the quarterback and running back positions. Robert Griffin or Kirby Freeman will win the QB job, and they do show promise. Jay Finley and Ray Sims will share time at running back, but improvement is needed from a team that ranked 113th in the nation in rushing last year. David Gettis is the only starter at receiver returning.

12. Iowa State(Starters returning: 6)
The Cyclones should be solid in the running game with new starter Alexander Robinson, but the team is unsettled at quarterback. The offensive line returns four starters and getting top receivers Marquis Hamilton and R.J. Sumrall the ball will be a challenge all year. The starting quarterback job will likely go to either Austen Arnaud or Phillip Bates.

Stud offenses: Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech
Rising offense: Texas A&M
Falling offense: Kansas State

Overall analysis: This conference is not short on experienced or talented quarterbacks. Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas Tech will have no trouble scoring this year with their talent and depth. Texas and Kansas will be good, but they can be great again if their running games is better than expected. The other teams have a fighting chance to be good on offense because of the quarterbacks returning except for Baylor and Iowa State. Just be sure to watch the schedules for those other teams when deciding to play them or not this year.

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Fantasy College Football Team Rankings: ACC Defenses

Continuing on from yesterday, we now take a look at the ACC Team Defensive Rankings....

ACC Team Defensive Rankings:
1. Florida State(Starters returning: 8)
They'll miss players in the first three games due to suspension, but the first two games are very favorable. When they return, this unit will be rock solid. The defense will get a boost from junior college National Player of the Year Markus White and they're hoping he can give them a pass-rush that was lacking last year. The secondary could be the team's strength.

2. Clemson(Starters returning: 8)
Clemson has the best secondary in the ACC, and good defensive front. They have inexperience at linebacker though. The talented secondary returns all starters, and the defensive line returns three. The linebacking corps is talented, but the outside spots will be taken up by two new starters. They get one neutral game to start the year, then the next five of six at home with the lone road game at Wake Forest.

3. Wake Forest(Starters returning: 9)
A very strong and experienced defense, but depth is an issue on the defensive line and in the secondary. The entire back seven returns as does two starters on the defensive line. The defensive end spots sees the return of Matt Robinson, but depth behind them could be a problem especially if he's ineffective. They have one of the best corner tandems in Alphonso Smith and Brandon Ghee.

4. Miami(Starters returning: 5)
They have question marks on the defensive line, but experience in the back seven. Eric Moncur is the only returning lineman and if he doesn't provide a consistent pass-rush, the defense could be in for another long year. Colin McCarthy is a good linebacker, and they have depth with this unit. The secondary is experienced, but they're far from outstanding.

5. Boston College(Starters returning: 4)
They do get two more former starters back after they missed last season. They need to improve on stopping the pass. The two returning after missing 2007 are outside linebacker Brian Toal and defensive tackle B.J. Raji. They appear to have a solid defensive line and linebacking corps. But the secondary returns only one starter(safety Paul Anderson) and they will miss hard-hitting All-American safety Jamie Silva.

6. Virginia Tech(Starters returning: 4)
Defense will fall off a bit in 2008 with little experience returning, and the play of the front seven will tell us far they go. Only two starters return for the front seven on a team that was one of the top defenses in the nation a year ago. The secondary is shuffling, but there is depth at both cornerback and safety. They'll have to replace Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi quickly in the linebacking corps.

7. Virginia(Starters returning: 5)
Great group of linebackers return, but questions need to be answered on the defensive line and in the secondary. The entire defensive line will see three new starters in their 3-4 scheme. The linebacking corps is one of the nation's best, and they return three of their starters. They get three tough non-conference games with USC, Connecticut, and East Carolina, too.

8. North Carolina(Starters returning: 5)
They have a solid secondary, and if they get consistent play from an inexperienced front seven, they'll be tough on that side of the ball. They only return one starting defensive lineman and no one at linebacker. The secondary is one of the best in the ACC, but getting a consistent pass rush from an inexperienced front could be very problematic this year.

9. Maryland(Starters returning: 5)
They still have a solid linebacker group, but they have question marks on the defensive line and in the secondary. They're moving Jeremy Navarre to defensive tackle, and Trey Covington is expected to help provide a pass-rush on the outside. Dave Philistin is the team's top linebacker, and that corps is deep. Kevin Barnes is returning an cornerback, and he's big, speedy playmaker.

10. Georgia Tech(Starters returning: 4)
The unit should be good upfront, but inexperience is a problem in the secondary and at linebacker. The team has two solid defensive tackles in Vance Walker and Darryl Richard. They do have promising ends in Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan. Only linebacker Shane Bowen and cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels return in the back seven, and they have a brutal road schedule this year.

11. Duke(Starters returning: 9)
The good news: experience. The bad news: they ranked last in the ACC in scoring defense and total defense in 2007. They return everyone in the front seven except one player and are led by middle linebacker Michael Tauiliili. But as you can see by the numbers of last year, they have plenty of room for improvement in the ACC. They've got a favorable schedule this year to improve, too.

12. NC State(Starters returning: 4)
Very little experience and a brutal schedule won't help this unit much in 2008. They play South Carolina, South Florida, and East Carolina in non-conference games. Plus they play at Clemson in the third week, so it could be a tough start for them as they have no returning starters at linebacker. Depth is also an issue and should a toll of injuries take place, it could get very ugly for this unit.

Stud defenses: Florida State, Clemson
Rising defense: Boston College
Falling defense: Virginia Tech

Overall analysis: Outside of Florida State and Clemson, issues arise for other teams with either inexperience or depth. Wake Forest will be strong if they stay healthy, and Miami will be if the defensive line comes along more quickly than expected. If Boston College improves the pass defense in the secondary, they'll be better in 2008. The other teams are inexperienced(minus Duke) and they should be given time to gel as well as indications of what they can accomplish on that side of the ball early in the year.

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Fantasy College Football Team Rankings: ACC Offenses

I'm going to start a series of ranking college team offenses and defenses starting with Atlantic Coast Conference offenses. This should be beneficial to those fantasy players that play fantasy college football that uses offensive and defensive units like Sporting News with their game. I will throw some players out there on teams that you could also use in individual player leagues, too. I'm using various methods to determine my rankings which include, but are not limited to, returning starters, skill level on that side of the ball, balance, schedule strength, etc. Having inexperience or lack of skill on each side of the ball can have a direct effect on how they do on either side of the ball, so each intrical part is important and could explain why they are performing well or not. Also, these are my rankings, and in no way reflect or necessarily pick how I predict teams to finish in the standings of each conference in terms of won-loss records. Here we go.....

ACC Team Offensive Rankings:
1. Clemson(Starters returning: 7)
Best skill position players in the ACC, but offensive line lost three starters. Quarterback Cullen Harper, running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller, and receivers Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham make up those skill position players with experience. The offensive line did have trouble with pass protection at times last year, so that will have to improve this season.

2. Florida State(Starters returning: 6)
The team is loaded with talent, but the team must continue to improve up front and at quarterback. Christian Ponder may take the reigns at quarterback from senior Drew Weatherford after he took the reps during the spring because of Weatherford's knee surgery. Receiver Preston Parker had legal issues in the offseason, but they're loaded at that position.

3. Maryland(Starters returning: 10)
Everyone is back except they have a new starter at running back. This should be the year Maryland breaks out on offense. Quarterback Chris Turner is back, but Jordan Steffey figures to get playing time. For those who play individual fantasy games, then receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey would be the best option from this team.

4. Wake Forest(Starters returning: 6)
The entire talented backfield returns, but there are question marks on the offensive line and wide receiver. Riley Skinner is a poised quarterback who doesn't turn the ball over often. Josh Adams and Brandon Pendergrass lead a good rushing attack. The team misses Kenny Moore at receiver, so someone else will have to step up to cover his lost production.

5. North Carolina(Starters returning: 10)
The vastly improving Tar Heels return a loaded receiving corps with an experienced quarterback. But they need more production in the running game. T.J. Yates returns at quarterback and Hakeem Nicks is one of the conference's best receivers. They have a tough non-conference schedule, but they avoid playing Clemson, Florida State, and Wake Forest in conference play.

6. NC State(Starters returning: 5)
Solid running backs and receiving corps, but question marks at quarterback and the offensive line. Since the days of Phillip Rivers, there has been a revolving door at quarterback in Raleigh. Jamelle Eugene leads a deep group of running backs while Anthony Hill is returning at tight end after missing all of last season.

7. Virginia Tech(Starters returning: 7)
Should be good at quarterback and offensive line, but question marks loom at running back and wide receiver. Tyrod Taylor could be a dynamic quarterback and he'll likely have to use his mobility behind a line that returns four starters, but was ineffective at times last year. Branden Ore is gone and backup running back Kenny Lewis Jr has a shoulder injury that could cause him to miss the first month of the year.

8. Virginia(Starters returning: 7)
Solid running backs and wide receivers. If they improve with a new quarterback and inexperienced offensive line, they could be dangerous. Peter Lalich takes over at quarterback, and will get help from Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson in the running game. The receiving corps should get a boost from Kevin Ogletree, who missed last year after a knee injury.

9. Duke(Starters returning: 5)
A very talented wide receiver in Eron Riley, and the team will have to cut down on turnovers and run the ball better than their 2.0 YPC last year. Thad Lewis will likely start at quarterback again, but running back Re'quan Boyette is the only back on last year's roster that averaged more than 4.0 YPC as they ranked 117th in rushing yards per game a season ago.

10. Boston College(Starters returning: 6)
A new quarterback, running back, and a revamped offensive line. They do have some nice options at wide receiver though. Replacing quarterback Matt Ryan with Chris Crane will see it's growing pains, but they don't have any experienced running backs to lighten the load on him. Brandon Robinson is the team's best returning receiver.

11. Miami(Starters returning: 4)
Not a single quarterback has played a down in college. They should have a solid running game with a decent offensive line. Javarris James and Graig Cooper form a good duo of running backs and they look to run behind what should be a good offensive line. But quarterback is another story, and whoever wins the job will experience growing pains in 2008.

12. Georgia Tech(Starters returning: 5)
They have a new coach, new offense, and very little experience returning. It should take at least another year before they break out. They have what should be easy games against Jacksonville State and Gardner-Webb. But having to play on the road against Boston College, Virginia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, and Georgia won't help an offense in transition.

Stud offenses: Clemson
Rising offense: North Carolina
Falling offense: Boston College

Overall Analysis: Clemson is about the only sure offense that should have no trouble scoring, but even they have to improve at the offensive line. Should Florida State fix the quarterback position and not be distracted by off-field concerns, they could be the best offense in the conference. Maryland, Wake Forest, and UNC all return experienced quarterbacks and they have enough weapons to become options during the season especially in favorable matchups. It's probably best to avoid the others unless quarterbacks play above expectations for those teams.

Next up: ACC Team Defensive Rankings

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Sim Dynasty: Dynasty Leagues and Features

Dynasty Leagues are pay leagues that begin in 1950 with initial drafts and span over many seasons. Players on each team stay the same unless they're waived, traded, or retired by the ABE system. Being able to know when to pull off a trade, build your minor league system, and competing year after year is a challenge, but fun for the diehard baseball fan.

Dynasty League owners are more active with their teams because of paying for them, and can often be found on the message boards discussing various topics with other league owners.

Unlike Single Season Leagues, Dynasty provides a yearly amateur draft after each season for owners. The amateur draft lasts five rounds, and unlike the initial draft, the order is the same in each round. The team with the worst overall record will pick first in every round with all the non-playoff teams picking in inverse order thereafter. The Draft Class is made available after September 1, and owners will have 10-14 days to prepare for it. You can auto-rank players as well as individually rank them from 1 to 100. You can also set it up to where you are willing to draft a maximum number of players at one position. If you don't do this, you could end drafting five players at the same position.

Improvement Chances are one of the features in Sim Dynasty and is especially helpful in the Dynasty Leagues where you develop minor league players over time. An IC is a chance for a player to improve and the more each plays, the better their opportunity is. However, pitchers can see their health decrease if a player 27 years of age or younger pitches too much. Unlike Major League improvements, the minor league improvements show up immediately and four improvement chances are given for each game played.

A team is allowed use 15 coaching points for the minor leagues, and no one player is allowed more than five at a time. So if you're serious about developing players in particular, then it's wise to assign them five points so that they have an increased chance of seeing IC's for them.

Mentoring is a feature that was added in which focuses on the mentorship of the younger players on the team. After each game, three mentoring scores for batters, starting pitchers, and relief pitchers will be scored. Each player that is at least 28 years old affects your overall mentoring score. A mentor's value is determined by age, skill, and leadership. If they have high values on each, then they'll have a high mentoring rating. If you win against a team that has a better record than you, then you'll receive a bump up in overall rating with everyone on the roster. Also things to increase mentoring include a catcher's range having a high rating, and playing someone that hits better against right-hand pitchers than lefties or vice versa.

You can develop players at another position, but if the move is very drastic, like centerfielder to catcher for example, then his overall rating will drop significantly. You can see the player's card by clicking on the name and "Alt Pos" to see his rating for the other alternate positions that's listed.

Another important aspect that owners need to be aware of is the options of each player being demoted or promoted to/from the major leagues. If the box is shaded in pink, then the player is out of options and must pass through waivers in order to make it to their destination. All players that are 28 years or older will be listed as out of options, and must pass waivers.

Lastly, owners will see a player or more get injured in the season, so that is where the disabled list comes into the mix. Injuries are generally at random, but they most often occur because of player's health meter being low. If their health rating is low, then you need to rest them after a few games to help prevent them from being hurt. Injuries vary in length, but owners can use the disabled list for their injured players and they have the ability to call up someone from the minor leagues to take those spots.

You earn dynasty dollars that can be used towards credits for pay leagues. Dynasty dollars can be earned by paying for products that are promoted on Sim Dynasty, referring new signups, and by winning games in your league. You can also wager dynasty dollars and the team with the lowest amount being wagered in a game will be used as a bet between the two teams.

Overall, Sim Dynasty is a fun way for diehard owners to play simulated styles of baseball. As long as you're active in following up with your team, then you have a chance to compete in all leagues that Sim Dynasty offers. Here's the link for the site: http://www.simdynasty.com/

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Sim Dynasty: Single and Short Season Leagues

Sim Dynasty offers Single Season leagues which are free to play. Those leagues were created for everyone to test out as gain experience before trying out a Dynasty League.

The Single Season leagues are not carried over into the next season, and you can't trade future draft picks in order to deal with another owner.

Here are the 16 teams you can choose to play as on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you sign up late in a league and your favorite team is taken, you must choose another franchise. These are 16 teams that existed in 1950, and they can be edited by owners at anytime:

American League: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, New York, & Washington
National League: Brooklyn, Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, & St. Louis

Most single season leagues use the pre-ranking system which allows you to rank individual players at each position in the order you want them in prior to the initial draft. Every league all the way to the Whitey Herzog League uses the pre-ranking system. All other single season leagues use the quick draft system which lets you set overall draft strategy with the following options: Best Available, Well-Rounded, or Totally Balanced.

The Short Season Leagues run identical to Single Season Leagues with a few exceptions. All Single Season and Dynasty Leagues start the same day. If you sign up for a Single Season league after the deadline has started, then you'll be assigned to a Short Season League. Depending on when the league filled up with 16 owners and how far the season has advanced will determine the number of games played. So if your Short Season League started at game number 82, then you'll play the remaining 81 games of that regular season.

Both leagues are free to play, and can give you an idea of how the game works on there. If you're looking to step into a Dynasty League without ever playing the game, it may not be a pleasant experience because it gets very competitive in the Dynasty Leagues. If you haven't played Sim Dynasty at all or if you haven't played it in sometime, I highly recommend the free leagues to get a feel for the game or to kick some old rust off.

In my next post, I'll cover the Dynasty Leagues for Sim Dynasty. After that, I'll cover the features and add-ons that Sim Dynasty offers. In the meantime, give their site a look if you want:
http://www.simdynasty.com/

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Sim Dynasty Baseball: Part 1

Sim Dynasty Baseball is a simulation baseball league game that uses an ABE(Artificial Baseball Engine) to determine the outcomes and statistics of all games.

The object of the game is build your team from the first day and compete against other owners for the opportunity to become a baseball dynasty. As owner and manager of your team, you will draft a team beginning in the year 1950. You will be able to set your starting rotation, lineups, promote/demote players to the major or minor leagues, waive, and sign untaken players to your team.

The reason why Sim Dynasty Baseball uses the 1950s as their starting point was to avoid the look of what the game is today and turn it into a pure form of a time when it was arguably at it's peak. It was a time where free agency and lofty stadium deals by owners who used taxpayers by holding them hostage in their own cities wasn't even a thought.

It was also when the major leagues had a 154-game schedule, but Sim Dynasty uses a 162-game schedule as it helps with being able to simulate three games a day. So the regular season lasts 54 days with three games being simulated a day. The playoffs will last two days and simulate a ten-day time period for those rounds.

Sixteen professional teams(eight in each league) played in the major leagues at the time with the teams with the best overall record in each league meeting in the World Series.

In Sim Dynasty Baseball, the playoffs reflect more of what the game is like today. The top two teams in each league will play in the League Championship Series with the winners of each to meet in the World Series. Each series will be a best of seven format.

Another difference from the 1950s in the way Sim Dynasty designed the game was the pitching staffs. In the 1950s, teams generally had four pitchers in their starting rotation and they often pitched deep into ballgames. This meant that teams in those days were less reliant on the bullpens and closers. In Sim Dynasty, the bullpen can be a huge factor in how your team does.

Fatigue and rest are very important factors in Sim Dynasty which requires managers to strategize how and when to use players and the bullpen. So it's wise to have a minimum of six good pitchers on your staff and you have to have at least five pitchers in the starting rotation. Should you not take advantage of the bullpen like you should or have a pitcher start without enough rest, he could end up hurt and/or will not be effective in that game.

In Sim Dynasty, actual Major League Baseball player names are not used, but an owner can change a player's name at anytime as long as it isn't offensive to the owners.

I will cover what Sim Dynasty offers in their free Single Season league in my next post. In the meantime, give their site a look if you're looking for a fun and competitive simulation baseball league: http://www.simdynasty.com/

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