Posted by Commissioner's Office on 2/28
XBL FACEBOOK GROUP NOW OPEN
To better facilitate league posts, as well as announce trading block discussion and give updates on the league's status and announce updates to this page, the league has invited all league members, as well as a select few others who may be invited to join this league in a future season to the XBL official Facebook page.

Posted by ASPN Final Score on 2/28
TWO WESTERN SWEEPS TO OPEN YOUNG SEASON
The western division started the 2009 season with the dominance it had last season, as both Tucson and San Jose opened their seasons with series sweeps over their central division opposition, and Calgary and Oklahoma both won two games.

Also, like last season, the six eastern divison teams are either 2-1 or 1-2 after the first week. New Jersey started their 2009 "Restoring Order" season with a series loss to Minnesota, who had the third-worst record in the league last season. Orlando and Atlantic City both won in the offseason trading and draft game, and both won two out of three in the opening games.

This week, Orlando heads off to San Jose to face a team that was formerly part of SDX in the Stealth, while the Vacant Lot opens its season when Rhode Island hosts Omaha this week.

Posted by Jason on 2/28
INDIANA SWEEPS
All three Indiana Stars' starters completed their games in a three game sweep of the Wichita Tornadoes to open the season, the most notable was on Opening Day, when Felix Hernandez went 8 2/3 innings before giving up his first hit, a home run to Jorge Cantu. It was one of the two runs the  Indiana Stars allowed in the series.

“I thought that was a great start," manager Brian Buchanan said. "I just hope it’s a sign of a great year.”
 

Posted by SDX International on 2/27
SDXELLENCE KICKS OFF 2009 SEASON
With a charged atmosphere already in place for the start of the annual SDXellence Fest, the Orlando Rage jacked it up even more minutes before the first pitch.

Rage manager Stewie Griffin walked out to center field, climbed a ladder, muttered something about "Damn my short stature," reached the top of the center field wall and grabbed a mircrophone connected to the P.A. system.

"Silence! Last year, we put together a strong team to get us back to the XBL World Series. Like the red-headed shrew's attempt at homicidal matriarchy, that failed miserably. No longer! We have devised a master plan to bring in the finest pitchers and hitters known to man. Hear us now, world. Some of you will try to compete with us. Sadly, you will fail. So, for all of you mealy-mouthed crotch pheasants, we release our motto for the season!"

With that, the banner unfurled.

"Behold!" Griffin said. "And bow to us! Title or bust! And look: We have a curvy W under the Title or Bust line to let you all know how much we're ready to win!"

John Smoltz, Greatest Pitcher of the Universe and Special Consultant to All Things Rage, then leaned over into the microphone and said, "Uh, Stewie, there's only supposed to be one T after the I in title. And I don't think there are supposed to be dots inside each loop of the W."

"Oh, really? I always thought that figure looked rather familiar. That deplorable talking canine must have been finishing the sign while looking at Lois. Blast!"

With that, SDXellence began, and it was Grand Theft Base. The Craps and Rage combined to go 14-for-14 on stolen base attempts in the three games, and it was all Orlando in the first two games before Vegas came back with a win sparked by a two-run homer off Joe Nathan in the ninth inning.

"SDXcellence? More like SDXcrement, baby. That's what Richard Cheese says, daddy-O," said Craps manager Richard Cheese. "It's pretty obvious we're second or third fiddle in the SDX band this year. I mean, just look at the sweet cocktail waitresses and professional equipment they get out here in O-town. Meanwhile, we're just getting plates of Velveeta and some stale crackers. It doesn't add up, you dig?"

"This is definitely a bizarre organization, that's for sure," new Strip outfielder Hunter Pence said. "I mean, I can look past having a grand piano in the clubhouse and a bass and drum kit in the dugout. But these SDX parties are just wild. It's a completely different level when you're on an SDX team instead of just a visitor. Never would have dreamed I'd see an infant with a football-shaped head walking around rubbing his nonexistent pecs while looking for a cigar. Just ... weird."

Posted by ASPN Insider on 2/25
RHODE ISLAND REINVENTION?
Early rumors have surfaced that Peanuts phenom first baseman Ryan Howard may be on the trading block this season, according to sources close to team management -- OK, it was Woodstock the bird, and that's what the lines above him decoded. The bird also said that management joked about changing the team's name next season, but RIP (Rhode Island Peanuts) Corp. has denied these rumors.

Posted by Brian on 2/15
TRUMPS ANNOUNCE ROSTER CUTS
The Atlantic City Trumps announced today that they are parting company with late-round draft choices Gabe Kapler and Rocco Baldelli.

According to a source within the team, they were "Old and decrepit". Or maybe it's because they reported to training camp wearing colorful masks at a combined weight of close to 800 pounds.

"They looked like a goddamn wrestling tag team," manager Pete Rose remarked of seeing the players report on the first day. "I think the WWE'll take them, cause they sure as hell can't play baseball on this team".

Posted by ASPN Insider on 2/13
DRAFTING BY PROXY - 10TH XBL SEASON KICKS OFF WITH DRAFT
The 10th XBL Draft kicked off the 2009 XBL season today as many first-time players wer among those waiting to be chosen to an XBL team. The Calgary Cowboys surprised a few in the room by making 22-year old Atlanta starting pitcher Tommy Hanson the first overall selection, bypassing 2008 Starting Pitcher of the Year CC Sabathia, who was taken second by the New Jersey Rhinos. That sparked an early run of starting pitchers, which lasted seven picks, before Tucson took the first non-pitcher, outfielder Andrew McCutchen.

Though only four of the seven owners were actually present for the proceedings, the the draft was completed within a 90-minute time frame before the auto-GMs took over for the final five rounds, where shortstip Brian Bixler was Mr. Irrelevant, being taken on Oklahoma with the 269th and final draft choice of the day.

The week 1 c-file will be distributed Sunday, and teams will have to cut any excess players to reduce their teams to 40 players (if needed), declare their 25-man opening week rosters, set their default starting rotations and lineups, before 10:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, February 23. Week 1 will complete on Sunday, February 28.

Welcome to the landmark 10th XBL season!

Posted by Commissioner's Office on 1/25
2008 XBL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
At long last the winners of the XBL's season awards have been tabulated and without further ado, the 2008 award winners, as voted by the league's owners:

MVP - Geovany Soto, Las Vegas: 52 games, .341 avg, .450 OBP, .627 SLG, 37 runs, 63 hits, 10 HR, 34 RBI

Offensive Player - Manny Ramirez, Oklahoma:  58 games, .350 avg, .426 OBP, .682 SLG, 42 runs, 78 hits, 17 doubles, 19 HR, 58 RBI

Starting Pitcher - CC Sabathia, Nashville: 11-3, 1.94 ERA, 14 starts, 5 complete games, 1 shutout, 120 K, 29 BB, 116 IP

Relief Pitcher - Joakim Soria, Nashville: 1-2, 1.48 ERA, 15/15 saves, 23 appearances, 24 1/3 IP, 26 K, 9 BB, .131 batting avg against

Rookie - Geovany Soto, Las Vegas: 52 games, .341 avg, .450 OBP, .627 SLG, 37 runs, 63 hits, 10 HR, 34 RBI

Manager - Richard Cheese, Las Vegas: 38-27, the 2nd best record in league, made rest of team forget about the Strip, and the previous regime in Havana before this season.
 

Posted by Commissioner's Office on 1/24
XBL WINTER MEETINGS - ONE WEEK LEFT
With one week to go in the 2009 XBL Winter Meetings, the 10th XBL season roster action is underway. Orlando and Memphis already completed a trade that sent free agent starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and a third round draft pick to Orlando for Andre Ethier. Vazquez has now signed with Orlando due to this trade.

Teams must decide what they wish to do with their free agents by 10:00 p.m. CST on Sunday, January 31, as well as cut thier team rosters down to no more than 25 total players, including all carded and uncarded players, by e-mailing the commissioner's office the players they wish to release, as well as any free agent players they wish to re-sign (Note: Re-signing a free agent costs a first round draft pick, a second re-signing costs a second round pick or better, and so on).

The 2009 XBL Draft is currently set for Saturday, February 13 (looking for about an 11:00 a.m. central time start) location to be finalized. It will work as last season: 10 rounds of live draft, followed by 5 rounds of auto-GM picks.