28 owners took part in the annual vote on rule changes and additions. Among the issues decided were creation of a third division, methodology for replacing departing owners, and roster composition.

And the winners are…

2005-01: Create a third division to be named "Carter." The Carter Division will have the same rules and promotion system as other divisions in the BBFL and will be filled from the Waiting List, consisting of people who posted or emailed requests to join during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 offseasons. All owners are subject to approval by the BBFL Rules Committee.

YES (24), no (4)

2005-02: If Proposition 01 passes, will the Carter Division be a keeper league?

YES (22), no (6)

2005-03: Change the promotion system between divisions beginning in the 2005-2006 offseason.. Currently, the top three regular-season finishers are promoted to the higher division. Voting YES will change promotion to the two highest regular season finishers plus the winner of the Championship Bracket playoff. If the playoff winner is among the top two regular-season finishers, the third-place regular-season finisher becomes the third promoted team. Voting NO retains the current system.

YES (24), no (4)

2005-04: Permit owners leaving the BBFL to designate their replacements.

NO (15), yes (13)

2005-05: Not applicable, dependent on Prop. 04 passing

2005-06: If an owner abandons his team or chooses not to designate a replacement (depending on the outcome of Proposition 04), that team will need a replacement owner. This vote sets the priority for offering new ownership. The system receiving the highest vote total will be used first, the system receiving the second-highest vote total will be used next, and so on. Procedurally, replacement will begin with the highest-finishing ownerless team in the highest division and move through each division as needed until all teams have owners. All replacement owners are subject to approval from the BBFL Rules Committee. In order, teams will be offered:

(a) To owners in the next lowest division who were not promoted, in order of regular-season finish. The potential replacement owner may decline the offer and keep his existing team in the lower division. (If the ownerless team is in the lowest division, the Waiting List will be used.) -- 98 points ( 15 / 12 / 1 / 0 )

(b) To owners who were relegated to a lower division, in order of regular-season finish. The potential replacement owner may decline the offer and keep his existing team in the lower division. (If the ownerless team is in the lowest division, the Waiting List will be used.) -- 84 points ( 11 / 9 / 5 / 3 )

(c) To the Waiting List, consisting of people who posted or emailed requests to join during the 2003-2004 and the 2004-2005 offseasons. -- 54 points ( 1 / 15 / 13 / 9 )

(d) To the 2003 waiting list from when the BBFL was created. Applies to Alomar Division replacements only. Some of the people on this list are current owners of Barfield Division teams. -- 44 points ( 1 / 2 / 9 / 16 )

2005-07: Set the minimum number of weekly at-bats to 100. Failure to reach 100 would result in forfeiture of all offensive categories for that week. The BBFL currently has no at-bat minimum, and voting NO would keep this in place.

YES (21), no (7)

2005-08: Increase the number of Disabled List slots on a roster. The current number is one.

(b) Total of 2 slots - 71 points ( 15 / 13 / 0 )

(a) Total of 3 slots - 52 points ( 10 / 4 / 14 )

(c) 1 slot (no change) - 45 points ( 3 / 11 / 14 )

2005-09: Create a Center Fielder roster position. All position designations are made by Yahoo.

(c) Keep current system. - 73 points ( 20 / 8 / 0 )

(b) Change one of the four OF slots to a CF slot. - 61 points ( 8 / 17 / 3 )

(a) Add a CF to the existing roster composition. -- 34 points ( 0 / 6 / 22 )

Trades:

I know you're eager to make trades, but nyah nyah nyah, you can't yet. The trading window will not open until one day after we have owners for all teams in the Alomar and Barfield Divisions, so that the new owners can get acquainted with their rosters. I will initiate that process today based on the ballot outcome. The window will be fourteen days regardless of when it starts. To check your roster, click the BBFL link on the sidebar.

The Carter Division:

I will post the waiting list and contact potential owners in the next few days.