2015 Draft Lottery

While the Draft Lottery usually takes place soon after the season is over, the 2015 lottery has been delayed by numerous difficulties. First it tested positive for illegal supplements, then it was held captive by Russian mercenaries, and then finally hacked by Eric Snowden... but I digress. The Lottery was held last night in a secret, secure chamber deep in DMBL headquarters. Only four teams moved around much, though the many of the first few teams did get a draft-wide bump up one place from Saskatchewan folding.

The Winners

The biggest winner was the Arkansas Golden Falcons who moved up from number 4 to number 2. This is the highest the Falcons have ever picked without making a trade. Another winner is newcomer Charlotte Webbs, who also move two slots up from the #6/#7 position. The two new teams will swap positions in the draft every other round.

The Losers

With two winners, there must be two losers. The steepest fall belongs to the Hillsborough Hired Hitmen, who fall all the way to #6 from #3. Surely owner Brent Campbell is penning a hateful diatribe to the commissioner even as we speak! Also falling are the Hopatcong Floating Fish, who fall merely to #3 from the #2 spot. However, the Floating Fish would have picked #3 anyway if the Shields hadn't folded.

Two New Owners Claim Vacated Franchises

Before the New Year, two owners notified the league that they would not return for the 2015 season. Jamie Landsman, previous owner of the Bridgewater Mallers since 2006 and 2010 World Series champion decided to call it quits after a 9-year run. Robert Rund, who had run the Saskatchewan Shields for one season, was one of the four replacement owners after last year's Great Exodus of 2013.

Taking their places are Stephen Webb and Chris Lios who recently finished up their dispersal draft picks. Webb has named his squad the Charlotte Webbs and Lios' crew will be known as the El Paso Chihuahuas. The Webbs have been assigned to the Drabek Division alongside last year's champion San Francisco Experience. Meanwhile the Chihuahuas will vie for the Van Slyke Division title with 2013 champion Hoboken Cutters.