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Spring Training doesn’t mean a thing, at least that’s what they say.  So pay no attention that some new Dodger named Yasiel Puig is leading all batters in the MLB with a .527 AVG on 55 ABs in the Cactus League or that the Mets’ Opening Day starter, Jon Niese, is second overall among National League pitchers with a 1.53 ERA of 17 innings pitched in the land of Grapefruit.  Also, pay no attention that the Mets are leading all NL squads in pitching with a collective 4.19 ERA on 249 innings pitched.  Spring Training just doesn’t count, unless, of course, you’re a bum.  Let me welcome you to the 2013 ‘Dem Bums season where your irrational hunches and specifically focused attentions count for everything and just might pay off.

‘Dem Bums is now in its third season and while its core principle of a fantasy baseball game at a pace for the rest of us remains, 2013 does bring some refinements to the traditional structure.  The first refinement comes in regard to the drafting process that will now limit each pick to a maximum 24-hour period in order to streamline the process.  The idea here is that you will have only 24 hours since the placing of the pick before you to draft your own player.  If you fail to draft a player within that 24-hour window, then you will automatically draft the highest alphabetical player available by last name.  The second refinement is that we will be lowering the 5-game qualifying start minimum for pitchers to 4-games due to the “shortened” months of the All-Star break and September.  The last refinement, pending the number of franchises we have in 2013, will be to develop a second-place prize in each month for the Batting Title and Pitching Title where the second place finishers would get a $10 return.

In the meantime, welcome and welcome back.  Don’t forget to take a look at the “About” page to freshen up on the rules and be sure to take a look at the re-designed “Rosters” page.  Our first email draft will begin on Friday, so make sure you sign up for your bum hood for this 2013 season.  Strap your spikes on and get ready for the dance.