Rules

 

I.  Sim Schedule

A.    We will sim 7 days every day at 9:00 a.m. pacific time zone with lineups due by 7:00 unless changed by the commissioner.

B.    The sim is usually posted before 7 p.m.

 

II.  Rosters

            A.  Each team has 25 Active slots, 15 AAA/DL slots, and 10 LOW Minor slots.

1.     ACT – these players are the players eligible to play in the games your team plays

2.     AAA/DL – Player placed in AAA are not able to play on your team until they are called up.  Players on the DL are injured players who also are ineligible.  Once placed on the DL they must remain there for at least 15 days. 

3.     LOW – The players in these slots will gain a little more in spring training but do not receive a year of experience.  Once a player is called up from LOW he cannot be sent back down to LOW.  Also, anyone put in LOW minors must be under 27 years of age.

B.  At the beginning of September Active rosters may be expanded to 40 man rosters.  However, A team may not have more than a combined 40 players in AAA and ACT.  Also, no more than 15 players may be in AAA/DL at anytime.

C.  Each team is required to keep a minimum of 40 players on their roster (ACT, AAA, DL, LOW combined).

 

III.            Lineups

A.    Each team may set up a defensive lineup and batting order vs. left-handed pitching and vs. right-handed pitching as well as pitching roles.

B.    Only, players in ACT may be inserted into the lineup.

C.    Each team is expected to field it’s best lineup.

D.    The American League will use the DH while the National League will have the pitcher bat.

E.     5-man pitching rotations are mandatory until September 1st.

 

IV.            The Free Agent Draft

A.    A Free agent draft will be held after each season of play. Every player who is in the free agent pool or is a free agent will be in this draft. (FA yrs are 5, 10, 13, 16, 18, 20, 22)

B.    The draft will consist of 3 rounds, order based on last season of play (season just completed).

1.     Under this system, you have a chance to make the playoffs, and STILL be able to protect a FA, we will go by winning percentage only.

C.    Trading of picks will be allowed, up to 3 years ahead, same as our ammies.  (If you acquire the #1 ammy, don’t expect to have the #1 FA pick, these ARE separate.)

D.    Draft will be held live in an AOL chat room. If you are unable to show up on the draft date, then send in a draft list or the league will select for you or SKIP you.

E.     No team will be able to lose more than 3 players to the draft.  (I.E., You have 5 studs, all of which are free agents, studs 1, 2, and 3 get drafted in the first round, since three were drafted, studs  4 and 5 are then pulled OFF the free agent market and resign with your team.)

F.     Owners can protect only a certain amount of players, all depending on how well their team does.

1.     A team that finishes in the bottom 10 (1-10) will be able to protect 2 FA.

2.     A team that finishes in the middle of the pack (11-20) will be able to protect 1 FA.

3.     A team that finishes in the top 8 (21-28) will not be allowed to protect anyone.

G.    *SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL:  You may be thinking it will be easy to just dump your free agent studs to a poor team who has a protection tag available.  Well, the trade committee has been informed to ignore that open tag and see a free agent as exactly that, a free agent.  This means that as a free agent, they still will lose market value and therefor, that team should be compensated in the deal.  This will be an attempt to control "dumping" and to make sure the poorer teams are getting a great deal.  This will promote parity, no doubt about it.  If you get a trade vetoed and receive the instruction to reconstruct the trade, you can either do so, or just move on.  We will not get into a bickering session with the trade committee.  And YES, even I get trades vetoed, it happens to us all from time to time.

H.    PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS – It is very important that you have a good understanding of how this works—especially new owners.  I’ll be more than happy to clear up any questions you have.  E-mail: MootBrewers@aol.com

 

V.             Franchise Players

A.    Every owner can name 2 players (1 pitcher, 1 hitter) as their "Franchise Players," meaning they cannot enter free agency as long as they hold the franchise tag (and stay on that team).

B.    A franchise player can be named at any age.

C.    Once a player is given the franchise tag, he cannot be untagged. Only way to do so is either trade, release the player, or if he retires.

D.    Once a team names a franchise player, you have that tag for 4 years.

1.     If you trade your franchise player before the 4 years are up then you will not be allowed to name a new franchise player until your 4 years are up (I.E., trade away your FP in 2nd year you still have to wait 2 years before you can use your tag again).

2.     If your franchise player retires, you would still need to wait the 4 year period.(this is to help avoid teams from naming a 35 yr old just to protect him)

E.     IF you have a franchise player, who has had the tag for at least 4 years, and you trade him, you could then name a new franchise player whenever you wanted (the key here is the 4 years).

1.     Once the 4 years is up, your current franchise player would retain the tag unless he is either released, retires, or is traded (you could then name a new FP at no penalty).

F.     New FP NEED to be named by Sept. 1st.   If you have a question on this, PLEASE email it to me, it's important for everyone to have an understanding of these rules.

 

VI.            Trading

A.    All trades are subject to approval by the Trade Committee.

B.    All trades need to be e-mailed to the league by both owners with necessary roster moves and assignments.

C.    No trading will be allowed form September 1st through the World Series.

D.    Ammy picks may be traded up to 3 years in advance.  It is recommended that you keep track of your picks incase the league makes mistake.

 

VII.          Owners

A.    Owners are expected to respond to any trade offers, send in lineups, draft for their team, and so on.

B.    Owners may not own more than one team.

C.    Owners may not switch teams or rename teams.

 

VIII.         Drafting

A.  The amateur draft will be held every year in June.

B.   Teams will draft in the order of their regular season record the preceding year.  (Teams with better records at the end and the teams with poorer records at the beginning.)

C.    Drafting will be done either live via AIM or by lists.  Each team may send in a list with the players they would prefer in order from most to least.  Note: A team with pick 10 only needs to send in a list of 10 and a team with pick 14 only needs to send in 14.

 

IX.            Awards

A.    *Each season, owners will be able to vote for Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Owner of the Year. These are COMBINED AL and NL, not separate.

1.     Player of the Year

1.     Owners should submit to the Commissioner, a list of 5 position players ordered from 1 to 5 (with 1 being the choice for best player). Players will be given points by the Commissioner based on where they appear on ballots. Points will be assigned in reverse order of rank on ballots. 5 points for 1st through 1 point for 5th.

2.     Pitcher of the Year

1.     Owners should submit to the Commissioner, a list of 5 pitchers ordered from 1 to 5 (with 1 being the choice for best player). Pitchers will be given points by the Commissioner based on where they appear on ballots. Points will be assigned in reverse order of rank on ballots. 5 points for 1st through 1 point for 5th.

3.     Owner of the Year

1.     Owners should submit to the Commissioner, a list of 5 owners ordered 1 to 5 (with 1 being the choice for owner of the year). Owners will be given points by the Commissioner based on where they appear on ballots. Points will be assigned in reverse order of rank on ballots. 5 points for 1st through 1 point for 5th.

B.    When voting, please base your votes on the following:  Managing ability, Common Courtesy, and Communication (how he responds to trade emails).  Winning the Oatmeal Can does not necessarily mean you're Manager of the Year.  Please vote for most deserving, not just for you or your buddies.

1.     *Upon winning the Owner Of The Year Award, you will get to create a stud player for the free agent draft.  I just want to recognize the efforts of some of our great owners that so far, have gone mostly unnoticed. 

2.     The Oatmeal Can winner will also be able to create a stud for the free agent draft (if it is the same person, then you can create two studs).

1.     There ARE max ratings and here are your guidelines:  Pitchers get a MAX combined AS/EN/CO rating of 230, and combined pitch rating of 230 with no single rating being over 90.  Position players get a combined CH/PH/SP rating of 230 with no single rating higher than 90.

 

IX.        Misc.

            A.  A league archive will be posted on the site for download.

C.    Owners are allowed to view player potentials.

D.    Roster moves, lineup changes, and trades should be e-mailed to: MootBrewers@aol.com Note: trades and roster moves may also be sent in via the forms which may be found on the site.

E.     All owners are expected to conduct themselves in a civilized manner.

F.     AIM is not mandatory, however it is strongly encouraged.

G.    Any item not specifically addressed in this document is at the discretion of the Commissioner.

H.    The Trade Committee consists of the Commish, the AL President, and the NL President.  Any trade voted against by 2 committee members has been vetoed and will not be processed.

I.      As ALWAYS, the league reserves the right to make changes to, or additions to existing rules for the greater good of the league.  Basically, I want it known that IF someone finds a loophole in our new system (which I expect), the league has the right to plug that hole with a ruling, which from that point on, will be a rule.