Around  The  Horn  Fantasy  Baseball  League
League  Rules

Part I – Organization

 

Article 1 – Board Of Governors

The league will be run by the President, Commissioner, 2 Assistant    Commissioner’s and a Trade Board consisting of 3 Trade Reviewers.

Article 2 _ Office of the President & CEO

The League President will have the final say on any matters, what so ever where the League issues are concerned. I own the game so I have that right. LOL

Article 3 – Office of the Commissioner
The commissioner will execute all sims, free agent periods, amateur drafts, winter ball, and spring training periods.  The commissioner’s ruling on the scheduling of these activities will be final.  However, input from teams must be taken into account on a good faith basis. The owning of a team in the league will not affect the commissioner’s powers otherwise.  All other commissioner powers will be as set forth in future Articles.

Article 4 – Office of the Assistant Commissioner’s

The Asst. Commissioner’s will help out if asked to do so. To try and answer GM’s questions and anything that helps the league run smooth.

Article 5 – Office of the Trade Reviewers

The Trade Reviewers will state on every trade made in the League. The President or Commissioner has the right to over ride any trade made. The only persons that are allowed to reply to a trade are the Board of Governors. If anyone has any thing to say about the trade PLEASE ask the reviewers, commissioner, or president. DO NOT REPLY ON MESSAGE BOARD. If you do a fine of $1,000,000.00 will be levied.   

Article 6 – Team Owners
Team owners will run the member teams. Team owners are responsible for submitting team materials for league events, and participating generally in league functions. If at any time the president or commissioner deems a team owner as generally non-participatory, the president or commissioner may reclaim his team for the betterment of the league.  In addition, if a team owner does not submit a lineup for one week of real time without any other league communication, that team is reclaimed.  Any team owner may call for a majority vote by the “Board of Governors” on any league issue; however, these votes will be subject to the president or commissioner’s powers set forth in Article 1 and other Articles. All teams must be run in a competitive fashion. If at any time a team owner is determined not to have the goal of winning at the present time or in the future, then the team will be reclaimed. At the end of every season each GM will get 1 player MLB re-rate and 1 sim player rerate.

 

Article 7 – League Structure
The league structure will be as close to MLB as it can be. Changes to team locations and names will only be considered changes to league structure if that team is computer run and will be computer run for an indeterminate amount of time.

Article 8 – Schedule of Activities
The league schedule will be subject to the final determination of the president and commissioner, with a good faith consideration of team owner input.  

Part II – The Rules

 

Article 1 – Sim Schedule
Sim Schedule – Sunday thru Saturday 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m..  Line-ups due by 3:00 p.m.

Player Pages - up-dated every other day.

League Meeting Sunday 7:00 p.m. – If anyone has any League matters or bitches to bitch about this will be the time to discus them.
Salary Cap – $100 million.
Coaches and Scouts – Off

Article 2 – Fan Interest

The president or commissioner will set up team promotions. Fan interest will also be artificially increased or decreased by the president or commissioner.

(A) - Trades - Fan interest may be increased or decreased by trades.  The rationale behind this rule is that trades affect your fans’ views of the team.  For every player you trade, or trade for, your fan interest may be decreased or increased, respectively, or may not change at all.

(B) - Media - Fan interest will be increased by that team’s media.  The team’s media consists of articles written by that team.  A team can earn a fan interest increase of one point for every article written, with a maximum fan interest increase of one point per real week.  An article is defined as a piece of writing about the league or a team, not necessarily that team owner’s team, which consists of at least 100 words. The most you can receive in a season is 15 points.    

(C) – Web Sites and Merchandising – New team web sites will increase your fan interest by 5 points. Renaming a team will not result in a fan interest increase.  

(D) - Relocation – A team’s fan interest will be changed to 30 upon relocation, which should be done during the off season. In addition, the commissioner’s office will maintain a list of five cities that have asked for a ATHFBL team. If a team relocated to any one of these cities, that team’s fan interest will be changed to 30 at the beginning of their first season in that city.

(E) - Stadiums – The building of a new stadium will increase a team’s fan interest to thirty points. If the team’s fan interest reaches 100 before that team receives the total 30 point increase, the remainder of the increase is forfeited.  

(F) - Fan Interest Bank – There is no fan interest bank.  Fan interest cannot be saved for later use.  If you reach 100, all increases you deserve that would take you over 100 are forfeited.  

Article 3 – Relocation and Renaming - Relocation may only occur once every five seasons. Renaming a team may occur at any off-season.  Renaming a team will not result in a fan interest increase.  However, a new owner may relocate or rename his or her team at the first off-season. In addition, the commissioner’s office will maintain a list of five cities that have contacted the league office about acquiring a ATHFBL team. If a team is relocated to any one of these cities, that team’s fan interest will be changed to 30 at the beginning of their first season in that city.

(A) – Stadium Changes and Building - Stadiums may be renamed during the off-season, except for stadiums that have sold naming rights as part of their construction. Other changes to stadiums may be made using the following guidelines:

•    $1,000,000 for each 1000 seats up to 60,000 seats.
•    $2,000,000 for each 1000 seats over 60,000.
•    No team may purchase more than 5,000 seats in a single season.
•    Seat purchases must be done prior to start of a season.
•    No stadium may have more than 100,000 seats.  

New stadium construction may be undertaken using the following guidelines
•    Base construction cost: $100,000,000 (45,000 seats)
•    Grass playing surface: $ 10,000,000
•    Turf playing surface: $ 20,000,000
•    Dome roof: $ 40,000,000
•    Retractable roof: $ 70,000,000
•    Additional seats (over 45,000) may be added at the same rates as those            for stadium renovation.
•    If a team elects to give up naming rights to their stadium, the total cost of construction will be reduced by $50,000,000. In these cases, the stadium will be named by the league office. The deduction of $50,000,000 will be made PRIOR to the adjustment for taxpayer funding, see below.

EXAMPLE: An owner wishes to build a 60,000 seat, retractable roof stadium with artificial turf. The total construction cost would be as follows:
Base construction cost:     $100,000,000
Artificial turf    $20,000,000
Retractable roof    $70,000,000
Seats over 45,000 (15,000 seats at $1,000,000 per thousand)    $15,000,000
TOTAL COST    $205,000,000

EXAMPLE: The owner above wishes to give up naming rights to their new home. The total cost ($205,000,000) is reduced by $50,000,000 bringing the new total to $155,000,000. After the taxpayer contribution, the revised cost of construction would be $54,250,000.

You will be responsible for paying a percentage of the cost while the local taxpayers will be responsible for the rest. The taxpayer contribution will be determined according to the success of your team as follows:
•    85% taxpayer funding if your team won a World Championship in the previous season.    
•    80% taxpayer funding if your team had a .525 pct record (or better) for the past 3 seasons.
•    65% taxpayer funding if your team had a .500 pct record (or better) for the past 3 seasons.
•    50% taxpayer funding if your team had a sub .500 season for the past 3 seasons.
•    0% taxpayer funding if your team had a sub .500 season for the past 10 seasons, subject to World Championship win.
•    0% taxpayer funding if your team had a sub .300 season in the previous season, subject to World Championship win, however unlikely.

EXAMPLE: An owner wishes to build the stadium listed above and had a .500 pct record for the last three years. The cost for that stadium would be:
$205,000,000 X 35% (taxpayers are paying 65%) = $71,750,000 revised total cost

Construction may only begin in the off-season and will be completed that off-season, ready for use by the first game of the regular season, subject to special request by the owner. Owners must state their intent to build a new stadium. No outfield walls may be less than 270 feet or greater than 475 feet from home plate.  The team owner will have all remaining discretion.

Repayment of stadium construction will take place over 5 years with the first payment (minimum $5,000,000) due upon ground breaking. Payments will be taken directly from a teams cash reserves once the regular season is complete.

Failure to meet payment will result in a warning and all team cash will be surrendered. Failure to meet consecutive payments will result in that team losing a minimum of $10,000,000 in payroll deducted by releasing its highest paid players until this minimum is met, and all team cash will be surrendered. Building a stadium can be expensive, make sure you can afford it!  
New Stadiums may be built only once every 5 seasons.  New owners may build a new stadium during their first off-season in the league.  

Article 4 - Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy results when a team has zero cash prior to a season and has a financial loss at the end of that season.  A team may trade for cash to avoid bankruptcy.  Bankruptcy will result in the release of two players determined by the president or commissioner according to the following method: The team will release its highest paid 5 Star player. If none exist, then the team will release its highest paid 4.5 star player. If none exist, then the team will release its highest paid 4 star player. If none exist, then the team will release its highest paid 3.5 star player. If none exist, then the team will release its highest paid 3 star player. If none exist, then the team will release its highest paid player and its highest rated prospect. Two bankruptcies by one owner will result in reclamation of the team.  

Article 5 – Trades
The commissioner will review and process all trades. All trades has got to be posted on the message board with your IRC name and not guest.  Trading deadline is July 31st. The trade reviewers will make the ruling on all trades. The burden is on the trade reviewers to prove that the trade should not be processed, for whatever reason.  However the president or commissioner can over turn any trade if he thinks that it will hurt the team or league.  Cash may be traded.  Draft picks for the next draft only may be traded. The commissioner will keep a list of traded draft picks. There is no requirement for a player from each trading team to be involved in the trade, thus selling players is allowed. One team should post the trade on the message board and have the other team confirm.

Article 6 – Rosters
Each team should have 25 players on their active roster at all times. September 1^st the active roster increases to 40 players. Position players can only be played at positions for which they have a rating, or if you can show proof of that player playing that position at least one game in MLB. Pitchers can be used in any role as the sim sees fit for an injury of a position player. The penalty for violating this rule is loss of the player in question for 2 sim days.

Article 7 – Regular Season Free Agency

•    Begins after the first regular season sim and ends after the last regular season sim, prior to the post-season.

•    All in-season free agent claims for minor league contracts must be sent by e-mail or on your line-up page. If two or more teams select the same player the team that’s time on e-mail or line-up page is the earliest will get the player. The commissioner has final say in this matter.
•    All in-season free agents that you wish to have a major league salary must be submitted same as above but other teams may offer for the free agent within 24 hours of player being put into FA. All offers must be made to the commissioner’s office. Once an offer has been e-mailed the bidding will be closed and the offer will be made to the player. The commissioner will decide via the player who he will sign with.  
•    If you claim a free agent and the player refuses to sign with your team at the contract details you state, the player will be returned to the FA pool for further bidding. All previous bids will be disregarded and “cleared.”
•    Teams will be limited to TWO free agent signings per sim period.  
•    If you release a player, you will be stuck with whatever is left on his contract. However, this amount will be taken from your cash and not count against the salary cap. The resulting reduction in the current year’s payroll from the release will affect your salary cap compliance.  
•    Please keep your financial situation in mind when making all offers.  

Article 8 – Off-Season Free Agency
Send your offers via e-mail to the commissioner’s office no more than an 8 million dollar amount offered on the first 6 sim days. No more than            10 million dollar amount till after the tenth day. If you sign a Free Agent he has to stay with that team until after the “All Star Game”. If you trade a free agent before the “All Star” break, shame on you. When it is caught both teams lose the traded players (all will be put in the Free Agent pool) and the team that had the Free Agent will be fined $10,000.00. So when you trade get in the practice of checking the bottom of the player pages.

Article 9 – Financial System
The league currently has a $100,000,000 salary cap. No free agent signings or trades during the regular season may put a team over the salary cap without that team having an immediate plan to reduce payroll to fit under the cap. He has 24 hours to do so if he does not do this in the 24 hour period his best player will be suspended until this is taken care of. Contract extensions during the regular season and free agent signings and trades during the off-season may bring a team over the salary cap for the following season, and that team will have until the first game of the following season to comply with the salary cap. Please keep this in mind when you promote minor leaguers!!! The commissioner must take appropriate steps to bring the team into compliance.  

Article 10 – Contract Extensions
Send e-mail or put on line-up page “Team ___ Offers”. Or PM Commissioner and he will ask the player before he sims.

Article 11 – Player Releases
Post player releases on the message board, e-mail commissioner, or on your line-up page with the heading “Team ____ Releases”.

Article 12 – Amateur Draft
The Amateur Draft will be conducted LIVE at a time posted on the topic in the League room. The Amateur Draft will be a running draft for 1 week prior to the Draft Day. The first three rounds or more will be LIVE the rest simed. The LIVE 3 or more rounds will take place in the League Room on or after June the 1^st. All League GM’s should be present during the draft if they cannot be the best player at that time will be given to that team. Draft order will be determined by winning percentage, playoff performance and lottery.  The order will be determined by the following method:

30 = World Champion
29 = Runner Up
28 = Remaining Playoff Team with Higher Winning Percentage
27 thru 22 = Remaining Playoff Team with Lower Winning Percentage
21 thru 6 = Based on Winning Percentage
5 - 1 = Lottery System

The lottery will be held 1 week before the live draft. The lottery will be a random selection of the five teams with the lowest winning percentage in order to determine their draft order. Each owner will choose a number from one to five; with the order of choice determined by the ascending order of winning percentage (lowest winning percentage chooses first).  Then the commissioner will use a random number generator to randomly generate numbers between one through five. The order that these numbers are randomly generated will determine the order of the draft.  For example, if Team A chooses the number four and the random number generator generates the number four first, and then Team A gets the first pick in the draft. The principle of this lottery is to maintain a competitive environment among all teams. The number of rounds will be determined by the league commissioner. The amateur draft is a mandatory activity.  A team owner must attend the live draft or submit a player ranking. If neither is done than the Commissioner will select the best player at the time for that team.

Part III – Principles

 

Article 1 – Goals
It is the goal of this league that all owners have a great time. In addition, this league is run for the benefit of the team owners, so all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Article 2 – Changes to the Rules
These rules will be in effect for the first season of “Around the Horn Fantasy Baseball League”. If a change should be made, it will be voted upon by the Board of Governors and passed by a majority vote.

 RIDER

All Mini Me's cannot be traded, there on your teams for ever. The only way to get rid of him is to delete him.

The “Around the Horn Fantasy Baseball League” is based on the OOTP-6 sim. All team names, player names, and logos are property of “Major League Baseball”. They cannot be duplicated without written permission of “Major League Baseball”.                                                                                                               

                                                                                                       RJB ~ 09-09-04