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 Section I - General

    A. Organization

        Blizzard Baseball League (BZBL) operates as a continuing STRAT-O-MATIC draft league.  Only the STRAT-O-MATIC most recent version of the STRAT-O-MATIC computer game is acceptable for league play.  All super advanced features will be utilized except the Solitaire Rest and Injuries rules.  The current size is twenty four teams divided into two leagues, twelve teams per league.  Each League has three divisions of four teams.  The designated hitter will NOT be used by either league.

    B. Purpose

        The purpose of BZBL is to promote the enjoyment of table gaming.  All members must demonstrate class, honesty, punctuality, sportsmanship and a dedication to realistic baseball simulation.  All Games must be played with an equal effort to win for both teams.   This league is NOT meant to be a true simulation and thus parallel “real-life” baseball, rather it is to intellectually challenge the managers via their usage of players (thus no DH) and their roster (thus the set limitations on players maintained year to year and liberal qualifications for rookie eligible players).  Also, there are no “innocuous,” “feeble,” or “unlimited” type players from which to stock rosters.

    C. Schedule and Format

        Each team will play 162 regular season games, divided into 81 games both home and away.  All games are to be played by computer, using the computer manager for the opposing manager, unless arrangements are made for face to face play.  We do have inter league play.  Teams will play their road schedule during the season.   All efforts will be made to coordinate schedules for FTF or NetPlay gaming, however it is not mandatory for games to be played this way.

    D. Post Season Play

        The BZBL champion shall be determined by a best of seven World Series.  The World Series participants will be determined as follows:

        American and National Leagues - Four teams will qualify for the playoffs, with the divisional champions qualifying, and the remaining berth awarded by winning percentage.  In the first round, the divisional champion with the highest winning percentage will play the wild card team.  IF the wild card team is in the same division as the divisional champ with the highest winning percentage, then the second highest winning percentage divisional champ will play the wild card team.  In succeeding rounds, should the wild card team advance and have a higher winning percentage than the remaining division champion the games will still be played with the division champion as the team with home field advantage.

        Playoff series are best of seven.  The team with the highest winning percentage during the regular season will be home for games 1, 2, 6, and 7.

        There will be off days scheduled in the post season as follows: the day after regular season, travel days when changing home teams and days following the end of a series (always assuming the series went to the maximum 7 games).

        Pitching rotations are continuous from the regular season to and throughout all post season play.

        Two way ties for playoffs will be broken by a sudden death, one game playoff taking place on the off day following the end of the regular season.

        If two playoff teams have the same winning percentage, the team with the better head-to-head record during the regular season will be seeded higher.  If still tied, the better home record shall determine seed and then, if necessary, a coin flip. If there are 3 or more teams tied the tie breaker will be a coin flip.

    E. Dues

        League dues and the date at which they are to be paid will be set annually by the Commissioner.  Dues for 2002-2003 season will be $0.00.

    F. Team Rosters

        During the season, and at the conclusion of the rookie draft, each team will carry a maximum of 40 man roster.  During the season, 30 (computer game allows a maximum of 15 active pitchers) of the 40 man roster are considered "active" and on the major league roster, with the remaining 10 players being designated for assignment with the club's minor league affiliate (reserve status).  Such players may be restored to the major league roster, with as equal number of active players being sent down, at the end of each month.  During the final month of regular season, all 40 players are active and eligible for play.  The roster size for post season play will be no larger than 25 carded players.

        Any player who becomes uncarded at the end of the season shall immediately be placed on the team's inactive roster and his rights retained.  But, these player are included in the 40 man roster and will count against the 25 carded players carried over from year to year should they be chosen to do so. 

    G. Draft

        An Annual draft will be held for all unowned carded players.  On June 1st prior to the draft (or on some date near that point as determined by the commissioner), teams will release carded players in order to utilize more of the their draft picks.  The released players would join the pool of players available in the draft.   Teams can keep no more than 25 players (carded or uncarded) and will keep no less than 20 players (carded or uncarded).

        Drafting order shall be in the inverse of winning percentage.  Teams which have identical winning percentages will be reconciled by: 1) head-to-head competition, 2) a coin toss.

        Once a team reaches the 40 carded player limit during the draft, they may no longer use any remaining draft picks owned unless a trade is made during the draft which opens up a roster spot.  After completion of the draft, no team shall be allowed to fall below 30 carded players until the end of the season. Each team must draft 650 ABs at each of the 8 fielding positions and they must have 2 players rated to play at each position eligible for each game throughout the season.   Also, teams must have at least 162 starts from starting pitchers and 400 bullpen innings If you do not draft enough AB’s/IP’s your last pick will be rescinded and the league will replace that player with one that fixes the usage issue.  This will continue until the team is in full compliance.

    H. Trading

        Trades may be made any time during the season except in the months of  February and March (August and September in the strat game)  Trades become official upon all parties with the deal notifying the Commissioner (or designated trade recorder) by phone, email, land based mail, or in person.  Any discrepancies will be resolved by the commissioner.  Draft picks (for upcoming draft only) may be traded. At the conclusion of the season, draft picks for the immediately upcoming season and the following year’s draft may be traded.

    I. Miscellaneous

        Any item not covered in the Constitution shall be governed by the Commissioner in all his infinite wisdom.

Section II - Playing Rules

A.      Player Usage

B.     1. NON PITCHERS

C.     Any player with LESS THAN 3.0 actual plate appearances (at bats + walks) per actual game is limited to the number of actual at bats.  Any player with 3.0 OR MORE actual plate appearances per actual game shall be limited by Either actual games played OR actual at bats.  In other words, you may exceed one of these limits, but not both.

D.     Again, each active roster MUST include at least two players eligible to play each defensive position.  Any player can be applied to more than one position to satisfy this requirement.  No player may play a position for which he is not rated.  You may not substitute for a player unless you have an eligible replacement for the position.  Outfielders rated at one outfield position may play other outfield positions, but at the penalties specified in the Strat-O-Matic rules.

        2. PITCHERS

            a. LIMITS

            Pitchers who start only for their BZBL team will be allowed up to their actual starts.  Relievers will be limited to their actual innings pitched.  Pitchers who both start AND relieve for their BZBL team will be limited to BOTH their actual starts AND their Actual innings.  note: Strat fatigue rules will still apply to these pitchers).            

            b. REST REQUIREMENTS

            All pitchers shall be subject to Strat-O-Matic's rules regarding rest.  EXCEPTION: All relievers are considered rested at the beginning of a series.

 

        3. OVER USAGE

        Flagrant and irresponsible overuse of players and/or pitchers constitute a serious breach in the integrity of the league.  Any player(s) over used during the season are subject to penalties up to and including: becoming free agents, being ineligible for post-season play (if applicable) and the team will lose draft picks in the upcoming draft (draft picks will be picked by the commish).  These penalties are levied against the manager and not the team and are contingent upon how much (number of players, how much overuse/player) occurs.

 

        4. DOUBLE CARDED PLAYERS

        Players that receive cards (files) for more than one team will be allowed the usage of his combined stats (combined file).

        5. POST SEASON PLAY

        To be eligible for post season play, pitchers must not have been over used during the BZBL season and have appeared in at least 25 actual games OR had at least 50 actual innings pitched.  Non pitchers must have appeared in at least 50 actual games OR had at least 100 actual at bats.  The roster size for post season shall be 25 carded players.

Pitchers will be limited as follows:

Starting Pitchers:

ACTUAL STARTS               0-9        10-14    15-24    25+

PLAYOFF STARTS            0          1          2          3

Note, these limits differ from the strat * starter criteria slightly, allowing for a starter per team to make 3 starts in a seven game series (games 1,4,7) so long as that starter made at least 25 starts during the regular season.  You may designate on SP who does not have a reliever rating to be used ONLY in relief during the playoffs, subject to Strat’s fatigue rules.  Additionally, a “starter-only” can pitch in relief in an elimination game, subject to Strat’s fatigue rules (think Randy Johnson in Game 7 vs the Yankees).

 

Relief Pitchers:

ACTUAL INNINGS              0-50      51-100

PLAYOFF INNINGS            10%      15%

Additionally, a relievers will be limited to not pitching more than 3 games in every 5 day period (thus, a reliever could go in games 1,3,4,5,7 so long as he had enough innings to do so, but not in games 1,2,3,4,…).

 

Non pitchers, can not be over used during the BZBL season and will be limited as follows:
ACTUAL AB'S        PLAYOFF SERIES

60-399                                                     5%

400-499             5.5%

500+                             UNLIMITED          

        At bats accumulated in extra innings during playoff games, will not count towards these limitations.

    B. BASE RUNNING

        1. STEALING

        BZBL will follow Strat-O-Matic rules for stealing.

    C. INJURIES

    Since BZBL already restricts player usage, all injuries will be ignored.

 

SECTION III - ADMINISTRATIVE

    A. INSTRUCTIONS

Each manager must send a set of computer manager files and contingency playing instructions to the Commissioner and Stats President by September 1st.  The computer manager files will be used by the opposing managers for league play.

    B. PITCHING ROTATIONS

    The league will furnish pitching rotation forms using a Excel file.  Fill in your rotation for the year, along with designating your inactive players for the month.  These will be published to the league with the contingency lineups.  These rotations/inactive players may be changed during the season provided WRITTEN notification is given to the Commissioner at least one month in advance of the changes becoming effective.  The pitching rotation needs to be inputed into the teams computer manager by each teams management.

    C. REPORTING

    Home instructions shall be mailed one month in advance.  Results shall be E-mailed to the opposing managers by the 25th of the month.  These results shall consist of both the game files and boxscores for each game.  Stats for all home games (both visitor and home teams) shall be mailed to the stats president by the 30th of the month.

   

 

 

 

D. TARDINESS

    The evils of all evils!  Tardiness is a nasty pain, not only to the Commissioner, but to all members of the league!  Everyone will receive greater enjoyment from our exercise if everyone sticks to the schedule.  If you must be late, advise the Commissioner ASAP.  Penalty for tardiness will be determined by the commish!