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:
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!