1.1.
Any
active manager may submit league rule change suggestions/recommendations
to the Commissioner, which must be accompanied by at least 3 other
managers as "co-sponsors".
1.1.1.
The
format of the submission shall be in the form of current number and
wording followed by the exact wording of the proposed changes (exact
numbering of changes not required, as the Commissioner will ensure
proper numbering in bylaws upon beginning-of-season publish.
1.2.
League rule changes require the approval of a majority (>50%) of the
active managers.
1.2.1.
The
Commissioner will establish a voting period of not less than two weeks
for votes to be submitted on any proposal.
1.2.2.
If
all votes have not been received at the end of the voting period the
Commissioner will determine if a quorum (50% + 1 managers, i.e.
currently 9 managers) have voted on the rule.
1.2.2.1.
If a
quorum has been reached then the rule will pass or fail based on the
majority of the votes received. (Example: 11 votes received 6 for 5
against – rule passes; 9 votes received 4 for 5 against – rule fails)
1.2.2.2.
If a
quorum has not been reached the rule will not pass.
1.3.
Rule
changes will be added to the Bylaws and posted on the web site as soon
as possible after the rule change has been approved.
1.3.1.
The
Commissioner will notify all managers of the rule change either
verbally, via e-mail, or on the web site within two days of approval.
1.4.
Deleted
1.5.
Voting on rules changes will take place during the off-season (example:
after the 2008 season but before the 2009 season). If a rule passes, it
does not go into effect until the subsequent season (in this example,
the 2010 season). Exceptions can only be made in extreme cases where
there is either unanimous agreement to make an immediate change
(example: SOM creates a new option or new rule, and we have to decide
one way or the other right away) or where the commissioner feels that
the change is absolutely necessary for the administrative functioning of
the league.
2.1.
An
active manager will hold the Commissioner’s position.
2.2.
The
active managers will select the Commissioner.
2.3.
The
term for Commissioner will be one year at a time, with no limit on the
number of terms.
2.4.
The
Commissioner will be elected no later than January 31 of any year.
2.5.
The
Commissioner or his designee is responsible for the following:
2.5.1.
Establishing the playing schedule and distributing the schedule for the
season to be played.
2.5.2.
Reviewing all trades to ensure that they are "in the best interest of
the league".
2.5.2.1.
If a
trade is determined by the Commissioner to not be "in the best interest
of the league", the Commissioner will call for a vote by active managers
to approve the trade.
2.5.2.2.
If
the trade is approved by league vote, then the trade will be allowed.
2.5.3.
Appointing a League Statistician to provide season standings and player
statistics updates to all active managers.
2.5.4.
Chairing the meetings held by the league.
2.5.5.
Maintaining current rosters of all active teams, and distributing copies
of these rosters to all active managers.
2.5.5.1.
Managers must submit rosters changes to the Commissioner no later than
five (5) working days after the completion of such roster changes.
2.5.6.
Compiling and distributing a list of the available rookies for the
annual draft to all active managers.
3.1.
Active rosters are limited to 25 players.
3.2.
Reserve rosters are limited to 13 players during the season, including
playoffs.
3.3.
Any
manager with more than 13 players on his reserve roster at the beginning
of the season will inform the Commissioner as to which players will be
cut to decrease his roster to the maximum. (If the league has approved a
roster >38 or a manager is limited to <38 players then this number will
be varied accordingly.)
3.4.
Cut
players will be placed in the free agent pool to be drafted with the
rookies during the next rookie draft, if they meet eligibility
requirements. Once placed in the free agent pool, players will be
unavailable until the next year's draft, except as provided in paragraph
3.4.1.
3.4.1.
After
"38-Man" roster cuts are announced, managers have the option to cut 1 or
2 more personnel and participate in a secondary (re-entry) draft.
3.4.2.
The
re-entry draft will consist of those players cut by other teams which
meet the 100 at bat/30 innings pitched minimums.
3.5.
The
active roster will expand to 38 men on September 1 of the GABL season.
4.1.
The
league plays a 162 game season.
4.2.
The
season schedule will be prepared by the Commissioner or designee to
reflect the number of games agreed upon by the active managers.
4.3.
The
season schedule will be distributed to the active managers no later than
two weeks prior to the beginning of the season.
4.4.
The
season schedule will reflect the divisions as agreed upon by the active
managers, and when possible, the teams assigned to a division will play
more games against the other teams assigned to the same division, on a
team basis.
4.4.1.
The
divisions will consist of a DH division and a non-DH division.
4.5.
League series will be established with minimum 3-game series whenever
possible.
4.6.
Each
team will play at least two (2) Double headers during the season as
scheduled.
5.
Ball Park Selection
5.1.
Managers may select any ballpark in the American or National League, or
may design their own park.
5.2.
Once
a ballpark is selected, that ballpark will be the park, ratings
remaining static, for that team for no less than three (3) consecutive
seasons, starting in the 2002 season.
NOTE:
Next ballpark selection will take place prior to the 2011 GABL Season.
5.2.1.
The
only exception to this rule is if a new manager takes over an existing
team. In this case the new manager may select a new ballpark different
from the one selected by the previous manager. Once this has been done,
the new manager will then join the cycle with the rest of the teams as
stated in 5.2.
6.1.
Each
manager will decide if they will use the DH at home.
6.2.
If
the Home team uses the DH, the visiting team will also use the DH.
6.3.
The
decision to use or not use the DH will next be made prior to the
beginning of the 2011 season.
6.4.
Once
the decision has been made on DH for a team, the decision will remain in
effect for three (3) consecutive seasons. (The exception to this is the
same as that for ballpark selection, regarding new managers).
7.1.
All
active managers must submit a computer game league file containing their
team and all of their settings (manager settings, minor leagues,
lineups, etc.) to the Commissioner, no later than two weeks prior to the
beginning of the season.
7.2.
Changes to guidelines must be submitted to the opposing manager, and
will take effect in the series following the submission of the changes.
7.3.
Pitching rotations for an upcoming series must be exchanged between the
managers who are scheduled to play, no later then Friday of the week
preceding the week in which the games are to be played.
7.3.1.
After
a rotation has been filed, it may be changed up to the week prior to the
scheduled games, after that it may not be changed.
7.3.2.
Managers may indicate an either/or situation for starting pitchers,
i.e., Game 1 - Nomo (R), Game 2 - Martinez (R), Game 3 - Maddux (R) or
Clemens (R) when the manager may use one of two pitchers depending on
the games preceding the series.
7.4.
If
the manager, who plays a series, does not follow the opposing manager's
instructions correctly, the opposing manager will have the following
options, regardless of the outcome of the game:
7.4.1.
Have
the entire game replayed.
7.4.2.
Have
the game replayed from the point of the incorrect action.
7.4.3.
Let
the game stand as played with all usage counting toward the season
limits. If this results in a player exceeding his usage limits, he is
not subject to overuse penalties.
8.1.
Position Players are limited to their total MLB season at bats with no
game limits during the GABL season.
8.1.1.
Deleted
8.1.2.
Deleted
8.1.3.
In a
playoff series, hitters with less than 400 ABs are limited to 6% of
their actual ABs as rounded by the game. Hitters with 400 or more ABs
can be used unlimited.
8.2.
Pitchers
8.2.1.
Pitchers are limited to the actual number of innings pitched in the
regular season rounded to the nearest whole inning. Pitchers can start
in accordance with the pitchers' rest chart.
8.2.2.
Pitcher's Rest Chart
8.2.4.
In a
playoff series, pitchers are limited to 10% of their actual IP as
rounded by the game.
9.1.
Starting Pitchers
9.1.1.
Starting pitchers must be rested in accordance with the chart shown in
paragraph 8.2.2.
9.2.
Relief Pitchers
9.2.1.
Relief pitchers are limited by the Game, for each series.
10.1.
The
League must be notified of any roster change by e-mail no more than
three (3) days after a change has been made.
10.2.
A
Player may be sent down to the minors a maximum of twice in a season
with no penalty.
10.2.1.If
a manager wishes to send a player down for a third time during the same
season, the player must clear waivers by being offered to each of the
remaining managers in order of the current standings, from worst to
first, until all managers have passed on the player.
10.2.2.If
a player clears waivers, he must remain in the minors for the rest of
the season.
10.2.3.If
a player does not clear waivers the manager placing the player on
waivers may elect to keep the player on his major league roster for the
rest of the season.
10.3.
If a
player is traded, the number is reset.
11.1.
Managers are responsible for monitoring their player/pitcher usage.
11.2.
On
the first violation, in a season, the offending Manager will lose 2
roster spots (36 available instead of 38) for the next season. No
additional penalties will be assessed.
11.3.
For
the second violation and beyond, in a season, the offending team will
incur the following penalties:
11.3.1.The
player will be immediately suspended (ineligible) for the rest of the
season including the playoffs.
11.3.2.The
team will have the choice of the offending player becoming a free agent
after the season or forfeiting a third-round pick in the next rookie
draft.
11.3.2.1.
If
the team has more than one third-round pick, it will lose the lowest
pick (closest to the end of the round). This decision must be made at
the time of the infraction and if the choice is to lose the draft pick,
it will be lost immediately.
11.3.2.2.
If
the team does not have any third-round picks, it can choose to
immediately lose its third-round pick in the following year's draft.
11.3.3.If
a team has a third player exceed his limit, the team will have the
choice of losing the offending player to free agency or a second-round
draft pick, subject to the same conditions outlined in rule 11.3.2.
11.3.4.If
a team has a fourth player exceed his limit, the team will have the
choice of losing the offending player to free agency or a first-round
draft pick, subject to the same conditions outlined in rule 11.3.2.
11.3.5.Subsequent
violations will result in the option to lose the offending players or
additional draft picks beginning in the fourth round.
11.3.6.If
an ineligible (as defined in 11.3.1) player is used, the offending team
will immediately lose, to free agency, the five hitters with the most
at-bats on the team and the five pitchers will the most innings pitched
on the team.
11.4.
If a
manager believes that it is possible that a player/pitcher might exceed
their limits during a series, he is responsible for including
instruction regarding that pitcher/player with the game instructions
11.5.
If
the violation occurs as a result of the opposing manager not following
the provided instructions, then no penalty is assessed.
11.6.
Double plays, triple plays, or caught stealing resulting in over usage
of a pitcher do not count as a violation, but should be reported to the
Commissioner immediately to prevent misunderstanding.
11.7.
If
the violation occurs as a result of a player exceeding his "expected max
usage" in a series, then no penalty is assessed.
11.7.1.A
hitter's expected max usage is 7 ABs in a game for a start and 4 ABs in
a game that he is not in the starting lineup. If the manager provides
instructions to insert the player into the game prior to the 6th inning,
the game is considered to be a start for purposes of calculating
expected max usage. For example, a hitter who is starting two games in
a four-game series has an expected max usage for the series of 22 ABs
(7+7+4+4).
11.7.2.A
starting pitcher's expected max usage is 12 IP per start.
11.7.3.A
relief pitcher's expect max usage is (fatigue rating) * (# of games in
series) * 2. So a 1-fatigue reliever in a four-game series has an
expected max usage of 8 IP (1*4*2).
11.8.
The
commissioner has the authority to waive the penalty for an overusage
violation if, in his opinion, the overusage was unintentional and
insignificant.
12.1.
A
player shall qualify for inclusion in the GABL Draft if he is a member
of one of the approved teams (See Rule 13) at the end of the associated
season and he has a minimum of 100 at bats or 30 innings pitched rounded
to the nearest whole inning, and:
12.1.1.he
is classified as a rookie by MLB, or
12.1.2.he
did not play baseball in the previous year.
12.2.
A
player shall be eligible for inclusion in the GABL Draft if he was
released from a GABL roster prior to the beginning of a season to bring
the roster within the 38-man limit, and has a minimum of 100 at bats or
30 innings pitched.
13.1.
Teams
13.1.1.
Arizona Diamondbacks
13.1.2.
Atlanta Braves
13.1.3.
Chicago Cubs
13.1.4.
Boston Red Sox
13.1.5.
Chicago White Sox
13.1.6.
Cincinnati Reds
13.1.7.
Cleveland Indians
13.1.8.
Florida Marlins
13.1.9.
Houston Astros
13.1.10.
Kansas City Royals
13.1.11.
Los
Angeles Dodgers
13.1.12.
Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim
13.1.13.
Washington Nationals
13.1.14.
New
York Mets
13.1.15.
New
York Yankees
13.1.16.
Oakland Athletics
13.1.17.
Philadelphia Phillies
13.1.18.
Pittsburgh Pirates
13.1.19.
Seattle Mariners
13.1.20.
Detroit Tigers
13.2.
The
number of teams used to produce the rookie draft list will be determined
by establishing as close a ratio as possible to the original
league-founding ratio. This ratio is 11:9 which corresponds to a decimal
value of approximately .82.
14.1.
Draft
picks may be traded for the next draft regardless of when that draft
will occur. Picks for the following draft can be traded after the
current regular season is completed. So picks for the 2009 draft can be
traded after the completion of the 2008 regular season.
15.1.
First
Round of the draft will be as follows, all remaining rounds will be in
reverse order of regular season finish:
15.1.1.Teams
making the playoffs for the previous season will be at the end of the
round with the team winning the championship drafting last (16th), the
loser of the championship game drafting next to last (15th).
15.1.2.Those
teams losing the second round of the playoffs will draft 13th and 14th
based on their regular season wins with the team winning the most games
drafting 14th.
15.1.3.Those
teams losing the first round of the playoffs will draft 11th and 12th
based on their regular season wins with the team winning the most games
drafting 12th.
15.1.4.The
remaining 10 teams will draft as follows:
15.1.4.1.
The
teams, not making the playoffs, with the regular season records placing
in positions 7th-12th will draft in reverse order from 10th up to 5th
with the team winning the most games drafting 10th.
15.1.4.2.
The
teams finishing with the worst 4 records in the regular season will
draft as determined by a lottery. The team with the worst record gets
10 entries into the lottery (50%), the team with the next worst record
gets 6 entries in the lottery (30%), the team with the third worst
record gets 3 entries in the lottery (15%) and the team with the 4th
worst record gets 1 entry in the lottery (5%). The first team drawn
will draft first, the next team drawn will draft second and so on.
15.1.5.Tie-breakers
will be done in accordance with rule 17.3.4
15.2.
Expansion managers will draft after veteran GABL managers in the order
in which they joined the league. In the event that more than one
manager joins the league at the same time, the Commissioner will
randomly determine the order.
15.3.Teams under
proxy management by an existing GABL Manager will draft in the position
which they would have based on standings/lottery at the end of the most
recent season. "Ghost" teams (teams without a proxy manager) will always
draft last.
15.4.
Managers taking over an existing team will draft using the draft
selections and position of the team they take over.
16.1.
All
games must be played in the week they are scheduled unless otherwise
approved by the Commissioner.
16.2.
Managers Late Sending Out Manager Files
16.2.1.If
a road manager fails to send an mgr file or other instructions by Monday
night, the home manager can play the games using the computer manager
that is already in the roster files. Starting pitchers will be selected
to continue the team's current rotation. The batting order generated by
the computer manager will be used. All players that have reached 100%
usage will be deactivated.
16.2.2.If
the road manager sends instructions to the home manager after Monday
night but before the home manager has played the games, the home manager
will use those instructions.
16.2.3.This
will not apply if the home manager was late sending his starters to the
road manager. This will also not apply if the road manager has
indicated to the home manager and the commissioner that his info will be
late due to acceptable non-GABL reasons.
16.3.
Managers sending out lineups with incorrect DH setup
16.3.1.If
a manager fails to include a DH in his lineups sent for games with a DH
team, the home manager can select the hitter of his choice from the
visiting team's bench and insert him as the DH in the 9-slot. If a
manager includes a DH in his lineups sent for games with a non-DH team,
the home manager can remove the DH from the lineup (the game does this
by default).
16.4.
If
the home manager has not received instructions from the visiting manager
by 11 p.m. Pacific Time Tuesday night, and the visiting manager has not
contacted the home manager and the commissioner with the status of the
instructions, the home manager can play the series using the "No
Instructions Guidelines." The visiting manager will be subject to the
"Timeliness Penalties."
16.5.
If
the home manager has not played the series by 8 a.m. Pacific Time Monday
morning after they are due and has not contacted the commissioner and
the visiting manager with the status of the series, the visiting manager
can play the series using the "No Instructions Guidelines." The home
manager will be subject to the "Timeliness Penalties."
16.6.
The
following "No Instructions Guidelines" are to be used when playing a
series without instructions from the opposing manager:
16.6.1.The
team will have 5 starters, 6 relievers, and 14 position players.
16.6.1.1.
The
starters will be the 5 starters who have the most usage remaining, based
on the most recent stat update. The starter with the most usage will
start the first game, and so on. Starters that are not starting will be
set ineligible.
16.6.1.2.
The 6
relievers with the most usage remaining will be set eligible.
16.6.1.3.
The
two catchers with the most usage will be set eligible.
16.6.1.4.
The
12 position players with the most remaining usage (even if they are
catchers) will be set eligible. If there is a position that is not
covered by a carded player, the player from this group with the least
usage remaining will be set ineligible and the player with the most
usage remaining that is carded for the missing position will be set
eligible.
16.6.2.The
team will use whatever lineups Hal selects. It will use the computer
manager settings that are in the current version of the roster files.
16.6.3.All
usage will count. If a starter's rest is not correct as a result of the
preceding or following series, no penalty will be assessed.
16.6.4.The
manager playing the games will remove players if they reach their usage
limits based on the current stat files. If the team's other series from
the week results in a player being overused, the team will be subject to
over usage penalties.
16.7.
The
team that fails to provide instructions will start losing draft picks
starting with the last round and moving to the first round, until all
draft picks have been forfeited.
16.7.1.Once
all draft picks have been forfeited, the manager of the team will be
placed on probation, if another game is forfeited, the remaining
managers will vote to determine if the offending manager shall be
allowed to remain in the league.
16.8.
If
expelled from the league by a 75% vote of the remaining managers, the
offending manager will be ineligible to rejoin the league for one
season.
16.8.1.At
the end of that season a unanimous vote of the remaining managers may
allow the offending manager to reenter the league on probation.
16.8.2.If
expelled from the league twice, a manager will be ineligible to play in
the league again.
17.1.
The
playoff format cannot be changed until it has been used for three
consecutive seasons (unless the number of teams in the league increases
or decreases).
17.2.
The
playoffs will consist of the two division winners and the next best
record in each division and the next two best records in the league
rounding out the playoffs.
17.2.1.Format
17.2.1.1.
First
Round
17.2.1.1.1.
The
Division winners get a bye.
17.2.1.1.2.
The
wildcard team with the best record will play the wildcard team with the
worst record and the remaining two teams will play each other.
17.2.1.1.3.
The
series will be a best-of-seven format.
17.2.1.2.
Second Round
17.2.1.2.1.
Division Winner with best record plays surviving wildcard team with
worst record.
17.2.1.2.2.
Other
Division Winner plays remaining wildcard team.
17.2.1.2.3.
Best-of-seven format.
17.2.1.3.
Championship Series pits surviving teams against each other in a
Best-of-Seven format.
17.2.2.The
division winners shall have home field advantage against the wild card
teams. In the GABL World Series, home field advantage shall be
determined by which team had the best regular season record if both
teams are division winners or if both teams are wild card teams. If one
team is a division winner and the other team is a wild card team, then
the division winner automatically shall have home field advantage.
17.3.
In
the event of a tie for a single playoff spot:
17.3.1.A
Tie will be broken by adding a single game to the regular season, on the
day after game 162.
17.3.1.1.
This
is part of the regular season in every way, including usage.
17.3.1.2.
Roster/rotation/rest will be the same as were in place continuing from
game 162.
17.3.2.Ties
between teams both making the playoffs DO NOT require an additional game
added to the regular season.
17.3.3.Ties
between teams both not making the playoffs DO NOT require an additional
game added to the regular season.
17.3.4.In
the event of a tie as described in 17.3.2 or 17.3.3, the tie will be
broken for draft order purpose (and sometimes for playoff seeding and
home field advantages/division winner) in the following manner, with the
"winner" being considered to have the "better" record:
17.3.4.1.
Head-to-Head Record
17.3.4.2.
In-Division Record
17.3.4.3.
Road-Home Record (better road record wins)
17.3.4.4.
Coin
Flip
17.4.
Playoff managers must make a reasonable attempt to play playoff series
face-to-face, on-line, over the phone, or head-to-head through some
other means. The commissioner will determine the definition of
"reasonable" on a case-by-case basis. If a series is played over the
phone, the managers can ask the league to be reimbursed for the cost of
the phone call, up to $10.
18.1.
To
expand the league requires the acceptance vote of a majority (>50%) of
the active managers.
18.2.
Expansion cannot take place until one full GABL season has been
completed after the expansion is approved.
19.1.
A
league fund will be maintained to offset the expenses of the
Commissioner conducting league business.
19.2.
League expenses will include:
19.2.1.Postage
costs incurred in mailing official GABL information to league members.
19.2.2.Phone
charges associated with Commissioner functions.
19.2.3.Pennants
and Trophies.
19.2.4.Website
costs
19.2.5.Other
approved expenditures.
19.3.
The
Commissioner will provide an account of league expenses within 1 week of
the request from any active manager.
19.4.
Expenses of the league will be kept as low as reasonably possible.
19.5.
A
fund administrator will be selected.
19.5.1.All
active managers, including the Commissioner may be the fund
administrator.
19.5.2.The
fund administrator is responsible for periodic reports on how the fund
money is being utilized.
19.6.
The
level of the league fund will be determined by vote of active managers.
19.7.
Deleted
20.1.
Each
league member will purchase the CD-ROM game disk each year, to maintain
the latest version of the game.
20.1.1.Members
residing at the same geographic location have the option of sharing the
purchase costs of the CD-ROM game disk.
20.2.
Each
league member will purchase a team roster disk each year.
20.2.1.Members
residing at the same geographic location have the option of sharing the
purchase costs of the roster disk.
20.2.2.The
Commissioner, or designee, will draft the GABL schedule. The files will
be addressed to all managers via e-mail, prior to the beginning of the
season.
20.3.
Each
current league member must have access to an IBM compatible computer,
with an installed modem and Internet access, capable of playing the
current CD-ROM version of the Strat-O-Matic game.
20.4.
Expansion Managers
20.4.1.All
future expansion managers must own an IBM compatible computer that is
capable of playing the current CD-ROM version of the game issued by the
Strat-O-Matic company.
20.4.2.All
future expansion managers must own a modem and have Internet access.
20.4.3.All
future expansion managers must demonstrate the ability to connect, send
e-mail, and transfer files via the Internet, prior to being accepted
into the league.
21.1.
The
League Statistician will maintain the league Season statistics.
21.2.
The
Statistician will provide season standings weekly on the web site and
via e-mail.
21.3.
League members are required to send the game files, via the Internet,
for the week, to the statistician by Sunday of the week in which the
games are due.
21.4.
The
Statistician will provide updated stat files to the league at least
weekly.
