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CONSTITUTION

 

Last Revised: December 2011

 

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I. Introduction

 

A. Brief Overview

The Nights of Summer Baseball League (NSBL) uses the latest release of Diamond Mind Baseball and the most recent complete season's player disk, to draft payers from teams in the American League and form our own 12 team league. The NSBL features a limited player pool, minimized player carry over from year to year, a minor league farm system and a player retention system that requires foresight rather than hindsight.  The NSBL strongly encourages interaction between league members and a long-term commitment in order to create a friendly environment where members can share experiences and enjoy game of baseball.

 

B. League Structure & Game Play

1. Divisional structure – There will be three divisions of four teams.   The regular season is 162 games.  Each team will play a semi balanced schedule.  Each team plays the other 8 teams not in their division 12 times (96 games), each team plays the other 3 teams in their division an 18 times (54 games), and each team plays 12 more games determined as follows:

            a. Teams are ranked according to their previous season won-loss record. Then the following three game series are played:

                                                Series to start               Second Series

                                                The season                   of the season

                                                1@2                             4@1

                                                3@4                             2@3

                                                5@6                             8@5

                                                7@8                             6@7

                                                9@10                            10@11

                                                11@12                          12@9

 

                                                Series after the             Second Series after the

                                                All-star game                all-star break

                                                2@1                             1@4

                                                4@3                             3@2

                                                6@5                             5@8

                                                8@7                             7@6

                                                10@9                            11@10

                                                12@11                          9@12

 

2. Game Play Features

a. The NSBL employs a "contract" system requiring franchises to retain 12 players (at least 3 pitchers) from season-to-season. Players are contracted one year ahead of time requiring managers to make personnel decisions based on foresight rather than hindsight.

 

b. Draft a maximum roster of 30 AL players each year.

 

c. Additionally "protect" up to 18 minor league players in your real-life team's organization or other organizations through trades/drafts.

 

3. League hierarchy

a. The league commissioner will oversee and settle all league matters except those that involve the commissioner's team.

 

b. Matters involving the commissioner's team will be settled by an arbitrarily appointed three (3) member committee.

 

c. The league commissioner will work in the best interest of the league and encourage member involvement.

 

d. Except in special cases, proposed new or revised rules are considered after the end of a season.

 

4. Costs & Legalities

a. There are no fees, costs, or dues.  There are also no prizes awarded.

 

b. In order to assure the league is not in violation of Diamond Mind Baseball, Inc.'s copyright, each franchise owner is required to have a registered copy of the latest version of Diamond Mind Baseball game, and the most recent DMB player disk installed on their computer. Annually, the Commissioner checks to assure our legal obligation is met.

 

c. No earlier version of the game will be permitted for use in league play. The League will announce when a new version is required.

 

III. Player Types and Roster Management

A. Players are classified into the following groups:

1. Minor Leaguers - Players with no MLB experience.  These players may appear on a NSBL team’s Minor League Roster Only.

           

2. Rookies - Players with MLB experience, but who have not reached 130 MLB at-bats or 50 MLB innings pitched in their MLB playing career (same “rookie” definition as MLB).  These include American League and National League MLB appearances. These players may appear on a NSBL team’s Minor League Roster and/or Major League Roster.

           

3. Veterans - Everyone else.

 

4. “Contracted” players (can be either Veterans or Rookies)

 

B. Roster Groups

1. NSBL Major League Roster

Prior to the September 1st roster expansion, a NSBL team’s major league roster consists of 30 players. These 30 players are made up from the NSBL team’s Veterans and Rookies.  If, during the season, a trade is made whereby the team’s roster exceeds 30 players, a non-contracted player must be released to return the roster to 30 players.  Starting the first series closest to September 1st (NSBL Calendar) the major league rosters will expand to up to 40 players (including players on the disabled list due to usage violations).    

 

2. Active Roster

(a)       A team's active roster (players available for a game) must contain 25 of the players on the Major League Roster. The other players on the Major League Roster must be “farmed” prior to the beginning of the series.  Starting the first series closest to September 1st (NSBL Calendar) the Active Rosters will expand to up to 40 players (including players on the disabled list due to usage violations). 

 

(b)       At all times during the season, including the last week of the season, a team’s Major League active roster MUST include at least 5 (five) pitchers with a starting pitcher rating, and at least TWO players who are eligible and rated to play each fielding position. 

 

3. Minor League Roster

a. Overview

A NSBL team’s Minor League Roster includes up to 18 Minor Leaguers and Rookies.  A team may carry less than 18 players on its Minor League Roster.  A NSBL's Minor League Roster is a way for each manager to have more control in determining the success of their franchise. It was designed to give teams another way to acquire young talent by means other than the draft and trades.  It was also designed to minimize the amount of time a manager must spend developing his minor league organization. By utilizing MLB's minor league system each NSBL team already has a complete minor league organization in place. The NSBL farm system goes a step further by limiting the list to 18 players. Add in the ability to trade these young prospects and you have an exciting new feature that gives mangers more flexibility and control than ever before.

                       

b. Minor League Eligibility                     

1. Subject to other rules herein, only player in your NSBL team’s minor league system (determined by your MLB team name) who has never made it to the Major League is eligible to be on your Minor League Roster. 

 

2. A veteran foreign player who has never played for a MLB team or in a MLB team's minor league system, but who is signed by your MLB team is considered to be property of MLB organization that signed him and is NOT eligible to be added to that NSBL team's Minor League Roster.  That player is considered a free agent eligible for the annual player draft, just as a free agent player from a National League team signing with an American League team as a free agent.

 

3. Players who have major league experience in either the American League or the National League are eligible if they are still "Rookies" (130 or fewer career at-bats for batters; 50 or fewer career innings pitched for pitchers).

 

4. A player on your NSBL team's MLB organization (determined by your MLB team name) MUST be added to your Minor League Roster BEFORE he loses his eligibility in MLB.   This means the player must be added to the Minor League Roster BEFORE he exceeds these limits in real life or he is ineligible to be added to the Minor League Roster.

 

i. Eligible “Rookies” who have played in the MLB National League ONLY can be added to the Minor League Roster at any time.

 

ii. Eligible “Rookies” who have played in the MLB American League AND are included in the current NSBL season’s player database, but who were not on a Minor League Roster at the beginning of the season, CANNOT be added to any team’s Minor League Roster until the end of the season. (Why?  Because the player might already be on another NSBL team’s Major League Roster or Minor League Roster and we can't have players removed from a NSBL team’s roster in the middle of the year). This means if the player becomes ineligible because he exceeded the maximum MLB at bats or innings pitched during the current MLB season, you are out of luck because it will be too late to add him to your Minor League Roster. So it is strongly recommend you make sure any player in your organization who has appeared in MLB and is eligible for the Minor League Roster is added immediately.

 

iii. Eligible Rookies who are acquired in the draft or via trade (but excluding players signed as in-season free agents) may be added to a team’s Minor League Roster even if he has previously appeared in a NSBL game.

 

iii. “Minor League Players” (no MLB experience) can be added to the Minor League Roster at any time.

 

5. The player may not be added if he is already on another NSBL team’s Minor League Roster or NSBL team’s Major League Roster.

 

6. If eligible for the Minor League Roster, a player from the NSBL team’s MLB organization can be added to the Minor League Roster during the draft, and removed from the list of players available in the draft.

 

                        c. Other Minor League Roster rules and reminders

1. A promotion of a player from the Minor League Roster to the Major League Roster may not cause the Major League Roster to exceed 30 players (except after the September 1st Major League Roster expansion, then it cannot cause it to exceed 40 players).

 

2. Minor League Rosters may be replenished with eligible players at any time. In other words, if you promote a player from the Minor League Roster to the Major League Roster, you may add a different player to the Minor League Roster. 

 

3.  There is no minimum number of players on the Minor League Roster.  The maximum number of players on the Minor League Roster is 18.  Therefore, if you fill all 18 spots on the Minor League Roster, you will have to release a player from the Minor League Roster before you may add another player.

 

4. Teams will NOT be allowed to add any Rookies to their Minor League Roster during the NSBL season. However, Rookies are eligible to be drafted and added to any team's Minor League Roster during the draft.

 

5. The Minor League Roster may only include players from a NSBL team's MLB organization (determined by your MLB team name), with the exception of players acquired by trade or during the player draft.

 

6. There are no time limitations for players on the Minor League Roster as long as they remain eligible.

           

7. Effect of MLB trades on Minor League Roster players

a. Since MLB transactions involving "Minor League Players" have no effect on NSBL game play (no usable stats) these transactions will be allowed to continue in real time.

 

b. Since "Rookies" may appear on the current season NSBL player database, MLB transactions involving "Rookies" will not go into effect until after the end of the NSBL season.

           

c. The Compensation Chart – If a player on a NSBL Minor League Roster player is traded by a MLB team and:

                                   

1.    If other team's player(s) is/are on a NSBL team's Minor League Roster, the NSBL teams involved have the option of accepting the trade or declining the trade. If either party declines the trade it is null and void.

EXAMPLE: Minor leaguer, John Doe of the MLB Yankees is traded to the MLB Tigers for minor leaguer, Bill Smith. Smith and Doe were both on their respected NSBL team's Minor League Roster. The NSBL Yankees and NSBL Tigers would come to an agreement to accept or decline the trade. If one team declines the trade then both minor leaguers return to their existing NSBL team’s Minor League Roster.

                                   

2.    If the other team's player is not on a NSBL team's Minor League Roster, but eligible to be on one, you have two options: Accept the trade or decline it.

EXAMPLE: The same trade as above except this time the NSBL Tigers did not have Smith on their Minor League Roster. The NSBL Yankees would then have full power to decline the trade or accept the trade.   If the NSBL Yankees decline the trade, they retain their ownership rights in Doe.  If the NSBL Yankees accept the trade, they can place Smith on their Minor League Roster even though Smith was not on the NSBL Tigers Minor League Roster at the time of the trade. The NSBL Tigers would have no say whatsoever in the trade.  However, if the NSBL Yankees accept the trade, the NSBL Tigers may add Smith to their Minor League Roster (subject to the 18 player limit). 

                                   

3. If the other team's player is a National League player(s), the NSBL team receives no compensation. The Minor League Player is lost and you do not acquire the rights to the NL player if he is a "Veteran".  However, if the NL player were a "Rookie" or "Minor Leaguer" you would acquire the rights to the player(s). A "Rookie" would not be eligible to play in a NSBL game until he acquired AL stats the following year. Reason? We play with last season’s AL stats and the player would only have AL stats the first year. 

EXAMPLE A: Rookie, Andy Jones of the MLB Reds is traded to the MLB Tigers for Minor Leaguer, Bill Smith. The NSBL Tigers would lose Smith and acquire Jones; however, Jones would not be eligible to play in a NSBL game until he has actual AL stats.

EXAMPLE B: Veteran, Mark Roberts of the MLB Reds is traded to the MLB Tigers Cubs for Minor Leaguer, Bill Smith. The NSBL Cubs would lose Smith and get nothing in return.

 

8. December Major League Roster Cut-Down - Players on a team’s Minor League Roster at the December Major League Roster Cut Down Date, who are no longer eligible for the Minor League Roster because they have exceeded the at-bat or innings-pitch limits (i.e. they are no longer “Rookies”), must be “contracted” or will they be removed from the team’s Minor League Roster and become free agents available in the next player draft.  See Contract rules below.

 

 

C. Major League Roster Movement during the NSBL Season

            1. Roster Movement Rules

a. Veterans may not be sent to the Minor League Roster.

b. Rookies have free movement between the Minor League Roster and the Major League roster as long as maximum rosters sizes are not violated.

 

            2. Releasing Players & Signing Free Agents During the Season.

                        a. “Contract” players may not be released during the season.

 

b. Releasing non-contracted Veterans or Rookies during the NSBL season entitles the NSBL team to ‘sign’ a player from the list of free agent Veterans and Rookies appearing on that NSBL player database. 

 

            3. Important timelines

a. Active rosters are frozen on the first series break closest to August 31st on the NSBL calendar. These players are your Post-season roster unless a separate list is provided prior to the deadline. Exact date will be announced by the league commissioner.

 

b. No player movement between NSBL Teams (i.e. trades) is permitted after first series break closest to July 31st on the NSBL calendar. Exact date will be announced by the league commissioner.

 

            4. Transactions

a. Trades and roster moves may be made after any completed series.

 

b. Any movement of Rookies between the Major League Roster and the Minor League Roster must be made prior to results deadline for the transactions to be effective for the next series.

 

c. During the season, a team demoting a Rookie from the Major League Roster to the Minor League Roster can sign a free agent player if the demotion causes the teams Major League Roster to fall below 30 (40 after September 1st) players.

 

5. September Roster Expansion – The Major League Roster (30) and Active Roster (25) will be expanded to 40 players beginning with the first series closest to September 1 (NSBL calendar).

 

D. Trading

            1. Permitted Trades

a. Any contracted or non-contracted player on a roster

 

b. Draft picks in the next NSBL draft (i.e. no "future" selections beyond the next draft).

 

c. The rights to any player on your Minor League Roster. Minor Leaguers not on a Minor League Roster cannot be traded.

 

            2. Forbidden Trades

a. Trades involving "players-to-be-named later"            

 

            3. Trading Contracted Players

a. All trades involving contracted players affect the following season’s contracts, not the current season.

 

b. A team that trades a "contracted" player also trades his "contract" and that player becomes a contracted player for his new team.

 

c. Trading 2 contract players

1. If Team A trades a contract player to Team B for another contract player, both teams will still have 12 contracted players, but the players will simply switch teams

 

d. Trading contract players for draft pick(s) or a non-contracted player.

1. If Team A trades a contract player to Team B for a draft pick, Team B must contract the traded player immediately and immediately release an existing contracted player from his contract in order to retain a maximum 12 contracted players (but the team does not have to release the player from its Major League Roster, it only releases the player from his contract). Team A will be left with 11 contracted players UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT SEASON’S PLAYER DRAFT (meaning Team A can only contract 11 players going into the player draft for the following season), and will be allowed to select a player from the free agent pool, but Team A CANNOT contract another player. Note that Team A will once again be able to contract 12 players AFTER the player draft the NSBL season following the NSBL season the trade was made in.

 

2. Trading a contract player for a non-contract player

If Team A trades a contract player to Team B for a non-contract player, Team B must contract the traded player immediately and immediately release an existing contracted player from his contract in order to retain a maximum 12 contracted players (but the team does not have to release the player from its Major League Roster, only release the player from his contract). Team A will be left with 11 contracted players.

 

3. The reason Team A will NOT be able to name another contract player is to discourage the practice of getting rid of contracted players that will have decreasing value the following year. Remember, by mid-season you will have an idea of how well your contract players will be for the next NSBL season because the MLB season will be under way. On the other side of the fence, Team B is forced to contract this player already having an indication of his future value.

 

            4. Trading Non-Contracted and Minor League Roster Players

Trades are subject to in-season and off-season rules.  Trades involving Minor League Roster players also subject to the Minor League Roster rules. Trading for a draft pick entitles a team to select a player from the free agent pool.

 

            5. Unbalanced Trades

a. Following a trade if a team has a net deficit of players they are entitled to select a player(s) from the free agent pool in order to reach the maximum Major League Roster size (30 or 40).

 

b. Following a trade if a team has a net surplus of players they must release players in order to be compliant with the maximum Major League Roster size (30 or 40). Remember a team can move eligible "Rookies" to the Minor League Roster to free up space on the Major League Roster if there is an open slot on the Minor League Roster.

 

            6. Trades

a. Trades announced will be effective during the next NSBL game series.

1. Example, a trade announced prior to Thursday's game filing deadline will go into effect after the following Sunday's game filling deadline.

 

2. Example, a trade announced prior to Sunday's games filing deadline will go into effect after the following Thursday's game filling deadline.

 

3. All players will remain active with their current teams until the trade is effective.  Either team can rescind the trade if a NSBL injury or excessive usage violation occurs to one of the players being received in the trade.

 

4. Teams trade player usage as well - Make sure you know how much available usage a player has before making a trade.

                       

                        b. Trade Approval

1. A trade is announced when both parties send an email to the entire league notifying them of the proposed trade - the parties may provide rationale for the deal if they feel it may be needed.

 

2. Any team may object to the trade by sending an e-mail message to the entire league (including the trading parties) within 48 hours with the objecting team’s reason(s) for objecting to the trade.  If after 48 hours, no team has raised any objections, the trade is finalized (during the season this will be by the next games series cycle. If objections have been raised by one or more teams, the commissioner (or his designee) will poll all teams (after the commissioner himself has cast his vote) for their approval or rejection of the trade.  Poll responses will be sent to the commissioner ONLY within 24 hours, and a failure to reply will be considered an approval of the trade. 

 

If a majority of the committee members vote to disallow the trade, the trading teams will be notified of the decision immediately.  In the event that a trade is disallowed, the trading parties have the right to review the feedback and attempt to reformulate the trade.  In that case the process starts over again.

 

3. Trades During the Player Draft – This trade approval process will not be used during the draft.  Instead all trades during the draft will be approved/rejected at the sole discretion of the Commissioner or his designee. 

           

 

E. Preseason Roster Preparation

NSBL teams should have a minimum of 6,000 plate appearances for the batters and a minimum of 6,500 batters faced for their pitchers.  Of the pitcher plate appearances, approximately 4,500 should be starters.

  

                                   

II. General Playing Guidelines

A. Manager profiles (MP)

1. Host team. 

The home team is responsible for playing the games or if unable, alerting his opponent and the commissioner that the opponent (visiting team) should play the game.  In this constitution, the “host team” refers to the team who actually plays the games on its computer.  

a. The host team can edit their MP before or after a series, but not during a series.

 

b. The host team is required to import the computer-managed team's MP before beginning play of a series.

1. The host team must wait up to 24 hours after the last series deadline for opponent's instructions before playing a series.

 

2. If no instructions are sent by the computer-managed team the host team can play the games using the MP on the disk

 

3. If the host team fails to submit a series by the deadline, the league will use the MP on the disk to auto-play the games

 

4. If the computer managed team sends an email with an MP and instructions, the host team is required to follow them.

i. Importing the proper MP and following opponent's instructions is extremely important so please pay close attention.

 

ii. Although not a league requirement, please confirm with your opponent by email that you received his MP and/or special instructions and it was imported into your game. This would prevent a common complaint and show consideration for your opponent.

 

            2. Computer Managed Teams (i.e. the visiting team)

a. It is the responsibility of the non-human manager to provide a functional MP for the host team to use.

 

b. The computer managed team has up to 24 hours after the last disk deadline to send the host team an email with instructions on how to play the series and a revised MP if desired.

1. Computer managed team can (1) send an MP with special instructions, (2) a message to use the MP on the disk or (3) send nothing.

 

2. You must copy the Commissioner on any emails. If for any reason the Host team fails to submit a completed series by the deadline we will need this revised MP to auto-play the games. If we do not have a revised MP we will use the MP on the current disk. Please be considerate of your opponent's time and notify him even if the MP on the disk will be used.

 

B. Game play

1. The Host Team is the league member who actually plays the game on his computer.

 

2. Every week there are two scheduled "deadlines," Thursday at 11 pm Eastern Time and Sunday at 11 pm Eastern Time. If your team is the host team for a Thursday series, you must play the series and send the results to the league before the Thursday deadline. If your team is the host team for a Sunday series, you must play the series and send the results to the league before the Sunday deadline.

 

3. Deadlines will be enforced. The Disk Director will compile each series stats in the morning the day after the deadline. Any results sent after 11 pm EST are subject to being auto-played. We will not hold up distributing a new league database for any reason. Delays only create more problems and affect the next series. Most email problems can be averted by not waiting to the last minute to send in your results. 

 

4. Upon completion of each series, the host manager runs a stat export and e-mails the transfer files to the league’s disk director and commissioner.

                                               

C. Player usage restrictions

1. The “Playing Time Limits” feature within the Diamond Mind Game will be activated and used.  The playing time limits will be as follows

           

a. Batters:

                        1. Total plate appearances – 110% (batters begin performing at “replacement level” when their league appearances reach this level)

                        2. Plate appearances splits – 125% (batters begin performing at “replacement level” when their league appearances vs. either left handed OR right handed pitchers reach this level)

 

            b. Pitchers: Batters faced will be set at 110% (pitchers begin performing at “replacement level” when their league appearances reach this level)

 

            c. Post Season: Pro-rating factor will be set at 10% (batters begin performing at “replacement level” when their playoff plate appearances reach this level, pitchers begin performing at “replacement level” when their playoff batters faced reach this level)

           

2. Further, players will be subject to an upper appearance limits at which time they will be placed on the disabled list for the remainder of the season and post season, and the team owning that player will be penalizes as follows:

 

a. Pitchers:

            1. All pitchers are limited to 125% of the actual MLB batters faced.

 

2. “Swing men” (a player with both actual MLB starts and relief appearances, AND both a starter and reliever rating on the Diamond-Mind player file) are restricted to 125% of their actual MLB batters faced, but are not restricted to number of starts.  Therefore, in NSBL a pitcher with 100 actual MLB batters faced, 3 starts and 5 relief appearances can start more than 3 NSBL games as long as he does not exceed 125% actual batters faced.

 

3. Pitchers without a relief rating can appear in relief in a NSBL game ONLY in the 15th inning or later of a game. 

 

d. Pitchers without a starter rating cannot start a NSBL game.  

 

b. Hitters (excluding pitchers)

a. Hitters are limited to 125% of their actual PA's (total plate appearances)

 

b. Restrictions vs. LHP/RHP

1. Hitters are limited to 200% of actual plate appearances RHP and/or LHP. 

 

3. Minimum Usage (75% Rule) - A contracted player must use 75% of his real-life appearances during the NSBL regular season to retain his contract status. If he is not used at least 75%, he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.  Batters are measured as 75% of Actual Plate Appearances, pitchers are measured as 75% of Actual Batters Faced

 

4. Usage percentages – Usage is determined by the percentages the DMB game calculates.

 

5. Position Restrictions

 

a. Players are only eligible to play at rated positions except NSBL will allow players rated at certain positions to play other positions with no penalty other than the normal performance adjustments built into the DMB game itself):

 

If rated at    The player can play at these positions

CF              LF or RF

SS              2b or 3b

RF              LF

LF              RF

C               1b

 

Any other instance of a player playing at a non-rated position will not be allowed. The computer manager should not substitute a player to a non-rated position, but if the situation does occur the non-human team will not be held responsible unless it can be proven no back up player eligible for that same position was provided.  

 

b. Non-pitchers cannot pitch, and pitchers cannot play any other position except pitcher. 

 

6. NSBL follows MLB American League rules regarding the designated hitter.  Therefore the designated hitter will be allowed.  As per MLB rules, if the designated hitter is put into a fielding position, the designated hitter can no longer be used during that game.  Also, if a team begins a game without a designated hitter (i.e. a pitcher is listed in the batting line-up) then the team cannot use a designated hitter at any time during that game. 

 

7. Pitchers can be used as batters, but they are also SUBJECT TO USAGE LIMITS ON PLATE APPEARANCES WHEN USED AS A BATTER.

 

 

D. Injuries - The league does not use Diamond Mind’s injury system as players are already limited to a percentage of their actual MLB batters faced (pitchers) or plate appearances (batters).

           

 

 

IV. Contracting Players and Franchised Contract Players

A. Purpose - To allow teams to keep a minimal amount of players over time, while dispersing talent throughout the league. Our system requires managers to predict the success of players before knowing the actual results.

 

B. Rules for Contracting

1. Following the December Major League Roster Cut-Down and again one week prior to opening day in NSBL, each team will select 12 players they wish to “contract” for the following year. Contract players will eventually become the base roster for the following year. The objective is for each team to predict a player’s performance before they know the actual results.  Contracting players a year in advance promotes a balance of power and rewards good GM skills.

 

2. A player's contract expires after the December Cut-down and they are officially on the new season's roster. 

 

3. It is important to note that eliminating the "contract" label allows teams to trade these players, once the NSBL regular season has started, under the rules of a non-contract player.

 

4. Franchised contract players who are contracted in the following season are automatically franchised for the next season.

 

5. December Cut-Down

a. After December 15th (date may vary and will be announced), teams may only retain up to 12 contracted players, as well as the protected rights to all eligible players on the Minor League Roster.

 

b. After the post season and before December 1st, a manager may replace any of his 12 contracted players with a player on his Minor League Roster.

           

c. All other players become Free Agents.  These players then go on to form the nucleus of the new season's roster and are considered non contracted players.

 

d. Players on a team’s Minor League Roster who are no longer eligible because they have exceeded the at-bat or innings-pitch limits must be contracted or they become free agents.

 

6. If a team contracts a player, the team can contract the player again the following season, even if the player has no MLB appearances.  For example, the Yankees contract John Doe for the 2010 NSBL season.  Prior to the 2010 MLB season, Doe injures himself and does not appear in any MLB games in 2010. However, he is expected to return and play in MLB is 2011.  In anticipation of Doe playing again in the 2011 MLB season, at the end of the 2010 NSBL season and for the 2011 NSBL season, the Yankees can continue to include Doe as one of their 12 contracted players, and carry him on their 2011 roster even though he has no 2010 MLB stats and therefore cannot appear in a 2011 NSBL game.

           

 

C. Franchise Players

1. Overview

Being an 'American League Only' draft league, owners may lose players they had signed to contracts if the player goes to an MLB National League team in real life due to MLB trades or free agent signings. To afford some protection against this, the NSBL has adopted the following feature:

           

2. Franchise Players

a. Players can be designated as “Franchised” any time after the December Major League Roster Cut-Down and the beginning of the following season only.  However, at the time each team’s list of 12 contract players is due prior to the beginning of each season, each team must designate three (3) of these 12 contract players as their “Franchise” players, if they have not already done so. 

 

b. Only contracted players are eligible. A franchise player is automatically considered a contract player. 

 

c. Franchised contract players remained franchised until one of the following conditions is true:

1. The player is no longer contracted – The franchised player is released during December Major League Roster Cut-Down.  The team releasing the franchised player may not name a replacement until the beginning of the following NSBL season.

 

2. The franchise player was traded to another NSBL team. The team trading the franchise player would now gain a franchise slot and the receiving team must franchise the player.  In the case of a team already having three franchise players and trading for a fourth, the receiving team must remove the franchise designation from one other player in order to remain at the maximum number of three.

 

3. The player is traded/signed by an NL team in real life and will NOT have any AL stats for the upcoming NSBL season.  In other words, if a "franchise player" is traded in real life to an NL team during the middle of a MLB season he will have AL stats on the next DMB player disk. Therefore, this player is still a "franchise player" for one more NSBL season unless he is cut during the December roster cut-down.

 

4. The player’s franchise designation is removed and given to a different player when the team announces its list of 12 contracted players at the beginning of any new season.

 

5. The player has no stats due to signing in Japan, retirement or injury unless the team continues to include the player as one of their 12 contract players.

 

            3. Timing of naming a player a Franchise player –

In order for a team to receive compensation as a result of a franchised player being traded to or signed by a National League team, the player MUST be designated as a Franchise player BEFORE the actual date/time of the MLB trade or signing (according to www.mlb.com).

 

4. Advantages

a. If a designated Franchise Player is traded for real-life NL player(s), you have the option of contracting the NL player(s) for the next NSBL season or passing on the NL player and opting for a bonus draft pick, or "Power Pick" in the 3rd round of next season's. (You receive a “bonus” draft pick in Round 3, immediately after your team’s regular 3rd round pick)

1. In the case of multiple franchise players traded for the same AL player the League Office will contact each team to see if there is an interest in signing the AL player. If only one team expresses interest that team will be allowed to contract the AL player the following year and the other team will get a power pick.

 

2. If neither team has interest in contracting the AL player, both teams will get power picks in the 3rd round.

 

3. If both teams have interest in signing the AL player the League Office will flip a coin to decide which team will get the power pick and which team will get the AL player.

 

4. In the unlikely event 3 franchise players are involved in a trade. The team who loses the most franchise players will have the first option. If 3 or more NSBL teams are involved and all are losing the exact number of franchise players the League Office will select a winner from a drawing of equal opportunity

 

b. If a Franchise Player is lost to the NL through free agency (or claimed off waivers), his owner gets the automatic "Power Pick" in Round 3 next season.

 

c. Any Franchise Player lost to the NL, who returns to the AL someday, automatically goes into the player draft since the team who lost him already received an NL player or a 3rd round pick for him when he was lost. 

 

d. If a Franchise Player retires or signs with a non-MLB team, no compensation is given to the DSBL team who franchised him.

           

5. Power Picks

a. The Power Pick is an additional 3rd round pick that will be exercised immediately after the awarded team’s standard 3rd round selection. (i.e. back to back).

 

b. If a team has no 3rd round selection, the power pick will be exercised after the 3rd round picks are complete and prior to the start of the 4th round.

 

c. If there are multiple teams with power picks and no selections in the 3rd round the order will be determined by the rank in the Player Draft selection order.

 

 

V. Annual Player Draft

A. Date and Procedures

1. The draft will occur between mid-December and mid-February. Exact dates and times will be announced and subject to member schedules and the release of the DMB season database.

 

2. The draft will start as an e-mail draft with draft picks due at published times.  If a team missed a published deadline, the next team is eligible to pick.  The published time is the time the team’s pick is due to the Commissioner.  

 

3. If the draft is not completed by e-mail, the league may complete the draft via an AOL Instant Messenger the chat room or any other method as deemed appropriate by the league members.

 

4. If a team misses their assigned time, at the sole discretion of the commissioner or the member in charge of running the draft in lieu of the commissioner, the DMB computer manager may be used to make the player selection.

 

5. It is each manager’s responsibility to meet deadlines if they want to make their own selection.

 

6. Draft picks for the current draft (only) may be traded during the draft

 

B. Draft Order

1. The drafting order will be in reverse order of the prior season's final standings (except for playoff teams). The draft order for the 8 (eight) non-playoff teams in reverse order of the number of wins for the most recently completed season.  The team with the fewest wins will pick first, the team with the next fewest wins will pick second, and so on.

 

2. The playoff teams from last season will pick 9-through-12 (12 being our Championship Series winner, 11 being the Championship Series losing team, 10 being the team losing in the first round with the most regular season wins and 9 being the other play-off team).                         

3. Ties will be broken first by head to head record (the team with the fewest head to head wins gets the higher pick) and then a coin toss.

 

4. A team’s draft position will be further adjusted as a result of any player usage violations as set forth in section VIII below.

 

5. A straight draft (non-serpentine) will be used.

 

C. Player Draft Eligibility - All AL players on the recently completed season's disk that are not contracted for the following year or on a team's Minor League Roster are eligible to be drafted.  Eligible players are 

1. Players who appeared in an American League game the previous real-life season.

 

2. Players NOT on a NSBL team’s Minor League Roster

 

3. Players NOT currently under contract

 

4. All 3 conditions above must be met for a player to be eligible for the draft

 

D. Team Rosters During the Draft - Each team will draft until they have 30 players (12 contracted players plus 18 drafted players)

 

E. Drafting of Minor League Roster Eligible Players During the Draft                  

1. When a team drafts a player who is eligible for the Minor League Roster, that player is initially placed on the team’s 30 man roster. 

 

2. AFTER ALL teams have reached 30 players on their 30 man rosters, the team drafting the Minor League Roster eligible player has the option of leaving the player on the 30 man roster or transferring him to the team’s Minor League Roster.  

a. If the team decides to transfer the player to the Minor League Roster, the team will be awarded another draft pick to return their roster to 30 players.  

 

b. If more than one team moves a player to their Minor League Roster, and therefore is awarded an additional draft pick to get their roster back to 30 players, we will use the existing draft order to determine which team selects another player first.

 

c. If more than one additional draft choice is awarded to the same team the second selection will begin a new round (no back-to-back picks with in the same round).

 

3. If a drafted player is moved to the Minor League Roster after the draft has been completed, and prior to opening day, the team who sends the announcement to the commissioner first will get the first selection from the free agent draft pool. 

 

4. During the off season teams may not have more than 30 players on their 30-man roster at any time.

 

 

 

VI. Post Season Play

A. Who Makes the Playoffs?

1. The three divisional winners and one “wildcard" team who is the team with the best win-loss record among the teams that did not win their division.

 

2. If two teams are tied for a playoff spot, there will be a one game playoff, which will be considered part of the regular season, and therefore 40 man rosters and all other regular season usage and other still apply.

 

B. Post Season Format

            1. Seeding

                        a. Team with best regular season won-loss record of the four play-off qualifying teams - #1 Seed

                        b. Team with second best regular season won-loss record of the four play-off qualifying teams - #2 Seed

                        c. Team with third best regular season won-loss record of the four play-off qualifying teams - #3 Seed

                        d. Team with fourth best regular season won-loss record of the four play-off qualifying teams - #4 Seed

                         

2. Tie-breakers

a. Division Co-leaders or Ties for Wild Card Spot

1. If both teams are eligible for the post season we will use best head to head record, then coin toss to determine seeding.

 

                                    2. If one team would be eliminated from the post season

a. A one-game playoff will be held to decide the play off qualifying team. This one game playoff will be considered an extension of the regular season, and therefore 40 man rosters apply and regular season player appearance usage rules apply.  This game will be played on the NSBL calendar day immediately following the last scheduled regular season game.  The home team for the one game playoff will be the determined as follows:

                                                                        a. Best record head-to-head

                                                                        b. Best record versus divisional opponents

                                                                        c. Coin-flip by the commissioner

                                                                       

                        b. Division Tri-leaders or three teams ties for the Wild Card Spots

1. If all teams are eligible for the post season we will use best division record then names in a hat to determine seeding.

 

2. If one team would be eliminated from the post season

                                                a. A 2 game playoff will be held to decide the title.

                                                b. A coin flip will determine the bye team

                                                c. Determining home field advantage for first game

                                                            i. Best record head-to-head

                                                            ii. Best record versus divisional opponents

                                                            iii. Coin-flip by the commissioner.

iv. Each team will be given 1 day rest prior to the play-off game and 1 day rest prior to game 2.

                                                d. Determining home field advantage for second game

                                                            i. Winner of game 1 will host the bye team

e. Winner will get 1 day rest prior to the start of the Divisional Championship Series

           

3. Rest & Off days

a. All playoff teams get a 1 day rest prior to the start of the post-season and at least one day rest before the start of the World Series.

 

                        b. Each team will get one day rest for travel after games 2 & 5

 

            4. Match-ups

                        a. All series best-of-7

                        b. First Round 

                                    1. Number 1 seed hosts number 4 seed.

                                    2. Number 2 seed hosts number 3 seed.

3. Games 1, 2, 6, 7 at host park. Games 3, 4, 5 played at other team’s park.

                        c. Championship Series

                                    1. Begins 1 day after last game of the Divisional Series.

                                    2. Host Team

                                                a. Best season won/lost record

                                                b. Best record head-to-head

                                                c. Coin flip

3. Games 1, 2, 6, 7 at host park. Games 3, 4, 5 played at other team’s park.

 

C. Post-season rosters

1. Teams must use the 25 man active rosters that were frozen on Aug. 31st (DMB calendar) or a list submitted to the league prior to Aug 31st (NSBL calendar)

 

2. A team may replace a player on the post season roster after August 31st

(NSBL calendar) if a current player on the post season roster is lost due to penalty or injury. The Commissioner MUST BE NOTIFIED prior to the start of the post season. The replacement player does not have to play the same position as the injured or penalized player.

 

3. During the post season, teams can replace an injured active player with another in-active roster player following each game.

 

4. If an active player is lost due to a usage penalty during a series, another player may not be used to replace him for either the current playoff series or the next playoff series.

 

D. Player Usage

1. All usage rules refer to each series.

 

2. The “Playing Time Limits” feature within the Diamond Mind Game will be activated and used.  The Post Season Pro-rating factor will be set at 10% (batters begin performing at “replacement level” when their playoff plate appearances reach this level, pitchers begin performing at “replacement level” when their playoff batters faced reach this level).

 

3. Players who exceeded any usage restrictions in the regular season are ineligible for the post-season.

 

 

VII. League Participation & Activities

A. General Guidelines

1. League Requests - Please be considerate and reply to all league requests on a timely manner.  In most cases the information requested will take a minimal amount of time

 

2. E-mail - All managers are asked to please be considerate of others and reply to e-mail expeditiously.

 

3. Website – Members are asked to set the league website as a favorite or bookmark as it includes all necessary league information.

 

B. Expected Participation

1. Game highlights - After each series played, the host team should submit a brief recap of each game with series results to the rest of the league for everyone to see. Please use the following example as a formula:

                                    Yankees Power Past Tigers (a headline that summarizes the series.

Yankees 3 Tigers 1. (The score of each game)

(Part 1: Start with how the game was won) Sammy Swan drove in 3 runs and Steve Rachel pitched 7 strong innings to help the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Tigers. (Part 2: The key play of the game) Swan’s second homer of the day came in the 8th inning with two outs and put the Yankees up for good. (Part 3: The turning point in the game) The Tigers had a chance to pull ahead in the 6th but Rachel struck out Chipper Bones with two out and the bases loaded to keep it to a one run game. (Part 4: End your recap with something unusual that happened, or a good quote) The Tigers actually out hit the Yankees 10 to 5, but stranded 10 batters in the process (or… After the game Yankees skipper Joe Doe said, "You can't win all your games with the long ball, but having Sammy sure helps improve the percentage".

NOTE: A good recap shouldn't be more than 100 words. It's my experience that the longer the recap the less likely someone will read it and you end up spending a lot of time for nothing. Of course you are free to write recaps anyway you like, but hopefully some of these suggestions will help you get your thoughts together and save you some time.

             

2. Interaction Among Members

Obviously the league cannot force people to interact with one another, but the NSBL feels strongly that interaction is a key to the success of the league.  Interaction develops friendships and rivalries and makes the gaming experience more exciting; so, please take a moment to share comments with one another. We encourage everyone to sign up with AOL’s Instant Messenger and will post screen names so everyone can chat with one another.

 

3. This is a hobby – REMEMBER AT ALL TIMES, this is a hobby and not life or death.

 

VIII. Penalties

A. Usage Violations

1. Minimum Usage Violation - Failure to reach 75% of usage for contracted player’s results in a release of that player into the free agent pool at season's end and loss of a contract.

 

            2. Maximum Usage Violation (batter exceeds 125% of total plate appearances or exceeds 200% of plate appearances vs. RHP and/or LHP, pitcher exceeds 125% of total batters faced)

a. If a team exceeds any of the player usage limitation rules, the player in question will be immediately placed on the DL for the remainder of the season and post season and not be eligible to play until the following year. The player will not be released to free agency until the December Major League Roster Cut Down Date.

 

b. In addition, a team's "draft position" will suffer as a result of over-using a player. The team’s draft position in the following season’s draft will be adjusted as follows:

            1st usage violation – The team moves down three positions from its normal draft position based on wins in the 3rd round (no lower than the last pick in the round).

2nd usage violation - The team moves down four positions from its normal draft position based on wins in the 2nd round (no lower than the last pick in the round).

3rd usage violation - The team moves down five positions from its normal draft position based on wins in the 1st round (no lower than the last pick in the round).

Any additional over usage will be subject to expulsion from the league.

                                   

B. Out of Position Violations

1. Any player used at an unrated position after the start of the game and prior to the 15th inning will be suspended for 9 games. A second offense to the same player will result in a suspension of 30 games. A third offense and the player will be placed on the DL for the remainder of the year.

 

2. Any player who starts a game out position will be suspended for 30 games.  A second offense to the same player will result in player being placed on the DL for the remainder of the season. I feel starting a game out of position is a greater demonstration of neglect.

 

3. No suspensions will occur to any player used out of position during an extra inning game or if the CM uses a player out of position during the course of a game prior to the 10th inning. However, the MP must have a proper depth chart in place. If the CM uses a player of position and the manager did not have proper depth, the above suspensions will result.

 

4. A player in violation of the position rule cannot be traded until the completion of the NSBL season in which he committed the infraction

           

C. Late Series Results 

1. The host team manager is required to send their series results on or before the scheduled due date

 

2. The due date will be strictly adhered to because the NSBL schedule is played "In Sync" and there is no room for delays. Therefore, all late submissions will be auto played by the league office. No exceptions.

 

3. The NSBL recognizes that from time to time there are circumstances (Computer, vacation, work and personal problems) which prevent a manager from filing on time. It is the manager’s responsibility to notify the league office if there is a problem or a foreseeable problem.

 

4. Note: The NSBL is for everyone’s enjoyment. If you have a problem let the NSBL office know immediately and we will do our best to work with you so you do not incur penalties. A lack of consideration to others, by not communicating your problems will be viewed unfavorably.

 

            5. Penalty scale

1st violation - The late series will played by the league office following the due date deadline

 

2nd violation - The late series will be played by the league office following the due date deadline and the owner will be given a warning.

 

3rd violation - The late series will be played by the league office following the due date deadline and the manager will be placed "in vacation mode". This

involves all games being played by the league office for 2 additional series

 

4th violation - The late series will played by the league office following the due date deadline, the manager will be placed "in vacation mode" and subject to dismissal.

 

Note: Each case will be judged independently according to the circumstances.

 

 

IX. New rules, revisions, and integrity

A. New Rules

1. After the conclusion of a NSBL season and prior to December 1st, the league office will send out questionnaires requesting your comments and suggestions regarding proposed rule changes and amendments.

 

2. NSBL encourages managers to send in suggestions throughout the year.

                       

3. Proposed rule changes and comments from the NSBL managers will be reviewed by the Commissioner who will have full power to make any changes he/she feels will improve the league.

 

4. Note: The NSBL intent is to minimize rule changes from year to year.

 

B. Rules Not Covered -From time to time unique situations occur which the constitution does not cover or an interpretation of the constitution is required. In these cases it will be at the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

 

C. Integrity - The success or failure of our league depends to a very large degree on the honor system. While we'd like to believe no one in this group would cheat, the temptation and the means are there to do it. A word of caution, if you find yourself tempted to "replay" a losing game: DON'T! You will eventually be caught. Remember this is only a game. There is no money exchanged to the winner and no reason to cheat. The NSBL was established for the enjoyment of all its members. If you find yourself no longer having fun or this is becoming more like work than fun, then please send in your resignation. The NSBL firmly believes we must keep the league in perspective. This is only a game and there are more important things in life than playing simulation baseball (but not many!!!).

 

D. Final Comments - In order to have a successful organization the NSBL encourages our members to interact with one another. Anyone can set up a season at home and play the games, but by joining a league you are committing yourself to sharing your experiences with others that share your passion for this hobby. Now go out there and have fun and build a dynasty!

 

 

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