USBL CONSTITUTION
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 3
SCHEDULE..................................................................................................................... 4
ROSTERS........................................................................................................................ 5
WAIVER LIST............................................................................................................... 6
TRADING........................................................................................................................ 7
FREE AGENT AND ARBITRATION SYSTEM.................................................. 9
FREE AGENTS............................................................................................................. 10
ROOKIE DRAFT......................................................................................................... 12
FINANCIAL.................................................................................................................. 13
GAME PLAYING RULES.......................................................................................... 14
CATCHERS.......................................................................................................................................................... 14
STARTING PITCHERS.................................................................................................................................... 14
RELIEF PITCHING............................................................................................................................................ 16
DEFENSIVE POSITIONING.......................................................................................................................... 18
TEAM OFFENSE................................................................................................................................................ 19
INJURIES.............................................................................................................................................................. 20
PLAYER LIMITATIONS.......................................................................................... 21
PLAYOFFS.................................................................................................................... 25
PLAYOFF GAME RULES.................................................................................................................................... 26
USBL CONSTITUTION
The
league name will be "USBL", and will operate franchises drafted out
of both the American and the National Leagues. All moneys collected will be
returned to the teams to reward accomplishments such as qualifying for the
playoffs, winning a championship (or coming close), and for winning awards.
Teams will maintain their original rosters season after
season, adding players through the rookie draft, the free agent market, and the
draft after initial roster reduction (after Winter Meetings). When teams fold, their rosters will remain
frozen (with no participation in any drafts) until a replacement manager is
found. When expansion takes place, a
format will be devised to help stock the expansion club with good talent
(perhaps a method where each team protects a certain number of players and
allows the expansion team to select one player off each team roster, combined
with a limited number of picks from the frozen list of players).
The Commissioner enforces the rules of the
Constitution. In past years, he had a
great amount of power (some say it was a dictatorship), however, the # 1 rule
of the league now is that no new game playing
rules will be created during any season, even if a loophole is
discovered by a manager in one of the existing rules which he takes advantage
of. New rules will be proposed at the
Winter Meetings and will be voted on by all mangers, with a simple majority
required to pass the rule. Should a
problem arise in the interpretation of the rules, which must be resolved
immediately, the Commissioner will make a decision.
A League Committee will be comprised of three men whose
decisions will be decided by a unanimous vote in all matters in which a manger
appeals the Commissioner's original decision.
Every effort should be made to ensure that all clubs are fairly
represented. To that end the following
managers have been selected to sit on the Committee until further notice: The
Commissioner, Carmine Bosco, and Mike Tavella.
If a problem arises in which one of the Committee members is involved,
then that member will select someone else to take his place on the
Committee. NOTE: If the Committee cannot agree on a matter
unanimously, than the entire league will make the final decision with a
majority ruling.
Any manager is free to raise whatever issue he may want to
the Committee for a decision. Disputes
among managers will be settled via binding arbitration as decided by the League
Committee. (NOTE: Matters concerning player limitations and
playing rules cannot be raised after the start of the season).
1.
The league will play 77 game seasons in each the
A.L. and the N.L. The team that wins the World Series will always begin regular
season play in the following season.
Once the league he is involved in finishes their first twenty game
segment, the other league will begin and play their first twenty games. League play will alternate in twenty game
segments until the season is over at which time the play-offs will begin.
2.
The home manager decides where the games will be
played.
3.
Scheduling of games is the responsibility of BOTH
managers involved. Arrangements to play
series should be done as promptly as possible.
We all have the problem of a busy schedule. Saying that, we don’t feel that it is too
much to ask that each manager play one series per week. The survival of the league obviously hinges
on managerial interest. Playing one
series per month, as some of us have done in the past, is not acceptable. Please attempt to budget your time wisely,
and schedule ahead if necessary. Slow
play will not be tolerated, and while expulsion from the league is not an
option we wish to explore, keep in mind, a league with six or seven managers
who are really enthusiastic is far better than one in which two ore three are
never available to play, and are always holding up everybody.
4.
When playing the games, each manager must keep his
player cards down on the table and within easy view of the opposing
manager. Failure to follow this rule
will result in expulsion from the league.
5.
Each manager is expected to 'highlight', with a
marker all 'OMEGA' hits/outs on all his player cards, as well as all the
'INJURY' numbers. A yellow colored
highlighter should be used to indicate the INJURY chances, and a darker color
(pink, green, etc.) should be used to indicate OMEGA hits/outs.
6.
Standard dice, approved by the visiting manger must
be used. The home manager must provide a
suitable playing area with the minimum requirements being a table and two
chairs. Gimmicks such as background
music, cheering on players, guns, air horns, etc. may only take place in between
plays, never during a roll. Games must not exceed more than 30 minutes
each; If they do, and it is because of a manager 'screwing around' too much,
report it and he will be heavily fined.
1.
The roster limit is 30 players. The date for each club to announce its cuts
will be announced at the Winter Meetings.
When these cuts are made, every team will have a chance to select
players from the cut list and keep them on their roster. This selecting will be done in the order of
the Rookie draft; these initial selections will NOT become free agents at the
end of the season (unless it truly is their free agent season); these players
are now that team's property. The new
team must honor any contracts in effect at this time. However, once all teams have had a chance at
selecting these players, whoever is left will go into the waiver pool with
Waiver Pool Rules applying.
2.
Major league rosters are set at 25 men (or
fewer). This total must include 2 back
catchers (the position must be on the card) and 8 pitchers at all times. For the final 17 games in each league, all
available players may be used.
3.
During the season, players that get injured can be
replaced by players on the waiver list or minor leaguers, but only if the
injured player is placed on a 5 game disabled list.
4.
Changes in your roster must be reported immediately
to the League Office. Examples of
changes include making a 2 for 1 trade, and having to either cut someone or
pick up someone, etc.
5.
Minor leaguers can get called up for any of the
following reasons: to replace an injured player placed on the 5 game disabled
list, to fill your roster up to 25 following a 2 for 1 deal, to bring up a
player whose limitations now allow him to play, to demote a player who’s
limitations have expired, to replace a player from the active roster who was
cut from the team, or finally to replace a player who was demoted. Demotions and cuts off the active roster can
only happen at the breaks between games 20 and 21, 40 and 41, and 60 and 61.
6.
At the 61 game mark, rosters become frozen, after
which no changes can be made to a roster until the Winter Meetings.
1.
There will be a list released prior to the start of
the USBL season of players not signed as free agents, and players cut by teams.
2.
These players may be picked up during the year
after every twenty game segment is completed by e-mailing the league office and
informing us of your intentions. If more
than one team is interested, the team with the lower record at the time gets
the player. It is your responsibility to
inform the league office of your waiver intentions ASAP. The league is not obligated to call you and
inform you of the moves of others.
3.
All waiver players become free agents at the end of
the season.
4.
Players cut during the season are not available
until the next twenty game segment is completed and the updated waiver list is
published for all to see.
5.
A charge of
$5 will be levied to pick up any player on waivers.
6.
Players can be picked up from waivers under the
following situations: To fill a roster spot created by a 2 for 1 trade; to
replace a player put on the 5 game D.L.; to replace a player cut from the
team. The Commissioner will not allow
the same handful of players to be picked up and then later waived, so all such
moves must be cleared with the Commissioner first.
1.
The trading period runs from the Winter Meetings
through to the 61 game mark of the following season.
2.
Trades will cost money as follows:
Trades completed during the Winter Meetings, or after the Winter
Meetings but before the roster cut day are free.
Once the rosters have been selected, trades after that will cost
$5.00 to each manager involved
3.
All trades need the approval of the Commissioner.
The rule may come into effect when two managers make trades using both of their
teams. In cases where the Commissioner
feels that a manager weakened one team to strengthen another, the second deal
will be nullified, not the first one. For instance, the controversial Tavella -
D'Angelis deal, where
4.
American and National League teams can trade with
each other only at the end of twenty game segments. The inter-league trading deadline is game
41. The trade deadline for deals within
the league is game 61.
5.
Teams can trade known impending free agents,
however, this must be done prior to the trading deadline (61 games). Any player who was on your roster during the
last 20 games of the season who becomes a free agent will be your player to
retain or lose. Teams are not
responsible to identify possible free agents during trade discussions. Also, any trades made that hinge on a
players' free agent status are not allowed to be brought up to the league
committee for arbitration. Trades of
this type are to be monitored by the managers making these deals. DO NOT WASTE LEAGUE TIME WITH ANY OF THESE
GRIEVANCES.
6.
Two full USBL seasons (or the equivalent of 160
regular season games) must expire before you can re acquire (via a trade) a
player you originally traded away. NO
EXCEPTIONS.
7.
Trades can involve players and draft choices with
the following exceptions:
·
PLAYERS:
Teams can trade any of the players on their major or minor league
rosters, as long as they NEVER fall below 25 total players.
·
DRAFT CHOICES:
There will be four rounds. Teams
may trade draft choices only from the upcoming draft. For example, during the 2008 USBL season, and
up to the time that the 1st pick is made in the 2009 rookie draft,
teams may not trade draft choices from the 2010 draft. Once the 2009 draft commences, 2010 draft
picks may be traded. Year 2011 draft
picks cannot be traded until the beginning of the 2010 draft.
8.
Players signed as free agents in the previous
Winter Meetings, who were classified as Type "A" are deemed to have
“NO TRADE” and “NO CUT” clauses for the
first two years. Players who were classified
as Type "B" free agents are deemed to have "NO TRADE"
clauses for the first year. Type “A”
players must stay on the 25 man roster of the team they are playing for until
their contract expires or is bought out.
9.
ALL trades must be reported to the league office
within 24 hours of the trade being made.
Trade forms will be supplied to each team. A filled out trade form must be faxed or
delivered to the league office within one week of the trade being
completed. Fines of $20 will be imposed
for each violation of the rules. NO
EXCEPTIONS!!!
1.
Players drafted into the USBL would become
‘Arbitration eligible’ five full seasons after their rookie draft. At that time, the player’s club decides
whether to offer arbitration to the player and thus retain his services for an
additional one to four years.
2.
The Arbitration committee of Carm “Big Daddy” Bosco
and Mike “Saddam” Gionas will assign an arbitrated value to each player who is
arbitration eligible. Should the team be
satisfied with the amount, they may retain the players services for one to four
years. The arbitrated amount selected by
the committee depends completely on whether or not you have won ten World
Series, and has nothing to do with fairness.
3.
If the team decides no arbitration, then the player
becomes a free agent at the following winter meetings.
4.
Arbitration can be offered once, meaning that the
player is an automatic free agent after the extension runs out.
5.
These contracts do not affect your Contract quota
at the Winter Meetings.
6.
These contracts go on your salary cap from the year
in which they are payable.
7.
Players whose contracts run out in the USBL, and
players who are on the waiver wire will constitute the remainder of the free
agent list.
8.
Arbitrated contracts are unlimited. Any team may give out as many as they want,
provided that their payroll stays within the $200 salary cap.
9.
A player offered arbitration cannot be traded for a
full year after arbitration was given.
1.
Free agents will be classified by the league as
Type “A”, Type “B”, or Type “C” free agents.
Depending on how a free agent is classified, there are various
implications regarding compensation.
2.
Teams bid on free agents using real money, with the
team that offers the player the most "Total Contract dollars",
getting the player.
3.
To be eligible to bid on free agents, you must be
either the retaining team, or have listed the free agent as one of a list of 7
names each club will submit prior to the bidding. This list is for Type “A” and Type “B” free
agents. All teams are eligible to bid on
Type "C's". If a free agent is
not named on at least 2 team lists, he will be eligible to be bid on by all
teams. If one of the two teams has
already used up the three allowable type ‘A’ and ‘B’ players they are allowed
to sign, their team is removed from consideration. Players may appear on both your
4.
Teams may bid as high as they want, but must stay
within their salary cap. The salary cap
is $200.
5.
Teams can sign a maximum of three players from the
pool of Type “A” and Type “B” free agents, not including their own retained
players. Teams may sign as many Type
"C" players as they wish.
6.
As far as contracts go, a team can designate a free
agent's length of contract anywhere between 1 to 4 years. A signing bonus equal to 40% of the total
worth of the contract will be due before conclusion of the Winter Meetings, and
the balance of the contract will be allocated over the number of years in the
contract.
7.
Each team is allowed to give out one four year
contract per year to a retained free agent, and one per year to a free agent
signed from another team. Each team is allowed to give out one three year
contract per year to a retained free agent, and one per year to a free agent
signed from another team. One and two year contracts are unlimited. The three and four year deals can be
accumulated if not used in any single season.
Thus after four years, each team may have up to eight four year deals
and eight three year deals on their payroll.
8.
Free agent contracts are guaranteed. This means that through career ending injury,
retirement, or cutting the player, his full salary must be paid, even if
another club picks up the player after you cut him.
9.
The only way to unload an unwanted salary is to
trade the free agent. Type “A” free
agents cannot be traded or cut for two years, and Type “B” cannot be traded for
one year. In this event, a signed
agreement must be received by the Commissioner, stating which club will be
responsible for the contract.
10.
No compensation is awarded for losing free agents.
11.
Players entering their last year under contract may
be offered arbitration by their current team.
Arbitration is explained in the next section.
1.
All players, who for the first or second time (if
undrafted the first time) in their major league careers achieved the following
are eligible for the rookie draft:
200 plate appearances for a player
10 starts for a starting pitcher
25 relief appearances for a reliever
15 appearances in total for a starter/reliever
2.
Players who did not achieve the criteria in rule #1
but appeared in at least one game in the Major Leagues can still be drafted,
but only in the first round of the rookie draft.
3.
The draft order will pit the non playoff teams in a
weighted lottery. The playoff teams will
follow in order of lowest won-loss record to highest. The World Series winner will always draft
last, and the World Series runner up will always draft next to last.
4.
There will be four rounds of drafting.
5.
All players are eligible to be in the rookie draft
for two years, at which time if they are not selected, they are placed on the
restricted list.
6.
Should two teams in the same league have an
identical record, the team with the worst head-to-head record would get the
better draft pick. Should the head to
head record be tied, a coin flip will determine who gets the better pick. Should a tie occur between teams in different
leagues, a coin flip would determine who gets the better draft pick.
1.
The prize set up for each season will be announced
just prior to the season.
2.
At the beginning of the Winter Meetings each year,
each team’s yearly salaries and buyouts will be offset against their
winnings. The difference must be settled
between the team and league prior to the rookie draft commencing. On free agent day, owners will be responsible
for their signing bonuses prior to departure from the Winter Meetings. If you can’t afford to pay on that day, don’t
sign any free agents. NO EXCEPTIONS, the
USBL is not a bank.
All series results must be reported to the league office
within 24 hours of the series being completed.
All boxscores must be faxed or delivered to the league office within 48
hours of the series being played.
Failure to report results will result in a $5.00 fine being imposed on
each manager involved. Failure to submit
boxscores within the allotted time will result in a $5.00 fine being imposed on
each manager involved.
Once per season against each team, you must use your
backup catcher. In these games, you
cannot use your regular catcher until after the sixth inning, and only at a
position other than catcher.
1.
Each club is responsible for selecting its starting
pitchers during the year with the following guidelines:
(a)
Starters are limited to the following number of
starts as a maximum
STARTER #
STARTER #
STARTER #
STARTER #
STARTER #
(b)
Starters must have a minimum of 3 games rest
between starts. The forty game mark
constitutes 3 off days in your schedule to allow a reset of your starting
rotation.
(c)
To move a starter to the bullpen, 3 full games must
transpire.
(d)
To move a reliever to the starting rotation, 3 full
games must elapse from that pitcher's last relief appearance to his start.
(e)
If a pitcher is used in both starting and relief
roles, then each start equals 3 relief appearances in determining maximum appearances. (Example:
Norm Charlton is limited to 8 starts, but unlimited as a reliever, thus
40 relief appearances. If he starts the
8 games he is allowed, that represents the equivalent of 24 relief appearances
(3 X 8), thus when he goes back into the pen, he can only appear in a further
16 games as a reliever (40 - 24)). Note
that this rule applies to all pitchers who have start and relief appearances,
not only limited players. Therefore,
once a starting pitcher hits his 14th start of the season, he may not relieve.
(f)
You may combine two or more pitchers in order to
meet the starts criteria outlined in rule (a) above. For instance, LA can use Ben McDonald as its
number 4 starter, but he is limited to 10 starts. So, in the last 20 games of the season, when
Scott Chiamparino can start 4 games, he will complete the required starts for
the Number 4 starter by combining his starts with those of McDonald.
2.
If a starting pitcher throws more than 11 innings
in a game, then he must not pitch again until 7 full games have elapsed.
3.
Starting pitchers go on "BLACK DOT" as
soon as the fifth run has scored against them in a game. Also, once they reach their inning maximum on
their card (i.e. STARTER (6)), they must leave the game. If after their maximum inning point they have
not given up five runs yet, they may continue.
Once the fifth run scores, they must immediately leave the game. The incoming reliever would be on "BLACK
DOT" for 2 batters if he wasn't warming up.
4.
If a starting pitcher is used in relief, he may
never pitch from the seventh inning on in any game where the run differential
is three runs or less. If his team has
no other relievers to bring in, then a starter may be brought in on black dot
until the game finishes. If the manager
does not wish to use a starter in relief , then a position player must be
brought in to relieve using the card printed in the super advanced rules.
5.
Starting pitchers who do not have relief on their
card will be deemed to be RELIEF (2).
6.
As a result of an unrealistic number of complete
games thrown by pitchers in the league, the following rules must be adhered to:
·
If a starting pitcher comes out to pitch in the
eighth inning, he must rest a minimum of four days before his next start. If a starting pitcher comes out to pitch in
the ninth inning, he must rest a minimum of five days before his next
start. If a pitcher has consecutive
“quality starts” using the minimum rest period allowed under the rules, he must
add one days rest to his previous days off.
For example, Floyd Youmans opens the season for the San Diego Clippers
with an eight-inning performance. Under
our rules, the earliest Youmans can start his second game would be the
Clippers’ sixth game of the season (four days rest, games 2,3,4,5). Youmans throws a complete game two hitter in
game six of the season. This being his
second consecutive quality start would add one to the previous rest period,
forcing Youmans to rest five days.
Stringing together more quality starts increases the rest period by one
each time. Giving him one extra day’s
rest would reset the minimum, as would pulling him at the end of the seventh
inning. Following the previous example,
if Youmans were to sit out six days after his second start, instead of the
minimum five days in the rules, his rest time would not accumulate any
longer. In this example, if the first
game of the consecutive quality starts were a complete game, the rest time
would start at five instead of four.
Consecutive quality starts once a streak has started add one whether
it’s an appearance into the eighth, or ninth.
Failing to follow these rules will initially result in a warning to the
manager. Persistent failure will result
in fines.
1.
Relievers are limited to 40 appearances and 70 innings
in a season.
2.
Relievers are also limited to appearing in three
games out of every five game series or three out of every four game
series. Also, over the final stretch of
games where there are numerous one game
series, the relievers can appear in 3/4 of these games, but never more than
three in a row.
3.
Relievers are limited to the number of innings on
their cards per each appearance. For
example, a RELIEF (2) means that this pitcher can appear in 2 innings
maximum. If he comes on with 2 out in
the seventh, gets the out, then pitches the eighth for a total of 1 1/3 innings
pitched, he cannot come out in the ninth since he would then appear in 3
innings.
4.
Relievers must be warmed up before they come
in. Each warm-up lasts 1 full
inning.
5.
Relievers are allowed two warm-ups, after which if
they do not come in, they can only come in for 1 inning later and will be on
BLACK DOT.
6.
Relievers go on BLACK DOT after surrendering their
third run of the game.
7.
If trailing by six or more runs in a game, you can
add 2 more innings to any of your relievers inning maximum, However, if
utilized, that reliever cannot pitch in the next game.
8.
Pitchers who both start and relieve in a season are
allowed to pitch a maximum average of 2.0 innings per relief appearance. Should they exceed the 2.0 inning minimum
average, they will lose whatever relief appearances necessary to bring the
average down to 2.0.
9.
Relief pitchers who are limited during the season
cannot exceed a 2.0 innings average per relief appearance. For example, a player who is limited to last
40, may not exceed 39.0 innings in these appearances.
10.
If leading by three runs or fewer at the beginning
of the ninth inning, and your starter is no longer in the game, a closer must
be used. Closers are relief pitchers who
have accumulated 15 or more saves in the previous major league season. If the save has been blown by your closer,
and you do not have another closer available, then you may bring in any
reliever on black dot to save the game.
In the event you have no reliever available, you may bring in an
available starting pitcher on black dot.
11.
WHAT WAS THE RULE WE VOTED ON WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF
RELIEVERS?
1.
The USBL uses the SUPER ADVANCED fielding charts.
2.
No defensive changes can be made during an inning.
3.
If you wish to play a player at a position which is
not listed on his card, then he can play that position at the worst fielding
and range ratings, which would be a "5" range, and the worst error
rating. Outfielder arms are +5, catcher arms are +5.
4.
To move outfielders to other outfield positions not
on their cards, use the following:
CF can move to right or left at the same ratings
RF can move to center by adding 1 to their rating
RF can move to left at the same rating
LF can move to center by adding 2 to their rating
LF can move to right by adding 1 to their rating
5.
HOLDING THE RUNNERS:
As per the super advanced rules (i.e. ranges for the infielders
responsible for holding the runner go up by 1, and all results followed by # on
the charts become two star singles).
6.
INFIELD IN
As per the super advanced rules (i.e. ranges remain the same,
all results followed by # on the charts become two star singles, all GB(A) +
become two star singles)
7.
FLY BALL (B?)
Only runners on third can advance on this reading. Safe chance is computed by deducting
outfielder’s arm from the running speed.
1.
No play in which runners are taking extra bases
will be greater than 1-19, or less than 1.
2.
Runners advancing from first to third base on a
single must have the following adjustments made to their run rating:
·
Hit to RF....add two to run rating
·
Hit to CF...leave as is
·
Hit to LF...subtract two from run rating
3.
When there are two outs and a hit takes place, add
two to all runners currently on base.
4.
STEALING
The number used to deduct the runners steal chance if
being held will be:
AAA Steal rating: subtract 1
AA Steal rating:
subtract 2
A Steal rating:
subtract 3
B Steal rating:
subtract 4
C Steal rating:
subtract 5
D Steal rating:
subtract 6
5.
HIT & RUN
If batter misses pitch pick card for steal result comes up, you
must always use the second steal number.
If the lead runner is on second base, use half of his second number
rounded down.
For hit and runs, the super advanced hit and run chart must be
followed exactly.
6.
SACRIFICES/SQUEEZING
Use super advanced charts.
7.
TRAIL RUNNERS ADVANCING
Trail runners are not allowed to advance as the league farm
animals are confused by this rule.
8.
PITCHER USEAGE
Pitchers may not be used as pinch hitters. Should an injury or limitation force you to
bring a pitcher into a game out of position, that pitcher must have the worst
hitting ratings. i.e. # 1card weak.
Pitchers used as pinch runners do not have to be held on base, and may
not steal even if they have an “*” rating.
1.
The injuries are to be determined by the results on
the super advanced charts. Cut the
result in half and round up if necessary to determine the number of games.
2.
Starting catchers can be injured up to a maximum of
2 games. If your starting catcher is
injured, your backup may take over until the injury has expired (even if it
exceeds his limitation), if you have no other alternative.
3.
Players with 500 or more plate appearances can be
injured up to a maximum of 2 games.
4.
Injuries cannot take place during the playoffs;
injuries that take place during the regular season will not carry over into the
playoffs.
5.
Injured players may be placed on a 5 game disabled
list, or remain on the active roster until healed.
6.
The mid season break counts as three games elapsed
for injuries.
1.
Before each season, the Commissioner will prepare a
Limitation guide for players for the next season. This will pertain to rookies and to all
players who missed significant portions of the previous major league season. As a rough guide, 26 starts, 50 relief
appearances, and 400 plate appearances will be used as the minimum for full
time play. Starting pitchers with 15
major league starts will be allowed to be # 5 pitchers, and 4-man in playoffs.
2.
Types of limitations include but are not limited
to:
LAST ## GAMES ONLY
These
players can only appear in the last ## games of the USBL season, and thus
cannot play in the playoffs.
LAST ## AND PLAYOFFS
These are
players who were called up by the major league teams before the regular
September call ups and thus would have been eligible for the playoffs in
real. Thus, they are also partly
eligible for the playoff play in the USBL.
PINCH HIT ONLY
These
players can only pinch hit, and then leave the game during the season.
DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENT (1 Plate appearance per game)
These
players may only come in as a defensive replacement or as a pinch runner and
must be removed from the game if and when their second plate appearance
occurs. They may not be used as pinch
hitters.
4 MAN ROTATION IN PLAYOFFS
This
starting pitcher can only appear in the playoffs if his USBL team goes with a
4-man rotation throughout the playoffs, keeping the same order of
appearance. If two such players are
used, a 5-man rotation must be kept. If
three, a 6 man rotation. Any player falling
under this rule may start one game per series only.
X STARTS ONLY, PLUS RELIEF
See
starting pitcher rules for a more detailed breakdown of the implications of
having a pitcher start and relieve.
START LIMITATIONS
Starting
pitchers with under 15 major league starts are limited to half of their real
life starts (rounded up). Starting pitchers with between 15-20 starts are
limited to 12 USBL starts. Starting
pitchers with between 20-25 starts will be limited to 14 USBL starts. Any starter with 26 or more starts may be
used up to 17 starts.
The
following is a guide that will be used to assess playing time for players in
the USBL. Players fall under the
following categories:
A.
Injured
players:
Players considered of importance who miss substantial time
due to injury will be full-time for half of the games they played in real. Their playoff eligibility will be likewise
reduced. They will not be allowed to PH,
or be defensive replacements in their non-starts, because this would
effectively make them almost full time players.
B.
Full
time players:
Full
time players are those who achieved 400 plate appearances (AB + BB). These players can play every day in whatever
situation you wish. Injury rules do
apply to these players. If a player has
between 400 and 499 plate appearances, he can be injured for a maximum of 8
games. If he has 500 or more plate
appearances, he can be injured a maximum of 2 games. Every player not reaching 400 or more plate
appearances will be limited in some way.
Pitchers
are considered full time if they started 26 games, or relieved in 50. Combinations of both will be scrutinized by
the commissioner.
C.
Players
not attaining full time status:
These
players will be limited. If they were on
a major league roster for just about the entire season, but were relegated to
bench duty, we used the following chart:
|
Plate
Appearances |
Limitation |
|
350-399 |
4/5,
¾, 6/8 |
|
300-349 |
3/5,
¾, 5/8 |
|
250-299 |
3/5,
2/4, 4/8 |
|
200-249 |
2/5,
2/4, 3/8 |
|
150-199 |
2/5,
¼, 2/8 |
|
100-150 |
1/5,
¼, 1/8 |
Pinch
hitting availability will be assessed on a player by player basis.
For
starting pitchers, 26 starts or more makes him full time. 20-25 starts make him a # 4 starter with no
playoff limitations.15-19 starts makes him a # 5 starter which is also a # 4
starter in the playoffs. 14 starts or
less gives him half the starts during the regular season, and no playoff
starts,
For
relief pitchers, 50 or more appearances in the majors is full time. Anything less will be converted to USBL
appearances as 75% of the real games (i.e. 40 appearances in real = 28 appearances
in USBL). Also, such limited relievers
will be eligible for the playoffs as follows:
·
40-49 Major League appearances = 3/7 in playoffs
·
30-39 Major League appearances = 2/7 in playoffs
·
Less than 30 Major League appearances = 1/7
in playoffs (subject to commissioner’s ruling)
1.
Five teams from each league make the
play-offs. The ten teams in each league
will form one division. The top two
teams will be seeded 1 and 2 and receive first round byes. The next four best records will be ranked
according to their regular season records and play a wild card round. 3vs6, and 4vs5 in a best of seven
series. The winners of these series will
then be ranked according to regular season records, and will continue against
the division winners.
2.
In addition to regular season playing rules certain
playoff rules must also be followed (see below).
3.
The 25 man play-off roster for each club will be
submitted at the 60 game mark; No call-ups and/or changes can take place to
alter this roster after that.
4.
To decide on ties in the standings, the following
rules apply:
If the tie is for a final playoff spot, a 1 game playoff will be
played
If the tie is between two teams who are in the playoffs regardless
of the tie, then the team with the best head-to-head record wins
If tied, then the team with the better record against the first
place team
If tied, then the team with the better record against the second
place team
If still tied, then the club with the more favorable run
differential gets the nod
5.
At the conclusion of the regular season and
following each round of the playoffs, all wild card teams will be entitled to
one off day. This day can be used to
adjust your pitching rotations. Should a
one game playoff be required to decide the final playoff spot, the winner of
the one game playoff will not receive the off day at the end of the season.
All of
the rules covering regular season games apply, with the following
additions/modifications:
STARTING
PITCHERS
1.
All SP used in the playoffs must have
"STARTER" above "RELIEF" on their card, and be allowed to
start by the limitations.
2.
Three man starting rotations may be used, and a
club can revert back to its # 1 starter at the beginning of each series (unless
the previous series lasted the full 7 games, in which case the team would be
allowed only one day off for the purpose of resetting their rotation). However, a number 4 starter must be used once
every seven game playoff stretch. No
starter may start 3 games in one series.
3.
Starting pitchers who do not have relief on their
card may be used in relief, but their
inning limit will be 2. As well,
pitchers who do not have relief on their card may not pitch in relief in the
seventh inning or later if the run differential is 3 runs or less.
4.
Unplayed games in any given series count as days
rest for the advancing team for the purpose of resetting your rotation.
5.
A team’s # 4 starter (if not limited) may relieve
in the series. To move a starter to the
bullpen, 3 games must elapse from that pitcher’s last start. The same rest applies to move a reliever to
the rotation. Your # 4 starter may appear in only 2 games as a
reliever. If the pitcher in question
does not have relief on his card, they must follow rule # 4 above. If the pitcher does have relief on his card,
he must average 2.0 innings or fewer in his relief appearances. Breach of this rule will result in very
severe penalties.
6.
Starters who are limited to 4-man only in playoffs
are allowed either 1 start or 3 relief appearances. They must average 2.0 innings or less per
relief appearance.
7.
Starting pitchers are limited to 17.0 innings
pitched in each series.
8. Starting pitchers who are limited
to one start may only pitch 11 innings max in his start.
RELIEF PITCHERS
1.
No reliever may exceed the following:
If series goes 4, the reliever can appear in 3
If series goes 5, the reliever can appear in 3
If series goes 6, the reliever can appear in 4
If series goes 7, the reliever can appear in 5, but the one
of appearances will be limited to one
inning only
2.
Relief pitchers are limited to 9.0 innings per
series.
All
other situations are governed by the original playing rules found in this
constitution.