Constitution
updated 3.28.11
PREAMBLE: The SouthWest Baseball Association is an internet draft baseball league formed in 1988, by Joe Hornback, to provide a means of interesting and competitive recreation for its members and to simulate the problems and pleasures of running a professional baseball franchise within a friendly atmosphere. The list of rules and regulations which follow are provided in order to keep the league as realistic and competitive as possible and to provide coaches with a means of controlling the fates of their franchises. ARTICLE I: COMMISSIONER SECTION 1. The Commissioner may make any changes which he feels beneficial and necessary to the league's operation. ARTICLE II: COMPETITION COMMITTEE SECTION 1. The competition committee will consist of four managers chosen by the Commissioner. The competition committee will render judgements on trades, abuse and other issues of fairness that are brought to them by a league participant. In case there is a tie in the committee, the Commissioner will have the final vote. A committee member or the Commissioner will not have a vote in matters involving his team. ARTICLE III: GENERAL INFORMATION SECTION 1. The Diamond Mind computer baseball game and player disk, based on the previous Major League Baseball season, will be used. All players from the MLB teams will be used. SECTION 2. SWBA games are governed by the rules of Major League Baseball, the DMB game and this constitution. This constitution supersedes some rules of the DMB game. SECTION 3. All items brought to a vote concerning new league rules and operations must be approved by a 2/3 majority (67% of voting coaches). ARTICLE IV: EXPANSION SECTION 1. In the event that the Commissioner feels the league has reached a desirable amount of stability, he may decide to put an expansion proposal up to a league vote. The league vote must approve the expansion by a 2/3 majority, (19 of the 28 managers must vote YES for expansion to take place). ARTICLE V: LEAGUE DUES SECTION 1. Currently there is no fee for participating in the SWBA. The Commissioner will determine annually, if an increase or decrease in this fee is appropriate. ARTICLE VI: SCHEDULE SECTION 1. Each team will play 162 games consisting of 81 home and 81 road games. Each team will play 84 games within their own division, 64 games against the other 8 teams in their league and 14 games against teams in the other league (inter-league play). SECTION 2. The schedule is similar to an actual Major League Baseball schedule. Please note that the schedule is broken down into a calendar format which includes "off" days. This will be of utmost importance when determining a pitching rotation. The pitching rotation is continuous throughout both home and road series. See the Helpful Hints file for instructions of how to print the schedule using the REPORTS function of the game. The dates on the schedule are arbitrary for the schedule and not the actual date the games should be played. SECTION 3. At the end of the regular season, the 6 division winners will automatically qualify for the playoffs. Of the remaining teams, the team from each league with the highest winning percentage will make the playoffs as a wild card team. The division winner with the highest winning percentage will host the wild card team, unless the wild card team is from the same division. In case the best team and wild card team are from the same division, the second best division winner will host the wild card team. The wild card team cannot have the home field advantage at anytime during the playoffs, except the World Series. All playoffs are a best of seven series, with the team with the better record being the home team for games 1, 2, 6 and 7 (if necessary). All post-season games should be played head-to-head via DMB's Internet Play or other methods. If the teams cannot play in this manner, the teams should exchange profiles for each team's first two home games, if additional games are necessary, the Commissioner will play them using each team's manager profile. In case the Commissioner's team is involved, a non-playoff coach will serve as neutral manager. The pitching rotation is continuous from regular season throughout playoffs. There will be 2 days off between the regular season and the playoffs. There will be 2 days off between the longer playoff series and the next round of the post- season. The home team for the World Series will alternate annually. The designated hitter and AL era will be used in all World Series games played in the American League Champs' park. The NL era and no-DH will be used when playing in the National League Champs'park. There will be one day off between games 2 & 3 and 5 & 6 in all post-season series. See APPENDIX A for scheduling the end of season through post season. ARTICLE VII: TIE-BREAKING SYSTEM SECTION 1. Tie for playoff/wild card spot: The Commissioner will play a one game playoff. A coin flip will determine the home team. If the Commissioner's team is involved, a neutral coach will play the playoff game. SECTION 2. Other ties will be broken by: A. Head to head record - lowest win percentage gets best draft pick B. Record vs. third division - lowest win percentage gets best draft pick C. Road record - best win percentage gets best draft pick D. Commissioner will flip a coin. SECTION 3. When there is a tied overall record, the involved teams will alternate on odd and even rounds . ARTICLE VIII: STATISTIC REPORTING SECTION 1. After each SERIES, the home manager sends to the Commissioner and his opponent an exported statistics file. See Helpful Hints for more information. ARTICLE IX: MANAGER PROFILES SECTION 1. To manage the team on the road, a manager has to send the opposing manager a manager profile via e-mail. Combination instructions telling when and when not to turn on/off the computer manager are not allowed, except to limit PA/IP or specifiy a BLOW OUT pitcher (described in ARTICLE XX). SECTION 2. In addition to the manager profile, the road manager must include in the body of the e-mail the pitching rotation for the series and any specific instructions for catching duties during a double-header. SECTION 3. A manager profile must be sent to the opponent by the due date, even if you are planning to play the game head to head. This way, if you can't get together on a time or something comes up, the league can continue in a timely fashion. ARTICLE X: GENERIC PROFILE SECTION 1. To keep the league running smoothly, when one week has past since the manager profile e-mail date and no profile has been received, please attempt to contact the road manager. If you do not get a response in 3 days, choose the 15 hitters with most at-bats (making sure there are at least two players at each position) and 10 pitchers (no more starter only's than the series requires) and generate a full manager profile to play the games. DO NOT DO THIS IF THE OPPOSING MANAGER OR COMMISSIONER NOTIFIES YOU THAT THE PROFILE WILL BE LATE AND WHY. ARTICLE XI: PLAY PROCEDURE SECTION 1. After loading the opponents manager profile, go to TOOLS, click on RESET PLAYER USAGE, change the scope to TEAMS IN AN ORGANIZATION, check BOTH RESET USAGE and RESET INJURIES, then click OK. SECTION 2. Start the game with both managers set to ALL HUMAN. You will then select the appropriate starting pitcher and lineup for the visiting team. As soon as you begin the game, turn on the COMPUTER manager for the road team. See the Helpful Hints for more detailed instructions. SECTION 3. If you notice that a manager profile contains players over 110% usage, please request a new profile from that manager before continuing the series. ARTICLE XII: BULLPEN WARMUP SECTION 1. The SWBA will use the bullpen warmup for all games. ARTICLE XIII: WEATHER EFFECTS SECTION 1. The SWBA will use the weather effects. The weather is determined by the date listed on the schedule. No rainouts can occur in the current version, only rain delays. ARTICLE XIV: DRAFT SECTION 1. The initial draft in 1988 included all players receiving cards from the original 14 SWBA pool teams put into the draft by the 11 managers and the Commissioner. The teams drafted in reverse order on even number rounds in an order pre-determined by lottery. SECTION 2. In the fall of 1989, the SWBA expanded. Six new coaches each chose a team to enter into the draft pool. The league office then added one team to this pool. The new managers then drafted their teams from this pool of seven. SECTION 3. In the fall of 1991, the SWBA expanded again. Two new coaches each chose a team to enter into the draft pool. The league office then added one team to this pool. The new managers then drafted their teams from this pool of three. SECTION 4. In the fall of 1993, the SWBA expanded to 24 teams. All players remaining on the rosters of the two non-pool teams were drafted first. Each SWBA team then protected 13 players and the expansion coaches drafted four rounds with each established team re-protecting one player after each round. A round consisted of one player from each team being drafted. SECTION 5. In the fall of 2006, the SWBA expanded to 28 teams. Each SWBA team protected 12 players and the expansion coaches drafted four rounds with each established team re-protecting two players after each round. A round consisted of one player from each team being drafted. SECTION 6. After the 2010 post-season, the SWBA contracted from 28 teams back to 24 teams. The players from the rosters of the four contracted teams were drafted by the remaining 24 teams in a dispersal draft held prior to the annual entry draft. SECTION 7. The SWBA will have an annual entry draft. The players included in this draft will consist of all players who are on the MLB teams, who are not currently owned by a league team. SECTION 8. In the event of expansion, the expansion draft will be held prior to the annual entry draft. The draft order will be determined by lottery, with the members alternating odd and even rounds. For the entry draft, the expansion teams will draft immediately following half of the established teams, with the teams drafting in reverse order of the first round of the expansion draft and alternating on odd and even rounds. SECTION 9. In the event that an SWBA team is short of the roster limit of rated players after the entry draft, a free agent signing can take place for them without counting against the three free agent move limit. ARTICLE XV: TEAM ROSTER SECTION 1. Each team will have a 25 man dressed roster. In addition to those 25, each team can maintain a maximum of 15 players on a reserve squad, giving each team total roster space of 40 players. The reserve squad can consist of active players receiving ratings or inactive players who did not receive ratings. There were no un-rated players in the initial season. No un-rated players may be drafted or picked up as free agents. A manager may move players from his dressed roster to the reserve squad and vice versa on a ROUND (not series) basis. In other words, all series reports in one round should have the same 25 players active. SECTION 2. At the beginning of each season, all managers must cut their roster to 40 players. Both rated and un-rated players count on the 40-man roster. A roster may exceed 40 during the off-season due to trades. A manager may trade or cut both rated and unrated players. ARTICLE XVI: FREE AGENTS SECTION 1. All rated players who were cut or not drafted are called free agents. During the season, teams may make up to 3 free agent transactions. A free agent transaction is defined as any time a free agent is added to a team either by cutting a player or making a trade involving an unequal number of players. After trades involving an unequal number of players, the team with less than 40 players can obtain a free agent if it has not used its 3 free agent moves, the other team will subsequently have to release a player to return to 40. Free agents recently cut will be acquired on a waiver system. Teams will have approximately 3 days to claim a free agent on waivers during the season. The Commissioner will notify all coaches in an e-mail of the free agent's availability and specify a beginning and ending date to the waiver period. During the season, the waiver period is day to day, with only one free agent per team per day. If two or more teams select the same free agent on the same day, the team with the lowest winning percentage will get that player. After the waiver period ends, it will be on a first come, first serve basis. Free agents are not allowed to be signed after the seasonal trading deadline. A team with less than 40 rated players after the draft is allowed to sign enough free agents to return its roster to 40 players without counting against the 3 free agent moves. This team MUST release an un-rated player for every free agent it signs in this manner. SECTION 2. Free agents may be signed beyond the 3 free agent transactions with the following stipulations. There must be a need for at bats or innings for that type of free agent and the manager must release a player from the roster. The player released cannot be one of his previous free agent signings. Any free agents signed after the 3 transactions have been used will be released from the roster at the end of the season. In effect, for not planning to have enough at bats or innings, the manager is penalized by losing players from his roster to pick up enough at bats and innings to complete the season. ARTICLE XVII: BALLPARKS SECTION 1. The manager may not cut or trade the chosen ballpark. The only ways a ballpark may be changed is if a new coach takes over an existing franchise and wishes to use one of the remaining ballparks, or the Major League Team moves out of that ballpark and into another one, or if the MLB team utilizing that stadium is contracted. In those cases, the manager will be allowed to choose from the remaining ballparks, including the new ballpark in the case where a MLB team has moved. In case of expansion, the unused stadiums will be available in the expansion draft. A ballpark will be drafted in the expansion draft in the same manner as a player. SECTION 2. Exception to Section 1, a manager who has been in the stadium for 10 SWBA seasons or more, may petition to the Commissioner to change into an un-owned stadium. ARTICLE XVIII: PLAYER USAGE SECTION 1. The SWBA will allow 10% over normal player usage determined by actual number of plate appearances and innings pitched. For example, a player who actually had 500 PA will be allowed 550 plate appearances in the SWBA. For 1/3 IP, use the appropriate decimal (i.e. 75 2/3 would be 75.667 x 1.1 = 83.234). All figures will then be rounded UP to a whole number (i.e. 83.234 would become 84). Any over-used batter must miss one game per playoff series for every 4 PA's he was over-used (i.e. a player who is over by 1-4 PA, must miss the first game of EACH post-season series his team is in, a player with 5-8 over must miss the first two games, and so-forth). For pitchers, they must miss one game for every 2 IP's they are over their limit (i.e. a pitcher who is 6 IP over must miss games 1-3 of each series). All penalties are applied at the beginning of EACH series. SECTION 2. In addition to the 10% over-usage, a low-side rule has been created to create more realistic statistics. Each hitter will be restricted to 150% PA's against the type pitcher he had fewer PA's against. For instance, if a hitter totalled 60 PA's vs LH pitchers and 300 vs RH pitchers, he would be allowed to face LH pitchers a maximum of 90 times. For players who are rated ONLY at CATCHER defensively, their low-side percentage will be 175%. There will be no restriction against the RH pitchers in this instance other than the overall limitation. EACH BATTER IS STILL RESTRICTED TO HIS 10% OVERALL LIMITATION. SECTION 3. A player overused by more than 30% will result in his release into the annual entry draft and/or forfeit of the team's 5th and subsequent round picks as determined by the competition committee and Commissioner. If any over-usage above 10% appears to affect the playoff structure, the standings will be re-evaluated from the point of over-usage to determine the outcome. SECTION 4. Over-use Waiver players. These players are intended to be for emergency use only. The Commissioner and competition committee will determine if any abuse of this rule applies and apply an appropriate penalty. Hitters with an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .400 or less against one side can be used 200% of his PA against that side ONLY. His other side, if over .400 OPS will be restricted to 10% over (if it is his high PA side) or 50% over or 75% over for catcher only's (if it is his low PA side). For pitchers, they may be used 200% of their IP if they have an overall OPS of .950 or higher, as long as neither side is less than .850 OPS. (ie if either side is less than .850 OPS, he is restricted to 10% over-usage) SECTION 5. For playoffs, a player is limited to 10% OVERALL and 15% vs. LOW-SIDE of his major league totals FOR EACH PLAYOFF SERIES. NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule apply in the playoffs. If a player has 270 innings, he may pitch 27 in each playoff series. In the low-side example above, that player with 60 PA's vs LH pitchers in real-life would be allowed 9 PA's vs. lefties in each playoff series. All limits shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. For instance, 10% of 276 innings = 27.6 which would be rounded to 28 allowable innings. This is valid for the playoffs only. In the playoffs, a starting pitcher doesn't have to wait 3 days before starting again if he pitched less than 5 innings in his previous start and the computer does not rate him as being tired. The only real playoff limitation is PA/IP. It is a good idea though for coaches to specify what they want to do in case a pitcher is tired according to the computer. Starting the 2002 season, we no longer rest "tired" starting pitchers prior to a playoff game. A starter may start on 3 days rest even if he is rated as "tired" by the computer, but his manager must accept the consequences. Between playoff series, injured players will be restored to healthy status, but neither team will be rested. A starter only can be used in relief during the playoffs. SECTION 6. In case a player receives ratings with more than team, the SWBA will use the SEASON rating, not an individual team rating. All individual team ratings for multiple team players will be deleted from the player files. ARTICLE XIX: BATTING RULES SECTION 1. There will be NO designated hitter in the National League. The American League WILL use the designated hitter. A pitcher cannot be used as a designated hitter. During inter-league play, games hosted by an American League team will use the designated hitter rule. Games hosted by a National League team will NOT use the designated hitter rule. SECTION 2. Any dressed hitter may be used as a pinch hitter/runner. SECTION 3. Starting Pitchers (more starts than relief appearances) may pinch-hit, but cannot be listed higher than the 5th position in a manager profile (you must list 4 available hitters in front of him) and cannot pinch-hit in a home or head-to-head game until 3 hitters have come off the bench. EXCEPTION: A pitcher may pinch-hit to bunt prior to 3 hitters coming off the bench, but must attempt to bunt the entire PA, no swinging with 2 strikes. ARTICLE XX: PITCHING RULES SECTION 1. A starter must have a minimum of 4 DAYS rest between starts during and between series. REMEMBER, THE SCHEDULE IS CONTINUOUS REGARDLESS OF HOME OR ON THE ROAD. A pitcher who starts the first game of a 3 game series cannot start again until the 3rd day of the next series. A starter/reliever must have 2 days rest after a start before he can relieve and 3 days rest after relieving before he can start. SECTION 2. A starting pitcher may not be removed prior to pitching 5 full innings unless he has: - been injured - given up 3 or more runs - given up 8 or more baserunners by walk, hit or hit by pitch - thrown 65 piches This rule does not apply when playing profile vs. profile (simmed by a neutral coach), but does apply in head-to-head games. A pitcher must have 5 innings available to start a game in the playoffs. SECTION 3. During playoffs, a 3 man rotation can be used. Pitchers must have 3 days rest between starts or after a relief appearance before starting, and one day of rest after a start before relieving. In the playoffs only, a "starter-only" is available for relief. The computer will assign his ratings. Please note that pitching rotations and rest are linked from the regular season throughout the World Series. SECTION 4. A non-pitcher may pitch only if the last available pitcher is injured or if the game meets the definition of a blowout. A BLOWOUT is defined as a game that has a difference of 7 runs or more either way in the 7th or later. Under these circumstances, you can list non-pitchers or other pitchers to pitch in the body of your e-mail accompanying your manager profile. ARTICLE XXI: FIELDING RULES SECTION 1. A player may only field the positions he is rated for with the following exceptions: a player with a CF rating can play both other outfield positions, a LF may play RF and a RF may play LF. The computer will automatically determine their ratings. SECTION 2. In the event a player is listed as DH only by DMB, he may play first base, left field or right field for a team in the National League, accepting the rating the computer gives him for that position. SECTION 3. The last player at a position may ONLY be removed due to injury. If the last player at a position is injured, a player may play a position for which he has no rating. The computer will give better ratings to players playing a similar position to one they are rated for. Exception to this rule: when playing head to head ONLY and the game is in the 8th inning or later, a manager may pinch-hit for the last available player at a position and suffer the consequences on defense. ARTICLE XXII: INJURIES SECTION 1. Injuries are for the number of games stated or until the end of the current series only, if the number exceeds the games remaining in the series. The computer will be set for ACTUAL injury tendencies. SECTION 2. During the playoffs, injuries will remain in effect with the following modification. The maximum length of an injury will be for the remainder of the current homestand. (homestands are: games 1 & 2, games 3-5, and games 6 & 7). ie - If a player is hurt in game one, the most he can miss is the rest of game 1 and all of game two. In this scenario, prior to game 3, click on TOOLS, then RESET PLAYER USAGE, UNcheck reset usage, CHECK reset injuries, click okay for the team with the injured player(s). ARTICLE XXIII: TRADES SECTION 1. Trades will be allowed during the off-season and during the season before the trade deadline. Trades may be of an unequal number of players and or draft picks. If a team has less than 40 men on the roster during the season as a result of a trade, a free agent can be obtained. If a team has more than 40 men on the roster during the season as a result of a trade, players must be cut to return the roster to 40. Trades during the season will take effect at the beginning of the next round after the trade deadline. A manager may trade 1st-6th draft picks for the upcoming draft only. SECTION 2. At the time the draft length is announced a manager may then trade other draft picks and draft picks 1-6 for the next season's draft. SECTION 3. Upon making a trade, BOTH managers must report the trade details to the Commissioner. Do not send an e-mail that states only "confirmed". Only the two coaches involved in a trade can contact the Commissioner. No third party trade announcements will be accepted! SECTION 4. The competition committee has the power to veto any trades that it feels would be detrimental to the league as a whole. Any collusion among coaches to exchange players for a particular round of games and then re-exchange them afterward will result in immediate dismissal of both coaches from the league. SECTION 5. Conditional trades or "player to be named later" trades are not allowed. ARTICLE XXIV: UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT SECTION 1. According to the preamble, this league is designed to be interesting and competitive recreation. There is no amount of money for the winner, only a trophy in the $5-10 range. Therefore, each coach is responsible for putting as competitive team (as possible) on the field at all times, staying within the PA/IP limitations. Any evidence of unfair winning OR losing will result in immediate dismissal from the league. ARTICLE XXV: PENALTY SYSTEM SECTION 1. In efforts to keep the league running smoothly and filled with coaches who want to participate on a timely manner, the league approved of a penalty system which began in the 1997 season. The penalty will be based on the meeting of league due dates. The penalties will be as follows: A. One missed deadline - no penalty assessed B. Two missed deadlines - forfeiture of 4th round pick C. Three missed deadlines - forfeiture of 3rd round pick D. Four missed deadlines - removal from league SECTION 2. In the event a new manager replaces a manager who has been penalized, he will retain all picks lost in this manner. To put it simply, the penalty is on the coach not the team. _______________________________________________________________ APPENDIX A - 2011 POST SEASON SCHEDULE DATE SERIES GAME OPP RESULT Sep 27 50 3 Sep 28 50 4 Sep 29 (Tiebreaker if necessary) Sep 30 OFF Oct 1 Round 1 1 Oct 2 Round 1 2 Oct 3 OFF Oct 4 Round 1 3 Oct 5 Round 1 4 Oct 6 Round 1 5? Oct 7 OFF Oct 8 Round 1 6? Oct 9 Round 1 7? Oct 10 OFF Oct 11 OFF Oct 12 L.C.S. 1 Oct 13 L.C.S. 2 Oct 14 OFF Oct 15 L.C.S. 3 Oct 16 L.C.S. 4 Oct 17 L.C.S. 5? Oct 18 OFF Oct 19 L.C.S. 6? Oct 20 L.C.S. 7? Oct 21 OFF Oct 22 OFF Oct 23 World Series 1 at AL Champs Oct 24 World Series 2 at AL Champs Oct 25 OFF Oct 26 World Series 3 at NL Champs Oct 27 World Series 4 at NL Champs Oct 28 World Series 5? at NL Champs Oct 29 OFF Oct 30 World Series 6? at AL Champs Oct 31 World Series 7? at AL Champs Subsequent rounds will start 3 days after the longest series of the previous round. _______________________________________________________________ APPENDIX B - SUMMARY OF CONSTITUTION CHANGES FOR THE 2011 SEASON SECTION - Rule TEAM ROSTER - Removed pre-draft cap of 1650 Innings Pitched and 7200 Plate Appearances. SCHEDULE - Added inter-league play - Removed double-headers INJURIES - Playoff injury rule DRAFT - Explanation of contraction and dispersal draft BATTING RULES - Designated hitter in games hosted by AL teams No designated hitter in games hosted by NL teams AWARDS - Removed award balloting TRADES - Reworded for clarity