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For Strat-O-Matic Baseball |
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Rules and Bylaws |
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Table of Contents |
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Section |
Topic |
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1 |
The League |
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2 |
Rosters |
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3 |
The Salary Cap & Player Contracts |
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4 |
The Auction |
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5 |
The Games |
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6 |
Pitchers |
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7 |
Defense and Positioning |
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8 |
Batters/Hitting |
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9 |
Stealing /Advancing Runners |
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10 |
The Playoffs |
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11 |
The Computer Game |
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1.0 - The League
1.1 Name.
This Strat-O-Matic baseball league shall be named The Paradise
Canyon League (PCL).
1.2 Purpose. The Paradise Canyon League is an organization
based upon the friendship of the individual team owners. There is to be no monetary compensation for
team ownership, or for championships sponsored by this league.
1.3 Annual Meeting. Each year the commissioner shall call
together the members of the PCL for an annual meeting. The primary business of the meeting shall be
to conduct the annual auction (see Section 3) and attend to issues related to
the rules and bylaws of the league.
However, an equally important purpose of the meeting is to continue to
foster the friendships that exist between the members of the league. For this reason, each member of the league
has agreed that he will not end his membership in the league over any dispute
without first attending the next convention in an effort to
rectify his concerns. In an effort to encourage
participation by geographically removed members of the league, participants in
the annual meeting shall share the total transportation expenses equally, with
lodging expenses being paid on an “equal cost per night stayed” basis.
1.4 League Officers. At its annual draft meeting, the league shall
elect willing officers to the positions of Commissioner and Operations Director.
Each officer shall hold his position for a period of one year, with no
limitation on consecutive terms. The Commissioner shall create committees
and appoint committee heads as appropriate to deal with league business, which
may include statistical compilations and the organization of the annual meeting. Additionally, he shall preside over all
official league business and decisions, some of which are called out in these
Rules and Bylaws. The Operations Director and/or any designee
shall oversee operational matters for the year, including salary cap issues,
and schedules, rosters, series results, and standings.
1.5 Rules. At the annual meeting
the commissioner shall call teams together for a review and discussion of the
rules of the league. Rules can be added,
deleted or changed at this time with a two-thirds
majority vote of the member teams. Once
the annual draft has been completed, the league will be considered started and
rules may not be added, deleted or changed without a
unanimous vote of the member teams.
1.6 Change of Ownership. No team may be bought or sold for monetary
compensation. Any changes of ownership
or additions of new teams or owners must be approved by unanimous consent of
the member teams.
1.7 Folding of a Franchise. In the unanticipated and unfortunate event
that one or more of the franchises that make up the PCL should be surrendered
to the league by its owner, the following shall dictate the fate of that
franchise: 1) if an owner (existing or
new to the league) is approved as set forth in section 1.6 of these rules, that
owner will take over the franchise; or 2) the franchise shall be disbanded,
with all players that were the property of the franchise becoming eligible for
the next auction (provided they meet the eligibility criteria).
1.8 Protests. All protests must be made to the office of
the commissioner, or an acting alternate should the commissioner himself be
involved in the protest. All protests,
including the form of sanction if any, shall be settled by a majority vote of
the commissioner and any two other owners not involved in the dispute, which
other owners shall be selected by the commissioner. All rulings shall be considered final and not
subject to appeal.
1.9 Timely
Review of Away Games. Upon receipt
of Game Export files from a home manager, the visiting manager has the right to
promptly review the series to ensure that his instructions were followed (most
specifically the starting rotation). Any
objection to the usage of players is to be filed with the commissioner within
10 days of the visiting manager’s receipt of the files.
1.10 Effect of Replayed Game. Should a protest be upheld
and a game is replayed, that game shall be treated as the last game of the
relevant series. Box scores of the other
games from the series shall be consulted to determine injuries, tired factors,
etc. before the game is played.
1.11 Continued Ownership. Each owner shall have the right to retain any
team he owned during the previous season on an ongoing basis, provided he
completed his season's games.
1.12 Teams.
The league shall be comprised of the following teams and owners, which
membership shall be changed from time to time as set forth in Rule 1.6 above
(with the intent to keep any owner who owns two teams in separate divisions):
Owners: Mike, Pat, Steve, Eric, Ken, Bob, Jim, and
Gordon
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Teams/Divisions: |
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Coastal Alto California |
West |
East |
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Bay Area (MD) |
Cabo (BO) |
Augusta (GW) |
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Pebble Beach (BO) |
Las Vegas (GW) |
Chicago (JS) |
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Lancaster (EH) |
St Louis (KH) |
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Utah (SG) |
Virginia Beach (MD) |
2.0 - The
Rosters
2.1 Ownership Rights to Players. An owner shall have indefinite rights to a
player who is named to a roster until such time as that player is waived, cut,
or lost to free agency.
2.2 Seniority and
Free Agency. Each member of a PCL active
roster shall be signed to a contract term of 1 to 4 years. A player becomes a Free Agent after the final
season of his contract.
2.3 Number of Roster Players. Each team shall be required to maintain a 25 player major league roster and will be allowed 0 to 5
minor league players as defined below (injured reserve players are part of the
minor league roster).
2.5 Retired Players / No Name Cards - The “Z.Q
Rule”. Due to licensing issues, SOM may
not be allowed to use the names of players at times, so SOM prints the player’s
card with no name on it. Provided that a
player’s card can be clearly identified based on the statistics shown on the
card, that card shall be eligible for use in PCL play (including auction
eligibility).
2.6 Roster Players With
Two Or More Cards. If a player
receives an Interleague Card, such IL card shall be the only card for that player
that is eligible for the league that year. Should an existing roster player be
awarded two cards for a season by Strat-O-Matic (one American League and one
National League) but no Interleague card, the team owner shall elect to use the
card of his choice and must declare that choice to the league in his
instructions at the beginning of the season.
The card not used shall be ineligible for use throughout the entirety of
the season. If an auction-eligible
player has two cards but no IL card, only the Feeder Team card will be eligible
to be purchased at auction and for play in the PCL for that following year.
2.7 Minimum Playing Time Criteria. In order to be on a PCL active roster, a
player must meet the following criteria: a) 100 at bats for a position player, b) 25 innings pitched
for a pitcher who is eligible to relieve, and c) 50 innings pitched for a
Starter-Only pitcher.
2.8 Players With 2 or More Cards – Part II The
“Brooks Kieschnick Rule” A
player that is issued both a pitching card and a hitting card by SOM shall be
eligible for the auction, however, prior to the close of the waiver wire, the
owner of the player must announce which card shall be on the roster. The owner of the player will own rights to
any hitting or pitching card produced in future years, and
could use the card of his choice in any future year (but never both cards in
the same year).
2.9 The "Ken McMullen Rule". No player may exceed his number of at bats or
innings pitched, as designated on his Strat-O-Matic card, in a PCL season. Should a player be found to have exceeded his
allowed number of AB's or IP's, the Commissioner may take disciplinary action
including disqualification from the playoffs, a salary cap penalty, or other
such penalties.
2.10 The “Ken McMullen Rule” - Part 2. In order to be
eligible to start a game, a position player must have at least 150 at bats on
his card (125 for a catcher to start a game).
The only exception is for an injury replacement, where no other player
is eligible to start at that position. No pitcher with less than 50 innings
pitched can start a game (see section 10 for playoff eligibility).
2.11 Ken McMullen Rule – Part 5. A position player who is ineligible to start
based on the Ken McMullen Rule Part 2 may not enter the game until at least one
of the following has occurred: 1- a
player has been injured, 2- the opposing starting pitcher has been removed, 3-
Four full innings have been played, 4- he is pinch hitting for his own pitcher,
or 5- he is pinch hitting for a batter that has already batted 3 times.
2.12 Injured Reserve. A player qualifies for Injured Reserve status
if he 1) was on a PCL roster during the previous year, AND 2) was not awarded a
card for the current year or does not qualify for the Active Roster based on
Minimum Playing Time Criteria. IR players must be placed in the minors prior to
the close of the Waiver Wire, thus a maximum of 5 such players could be carried
by a PCL team.
2.14 Minor
League Limitations. Once a player
has been placed on an active roster, a demotion to the minors or IR does not
suspend the advancement of his service time.
2.15 Players By
Position. All teams must use an
active 25 man roster which contains at least two
players who can play at each position.
2.16 Trades. Trades are not allowed.
2.17 Winter Waiver Wire (WWW). During the time period
after card values are released and the cut lists are due, the Commissioner
shall convene a WWW process. During this
process teams may choose to make one or more of their players available for the
WWW. Once the list of players on the WWW
is published, the teams will take turns selecting a player or passing. The order for this process shall be
determined by unweighted lotteries, as follows: The worst 4 records (and ties
if applicable) shall be in the first lottery pool, the remaining non-playoff
teams in the second pool, and the playoff teams in the final pool). Each team has as long as
24 hours to select a player or pass (or be deemed to have passed), although it
is hoped that the process will move much more quickly than that. A team that passes can select a player for up
to 24 hours after the time they passed, at which point their pass becomes
permanent. The process shall last for an
unlimited number of rounds.
2.18 Winter Waiver Wire Impact on Contract
Values. When a player is selected on
the WWW, the purchasing owner shall have the player’s contract reduced by 50%
(rounded up as always). The contract
expiration date shall remain unchanged except that a contract with only one
year remaining may be increased by one year (such announcement to be made at
the time of the WWW selection). The
player moving will lose his RFA or AEP status.
The team that released the player in the WWW process shall make a
severance payment to the player equal to half of what the severance payment
would have been under the contract had the player been cut (rounded up, but in
all cases there will be a savings of at least $1 from
the cost to cut the player). Term Cut
and Full Cut options will apply as contained elsewhere in the rules.
2.19 Michael Pinieda
Rule. A player who has had his
contract reduced by 50% by the WWW process is not eligible to be placed on IR
status for the upcoming season. He may
be placed in the minors at full price but may not receive the 75% salary
reimbursement
2.20 Unselected Winter Waiver Wire Players. Any player put up for the WWW that is not
selected remains on their current team until the cut date, at which time the
owner can cut the player per standard rules or force the player to accept a new
salary level equal to the amount described in Rule 2.18. By forcing a 50% pay cut on the player, the
team shall lose any Restricted Free Agent rights, and the player’s contract
expiration date may not be changed in this process.
2.21 Richard Hidalgo Rule – Part 2. No conspiracy. A player who is put on the WWW
by one team may not be claimed off the WWW by another team of the same
ownership. Further, any player claimed on the WWW that is subsequently cut
during the same offseason will cost the new team the cut cost of the ORIGINAL
contract
3.0 – The Salary
Cap & Player Contracts
3.1 Salary Cap. Every team will receive a salary cap for each season of $275 for a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 30 players. Teams must be within the cap at all times after cuts are announced, including during the auction, at the waiver wire, and at all times during the PCL season. In order to be within the salary cap, the sum of a team’s committed salaries plus its open major league roster spots must not exceed the salary cap. A team may be over the cap during the off-season, but must be within the salary cap upon announcing its cuts. Other salary cap details include:
(a) Salary cap dollars cannot be traded.
(b) Unspent salary cap dollars cannot be carried over to future years.
(c) The Operations Director or commissioner will appoint one or more league members to monitor the salary cap position of each team.
(d) Starting with the 2022 Auction/Draft, the most money a team can bring into the auction is $125. For 2021, this cap is $140.
3.2 Roster Penalty Tax. Upon completing cuts and establishing its pre-auction roster, each team that has less than 13 players shall be assessed a salary cap penalty. The penalty shall be $3 for the first player, $4 for the second player, and so on. [Example: 12 man roster, penalty is $3; 10 man roster, penalty is $12 - $3+$4+$5].
3.3 Player Contracts. Prior to the closing of the waiver wire each team must assign its newly acquired players a contract term of one to four years. All player contracts held as of the close of the Post-Auction Waiver process are guaranteed for the remaining life of the contract at the assigned salary cap value.
3.4 Release of Previously Rostered Players – On Cut Date. Players that were on the prior year’s major or minor league roster, and whose contract has not yet expired can be released from their contracts by paying a severance fee equal to 50% of the remaining value of the contract due (# years remaining times salary). The payment can be made in full in the year the player is cut, or over the remaining term of the contract. A player that has been cut but is being paid over time does NOT count against either the 25 man major league roster or the 30 man total roster. Announcement of these cuts must occur at the time designated by the commissioner for cuts, such cuts cannot occur after this date or during the auction.
3.5 Release of Previously Rostered Players – At Waiver Wire. Players that remained on the roster after the cut date, and that are cut during the Post-Auction Waiver process, have already earned their salary for the upcoming season. If a player has the upcoming year plus one future year on his contract when cut, the future year will be paid in that year. If a player has the upcoming year plus 2 or 3 future years the manager will determine whether the player will be a Fully Paid Cut or a Term Cut at the Cut Date during the following offseason.
3.6 Deferred Salary Cap Charge. A team that has no remaining salary cap is allowed to use $1 of its next year’s salary cap only if
the roster review committee requires a player change.
3.7 Release of Newly Acquired Players. A player that was won at the current year’s auction can be released during the waiver wire process, but the team remains responsible for 100% of the player’s auction value for the current year. The team would have no future commitment to the player.
3.9 Retention of No Card Players. Players that are not eligible to remain on a major league roster may be placed in the minors. The player’s graduation date remains unchanged (the clock is ticking), and the player takes up one of the 5 minor league slots allocated to each team. For the year that the player has no card, the team will be charged for 25% of his salary cap total.
4.0 - The Annual
Auction
4.1 Date/Location. The annual auction shall be held in March,
prior to the beginning of the season, at a site and time selected by the
commissioner.
4.2 Players Eligible. Only those players eligible, as set forth in
the Section on Rosters above, shall be eligible for the auction. Hitters with no defensive position listed are
not eligible for the auction.
4.3 Number Selected /Cuts. The number of open roster spots on the 30 man pre-auction roster shall be determined after player
cuts are made, with such cuts being finalized on a date established by the
commissioner. Each team must cut enough
players to be within its Salary Cap as of the cut date.
4.4 Priority Order. Priority order is used during the waiver
process and to settle ties during the auction process, and
shall be in reverse order of the final season records from the previous year
(worst record shall have 1st priority, second worst shall have 2nd
priority, etc.). The priority order of two or more teams with identical records
shall be decided by a coin toss by the commissioner. The world series winner shall have 12th
priority, the world series loser 11th priority, semi-final losers 9th and 10th based on regular
season records, and the other playoff team 8th.
4.5 Automatic Eligibility Players (Formerly RFAs). Players that are signed to 3 or 4 year contracts, either immediately after the auction or upon promotion from the minors, will be designated as Automatically Eligible Players. A player shall retain the AEP status until graduation provided that they remain on the same team that drafted them at their original salary for the term of their service.
a) The first 60 players will be auctioned off, in a predetermined order based on anticipated contract values. The composition of the Top 60 will approximate 32 to 37 pitchers (favoring rightys about 3:1 and light on lefty relievers) and 23 to 28 position players (2 to 4 per position).
b) After the Top 60 have been auctioned, we will switch to draft format. Draft order will be random and will be reestablished for each dollar level. We will draft players at each dollar level until no teams want to select a player at that price. We will proceed in the randomized order (no a snake order) for that dollar level, and the reset the random order for the next dollar level.
c) The first round of the draft will be for $20 players. When it is a team’s turn to draft, if there is a player that they want to purchase for $20 they may do so, or they may pass.
d) The following rounds of the draft will be for $16, $12, $10, $8, $6, $4, $3, $2, and $1.
e) From the time a team goes on the clock, they will have 60 seconds to select a player. Failure to make a pick in 60 seconds does NOT forfeit the pick, but the team that has the next choice may pick during any time after the 60 seconds has elapsed. When any pick is made, the clock stops for administrative duties, and restarts when the commissioner or his designee so states. It is possible to have 3 or more teams all on the clock if the selection process has slowed.
f) There will be a meaningful break after the Top 60 for roster evaluation prior to the draft rounds. There will be other breaks at the end of rounds as agreed upon (as per usual).
g) Player acquisition shall continue until each team has 30 players on its roster or has exhausted salary cap dollars.
4.7 Minimum Contracts. Upon completion of the player selection process, each player will be assigned either a contract of either 3 or 4 years. The only exception is that prior to the beginning of the auction, some players may be designated as “1 year only” players by the commissioner. These players will typically be those that are not anticipated to produce future SOM cards.
4.8 Minimum Bids / Increments / Rounding of Salaries. The minimum opening bid shall be $1, and all bids shall be in whole numbers. The salary that results from any formula that is applied (such as multiplying by 25% to calculate the cost of a cut player) that results in a fractional amount shall be rounded upward to the nearest whole number (e.g. $4.25 becomes $5).
4.9 Invalid Bids. Any bid that, if successful in winning the player, would meet any of the following criteria, shall be invalid; a) the bid puts the team over its salary cap, b) the bid leaves the team with fewer dollars available under the salary cap than it has open positions on the major league roster, c) would put the team over 30 players.
4.10 Bidding on Passed Players. Upon completion of bidding on a player, any team can open the bidding on any player that was previously announced for auction but for whom no opening bid was made.
4.11 PCL Roster Committee. At a time to be specified by the
Commissioner, which must be after the end of the Auction but prior to the
closing of the Waiver Wire, each team’s roster shall be reviewed by the PCL
Roster Committee. Such committee shall
be named by the commissioner. The
committee shall objectively and subjectively examine each PCL roster to
determine compliance with PCL rules, including but not limited to a) having two
players rated for each position, b) having enough starting pitchers and innings
by starters, c) having enough innings in the bullpen, d) having enough at bats
at each position, and e) ensuring that there are no ineligible players on the
roster. Additionally, the Operations Director or his designee shall review the
roster to determine compliance with the salary cap. The committee shall make
recommendations as to roster make-up, player usage, Visiting Manager
Instructions, and any other usage matters it deems appropriate. An owner who disagrees with the
recommendations of the committee can appeal to the commissioner, or to the
group at large.
4.12 Waivers. At the conclusion of the annual auction,
teams are allowed to select any remaining eligible
player, by virtue of the owner's declaration of such waiver selection. The salary cap charge for a player claimed on
waivers will be $1. If the claiming of
the player would put the team over 30 players or over the salary cap, the owner
must immediately announce the waiver of one or more existing roster
players. Proceeding in priority order,
each team shall either announce a waiver move or pass in rapid succession. This process shall continue for one to two rounds, and may be extended if teams are prepared to
announce additional waiver moves. Upon
conclusion of these waiver rounds, additional waiver moves may be made (first
in time, first in right) until the closing of the Waiver Wire, which time shall
be announced by the commissioner. Once
the Waiver Wire has closed, the teams are no longer allowed to make roster
changes (either through acquisition of waiver players or through promotion of a
minor league player) for the remainder of the season.
4.13
The “Richard
Hidalgo” Rule. A waived player
is not eligible until the following year’s auction.
5.0 - The Games
5.1 Designated Hitter. This league will not use the designated
hitter.
5.2 The Season. The season shall consist of 90 games.
5.4 Same Owner Series. Series to be played between teams having the
same owner shall be played at the beginning of the season.
5.5 Instructions. Each team's owner will play all of its home games and mail instructions governing the
play of his team while on the road. Changes
to instructions once they have been published should be minimized,
and should have an emphasis on correcting over-usage. While not changed in other parts of the
rules, for 2016 only the league will experiment with having all games played by
the Visiting Manager. After playing this
way for a year we will vote on whether to adopt this permanently, however, a
tie vote would cause us to revert to the old system of home managers playing
the games.
5.6 Mailing Deadline. All instructions must be mailed on or before
April 15th or the home team's manager may play against such team without any
limiting conditions.
5.7 Use of Instructions. The home team's decisions for the visiting
team shall be bound primarily by such instructions, and secondarily, by an
objective good faith effort to present such visiting team's abilities in its
best light. In the case of conflict
between the two, the instructions shall take precedent.
5.8 Keeping Score. The home team's manager shall be
responsible for sending to the league operations director and the visiting
manager the Game Export Files for each game played. Upon completion of each
game, the home manager is to save the box score and play by play files (at
least). Games which need to be recreated
on the computer (e.g. played with dice and cards), are
to be recreated by the home manager.
5.9 Injuries. No player shall be injured for a period
longer than the last game of the series in which he was injured.
5.10 Completion of the Season. All regular season games must be completed by
a date which is to be established by the commissioner and communicated to the
owners during or prior to the annual convention. Failure to complete the home season by this
date shall subject a team to the following penalties: 1) the team shall not be
eligible to participate in the playoffs; and 2) the team may be subjected to a
salary cap penalty.
5.11 Orderly Progression of the Season. In order for managers to enjoy a realistic progression
of games being played from the spring throughout the summer and to increase the
likelihood of compliance with the rule governing Completion of the Season, the
commissioner will publish a schedule indicating how many home games each team
is to play by specific due dates. Once
these due dates have past, and the manager’s games have not been played, a
final warning with a final due date will be assigned. If this final due date passes without the
games in question being played, a surrogate manager will be appointed to play
these games.
Any owner who believes that he may be unable to keep current with this
requirement should consult the commissioner as soon as possible. While the
delinquent manager may recommend to the commissioner a surrogate manager to
play his games, this decision as to who plays these games rests solely with the
commissioner. Every effort will be made
by the commissioner to appoint a surrogate manager who does not have a conflict
of interest regarding the games in question.
5.12 Manager’s Best Effort to Win. The manager is expected to make every effort
to maximize his team’s win total for the season, even if his general manager
has obtained and signed players with an eye toward the future. This best effort to win should be evident in
the team’s instructions, as well as in game management situations. Failure to make such effort could result in a
salary cap penalty, at the Commissioner’s discretion.
5.13 Strat-O-Matic Rules. Strat-O-Matic rules shall apply except as set
forth in the following sections. An
effort has been made to match PCL rues to SOM rules as closely as possible, in order to allow use of the SOM computer game (see section
9). Any changes that SOM makes to the
game that cannot be modified with computer options are automatically adopted by
the PCL. Any changes to Player Cards that are announced after the Annual Player
Auction shall NOT be accepted for play during that season.
6.0 - Pitchers
6.1 Starts. No pitcher may start more than 20 games in a given year.
6.2 Required Rest. A minimum 5 man
rotation must be used. No pitcher may
start more than 1 game per 3 or 4 game series.
6.3 Eleven is Enough. Regardless of his endurance factor inning, a
starter shall pitch no more than 11 innings.
6.4 Two Batters is Not Enough - Joe Saunders
Rule. A starting pitcher may not be
removed from the game until one of the following events occurs: a) he has pitched at least 4 innings; b) he
has given up 4 or more runs; c) he has given up 3 or more runs and it is the 3rd
inning or later; or d) he is tired. The
only exception is that he may be pinch hit for after pitching three innings
regardless of how many runs he has allowed. See playoff rules for a modified version of
this rule for the playoffs.
6.NEW Minimum Batters for Relievers. Starting
with the 2021 season, a relief pitcher may not be removed from the game until
he has faced at least three batters or ended the half inning.
6.5 Minimum Endurance Rating for a Starter. A pitcher with a Starting Endurance rating of
less than 4 may not start a game. If
such pitcher is a Starter Only, he shall be assigned a Reliever rating equal to
the Starter Rating on the card.
6.6 The Closer Rule. The PCL does not use the closer rule. See the subsection entitled One-Inning Relievers
for a related issue.
6.7 Maximum Innings For
a Reliever. A relief pitcher shall
pitch no more than two innings beyond his endurance factor in any game. For a series, a relief pitcher may pitch the
number of innings that result from the following calculation: Endurance factor + number of games in the
series [ a 3 inning reliever in a 4 game series could
pitch 3 + 4 = 7 innings]. During the
Playoffs, each 7 game series shall be treated as one series, meaning that a 3
inning reliever shall be limited to 10 innings for the series [ 3 + 7 = 10 ].
6.8 Minimum
Batters for Relievers. Starting with the 2021 season, a relief pitcher may
not be removed from the game until he has faced at least three batters or ended
the half inning.
6.9 Consecutive Games For
a Reliever. A relief pitcher may not
pitch in three consecutive games in the same series. [see Emergency Use of Ineligible Pitchers for exception]
6.10 One-Inning Relievers. In order to compensate strong closers for the
fact that the PCL has not adopted Closer Rules, a 1 inning reliever with a
closer rating of 4 outs or more is treated as a 2 inning
reliever. Additionally, a 1 inning
reliever that has 60 or more innings pitched on his card is to be treated as a 2 inning reliever.
6.11 The “Ismael Valdes Rule”. A pitcher who starts more than 12 games in
the PCL shall be considered a Starter Only, and cannot
relieve during the PCL season [see Emergency
Use of Ineligible Pitchers for exception].
6.12 Starting and Relieving in the Same Series. Pitchers that are designated as both Starters and
Relievers by their SOM cards may not serve in both capacities during the same
series. [see Emergency Use of Ineligible Pitchers for exception]
6.13 Starters as Relievers. No starter may pitch in a relief role and
vice versa unless his card designates him as such [see Emergency Use of Ineligible Pitchers for exception]. However, after all relievers have been used
in a game, a starting pitcher may be used in relief. In such a case, the next pitcher to relieve
must be a starter not scheduled for the series or the starter for the next game
in the series if all unscheduled starters have been used.
6.14 Emergency Use of Ineligible Pitchers. There are three classes of pitchers that are
ineligible to pitch in a game unless an emergency situation
exists. These classes are identified in
subsections 6.7, 6.11, and 6.12. In an
extended game, after all eligible relievers have been used, ineligible pitchers
are to be used in the following order: 1) Pitchers with Starter only status who
have not pitched in the series; 2) Pitchers with Starter only status who have
not pitched in the most recent two games of the series; 3) Reliever who has
pitched in the last two games of the existing series.
This
rule does not allow a reliever to exceed his limit on maximum innings per
series. A manager shall not manage his
team in a fashion as to intentionally gain advantage by the
use of these otherwise ineligible pitchers. This would preclude taking the last eligible
pitcher that had innings available to pitch out of the game, unless there was
an offensive advantage to be obtained that justifies the removal of the pitcher.
6.15 Endurance Factor For
Starters Who Relieve. A starting
pitcher who relieves in an emergency situation is
subject to the endurance treatment that is assigned by the computer game. His endurance factor for the game in which he
relieves and any subsequent starts in that series are not to be manually
adjusted.
7.0 - Defensive
Players - Positioning
7.1 Catcher Blocking the Plate. The PCL has adopted the blocking the plate
rule.
7.2 WP/PB/Balk Rules. The PCL has adopted these rules.
7.3 Maximum E-Ratings. Maximum E Ratings have been adopted by the
PCL.
7.4 Maximum Range Ratings.
7.5 Pitchers. A position player may not pitch
and a pitcher may not play a fielding position, except that he may pinch hit
and pinch run.
7.6 Other Positions. At all other positions, a player may play out of position only in the eighth inning or later or where necessitated by injury (and only where no other player with the position is available). Such player shall be a "5" fielder and he shall have the maximum "e" rating for that position. Additionally, a player at catcher or outfield shall have a +5 arm (and catchers shall have a T-rating of 1-20). Note: See Rule 10.3 “Geovany Soto Rule” for playoff application.
7.7 LF-5 At Other OF Positions. SOM allows 5 rated left fielders to play RF or CF as a 5 rated fielder. As long as SOM allows this the PCL will accept the SOM ratings for these players.
8.0 - Batters
and Hitting
8.2 Balks/Wild Pitches/Passed Balls. The super advanced chart rules relating to
balks, wild pitches, and passed balls shall be used.
8.3 Weather Effects. Weather Effects shall not be used for PCL
play.
8.4 Limitation on use of Intentional Walks. Intentional walks cannot be issued prior to
the 8th inning under the following circumstances: 1) with the bases empty, 2) any time first
base is occupied. In the 8th
inning or later you may walk a hitter under any circumstances.
9.0 -
Stealing/Advancement of Runners
9.1 Good
Leads. The SOM Super Advanced
Stealing system is in use by the PCL.
9.2 The Hitter During a Steal Attempt. Once an attempt to roll for a good lead is
undertaken the batter may not be taken out for a pinch hitter.
9.3 Conceding the Stolen Base. At any time a
defensive manager may elect not to contest a stolen base attempt, and thereby
avoid the risk of the catcher making a throwing error.
9.4 Trailing Runner. The SOM rules regarding sending trailing
runners, throwing to the cutoff man, and cutting off a throw for the lead
runner are in effect.
10.0 – The
Playoffs
10.1 The "Ken McMullen Rule" - Part 3. No batter with less than 150 at bats (125 for
a Catcher) or 80 innings pitched, as referenced on his card, will be eligible
to start a post-season game.
10.2 The “Dave Doster Rule” or Ken McMullen Rule
Part 4. In any playoff series, each
player is limited to 15% of the AB or IP that appear on his card, rounded to
the nearest AB or IP.
10.3 The “Geovany Soto Rule”: Position Players
out of Position During Playoffs. During the playoffs, rule 7.7 is modified to
read “after the eighth inning” instead of “in the eighth inning or later”.
10.5 Playoff Seeds and Format. The three division winners will be seeded #1,
#2, and #3 for the playoffs (in order of their respective records), and the
teams with the next two best records will be wild card entrants into the
playoffs, seeded #4, and #5. Seed #4
will host seed #5 in the first round of the playoffs. The second round will see
the #1 seed hosting the winner of the #4 vs #5 series, with #2 hosting #3. Finally, the Championship series will pit the
two remaining teams. Each series
consists of a best of seven games format.
In any playoff series, the team with the higher seed shall be the home
team for games 1, 2, 6 and 7.
10.6 Tie-Breakers for
Playoff Seeding. In the event that
one or more playoff teams are tied for a playoff position, the following
tie-breakers will be used to establish which seed is
assigned to each team: 1) Head to head competition, 2) If teams are within the
same division, division record, 3) Coin toss.
In the event of a tie between three or more teams, the same tie-breakers shall apply.
If a certain tie-breaker eliminates (either
through victory or defeat) a team from the tie, but two or more teams remain
tied, the tie-breaker procedure continues on to the next level rather than
reverting to the first tie-breaker for the smaller group of teams.
10.7 Tie-Breakers for Qualifying for Playoffs. In the event that
there is a tie in the end of season standings whereby one or more of the tied
teams will qualify for the playoffs, and one or more of the tied teams will not
qualify, the following playoff procedures will be used. Starting pitching rotation for playoff games
shall be a two pitcher minimum format, with all other
injuries and fatigue reset after each game. Play-in games shall be played using
playoff rules, and all play-in games shall be considered one playoff series for
the purpose of calculating usage limitations.
Home teams for play-in games shall be determined as shown in brackets
below:
·
2 teams for 1 spot - Playoff game <head
to head regular season, else coin flip>
·
3 teams for 1 or 2 spots - Round robin tournament, if
split 1-1, run differential tiebreaker <coin flips, ensuring 1 home and 1 road
game for each team>
·
4 teams for x spots - Single elimination playoff
tournament, random draw for opponents. <after draw, use head
to head then coin flips for home team, “finals” home team by head to
head then coin flip.>
·
5 or more teams for x spots - Single elimination playoff
tournament, random draw for byes and opponents <same as 4 teams above>.
10.8 Injuries (rule 5.10). All injured players shall return to health
during the next travel day in the playoff series. The most games a player could miss due to a
single injury would be the remainder of game 3, plus all of games 4 and 5
before the travel day would heal his wounds.
10.9 Required Rest - Playoffs. Starting pitchers that have an asterisk
endurance rating may start in the playoffs after two games of rest, while
starting pitchers without an asterisk must rest for three games between
starts. A pitcher that has relieved in a
playoff game must rest at least three games (two games if an asterisk) before
starting a game in the same seven game playoff series. A pitcher that has started a game must rest
three games (two games if he has an asterisk) before he can relieve in the
series. All pitchers are considered
fully rested at the beginning of any seven game playoff series.
10.10 Maximum Innings For
a Reliever (rule 6.5). During the
Playoffs, each 7 game series shall be treated as one series, meaning that a 3
inning reliever shall be limited to 10 innings for the series [ 3 + 7 = 10 ]. This maximum is
reduced, if applicable, by the Dave Doster Rule (10.2) to arrive at a maximum
number of innings for a reliever in a series.
In the event that one or more games in the
series lasts longer than 14 innings, all relievers used in those games will be
allowed 1 extra inning for the series for each game he pitched in that goes
beyond 14 innings.
10.11 Starters as Relievers - Playoffs. During the playoffs, all pitchers that are
rated as starter only are to have Reliever/3 or Reliever/4 added to their
rating as follows; pitchers with less than 150 innings on the card will be
Rel/3 while pitchers with 150 innings or more will be Rel/4.
10.12 Two Batters is Not Enough - Joe Saunders Playoff
Rule. Beginning with the 2015
playoffs, a Starting Pitcher may not be removed from the game until one of the
following events occurs: a) he has
pitched at least 3 innings; or b) he has given up 2 or more runs.
10.13 Marathon Playoff Games and Pitcher Usage. The 15 Innings is Enough rule is not in
effect in the playoffs. However, in a
very long game, if both managers feel that the series is at risk of
becoming a farce based on the long game, they may elect to wash out the
game. Pitcher usage in extreme games
should first be to use all pitchers that are eligible to pitch in the game
(realizing that if you are past 14 innings you have an extension on the number
of innings per series available).
Starters that have pitched recently (not yet eligible to start a game)
should be used based on who is closest to being ready to start, and the die
rolls must be monitored to catch Tired “dot” rolls since the game may not know
the starter is tired. Finally, starting
pitchers who are scheduled to start before the next break in the series should
be the last to be used and the scheduled starter for the following day may not
be used. (note, the game may consider them to be tired when they make their
next start, an outcome that should not be reversed). All pitchers, including starting pitchers
(subject to Rule 10.9) will be reset at the next break in the series.
10.14 Completion of Playoffs. While the league encourages head to head play during the playoffs, it is also important
for the participating teams to push to get the games played as quickly as is
practical in order to get the season completed and allow for the beginning of
off-season activities.
11.0 - The
Computer Game
11.1 Computer Game Adopted. The SOM CDROM version of the computer game
has been adopted by the PCL. The
Commissioner shall be responsible to ensure that guidance is distributed to all
owners each year as to the settings for the computer game.
11.2 Maximum Rules. The only one of the Maximum Rules that is
used by the PCL is the Robbing the HR Rule.
11.3 SOM Regulator. The SOM Regulator shall not be used by the
PCL.
11.4 Fielding Ratings/Endurance Factors. Each manager is responsible to ensure that
the SOM computer ratings correspond with the SOM card ratings. In the event of any discrepancy, the card
ratings will be adopted as official. The
manager must instruct other managers to change any incorrect ratings as part of
his instructions. These instructions
shall be specific (i.e. "change Tinkers' from
ss4e48 to ss4e28", not "check Tinkers' ss rating"), and cover
fielding ratings and endurance factors (a 1 inning reliever that needs to be a
2 inning reliever).
11.5 Game Export Files and Box Score & Play
by Play Files. These files are to be
sent to the visiting manager consistent with subsection 5.12 of these
rules. These files are to be sent as
quickly as is reasonably possible after completion of the series.
Approved Rules Changes
that affect 2021 Only.
|
Keep existing rosters, Use SOM Projected cards for
2021. |
|
Covid Opt Out players (9 on the Covid tab of the Roster file) can go into IR for free in
2021, or they can be cut with the 2021 portion of the cut cost being $0. 2022
and 2023 costs are as usual. A manager that keeps one of these 9 players may
extend his contract for one additional year at the cut date. |
|
All starting pitchers shall have their starting
endurance factor increased by 1 for 2021 only. |
Deleted references to M Class players in 2.2, 2.13, 2.14b, 3.7.
3.1 Salary Cap. Every team will receive a salary cap for each season of $275 for a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 30 players. Teams must be within the cap at all times after cuts are announced, including during the auction, at the waiver wire, and at all times during the PCL season. In order to be within the salary cap, the sum of a team’s committed salaries plus its open major league roster spots must not exceed the salary cap. A team may be over the cap during the off-season, but must be within the salary cap upon announcing its cuts. Other salary cap details include:
(a) Salary cap dollars cannot be traded.
(b) Unspent salary cap dollars cannot be carried over to future years.
(c) The Operations Director or commissioner will appoint one or more league members to monitor the salary cap position of each team.
(d) Starting
with the 2022 Auction/Draft, the most money a team can bring into the auction
is $125. For 2021, this cap is $140.
3.4 Release
of Previously Rostered Players – On Cut Date. Players that were on the prior year’s major
or minor league roster, and whose contract has not yet expired can be released
from their contracts by paying a severance fee equal to 50% 25%
of the remaining value of the contract due (# years remaining times
salary). The payment can be made in full
in the year the player is cut, or over the remaining term of the contract. A player that has been cut but is being paid over time does NOT count against either the 25 man major
league roster or the 30 man total roster.
Announcement of these cuts must occur at the time designated by the
commissioner for cuts, such cuts cannot occur after this date or during the
auction.
3.8 Release
of No Card Players. Players that are
not eligible to remain on a major league roster may be cut from the team, with
the team paying the player 50% 25% of the remaining contract due (#
years remaining times salary). The team
has the same options for paying off the contract in a lump sum or over time as
they have for any Previously Rostered Player.
4.6 and 4.7 have been rearranged as follows:
4.6 Player Selection Format. Player selection is a combination of auction and draft styles, as follows.
h) The first 60 players will be auctioned off, in a predetermined order based on anticipated contract values. The composition of the Top 60 will approximate 32 to 37 pitchers (favoring rightys about 3:1 and light on lefty relievers) and 23 to 28 position players (2 to 4 per position).
i) After the Top 60 have been auctioned, we will switch to draft format. Draft order will be random and will be reestablished for each dollar level. We will draft players at each dollar level until no teams want to select a player at that price. We will proceed in the randomized order (no a snake order) for that dollar level, and the reset the random order for the next dollar level.
j) The first round of the draft will be for $20 players. When it is a team’s turn to draft, if there is a player that they want to purchase for $20 they may do so, or they may pass.
k) The following rounds of the draft will be for $16, $12, $10, $8, $6, $4, $3, $2, and $1.
l) From the time a team goes on the clock, they will have 60 seconds to select a player. Failure to make a pick in 60 seconds does NOT forfeit the pick, but the team that has the next choice may pick during any time after the 60 seconds has elapsed. When any pick is made, the clock stops for administrative duties, and restarts when the commissioner or his designee so states. It is possible to have 3 or more teams all on the clock if the selection process has slowed.
m) There will be a meaningful break after the Top 60 for roster evaluation prior to the draft rounds. There will be other breaks at the end of rounds as agreed upon (as per usual).
n) Player acquisition shall continue until each team has 30 players on its roster or has exhausted salary cap dollars.
4.7 Auction Order and Minimum Contracts. Upon completion of the player selection
process, each player will be assigned either a contract of either 3 or 4 years.
The only exception is that prior to the beginning of the auction, some players
may be designated as “1 yr only” players by the
commissioner. These players will
typically be those that are not anticipated to produce future SOM cards.
5.14 18
15 Innings in Enough. A PCL
game that remains tied after the 1815th inning shall
be deemed to have been a bad dream. The
game will be restarted as if it had never happened. The same lineups and starting pitchers should
be used in the replay. This rule does
not apply to playoff games. <Note: the game should not be saved, use
File / Close / Discard from the game menu>
Notes on Rules
Meetings
|
Result |
Proposal |
|
OK |
Keep existing
rosters, use SOM Projection cards |
|
OK |
IR Rules unchanged
except Covid Opt Out guys
are free for one year. |
|
NO |
|
|
Irrelevant |
Graduated players grandfathered
one more year, no Boston or Houston feeder teams. |
|
OK |
Cut players on non feeder teams are out (no rule change). |
|
|
|
|
NO DH |
|
|
OK |
Manager option to extend players one year for opt out players (per MLB list). 9 players – see roster file. |
|
OK |
3 Minimum batters for a reliever. Enacted for 2022 season. Note, changed on
1/29 to use in the 2121. |
|
OK |
Change max innings per game from 18 to 15. |
|
No |
26 man roster |
|
No |
Man on 2b in extra innings. |
|
|
|
|
11/15/20 |
|
|
Approve |
Cost to cut a player 50% rather than 25%, starts 2022 |
|
Tabled |
Players lost in
the www continue to be owed half of what the cost would have been to cut
them. There was an unclear motion to
change this which was not passed. |
|
Approve |
Minimum 3 years for player contracts. |
|
Approve |
No more M Class designation for newly acquired players
effective with 2021. |
|
Approve |
Max dollars available for the auction $140 for 2021 then
$125 after. |
|
Approve |
Auction 60 then draft starting in 2021 |
|
Approve |
Randomize every round |
|
Approve |
Rounds for $20-16-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1-1-1-1… |
|
Approve |
60 seconds to pick, if you don’t
pick the next guy can go and you can jump an anytime. |
|
Approve |
If MLB goes to all DH, revisit in during 2021 season
for 2022 and beyond |
|
|
|
|
1/29/21 |
|
|
Approve |
One year only, increase all starter endurance innings
by one |
|
Approve |
Use the three batter minimum
for relievers staring this year. Exception is if he finishes the inning he does not have to face three batters. |
|
|
|
|
2/6/21 |
Clarified that the Opt Out 9
players can be cut with no cost for the 2021 year. Cost for years 2022 and 2023 are as per
normal rules. Standard www rules apply here (note existing rules are clear
that any player with a reduced salary due to www can go into minors but
cannot receive IR benefit the year of the salary reduction) |
|
|
|
|
|
When game comes
out, need to ensure that the ‘man on 2b to start extra innings’ is turned off
in max rules if possible. If this
feature cannot be disabled, we will adopt it per our guidance that we adopt
everything we cannot change. |
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