League Rules

League Rules
World Series Champs Season 1
These rules are under construction and subject to changes as the league gets underway.
- screamNchicken - Commissioner
-- Vice-Commissioner
- ??????????????- Vice-Commissioner
*** Some league rules borrowed from MLB Real Men League and NHL League.
*** Rules subject to review and change by league commissioners as they try to do what is best for the league as a whole at all times.
MANAGERIAL EXPECTATION

If you are to miss an extended period of time you must message the commish before you leave and try to at least estimate how long you will be gone.

All owners must be active. Failure to be active within a period of 10 days without letting Commish or Vice know could lead to your replacement. If you come back later with some valid reason (hospital?) you will definitely be allowed back if a spot opens.

All owners must treat each and every owner with respect. No reason to flame anyone, if there is a dispute we can work it out like mature people. Immature owners will eventually have to be let go.

Always try to improve your team. Rebuilding is a form of improving. I don?t expect this to be a problem but if in the commish eyes you are doing something negative with your team for no valid reason, you will be warned only once. Collusion and double accounts are probably the biggest threats to league integrity. All owners should watch that closely and report any possible issues to the commish. If any of this is happening or if you are not improving then you can and most likely will be kicked out.

Any decision made by the commish is final. This is not a dictatorship, but the commish will make final decisions with honesty and integrity. Anything that needs to be put up for a vote will be.

This league of course encourages a great amount of competitiveness, but there needs to be a good deal of fun as well. Constant complaining about league on goings will eventually bring everyone down. As for chats and messages, a little swearing here and there won't hurt much and will be allowed as long as it isn't happening 24/7 every time an owner says something. So please let's keep swearing minimal.

Also RESPECT every owner in this league. Don't be disrespectful or mean to anyone in this league whether they deserve it or not. If you feel you have something negative to say, do it via a private message. There is no reason to say anything negative about an owner in the public chat. You can talk about not liking a move, but don't call another owner dumb or any other negative name. What purpose would that serve except to make you look like a jerk?

Trash talk is allowed and encouraged in this league as that's a part of sports and makes the league fun for all! Just don't get carried away.



Team Layout and restrictions:
** Upon initial entry into the league each owner has the opportunity to select one World Series Champion team from one year in MLB history. Owners may also select a non-World Series Champion if desired. Each team must be from between the years 1900 ? 2013. No owner may select a team that is within 5 years of another team an owner has previously already selected to use.
Ex. If an owner in the league has already selected to use the ?27 Yankees then a new owner entering the league may not use a Yankee team in the years 1922,1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932.
*** Policy for requesting teams/years:
Upon initial conception of the league, if two owners request the same team/year or if two owners request the same organization but within 5 years of each other the owners will have a one time silent bid ( sent to commish). The owner who is willing to run his franchise with the lowest salary cap ( for 3 seasons of cap restriction) will be awarded the franchise. See salary cap section for restrictions.

Player progressions, endurance and fatigue will be used.
Players used must meet the following criteria to be eligible to be rostered:
Minimum 50 AB for batters, 25 IP for SP, and 25 IP for RP
Teams will consist of 25 Major Leaguers and up to 15 Minor Leaguers
World Series teams do not all enter the league with the same exact number of players. To fill out and even rosters a Supplemental Draft or Free Agent bidding system will occur. The League office will fill the initial free agent pool with historical players for owners to rank in order for everyone to complete their rosters. Populating the free Agent Market will take place by using players from the teams/years of the opponents of the teams we initially choose. There will be SOME studs mixed in to spice up the free agent process a little and to provide owners an opportunity to improve their team and put their own stamp on the team they have chosen. The Free Agent process will be a bidding system that will take place on the league message board and is already outlined in the league rules.
In order to participate in Free Agent bidding a team must have already committed at least $50 million in salary to it?s main/current roster.
OFFSEASON:
Each team will be allowed to add one player from the next historical season for their franchise.
Ex. If I have the 75 Reds then at the completion of season 1 I can add any Cincinnati Red from the 1976 season who does not appear on the 1975 roster and who also is not currently on any other league roster. At the end of Season 2 I can add any player from the 1977 Cin Reds roster who meets the same criteria listed above? and so forth.*** PLEASE SEE THE AMENDMENT SECTION BELOW FOR CHANGES VOTED IN ***
The offseason free agent pool will fill up with historical players determined by the league office.
New owners entering after season 1 will have the option to continue using their inherited team ?as is? OR they can start fresh and pick any World Series Champion team who meets all limits and restrictions previously listed above. Owners starting fresh may only do so during the offseason.
Existing Owners wishing to switch teams:
Owners must complete at least 2 seasons with the team that they chose before switching rosters is an option. Owners can only switch teams 1 time within a five season span. Switching teams will cost an owner $25 million in Cap Space. Owners wishing to switch teams must have at least $75 million in open cap space in order to be eligible to make the switch. Any cap penalties and/or deals involving draft picks or cash carry over to the new franchise.
FIELD DIMENSIONS:
Ballpark Names and Dimensions will be consistent with the year and franchise each owner initially chooses at start of league.
Ex: If an owner chooses to use the ?80 Orioles the ballpark effects will be set up to most closely resemble Memorial Stadium?s set up in 1980.
Divisions will be set up where teams align as closely as possible with actual MLB divisions. Multiple teams from same organization will likely be placed in the same division.

Rules Layout
-League Rules
-Order of Events/Explanations
-General Rules

League Rules:
1. Swearing at someone (i.e. blowing up at someone) is prohibited. You only get one warning. The 2nd time is a fine. A 3rd is the boot.
2. No arguing. We are here to have fun. Don't act like this is actually the MLB.
3. You are allowed to tease someone lightly (i.e. After a sweep, you say "Get the brooms out...") But if it turns into something more hurtful or offending, you will be fined heavily.

1.) Order Of Events/Explanations
A) Spring Training Begins (30 games over 3 days)
B) Regular Season Begins (3 sims AM/ 3 sims PM)
*** 1 day granted off after every 15 games played
C) All Star Break (Day 94?3 days rest granted AFTER All Star Game is played) (CPU determines)
D) Trade Deadline (around Day 108) [Exact date will be determined by LM]
E) Free Agency Deadline (Day 140?)
F) Regular Season concludes (Game 162)
G) Post-Season Begins
H) Off-Season begins; Contracts must be signed for players you want to keep.
I) Players progressed, aged and retired. Prospect creation is open. 1 player from next season added to each roster.
J) Trading Re-Opens
K) Free Agent Bidding
L) Rookie Draft
M) Free for all free agency Opens
N) Spring Training of the New Season Begins

A.) Prospects: TBD


B.) Spring Training:
Spring training will consist of 30 games simulate over a period of 3 days. You will be allowed to have as many players on your MLB roster as you would like.

C.) All Star Game :
The WSC All Star Game will take place after game 93 is played. There will be a 2 day break while I perform the following.
League office will select all stars from each league.
All stars will be temporarily removed from their real rosters to be placed on All Star roster.
All star game will be simmed.
Players will be replaced on their actual rosters.
All players will be granted 3 days rest.
**** Each owner will have to re do their line ups as the process listed above will disrupt everyone's rosters.
WSC simming will resume after 2 day break*** PLEASE SEE THE AMENDMENT SECTION BELOW FOR CHANGES VOTED IN ***

Odd numbered seasons will be hosted by the American League? Even numbered Seasons will be hosted by the National League.*** PLEASE SEE THE AMENDMENT SECTION BELOW FOR CHANGES VOTED IN ***

D.) Rookie Contracts:
All rookies and prospects must be signed to rookie contracts. Rookie contracts are a great way to allow yourself to have developing players at a smaller price than the system would set up for you. In the final year of your rookie/prospect contract, please contact the league office to negotiate the extension. Extending rookie contracts will be a specific event set up for either during the playoffs or immediately following the playoffs. If you choose not to extend their contracts, the players will be moved into the free agent pool with the rest of the players as we progress into the new season. All draft picks and prospects must be signed to contracts if they are to stay on your team. You do not have to sign your picks if you choose not to. Please read under draft for more details on this process. The contracts for players is as follows:

Prospects-$3/2years
1st RD Pick-$3/2years
2nd RD Pick-$2/2years
3rd RD Pick-$1/1years

******edited on 6/5/15:
New prospect financials:
All prospects will be $2 / 2 years no matter what round they are drafted in. Makes it easier to bulk update for commish.

E.) Roster Size:
You are allowed to have 25 players on your MLB roster during the season and 15 minor league players. During spring training, you can have as many on your MLB roster as you would like. Upon completion of spring training, you will be notified to get your rosters down to the correct size. Failure to do so will allow the league office to do so on your behalf and you will be fined $5 in cap space. If you continue to fail to correct your roster size, you will be booted.

F.) All Star Break:
The All Star Break will take place after Game 93. There will be a three day real break as well as three simulated days of rest for players.

G.) Trades:
You will be allowed to have 20 trades per season/off season cycle. There is rarely any case on this site where someone in this league type has good reason to go over that number. The trade deadline will be game 120. 1 day (24 hours) will be given at the trading deadline to allow owners to work and finalize deals. A time deadline will be announced by the league office at which point the trading for the current season will end.

H.) Season Free Agents:
During the regular season, free agency will be open for teams to pick up and drop any players of their choosing. Free agency and drops will end after game 145. There will be a reminder message approximately 24 hours before the deadline. Upon the completion of game 145, free agency and drops will close.

I.) Playoffs- The playoffs will begin right after the regular season.

Breakdown of the playoffs is as follows:

a.) 1 Simulated Day Off Granted to all teams
20 teams. 10 teams in each conference. 2 divisions in each conference.
2 division winners in each conference and 2 wild cards from each conference make the playoffs for a total of 8 playoff teams

b.) Round 1: Division Winners are seeds #1 and #2 and have home field advantage. Wild Cards become seeds #3 and #4 based on record.
5 Game Series:
-Games 1,2 Simulated
-Simulated Day Off
-Games 3,4 Simulated (#4 If Necessary)
-Simulated Day Off
-Game 5 (If Necessary)

c.) Round 2: 7 Game Series ? home team based on record
-Games 1,2 Simulated
-Simulated Day Off
-Games 3,4 Simulated (#4 If Necessary)
-Simulated Day Off
-Game 5,6,7 (If Necessary)
-Simulated Day Off before Championship Series (Will be given upon completion of all series)

d.) Championship Series: 7 Game Series - Highest Seed Receives Home Field Advantage
-Games 1,2 Simulated
-Simulated Day Off
-Games 3,4,5 Simulated (#5 If Necessary)
-Simulated Day Off
-Games 6,7 (If Necessary)
-Simulated Day Off before World Series (Will be given upon completion of both series)


J.) Off Season Free Agency:
.
FREE AGENCY BIDS
-GM's will submit an offer for a player to the LM. That offer will be posted on the main board. After 24 hours of being on the main board and no one has offered a higher bid, then that team gains that FA. Note: FA will last at least 4 days and up to 10 GM's digression. Please submit your bids as the following: Player name....How Many Years?....1st Year Salary....CONTRACTS WILL NOT INCREASE PER YEAR . The max length of contract will be 10 years.



*Free Agency Notes*: Format should be as follows: Player?s First/Last Name, Position, $ Amount/# of years = Total of two multiplied together. (I.E. Matt Harvey, SP, $10x5years=$50.)
All bids once recorded are final. Once a bid is submitted, there is a 24 hour period. If no one else bids on that player within the 24 hour period, the bid is finalized, and the player is won by the winning bid's team. If a bid is submitted on a player who already has a bid on that player, the 24 hour clock is restarted, for the new bid. Maximum years is 10, except that each team may submit one bid that is up to 12 years. The 12 year bid must be worth at least $120. I will try to keep up with free agency, by updating the home page when ever possible, but I will not always be on top of it, that is the reason I want everyone to submit their bids league wide, so that everyone can see it. If you have any questions with FA, please ask me.

K.) Rookie Draft:
The rookie draft will consist of 3 rounds. Draft order will be determined picks 1-15 by record. World Series winners will get the 15th pick and the runners up will receive the 14th. In case of a tie, head to head record will be used. If there is still a tie then run differential will be used. The time and date of the draft will be by league choice through a poll. The league office will attempt to give about a week?s notice from the earliest draft. After the completion of the draft, each team will have 48 hours to sign players to rookie contracts. You do not have to offer any of the players you picked in the draft contracts if you do not wish to do so. Simply message the league office with either the picks you don?t want to sign, or those you do and we will make sure those players end up on your roster with the ones that are not wanted. The ones that you don't want will be put through the waiver process. If you don?t have the cap space to sign them, you may still sign them to rookie contracts. However, keep in mind that you must be at or below your total cap room by the beginning of the season.

2.) General Rules

A.) Cap Space:
Each team will start with an even $175 in cap space. The most amount of cap space a team can acquire is $200. The least a team can have is $125. This will help to ensure that all teams will stay on a semi-even playing field. Players will not demand raises and the only way a player with have a raise is if he is signed with a raise through free agency. Cap penalties will be assessed to any team failing to stay under their cap maximum.

B.) TRADES
-Trades involving things such as draft picks, cap space etc. I must get a message from both owners involved for it to go through.
C.) Cutting Contracts:
You may cut any contracts that you wish. CUTTING PLAYERS
-You may cut two players per season. The season starts at the 1st game of spring training. You must pay half of the players total salary rounded up. The cut contracts will directly hit your cap space that your team has. Players that have their contracts cut will be placed in a 48 hour waiver system. See Waiver System for more information. New owners will have the ability to cut three contracts with no penalty upon entering. They may also extend 3 contracts.

D.) Simulation Schedule:
3 sims in the morning and 3 sims at night for 6 total each day.


E.) Waiver Wire:
The Waiver Wire will apply to all contracts that are cut and to all picks/prospects that are not signed to rookie contracts. When a contract is cut, the player will be posted on the home page for a total of 48 hours along with what the original contract amount and total years on it. During this time period, teams may send a message to the league office to ?claim? that player off of waivers. Claims will be based on the standings. Teams submitting a claim are responsible for the players contract. If after 48 hours no GM has submitted a claim then the original team has the option to keep the player at his original salary OR allow him to become a free agent. If he becomes a free agent then the original team owes the player 50% of his total salary rounded up. GM's are only allowed to cut/waive two players per season.

**** UPDATE: Starting in Season 17 any player put on waivers will immediately become a free agent if no other GM claims that player within the 48 hour window. An owner must specify in their original message waiving a player if they would like to retain that player should no GM claim the player off of waivers.


F.) RETIREMENT
-Retirement will be used at age 40, with the qualification of that player not being under contract.

G.) Player Progression:
Players will get better until they are 28 and then plateau. At age 32, they will begin to decline.
CONVERSION
-Each year during the offseason, you may convert 1 players position. Conversions must be realistic. If the LM considers the conversion to be unrealistic then he has the right to refuse the conversion. Note stats may slightly change for players who have converted positions
-Each year during the offseason, you may convert up to 1 SP to RP. SP must be at least 32. Stats will be altered slightly. Only SP who are signed to at least a 2 year contract may be converted.

H.) Contracts
You may sign up to 40 players to contracts, but no more than that.

I.) TANKING
-If a team is believed to be tanking (i.e. doing as bad as possible to get a higher draft pick) Then the LM will send them a message warning them. If it continues then they will lose their 1st round and 2nd round picks and will be docked $10 in the salary cap. League managers have the right to boot any owner believed to continually tank their team.
J.) Requests to start fresh with new teams/franchises will be considered during the offseason.

Amendments based on voting following Season 3:
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to the message regarding potential league improvements. Based on the results and opinions of the 13 owners who responded here are the changes we will go with starting with Season 4:
1. Owners will now be able to choose chronological players in reverse order if they so choose. I will keep records of players that owners choose to ensure they do not skip a season.
2. Owners will have the option to select 2 chronological players each season. Owners may select 1 player from a previous season and one player from a future season. If they wish owners may also instead select two players from a previous season OR two players from a future season. The rule still applies that they can not skip a chronological year in history to get to a more desired player in a more desirable season. The commissioner's office reserves the right to make the rookie draft class slightly less of an impact since teams will be adding additional talent each year through chronological players.
3. There will no longer be a full out stoppage for the All Star Game. The CPU will select All Stars. There will still be 3 days rest granted surrounding the All Star Break
4. The All Star Game will NOT factor in home field advantage during the World Series. Record will determine home field during the post season.
5. Owners voted ALMOST unanimously to NOT have a cap during free agency. Owners are encouraged to watch their cap wisely during bidding free agency.
6. Since we voted NO to question #5 then Question #6 is a non factor.

Spring Training and Seasonal requirements:
The following requirements MUST be met or your team will face the appropriate fine:
*** Major league roster must not be greater then 25 players... $3 fine if commish has to fix
*** Minor League roster may not exceed 15 players... $3 fine if commish has to fix
*** Major league roster must have at least 11 positional players and 9 pitchers... $3 fine if commish has to fix.
*** Team must be under their Cap before first game of spring training is played. This includes any fines that were added from list above.
Penalties for failing to meet cap requirements:
Teams $3 million or less over the cap at the start of Spring Training will lose their 2nd round pick.
Teams that are $4 million or more over the cap at the start of spring training will lose their 1st round pick AND be playoff ineligible for this postseason.
It is very important that everyone sets their lineups and checks their rosters to be sure they meet all requirements listed above.



New Extension Rules:

Contract Extension/Eligibility Requirements:

* Each team may choose up to one player per season to extend their contract
* Player must be on an expiring contract
* Player must have been previously signed to a contract of at least 3 years with their current team unless acquired via trade
* Players acquired via trade are eligible if they meet all other conditions
* Players whose contracts are extended also receive a no trade clause for duration of new contract
* There is a $5 million one time fee for extending a contract. Fee is applied for the NEXT season and is in addition to the contract money that the player is requesting.
* Player must have met the following minimums during the previous two seasons.
1. Batters must have had minimum of 250 AB's in each of the last 2 historical seasons ( 500 AB total)
2.) SP must have started at least 10 games in each of the last two seasons ( 20 total)
3.) RP must have appeared in at least 25 innings in each of the last two previous seasons ( 50 total)
* Rookie players are NOT part of this process. Teams may still handle the rookie contracts the same way we have done since Season 1.
* Players who have their contracts extended are not eligible to have their contracts cut OR be placed on waivers.
* RP's and Position players having their contracts extended must make a minimum total of $8 million per season under their new contract. These players must make at least $4 more per season then they were making during their expiring contract.
* SP's having their contracts extended must make a minimum total of $10 million per season under their new contract. These players must make at least $4 more per season then they were making during their expiring contract.


The Bonilla Rule:

When players are cut 50% of their salary is still owed over the length of their contract.
In the interest of clearing the books a little, owners now have the option to pay off a cut player all at once.
Example: DET34 recently cut Dave Hamilton. He was making $4 x 9 = $36, so DET34 owed him $2 over the next 9 seasons. For teams with cap room now, you may now pay that player $18 in Season 13 and be done with the cut penalties.
This saves me some work down the road. It also gives teams with immediate cap space the ability to pay off their debts and have more cash to spend down the road.

Rule addtions as of 1/22/2017:

1.) From this day forward GM's will NOT be allowed to deal rights to anything other then draft picks. This means that chrono player selections must be made by the team that owns them. basically, the only things that can be traded in this league are players, draft picks, and cash.

2.) Players with a No Trade Clause can not be traded/dropped/waived for any reason. When you sign a player to an extension you are locked into that contract for life. No exceptions. If the League Office announces bonuses similar to the Season 15 Celebration bonuses, players with a No Trade Clause are excluded from being able to be cut. Think hard before offering extensions.

3.) I have received MANY messages over the last few seasons with regards to new owners dealing away valuable picks. I have not wanted to put limits on new owners, but it seems that the majority of our core owners get upset when a new GM comes into our league, trades a few picks that he doesn't value , and then quits the league or becomes inactive. For this reason I am instituting a new rule where a new owner must make 3 draft picks in any draft before he is eligible to trade any of his picks. The best way to rebuild a team is through the draft and this will ensure that a new GM gets a feel for the talent available in the draft before dealing away his future. In order to qualify, an owner must make 3 picks in person ( live draft) OR 3 auto picks using his/her User List. Owners who are auto picked for and who did not pre rank any players will NOT have those picks counted toward their eventual ability to trade future picks. Any GM who participated in the Season 14 draft or any draft prior is grandfathered in and can deal picks. GM's who entered our league after the Season 14 draft must make 3 picks before dealing any future picks.
A new GM may message me directly and request an exemption from the league office. Exemptions to this rule will be based solely on PC experience in other leagues, general feedback from other PC GM's, and history in other leagues that demonstrates a long term commitment and general understanding of the value of the draft.

4.) The goal of the Season 15 bonuses was to create a buzz/interest in WSC. I wanted to reward each franchise with the ability to add players within from their own organization via a special, one time, 15 year chrono option. I wanted to create a unique draft class where each franchise would have the ability to draft young HOF caliber players with higher then usual potential ratings. The goal was to disperse these players evenly throughout the league. It has been pointed out to be that some less experienced GM's may not fully understand or appreciate the value of these picks/players, and that less active GM's who probably don't plan on attending or researching the draft class are more likely to deal and undervalue their picks. With this in mind, I have come to the difficult decision to keep a lock on dealing any more Season 15 draft picks. Any Season 15 draft pick deals that have already been reported to the League Office are still good. Normal trading of Season 16 draft picks and beyond will resume as usual when the appropriate time period is reached, assuming that the GM's involved have met all the criteria mentioned above in Rule #3. As a GM in the league, I love being able to acquire additional picks in any draft, but as Commish I feel obligated to make sure each franchise has an opportunity to acquire talent from what will eventually be the most talented draft class ever released in WSC. Owners will be able to deal any players acquired in this draft they wish as soon as the draft is complete. The lock/ban is only on trading the actual picks themselves, not the players involved. I hope everyone understands that I'm hoping this helps out the league overall. My goal has always been parity, fun, and uniqueness in WSC.

5.)From this point forward, only yearly raises/declines that fall into the +9 through -9 range will be accepted as it is much easier to let PC handle each year at progression time.

League Settings

Year Range of Stats	1900 - 2013
Roster Size (Majors)	25
Roster Size (Minors)	15
Keepers	(40 keepers)
Change Stats Allowed
Free Agency
Drops
No-Drop List
Player Fatigue
Batter Injuries	(20 games max)
Pitcher Injuries	(15 games max)
Use Pitcher's HR Allowed Stats
Allows Max Surprise Bunts
Min Batters Pitcher Must Face	0
Slump Buster	(unlimited days)
On Fire	Classic
User Sims