1.00 League Operation and Format
1.01 Out Of Their League is a face-to-face non-profit league using
an innovated APBA Master Game.
1.02 OOTL has 10 teams in one division. The five teams completing
the season with the best records will make the playoffs.
1.03 OOTL plays a 90-game
schedule. Each team will play the others once or twice at home
and once or twice away.
1.04 Dues will be paid at the Spring Draft. Dues are $10.00. Additional
moneys may be assessed.
1.05 This Constitution can be changed by a majority of the league
voting "yes" to any rule proposal.
1.06 OOTL's season will run for nine (9) months
(three 3-month periods). After playing each opponent in the First
Period, each team may play opponents in any order; however, stats
must be completed on time for distribution according to the deadlines
indicated on the current schedule.
1.07 Should substitute managers be needed, the original manager
must handle the scheduling and notify the Executive Committee before
the series. Team owners must play every other team owner at least
once. Substitute managers must be approved by the Executive Committee
prior to the beginning of the season.
2.01 The designated hitter will be used. Pitchers may not bat or
play any other position. The DH may only take a defensive position
because of an injury or ejection. In this case, the pitcher must
be pinch-hit for each time he is scheduled to bat.
2.02 The batter must have at least two 31's if a hit-and-run is
called. The runner must be a G28 or lower unless he is not being
held on.
2.03 The Error
Number Randomization Chart will be used any time the roll results
in a 15-23.
2.04 Pitchers' power factor and control factor will be determined
by the custom
CMBA-based league formula and used instead of the Master Game
symbols.
2.05 APBA Master Game dropped throw, wild throw charts and stadium
effect option will not be used. The brown board will not be used.
When two (or more) runners attempt to advance on a fly out or hit
result, we assume that the tag is applied to a given runner after
others runner(s) advance(s).
2.06 When (12) or (35) becomes a hit against any grade pitcher,
the hit takes precedence over possible base-on-balls by negative
control pitchers. Pitching Change Table results of (12) do not apply
to negative control pitchers' walk potential. Roll only for the
firstbaseman's defense.
2.07 The Rare
Play Number Randomization Chart will be used any time the roll
results in a 36-41. The offense will roll to randomize the 36-41
and then will roll to determine what number (11-66) will together
lead to a play result.
2.08 Z-ball equals two balls on batter. Whenever a pitcher successfully
turns a (14) into a Z-ball because of his control factor, it will
be considered a two-ball count on the batter.
2.09 When the manager on offense chooses to attempt a stolen base
or optional advancement on a hit or fly out, the defensive manager
will make the dice roll to try to prevent it.
2.10 Injury procedure:
(a) Reduce J factor by one grade before using the APBA injury chart
found on the Rare Play boards (relative to scheduled number of games).
(b) Carded J-1's must be removed from the game. Carded J-0's must
be removed from the game if his manager drops an odd number die,
whereas an even number allows the J-0 to remain in the game.
(c) All injuries which extend beyond the game in which the player
was removed will be counted as beginning with his team's next game.
(d) Players with injuries exceeding three games may be placed on
a disabled list for the duration of the injury and replaced with
a player from the minors after a one-game travel delay.
2.11 The Steal
Allowance Chart and its restrictions will be used instead of
those found on the Master Game green board.
2.12 Board changes:
(a) Play result (28) on Bases Empty Rare Play board is changed to
"two balls." Pitchers with negative control must roll
for a possible walk.
(b) Play result (29) on Bases Empty Rare Play board is changed to
"two strikes."
(c) Play result (7) against Grade 26 pitcher on Runner on First
board is changed from Pitcher Change Table result of (31) to (30).
(d) Disregard any "Game called because of rain" results
on Rare Play boards. Re-roll for a different Rare Play. Rain delay
results, however, will stand.
(e) Play result (26) on Second Base board requires a defensive roll
for fielding: Fielding 1 - Batter out at 1st, runner holds A-4,
PO-3; Fielding 2 & 3 - Batter out at 1st, runner advances 1
base A-4, PO-3.
2.13 If the only remaining player at a given position is injured
or ejected, his replacement is always rated the lowest possible
number on the Fielding Finder chart and is automatically considered
to be Fielding Three.
2.14 When third base is occupied and the defense's infield is playing
"close" or "in," the offense has the option
of playing that runner "safe," (except with Bases Loaded).
This negates the "Fielder's Choice-Runner Out at Home"
result, yet still allows the runner to score on a hit, error or
sacrifice fly. In these situations, play results for Fielding One
are changed to "Infield Single-Runner Holds Third" wherever
it reads "Single through [infield]-Runners Advance One Base."
2.15 If a Hit and Run is called when a runner is ineligible to steal,
follow the updated 2010 Steal
Allowance Chart. ALL current stolen base rules and restrictions
will apply to the runner's attempt to steal the base.
2.16 All left-handed pitchers will receive an additional two (2)
point advantage after the CMBA style final grade calculation.
2.17 Starters' grades are reduced by -1 with one
runner on base; -2 for two or more runners on base. Relievers' grades
are reduced by 2 when allowing any additional base runner. Any pitcher
reverts back to his original grade with no one on base. Fatigue
or earned run reduction is not affected by this downgrade.
2.18 On attempted steals, even if the final number is equal to or
more than 36, a catcher can still throw out a runner with a roll
of 66.
2.19 When 1st base is occupied, the runner is being held on (HO),
and a slow (S) left-handed batter rolls a (12), the result will
be a double play.
2.20 A defensive manager that rolls Fielding One has the option
of any of the three Fielding results. This no longer applies to
Results 36-41 or Rare Play board results.
2.21 [This rule and corresponding chart have been tabled for 2011
and does not apply.] Bunt for a Hit may be called, only when bases
are empty, a maximum of 3 times per game and only once per batting
order slot, using the
chart provided.
2.22 In the 8th inning or later, the score must
be two runs closer than indicated on the play boards to execute
a successful pick-off play. Otherwise, use RP board.
2.23 Following a Bases Empty Rare Play board roll
of 28, 29 or 30, offensive player rolls one additional time under
the same RP number (36-41) column. If second result is 1-27, use
that play. If second result is 28, 29 or 30, use that cumulative
result and return to a roll for the offensive card if necessary.
3.01 29-player major league squad, five-player minors/injured reserve,
plus two prospect players as defined below.
3.02 Only 25 players may be used per series, except injury replacements.
This group must include at least two players rated for each infield
position and five players rated for the outfield. The remaining
four major leaguers are placed on a taxi squad prior to each series.
Each manager must notify each opponent before a given series which
four players will be ineligible.
3.03 Each team must have 162 pitching starts and adequate relief
(relative to scheduled number of games).
3.04 Only players on rosters at the start of the season are eligible
for use in that year's games.
3.05 A player may not spend more than one consecutive season on
a given team's injured reserve.
3.06 Each player may be in a given team's minors for two years.
After that, said player must remain in the majors or be waived.
Any amount of time spent in the minors during the season counts
as one year.
3.07 Each team may place any combination of players adding up to
five in the minors or on injured reserve.
3.08 A member of the Executive Committee must be notified of any
roster moves before an upcoming series.
3.09 The fourth starter on an active major league roster may be
any pitcher who has a start appearance remaining. A starter with
no remaining starts may be designated the fourth starting pitcher
only in the final series of the regular season.
4.01 Batters are restricted to the number of games
played (relative to scheduled number of games). A player with less than two
at-bats per game played is restricted by both games played and at-bats.
4.02 A manager may not pinch-hit or pinch-run for the last available player
at any position.
5.01 Regardless of APBA's carded or Q rating,
any pitcher may start or relieve if he actually did so during the corresponding
major league season. If he did not, he cannot in OOTL.
5.02 Carded starters are limited by both games and starts. They may
not start more games that actually started or appear in more games than
actually appeared in (relative to scheduled number of games).
5.03 Carded relievers are limited by innings pitched. They may not pitch
more innings than actually pitched (with thirds rounded up and relative
to scheduled number of games).
5.04 Split-graded pitchers are limited by games, starts and innings
pitched per Rules 5.02 and 5.03 above. Split-graded pitchers will be
determined by the Master Game Symbols, NOT what is printed on the actual
card.
5.05 Any pitcher rated Grade five (5) or lower may start up to 35 games
and pitch up to 150 innings of relief (relative to scheduled number
of games).
5.06 Except for injury or ejection, no starting pitcher may be removed
from a game unless one of the following criteria has been met:
a. 3-2/3 innings pitched
b. 2 unearned runs scored
c. 1 earned run scored, plus a runner in scoring position
5.07 Graded starters used as relievers are subject to relievers' rest
as follows:
(a) According to the OOTL
Pitchers' Rest Chart, Q0's & Q1's will be considered Q1*'s;
Q2's will be considered Q2*'s; and, Q3's & Q4's will be considered
Q3*'s.
(b) Graded relievers used as starters are subject to the starters' rest
chart. Q1*'s will be considered Q2's; Q2*'s will be considered Q3; and,
Q3*'s will be considered Q4's.
(c) Split-grade pitchers' Q ratings are determined by the current BBW
disc.
5.08 Required OOTL
Pitchers' Rest Chart will be used for all pitchers. One day of rest
is earned by all pitchers after the 5th series and the final series
of each 3-month period.
5.09 Right-handed relievers entering a game during the middle of
an inning advance five (5) points against the first batter faced
only if the batter is a right-handed hitter. If the second batter
faced is also a right-handed hitter, the same right-handed reliever
advances three (3) points. Left-handed relievers entering a game
during the middle of an inning advance three (3) points against
the first batter faced only if the batter is a left-handed hitter.
If the second batter faced is also a left-handed hitter, the same
left-handed reliever advances one (1) point. Relievers less than
original base Grade 20 entering in mid-inning can only receive a
same-handed advantage to a maximum of Grade 20, before considering
batting characteristics. Switch-hitters are immune to this pitching
advantage.
5.10 Contrary to the green board, any upgraded pitcher will fatigue
immediately after giving up his first earned run.
5.11 XB/J-4 drafted pitchers must remain on a team's major league roster
throughout the drafted season to be eligible for that season's playoffs.
5.12 A pitcher may not appear in relief in the game before a start
unless there has been a scheduled earned day of rest for pitchers
in-between.
5.13 A relief pitcher may not be removed from a game unless he has faced
a batter or recorded the third out of an inning.
6.01 Trades are allowed to be made anytime. Players
traded in the last two (2) months of the season cannot be used in the playoffs.
6.02 Trades may involve players or draft selections. Draft selections
beyond the upcoming draft may not be traded. At the Rookie Draft,
managers may trade for that draft's selections or the next, but
not beyond the next Rookie Draft
6.03 Trades have a three (3) day "cooling off" period before taking
effect. This period may be waived by both teams. Trades involving first-year
managers must honor this period.
6.04 Players' stats are cumulative.
6.05 The Executive Committee reserves the right to revoke any trade. Once
revoked, the trade may not be attempted again during the same season.
6.06 All trades must be reported to a member of the Executive Committee before
any of the players involved can be used.
6.07 Unequal trades result in additional players being placed in the minors.
7.01 The top five teams will make the playoffs. The #4 & #5
teams will play a best-of-five series within a three-day period
with one day of rest for pitchers after the series. The division
winner will host the winner of that series (#4 vs. #5). Teams seeded
first, second, and third will receive four days of rest. Upon completion
of the next playoff round, each winner will receive one day of rest.
If one series winner completes its series prior to the other, this
team will receive additional rest relative to the difference in
the number of games played in each series. The division's second
best record will host the third best record. The winners of these
two seven-game series will meet in the OOTL Championship, hosted
by the better record.
7.02 The team with the better record in each series has the home-field
advantage. Games will be split 4-3 or 3-4 determined by the better
record's choice prior to start of play.
7.03 One game of rest earned for pitchers between each series. All
playoff teams are restricted to a four-man or more rotation.
7.03a Playoff roster must be fixed per playoff
series.
7.04 Player restrictions for the playoffs:
(a) J-0, J-1 & J-2 = unlimited
(b) J-3 = limited to four (4) games
(c) Regular J-4 = limited to three (3) games
(d) XB J-4 batters and relievers = limited to two (2) games
(e) XB J-4 starting pitchers = limited to one (1) start
(f) XB J-4 split-grade pitchers = limited to two (2) relief appearances
or one (1) start and one (1) relief appearance
7.05 Playoffs should be completed within eight (8) weeks of the
end of the regular season or be subject to action by the Executive
Committee.
7.06 In the event of playoff teams completing the regular season
with identical records, seeding will be determined by the better
head-to-head record. If head-to-head records still result in a tie,
tally each team's record versus other playoff teams to determine
the better seed. In the event of a fifth and sixth place tie, a
single-game playoff will be held, hosted by the team with the better
head-to-head record. If a one-game playoff is necessary to determine
the final playoff team, no game of rest for pitchers will be earned
after the game.
7.07 J-0, J-1 or J-2 batters restricted by Rule 4.01 above will
be allowed to play in up to four games per playoff round with unlimited
at-bats.
7.08 No starting pitcher may start more post-season games than he
was eligible to start during the regular season.
8.01 The Rookie Draft will consist of all carded players
not currently on any roster; plus, each team may select up to two uncarded
players.
8.02 The draft will consist of a minimum of ten (10) rounds. Non-playoff
teams draft in reverse order of regular season winning percentage
in each round. Playoff teams draft in reverse order of playoff finish.
8.04 If two teams finish with identical records,
the team with the worse head-to-head record slots before the head-to-head
winner in every round.
8.05 Each manager has a four (4) minute time limit for the first ten (10)
rounds and a three (3) minute limit each round thereafter. Expansion teams
will have a six (6) minute time limit during rounds 1-10 and a four (4) minute
limit thereafter.
8.06 Excess players over the roster limits may only be selected during expansion
years. In that case, a waiver draft will be held by the expansion team of
players who did not make the other teams' cuts. In non-expansion years, roster
space must be created before or during the draft in order to select additional
players.
8.07 Any player released during the Rookie Draft will not have his
minor league time erased if redrafted by the same team.
9.01 Each team may carry two (2) prospects on their
minor league roster. Teams submitting less than the two (2) allowed prospects
will forfeit the remaining position or positions for that season.
9.02 To qualify as a prospect, a player must be declared a prospect the year
he is drafted by the team that drafted him, and must never before have been
a prospect with that team.
9.03 Prospects have unlimited time in the minors as long as they remain declared
a prospect and meet all prospect criteria.
9.04 Prospects may not be counted to fulfill player requirements per position
and may never be called to the majors during the season.
9.05 Prospects are not subject to expansion cut downs.
9.06 Prospect status may only be removed after the Rookie Draft and
before the season rosters are submitted. After removing prospect status,
the player is immediately subject to all minor or major league rules.
9.07 Trading of prospects:
(a) Prospects may be traded anytime as long as current trading rules
are met.
(b) Traded prospects lose that status as soon as the trade is approved/verified
by Executive Committee.
(c) A new player may not be elected to replace a traded prospect until after
the Rookie Draft and before season rosters are submitted.
10.01 All potential expansion managers will be interviewed
by the Executive Committee prior to acceptance into OOTL.
10.02 An Expansion Draft will be held after the playoffs and before the Rookie
Draft whenever the league has decided to expand.
10.03 Each existing manager will protect fifteen (15) players if OOTL expands
by one (1) team, or twelve (12) players if OOTL expands by two (2) or more
teams. A list of each team's protected players (plus prospect players) will
be published. There are no restrictions regarding positions as to what players
may be protected.
10.04 Each team will lose the same number of players. After a player is selected
from a team's unprotected group, his manager may protect up to three (3) additional
players if OOTL expands by one (1) or two (2) teams; or, may protect up to
two (2) additional players if OOTL expands by more than two teams.
10.05 The number of players each established team will lose in the Expansion
Draft will be determined by the Executive Committee based on the number of
expansion teams.
10.06 If OOTL expands in this way one year after another expansion team(s)
has joined the league, that team(s) may protect one additional player at the
beginning of the Expansion Draft.
10.07 During the Rookie Draft, expansion team(s) will draft between the non-playoff
and playoff teams in all odd-numbered rounds. Expansion team(s) will draft
first in all even-numbered rounds.
10.08 After rosters have been submitted to the Secretary, a Waiver Draft will
be held by the expansion team(s) for the players that did not make the existing
teams' cuts. This Waiver Draft should be completed before Opening Day and
will only take place in expansion years. Expansion team(s) must cut a player
to select a player during this three (3) round Waiver Draft.
11.01 Outfielders may only be rotated when a replacement
enters the game.
11.02 Protests should be made to the Commissioner. If upheld, the game will be
replayed from the point of protest.
11.03 Each team must keep game sheets for each game throughout the
season, in case of misuse verification.
11.04 Penalty for late stats or late roster submission is forfeiture
of a seventh (7th) round draft selection in the next Rookie Draft.
Second offense increases this penalty to a sixth (6th) round selection,
etc. If the guilty manager no longer owns the designated forfeited
selection, the next higher selection must be forfeited. In expansion
years, penalty will be a player subtracted from the expansion draft
pullback total.
11.05 The following stats are required by the Statistician by the 10th day
after each period:
(a) Pitchers; games, games started, complete games, shutouts, wins, losses,
saves, innings pitched, hits, earned runs, home runs allowed, walks, strikeouts
& ERA.
(b) Batter: games, at-bats, runs, hits, RBI, doubles, triples, home runs,
walks, strikeouts, stolen bases, caught stealing, HBP, errors & batting
average.
(c) Team totals for each category.
11.06 Along with the three Executives, two Alternates will be elected before
each Rookie Draft. Alternates' only responsibilities will be to rule on protests
involving member(s) of the Executive Committee. All new officers take office
on Opening Day.
11.07 At any time, the defensive manager may choose to intentionally hit a
batter. After issuing two (2) HBP (at least one of which was intentional),
that particular pitcher will be considered ejected and must be removed from
the game.
11.08 Batter of the Year and Pitcher of the Year will be voted on at the Rookie
Draft based on a five, three, one point system. Managers may vote for their
own nominee(s).
11.09 The Home Team is responsible for providing all series results to the
Commissioner and/or a member of the Executive Committee within 24 hours of completion.
11.10 All issues not covered by this Constitution will be decided by the Executive
Committee.