ULTIMATE STRAT BASEBALL LEAGUE CONSTITUTION

Version 2008.04

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION  1.                       LEAGUE STRUCTURE

1.1             FORMAT

1.2             BALLPARKS

1.3             SCHEDULE

1.4             PLAYOFFS

1.5             REVIEW OF POOR PERFORMING FRANCHISES

 

SECTION  2.                       LEAGUE OPERATION

2.1             EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

2.2             LEAGUE COMMISSIONER

2.3             LEAGUE STATISTICIAN

2.4             LEAGUE REPORTER

2.5             WEB SITE DIRECTOR

2.6             DRAFT CONDUCTOR

2.7             FREE AGENCY CONDUCTOR

 

SECTION  3.                       LEAGUE SCHEDULE

 

SECTION  4.                       LEAGUE FEES

4.1             NEW MEMBER FEES

4.2             VETERAN MEMBER FEES

4.3             LEAGUE EXPENSES

4.4             REFUNDS

 

SECTION  5.                       RULE CHANGES

 

SECTION  6.                       ROSTERS

6.1             ROSTER SIZE

6.2             40-MAN ROSTERS

6.3             ACTIVE ROSTER

6.4             PLAYOFF ROSTER

 

SECTION  7.                       TEAM FINANACE

7.1             BONUSES

7.2             PENALTIES

7.3             CONTRACT BUYOUTS

7.4             CONTRACT INSURANCE

 

SECTION  8.                       OPTION AND ARBITRATION CONTRACTS

8.1             MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS

8.2             OPTION CONTRACTS

8.3             ARBITRATION CONTRACTS

8.4             CONTRACT REFUSAL

 

SECTION  9.                       FREE AGENCY

9.1             FREE AGENT CONTRACT RESTRICTIONS

9.2             T1 FREE AGENT PROCESS

9.3             T2 FREE AGENT PROCESS

9.4             FREE AGNT COMPENSATION

9.5             FREE AGENT ARBITRATION

 

 

 

ULIMTATE STRAT BASEBALL LEAGUE CONSTITUTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION  10.                    ARBITRATION CHART

 

SECTION  11.                    DRAFT OF UNAFFILIATED PLAYERS

11.1         NUMBER OF ROUNDS

11.2         ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

11.3         INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

11.4         DRAFT PROCESS

 

SECTION  12.                    WAIVERS

12.1         ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

12.2         WAIVER PRIORITY CRITERIA

12.3         WAIVER PERIOD

12.4         WAIVER PROCESS

 

SECTION  13.                    DISABLED LIST

 

SECTION  14.                    RULE 5 DRAFT

14.1         NUMBER OF ROUNDS

14.2         ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

14.3         INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

14.4         RULE 5 DRAFT PROCESS

14.5         COST

 

SECTION  15.                    GAME RULES

15.1         STRAT-O-MATIC GAME SETTINGS

15.2         USBL GAME PLAY RULES

15.3         USBL STRATBALL RULES

 

SECTION  16.                    PLAYER USAGE

16.1         USAGE LIMITS

16.2         CARDED MINOR LEAGUER

16.2.1           BATTERS

16.2.2           PITCHERS

 

SECTION  17.                    TRADES

17.1         TRADE DEADLINES

17.2         TRADE FINANCIAL DEFAULS

17.3         APPEALS OF UNFAIR TRADES

 

SECTION  18.                    PLAYOFFS

18.1         HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

18.2         PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

18.3         PLAYER RESTRICTIONS

18.3.1           ROSTERS

18.3.2           BATTERS

18.3.3           PITCHERS

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.    LEAGUE STRUCTURE

 

The purpose of the Ultimate Strat Baseball League (USBL) is to be the most complete and realistic simulation league.  The USBL shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions set forth in these bylaws and rules.  The USBL shall consist of 30 Major League franchises and Minor League systems.  The teams shall be divided in 2 leagues and 3 divisions in each league.  Players shall receive salaries and may be signed to multi-year contracts.

 

1.       FORMAT

 

Game will be played using the most recent CD-ROM version of the Strat-O-Matic computer game.  All games are to be Net Play or HAL. Net Play in encouraged, but not required.  Computer managers are to be received by the league by the first of the each month.  The inability to Net Play games could result in removal from the league. 

 

2.       BALLPARKS

 

Each USBL franchise must reside in a MLB ballpark.  No two franchises may reside in the same ballpark.  A ballpark will become available when a franchise receives a new owner.  If more than one franchise request an available ballpark, the ballpark will be awarded to the franchise whose owner has the most seniority in the league.

 

3.       SCHEDULE

 

The league will play a 162-game balanced schedule.  There will be no interleague play.  The schedule will be broken into six blocks, which will be played from April to September.

 

4.       PLAYOFFS

 

Each divisional champion will participate in the league playoffs.  In addition, one wild-card team from each league will qualify for the playoffs.  The League Division series is a best of five series.  The League Championship Series and the World Series are a best of seven series.

 

5.       REVIEW OF POOR PERFORMING FRANCHISES

 

Any owner who fails to win 50 games will be reviewed by the EC.  If the EC feels the owner does not have what it takes for the league based on skill or effort he will be removed from the league.

 

 

SECTION 2.    LEAGUE OPERATION

 

All provisions of these bylaws and rules shall be enforced by the league Executive Committee (EC), as required and/or deemed necessary and appropriate.  The EC shall consist of four core members and the Commissioner.

 

1.       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (SALARY $2,000,000)

 

The Commissioner shall appoint the Executive Committee.  Their duties include:

·         soliciting owners for any rule change ideas

·         writing any rule proposals they deem in the best interest of the league

·         ruling on any rule interpretations when the Commissioner asks for help

 

2.       LEAGUE COMMSSIONER (SALARY:  $5,000,000 per year)

 

The Commissioner has the authority to rule on all aspects of league operations.  He has the final say on who joins the league, who stays in the league and rules on any dispute that may occur.  The League Commissioner may solicit the EC for their opinion on any issue.

 

His duties include:

·         appointing all members of the EC

·         receiving and validating all trades reported

·         keeping an up-to-date listing of all the league's player rosters, player contract status and team finances 

·         providing periodic roster and bank account updates

·         providing and a monthly trade report

·         reviewing the newsletter before publishing and requesting changes to content he considers to be mean-spirited

·         maintaining an owner information list

·         maintaining a backup owner list

 

3.       LEAGUE STATISTICIAN (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

 

His duties include:

·         tabulating all league statistics upon receipt of monthly data files from each team

·         creating and updating roster files, including making all roster changes that result due to in-season trades

·         E-mailing updated roster files that will have up-to-date statistics, rosters, league leaders, and standings, monthly

 

4.       LEAGUE REPORTER (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

 

His duties include authoring and publishing a newsletter to the web site, by the 7th of each month.  Topics may include, but are not limited to:

·         trade examinations

·         analysis of free agent signings and drafts

·         hot-stove type summaries

·         season preview and reviews

·         monthly recaps

·         playoff series preview and recaps

 

5.       WEB SITE DIRECTOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

 

His duties include designing, updating and maintaining the league web site.  The web site will provide the league with features such as:

·         up-to-date standings

·         trade wires

·         historical records

·         newsletter

 

6.       DRAFT CONDUTOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

 

His duties include:

·         co-ordinating and conducts the Amateur and Rule 5 drafts

·         determining the draft format (mail draft, chat room draft or combination of both)

·         keeping the draft moving and making the decision when a manager’s pick should be skipped

·         creating a time schedule that is clear, fair, and timely

·         send a drafting report to the Commissioner for publication and for updating the roster file

 

7.       FREE AGENCY CONDUCTOR (SALARY: $4,000,000 per year)

 

His duties include:

·         handling every aspect of the free agency process

·         being ready to get going as soon as the real MLB season is finished

·         compiling the arbitration table

·         notify all managers of the Type A, B and C free agents  by October 14th

·         collecting the sealed bids

·         receiving all arbitration offers from managers by the October 31st deadline

·         doing all the calculations necessary to determine the winning bids

·         making a full report of the winning bids and Type A, B and C free agents to the Commissioner for inclusion in the newsletter

·         sending out the results of arbitration to the membership by November 5th

SECTION 3.    SCHEDULE OF LEAGUE EVENTS

 

1.