THE PFBL B BY-LAWS (last revision made 11/10/00) I> THE STRUCTURE 1. Teams: The PFBLB has 30 teams. The PFBLB will follow the alignment of Major League Baseball. Each PFBLB team will bealigned to the equivilant MLB division based on their home stadium. I.E. The PFBLB team which plays its home games in Camden Yards will reside in the AL East. 2. Nicknames: No two PFBL teams can have the same nickname. The PFBL has the right to reject any PFBL nickname which it deems offensive. 3. Schedule: The schedule will consist of a 162 game season beginning April and ending in late September. Each team will play the schedule that the corresponding MLB team follows, to be based on their home stadium. 4. Games: Each manager will play his 81 home games versus the Computer Manager programmed by his opponent. The games will be played in four Play Periods. 5. Parks: Each PFBL team must play their home games in an assigned unique real life major league park with AC teams in AL parks and NC teams in NL parks. Managers must receive permission from the league President to exchange their park. 6. The Designated Hitter: The PFBLB will follow the DH rules utilized by MLB. 7. The PFBL Player Pool: All players who played in MLB in the past season are in the player pool. A manager may retain non-Player Pool players as members of his 34-man roster by informing the reports commissioner of such players by the cut down deadline. **Note - The minimum actual playing time for a player to be used in the PFBL season is as follows: 38 At Bats for Hitters, 18 Innings Pitched for Pitchers. All players with less playing time than this must be farmed for the entire PFBL Season. 8. Dues: The PFBL dues are set each season based on the prior season cost of running the PFBL. Failure to pay your dues in a timely fashion will result in the loss of your franchise. Note: The PFBL does not give full or partial refunds of dues to managers who leave the league regardless of their reason for leaving or regardless of when they leave. 9. Requirements: (i) IBM compatible computer that will play the Diamond Mind (DM) game; (ii) Latest DM game version (as of the start of the current play season; (iii) the current season disk; (iv) internet access and; (v) a phone. 10. Vacancy: Should a team lose its manager and a replacement cannot immediately be found, the President has the right to declare that team a vacant franchise and all of its home games will be played by an appointed league member using the computer manager until a new manager takes over. 11. Franchise Rights: An owner has the right to keep his franchise as long as he is in good standing (dues are paid on time; team's PFBL dollars show a positive balance; his duties are performed in a timely and consciences manner; and his actions do not pose a threat to the future success of the PFBL.) An owner does NOT have the right to sell his franchise. No one person is permitted to participate in the operations or management of more than one team in a given PFBL. PFBL managers may not "drop" their original PFBL team to pick up a new team. Note - The Commissioner may appoint another member of the league to control player decisions temporarily for an open team if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the league. II> MANAGERIAL DUTIES 1. Preseason Disk Submissions: (A) Computer Managerial Profile: All managers are required to submit a disk containing a transfer of their team's managerial profile prior to the start of the season and then again at the mid-season all-star break*. *If changes are needed. The Managerial Profile must contain: lineups versus left and right handed pitching; a five man rotation; and bullpen setup. Rotations should be set to "five man" and "strict". "Maximum ABs" for players with side limitations must be set to zero for the side in question. All other hitters should be set to 999. The league will be set to "limit playing time". Limits for starting pitchers will be set at 36 and relief pitcher limits will be set at 80. September limited pitchers will be limited to 7 games for starters and 15 for relievers (B) Team Information Disk: All managers are required to submit one file on disk in an ascii text file containing your pitching rotation for the entire season; your inactive players for each month; and your players with limitations. Your inactive players must be labeled as to why they are inactive such as "S" for September limited players, "I" for Injured players and "D" for demoted players. The file must be named "yournickname.txt". You may revise your rotation and/or your inactive players for each play period as long as the reports commissioner and your affected opponents received the revision prior to the beginning play date of the play period in question. 2. At the start of the season you will receive a disk containing: (A) The PFBL Master disk (which will contain each team's roster; manager profile; schedule; etc.); and (B) The league Info disk containing: the by-laws; the limitations and for each of your opponents, their pitching rotations and their list of inactive players for each month. The aforementioned information will be available via the PFBLB web page. 3. Playing the Games: You must wait until the beginning play date before playing your games for that play period. Up until the beginning play date your opponent has the right to send out changes to his profile or information disk. Before playing your first series each play period you must "zero" out the stats for the entire league. You may play your homestands for the play period in any order. All players on each team should be "completely rested" prior to the start of each homestand. The inactive players for each team should be "farmed". The pitching rotation for the visiting team for that series should be set in the manager profile. Home managers should: (a) Use the computer manager to manage their opponents; (b) Use the schedule on the disk to play their games (By doing so the date, game number and series number will be printed on the top of the boxscores and scoresheets.); and (c) adhere to the PFBL rules and their conscience. *** CLARIFICATION - Using weather effects is optional, during the regular season. *** 4. Road Instructions: You do NOT need to send out road instructions unless your profile, rotation, or inactive roster differs from what was listed on the league disks. If such changes need to be made, they must be received by your opponent prior to the start of the play period in which your series will be played. 5. Results: Home managers are required to send to their road opponents: (A) a copy of the scoresheet and boxscore for each game; and (B) visitor's hitting and pitching series summary stats. Everyone should use the "option" command on the reports to list the players in order of "at bats" and "batters faced" and to only include "non-zero stat players". Also, use the "option command to head your reports as follows: Month #[?] at [Your team name]. All results must be received by your opponent by the ending play date. Note: Please save any "special" games such as no-hitters, on disk and send them to Yearbook Commissioner. 6. Player Use Restrictions: (A) Offense: Managers will be able to play who they want to play as much as they want to play them, which is what managing is all about. There will be only three restrictions: (i) Fatigue: A uniform maximum number of games played based on a player's position with exceptions for those who exceed the restrictions in real life; (ii) limitations to prevent unrealistic play; and (iii) Injuries limitations. (i) Fatigue Restrictions: (a) Starting Pitchers*: Must have at least four days rest between starts. Starters may relieve between starts if they have at least three days rest after their last start. Then after their last relief appearance, they must have at least three additional days rest before their next start. Starting pitchers are defined as pitchers who start as many or more PFBL games than they appear in as relievers. **New for 2000 - Pitchers can only start a maximum of 3 Times their real life Pitching Starts. This is to prevent relievers who made 1 or 2 emergency Starts during the season, being abused with 30+ Starts in DMB. (b) Relief Pitchers*: Having ten PFBL saves or more for the season are limited to 80 games and 100 innings pitched. Pitchers with less than ten PFBL saves are limited to 80 games and 120 innings pitched. Relief pitchers are defined as pitchers who relieve in more PFBL games than they start. (c) All Non-pitchers*: Are limited to 150 games. (d) Catchers*: May only catch in 130* PFBL games and are limited to 150* total games. *Players whose actual major league usage exceeded that of the above constraints will be able to play up to their actual major league usage. For example, suppose Pete Rose played in 160 games for his real life team. He would then be allowed to play in 160 PFBL games. (ii) Unrealistic Play Limitations: Players who performed unrealistically will receive playing time limitations based on the below constraints. The commissioner retains the right to limit a player as needed if he feels it is for the good of the league. (a) September Call-up Limited: September call-up limited players may only play in Month 6 and are NOT eligible for the playoffs. The following players will be September call-up limited: (a.) Hitters with 30 games or less played that have less than 40 AB's vs RHP or less than 14 vs AB's vs LHP; and have an OPS that is greater than the position average for "his position". (b.) Pitchers appearing in less than 10 games. (SEE EXCEPTIONS) *Exceptions* Usage: If any pitcher has 30 or more IP's then the September Limitation is waived. Performance: If any pitcher has an ERA of 5.00 or higher and a WHIP ratio of 1.60 or higher then the September Limitation is waived. (b) Secondary Side Limitation: Players falling under the secondary side limitations will be limited in one of two ways. The owner of a secondary side limited player may choose: (a.) season long side limit for the player which will also be enforced in the playoffs, or (b.) an unrestricted mid-season recall of the player; this will allow the player to be unlimited in the playoffs. This choice must be made by the team prior to the beginning of play in month #1. Note 1: The unrestricted recall protects a 5 year plus MLB player from demotion free agency if he is farmed in the first half of the season under the constraints of this player limitation. The following players will be secondary side limited: (a.) Lefty Limitation: Any batter who has between 36 and 50 AB's versus LH pitching and who has an OPS which is 120% greater than "his position" average. (b.) Righty Limitation: Any batter who has between 101 and 140 AB's versus RH pitching and who has an OPS which is 120% greater than "his position" average. Note: If a player is limited by injury month(s) the AB's in #1 & #2 above will be reduced by 7 AB's per month vs LHP and by 20 AB's per month vs RHP. If a player qualifies for an injury, and a 2nd Half Limitation, the greater penalty will apply. (c) Side Limitations: Any hitter receiving a side limitation may not start or enter the game versus that side pitcher. However, they can be put in the managerial profile as a defensive replacement against the side in question. (1) Lefty Limitations: Any batter who has less than 35 at bats versus lefthanded pitching and who has an OPS greater than "his position" average. "His Position" is his position as listed in the STATS Inc. Major League Handbook. (2) Righty Limitations: Any batter who has less than 100 at bats versus right handed pitching and who has an OPS greater than "his position" average. (d) Notes: (i) September Limitations take precedent over Lefty and Righty Limitations. However, batters receive both a September and a side limitation if he has less than 20 at bats plus walks against the side in question; (ii) A player's position is his position as listed in the STATS Inc. Major League Handbook;(iii) If a hitter qualifies for both a lefty and a righty limitation, he will only be limited on his platoon disadvantage side. (right if right-handed and left if left-handed.); and (iv) Position Averages are as follows: C .750 1B .860 2B .760 SS .750 3B .825 LF .865 CF .785 RF .830 DH .860 Position Averages are updated every year as needed. (iii) Injuries: (a) The DM injury rating will be set to "none"; (b) Any player listed on the dmb disk is being injured 80% or more will be out with an injury for 4 PFBL months; 60% or more will be out with an injury for 3 PFBL months; 40% or more will be out with an injury for two PFBL months. (d) 20% or more will be out for one PFBL month. Each manager must decide which month(s) his injured player(s) will be out of action and on the PFBL disabled list. Injury Months reduce the number of AB's needed to qualify for a side limitation. (B) Defense: Managers may only play their players at the positions where the players have a DM rating, with the following exceptions: (i) starting pitchers may relieve; (ii) any non-pitcher may play firstbase; (iii) centerfielders may play any outfield position; (iv) leftfielders may play rightfield and vice versa; (v) shortstops may play any position with the exception of pitcher and catcher; and (vi) secondbasemen can play the outfield or thirdbase. These defensive allowances are based in part on Bill James' defensive spectrum. (C) Pitchers Hitting: (i) Only a pitcher having 50 or more at-bats in his previous real life season may be used as a pinch hitter. (ii) Pitchers may not be used as a DH. 7. Disk Exchange - Save yourself time, money and PFBL fines by: (i) Making backup copies of everything at every stage; (ii) Following directions; and (iii) Checking your disks before mailing. If you run into problems, you might want to consult your DM manual, call DM (800) 400-4803. A) Disks: You will be receiving 4 disks a season from the PFBL. The first disk you receive will be your master disk for the first two Play Periods of the season. Make copies of this disk and the copies for your games in Play Period 1 and 2. You will receive a second master disk at the start of month 4. Use this disk for Play Period 3. DO NOT MAKE CHANGES TO OR REMOVE PLAYERS FROM THE MASTER DISK. You will also receive two stat disks: one in mid-May; and one at the end of the season. Note: For Play Period 2 do not wait for you stat disk from the commissioner to play your games. B) Installing the Master Disk and Stat disk sent by the Disk Commissioner: Follow the directions sent with your disk and your disk will install itself. C) Creating a Directory for the PFBL: Step 1: Activate the DM game; Step 2: Choose setup; Step 3: Choose player/disk, move cursor to the first vacant disk directory item and type C:\"name of directory installed"; Step 4: Go to "Active" and choose the directory you just typed in step three above; Step 5: hit "Go" D) Transferring Stats to the Disk Commissioner: Step 1: Play your games for the month; Step 2: Insert a blank formatted disk in drive A or B whatever the case:; Step 3: choose transfer; Step 4: Select your conference; Step 5: Select Stats/Exp; Step 6 Select export; Step 7: fill in the blanks: Drive "a" or "b" Export Statistics- YES, Export Profile-NO; Scope-League; Step 8: Repeat this process twice with a newly formatted disk each time; Step 9: Send one transfer to the disk commissioner, in "zip" format via e-mail. **** NOTE: PFBL-B is an "e-mail only" league. The league office will not mail any disks, except by e-mail in "zip" format. The league will not accept mailed disks in any format besides e-mail, "zip" format. The Adirondack Aces are grandfathered out of requirement #2 - they may send their disk regular mail, but will receive their disks only in e-mail, "zip" format. In the playoffs, the Aces must send their fatigue transfer disks to opposing manager via priority mail, electronically, or agree to play all games on opponent's computer (to speed things up). **** E) Checking Disks Before E-Mailing: Step 1: Insert disk in Dir A:; Step 2: Type A:; Step 3: Type dir: You should see all the teams in your league listed plus the gamesumm file. Step 4: run a "preview" import transfer to see if the transfer program detects any problems. III> GENERAL MANAGER DUTIES 1. Rosters: A) Major League Roster Limits: From April through August managers will be limited to 25 players on their major league roster. In September the maximum limit is 34. Major league rosters may be changed between months, but are frozen once play begins each month. Each team must carry 25 Players on their Active Roster at all times, including accounting for injuries. B) Composition: You must have two catchers*, two shortstops* and ten pitchers* on your active roster at all times. *Players must have a computer file rating at said position. Exception: A manager can designated a non-rated catcher or shortstop as his back-up catcher or shortstop, IF AND ONLY IF the designated player played that position in the real life season in question, and by informing the President and Disk Commissioner of his intentions. Such designated non-rated back-ups are still subjected to rule (II-6B) as far as playing time is concern. Meaning, such designated catchers and/or shortstops CANNOT play in a PFBL game at catcher and/or shortstop without a rating at these respective positions. C) Total Rosters: (Which include the following type players: injured; minor league; retained non-computer file; and major league players) must total no more than 34 players from March 1st through October 1st. From October to March there is no limit. *See (III8) for exception. D) Team CAP: 2000 CAP Rules as follows: Players are assigned points based on the Elias Sports Bureau Player Ranking. This is the system that MLB uses to assess compensation value for Free Agents. The ranking are available every year in Baseball Weekly around the 1st of November and are also posted on USAToday website. The PFBL will furnish all teams with the web link and will send through E-mail the complete rankings when they become available. Our system works as follows. All players ranked by Elias are classified at a specific position. These individual positions will then be assigned a point system. The point system for each position is the following. 5 points - top 8 % percentile at position 4 points - 9 % - 20 % at position 3 points - 21 % - 40 % at position 2 points - 41 % - 65 % at position 1 point - 66 % - 100 % at position 1 point - to any players unranked by Elias (in 1998, 894 players were ranked by Elias). Based on our max roster size of 34 players x 30 teams = 1,020 players. That means the remaining 126 players will also be assigned 1 point. 1998 PFBL average was 73.67 points if all teams had 34 players. A ten percent buffer is allowed so the Cap is established at 80 points. This Cap is subject to annual review. Each team is limited to 80 points without any penalty assessment. Below are the penalties if your team is over the 80 points allowed. 81-84 points Penalty of $125,000 per point over 80 and forfeiture of 4th Round Pick. 85-88 points Penalty of $250,000 per point over 84 and forfeiture of 3rd Round Pick. 89-92 Penalty of $500,000 per point over 88 and forfeiture of 2nd Round Pick. 93+ Penalty of $1,000,000 per point over 92 and forfeiture of 1st Round Pick. 2. Cuts: Teams must cut their roster to 34 players by the winter deadline date (See section VII, 6). Any cut made after the cut down date will cost your team $1,000,000. Therefore, if you are planning on selecting an unemployment pick or two, you may want to trim your roster at the cut down date to below 34. Failure to submit your cuts on time will result in the cuts being made for you at a cost of 1,000,000 a piece. 3. The Rookie Draft: (A) Method: The draft will be completed via email with the 18 non-playoff teams drafting first followed by the 12 playoff teams. Each team will follow the schedule set forth by the league commissioner. The schedule will be available after the new DMB player disk is released. The number of rounds in the rookie draft shall be determined by dividing the number of rookies available by the number of teams in the league and throwing out the remainder, with a maximum of 6 rounds. (B) The Draft Order: (i) for the 18 non-playoff teams: reverse order of team's real life power ratings (RC/27 outs - ERA) as found in the team reports on the previous season's, start of the season, league master disk. Tie Breaker: (a) worst overall record; (b) worst net runs; (ii) For previous season's playoff teams: will be in reverse order of playoff elimination. Order for teams which were eliminated in the same round will be based on the reverse order of their regular season won/lost record. Tie Breaker: (a) worst road record; (b) worst net. If you miss your scheduled time to pick in the Rookie Draft, your pick may be skipped to keep the draft moving. You can jump back and select at any point afterwards if this were to occur. (C) The Players: All players that are rookies on the DMB player disk, are eligible for the draft. However, rookies with too few at bats or innings pitched to qualify for usage, shall not play in any PFBL-B game. 4. Free Agents: There are four types of a free agents - (a) "Underutilized"; (b) "Demotion"; and (c) Non-Roster Veterans: (Rules for December FA draft only): Managers may submit a closed bid on the free agents with their PFBL dollars by providing a SINGLE list with the players they want listed in order of the dollar amount bid on each player. Manager should make a note at the bottom of the list specifying how many players at each position they want and how much money they want to spend. Bids must be made to the nearest 100th (2.11) for example to avoid ties. No bids in any other form will be accepted. The manager who makes the highest offer on a free agent receives the free agent for the amount he bid. Bid Notes: (i) Minimum acceptable bid is .01 million; (ii) Ties for winning bids will be broken based on postmark. SEE ALSO paragraph 7, regarding the U-Pool drafts in February and at midseason. MONEY CLARIFICATION: A team cannot trade, bid or spend any PFBL Dollars, that they do not have, in expectation of earning money at The end of the year. Example: At Mid-Season, if a team does not own 1.0 Million dollars, they cannot pick up a free agent If the roster move mandates they cut a player, which costs 1.0 Million Dollars. (A) Underutilized: Any player who has appeared in six or more major league seasons (as listed in the current STATS Major League Handbook) becomes a free agent if: (i) Non-Pitchers if the player had 360 or more official at bats in that real life season and in the PFBL he has less than 50% of the number of official at bats he had in his real life season; or (ii) Pitchers- if the player appeared in at least 20 games started, or 40 games relieved, or his games started plus 1/2 games relieved equals or exceeds 20 in that real life season and in the PFBL his number of games started plus 1/2 number of games relieved is less than 50% of his real life number of games started plus 1/2 games relieved. Exception: Mid-season unemployment selections cannot become free agents. (B) Demotion: Any player who has appeared in six or more major league seasons (as listed in the current STATS Major League Handbook) becomes a free agent: if he is placed on his PFBL teams' minor league roster during the season. Such eligible players placed on their team's minor league roster in Month #1 #2 or #3 become free agents and go in the mid-season unemployment pool selection process. This also has a penalty of 1 Million dollars, as it is considered the same as cutting the player. Players being sent down in Month 4, Month 5 or Month 6 become free agents after the end of the season. Exceptions: (1) Mid-season unemployment selections cannot become free agents; (2) Players removed from the 25-man roster due to injury limitation or September limitation are also exempt for the month(s) with the limitation(s). *** CLARIFICATION - "Demotion discontent" players sent down in months 4-6 are still eligible for the playoffs. *** (C) Non Roster Veterans: All Player Pool players, who are not currently on a PFBL team and who are not eligible for the rookie draft. 5. Financial System: PFBL dollars are earned by each team each season based on the following formula: $5,000,000 - 400,000 [home wins - (6 + road wins)]. No team may earn more than $5,000,000 or less than zero. (B) New Managers: Teams with a new manager at the start of the season, will begin with a minimum of 5 million dollars. Managers taking over during the season, will begin with a minimum of 1 million for each month remaining in the season up to a maximum of 5 million. 6. Trading: Trades can be made at anytime (once a manager pays his dues for the season). However, trades can only be reported (and updated on the league's master disk) during our two trading periods: November 1st through February 14th; and July 1st- July 7th. For a trade to be official: (i) both managers must contact the Reports Commissioner, in writing, during the trading period; (ii) if applicable, the trade must be approved by the Fair Trade Committee; (iii) and for trades involving draft choices the following rules apply: DRAFT CHOICE TRADES ARE ONLY PERMITTED (a) during the Winter Trading period only for that season's draft with no restrictions; (b) during the summer trading period with the following red flag: WARNING: Mid-season trades of 1st/2nd round draft choices will be reverted, if the manager trading the draft choice drops out before the draft in question and the President believes the reversion of the trade is needed to enlist a manager for the vacant team. Also, the commissioner reserves the right to award a vacant team "supplemental" draft choices at the end of the 2nd-5th rounds if necessary to fill the vacancy. Clarification Note - Some have asked: The earliest Future Draft Picks (i.e. next year's Draft Picks) can be traded is during the Summer Trading period (not a full year in advance) 7. Unemployment Pool: The Unemployment Pool consists of Player Pool players not listed on any team's roster after the February cut down date. Managers can claim these players at two times: on the unemployment pool claim date in mid-February and on June 1st. Unemployment pool claims are awarded based on reverse order of current won/lost record at Mid-Season, and the same as the Draft Order in Pre-Season. Each team has the option of selecting 1 Player per Round for 3 Rounds. All managers must supply a list to the commissioner in advance indicating how many players they want, and the order they are to be picked. If a manager claims a player from the unemployment pool which causes his team to exceed the 34-man roster limit, he must immediately release a player or players to make room for the claimed player. The release of such a player costs a team $1,000,000. Unemployment pool spots are NOT tradeable. 8. General Manager Requests (these requests must be made in writing prior to the start of the season and must be approved by the league president): (A) Jump Rating: In an effort to have more control over baserunning on the road, each manager is permitted, before the season starts, to designate one or more of his players to have new, permanent, LOWER "jump" ratings. (B) Limitation Petition: In an effort to provide rebuilding clubs with more flexibility, non-playoff potential teams are permitted to petition for an limitation change for a shortstop and/or a catcher. The league will grant the petition under the following conditions: (1) the team in question must be a non-playoff contender; (2) the team has three players at the position in question; (3) the team may not trade the player in question during the season; and (4) the change is not a gross exception to our normal limitation constraints. 9. Violations: Include: (i) Tardiness*; (ii) Incorrectly submitted Disk; (iii) Failure to follow by-laws; (iv) Failure to follow road Instructions*; (v) Failure to perform a league requirement; and (vi) Trade vetoed by the Trade Jury. Each violation that affects a single manager results in a $500,000 plus $100,000 per violation. Each violation that affects the entire league carries a $1,000,000 fine plus $100,000 per violation. Example, a disk four days late will cost a manager $1,000,000 because the violation affects the entire league plus $100,000 for each day late. *Notes: (1) If a manager's disk is more than 5 days late, the Disk Commissioner has the right to play the games using the computer manager at a cost of $100,000 a game plus the normal late charge; (2): if the home manager's failure to follow road instructions cost the home manager's opponent PFBL dollars in regard to their home/road split or an overused player fine, then that home manager will be required to reimburse the road manager for the dollars cost by the home manager's carelessness. 10. Indebtedness: Managers may not start a season in debt. 11. Expansion: PFBL-B will expand as MLB expands. GM's may protect up to 16 players and draft picks before the expansion draft. After one player is selected form every roster, GM's may protect an additional 3 players/draft choices. Then, a second player will be selected from every roster. IV> POST-SEASON 1. Playoff Format: Six teams in each league will make the playoffs. The Three division winners, plus 3 teams with the next best overall records. The six teams will be seeded 1-6. The 2 Division winners with the best overall records will receive First Round byes. The 3rd Division Winner is automatically awarded the #3 Seed. The First Round Matchups will be as follows: 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. After the first round the 4 remainings will be seeded again based on their season record. Then 1 vs 4, and 2 vs 3. The Higher seeded team will have the home field advantage. Ties for playoff positions shall be broken by using the following tie breakers: (i) best road record; (ii) highest percentage runs scored squared / (runs scored squared + runs allowed squared); (iii) coin flip. Ties for home field advantage in the playoffs will be broken by the same tie breaker method. The two Conference Champions will then meet in the PFBL World Series. Clarification: The Home Team advantage for the World Series will Alternate every year. Even Years - the NC is home games 1,2,6,7. Odd Years - the AC is home games 1,2,6,7. 2. Playoff Games: All playoff series will be seven games with the team with the better regular season road record hosting (and playing) games 1, 2, 6 and 7. (Exception: A non-division winner may NOT have the home field advantage over a division winner.) Visiting managers have the right to manage their team over the phone at their own expense. An off day shall be taken after game 2 and game 5. Starting pitchers, as in the regular season, must have four days rest between starts. Thus, a 4-man rotation is necessary for the playoffs. Note (1): When a series shifts location, transfers must be sent from the previous home manager to the new home manager. The transfer should be imported in order for the fatigue and rest days to continue;. (2) If during "phone" playoff games, the home manager makes a data entry "mistake" which has or most probably may cause a significant negative impact for the visiting team, the game must be "quit" and replayed unless the visiting manager wants to accept the mistake and continue playing. The determination on whether a game should be replayed is the responsibility of the league president. Thus, if there is a doubt in either managers' mind regarding whether or not a game should be replayed, the president should be called. (3) Between series, there will be at least one off day for both teams. Teams will also get extra "off-days" if their prior series did not go seven games. (i.e. three bonus days for a 5-game series, one bonus day off for a 6-game series, etc.) *** CLARIFICATION - Rest between and during series. -First, make sure all players have been rested and stats zeroed prior to the start of the first series only. Print out a copy of the PFBL season stats for reference if you so wish. -After game 2, the home team should send the visiting manger a transfer of both teams' stats. The visiting manager should import these stats, using the "replace" command. Give both teams one day off. After game 5, the visitor should send stats to the home manager. Again, the stats should be imported using "replace". Both teams also get one day off. -After the series is over, the stats should be transferred again, so that both managers have complete stats/fatigue for the series - and victorious team gets some days off, (give the off days before the transfer) according to series length: 7 game series: 1 day rest 6 game 2 days 5 game 4 days 4 game sweep 5 days rest -Before the next series, NO REST TIME shall be given. The visiting manager sends his team's transfer file to the home manager, who imports team stats using "replace". IMPORT ONLY TEAM STATS, NOT LEAGUE. After games 2 and 5, both teams' stats should be tranferred using "replace" once again. The same rest rules apply for this and all subsequent playoff rounds. END OF CLARIFICATION *** 3. Post-Season Game Settings Rules: (i) Weather effects should be turned off; (ii) Unless both managers consent to "show all pitches", games should be played using "show all plays"; (iii) Unless both managers consent otherwise, or the "show all pitches" option is utilized, managers may not pitchout or make pickoff throws in the playoffs. Should "manager 1" want pickoff throws/pitchouts and "manager 2" not, "manager 2" may not invoke this prohibition by refusing to play using "show all pitches" option if "manager 1" offers to do so. 4. Playoff Completion Deadline: The playoffs must be completed and the PFBL World Champion determined by the free agent bid due date. See Section VII for the date in question. 5. Post-Season Team Eligibility: A team is NOT eligible for the playoffs if: (A) A team's home percentage is .175 greater than a team's road percentage AND that team wins 10 more games than predicted* as listed in the Real Life standings on the master disk; (C) A team's home percentage is .250 more than a team's road percentage; OR (D) A team overused their players as per section II-6 and in the opinion of the President, the overuse had an impact on the standings. Note: teams prohibited from making the playoffs, will be considered to have forfeited their first playoff series. *Preseason prediction are done after the rosters are set to start the season by using an average of at least 5 computer replays. 6. Post-Season Manager Eligibility: A manager is NOT eligible for the playoffs if his team is in debt to the league. Managers ineligible for the playoffs have the right to set their 25-man rosters; pitching rotations; and manager profiles. However, they are NOT permitted to play or participate in any post-season games. Opponents of these teams should play their entire series on their computer and the suspended manager's team should be managed by the computer manager. 7. Post-Season Player Eligibility: To be eligible for post-season play, players MUST appear on their PFBL team's 25-man active roster prior to Month #5 of that season. Player overused during the season as per Section II-6. are suspended at the start of post-season play for the number of games* they overused during the season. *Note: overused starting pitchers are suspended in the post-season for 4 games for every one they were overused. Relievers are suspended for 2 games for each game overused. Managers must set their playoff roster at 25 prior to the start of each playoff series (i.e., you can make roster changes between series - just not during a series). No roster substitutions are allowed for suspended players. Special Starting Pitcher Restriction: The following usages in the playoffs will apply: Real Life Pitcher Starts: Usage Allowance: 8 games or more Unlimited 5-7 games 1 game per series in the playoffs. Less than 5 games Cannot be used as a starter in the playoffs. 8. Post-Season Disk Transfer: Once your team is eliminated, send the commissioner your team's transfer file only. If you eliminate a team that was managed by the computer manager, please submit that team's transfer files to the commissioner as well. V> PFBL ADMINISTRATION 1. Cmmissioner: Duties include: determining limitations; free agents; and rookies; putting together the league master disk; schedule; and managerial rosters; and the collection of annual dues. The Commissioner has the right to make PFBL by-law changes when and if: (A) major league baseball makes a rule change; (B) if a "mistake"; "problem" or "weakness" in the by-laws is found. The Commissioner also has the sole right to put rule changes to vote. The Commissioner will appoint a President to each League to run the daily operations of the league. The Commissioner is Mike Thomsen. 2. The Presidents of the PFBL: The Presidents are appointed by the Commissioner and will oversee the daily operation their respective league. The President is the final authority on interpretations of league rules or any conflict which may occur. The President is bound by the by-laws. NL Pres: Bill Putman AL Pres: Dave Ross 3. Disk Commissioner: The Disk Commissioners' duties include: (A) receiving, updating the disks each play period; (B) emailing out the disk to the Commissioner. (C) Informing the Commissioner of potential fines for tardiness per the by laws. Disk Commissioner: Jon Hersey 4. The Trade Commissioner: Is appointed by the League Commissioner, duties include: (A) selecting a trade jury; (B) compiling the list of all trade to send to the trade jury; (C) sending the list of trades to the trade jury for review; (D) serving as the alternate juror on all votes; and (E) Sending the list of approved trades to the Reports commissioner. Trade Commissioner: Jon Hersey 5. Cap Enforcement / Power Ratings: The Commissioner may appoint a deputy enforcer to compile team power ratings and track salary cap numbers for the league. Current Enforcer: Jerry Bridge 6. The Fair Trade Jury (FTJ): Three PFBL members will be selected by the Trade Commissioner to serve on the FTJ to review all trades. Each trade must be approved by at least two of the three members to pass. Managers may not serve on a Jury reviewing their own trades. If a tie-breaking decision is needed, the Commissioner will cast the final vote. 7. The Yearbook Commissioner: The Yearbook commissioner will be in charge of collecting and putting together the yearbook each season. The Yearbook will contain PFBL records; no-hitters; playoff results; etc. 8. The WebMaster: Responsible for updating all league information on the Website (Currently:http://www.iceminer.com/pfblb/) Current WebMaster: Don LoCrasto CHECK the homepage for up-to-date administrative responsibilities. VI > PFBL AWARDS (all award winners are listed in the PFBL Annual Yearbook) 1. Manager of the Year Award: Three Manager of the Year awards are given out: One for the each conference's best road record and one for the league's most improved road record. Note: Managers who grossly overuse their players are not eligible for the awards. 2. PFBL Franchise Index: 1 point is awarded for a: playoff appearance; division title; world series appearance; world championship; and each conference's best road record. Thus, 27 points are awarded each season. 3. Conference MVP: A hitter's vote total is his PFBL Runs Created (found in the report section) minus his position average as listed here: ss 66; c 68; 2b 74; 3b 83; cf 85; lf/rf 89; 1b/dh 90. 4. Conference Cy Young: Eligible for the award are the top 10 pitchers in wins in the Conference. Votes are earned for pitchers in the following categories: Wins; Strikeouts; ERA; and Shutouts with the pitcher ranked first in each category earning 10 points, 9 for second on down to 1 for 10th. The pitcher with the most points wins the award. 5. Conference Fireman: Conference leader in Saves. Tie breaker is Save Percentage. 6. Conference Middle Reliever: Conference leader in holds. VII> SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES A: The Listing of Activities 1- Dues Due 2- Newsletter #1: Containing: Free Agents; Rookies; Limitations. 3- Free Agent Draft and Playoff Completion Deadline 4- Newsletter #2: Containing Free Agent Results; and the Draft order and times 5- Rookie Draft 6- Cuts Due 7- Newsletter #3: Containing Draft Result and the Unemployment Pool 8- Unemployment Selections Due 9- Trading Period Ends 10- Manager Profiles Due, Info Disk Due and Yearbook Disk Due 11- Newsletter #4; the Master Disk for play periods 1 and 2; and the Info Disk 12- Play ball (Period 1 Games), Road Instruction Changes Due 13- Period 1 Transfer Disk Due, Game Results Due to Opponents (boxscores, scoresheets and series summary) 14- Playball (Period 2 Games), Road Instruction Changes Due 15- Period 1 Stat Disk Sent, Newsletter #5 16- Period 2 Transfer Disk Due; Game Results due (boxes, etc.) and Mid-season Unemployment Selections Due 17- Trading Period 18- Trades Due and Profiles Due 19- Master Disk for Play Period 3 sent, Newsletter #6 20- Playball (Period 3 Games), Road Instruction Changes Due 21- Month 4-6 Transfer Disk Due; Game Results Due 22- Final Disk Sent, Newsletter #9, (Fines for over usage listed) 23- The Playoffs begin B. Dates: Notes: (1) Manager must adhere to the below dates unless otherwise stated in the PFBL newsletter; and (2) Deadline time for deadline dates is always 11:00 AM; Holidays or Sundays do NOT push back the deadline dates. 1 - Due last Friday in October 2 - Mailed on the 3rd Monday in November 3 - Due by 3rd Friday in December 4 - Mailed on the first Monday after the 3rd Friday in December 5 - Held on the first weekend February 6 - Due the second Friday after the draft 7 - Mailed on the first Monday after the cuts are received 8 - Due on the 1st Friday in March 9- Due on the second Friday in March 10 - Due the 3rd Friday in March 11 - Mailed on March 31st 12 - First Saturday in April 13 - Due second Friday in May 14 - 1st Monday after second Friday in May 15 - Mailed on the first Monday after the last disk has been received 16 - Due last Friday in June 17 - July 1st - July 8th 18 - Due July 15th 19 - Mailed first Monday after July 15th 20 - August 1st 21 - Due last Friday in September 22 - Mailed the first Monday after all the disks have been received 23 - As soon as all transfer disks has been received