2011 FLB
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                                                                                                                        FRANCHISE LEAGUE BASEBALL CONSTITUTION

                                                                                                                        SECTION 1.00 – INTRODUCTION

                                                                                                                        1.01 INTRODUCTION
The Franchise League Baseball Association, hereby referred to as the FLB, is a GM-only Strat-O-Matic baseball league. The purpose of the league is  to assemble a 40-man roster, while operating on a $100 million salary cap. Each owner will be the general manager of their franchise. General managers will take over all current contract situations, January 1, 2011. Any team paying the salary of a former player is relieved of the responsibility (ie, Texas paid Alex Rodriguez for years after he was traded).

                                                                                                                        1.02 LEAGUE EXPECTATIONS Games will be played using the Strat-O-Matic baseball computer game, current season, rosters and stadiums. All games will be head to head or auto-played by the Commissioner. All league members will be required to have AIM to communicate with the league and for most drafts.

                                                                                                                        1.03 THE COMMISSIONER
 The Commissioner has the authority to rule on all league issues. The Commissioner is responsible for keeping an up-to-date league website as well as all team websites delegated to the league from the team owner. The Commissioner will run all aspects of the league not specified in this Constitution. The Commissioner also has the right to appoint committees. The Commissioner will be in office until he resigns or if greater than 50% of the league vote for removal.

                                                                                                                        1.04 LEAGUE REPORTERS
 A league reporter(s) may be appointed by the Commissioner. If appointed, they will be asked to write up reports for the league website. These reports include but are not limited to pre-season predictions, trade and free agent analyses, league recaps, and post-season previews.

                                                                                                                        1.06 RULES CHANGES
 Any suggestions for new rules or rule amendments will be sent to the Commissioner at the end of each season. The Commissioner will open the rule change to dialogue by all owners. If after dialogue, the rule is put to a vote, the rule must receive 67% of the owners vote to be passed.

                                                                                                                        1.07 MANAGER REVIEW
 Managers that repeatedly turn in poor performances (lose more than 90 games three (3) seasons in a row) will be reviewed by the Commissioner to ensure that they are putting in enough effort into the league.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 2.00 – LEAGUE STRUCTURE

                                                                                                                        2.01 LEAGUE STRUCTURE
 The FLB will have two leagues and three divisions and will follow the league structure like Major League Baseball. Franchises are not permitted to move leagues, change names or divisions.

                                                                                                                        2.02 SCHEDULE
 The FLB schedule will be 162 games. Season will begin approximately April 1, and end approximately September 30. It will follow the current MLB season schedule as closely as possible.

                                                                                                                        2.03 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE  In each league, #1 Seed vs. Wild Card Winner will start their series with one off day. #2 Seed vs. #3 Seed will start their series with two off days. Divisional Series is best of five. League Championship and World Series is best of seven. If the Wild Card Winner and the #1 Seed are from the same division, the Wild Card Winner will play the #2 seed.

                                                                                                                        Final game of regular season

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        Divisional – Game One

                                                                                                                        Divisional – Game Two

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        Divisional – Game Three

                                                                                                                        Divisional – Game Four

                                                                                                                        Divisional – Game Five (if necessary)

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game One

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game Two

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game Three

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game Four

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game Five (if necessary)

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game Six (if necessary)

                                                                                                                        LCS – Game Seven (if necessary)

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        WS – Game One

                                                                                                                        WS – Game Two

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        WS – Game Three

                                                                                                                        WS – Game Four

                                                                                                                        WS – Game Five (if necessary)

                                                                                                                        Off day

                                                                                                                        WS – Game Six (if necessary)

                                                                                                                        WS – Game Seven (if necessary)

                                                                                                                        2.04 STADIUMS
 Teams must keep the stadium their franchise uses.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 3.00 - ROSTERS

                                                                                                                        3.01 SALARY CAP The salary cap is a hard cap of $100 million. Teams over the salary cap can only make trades resulting in a loss of salary cap. Teams under the salary cap can not make deals resulting in exceeding the cap. Once a team is under the salary cap, they are not allowed to exceed the cap again.

                                                                                                                        3.02 ROSTER SIZE Rosters may never exceed 40 players. Only 25 players may be eligible to play at a time. Rosters are eligible for changes daily, however Commissioner must be sent notice before games are played.

                                                                                                                        3.03 ROSTER EXPANSION Active rosters will expand to 40 man on September 1. Once the playoffs begin the active roster will return to 25.

                                                                                                                        3.04 PLAYOFF ROSTERS Any players eligible to play in the regular season can play in the post-season. Playoff rosters are locked for the seven game series. Adjustments can be made between series.

                                                                                                                        3.05 INJURIES Injuries may occur to any player during the course of the game. No injuries will occur during the All-Star Game.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 4.00 - PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

                                                                                                                        4.01 PLAYERS All players who registered an at-bat or inning pitched in the previous Major League Baseball season is eligible.

                                                                                                                        4.02 MINOR LEAGUERS Each franchise has rights to all minor leaguers in that organization. However, they can not be traded until they are added to the 40-man roster. Players who are added to the 40-man Major League roster, but are not added to the Franchise League 40-man roster still can not be traded. Players can only be traded if they are on the 40-man roster.

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        SECTION 5.00 - TRANSACTIONS

                                                                                                                        5.01 PLAYER SIGNINGS All players to be signed as off season free agents must follow the free agent signing process. Any player released, or signed, during the regular season will have their contract and salary assumed by the team signing the player.

                                                                                                                        5.02 TRADING Teams can make trades with any team as long as the parameters of the salary cap are met. Teams may not name, “player to be named later” in any trade. Teams may not trade salary cap space. Teams are only allowed to trade from each team’s 40-man roster. Trades can be agreed upon between two General Managers. Both teams must send in a confirmation for the trade to take effect. The trade deadline will be at 3 pm EST on July 31. There will not be a waiver system. No trades will be allowed after 3 pm EST on July 31.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 6.00 – CONTRACTS

                                                                                                                        6.01 CONTRACTS All current contracts are immediately honored. All contracts and yearly payroll can be found on Cot’s Salaries (http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com). Any contracts containing “player options,“ are now considered “team options.“ Players with less than 6 years service time follow the following contract schedule.

                                                                                                                        Up to 1 year: $400,000

                                                                                                                        Up to 2 years: $500,000

                                                                                                                        Up to 3 years: $700,000

                                                                                                                        Up to 4 years: $800,000

                                                                                                                        Up to 5 years: $1,000,000

                                                                                                                        Up to 6 years: $1,500,000

                                                                                                                        Any player with an expiring contract that has less than 6 years service time, but makes more then the salary scale above can be renewed for another year at the same salary. Players with more then 6 years service time and an expiring contract are eligible for free agency.

                                                                                                                        Players with under six years service time can be released during the offseason at anytime. Teams are not obligated to the next season’s salary until Opening Day. Any player under contract, with less than six years service time, who is released during the season--that team is responsible for the player’s salary for the remainder of that season.

                                                                                                                        Teams are responsible for the salary of any player on a long term contract, or over six years service time, even if they release them. MLB contracts are guaranteed. You can not just release a player and be “forgiven” for their bad contract (ie, If the Giants released Barry Zito, they would still be responsible for his contract, and it would count against the salary cap).

                                                                                                                        6.02 CONTRACT EXTENSIONS Teams wishing to extend the contract of a player can do so in two ways.

                                                                                                                        1. Extending Young Players: Players between 3-4 years service time can be given a 4 year, $26 million contract ($6.5 million per year). This will eliminate their eligibility for the fifth and sixth year exceptions. Once a player has over 4 years service time, they are no longer eligible for this extension.

                                                                                                                        2. Extending Players 2: Players with one year before free agency are eligible for an extension. Extensions must be at least five years long but can be longer. Salary scale is as listed:

                                                                                                                        Outfielders/first basemen/designated hitters:    $15 million per year

                                                                                                                        Third basemen/Catchers:                                        $12 million per year

                                                                                                                        Second baseman/shortsops:                                    $10 million per year

                                                                                                                        Starting Pitchers                     $15 million per year

                                                                                                                        Relief Pitchers                       $12 million per year


                                                                                                                        Any player who has a salary that exceeds this structure, can have their contract extended (for at least 5 years), at the current salary they make (ie. Albert Pujols makes $17 million, he could be extended for 5 more seasons at this rate).

                                                                                                                        Both extensions must be offered prior to the beginning of the start of the season. Once the regular season begins they are no longer eligible. Teams who are over the salary cap are not permitted to extend contracts, or increase payroll, until they are under the salary cap.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 7.00 – FREE AGENCY

                                                                                                                        7.01 FREE AGENCY Teams may obtain free agents during the free agency periods. All free agents for the coming winter will be posted by November 1 on the Free Agency page. Only teams under the salary cap may bid on free agents. No team may make a bid for a free agent that will result in their team exceeding the salary cap.

                                                                                                                        7.02 FREE AGENT SIGNING Free Agency will begin on November 7. Teams wishing to obtain a player, must go to the Free Agency page on the website and post a bid. Teams need to state their team, the player they want, the number of years and the total value of the contract being offered.

                                                                                                                        In order to obtain a free agent, a team must bid more money per year AND at least as many years as anyone else. Money for contracts are divided evenly among all years. Once a bid has been placed for a player, a team must match years offered and exceed money per year to obtain the player.

                                                                                                                        Example: Derek Jeter is a free agent. Team A bids 2 year, $20 million contract ($10 million per year). Any team placing a bid after Team A, must match the years offered and exceed the money per year offered to pass Team A for their rights.

                                                                                                                        Example 2: Derek Jeter is a free agent. Team A bids 2 year, $20 million contract ($10 million per year). Team B bids Jeter a 3 year, $24 million contract ($8 million per year). Team A would be awarded Jeter because when Team B countered, they did not match money per year.

                                                                                                                        Example 3: Derek Jeter is a free agent. Team A bids 2 year, $20 million contract ($10 million per year). Team B offers Jeter a 1 year, $12 million contract. Team A would be awarded Jeter because Team B did not match the number of years offered. It pays to make your offer first.

                                                                                                                        7.03 FREE AGENCY PERIODS Period One: November 7-30; Period Two: December 6-31; Period Three: January 6-30; Period Four: February 6-25.

                                                                                                                        At the end of each free agent period, players will be awarded to teams with winning bids. Any player nominated in the period, will be awarded to a team. Players can not be nominated in a free agent period with less than 5 days remaining in the period. Teams over the salary cap can not nominate, sign or resign players until they are under the salary cap.

                                                                                                                        On February 25, free agency will be suspended for three days.

                                                                                                                        7.04 SPRING INVITEES Any players still unsigned on March 1, can be offered “invitations to spring training” by teams. Invitations must be posted on the free agent page on the league website. Players do not have to be added to the 40-man roster. If a team is going to keep this player, past April 1 then they must be added to the 40-man roster and issued at least a one year contract following the above salary structure based on service time. Any player with over 6 years service time must be offered at least $2 million. Offers of “invitations to spring training” granted on first come, first serve basis.

                                                                                                                        Teams who are over the salary cap are permitted to sign players to spring invitee contracts and are allowed to offer one-year, $2 million contracts at the end of spring training, if they choose to keep them. They can not offer extensions to the player.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 8.00 – LEAGUE SCHEDULE

                                                                                                                        8.01 LEAGUE SCHEDULE All teams will play the 162-game Major League Baseball schedule.

                                                                                                                        8.02 ALL-STAR GAME The All-Star Game will take place on a Tuesday in July. The managers will be the previous seasons World Series managers. Managers will select all rosters. Each team will have a 25 man roster. Injuries are disabled for this game while fatigue from this game does not carry over into the regular season. All-Star game does not affect home field advantage or any other aspect of the season.

                                                                                                                        SECTION 9.00 - GAME SET UP

                                                                                                                        9.01 GAME SETUP RULES

                                                                                                                        MAIN RULES

                                                                                                                        Maximum Levels

                                                                                                                        STEALING

                                                                                                                        Super Advanced Steal System

                                                                                                                        MISCELLANEOUS

                                                                                                                        Use Miscellaneous Rule

                                                                                                                        INJURIES

                                                                                                                        Use Super Advanced Injuries

                                                                                                                        GROUNDBALL A

                                                                                                                        Allow GBA on Pitcher Cards

                                                                                                                        BP/WEATHER/CLUTCH

                                                                                                                        Ballpark Effects

                                                                                                                        Weather Effects

                                                                                                                        Clutch Hitting

                                                                                                                        STRATEGY

                                                                                                                        Super Advanced Strategy Charts

                                                                                                                        CLOSER

                                                                                                                        Use Closer Rules

                                                                                                                        PITCHER FATIGUE

                                                                                                                        Use SADV Fatigue & Pitch Count

                                                                                                                        MAX RULES

                                                                                                                        Improve statistical accuracy - YES

                                                                                                                        Bunt for base hit - YES

                                                                                                                        Improve out distribution - YES

                                                                                                                        Improve base running realism - YES

                                                                                                                        Home field advantage - YES

                                                                                                                        Starting pitcher clutch - YES

                                                                                                                        More base running decisions - YES

                                                                                                                        Doubles/Triples options - YES

                                                                                                                        Force daily injuries - YES

                                                                                                                        Realistic throwing errors - YES

                                                                                                                        Allow extra pre-1920 errors - YES

                                                                                                                        Pitch-around option - YES

                                                                                                                        Robbing HR Rule – YES

                                                                                                                        Allow Errors on Bunts- YES

                                                                                                                        Allow Errors on Pickoffs- YES

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        9.02 LINEUPS & USAGE

                                                                                                                        VISITING TEAM LINEUP

                                                                                                                        Draft League

                                                                                                                        HOME TEAM LINEUP

                                                                                                                        Draft League

                                                                                                                        SCHEDULED DAYS OFF

                                                                                                                        Give Scheduled Days Off

                                                                                                                        AUTO SWAP-O-MATIC

                                                                                                                        No Auto Swap-O-Matic

                                                                                                                        MINOR LEAGUERS

                                                                                                                        Minor Leaguers- 40/25 Method

                                                                                                                        OVERUSAGE

                                                                                                                        Limit Overusage

                                                                                                                        USE SUPER HAL BULLPEN

                                                                                                                        YES

                                                                                                                        ALLOW EXTRA GS FOR CERTAIN PITCHERS

                                                                                                                        YES

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         


                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                        The Franchise League Baseball Association