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Article 0: Initial Draft
0.1 In order to secure that this league has a random and fair initial draft, the draft order will be determined by the following process.
0.2 Once the first pick has been determined the 2nd pick will go to the alphabetical manager just in front of the owner of the 1st pick. The 3rd pick will belong to the alphabetical manager just behind the owner of the 1st pick. From this point we will rotate front to back to fill out the remaining choices in the first round. (For Example, if the DJIA closes at 12,966.35 the first pick will belong to owner #6, because that falls within his range of numbers, the 2nd pick will go to #5, because he fall alphabetically just in front of the owner of the first pick, the 3rd pick will belong to #7, he falls alphabetically just behind the owner of the first pick, the 4th pick goes to #4, the 5th pick to #8, the 6th pick to #3 and so on.)
0.3 Once the draft order for the 16 teams is in place the odd number rounds will follow this order and the
Even numbered rounds will draft in reverse order from the first. (The owner of the first pick chooses
The first pick in the first round and the last pick in the second round, overall picks #1 and #32, and the
Last owner to choose in the first round will choose first in the second round, yes twice in a row.) This
Ensures the most balanced playing field for all managers.
0.4 Drafting will occur via the Internet chat room set up in advance of draft day, March 2, 2001.
The first 25 rounds will be conducted in this format from beginning to end, there will be a time limit on picks of 30 seconds each in rounds 1-6, 45 seconds per pick in rounds 7-12, 60 seconds in rounds 13-20, and 75 seconds for rounds 21-25. The procedure for subsequent rounds 26-33 will be determined at a date no later than one week prior to the draft.
0.5 There will be other accommodations for managers unable to attend the initial draft; these will be worked out with the commissioners sometime before draft day.
0.6 Below is a list of the Dow Jones Industrial distribution for the current league members…
#1. Chris Blackburn = .00-.05 #9. Dave Koch = .48-.53
#2. Tom Bryce = .06-.11 #10. Jim Kockler = .54-.59
#3. Eric Forsell = .12-.17 #11. Paul Migut = .60-.65
#4. Ben Hardy = .18-.23 #12. Rory Nelson = .66-.71
#5. David Hill = .24-.29 #13. Mike Owens = .72-.77
#6. JP Huckelberry = .30-.35 #14. Matt Poulter= .78-.83
#7. Bill Jenkins = .36-.41 #15. James Powell - .84-.89
#8. Keith Kaiser = .42-.47 #16. Mitch Shelton = .90-.95
Note If the Dow closes with a price right of the decimal point between (.96-.99) that we will move to the two numbers directly left of the decimal point. If that number also falls in this field, we will use the numbers that surround the decimal point the one to the left for the first digit and the one to the right for the last digit. If for some reason all three determinants fall in that field, we will move to the close of the NASDAQ for that Friday.
Article 1: League Structure
1.1 The league is comprised of 16 teams.
A. There will be four divisions each division will consist of four teams.
B. The playing schedule will begin in April and complete in September.
C. The schedule will consist of 162 games: 66 games within the division (22 vs. each opponent) and 96 games vs. all other teams in the league (8 vs. each opponent).
1.2 The APBA Basic Game with modifications will be used as defined on the Basic Game Boards depending on the version owned by the home managers except as amended per this document.
1.3 Teams will retain permanent ownership of players.
1.4 “XB” carded players will not be used in the initial season.
A. The initial ruling to exclude XB’s in the inaugural season is to create a talent-pool for future drafts; this Article may be amended to include XB’s at a later date.
B. XB’s will be available for the draft for the 2002 Season.
1.5 The designated hitter rule will be used for all NEL League regular and post-season Games.
1.6 NEL membership dues will be $10.00 per team. This cost will cover league expenses only and the prize awarded for the Manager of the Year, which is outlined in Article 3 of this document.
Article 2: League Hierarchy
2.1 The Commissioner(s)
A. The Commissioner(s) is responsible for administering the League.
B. Commissioner(s) is selected by a majority vote of owned teams (one vote per team).
C. The Commissioner(s) serves until resigns, or is replaced or removed by majority vote of owned teams.
D. Duties of the Commissioner(s):
1. Review all prospective managers and initiate communication to search for replacement managers.
2. Establish a League Schedule.
3. Conduct all Drafts, including, compiling and communicating a list of available players to all current and new owners.
4. Maintain official player rosters of all teams, as communicated by team owners.
5. Publish a periodic newsletter (although the majority of league business occurs via the net).
6. Collect League Dues.
7. Review all trades.
8. Establish the date to reduce team rosters to 25 players known as “Cut Date.”
9. Submit and conduct voting on all rule changes.
10. Assign team divisional alignments, keeping in mind owner preferences.
11. Settle all disputes over games and honesty.
12. Conduct Manager of the Year Award.
2.2 League Statistician
A. The Statistician will be a voluntary position determined by the commissioner(s).
B. The Statistician is responsible for receiving all monthly cumulative stats from League Managers and keeping a yearly cumulative total for each team.
C. Report delinquent managers to the commissioner(s).
D. Compile a monthly report for the league that includes but is not limited to….
1. Team Statistics
2. Individual Player Statistics
3. League Leaders
4. Standings
E. Email a copy of the report to the Web-Man and the Commissioner’s for distribution to League Members.
Article 3: League Manager Duties
3.1 Duties
1. Instructions are due to opposing managers no later than the 25th of the month prior to scheduled month for games to be played.
2. Report any delinquent instructions to the commissioner(s).
3. Send default instructions and pitching rotations to the League office for the entire season before April 1st.
3.2 Manager of the Year Award
A. A portion of the League dues will be applied to the Manager of the Year Award
B. Manager of the Year will be awarded to the manager that acquires the most points throughout the course of the year.
C. Managers will receive (5) points for each series where they send out instructions on or before the due date (the 25th of the month prior to games scheduled). 21 Series X (5) for a total of 105 points possible.
D. Managers will receive (10) points for each monthly cumulative stat compilation where they send in accurate results and statistics to the league Statistician on or before the due date (the 5th of the month following the month in which the games were scheduled). 6 Months X (10) for a total of 60 points.
E. Managers will receive (5) points for each monthly series where they send accurate results and statistics to opposing managers (the last day of the month where the games were scheduled). 21 Series X (5) for a total of 105 points.
F. Managers will receive (2) points for each Home game’s results and recaps that they post on the League Message Board. 81 Home Games X (2) for a total of 162 points.
G. The Manager with the most points at season’s end will receive via league funds the next year’s APBA card set free of charge.
-There will be a random tiebreaker determined to break all ties for Manager of the Year.
-All managers who tie for Manager of the Year that lose due to the tie-breaker system will have their dues waived for the following year.
H. The Commissioner(s) have indicated that they are not eligible to win this prize.
Article 4: Team Make-up
4.1 Each team will be comprised of 33 players as follows:
A. A 25-man series by series playing roster
B. An 8-man series by series reserve roster.
4.2 A team may exceed 33 players after the season begins .
4.3 The Team Roster can never fluctuate below 26 or above 40 players at any time.
4.4 In Season Trading is allowed. The Trade must be reported to the League Office before the 25th of the month prior to the playing of all of the series for that month. If instructions for the month have been sent to any managers prior to a trade (whether the other manager who received the instructions is involved or not), then the trade cannot take effect until the following month.
4.5 Soon after the draft rosters will be frozen at 33 players. A frozen period is one in which no trades can be reported to the league office. The frozen period will end at some point no less than 2 weeks prior to opening day.
4.6 During the season Managers are allowed to make trades up until July 25th (which happens to be the last date to send instructions for the August series). The managers are allowed to make uneven trades in terms of numbers of roster spots available so long as the number of players on the roster doesn’t drop below 26 or rise above 40.
Article 5: Player Draft
5.1 Prior to each playing season a draft of carded, un-owned players will be conducted by the Commissioner(s).
5.2 The Draft will be held the first weekend in March. (When Possible)
5.3 The Draft will be comprised of a minimum of 8 rounds. Additional rounds may be required to bring all managers up to at least the 33-player minimum required.
5.4 24 Hours after the draft all rosters must be dwindled to exactly 33 players, in which the next frozen period will occur.
5.5 Each teams’ position in each round will be determined as follows:
A. The first 10 picks in the draft will be determined in reverse order of how the finished the prior season.
B. Picks 11 & 12 will go to the two Wild Card Round Playoff Losers, determined by reverse order of how they finished the season.
C. Picks 13 & 14 will go to the two Semi-Final Losers, determined by reverse order of how they finished the season.
D. Pick 15 will go to the World Series Runner-Up.
E. Pick 16 will go to the NEL World Series Champion.
F. There will be a procedure to randomly determine any ties.
Article 6: Player Usage
6.1 All position players are limited to their actual number of games played during the regular season.
6.2 Position Players are eligible to play any position in which they appeared in at least 10% of their total games played for the season or 10 games at a position.
6.3 Position Players can play a position they are not eligible for with no penalty if they are carded at that position and an ejection (emergency) has occurred.
6.4 Players can play a position they are not eligible for and are not carded at only if there are no other options, in this case the substitute playing out of position is assigned a value, like this, C=4: 1B=1: 2B=4, SS=5, 3B=2, and OF’ers = 0.
6.5 Starting Pitchers are limited to actual starts from the regular season.
6.6 Relief Pitchers are limited in innings per series according to the J-Factor on their card.
A. A pitcher with a J-0 or J-1 Rating can pitch a maximum of 4 innings per series.
B. A pitcher with a J-2 Rating can pitch a maximum of 3 innings per series.
C. A pitcher with a J-3 Rating can pitch a maximum of 2 innings per series.
D. A pitcher with a J-4 Rating can pitch a maximum of 1 inning per series.
E. Any relief pitcher may exceed his innings allowed as a D (W).
F. Unused innings may not be accrued from series to series.
G. Starting Pitchers may not be used in relief roles unless he had at least 5 relief appearances.
6.7 Split Grade Pitchers are limited to actual starts, and relief roles fall under 6.4 above.
Split Grade Pitchers cannot start a game and relieve in the same series.
6.8 Playing Rules and Modifications.
A. Starting Pitchers will be downgraded in accordance with the old Basic Game rules as listed below + one NEL modification:
1. Any pitcher will be reduced one letter grade upon giving up his 5th earned run over any 3-inning span.
2. Starting Pitchers will all be reduced to a D (W) after the 8th earned run allowed during a game.
3. Starting Pitchers will be reduced to a D (W) after the 10th inning.
B. Starting Pitchers will be upgraded in accordance with the old Basic Game Rules as listed below:
1. A “D” starting pitcher that has not allowed any runs will advance one-letter grade after 5 consecutive scoreless innings.
2. A “C” starting pitcher that has not allowed any runs will advance one-letter grade after 6 consecutive scoreless innings.
3. A “B” starting pitcher that has not allowed any runs will advance one-letter grade after 7 consecutive scoreless innings.
4. No starter ever advances above an “A”.
5. When determining whether a pitcher should be upgraded for a scoreless inning streak, a pitcher must pitch a complete inning without allowing a run for it to count as a scoreless inning.
C. A relief pitcher will be downgraded one letter grade after giving up the 5th earned run in that appearance.
D. There are no limits on pitchers graded “D”.
E. There is no limit on the number of Hit & Runs that can be attempted during a game.
1. For the Hit & Run to be valid the batter must have at least 2 “31’s” on his card.
2. For the Hit & Run to be valid the runner must have at least 2 first column “10’s” or “11’s” on his card.
3. When a Hit & Run is attempted and the play result is a 13 or 14, ignore the boards and use the following chart to determine the fate of the base runner.
4. For a (9) catcher the runner is out if the roll is 34 or less.
5. For an (8) catcher the runner is out if the roll is 26 or less.
6. For a (7) catcher the runner is out if the roll is 22 or less.
7. For a (6) catcher the runner is out if the roll is 14 or less.
F. There are no rainouts.
G. A pitcher may not appear as a pinch runner or pinch hitter under any circumstances.
H. A backup for each position must be included on your 25-man roster.
I. All injuries as dictated by the playing boards will be nullified; the play stands as is with no injury.
J. Ejections as dictated by the playing boards will be upheld by the league. (Emergency)
K. A fielding chart will be used for certain dice results. (See appendix.)
L. A pitcher with a (ZZ) rating on his card is treated like a (Z) pitcher except with Bases Empty or runners on First and Third. In those two situations only, the board number 14 result is changed to “Two Balls” with a (ZZ) pitcher. Two 14s will result in a base on balls for the batter.
M. An error and rare play chart will be used. (See appendix)
N. Relief Pitcher upgrades: For the first batter that the relief pitcher faces, the pitcher is only upgraded if they pitch from the same side as the hitter. The pitcher remains upgraded until they face a batter from the opposite side or a switch hitter.
O. The DH can be moved into the field and a new DH may be brought into the game.
P. All teams must carry at least 12 innings of relief pitching at all times during the season.
Article 7: Statistics
7.1 Statistics must be reported to the visiting manager by the last day of the month for the scheduled completion of the series.
7.2 Month to date statistics will be sent to the statistician by the 5th of the month following the series.
7.3 A manager may keep stats in his favorite way as long as he keeps the statistics required by the NEL.
7.4 The following statistics will be used and must be kept in the following order.
A. For Hitters: G-AB-R-H-RBI-2B-3B-HR-BB-K-SB-HBP-E-AVG
B. For Pitchers: G-GS-CG-SHO-W-L-S-IP-H-R-ER-HR-BB-K-HBP-ERA
C. Totals for all categories are required for balancing.
Article 8: Instruction Sheets
8.1 Instruction Sheets should be limited to one printed page.
8.2 All instruction sheets are due no later than the 25th of the month prior to the scheduled playing of the games.
8.3 Instruction Sheets should include the following:
A. Starting lineup by game
B. Substitutes
C. Pinch Hitters/Runners and when to use them.
D. Pitching Rotation (a starting pitcher must have at least three calendar days rest between starts.)
E. Relief Pitching Instructions
F. Defensive Lineup and Defensive Replacement and when to use them.
G. When to use the sacrifice and squeeze play.
H. When and with whom to use the Hit & Run.
I. Defensive positioning.
J. Intentional Walks
K. Base Running Options:
“Playing it Safe” definition: If runner(s) are considered playing it safe, they can only advance the number of bases for the hit regardless of the board results. Which means no extra base advancement, and nobody gunned down either, who is playing it safe.
“Playing it Safe” only applies to board results 1-11, all other results where players advance due to speed or are thrown out apply, there is no managing around them.
Article 9: Late Instructions and Instruction Sheets
9.1 All managers will be required to complete a list of default instructions that will be due to the league office no later than April 1st.
9.2 If an opposing managers has not received an instruction sheet or communication about instructions then you are responsible to contact the commissioner(s) and a copy of the default instructions will be sent to you. Remember Communication is the key, extra time will be granted for extenuating circumstances, but it is the responsibility of the late manager to contact either the league office or the opposing manager (and preferably both) if something is going to be late.
9.3 The Commissioner(s) will determine the appropriate penalty for tardiness. Commissioner(s) will use their best judgment based on prior history and the reason for the current occurrence, to determine the proper action to take regarding tardiness. (A solid thump in the nuts may result.)
Article 10: Post-Season Play
10.1 Post Season play will commence in the month of October.
10.2 The playoff teams will be seeded as follows:
A. The Four Division winners will be seeded 1-4 based on total record for the year.
B. The Final two playoff spots (wild cards) will be the next two teams with the best record.
C. In Round 1 (which is 4 out of 7) Team 6 will face Team 3 and Team 5 will face Team 4. Home Field advantage always goes to the higher seed.
D. In Round 2 (which is 4 out of 7) Team 1 will face the lowest remaining playoff team, and Team 2 will face the Highest remaining playoff team.
E. Round 3 (which is also 4 out of 7): The two remaining teams will square off, with the higher seed having home-field advantage.
F. Each manager will send instructions simultaneously.
G. Managers will have one week to complete his games.
H. Ties for playoff seeds will be broken as follows…
1. Overall road record
2. Head to Head Results
3. Record within own division
4. Random Number
10.3 Player usage during the playoffs.
A. Must use at least a three pitcher starting rotation, if a pitcher pitches on 3 days rest in the same series he will be reduced one-letter grade.
B. Any pitcher can be used as a relief pitcher so long as he does not start in that series.
C. Relief pitchers are limited to the following number of innings per series.
D. Pitchers must have 3 calendar days rest between starts.
E. J-0=6 innings, J-1=5 innings, J-2=4 innings, J-3=3 innings, J-4= 2 innings.
F. Each relief pitcher is limited to 3 innings per game.
G. If no other pitcher is available then a pitcher may continue as a “D” (W).
H. Position Players will be limited to number of games per series by the following….
1. J-0, J-1, & J-2 = 7 games per series
2. J-3 = 5 games per series.
3. J-4 = actual games in regular season.
A. (1-19) = 2 games
B. (20-39) = 3 games
C. (40+) = 4 games
Article 11: Amending The Constitution
11.1 This constitution may be amended, changed or replaced by a majority vote of owned teams.
11.2 A majority is defined as 1 more than 50% of the owners that participate in the vote.
11.3 Any proposed action shall be submitted in written form to the Commissioner(s) no later than Dec. 1 of the calendar year preceding the upcoming season for which the proposal will go into effect.
11.4 The Commissioner(s) shall distribute the proposed action as presented to the League teams for a vote and count the returns.
11.5 In the event that there is any issue or dispute that is not explicitly covered in the constitution, the commissioners have the authority to decide the issue based upon what they feel is in the best interest of the league. This decision can be only overridden by a majority vote of the league owners.