AABA

All America Baseball Association

 

CONSTITUTION

(1-1-08)

 

I.  PREAMBLE

 

The All America Baseball Association allows a group of baseball enthusiasts of different ages, personalities and geographic locations to form a table top/computer baseball league.  The league uses the APBA Basic Baseball Game with realistic variations and Baseball for Windows computer game.  Its purpose is to provide its members with a hobby for relaxation and enjoyment.  Also, the league promotes friendship and stimulates competition through playing the APBA Basic Major League Baseball game or computer game by mail or in person.  The league’s goal is to simulate “real baseball” using a tabletop or computer game.  The AABA has 18 members.  These members are referred to as “managers” in the Constitution.  Approval of this Constitution and any revision(s) requires an approval of 13 of the 18 managers.

 

II. OFFICERS

 

The Commissioner will appoint officers of the AABA.  These officers also may be managers.  The following positions are officers of the AABA:

 

Commissioner - is the top league official.  He will be responsible for enforcing the Constitution and the running of the league.  He is also responsible for selecting managers, Constitutional interpretations, and will rule on anything not covered in the Constitution.

 

Administrative Assistant - will rule on any league issue requiring a quick response if Commissioner is not available.  He also will be responsible for league administrative matters as specified by the Commissioner.

 

Statistician - collects each team’s monthly Series Reports (Form A) and Statistics Reports (Form B).  He will compile stat leaders and standings each month of the regular season and provide Commissioner with a written update.  Statistician will also keep track of Penalty Points. 

 

Historian - is responsible for keeping annual stats for the league and for individual teams.  The Historian will provide the Commissioner with annual and periodic information regarding league records and team records.

 

III. ORGANIZATION

 

Structure - 18-team league with three 6-team divisions.  Divisional alignment follows:

 

Ashburn Division	Bolender Division	Musial Division
5 Points Freebirds	Bay County Pirates	Bar Harbor Lobsters
Alaska Pipeliners	Bluegrass Cheeseheads	Caribbean Kings
Lincolnshire Lugnuts	Buffalo Grizzlies	Iowa Field of Dreams
Pennsylvania Pelts	Milford Mudlarks	Kentucky Floods
Red Arrow Trolleys	Oregon Rampage	LaGrange Appleknockers
Springfield Owls	Stockton Stingers	Las Vegas Playboys

 

Season/Schedule - Regular season will run from mid-March to October of the same calendar year.  The league schedule will consist of 162 games per season.  Each team will play divisional opponents 18 games consisting of a 4-game and a 5-game home and away series.  There will be 6 games against each non-divisional opponent consisting of a 3-game home and away series.

 

Rosters – The current APBA Baseball Card set, including XBs, will be used.  Rosters will consist of a maximum of 40 players.  Up to 2 un-carded players may be included in the overall total of 40.  Active Rosters may have a maximum of 27 players for each home and away series with the balance of players being on Minors Roster.

 

Active and Minors Rosters must be the same for any home and away series.  Players may be transferred between Active and Minors Rosters only between opponents.  For the final month of the season (October), all players are eligible for Active Roster.

 

The Active Roster must always include a rated substitute at every defensive position.  One player may serve as substitute at any number of positions.  A player who is the last rated at the defensive position he is currently playing may not be removed from the game, except by injury.

 

Playoff Roster - The same 27-player roster must be used for the duration of the playoffs.  Farm Team Players are not eligible for the playoffs.  A playoff team must field a valid playoff roster or it will forfeit the playoff series.

 

Farm Team Players – In the AABA, Farm Team Players are similar to September call-ups in the majors.  These players are not eligible for post-season play.  The main difference is that AABA teams can use these players during the course of the regular season, not just in the final month of the season.  Position players who appeared in 40 games or less, starting pitchers who had 10 or fewer starts and relievers who had 35 or less innings are considered Farm Team Players.  A list of Farm Team Players will be provided annually.

 

Playoffs - will begin in November each year following the completion of the regular season.  The three division winners automatically qualify for the playoffs.  There will be three additional “wild card” teams qualifying and these three teams will have the three best regular season records other than the division winners.  In case of a tie for any playoff berth, Commissioner will play a 1-game playoff to decide winner.  No stats will count for regular season or playoffs.  Home Field Advantage will be determined by:

 

1. Penalty Points – fewest gets home field advantage.

2. Head-to-Head Record – winner gets home field advantage.

3. Previous Season’s Draft – team with lower draft position gets home field advantage.

 

In case of a tie between division winners and/or wild cards, the tie-breaking procedure is:

 

1. Penalty Points – fewest gets higher seed.

2. Head-to-Head Record – winner gets higher seed.

3. Previous Season’s Draft - team that had lower draft position receives higher seed.

 

Playoff Seeding Clarification – “Higher” - #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 – “Lower”

 

There will be 3 rounds to the playoffs.  All playoff series will be the best of 7 games with the team with the better regular season record always having home field advantage (Games 1, 2, 6 & 7).  Following is a breakdown of the playoff format:

 

·       Byes - The two division winners with the best regular season won/loss record will receive byes in the 1st round of the playoffs.

 

·       Round 1 - The one division winner not receiving a bye will play the wild card team with the lowest winning percentage in the regular season.  The two other wild card teams will play each other.  The two winners advance to Round 2 of the playoffs. 

 

·       Round 2 - The two division winners that had byes will play the two teams who advanced from Round 1.  The division winner with the best regular season record will play the surviving team from Round 1 with the lower winning percentage in the regular season.  The two winners advance to Round 3 of the playoffs.

 

·       Round 3 - The two winning teams from Round 2 meet in the World Series and the winning team is World Champion.

 

IV. TRADING

 

Trading period begins December 1st each year and ends 12:00 noon eastern March 15th.  Players and draft choices may be traded but draft choices will be limited to the current year and one (1) year in advance.  Trades must be reported to the Commissioner and Administrative Assistant to be valid.  There will be no trading during the regular season.  Commissioner may nullify any trades not in the best interests of the AABA.

 

V.  UNOWNED PLAYER DRAFT

 

The Unowned Player Draft will take place on the 3^rd Saturday in February each year.  Managers may draft in person, by telephone or by written list.  Any player listed on APBA’s current carded player list and not on the roster of an AABA team is eligible for the draft.  An official AABA Draft List will be provided annually.  An uncarded player may not be drafted.

 

The order of the draft will be determined by the order of finish the previous season.  The team with the fewest wins (plus Penalty Points, if any) will pick 1^st and so on.  The winner of the World Series will pick last regardless of regular season record.  If there is a tie for a draft position the tie-breaker will be:

 

1. Regular Season Record – lowest percentage selects first.

2. Penalty Points – fewest selects first.

3. Head-to-Head Record – winner selects first.

4. Previous Season’s Draft – team with higher draft position selects first.

 

Draft Position Clarification – “Higher” – 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 17^th, 18^th – “Lower”

 

There will be a total of 10 rounds to the draft.  After drafting, teams will cut down to a final roster of 40 including up to two no-cards.  Final cut down time and date will be 12:00 noon eastern March 15th each year.

 

VI. PENALTY POINTS

 

Whenever a deadline passes or there is a violation of the Constitution,  Penalty Points may be given and, at the end of the season, these Penalty Points will be added to a team’s “wins” possibly affecting a team’s draft position.  Penalty Points can be issued by the Commissioner, Administrative Assistant or the Statistician.  They will be given any time a deadline passes or there is a Constitutional violation.  Examples:

 

Late Instructions – 1 point

Late Form A – 1 point

Late Form B – 1 point

Late Dues – 1 point

Constitutional Violation – 1 point

BBW sim of a series due to lateness – 1 point

 

If a draft pick is traded, the Penalty Points, if any associated with that pick, are frozen at the time of the trade.  Therefore, no future accumulation of Penalty Points by the team trading away the pick will negatively affect the location of that pick in the draft.  If a manager accumulates 5 or more Penalty Points in a given season, he may be suspended or dismissed from the AABA. 

 

VII. PLAYER USAGE

 

Non-Pitchers - will be limited to their actual # of MLB games.  These game appearances may be as a starter, pinch hitter, pinch runner or defensive replacement.  Each appearance counts as a game.

 

All non-pitchers may start at their primary position (1st listed on card) or any secondary positions listed on card as many games as the Constitution permits with the following exceptions:

 

1.   Any non-pitcher who played 10 games or less at a “secondary” fielding position (unless he is rated Fielding 1 at that position) may only start 1 game per opponent (22 games) at that position.  That 1 game must be in the home series of the team owning the player.  If he does not start at that position, he may not enter the game defensively (or move) to that position until the 7th inning or later unless (by injury only) he is the last available active player rated at that position. 

 

2.   Designated Hitters who did not play a position in MLB may not play in the field in the AABA.

 

3.  Players who receive a secondary fielding position rating on their card but did not actually play that position in MLB may not start at that position but could be used defensively at that position in the 7^th inning or later. 

 

Non-pitchers may not play positions not listed on their card unless (by injury only) there is no other player on Active Roster who is rated at the position.  Player would then be rated according to APBA's current rules “Playing Out of Position” (see current APBA Playbook). 

 

Starting Pitchers - are those pitchers who started 80% or more of their MLB game appearances.  These pitchers will be limited to their actual # of real life starts.  A starting pitcher may appear in relief (not in same continuous series) but this would count against his allowed starting appearances.  The following rules also apply to starting pitchers:

 

·       A) A starting pitcher must be removed from the game once he has given up 7 runs, earned or unearned.

 

·       B) At least a 4-man continuous starting rotation must be used during the regular season.  Home and away series against one opponent is continuous; for example, in a 10-game series against an opponent (5 home and 5 away), the same pitcher could not pitch more than 3 games (Games 1, 5 & 9 or Games 2, 6 & 10).

 

·       C) Starting pitchers must remain in game a minimum of 5 innings or until they give up at least 4 runs and potential 5th run is on base.

 

·       D) Starting pitchers are reduced 1 full grade (5 MG points) when they give up 5 runs, earned or unearned.       

      

·       E) If a starting pitcher goes longer than 10 innings, his pitching grade is reduced 1 full grade (5 MG points) at the start of each inning after 10.

 

Relief (*) Pitchers - will be limited to their # of MLB innings.  Relief pitchers may not start.  Also applicable to relief pitchers:

 

·       A) All relief pitchers are limited to 4 innings in a 3-game series, 6 innings in a 4-game series and 8 innings in a 5-game series.

 

·       B) Relief pitchers are reduced 1 full grade (5 MG points) when they give up 3 non-inherited runs, earned or unearned.

 

·       C) Relief pitchers must be removed from the game when they have given up 5 non-inherited runs, earned or unearned, unless he is the last relief pitcher remaining on the Active Roster. 

 

Split Grade Pitchers - will be limited to their # of MLB innings.  These innings may be as a starter or reliever; however, they may not start and relieve in the same continuous series vs the same opponent.  Split Grade Pitchers must abide by rules and restrictions that apply to starters and relievers. 

 

Swing Pitchers - are those pitchers who started less than 80% of their MLB appearances, but did not receive a split grade card.  These pitchers will be limited to their actual # of real life innings and these innings may be as a starter or reliever; however, they may not start and relieve in the same continuous series vs the same opponent.  Swing pitchers must abide by rules and restrictions that apply to starters and relievers. 

 

Playoff Restrictions - Non-pitcher J-4 may start 2 games in the playoffs.  Also, they may enter any additional game(s) as a pinch hitter at anytime but may not be inserted into the lineup or play in the field until after the 5th inning.

 

A minimum of a 4-man starting rotation must be used in each playoff round.  All other Active Roster pitchers will be considered relief pitchers for the playoffs.  They will be restricted as follows:

        

0 – 35 MLB innings	not eligible for playoffs
36 – 50 MLB innings	4 innings per playoff series
51 – 65 MLB innings	6 innings per playoff series
66 – 80 MLB innings	8 innings per playoff series
81 – 100 MLB innings	10 innings per playoff series
100+ MLB innings	12 innings per playoff series

 

VIII. PLAYING RULES

 

All games played are subject to the Official Rules of Baseball and the current APBA playing boards, rules and instruction sheet, subject to the following changes and refinements:

 

A)    Advanced Options – APBA Basic Game with all advanced options is utilized, unless superseded in the Constitution. 

 

B)    Error/Unusual Play Distribution Chart – distributed by Commissioner.

 

C)    Injuries – last for the duration of that game only.

 

D)   Ball/Strike – Anytime the board result is (1) ball or (1) strike, always count as (2) balls or (2) strikes.

 

E)    Designated Hitter – DH will be in effect.  Pitchers may bat only if there are no other non-pitchers remaining on Active Roster.  

 

F)  Grade Advancement – Pitcher grade advancement is based on consecutive outs recorded and not necessarily on full shutout innings.

 

G)  Pinch Run – Pitchers may PR but it does not count as a pitching appearance.

 

      H)  Rainouts – Ignore and re-roll.       

 

I)   Base Running - The APBA basecoaching options shall not be used.  Instead, managers, prior to each season, must choose between the following two options.  Whatever option is chosen will be in effect for the entire regular season and post-season.

 

·       Green Light (Going) - Runners shall be governed at all times by the result on the APBA Boards.

 

·       Red Light (Playing It Safe) - Unless the hit and run play is on, all slow runners play it safe on hits that result from numbers 3 through 11 regardless of the number of outs.  All slow runners also play it safe on all steal attempts without regard to the number of outs unless the hit and run play is on; at all other times, runners shall be governed by the APBA board results. 

 

J) Reliever Advancement - If a reliever enters the game with a runner(s) on base, his grade is advanced 5 MG points for the first batter provided it’s a lefty vs. lefty or righty vs. righty match up.  For example, a 7*(C) advances to a 12*(B), a 10*(B) advances to a 15*(A).  No pitcher can advance beyond a 19*(A).  

 

K) MG Pitching Chart - Master Grade pitching ratings will be utilized.  If pitcher’s grade (A-D) can be changed by going up or down one letter grade (5 MG points) thereby changing the play result, re-roll to determine grade for that batter.  Please refer to RULES section listed on the chart.

 

      L) Infield In – Whenever a manager plays the infield in, use the overall infield rating

      of the defensive team to determine the result instead of individual fielding ratings.

 

IX. MANAGERS REQUIREMENTS

 

Games - Managers are required to play 2, 3 or 4 series per month during the regular season.  Each series will be 3, 4 or 5 games in length.

 

Series Report (Form A) - After completing each home series, home managers must prepare a Series Report (Form A) and e-mail it (or snail mail) to the away manager with a copy to the League Statistician.  Series Reports must be received by the 25th of the month that the games were to be played. 

 

Statistics Report (Form B) - When all games are completed and Series Reports furnished for the current month, each manager must prepare a year-to-date Statistics Report (Form B) for his team.  It is also required to attach a Page 2 to your Form B showing a year-to-date breakdown of your home and away record.  The Form B should then be sent via e-mail (or snail mail) to the League Statistician to reach him by the last day of the month that the games were to be played.

 

Stat Requirements for Form A and Form B – Both forms will be provided with the formulas pre-entered. 

 

·       Non-Pitchers - G,AB,R,H,RBI,2B,3B,HR,BB(include IW),K,HBP,SB,BatAvg, OBA, SLG, OPS (Bat Avg, OBA, SLG, OPS Form B only)

·       Pitchers - G,GS,CG,SHO,W,L,S,IP,H,R,ER,BB,K,ERA (ERA Form B only)

·       Home & Away Record – must be shown on separate sheet (page 2 of Form B)

·       Alphabetical – All players must be listed in alphabetical order beginning with last name, first name.

 

Away Series Instructions - For each series, the visiting team must send a separate set of playing instructions to the home manager.  These instructions must reach your opponent by the 1st day of the month that the games are to be played.  All information used in instructions must make sense as baseball strategy.  These instructions must include:

 

·  Active Roster – show 13 players that are inactive for both home and away series.

·  Lineups – show fielding grades for all players in your starting lineup

·  Backups – show which active players will back up, by position, in case of injury.

·  Starting Pitchers – show numerical grades, letters, and fielding grade; strategy for when to go to bullpen. 

·  Relief  Pitchers –  show numerical grades, letters and fielding grade; strategy for use of bullpen. 

·  Fielding Rating – Overall as well as Infield for each lineup. 

·  Base Running – Red Light or Green Light

·  Pinch Hitters, Pinch Runners and Defensive Replacements – who and when to utilize.

·  Hit & Run, Sacrifice, Squeeze, Infield Depth, Intentional Walks – strategy for each option and when to utilize. 

·  Base Advancement – state whether your team is playing Red Light or Green Light.

·  Instructions - must be easy to read and follow.  Maximum length of instructions should be listed on two 8 ½ X 11 pages, one side each. 

·  Scoresheets – If you would like the scoresheets mailed to you by your opponent, you must request them on your Away Instructions. 

 

Home Managers - must keep a play-by-play scoresheet for each game and the original must be sent to the visiting manager, if requested.  If the visiting manager uses ambiguous or illegal instructions, the home manager may ignore the offending parts and substitute reasonable baseball judgment for them.  He must notify the visiting manager that he has done so.  Illegal instructions are not grounds for protest.

 

If a home manager has a problem and does not play his home games on time, Commissioner may elect to sim the games using BBW.  A Form A will be sent to both the home and away managers.  If and when this occurs, the home team will receive 1 Penalty Point for each series simmed.  Managers may not contact an opposing manager or any other manager to play his games for him.

 

Default Instructions - must be sent to the Commissioner by March 20th each year.  During the regular season, if a home manager does not receive instructions by the 7th of the month, he should notify the Commissioner.  The Commissioner will issue playing instructions from the team’s Default Instructions so that the games can be played on schedule.  One Penalty Point will be assessed against the away manager each time Default Instructions are issued. 

 

Face-to-Face Play - With the consent of the home and away managers, any scheduled games may be played face-to-face.  Written instructions may be waived if both parties agree.  Series Reports (Form A) are not necessary but results of the home and away series records must be reported to the Statistician on page 2 of Form B. 

 

Computer Managers - are designated by the Commissioner and only they have the option of playing their home games using Baseball for Windows computer game.  A micro-manager will be used for the away team and Commissioner will choose micro-manager prior to each season based primarily on latest technology taking modern-draft league play into consideration.  Instead of micro manager, the away manager may choose to send written instructions for computer play. BBW may not be used in the playoffs or World Series. 

 

X.  PROTESTS

 

Visiting Manager - may protest any loss that he feels resulted from the home manager’s negligence, error or misinterpretation of the rules.  This would include violations of Major League Baseball, APBA or AABA rules, or failure to follow the visiting instructions without good reason.

 

Home Manager - may protest only if he learns after a series has been played that a visiting player was used illegally.

 

Face-to-Face Play - The home or visiting manager may protest a rule violation that occurs in a series played in person.

 

Protest Procedure - Protests must be made within 10 days after the month that the games were played.  Protesting managers must:

 

·       A) Send the score sheet(s) of the protested game(s) and an explanation of the grounds for protest back to the home manager; also, send a copy to the Commissioner unless he is involved.  If so, send your protest to the Administrative Assistant.

 

·       B) The manager, against whom the protest has been lodged, if he disagrees with the reason for the protest, should send a statement why the protest should not be allowed.  This statement must be sent to the Commissioner.

 

·       C) The Commissioner will decide favorably if and only if the other manager committed a mistake or violation that could have lost the protesting team the game.

 

·       D) A game in which a protest has been upheld shall count as a tie.  All statistics count except win, loss and save.  Any replay made necessary will be from the beginning of the game.  Game or games do not necessarily have to be made up.

 

XI. DUES

 

Annual Dues will be $20, payable on or before February 1st each year.

 

XII. CONCLUSION

 

All managers should comply with both the letter and the spirit of this Constitution, major league baseball, APBA and AABA rules and regulations.  Good sportsmanship and honesty should always be observed.

 

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