Section 1

General Info, Contacts, Responsibilities     
 

Fantasy League Baseball is a lifetime head-to-head baseball league that was started in 2002. The commissioner of FLB is myself, Rick Londberg, and is kept up by 15 other great GMs. The FLB wants GMs who will always attempt to improve their franchise, and will spend the time necessary to facilitate this.  The GMs here are serious competitors, and we all want the best for the league. Following the links to the left you can find information on teams' records, players, and contact information.

Last Update: Oct 13, 2008

FLB Contacts  
 

Part 2

General Rules & Operations  
 
 

Terms of Termination

All Owners/General Managers may be given notice of termination for any of the following reasons:

1. If it becomes apparent that a General Manager is not participating in any league activities, (roster changes, instant messenger, voting, message forums, and viewing results), or otherwise disrupting the league by their actions or communications they may lose their franchise and another General Manager will be appointed. All teams are property of the FLB.

2. Any General Manager may propose that another General Manager be removed from the league. Email reason to the commissoner and if there are sufficient reasons to support your case that General Manager could be terminated.

3. The league's head office will determine how much notice a General Manager will be given before dismissal and can perform actions without warning if the need is felt.

4. At the end of each season, the commissioner will ask the league GMs if they wish to nominate anyone to be removed from the league. Should someone be nominated, their case will be reviewed by the commissioner and select members of the rules committee, and a decision will be made. The decision is solely in the hands of the commissioner, and no official vote will be taken; conversation will be conducted to generate nothing else but open discussion on what the GM in question brings to the league.

5. The commissioner reserves the right to terminate anyone at any time for any reason. Should you be deemed overwhelmed, unprepared, or any other detriment to the league, you could be replaced at a moment's notice. If you find this competitive league too intense and/or difficult, please do everyone a favor, including yourself, and step down.  
 

Participation Level

Each member of this league carries a certain amount of responsibility to field and keep a competitive team. We're not asking to check in 6 times a day, but I don't think it's too much to ask to check in, and participate in the use of instant messenger, on a daily basis. Messenger participation is mandatory, and is generally one of the clear indicators that a team is not putting forth the effort it should. For instance, let's say a player is injured, and he sticks in your lineup for two weeks; or say a star player comes back from injury, but he stays on your bench due to your lack of interest. Those have been the most common reasons for termination in the past. Be sure to note the conditions listed above if you have any further questions in regards to what the FLB looks for.

The participation aspect also includes responding to league emails, voting in polls, and helping the league grow and improve. All polls sent out should be considered mandatory. These are created in order to better the league and to find out how people feel in regards to league operation issues. It is in everyone's best interest to be on the same page; too many times rules are changed, and then a fight ensues because it's the opposite of what people had wanted. That's the reason you are asked, so we're all on the same page. It takes time for us to create polls and questions for the GMs, and we simply ask that you show enough effort to give us a response, even if it's only a few words. It goes farther to help than you could ever imagine. Also, upon joining the league, you were told it was mandatory to leave the commissioner power to edit your roster. Farm pickups and other things can be avoided by this permission, as well as team abandonment, so it's essential you do so.

Each GM is encouraged to show interest and personality in the league. Post on the boards, participate in open IM discussion, because part of the in-crowd. It's much more fun if it feels as if our competition is a real person and not just a scant screen name. You've got endearing qualities, so let them fly and show some life. Talk some trash, insult some people, just be around and be an individual.  
 

Vacation

If you're going to be out of town, simply let someone know (preferably the commissioner), and leave him the powers to make lineup changes as needed. The commissioner WILL NOT make judgment decisions for your day-to-day lineup. He will only remove players who are injured, and play those who return. You will need to leave specific instructions (i.e. which pitchers to start in what conditions, hitters whom you play in favorable matchups, etc.). Being as specific as possible is the best way to get this done.  The commissioner bears no responsibility on the performance of your team while you were away. He will follow your instructions to a T, so it is not within his realm of responsibility to turn your team around. He CANNOT view/accept/decline/propose trades for you, only add/drop players and edit the next day's lineup.  
 

Three Strike System

The ways to levy strikes are the following:  
 
1. More than one team comments on a lack of messenger presence over a prolonged period of time. If I feel this complaint is justified, then I will give the person a strike, and notify them via email.  
 
2. Failure to participate in a poll within 3 days of it's release. I don't send these out for my health, and I only send them out for important issues. That's why it's usually best to talk to me first before calling for a poll, because I don't want to dilute their importance and have us voting three times a week on trivial matters. I know you're busy, but I'll never make a poll that takes more than 10 minutes. if I do, work for ten minutes, then send it in. Anything at all is better than nothing.

Any GM receiving strikes during the season will be brought up for commissioner review following the season. Due to politics and friendships, the decision of the GM's presence in the league is solely in the commissioner's cold, hard hands. The accused will have the opportunity to state his/her case and why he/she should be left in the league. All decisions are final, and any player fired from a GM position will receive a lifetime ban in Super Tecmo Bowl as well.  
   
 

Part 3

Specific Gameplay & Definitions  
 
 

Draft

The Fantasy League Baseball draft is a slow-live draft format. A slow-live draft gives each team a minimum of seven hours to make their selection, to ensure that everyone has a hand in every pick that is made. Here is a breakdown of the hourly definitions:

7 hour time limit if you go on the clock between 8 AM to 11 PM 
 
9 hour time limit if you go on the clock between 11 PM and 8 AM

If a team goes beyond their time to make a selection, they cannot make-up that selection until the same spot in the very NEXT round. Even if the timed-out team returns before the team "on the clock" makes their selection, they still must wait and serve the penalty. Should a player be selected after a timeout, the player will be returned immediately to the draft pool. If a team is skipped, they must contact the league commissioner or a member of the rules committee to show they have returned from their absence.

The draft will begin every season on March 1, subject to change.  
 

Adding/Dropping Players

Any player who is added and plays in a game  may NOT be dropped until seven days after he was picked up. He may also be dropped at any time after that seven day period, whether it be nine days or nine weeks. This goes for both pitchers and hitters, and will be strictly enforced. If you fail to comply, the added player will be dropped from your roster, meaning anyone in the league may pick him up. The spot will be left open for the remainder of the probate period, so you're gaining nothing in dropping him. It's generally not good practice to advertise who you want on your roster from free agency, so it is suggested that you abide by the rules. Also, you will be disallowed to pick up this player for the remainder of the seven day period after he clears waivers.

In another attempt to combat going around the rules, any player who is traded during his probate period will keep the same time allowance that he had with his original team.

There will also be an injury out clause, where if a player misses 2 games after you pick him up (due to INJURY ONLY) while he's still in the probate period, he may be dropped. It will not be someone hit in the thigh by a pitch, so he may miss a day, or pinch hit. The player will have to miss the 2 games or be placed on the Disable List before he can be dropped. There also will be no out clause for guys sent to the minors because oftentimes players come up for a start and then are going back down, known to the world. If you add someone and he gets sent down, sorry about your luck, but you still must hold him for the full 7 days.

The commissioner also reserves the right to make any rulings based on things above and beyond the mentioned circumstances above.  
 

Farm Team

In order to be  added to the farm, a player must meet the following conditions:

a.) Has less than 250 career at-bats (if hitter) or 15 starts OR 35 appearances (if pitcher) as of September 1 of the previous year

b.) Been selected in the FLB amateur draft or have been eligible and passed over.

c.) Must NOT be playing in the majors, and must remain in the minors for 14 days after his addition to an FLB Franchise.  If a player is promoted to an MLB roster prior to his 14-day probate period concluding, the player will be placed on MLB waivers, to be executed via email. The Commissioner will post any and all players who fall into this category.

Teams are permitted to have 14 farm players

If a player is released from another team’s farm and you wish to put in a claim, simply email the commissioner with the claim. Should your team happen to have the highest claim of all teams interested, you will receive the player. Upon receiving a player, you will be moved to the bottom of the waiver priority order; so use your claims wisely. The initial waiver priority is the inverted initial yearly draft order. In addition, you may not re-claim a player you release until he clears waivers. Any claims you send will be ignored.

The waiver time period is on a weekly basis, and waiver claims will be processed on Sunday nights at midnight ET, and should be posted immediately thereafter. If a player is dropped between Sunday night and the following Saturday, he will be eligible for the Sunday waiver. That is, any player dropped after 11:59 PM ET Saturday will not come off waiver until the next Sunday, 8 days away.

Each player may be demoted a maximum of three times. Once a player's demotions are used, he cannot be placed back on the farm. He can still be called up, but can only be demoted if he clears waivers once the team with his rights drops him and if/when the players clears waivers, his demotions reset to three. The per-player demotions no longer reset at the end of the season, so they will carry over.

At the conclusion of the regular season, each GM has 7 days to move their farm eligible players who are on their MLB roster to their farm roster, or lose the player's rights to free agency, Again, the team must have enough demotions to send these players to the farm. If no demotions remain, the player is placed on waivers. Should the demoted player go unclaimed, only then will he be placed on the corresponding team's farm roster. 

Any player who is added to the MLB roster (and is not farm eligible) during the regular season but remained under the rookie limits by September 1 of the previous season will become carryover eligible at the end of that season

Any farm roster spot that is not filled within the 14-day window will transition to a permanent forfeiture.  If the team changes hands to a new GM the number of available spots will automatically be reset to the league max.

Each GM is responsible for double-checking any and all farm eligibilities. If a player is found to be over the limits after the fact, that player will immediately become a free agent without prejudice. The commissioner and board will review all player eligibilities, but the manual system is an imperfect one.  
 

MLB Amateur Draft

To integrate the players drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft, there will be a 2-round draft beginning on January 15 annually. The order will follow the order of the league draft based on the consolation system).

The picks in this draft are tradeable, just as any other draft picks are. A spot must be opened prior to going 'on the clock' or the franchise will be assumed to be content and not selecting anyone, thus will be skipped in the draft.

Only players drafted in the previous season's MLB Amateur Draft and International signings since the last Amateur Draft are eligible to be drafted.    
 
 

Keepers

Each offseason, the teams will designate 6 8 players to be their "keepers". These keepers can be any amount of any position. They must be declared by February 1 of the upcoming season. If you fail to submit your keepers, you will be automatically nominated for removal from the league, and your case will be discussed by the committee. It's blatant disregard for the league, as it only takes a few short seconds to submit keepers. Should it result to this, barring a miracle, you should expect to be removed. The number of keepers will be reviewed at the end of each season and will be altered, if necessary, ONLY at this time. Too much preparation goes into counting on a specific number of keepers, that it is terribly taxing for everyone to change things as the season wears on.

Should you wish to participate in the annual preseason waiver draft, submit 7 (or fewer, depending on selections you wish to make) keepers, leaving room for the new additions. After the keeper declarations are complete, the league will announce both which (if any) teams are participating and which players are available. The waiver draft will be in fast-live format, with a 2 minute per pick time limit. This draft will be held in an IM chatroom.

Any replacement teams will choose from a pool of unkept players (if more than 1 team) or simply take over the old organization (if only 1 team replaced).

Teams may also keep two carryovers and, beginning in 2010, one sophomore carryover.

To be kept as a carryover a player must have been farm eligible the previous season, but lost his farm  eligibility for next season by surpassing the specified limit prior to the September 1 deadline.

To be kept as a sophomore carryover a player a player must have been kept as a carryover rookie the previous season.  If a player is traded during his carryover year from one FLB team to another he is still eligible as a sophomore carryover.

Playoffs

Championship Bracket

At the conclusion of the 22-week regular season, the playoffs will begin. Their will then be 2 sets of playoffs. Teams from one to six will vie for the championship, of course. In the championship bracket, teams one and two overall will receive byes the first week, with ranks three and six squaring off and four versus five. The winner of the three/six plays the two seed, with the four/five winner facing the one seed.

During the championship game, all rosters will be locked on Sunday night before the start of the first week of the two-week championship game. There will be no roster substitutions for injuries, demotions, etc., so it is necessary to prepare for the long haul.

Consolation Bracket

At the conclusion of the regular season there will be a weighted playoff system for the ten teams in the consolation bracket. Teams will gain points according to their finish in the consolation bracket and move up in the draft order accordingly.

We will combine the bracket finish with the regular season finish in order to determine next season’s draft order.   No team can gain or fall more than 4 slots.

Draft Pick/Offseason Trading

The trading of draft picks has become quite regular in Fantasy League Baseball. However, in order to keep some sanity in order in the draft, the league has imposed a restriction on trading of draft picks. Draft picks for the next season may only be trading in a two-week long window directly preceding the trade deadline, from August 1 until said deadline.

Also, we have a flip-flop protection and "Players to be Named" and "future considerations" are outlawed. Both practices are frowned upon strongly by the league, but since there is no real way to police the issues, the rule is as follows. Any player traded in the pick trade window before the deadline may not be traded back to his original team in the offseason to use as a keeper. This way, we can't have the buddy system in play. If you were wondering, any player traded by an NHL team cannot play for the team that traded him until the next season. I'm not sure on the MLB rule, but I'm sure it's something similar.

A player cannot go through a proxy in order to return to his 'original' team, that player is simply banned from returning to his previous franchise until next season's draft.

We encourage fair play and frown on "buddy" systems, and it should be quite obvious why. If you feel the need to find a partner team with which to improve yourself then you will be asked to find another league, as such behavior is unnecessary in a competitive and adult league such as Fantasy League Baseball.

In regards to offseason trading, it's a free for all. There is no longer a "keeper-for-keeper" restriction, so teams may trade keepers, prospects, or a combination of the two for picks, keepers, prospects, as they so choose.

The commissioner reserves the right to review all offseason trades before granting final approval.

It is not the league's responsibility to discover any missing/misplaced traded picks. Should something need to be corrected, the honus is on the individual GM(s) to present information to the contrary of the records.   
 

Scoring

Fantasy League Baseball is a Head-to-Head weekly league consisting of 10 categories and a 22-week season. There are no innings or games played limits, though the 7 day roster stay for roster pickups minimizes the 25+3 roster system of daily pickups for matchups.

The following categories are used: Runs (R), Homeruns (HR), Runs Batted In (RBI), Stolen Bases (SB), and On-Base Percentage (OBP) offensively. For the pitchers, Wins (W), Saves (SV), Strikeouts (K), Earned Run Average (ERA), and Walks+Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) are used.

Daily roster changes are permitted, and each matchup runs from Monday through Sunday.
 
 
 

We're always interested in new ideas and new ways to play the game. Each suggestion will be taken seriously, and will be discussed amongst the rules committee, if not the entire league. We encourage your suggestions and look forward to hearing them.