The National Association Strat League Constitution (2006)

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Draft 2006

Overview

The purpose of the National Association Strat League (NASL) is to promote the game of baseball through the use of the latest version of the Strat-O-Matic's computer baseball game. The preferred method of play is net-play. It also our intent for this to be an enjoyable hobby, but remember that it is just a hobby. It is to be understood that everyone has a life outside of the NASL and sometimes playing games are not possible. Out of courtesy an Owner will notify the League when they will be unable to play so that other arrangements can be made. There is absolutely no room in the NASL for anyone that can not respect their fellow owners.

Changes to the Constitution

Starting with the 2006 season the following will pertain to making changes to the Constitution:

• all proposed changes will be made to the Commissioner by email.
• upon receiving a proposed change the Commissioner will poll all owners using the following method:

• the Commissioner will submit the change to all owners by email.
• all owners will submit a vote on proposed change by the deadline as set by the Commissioner.

• 70 % of owners must approve the proposed change.
• the last 3 votes to be counted will be the League Officials.
• if the change is approved it will not go into effect until just prior to owners submitting their protected players for the draft.
• all Constitutional changes shall be shown in red for the first season that they will be in effect for.

Owner's Responsibilities

All Owners' must have:

• latest version of the Strat-O-Matic computer game.
• an internet connection with a valid email address
• AOL Instant Messenger with screen name - this is the preferred method for communication between owners in the NASL
• a zip utility. A good one can be found at winzip.com

Each owner is expected to meet all deadlines, play honestly and display good sportsmanship at all times. Any manner of disrespect shown toward another owner may result in disciplinary action.

Team Names

Team names are to be non-offensive. Owner's will be required to rename their team if said team name is offensive to anyone. Please keep good taste in mind

Game Limitations (Predefined by the game itself)

• 30 Teams per league
• 10 Divisions
• 14 Teams per division
• 6 Sub-leagues
• 35 Batters per team
• 25 Pitchers per team
• 25 Batters eligible for a game
• 15 Pitchers eligible for a game
• 35 Minor Leaguers per team
• 75 Total players on a team during a season
• 12 Fringe players per team

NASL League Structure

The NASL will consist of 16 teams divided into 2 sub-leagues (Clemente and Robinson Leagues), which are then divided into two divisions each. The Roberto Clemente League will be comprised of the Ray Chapman and Marvin Miller Divisions. The Jackie Robinson will be comprised of the Ron Bloomberg and Branch Rickey Divisions. Each division will have 4 teams.

Game Play

Net-play is optional, but strongly suggested for all NASL games. In the event that an owner is unavailable during the regular season an interim manager may be appointed by the unavailable owner to play the games. It is also permissible to allow an opponent to play your computer manager if you are unavailable, however it is preferable to have a substitute manager.

It is the visiting team owner's responsibility to notify the home manager of his availability for the current block. If the home team owner has not heard from the visiting manager within 72 hours of issuing of the play ball file, he will send a request to the visiting owner (also c.c. the Commissioner and League Statistician). In the event that either owner has not heard from the opposing owner with 72 hours left in the block they shall notify the Commissioner. The Commissioner at this point may give approval for the CM to be played.

In the event a team becomes ownerless - teams will be instructed to either play the CM or will be notified of substitute managers. In the case of substitute managers - it is the responsibility of the Owner to contact a substitute manager. At no point is a substitute manager to play a CM.

Home Team Owners are to submit game files in a timely manner. In the event that a CM is played then it is the responsibility of the playing Owner to submit the game files.

The designated hitter rule will be in effect for all games in each league. Each league may individually choose to eliminate the DH and must do an internal vote within their sub-league. The Commissioner must be notified prior to the vote but he will not interfere. The vote will be conducted by one of the League Advisors. A majority vote will be needed - in the case of a tie the DH will be retained. In inter-league and playoff games the home teams league's rules will determine weather the DH is used or not.

Max Rules

Lineups and Usage Options

* September 1 of each season; rosters are expanded to 40 players

League Schedule

The League will play an unbalanced 162 game schedule. Each team will play 66 games against the 3 teams in it's division (22 each - 11 home and 11 away), 48 games against the 4 teams in their leagues other division (12 each - 6 home and 6 away) and 48 games against the 8 teams in the other 8 teams in the other league (6 each - 3 home and 3 away).

Rosters

Each team is limited to a 40 man roster at all times. Each team may protect a maximum of 18 players from one season to the next. Active rosters are limited to 25 player until September 1 on the league schedule at which time all rosters may be expanded to a maximum of 40 active players. The category maximum is still in effect limiting the number of batters and pitchers.

Each team is required to have four pitchers with a starting rating and two players rated at every position on the active roster. Players can count towards more than one position if they are so rated.

Computer Managers (CM)

Computer Managers will be set up with at least:

• four lineups
• pitching rotations
• pitching schedule
• and active roster

In the event that an owner decides to make a starting pitching change after his CM is submitted he must let the other owner know in a timely manner. For example before starting a game the visiting owner must tell the other owner that he has made a change to his rotation when giving control of the game back to the home team. The home team owner tell the visiting team of his intent to make a change in the pitching rotation prior to giving the visiting teams owner.

All CMs will remained unlocked. Any CM found to be locked will be rejected.

Making changes to another Owner's CM (unless instructed) will be grounds for immediate removal from the League.

Block Process

The roster and stat files will be sent out by the commissioner and the managers must hand in their Computer Manager (CM) to the yahoo groups page.

It is the responsibility of each manager to download and import all visiting managers CMs into the game before trying to play any games for the current block

Block length will be determined by the Commissioner and posted on the league website.

Player Usage

Players can only play positions listed on their cards with the exception of players rated as outfielders. Any player listed as an OF on their card may play any other OF position regardless of whether or not they are rated at that OF position. This is known as the Strat-O-Matic Outfield Mobility Rule. Players without a rated position on their cards, such as designated hitters, may play first base at the maximum of a 5 e30 range and e-rating. While not ideal it is permissible.

Batters are limited to 105% of their actual AB.

Pitchers are limited to 105% of their actual IP. Starting pitchers must have proper rest between starts. A Minimum of 4 days off between starts is required unless the pitcher is rated as a * in which case they may start on 3 days rest. Starting pitchers that are not rated as relief pitchers may not make relief appearance unless the bullpen is empty and the game is in extra innings. Starting pitchers may not be removed from a game unless:

• the game has reached the sixth inning
• they have give up at least 4 earned runs
• difference in the score is 3 or more runs
• pitch count has been reached

This is meant to eliminate the possibility that a manager could start one type of pitcher and then remove him early to gain the platoon advantage. Relief pitchers may never start a game unless they are rated to start. A split role pitcher must have four days rest after starting a game and three days rest after making a relief appearance before they may start. It is also highly recommended that a pitcher is removed from a game instead of allowing a "blood bath" to save IP for rest of your staff. This also can waste the other teams ABs

Submission of Game Files

All files shall be submitted in a timely manner.

Computer managers do not need to be zipped but are to be named in the following manner: team name (using 3 letter abbreviation) block number. Taking Palm Bay for example their CM for the third block would be named in this manner: pbs_03.mgr

If there is no change to a CM then the owner must state in an email to the group that they are to use a prior CM and what the file name is for the CM that is to be used. For example: Please use Palm Bay's CM from last block (pbs_03.mgr)

Game files are to be zipped and are to include the game files and the box score. The play-by-play file is not required at this time in the NASL. The box score shall be renamed in the following manner: date of game visiting name (using 3 letter abbreviation) home team using  (3 letter abbreviation). Using a game from July 2, 2005 with Vero Beach at Palm Bay would result in the following file name for the box score: 07022005_vbs_pbs.prt. The date must have 2 digits for both the month and the day. Also make sure that you use zeros for numerical entries in the date. This format makes it much easier for me to find a box score if I need it as by the end of the season there are well over a thousand games that have been played. The zip files are to be named in the same way using the first game of the series to name it: if the previous example was the second game of the series our zip file would be named: 07012005_vbs_pbs.zip

All files are to be uploaded to the appropriate file folder on the yahoo groups page.

Any game files missing by the deadline will be auto-played and the appropriate penalties will be applied.

Playoffs

Each league will have the two division winners and two wildcard teams make the playoffs. Wildcard teams will be selected based on the teams with the two best records.

The League Divisional Series (LDS) will seed the two division winners as number 1 and 2. The two wildcard teams will be seeded 3 and 4. The LDS will have the #1 seed hosting #4 and #2 will host #3. The series will be a best of 5 with the higher seed being the home team for games 3, 4 and 5.

The League Championship Series (LCS) will be played by the winners of the LDS in a best of 7. The higher seed will be home for games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

The World Series will have the winner of the Schwartz League play the winner of the Rob Murphy League in a best of 7 series. The team with the better record will be home for games 1, 2, 6 and 7.

In the event of two teams tying for any seed please refer to the tie breaker section.

The Commissioner will give 15 days rest to all teams prior to the start of the playoffs. Due to the fact that this is the playoffs and all games can be played in order - teams are not to "give rest" prior to starting a series. Lets reward the teams that get done in 3 or 4 games.

Playoff Rosters

In the playoffs we will use a 25 man roster. All teams will send a 25 man roster to the Commissioner as soon as they have secured a playoff spot. Only those players on the 25 man playoff roster will be eligible to play in the playoffs. Owners will be allowed to make changes to their 25 man roster between playoff rounds.

Playoff Player Usage

Usage in the playoffs will be used for each series.

Batters are limited to 10% of their actual AB.

Pitchers are limited to 10% of their actual IP. Starting pitchers must have proper rest between starts. A Minimum of 4 days off between starts is required unless the pitcher is rated as a * in which case they may start on 3 days rest. Starting pitchers that are not rated as relief pitchers may not make relief appearance unless the bullpen is empty and the game is in extra innings. Starting pitchers may not be removed from a game unless:

• the game has reached the sixth inning
• they have give up at least 4 earned runs
• difference in the score is 3 or more runs
• pitch count has been reached

Over usage

The NASL takes over usage very seriously and it is fairly well defined. Each team Owner is responsible for making sure that their players are not overused. Overuse penalties will be assessed at the end of the season and after each series in the playoffs. Any player that is found to be overused shall be returned to the free agent pool at that time. If a player is overused during the playoffs not only will the team lose that player but also the roster spot (will not be able to replace the player).

Penalties will be based as follows:

* in the event that the overused player is not eligible for the draft the following year than that owner will lose a fifth round pick.

In the event of multiple over usage occurrences the Owner will lose an Owner point for each additional occurrence in addition to any other penalties. The same Owner must also discuss the over usage with the Commissioner. Continued over usage can be grounds for removal from the league.

The Commissioner reserves the right to adjust player usage to help any owner that takes over a team once the season has started. This situation will be viewed on a case by case basis.

Tiebreakers

• If there is a tie for a division title after the final day of the season, the division title will be determined by a one game playoff the day after the regular season.
• If the two pennant winners have identical regular season records, head to head record will determine home field advantage for the World Series. If still tied, home field advantage will be determined by Coin Toss
• If there is a tie for #3 seed then it will be broken by head to head and then Coin Toss.
• If there is a tie for #4 seed then a one game playoff will be played. Home team will be determined by head to head record and then Coin Toss.
• In the case of the draft tie will be broken by head to head (if two playoff teams - playoff record) and then Coin Toss.

This will also apply to determining draft order.

Any ties not cover by the constitution will be decided by the Commissioner.

Trading

The Commissioner retains the right to review any transaction. Any problems or disputes regarding transactions shall be addressed directly to the Commissioner and not to the league in general. The Commissioner also reserves the right to veto questionable transactions.

The time frame for allowing trades will be:

For a trade to be valid all teams involved must announce/confirm the trade to the yahoo groups page.

Limited Free Agent Acquisitions are allow from the end of the draft until the trading deadline. Each team is allowed a maximum of five FA acquisitions per season. All FA acquisitions are seasonal and will be returned to the draft pool upon the completion of the regular season. All FA acquisitions are ineligible for the playoffs. No FA acquisitions will be allowed after the trading deadline.

If any team acquires more than 40 players through the course of making transactions they must release enough players to reduce their roster back to 40 players. At no time is any team to have more than 40 players.

Draft picks may be traded but not for more than one year in advance.

Ownerless Teams

In the event that the League finds a team ownerless - the league will take over ownership of that team until a replacement owner can be found. An ownerless teams roster will be frozen until a new owner is found. It will be the Commissioner's responsibility to make sure that teams CM is up to date. The Commissioner has the right to ask for volunteers to make out CMs of ownerless teams. Over usage will be waived for ownerless teams as long as they are ownerless.

Annual Draft

Each team shall be allowed to protect up to 18 players prior to the draft. Owners may protect uncarded players that are currently on their roster. Uncarded players that are protected will be counted in both the 18 protected and in the 40 man roster. Those players will be ineligible to play until they become carded.

Each owner is to submit a list to the Commissioner 10 days prior to the start of the draft as listed on the Web Site. The list shall be emailed to the Commissioner and include the team name, 18 players to be protected and if the team is going to participate in the stadium draft. Teams may elect to skip the stadium draft and keep their stadiums from the previous season.

Any carded player is eligible for the draft.

Teams will draft in reverse order of the final standings from the previous season. The World Series Champion will draft last in each round and the runner-up will draft next to last. All other teams are based solely on the regular season standings.

All rounds will be conducted via e-mail unless otherwise noted.

The draft will follow as:

League Expansion

In the event that the NASL expands it will expand by two teams at a time.

The expansion draft will be serpentine and will take place before the annual draft.

The expansion teams will have the first two picks in the regular draft.

Selection order will be determined by a coin toss

The actual draft will process will be determined at that the time it is decided to expand.