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Rules & Regulations

Playing Procedures | Computer Manager | Statistics | Manager Lateness and Deadlines | Player Use Rules | Violations and Penalties | Trading | Rosters | Drafting Procedures | Playoffs and World Series | Miscellaneous

  1. PLAYING PROCEDURES
    1. Each month you will play a home and home series versus the teams on the schedule for that month, using an .lzp game file sent to you by the league office on the 26th of the previous month. This file will be automatically extract into your game by using the Restore league function under the League heading on your menu bar. . E-mail your HAL computer manager (CM- see Section 2) for your road games on or before the first of each month to each of the managers you are playing that month AND to the league office. (It is preferable to use the Yahoo group list for all league mailing – or go to the email league function on the wwebsite.
    2. Upon receipt of each opposing manager's CM, import the CM, go to New Scheduled Game and change the games for the series you are about to play to 'Manual'. Then gon go the first day of that series and select play day. When the lineups screen comes up, give each team 15 days off (game 1 only). Play the game, and the settijgs in the league file will automataically save the box score, score sheet and play account (if you wish to print them out, feel free to do so) it will also the game export files.
    3. After finishing a series e-mail box scores, score sheets, PAC, and the export files (the ones with the .H or .V tags) to the league on the Yahoo list, on or before the 25th of each month.
    4. After receiving the results for your road series, check for any violations of your CM. (Note HAL does not follow all the rules of the Classic League, so if HAL does something illegal it has to be ignored) If any are found inform the league offices and your opponent immediately.
    5. Record the statistics for your road series with your season statistics. This is done by importing the export files from your road games. This will allow you to keep track of your usage. The league .lzp will have updated stats each month.
    6. It is your responsibility to play your home games each month. (See Section 6) If you cannot notify the league office so the games can be autoplayed.

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  2. COMPUTER MANAGER
    1. A HAL computer manager is to be e-mailed to the league and posted to the website.
    2. Following the schedule in the game, set up your rotation before the season starts. (You can do this monthly, but season long helps in case you computer difficulty, work/family issues etc.)
    3. As home manager you still must have a defensive replacement for any player you pinch-hit or pinch run for. If you do not, that player cannot be pinch-hit/run for. Again HAL may play a player out of position or use a starter in relief.
    4. Make sure your 25 man roster is consistent with your lineups and pitching.

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  3. STATISTICS
    1. The Team vs Team option in subsets will be checked in the game files that go out to the league, as will export game files. Make sure these boxes are checked before you start your first game. This way you can see how you=ve done vs each team.
    2. Send the export game files and the box scores/score sheet/PAC to your opponent AND the league office by the 25th of each month.
    3. Record your team's statistics with your season stats by importing the exported game files. This is to keep you aware of your players usage as well as how they're doing. But official stats will be kept by the league.

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  4. MANAGER LATENESS AND DEADLINES
    1. There are basically only two forms of manager lateness:
      1. Computer Manager sent to opposing manager/league office after deadline, forcing league office to generate a CM for your team.
      2. Box scores, Score sheet, PAC files and export game files sent to opposing manager and league office after deadline.
      If you have a problem meeting a given deadline, due to work, vacation plans, illness, computer/ISP problems notify the league office (or someone else in the league if you cannot contact me yourself) as soon as possible to avoid penalties.
    2. The CM is to be sent out by the 1st of the month in which the games are to be played. They are considered late if they are not receives by the 3rd of the month. Report any lateness to the commissioner immediately. If not received by the 5th emergency HAL instructions will be sent out for that manager.
    3. Game results and statistics should be sent out by the 25th of each month and are considered late if they are not received by then. NOTE: Lateness of stats received is not a valid excuse for CM lateness.
    4. If the record you have for your team does not match what the league office has, inform me immediately, so the problem can be fixed.
    5. Section 11 includes an example calender with the deadlines marked.

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  5. PLAYER USE RULES
    1. Player Eligibility
      1. A player or pitcher with no card cannot be used, this includes players who are in the computer-only leagues.
      2. Position players will be limited to playing the positions that are listed on their card, with the exception of outfielders who can play other non-rated outfield positions with their ratings modified by the game. Also position players cannot pitch.
      3. Pitchers cannot play the field, but can pinch-hit or pinch run.
      4. The Designated Hitter will be used for all games. He can be freely pinch-hit/run for in a game and can be moved to the field, at which point the DH is gone and the pitcher will have to bat.
      5. Player Injuries will not be used.
    2. Player Usage - Regular Season.
      1. Players with 2 cards will use the combined card included with the game.
      2. Position players will be allowed 110% of their actual at-bats. (that is to say we will add 10% of their actual AB's to their actual AB's.) Pitchers will be allowed 110% of their actual innings pitched. (EXCEPTION! If a pitcher pitches a no-hitter or perfect game he will be allowed the extra innings needed to complete this feat without penalty.)
      3. You cannot pinch-hit or pinch run for a player without a defensive replacement. Since a visiting manager is limited to what HAL does, and since the visiting team is at a disadvantage anyway, home temas cannot do this. (Home managers already have a huge advantage.)
      4. Pitchers can only be used in the roles they were rated for - that is starter, reliever or starter/reliever. A reliever who is not a "closer" can be used in "closer" situations, but the game will adjust his effectiveness to make him "tired". (Note: a tired pitcher does not have to be removed from a game, although in 99% of the cases this is the best policy.)
      5. Starting pitchers must rest 3 games before they can pitch again. (This is still the rule)
      6. Starting pitchers must pitch at least 5 innings, unless they give up 4 or more runs before the end of the 5th. If they have given up 4 or more they can be removed from the game. (Again HAL may yank a starter earlier than we would normally allow, but we can't help this)
      7. Since the starting rotation is based on a 4 man (minimum) rotation, we can no longer base it on each half series - home and away. Please set up your rotation for the month using a 4 man rotation (days when you are not scheduled to play can be used to allow your rotation to rest those number of days, if you so desire)
      8. A starter cannot pitch past the 10th inning. (Again HAL may take him to the 11th)
      9. A reliever who pitches two days in a row, will be set as tired by the game and should not used in that game
      10. A starter/reliever must be rested in order to start or relieve in a half series.
      11. A starter/reliever who has pitched the # of innings of his relief rating in a half series, cannot start a game in that half series. [ex. a Reliever (3) cannot pitch more than 3 innings and still start a game]
      12. A reliever cannot pitch more than double his relief rating in a game. The only exception is if he is the last pitcher in an extra inning game.
    3. Player Usage - Playoffs.
      1. Position players with more than 550 actual plate appearances [PA =at-bats + walks] will have unlimited AB's in the playoffs and series. Players with less than 550 plate appearances will be allowed 5% of their league allowed AB's (real AB's + 10%)for each round of the playoffs. Example: Lance Johnson w/682 AB's would have unlimited AB's in the playoffs. Mark McGwire with less than 423 AB's and less than 550 PA's would have 5% of his league allowed 465 (423+42) AB's so 465 x .05= 23 AB's per round.
      2. Pitchers with more than 200 actual innings pitched will have unlimited innings in the playoffs. Pitchers with less than 200 innings will be allowed 8% of their league allowed innings (real IP + 10%) per round. Example: Greg Maddux w/ 245 IP would have unlimited innings in the playoffs. Troy Percival with 74 IP would have 8% of his league allowed 81 (74 + 7) innings so 81 x .08= 6 1/3 innings per round. (taken to nearest 1/3 of an inning)

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  6. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
    1. Penalty for going over the league allowed AB or IP is that each game the player is involved in over his limit will be forfeited. The statistics will stand but that payer is ineligible for postseason awards. It will also cost you a bonus point for every 10 AB's or 3 IP's you go over per player
    2. Computer Manager Errors
      1. Should be reported to league office and the manager of the team with the error(s) immediately. (Errors would include players out of position, position not filled in a lineup, starter going twice in a series or is not available)
      2. everyone should double-check their CM when the game files (the ones to play the games) are sent out monthly.
    3. Cheating will result in the expulsion of the guilty manager.
    4. Lateness penalties are in effect not earning bonus points far the bonus pick. A point is earned for each set of instructions and results sent on time. A BP will be deducted for lateness during the playoffs or for over usage.

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  7. TRADING
    1. The trading deadline is the 25th of the month (July to December). The only off-season trading deadline is midnight of the cut down day until the new rosters and cut lists are sent to each team.
    2. After a deal has been completed each manager has 5 days to e-mail it to the league office. If a trade is not reported within 5 days, it is void and each manager has to report it again. If one manager reports before the 35th and the other after that date, the deal will not be effective until the following month. (Example a deal confirmed after Sept 25th, is effective for November)
    3. There will be no loaning of players or players to be named later. All players involved in a trade must delivered at the same time.
    4. Draft picks can only be traded for the upcoming draft until cut down day, at which point, the next year's picks may also be traded.
    5. A player in a trade occurring after the season is over, but reported in during the season, cannot be traded to another team for the remainder of that season.
    6. All trades must be definite with no if/and/or statements involved in the wording of the trade.
    7. A player traded to a team cannot be traded back to his original team by the team that acquired him until that trading block the next year. He however can be dealt to a different team that can then trade him his original team. And when a manager change occurs, the waiting period is also voided. The draft blocks are each month of the seas until December, the period from the December 25th trading deadline to draft day and draft day to the July 25th trading deadline. December 25th is also the post season trading deadline.
    8. There will be no trades with a new manager for a period of one month after the rest of the league is notified of the new manager.
    9. The league trade review policy is as follows:
      1. If I think a trade is unfair I will first recommend that the managers rework the deal.
      2. If they choose not to rework the deal I will call one randomly selected manager from each division to get their opinions on the trade. If 2 of the 3 feel it is fair, it will stand. If 2 of 3 think it is unfair it will not stand and again I will ask them to redo the trade.
      3. If they refuse to rework the deal now the trade is voided and none of the players involved can be dealt to the other team until after the next trading deadline.
      4. Trades involving new managers will have a 4 trading block review period, where each trade will go to a panel of three managers to determine its fairness. This is protect the league as well as the new manager.
    10. A trade reported under the above conditions is considered final.

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  8. ROSTERS
    1. Playing Roster
      1. There will be a 25 man playing roster for the first 5 months of the season and your full roster(of carded players) is available for January, however HAL does limit the number of pitchers active to 15 and batters to 25. If you have more of either, you can switch players at home, but not on the road.
      2. A playing roster can only be changed monthly and may include any carded player on your team.
      3. The 25 man playing roster for the playoffs may include any player from your team acquired before the December 25th trading deadline.(the players who could play for your team in January)
    2. Reserve Roster (minors) is the list of players on tour team who are not activated each month.
    3. The 40 man roster is all of the players on your team. The 40 man limit (per team) will reached on cut down day when the total number of players and draft picks on you roster must equal 40. After trading resumes prior to the draft a roster can again exceed forty players.

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  9. DRAFTING PROCEDURES
    1. The draft will begin via e-mail no later than the 1st Saturday in April.
    2. The draft will consist of 5 rounds, a bonus round -for those who earn a bonus pick (split into segments, each based on where a team has earned his their bonus pick), an optional 6th round which can be used like the picks in rounds 1-5 and optional 7th and 8th rounds which can only be used on carded players, who will be designated 'free-agents' and will have FA added after their names in the game. These players are 1 year players who will automatically be cut as soon as the season ends. They can be traded like any other player, but no matter who has them they will be cut after the season.
    3. The draft will be in reverse order of finish for spots 1-9 then the wildcard losers in reverse order of record and so on.
    4. Anyone not currently on a roster can be drafted, whether they have now, ever did have or ever will have a card. Obvious joke picks however will be disallowed. (If you think your kid's the next Nolan Ryan at least wait until they've signed a pro deal!)
    5. The draft will be completed by e-mail. We will have a draft round a day, with managers unable to draft on a given day sending a list to the league office or someone else they designate, to draft for them. [Times for each day will be announced]
    6. If a manager is unable to participate in the draft, he should submit a list of players before the draft. If no list is sent and a manager does not respond within the allotted time allowed, he will be skipped and allowed to pick when he finally contacts the league office.
    7. The bonus picks will go in point order with the team with the lower record going first in all ties.
      • 34-36 bonus pick after round 1
      • 31-33 after round 2
      • 27-30 after round 3
      • 20-27 you lose it
      • under 20 you're asked to leave the league.

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  10. PLAYOFFS AND WORLD SERIES
    1. The three division winners and the three teams with the best record of the remaining teams will make the playoffs. There will be a set of league playoff files sent out as soon as the the playoff teams are determined and the seeding finished.
    2. The six playof teams will be seeded based on record, with the division winner with the best record being seeded first,and have home field advantage throughout the post season. The division winner with the next best record seeded second, and home field over everyone but the #1 seed.. These two teams will have byes in the first round of the playoffs. The last division winner is seeded third and will have home field advantage over the team with the worst record of the three wildcards (the 6th seed)and the wild card team with the best record is seeded 4th and has the home field advantage over the 5th seeded team.
    3. All playoff rounds are best of seven series in the following format:O-2-O-2-O-1-1-1. That is to say games 1 and 2 are at the higher seeded team, then games 3 and 4 are at the lower seeded team, game 5 (if needed) at the higher seed, game 6 (if needed) at the lower seed and game 7 (if needed) at the higher seed. The "O" indicates an off day before or in the series.
    4. After round 1 of the playoffs the team from that round with the best seed plays the 2nd seed and the team with the lowest plays the top seed. The winners of these series will play in the World Series.
    5. The two managers for each series will mutually decide on how to play the series. Face-to-face, over the phone, over the Internet (using any of a number of methods) each team playing their home games (as we do during the season) or having a third party play them are acceptable measures. If the teams cannot agree upon a method, the league office will play them using HAL instructions furnished by each manager or created by the league office. This will also incur a 1 round penalty of the location your bonus pick. If managers are sending out instructions the league office still needs a copy, but if playing directly it doesn't need them.
    6. The playoffs and World Series must be played in a timely manner. Round 1 must be completed by January 15th, round two by January 31st and the Series by February 15th. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of bonus points for the offending teams.
    7. Statistics will be kept for the playoffs in the same manner as during the regular season.
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  11. MISCELLANEOUS
    1. Post season awards in addition to those generated by the game will include Best Position Player and Best Pitcher which will be voted on after the season. Also a post season all-star team will be selected. In each case each manager will send in a list of players he feels worthy of these awards (include the primary position you utilized a position player) and the the league will vote on them.
    2. A league encyclopedia will be set up and added to each season after 2000.
    3. Calendar deadline:
      • August
      • Monday, 1st: Instructions due; Files sent out to play games
      • Wednesday, 3rd: Instructions late
      • Friday, 5th: Emergency HAL CM sent out by league
      • Thursday, 25th: Results due, Trading deadline
      • Friday, 26th: Files sent out to make CM's
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