1. During the Extended Season, WCBA team rosters shall consist of no more than 35 players. The players may or may not have cards issued by Strat-O-Matic. Only players with cards may be drafted but, if a team loses a player card because Strat-O-Matic elects not to issue one for that player, the team may retain the rights to that player at the expense of one roster position.
2. The 35-player roster or less must be announced to the league office at the beginning of the Extended Season, about 3 weeks prior to the start of the WCBA season. Each player short of 35 is the number of draft picks you may use barring additional transactions.
3. If a transaction puts a team over the 35-player limit during the extended season, a player or players must be cut/traded immediately to maintain the 35-player limit.
4. The 35-player roster limit may NEVER be exceeded. If a transaction puts a team over the 35 player limit and is not dealt with by a cut or trade, the Commissioner will delete uncarded players first then reverse alphabetically carded players until the roster is under 35 players again.
5. From the 35-player roster, 25 players may be used in any given series. The 25-player roster must be named prior to the start of the series and must cover every position on the field at least once per the player’s cards. The last BLOCK of the regular season (24 games) you can have all 35 players that is on your roster to be eligible to play.
6. Each team maintains a never ending right to each player it obtains either by draft or trade. Optioned players are wholey unprotected because of their free agent status and are subsequently sent back to the free agent pool at seasons end every year, however can be used up to their full potential during the regular season and playoffs. Rights to a player are relinquished when the team either cuts or trades the player, or loses the player in a draft because he was unprotected (see section 5, letter S for optioned/waived player rules)
7. The WCBA will be playing only with carded players although you can retain those players not carded if they were once carded and remain on your roster. Everyone will be playing the most current version of CDROMBB.

1. League dues are used to defer the cost of league operations. Dues are payable prior to opening day of each season. Late dues are grounds for dismissal from the WCBA.
2. U.S. owners pay 10.00, U.S., Canadian owners pay 10.00 Canadian ($10.00 US) for 5 seasons ($2.00 pr yr for 5 yrs), payable in U.S.currency to the commissioner’s office. They are non-refundable. League fees will automatically adjust ONLY if the cost of maintaining our website go up. Payable by check or PAYPAL.
3. Exemptions to league fees are applied to the league statistician and the web master.

1. The WCBA schedule will be 162 games for each team. Each team will play 81 home and 81 away. The Schedule might be auto generated by the game.
2. Each team will play each team within their divisions 18-3 game series, Each team will play outside their division 2- 3 game series with every other team.
3. Each team will play 8 blocks.
4. Each season will begin play in April and end in October, followed by the Playoffs and WCBA Playoff Series.
5. The commissioner will publish the schedule in advance of the start of the season. The dates on the schedule are the dates by which correspondence must be postmarked. Continued late correspondence is grounds for dismissal from the league.
6. Lateness can be excused at the discretion of the Commissioner, if the request is made in advance.
7. Lateness is never excused after the fact.
8. Instructions for the ENTIRE SEASON are to be mailed prior to the start of the season, by the date announced. Failure to send instructions at the specified time is punishable by penalty points, as defined in paragraph 10.5.1. Your instructions for any given series maybe changed at any time during the season, but must be received by youropponent within 10 days of the BLOCK start up date. You MUST send instructions to all opponents, even if you plan to play them face-to-face or via the internet. This is because things happen that prevent us from meeting all of the expectations we set for face-to-face or internet play. The Commissioner must approve any other arrangements. These are default instructions and can always be updated.
9. Each Manager must submit their block default manager to the Commissioner for posting on the WCBASTRAT@Yahoogroups.com website. Allzip files and archived Excel Spreadsheets can be found.
10. If you do not receive pre-season instructions from every manager in the league by the posted due date, you must report the lack of instructions to WCBA Central. If not, WCBA Central will assume that you received instructions and will NOT ACCEPT the excuse that you never received instructions when you are late.
11. EACH BLOCK IS APPROX 26 DAYS LONG. Your instructions for any given series may be changed at any time during the season, but must be received by your opponent within 10 days of the BLOCK start up date. After which time your last block instructions become your default instructions.
12. The dates on the schedule are due dates for results. Since instructions are sent prior to the start of the season, there is no excuse for late results - so the home manager is solely responsible for the results being sent on time.
13. The home team is soley responsible for playing its home games unless prior arraingements are made for the visiting team to play them. If this is the case, for whatever reason, the Commissioner must be notified that the home team wants the visiting team to play his home games.
14. THE COMMISSIONER WILL AUTOPLAY ALL SERIES DUE IF THE HOME TEAM DOESNT PLAY ITS GAMES BY THE BLOCK DUE DATE WHERE NO EXTENSION WAS GRANTED.
15. The home manager may not play into the next block. Once he is finished with his home series for that block, he must wait for the new roster and stats updates.
16. The visiting manager is overstepping his bounds if he requests that the home manager wait to play the series until after the BLOCK due date. If instructions include this request, the league will not take the position that this is an instruction that must be followed. The home manager may, however follow this instruction simply because he is a nice guy. But if he is late because of it, the league will not accept this as an excuse after-the-fact.

1. After completing each series, the manager playing the series shall total all required statistics for both teams.
2. The required statistics for players are: Games Played; At Bats; Runs; Hits; Walks; Hit By Pitch; Doubles; Triples; Home Runs; Runs Batted In; Stolen Bases; Caught Stealing; Errors; Sacrifice Hits; Sacrifice Flies; Strikeouts.
3. The required statistics for pitchers are: Games Started; Relief Appearances; Wins; Losses; Saves; Innings Pitched; Hits; Strikeouts; Walks; Home Runs; Earned Runs; Total Runs; Complete Games; Shut Outs; Errors.
4. What Stats Do I Send In?

   1. Send the .ss# subset files, the individual game boxscore prt files, and the series summary.prt files for both teams. Optionally, if you capture them when saving the individual games, to include the scoresheets and or the play by play. Send your opponent what he needs. AGAIN, YOU MUST SEND EXPORT, PRINT FILES AND SUBSETS!!!. THESE VALIDATE ANY DISPUTES YOU OPPONENT MIGHT HAVE WITH YOU.
   2. Save a copy of all statistics that you send to WCBA Central and to your opponent.
   3. Once the results have been compiled, send one copy to your opponent and one copy to WCBA Central. Be sure to keep one copy for yourself.
   4. When you send the results for each series, send it in zip form to Wcbastrat@yahoogroups.com.

1. All of the official rules of play as defined by Strat-O-Matic will be in effect in the WCBA, including all most Super Advanced rules. This includes the balk/wild pitch rule, the Super Advanced "blue" X-Chart, catcher blocking the plate, and advancing base runners on gbA and gbB to 1st or 2nd.
2. WCBA SPECIAL RULES

   1. Everyone must send their rotations to their opponents. If not, the home team can use their opponents default manager.
   2. All road instructions shall be created using HAL. Instructions must be received by the Home team no later than 10 days after the BLOCK begins.
   3. There is no homerun defense (homerun stealing). The is no homerun assistance (a flyB becoming a homerun).
   4. The league will provide all computer users the official league files in order to support the use of HAL.
   5. Super Advanced (SADV) Fatigue rules will be used for pitchers.
   6. Pitch Count rules will not be used.
   7. Closer rules will be used.
   8. Outfielders Out Of Position rule will be used.
   9. Any player may play any position not listed on his card only if there is no player available with that position listed. The 25 man roster must include every position and start the game with players in a "carded" position.
   10. Injuries will be ignored. Both Regular season and Playoffs.
   11. Lock the league function will be applied. That means that the "undo last play" option cannot be used.
   12. If someone is short on usage, it would only make sense that the manager sending his computer manger out would not make those players eligible, therefore playing these players at home, where their usage can be strictly adhered to. Do not expect the opposing manger to do this for you!
   13. All starters are to be deactivated in your computer manager.
   14. Separate Computer managers can be made for each series.
   15. The last BLOCK of the regular season (24 games) you can have all 35 players that is on your roster to be eligible to play. It is the manager of each
   16. Bunt for a base it option will be turned on.

1. Each pitcher may pitch up to 105% of the actual innings pitched on his card. Each batter may bat up to 105% of the actual at bats listed on his card. Actual carded value X .05.
2. Player usage limitations may be modified on a team-by-team basis, based on penalty points accrued for lateness and/or overuse by the manager during the prior season. An offending team loses a 2nd Rounder if 2 to 3 players go over 10 ab or 4 innings for a starter and 2 for reliever. They lose a 1st and 2nd if 4 players or more go over by the same limits. If a player is overused by 108% (ie: a 500AB hitter at the WCBA 105% and he bats 541 times), that player gets cut and becomes a free agent in the draft next year. If proof is sent to the WCBA League Office that limitations were not met per your email, YOU WONT BE PENALIZED (3 week max).
3. Pitching Rotations: We will follow the Strat-O-Matic rules regarding starting pitchers usage. This requires that all starting pitchers have 4 days rest between starts, unless the pitcher is designated an `*` (asterisk)starter, which allows him to have 3 days rest between starts. The schedule is continuous from series to series, so the rotation carries over from one series to the next. Each manager must keep his rotation history so that prior to the start of a series he can prove to his opponent that he is using his pitchers properly.
4. Starters cannot be removed until they have pitched at least 5 innings or have given up at least 3 runs, be it either earned or unearned. However,in the case of a pitcher going into endurance... Strat-O-Matic endurance rules will supercede that.
5. No pitcher may start more than 41 games in a season unless he pitches more than 300 innings in a season. Otherwise, any series in which a pitcher starts that violates the 41 game limit will result in a forfeit of the series or be assessed 35 penalty points or both.
6. Starters may not start more than 1 game in a series. The exception to this rule is that in a five- or six-game series. Any starter given an asterisk (*) on the Strat-O-Matic roster sheet may start two games of the series, provided he gets three games rest between starts.
7. A non asterisk starter my pitch games 1 and 6 of a six game series.
8. Starter/Relievers must have 2 games rest after a relief appearance in order to start in the series. They must also have 2 games rest after a start in order to relieve in the series.
9. Relievers who pitch more innings than the endurance factor shown on their card, don’t have to rest before appearing again in the series. Pitcher season IP limitation will keep relief in line.
10. Starter/Relievers who pitch more innings than the endurance factor shown on their card, must rest 3 games before they can start in the series.
11. Resting violations are punishable by a minimum of 5 penalty points per occurrence and may result in a replay.
12. Resting violations WILL involve a replay.

1. Playoff teams are determined by the final regular season standings. The top 2 teams in each division will make the playoffs, for a total of 8 teams.
2. If there is a 2 team tie for a playoff position, there will be a 3-game playoff to break the tie, unless both teams would make the playoffs anyway. Use the tie breaker in section 9.1.3 to determine the division winner. If a playoff is necessary, home field advantage will be determined by a flip of the coin.
3. If there is a 3 or more way tie for a playoff position, the commissioner will determine the procedure for breaking the tie.
4. If the two playoff teams in the conference have identical records, the tie breakers for home field advantage are as follows:

1. Head-to-head record
2. Record in away games
3. Division Record
4. Conference Record
5. Coin flip, Commissioner to flip coin.
5. All series are 7 games. Team with home field advantage will have games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home and games 3, 4 and 6 on the road.
6. The WCBA has 2 Conferences, each Conference has 2 divisions. In the American Conference is found the Northern and Eastern Divisions. In the National Conference is found the Central and Western Divisions.
7. Each Conference will have 2 rounds of playoffs to determine the Conference Title.
8. The first round of playoffs is played as follows. There are 2 first place teams and 2 second place teams in each conference, made up of the 1st place team and the 2nd place team in each division. The home field advantage will go to the team first place team, regardless of record. The team with the home field advantage will have games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home and games 3, 4, and 6 on the road. All series are 7 games. The first place team with the Conferences best winning percentage will play the second place team that has the Conferences lowest winning percentage. The first place team with the Conferences lowest winning percentage will play the second place team that has the best winning percentage. Out of the first round of Conference Playoffs, 4 teams will enter in each Division 2 winners will be determined to face each other for the Conference title in each Conference.
9. The 2 winners of the first round of the playoffs in each Conference face each other to determine the Conference Title. The home field advantage will go to the team with the best overall winning percentage in the regular season. The team with the home field advantage will have games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home and games 3, 4, and 6 on the road. One winner from each Conference be the Conference Champions and will meet each other in the WCBA World Series. All series are 7 games.
10. Winners of each Conference Championship Series will play each other in the WCBA World Series. The format is the same as the Conference Series, with the team with the best record getting the home field advantage. The team with the home field advantage will have games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home and games 3, 4, and 6 on the road. All series are 7 games.

The playoff procedure described below will be followed throughout the playoffs and WCBA Series, unless the participants play face-to-face or via the internet. All playoff teams MUST adhere to the dates for all conference/divisional/World Series. Each series will take place in 14 day intervals and those dates will be added to the WCBA SCHEDULE of EVENTS so those teams advancing will have atleast 6 month notice to plan ahead. Failure to play will result in forfeiture from the playoffs. Teams who have made a dilligent effort to play those games can request a pardon if they can prove their attempts to play either were not answered or put off by the opposing manager until it became to late to play in the 14 day window. Only those attempts by email will be used.

1. The playoff procedure described below will be followed throughout the playoffs and WCBA Series, unless the participants play face-to-face or via the internet.
2. All playoff series MUST be played by netplay. If that isn’t an option for a manager to play, than that manager must assign someone to play those games for him who is NOT in the playoffs otherwise that year.
3. Each manager will send 2 instruction sets for the 7 game series - 1 to WCBA Central and 1 to his opponent.
4. A 3-man starting rotation is allowed. The starting pitchers must be used in the same sequence in the series you play as they are in the instructions you send.
5. The starting batting orders must be the same in the series you play as they are in the instructions you send.
6. All other rules for play as described in this constitution will apply to the playoffs and WCBA Series.

1. At Bats and Innings Pitched limitations will be imposed during the playoffs to ensure fairness and promote realistic use of players.
2. Hitters limits are: (AB X .05)/14 = max AB's for the series. If the max is greater than 28, the player has no limit.
3. Relief pitchers limits are: (IP X .05)/10 = max IP's for the series. If the max is greater than 14, the pitcher has no limit.
4. Starting pitchers limits are:

   1. IP + 5% = 1 - 50 = 0 starts for the series.
   2. IP + 5% = 51 - 100 = max 1 start for the series.
   3. IP + 5% = 101 - 150 = max 2 starts for the series.
   4. IP + 5% = 151+ = max 3 starts for the series.

5. No pitcher may start three games in two consecutive seven-game series.
6. When calculating limits, round up at .5.
7. AB/IP after the 10th inning do not count against the series total.

1. A penalty point system is established to encourage adherence to WCBA rules. The commissioner maintains the right to assess or not assess penalty points at his discretion. Penalties are not carried over to a new manager if a team changes managers from one season to the next. The following are the conditions for which penalty points may be assessed.
2. Each manager is responsible for reporting his overuses. If he doesn't, penalty points will be doubled.
3. An offending team loses a 2nd rounder if 2 to 3 players go over 10 ab or 4 innings for a starter and 2 for reliever. They lose a 1st and 2nd if 4 players or more go over by the same limits. If a player is overused by 108% (ie: a 500 ab hitter at the WCBA 105% and he bats 541 times), that player gets cut and becomes a free agent in the draft next year. If proof is sent to the WCBA League Office that limitations weren't met per your email, YOU WONT BE PENALIZED (3 weeks max).

1. EXCESSIVE AT BATS
   1. An offending team loses a 2nd rounder if 2 to 3 players go over 10 ab or 4 innings for a starter and 2 for reliever. They lose a 1st and 2nd if 4 players or more go over by the same limits. If a player is overused by 108% (ie: a 500 ab hitter at the WCBA 105% and he bats 541 times), that player gets cut and becomes a free agent in the draft next year. If proof is sent to the WCBA League Office that limitations weren't met per your email, YOU WONT BE PENALIZED (3 weeks max).
   2. In addition the player is suspended for the playoffs based on the chart.
   3. The offending manager must report overages to WCBA Central. If not, additional penalty points will be assessed at the discretion of the Commissioner.
2. EXCESSIVE INNINGS PITCHED
   1. An offending team loses a 2nd rounder if 2 to 3 players go over 10 ab or 4 innings for a starter and 2 for reliever. They lose a 1st and 2nd if 4 players or more go over by the same limits. If a player is overused by 108% (ie: a 500 ab hitter at the WCBA 105% and he bats 541 times), that player gets cut and becomes a free agent in the draft next year. If proof is sent to the WCBA League Office that limitations weren't met per your email, YOU WONT BE PENALIZED (3 weeks max).
   2. In addition the player is suspended for the playoffs based on the chart.
   3. The offending manager must report overages to WCBA Central. If not, additional penalty points will be assessed at the discretion of the Commissioner.
3. PLAYOFF SUSPENSION CHART
   1. Any players going over as much as 1 AB or 1 inning are suspended from all playoffs.
   2. If a team has 4 or more suspended players…It will not be able to compete in the playoffs. The team with the next best record within the division will assume that playoff berth.

   AB/IP	Games
   1-500	All playoffs and WCBA Series

4. LATENESS

   1. Penalty points will be assessed for lateness when any of the following are postmarked after the due date:
   1. Instructions for the entire season to WCBA Central
   2. Instructions for the entire season to your opponents
   3. Changed instructions that are promised to your opponent and WCBA Central by a specific date
   4. Series results to WCBA Central
   5. Series results to your opponent
§ For each day late, 1 penalty point will be assessed pr each series result.
5. PENALTY POINT CONVERSION - The penalty points will be converted into reduced usage of the manager’s players for the next season. This affects all players on the manager’s team. If players are acquired during the season, the penalty is applied to the acquired players, reducing the total amount of AB/IP available for that player.
6. CONVERSION TABLE

   Points	Penalty
   35 pts	Usage of players reduced to 100% for the next season
   70 pts	Usage of players reduced to 95% for the next season