Brewers League Baseball Rules

•  Owners Expectations
• Responsible for participating regularly. This includes:
• Exporting on a regular basis
• Mandatory participation in league events (drafts, votes, etc)
• Posting occasionally on the forums
• Responding to trade offers in a timely manner
• Notifying the Commissioner if you're going to be away for more than a week
• Notifying the Commissioner if you can no longer participate or are considering stepping down
• Make best effort to manage all levels of your organization
• Reading and understanding the rules
• Asking questions if you don't understand something about the league, the game or the rules
• Owners can be replaced at the discretion of the Commissioner if they fail to meet the expectations listed above.
• New Owners
• New owners will be selected by the Ownership Committee

• 24 Fictional Teams
• Domestic League (DH) – Ale Division, Lager Division, Pilsner Division
• Import League (no DH) – Stout Division, Bock Division, Porter Division
• Playoffs – 8 teams (division winners plus wildcards)
• Minors - 3 levels (AAA, AA, A)
• 40 Man rosters - Enabled (Expand Sept. 1st and during Spring Training)
  
• Financial System - Enabled
• Coaches/Scouts - Enabled
• Injuries - Enabled/Average. Career Ending Injuries are disabled.
• Disabled list - 14 days
• Arbitration - Enabled
• Minor League Option Years - Enabled
• Ratings System - All Ratings are on a 2-8 Scale. (Overall ratings are off)

• Simulations will be run Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. Each sim covers 7 days of in game time.
• All Transactions and Exports are due by 9pm ET on these days.
• Exceptions: The Sim schedule may be modified as necessary. The Commissioner will provide prior notification before doing so.
  

• Minor League teams have a limit of 30 roster spots.  
• Position rules – Players on the active roster should be used in their actual positions, except in cases of emergency. Rosters should be run the same way an actual team would be, i.e. backups for each position, 2 catchers, etc. Minor league teams don’t have to follow any position rules as players can learn new positions.
• Season Ending Injuries
• If a player suffers an injury from the injury table AND the injury duration is greater than 6 months the player can have that injury edited to the max duration associated with it.
• Owners are responsible for notifying the commissioner if a player on their team should be edited. They must do so before the next sim.
• Changing injuries is limited to players on the 40 man roster or top 100 prospects list at the time of the injury. (not after it occurred)

• Waivers 
• On each opening day ALL players in the minor leagues who are out of options (+ symbol next to their name on the Transactions screen) will be placed on waivers. This closes a loophole that allowed owners to hide players in the minors.
• There are two types of waivers in OOTP:
• Outright waivers: Outright waivers are in effect when you manually move a player into the Waivers section of your transactions screen. This is usually done to get a player off your team's 40 man roster or to demote a player who is out of Option years.
• Processed in the game.
• The Waiver period is 14 days. 
• Trade waivers: These are in effect when I (as commish) submit a trade after the July 31st Trade deadline until the end of the Regular Season. Every player can be placed on Revocable Trade waivers once per season (regardless of their Outright waiver status). The 2nd time they are placed on Trade waivers, it is irrevocable.
• Outright Waivers Procedure
• Make the claim normallly in game
• Send a Private Message to the forum user 'BLB Waivers'
• The PM should state the player's full name, position and current team.
• Trade Waivers Procedure
• Players not on the 40 Man Roster and draft picks can be traded after the July 31st deadline without having to clear Trade Waivers.
• Players on the 40 Man Roster can be traded after the July 31st deadline if they clear Trade Waivers.
• To trade players who are on the 40 Man Roster:
• DO NOT waive the player in the game. 
• For each player, create a new thread in the Waivers forum stating the player has been placed on Trade Waivers.
• Teams may claim players in his Trade Waiver thread.
• Players are on waivers for 48 hours (real time) after the thread is created.
• If no claims are made during that time, they are free to trade him to any team. 
• If any claims are made in the Trade Waiver thread, the waiving team has another 48 hours to negotiate a trade with the team that claimed the player and had the highest priority (Worst record) at that time. 
• If no trade is completed within 48 hours (real time) the waiving team can either revoke the waivers or allow the claim to go through and lose him for nothing.
• Trades
• The non waiver trade deadline is July 31st.
• Trades must be posted in the Completed Trades forum. Posts should contain the players name, position and current league level. Both owners need to post in order to make it official and each should include a quick sentence or two explaining how the trade helps them.
• Trades can include Players, Cash or Draft Picks. 
• Future Draft Picks
• Draft picks can only be traded 5 years into the future. (Next draft, plus 4 more years)
• Any trade including draft picks for future drafts (years 2-5) triggers an automatic review by the trade committee.
  
• Cash Used in Trades
• Cash used in trades may not exceed a teams current balance. Their cash can go into the negative provided their balance will cover it.
• Cash used in trades may not exceed the total salary of the players you are trading. Ex: If a player makes 300k for 1 year, only $300,000 can be included. If a player makes 10 mil over the next 3 years, $30 mil can be included, etc.
  
• Any trade involving more than $1 million in cash is subject to review by the Commissioner's office.
  
• When announcing a trade, a team receiving cash may specify how they would like that money to be applied. Potential options are: Simply add it to cash OR apply it to the contracts of player(s) you received in the trade however you see fit. When the 2nd option is chosen, the Commissioner will edit the player's in game contract to reflect the changes.
• Examples: If you receive a player who makes $10 mil a year over 5 years and you receive $10 mil in the deal you could:
  1) add the $10 mil to your cash
  2) Prorate it over the player(s) contract, so he would now make $8 million a year ($10mil/5 years)
  3) Prorate it over some of the player(s) contract (2 years at $5mil, 3 years at $10mil)
  4) Any combination of the options above
• If you subsequently trade a player who now has a prorated contract, it is your responsibility to recoup the money. Using the example in #2 above, if you trade the player with 2 years left, you are essentially including $4mil in the trade. ($2 mil over 2 years) 
• Owners receiving cash, must decide how to apply it when they make the trade. No changes will be allowed and it can only be applied to players involved in the trade. If nothing is specified, the money will be added to their team's current cash.
• Trade Committee 
• Current committee: HrfdWhale, Rubisco43, Skerik, Jistic. Alternates: jmw1137, Riverman
• A review of a trade will take place if a) it is requested by any member of the trade committee (including alternates) or b) it is requested by the league office or c) the trade contains future draft picks.
  
• Any trade that is under review will be put on hold until the committee makes their decision. It is expected that they will make the decision within 1 sim of when the trade was originally posted.
  
• 3/4 members of the trade committee must vote against a trade in order for it to be overturned. Alternates will be used when a member of the committee is involved in the trade being reviewed.
• Designated for Assignment (DFA)
• The DFA period is 21 days. 
• If a player's DFA time runs out you will be fined $50,000 per incident. Transactions will be handled by the Commssioner in the following manner:
  1) Attempt move to AAA
  2) If he refuses, assign to 40 man and active roster
  3) If there is no room, the player will be released. No exceptions.
• Disabled List
• If a player is eligible to come off the Disabled list in the middle of a sim, the Commissioner will move the player onto your active roster and insert into the Rotation or Lineup. Send the Commissioner a PM with the exact details of where you want the player inserted. 
• Declining Optional Contracts
• Teams are allowed to accept/decline options for players who have an optional contract for the following season.
• Teams can only accept team options. (Not player or mutual)
• Teams can only decline team or mutual options. (Not player)

• End of Playoffs to Pre Arbitration
• Budgets are set. Arbitration eligible players can be released. Otherwise the game will automatically assign a 1 year contract.
• Pre Arbitration to Post Arbitration
•  Arbitration contracts are awarded. 
• Post Arbitration to January 1st
• The Rule 5 draft will be conducted during this time period.
• Draft order is determined by previous year’s standings.
• To make Rule 5 selections send a priority list to the Commissioner. You should have an empty roster spot on the active roster and 40 man roster to make Rule 5 selections. 
• There will be a $50,000 charge for each pick you make in the Rule 5 draft.
• Any players drafted must remain on that teams Active Roster for the entire season.
• Returning players
• Post the player's name that you want to return in the Rule 5 Returns thread.
• The commish will release the player (you will be charged for his contract) and then manually edit him onto the AAA team of the organization that he is being returned to with a minor league contract.
• Free Agency to Spring Training (5-6 sims)
• Free Agency uses the following schedule:
• 10 days per sim from January 1st until the start of Spring Training.
• Spring Training to Opening Day (2 sims)
• You can activate anyone on your 40 man roster during this time.
• Players without options remaining will need to clear waivers in order to send them to the minors after Spring Training ends.
• Draft Pick Compensation
• Draft pick compensation is disabled in the game. It is instead determined by our custom rules.
• Eligibility for compensation is determined by how much a Free Agent signs for. Players are classified into two Types.
• Type A: $13 million AAV and up. Compensation: 1st Round Sandwich pick
• Type B: $9 million to $13 million AAV. Compensation: 2nd Round Sandwich pick
• Players are only eligible for compensation if they played their rookie season (lost their rookie eligibility) with the team that is losing them in Free Agency and have never played for another team. Rookie eligibility is: A player with less than 130 at-bats, a pitcher with less than 50 innings pitched.
  
• Draft order for Sandwich picks are determined by how much the players sign for. The highest paid (AAV) player's team will receive the 1st pick, etc.
• Sandwich Round picks cannot be traded
• Amateur Draft 
• The Amateur Draft is 10 rounds plus 2 Sandwich Rounds for Draft Pick Compensation.
• All rounds will be conducted using the online Draft Utility
• The Draft Class will be posted on January 1st
• The Draft will begin at the start of Spring Training
  
• The CPU will pick for any Owners who don't make their selection in the allotted time. After the CPU picks for a player, they will remain on "CPU control" until they inform me they have returned.
• The draft results will be entered into the game in mid June
  
• Draft order is determined by the previous year’s standings. Ties are resolved by the Standings from two years ago.

• No Salary Cap
• Luxury Tax 
• The Luxury Tax is $90 million
• Any team who's Player Expenses exceed the luxury tax will be penalized 50% of the amount they go over.
• Luxury taxes paid will be distributed evenly among all teams with revenue below the league average.
• Cash Maximum 
• The Cash Maximum is $20 million. At the end of the season anything over $20 Million in cash will be lost.
• Stadium funds
• Teams may transfer money into a stadium fund which will be maintained seperate from the normal finances and won't be subject to the Cash Maximum. 
• Stadium fund transfers are only allowed between the end of the season and the beginning of Free Agency.
• This money can only be used for upgrades to your stadium or to purchase a new one.
• Awards - Any awards or article bonuses over the $20 million Cash Maximum will automatically be placed into your Stadium fund.
• Ticket prices - maximum ticket price is capped at $20.
• Profitability
• A fine will be assessed each year your team finishes with a balance below $0.
• Fines are determined and assessed after bonus and luxury tax calculations are complete.
• Years are in a row, not cumulative. The fine schedule is:
• Year 1: 5% fine
• Year 2: 10% fine
• Year 3: 25% fine and -1 fan loyalty
• Year 4+: 50% fine and -1 fan loyalty

• Personnel signings take place in the game.
• Teams should employ the following Personnel: 
• Major Leagues: Manager,  Bench Coach,  Hitting Coach,  Pitching Coach,  Scouting Director,  Team Doctor 
• Minor Leagues (for each level): Manager, Hitting Coach,  Pitching Coach

• Modifications – During the Off-season modifications can be made to your Stadium using the provided Excel spreadsheet. You must submit a proposal to the Commissioner by January 1st of each year, who will review it and determine the cost and any bonuses received. Proposals may be denied if it is determined the Owner can’t afford the modifications. Only 2,000 or fewer seats may be added per year.
• New Stadiums – Teams will have the option to build new stadiums using the provided spreadsheet. The stadium cost will be payable over a term negotiated with the Commissioner. The team may not move into their new stadium until 75% of the total cost is paid. Teams moving into a new stadium will receive a +20 bonus to fan interest. If this bonus puts them over 100, their Market Level will be increased by 1. Teams must wait 15 years before building another new stadium.  
• Relocation
• New owners must wait 2 full seasons before moving their team. 
• They must purchase a new stadium using the provided spreadsheet. The new city will pay 50% of the cost to build the stadium.
• Market size and fan loyalty will remain the same. Fan Interest will get a bonus as outlined in the New Stadium rules.

• Rules for the World Baseball Classic can be found here: http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/forums/blog.php?b=8
  

• Awards are voted on by the owners at the end of the season. 

• Nominations
• Any owner can nominate any player for election. They can be nominated to the founders wing only (if applicable)
• The nominating owner should post their justification including a summary of their career, accomplishments and highlights
• Players must wait three seasons after they retired before being nominated
• Nominations can be made up until the beginning of Spring Training
  
• Voting
• Voting will be held during Spring Training with Inductions happening on Opening Day
• Every owner must vote
• A Player needs to receive 20 votes to be elected
• A Player needs to receive 16 votes to remain on next years ballot
• A Player can be placed on the ballot for three years before being removed if not elected.
• Hall of Fame Committee
• Decides which cap a player will wear on their HOF plaque
• Create HOF plaques
• Provide a writeup on a players career for their HOF page.
• Made up of 7 volunteers. One from each division in the BLB, plus the co-commissioner, Clay.
• Founders Wing
• Exists for original players of the league, who did not have a long enough career to earn election under normal circumstances.
  

• Participation – Awarded at season’s end
• $250,000 per article.
• Awards
• $1,000,000 for Stout Slugger, Pale Ale Pitcher and J Allen Wright.
• $500,000 for Refreshing New Brew, Last Call Relief and Postseason MVP.
• Hall of Fame
• The Bonus for players elected to the Hall of Fame is $2,000,000
• This will be divided among all teams a player played for based on his VORP with that team as a percentage of his total VORP. 
• An extra $500,000 will be awarded to the team whose cap the player wears
• All-Star Game
• $100,000 per player.
• $100,000 bonus for each team of the winning league.
• The Home team will also receive ticket revenue (Attendance x $10)
• Home team will alternate between leagues every year. No team can host twice, until all have hosted.
• Award bonuses are forfeited if a GM does not participate in the voting for the respective award they are receiving the bonus for.

• All fair play issues should be brought to the attention of the Commissioner.
• As a General Rule, everything you do should be for the betterment of your organization. You should run your team as an actual Baseball team would. In most cases, common sense should prevail.
• Potential Issues Include, but are not limited to:
• Losing intentionally to get a better draft position. This does not mean you can’t play prospects when the rosters expand.
• Signing FA’s during the season or off-season just to trade them.
• Large amounts of cash being used in trades. This isn’t forbidden, but will be examined more closely.
• Changing players’ positions to help during contract negotiations.
• Placing players on the 60 day DL that aren't injured for an extended period of time.
  
• Collusion. (Working together)