Keystone Baseball League Rules


Introduction
The Keystone Baseball League or simply called the KBL was created for the sole purpose of having fun and testing an individuals skill at something we all wish we could do, create and manage a major league baseball team.
The KBL is a simulated baseball league using Out of the Park Baseball V (OOTP5) as its sim engine. Having access to this program is not required to participate in this league.

Owner Responsibility
All owners need to actively participate in the league to guarantee membership. This is really the only thing that I will require of you as an owner. I understand everyone has a busy schedule with responsibilities to attend to, as do I, and I do not expect individuals to devote hours of time to the KBL. What I would define as actively participating includes: - Emails from Commisioner and other managers returned in a timely fashion. - Your team "needs" (e.g. injured players removed, lineup changes made, replacements chosen etc.) need to be addressed quickly. If a team owner will be unavailable for a period of time (vacation, etc.), please drop me an email and let me know you'll be gone. Each season will comprise approximately 14 sims. Any owner who fails to send either a lineup, or a "no changes" email for at least 7 of the 14 sims will lose their team with no prior notice. If you can't meet this requirement, you're not really participating anyway. For obvious reasons, no owner will be allowed to own more that one team at a time. Also, as it is simply common sense and good manners, no offensive language or behavior will be allowed towards anyone involved in the league. We are here to have fun and that type of behavior will result in immediate league expulsion.

Commissioner Responsibility
It will be the Commisioner's responsibility to see that the league runs smoothly. He will carry out the sims, drafts, update the web page, etc. He will handle any disputes which may arise. Larger issues may involve asking for a league-wide response on the matter, again however, the final say on all disputes will rest in the hands of the Commisioner.

Amateur Draft
The Amateur draft will be held at the beginning of each season, draft order to be determined on the basis of league standings at the end of the prior season. Those who cannot attend the draft, and don't want the computer choosing for them, should email the Commisioner with a player list (make sure you list enough players on the list to make it through the rounds for that evening). All draft times will be emailed to the entire league.

Financial Rules and Salary Cap
Each team in the KBL must manage their teams money. Each owner must determine their ticket prices and team promotions in order to maximize their teams revene. Each team owner must try to keep his fans happy or they will lose money and not be able to sign any big Free Agents. The KBL incorporates a league revenue sharing model that helps smaller market teams be more competitive and profitable.  The league institutes a team Salary Cap of $90,000,000. This is a hard cap, so no team can ever exceed this cap.

Trades
This is probably the reason we enjoy playing fantasy baseball so much. The simple joy of having complete power to reshape and mold a team in any way you see fit. As far as trading goes, all trades will be deemed legal if they are done with best interest of BOTH teams. The commish will have the final say on all trades. If a deal seems suspect, both owners will be questioned as to their personal reasoning behind the deal. If a reasonable response can be offered (e.g. team rebuilding, etc.), chances are, the trade will go through. Please email all trades to the Commisioner. Both owners must email the Commisioner in order for a trade to be official.

Simulation Dates & Procedures
I will be simming three times per week, 2 weeks per sim. Sim day will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Roster moves, Trades and Lineup changes must be sent in by 11pm EST(USA) on the nights prior to the sim day, and I will be checking my messages the evening before each sim and the transactions will be made before the sim takes place. The GM is also responsible for placing and removing players from the disabled list (DL). If a player trade creates a hole in your lineup, or excess players on your roster, the Commisioner will use his discretion as to placing the acquisitions in the lineup or releasing the extra player. The Commisioner will do his best, but unless it is obvious . . (trading your 2B for another 2B) you might want to send in an updated roster move or lineup to clarify your intentions. There will be no debate over his choices as you may change rosters and lineups as soon as the sim is over and posted.

Contract Extentions
After the All Star Game and before the next season starts, every GM must inform the Commisioner of whether or not to resign every player whose contract has expired on his team. You can view this information on your teams Salary Report. You need to then make an offer to these players. You need to consider what the player was making, how well he has been playing, his age, and your financial situation when making your offers. All offers must be made in this form: (ex. Boston Red Sox Contract Extentions - Trot Nixon $4.75 Million for 4 years, Derek Lowe $3.35 million for 3 years...). Offers will be given to each players and the result of the negociations will be emailed back to you. Not every player will accept your offers. You may need to up your offer if a player rejects it.

Free Agents
After each season and before the next one starts, there will be a Three Sim Free Agent Signing Period. On the same days as the sim days, each owner submits offers, just like explained in the Contract Extentions above, to any available players he would like by sending an email to the Commisioner. Available players are ones who are not under contract with any other team.  The team with the best offer will be submitted to the player first, in case of identical offers the Commisioner will use his discretion on who will choose first.

Amateur Draft
Here is what makes the KBL a unique league. The Amateur Draft will be seven rounds in length. After each season the actual rookies will be available for the Draft. However; all of the players in baseball history are randomized. So no one knows who will be a rookie at any season. Roger Clemens could be a rookie in 1910 and Ty Cobb could be a rookie in 2001. All players debut years have be randomized. All players have only one career and will enter the league once. The Draft Order is determined by the final standings of the previous year. Worst record selects first and best record selects last. In case of identical records, a formula will be used by the OOTP5 game to determine in which order the identical records will draft.

Off Season
At the end of every season, there will be a short break before the next season begins. During this time, we will conduct the Amateur Draft.

Renaming Players or Teams
The KBL is a league embaces the creativeness of every team owner. Please feel free to be as creative as you wish when selecting your teams city and nickname. All city names must be real United States cities. No teams will be allowed to move or change their team name unless they have played in that city under that name for at least 5 seasons. KBL also uses real players from baseball history. No players names will be changed.

Special Note
The above rules and policies are subject to change at any time. Any suggestions or ideas as to the betterment of the league will be appreciated. For clarification of any of the rules above, please contact the League Commisioner.


Keystone Baseball League