League Constitution

The Boys of Summer – League Constitution

1.0   Preamble

The Purpose of the Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League (BoS) is to have fun and to share your love and joy for America’s past-time with all the other league owners involved. The BoS Constitution will serve as the guidelines by which the BoS will be effectively run. The Constitution shall be enforced by the Commissioner. If any owner witnesses any behavior that goes against the integrity of the league and the official rules which are listed in this document, or feel that they have a legitimate concern or complaint, may contact the Commissioner at anytime necessary via E-mail. Any advice or suggestions as well can be sent to the league Commissioner. The BoS Constitution is a living document and current articles may be amended and new articles added. All league participants may submit a Constitutional amendment to the commissioner, in which case he will schedule a league vote for all the team owners. Only if the amendment is approved by a majority of the owners, will it be incorporated into the BoS Constitution.

2.0   League Officials

2.1   League Commissioner

The BoS Commissioner is Shawn Baier. The Commissioner shall have the power to oversee the league, to make such decisions as are necessary to ensure the smooth and timely running of the league, to levy penalties against owners whenever appropriate, to run the annual draft and any future drafts, and to perform additional duties as required.

Should the need arise; the Commissioner may collect expenses in the future to help fund the league (as in Trophies, websites, etc).

The commissioner will investigate all league matters and claims of rules violations by team owners and will issue judgment on the claims within 30 days. The significant parties involved in the rules violations will have the opportunity to submit written explanations to the Commissioner to support or defend their violation notice. In addition, the Commissioner may, but it is not required, seek advice from other League Officials or owners. All Commissioner decisions may be appealed to the Vice-Commissioner within 3 days of said judgment, with no further appeal if decision is upheld.

You can contact the BoS Commissioner at the following email: baierdork@yahoo.com

3.0   League Newswire & Sources

The Boys of Summer’s up-to-date news will most-often be updated on the league’s website:

“The Boys of Summer – APBA League” site @ http://boysofsummer-computerleague.blogspot.com/. Secondary news updates & other special bulletins will be found on “The Boys of Summer Blog” @ http://boysofsummerbaseball.blogspot.com/, along with everything all things APBA, Baseball & other projects.

The Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League also has a Boys of Summer Facebook Page. League owners are not required to have a Facebook during the actual season or be part of the Facebook Group (designed only for league officials), but are encouraged to do so. It will be required to have a Facebook account, if the owner wants to be active during the annual drafts. If not present on Facebook during annual drafts, the owner’s team will be placed on auto-draft (no draft lists permitted).

The Boys of Summer Blog will also include an annual season previews issue during Spring Training, a possible All-Star Break issue, and a post-season results issue ( a look back at the season) to keep the owners excited about the BoS. All owners are encouraged, not required, to contribute articles and news stories to help make the league strive through the media outlets mentioned above. The newsletter will be emailed to all the leagues’ team owners, and will appear on the BoS league websites.

4.0   BoS League Organization

4.1   Overall League Set-up

The BoS League will be organized into two leagues, the American League (A.L.) and the National League (N.L.). The BoS Commissioner may rename the two leagues at any time, if he feels that it’s necessary to do so.

4.2   Division Set-up

Each league currently consists of two divisions each, East and West divisions. The BoS Commissioner may rename the four divisions at any time, or add additional divisions with new names down the road due to possible expansion.

4.3   Teams, Team Names & Locations

Each team owner will have only one team to own & manage. Each individual owner may choose their own team name with first-come, first-served in case owners choose the same name. Name choice is up to the team owners -- however objectionable names based on racism, cursing, sexism, etc will be denied. The composition of a team name will be broken down with the first part being a geographical area, such as town/city, state or country, and the second part is unlimited as long as it does not fall under the objectionable list noted above. Original placement of teams in division will be based on team name (geographical location) to the best of our ability to maintain 8 teams per league, 4 teams per division. New owners, after the inaugural season, are allowed to change team names, but due to division placement, they may not be able to move the new team to a better geographical location without negotiations with other team owners affected by possible division relocation. The new alignment of a team in a new division cannot take place in season, but must be accomplished during the league’s off-season period. Any new alignment agreement between two owners must be agreed by Commissioner, Vice-Commissioner, and a majority vote by the affected owners of the affected divisions. All team names or changes to the team name may only be accomplished in the off-season and must be approved prior to the annual draft; if not, the possible relocation process will have to wait until the next following off-season.

4.4   League Expansion

For the time being, the BoS League has 16 teams with 16 owners. There is a rough plan in place for future expansion, the goal is for the 2016 BoS Season (no later than 2017 BoS Season); Expanding from 16-20 teams. 20 teams will help the players in the BoS have more realistic statistics, closer to real-life MLB. - statement June 2015

5.0   Membership Requirements for League Owners

All BoS owners must abide by the rules of the BoS Constitution at all times.

League owners are responsible for providing their own copy of APBA Baseball for Windows (BBW) 5.75 Upgrade 10 for their computer. Once you bought the disk from APBA, you can upgrade for free at one of their sites to Upgrade 14 (Announced Sept 2014).

All owners must have a way to be contacted; all must own some sort of email address. You don’t have to have a Facebook account year-round, but should have one for the annual draft. We have a Facebook Page, where all the owners can feel free to comment and talk about the league, our series, or any questions that come to mind, etc.

5.1  League Fees

The BoS has started charging league fees during its 2015 BoS Season, for the following reasons: To help fund the league for league trophies, the APBA BBW game itself, the time put in, and websites.

The league fee started in 2015 (All-Star Break for 2015 BoS Season) - $10 per person. Fees may go up depending on better websites, etc etc. The fee will never go higher than $20 per season, don't really see the need for that. 

5.2  League Punishments

This rule has been enacted due to the frustration of commissioning a league, receiving blank ballots, not getting back votes on All-Star Games or Awards Winners -- which can also effect close votes. Voting on those two matters, all League owners are required to turn in ballots. It's an obligation and the owners' league duties to participate, no participation could lead to not being in the league all together -- owners should take pride in their league.

Failure to do so -

1st Offense - will cost your franchise a 10th Round Draft Pick in the next draft.

2nd Offense - will cost your franchise, both 3rd & 5th Round Draft Picks in the next draft.

3rd Offense -  will cost your franchise, a 1st Round Draft Pick in the next draft, and that league owner will be placed under probation. 

4th Offense - will cost league owner, ownership of the team immediately. 

To coincide with Punishments, failure to turn in Franchise Files (for GAMES only - Game Results) can lead to an offense -- 3 missed files equal one offense. 

6.0   Seasonal Play

6.1   Spring Training*

Every year, during the month of March, the BoS will hold a Spring Training session. For new owners who need to learn the file sending practices, they must do some sort of Spring Training, or at least show that they are able to receive and send files via email. Spring Training is optional at this point, and is not required of all regular seasoned vets.

* At the moment, we don't have a Spring Training in place.

6.2   Regular Season

The BoS Regular Season will usually start approximately on March 31^st or April 1^st, and will end approximately the first week of October. The league consists of 162 games each, in which each owner gets the opportunity to at least host 81 home games. Games will be played against other teams in your league as well as Interleague games with teams in the other league. A higher number of series and games will be played against division rivals, 22 games against each rival. 12 games against same-league teams opposite-division teams & 6 games against each team in the opposite league (for interleague).

Interleague games due to the file sending conflicts we witnessed during the inaugural season, will be done different in future seasons, starting in its second season (2014 BoS Season). The teams interleague schedules will alternate every other year, one year "Team A" may host "Team B" for a series, the next series "Team B" will be host of "Team A". It won’t be a perfect system, but each team will get to host 6 games against 4 teams from opposite league, while visiting the remaining 4 teams from the opposite league.

6.3   Commissioner Files & Franchise Files

All games will be played by the owner hosting the home field. If two owners live in the same vicinity of each other and wish to play head-to-head, this is allowed as well. The home team owner has the choice to play head-to-head, and is not entitled to do so. The owner of the visiting team will determine which automated league manager, lineup, and pitching rotation they wish to play the road series/games with. “Franchise Files” (F-Files) must be returned to the Commissioner in a timely manner in order to ensure smooth running of the league and its schedule. All files will be due to the Commissioner by 8 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone) on the designated day as outlined in the “Commissioner File” (C-File) email, unless specified otherwise in that particular email.

Failure to turn in Franchise (Games Files with Game Results) could lead to league punishment as mention in 5.2 of the League Constitution. 

7.0   The BoS Playoffs

After the conclusion of the regular season, the BoS playoffs will begin. The participating teams will consist of the four total division winners and one wildcard team from each league who had the next highest win total, but who did not win their respective division. Basically 3 teams in the playoffs per league (2 division winners, one wild card) – 6 total BoS teams in the playoffs.

If at the end of the regular season, there is a tie for first place in a division or for the wildcard spot, a one-game playoff shall be held. Home-field advantage will be given to the team who had the most home wins during the season. The two team owners will submit their rosters and lineups, using a “Franchise File”, in which the game will then be simulated by the Commissioner. The winner of the one-game playoff will go on to the Divisional Series in its designated league. Statistics generated in the one-game playoff shall be accumulated with those of the regular season (counting as Game #163). If the one-game playoff consists of the Commissioner’s team, the Vice-Commissioner will simulate the one-game playoff, after the two owners have submitted their rosters and lineups, using a “Franchise File”. If the one-game playoff consists of the Commissioner’s team and the Vice-Commissioner’s team for any reason, than a third-party owner, who has the means to conduct the simulation, will conduct the simulation. The Commissioner placed the current Vice-Commissioner in opposite leagues from one another for balance of power, and for certain occasions that may arise, so the possibility of the two league main league officials’ teams playing each other is pretty much zilch.

7.1   Divisional Series

In each league, the team with the league’s best record earns a first-round bye. If the two Division Champions from their respective league happen to finish with the same record, the team with the most home wins will be awarded the league’s best record, and will receive the first-round bye. The second Division winner will have home-field advantage in the Divisional Series, regardless of record, and will play the league’s wildcard representative. The Divisional Series shall consist of a best-of-five games series. The 5 games will be played at the stadiums as follows: Game 1 and Game 2 will be hosted by the Division Champion, Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) will be hosted by the wildcard team, and Game 5 (if necessary) will be hosted once again by the Division Champion. The winners of the Divisional Series, in each league, will go on to play in the League Championship Series (LCS).

7.2   League Championship Series

The winner of the Divisional Series will play the Division Winner (with the best record & first-round bye) in the League Championship Series (LCS). The League Championship Series of each league shall consist of a best-of-seven games series. The Division Champion who led the league in wins will have home-field advantage throughout the series. The 7 games will be played at the stadiums as follows: Game 1 and Game 2 will be hosted by the Division Champion who led the league in wins, Games 3-4 & Game 5 (if necessary) will be hosted by the Divisional Series winner, and Games 6 & 7 (if necessary) will be hosted by the Division Champion who led the league in wins. The winners of the LCS will go on to play each other in the BoS League World Series.

7.3   The Boys of Summer World Series Classic

The two league Champions (The American League and National League Champs) will meet in the World Series. The BoS World Series consists of the best-of-seven games series. Home-Field advantage will alternate between each league every other year based on the season being played. On odd number years, the American League Champions are awarded home-field advantage and on even number years, the National League Champions are awarded home-field advantage. The 7 games will be played at the stadiums as follows: Game 1 and Game 2 will be hosted by the team with Home-field advantage, Games 3-4 & Game 5 (if necessary) will be hosted by the non-HF advantage team, and Games 6 &7 (if necessary) will be hosted by the home-field advantage team. Since we are starting with the 2012 MLB Season – making it our 2013 BoS Season (we are starting with odds), we are starting with the American League Champions as the team with home-field advantage during the World Series, in its inaugural season.

7.4   Playoff Game Play

All Playoff games will be played by the home team, in the same way as the regular season. Each owner will have the opportunity to submit rosters, rotations & lineups to each series (and road games) by creating “Franchise Files”.

In the event of player injuries, players will be placed on the “Disabled List”, however teams won’t be able to substitute players from the minors, until the end of that present series. Only between Series, can any players be brought up to the roster.

8.0   BoS Team Rosters

8.1   Main Club – Roster Composition

During the Regular Season, each team’s roster shall consist of a total of 28 players from Major League Baseball, who are eligible to play. The roster should consist of an even balance of players to at least include a minimum of 5 starting pitchers, 5 relievers, 8 infielders (preferably 2 at each position), 2 catchers, and 6 outfielders. The remaining players are at the discretion of the team owner, as long as the player’s primary position is listed for roster purposes. If through the acquisition of trades or free agency, a roster contains above the 28-player limit or designated player setup, that team must immediately identify the player or players it intends to send down to the Minor Leagues. Likewise, if a team is left below the 28-player limit, players must be called up from the Minor Leagues immediately by that team’s owner.

The only time a team can have more than 28 active players, is if one or a couple players are actively on the 15-Day Disabled List. A owner can request that the player is placed on the Disabled List if the injury is going to be a significant time-frame, but does not want to place him in the minors for certain reasons, such as when the player will be ready to play. Once that player is off the Disabled List, the team will have to send a player down to the Minor Leagues to make it a 28-man Roster.

During the playoffs, each team’s roster shall consist of a total of 26 players on the Major League team who are eligible to play. The roster will consist of the minimum of 5 starting pitchers, 5 relievers, 6 infielders, 2 catchers and 5 outfielders.

To be safe, we prefer 5 starting pitchers, 5 relievers, 2 catchers, 6 outfielders & 8 infielders; but at the same time we do recognize that some owner/managers may want an extra bullpen arm, and does not see the necessity of having 6 OF’s or 8 IF’s taking up the roster. For infield, I do prefer that if you do go down to the minimum of 6, that you have players throughout the roster (to make the 2 players capable of playing each IF position), that’s where versatility comes in handy. You also want to have speedsters for pinch-running situations, a big bat to come off the bench for pinch-hitting situations, or a late-game defensive replacement – These are all elements that will build championship teams.

Rosters will be constantly updated through our Boys of Summer – APBA League site.

8.2   Organization Rosters

The entire team organizations have changed from 45 players after the Annual Draft. Teams used to be able to have up to 48 Players & a minimum of 42 players due to trades, during the regular season to the new rule of a roster around 38 players -- Teams should always be fielding a competitive team, and make sure that they have their coverage areas covered.

The new rule has every team do a certain number of player releases, depending on how they finished in the standings. Players currently will have around 38 players (see 8.3 Off-Season Ownership of Players)

The franchise rosters will also include non-carded players (NC's) for guys that were injured (think Adam Wainwright 2011 or Matt Harvey 2014), or a player you have that may not have appeared in that MLB Season for any account of reasons (like playing in Japan, or out for the season – due to having Tommy John Surgery, etc.)

At the end of the playoffs, beginning of off-season, everyone will cut their rosters down to the specific amount of players specified below in 8.3.

8.3   Off-Season Ownership of Players

Teams will trim their rosters down their rosters, due to where they finished in their division. The BoS Annual Draft has changed from a 15-round draft to 14 rounds. The releases are as follows for each end of the season (in a league for 16 teams)

• The four cellar-dwellers (last place) will get to keep up to 27 players (including NC's).
• The four 3rd Place teams will get to keep up to 26 players (including NC's).
• The four 2nd Place teams will get to keep up to 25 players (including NC's).
• The four 1st Place teams will get to keep up to 24 players (including NC's).

NC's are No Cards (as mentioned in 8.2 Organization Rosters

There is also the new Minimum Players Usage Rule (using RUse%) - See Secton 8.4 .

8.4 The Minimum Players Usage Rule 

The reason for this rule is simple. To eliminate player hoarding & to make sure that MLB Players get closer to their actual MLB playing time, keeping a flux of free agency going, and to motivate people to play all aspects of their team.

• Minimum Playing time is 50%. Batters will be based AIM (Advanced Injury Management) Status & the Pitchers would be based off AIM (Advanced Injury Management).

• Failure to meet the 50% minimum mark, will result in the player becoming a free agent at season’s end, and will be placed in the off-season’s draft pool.

• Batters with less than 100 PA's & pitchers that have at least 1 Game start on that season's file and has 50 or less innings pitched -- will be SAFE from being released.

     The Free Agent players (the players just released) will be able to be drafted in the league’s Annual Draft, which will consist of all the rookies making their MLB debuts as well. Draft Picks cannot be released or won’t be required to be released.

There will be a date set for the Final Player Releases. Once all the releases are sent in by that date, off-season trading will cease at that moment. The Commissioner will send a C-File containing the up-to-date rosters, with all available free agents & rookies available for the League’s Annual Draft.

The Draft would then take place, the Commissioner would place all the players, update all the files needed, and once everything is good to go. The Commissioner would give the green light for trading to commence again.

8.4   Retired Players

At one time, a team that once owned the player could "un-retire" the player, if they chose to in Major League Baseball.

The rule will not be conducted in the same way as all NC's (Non-Carded Players), if a owner/manager believes that a player may come out of retirement in the future, they can choose to keep the player as a NC. The Commissioner will only notify teams that a player is a NC that first year for retired players -- while sending out all the other regular NC notices.

See 8.5 Non-Carded Players (NC's) & 8.2 Organization Rosters.

8.5   Non-Carded Players (NC's)

The Commissioner will flag players for each owner that will not have a “card” (file) for the upcoming season, and will keep tabs on that player if he returns, the next following season or not. The owner can have the option to release that player at that moment; The Commissioner will then add that player to the Free Agency Pool, in which it will be added to a non-carded list for the upcoming Annual Draft, so other owners are aware of that player’s release from the prior team & the potential availability to new owners.

If the current owner decides to keep the player in its organization, he will count as one of that owner’s 45-players, and will be kept tabs on, in case it takes him more than one year to return to that team, due to real-life player situations (recovering from Tommy John or whatever).

8.6   End of Season / Free Agent Releases

Each team will be given a time period prior to the Annual Draft to cut their rosters down to the specific amount of players, by team finish in their respective divisions (as mentioned in 8.3 Off-Season Ownership of Players). This period can start as early as the end of the World Series. The purpose of having free agency is to avoid player hoarding by franchises & to ensure parity between the ball clubs – The players will be placed in the Free Agent Pool. The Free Agent Pool is closed during the time between the end of the Regular Season and the Annual Draft. The Annual Draft features both rookies (who made that file/year’s debut) and free agents.

9.0 The Annual Draft

9.1 Draft Requirements

Each year, the Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League will hold the Annual Draft to fill out their league rosters. The draft will consist of free agents & MLB rookies that made their MLB/APBA file debuts. The draft will consist of 14 rounds (under new system - June 2015)

The Commissioner should have provided a list of player releases by all owners & their teams, a list of rookies (who made their MLB debuts) can be found on Baseball Reference.com . Among the list of free agent releases are the NC's that were released as well. The minor league roster should have an appropriate amount of players at varied positions, as long as you have the appropriate amount of PR (Performance Rate) for hitters & MBF (Maximum Batters Faced) for pitchers, for your player coverage.

9.2 Owner Availability / Computer Drafting

The Annual Draft will take place in the month of February and all the rosters will be filled out by the Commissioner within a week after the completion of the draft. The Free Agent Pool will close momentarily while the Commissioner logs in the Draft results. All owners are highly encouraged to participate in the draft, the computer will simulate their draft pick if the team owner is not present for the draft, going on team needs.

9.3 Draft Selection Order

Teams will be ranked in reverse order to how the team finished the previous season; the worst team will have the top pick in each round with the last pick belonging to the BoS World Champions. All other teams will be ranked based on worst record to best record. In the event that two teams finished the season with the same record, the team which had the worst head-to-head record will be given the higher draft pick. If the results of the head-to-head are tied, the team that lost more home games will be given the higher draft pick.

Example Draft:

Picks 1-10 Worst Record to best record that failed to make the playoffs.

Pick 11 Team which lost the Division Series and had the worst regular season record. In the event that two teams finished the season with the same record, the team which had the worst head-to-head record will be given the higher draft pick. If the results of the head-to-head record are tied, the team that lost more home games will be given the higher draft pick.

Pick 12 Team which lost the Division Series and had the better regular season record. In the event that two teams finished the season with the same record, the team which had the worst head-to-head record will be given the higher draft pick. If the results of the head-to-head record are tied, the team that lost more home games will be given the higher draft pick.

Pick 13 Team which lost the League Championship Series and had the worst regular season record. In the event that two teams finished the season with the same record, the team which had the worst head-to-head record will be given the higher draft pick. If the results of the head-to-head record are tied, the team that lost more home games will be given the higher draft pick.

Pick 14 Team which lost the League Championship Series and had the better regular season record. In the event that two teams finished the season with the same record, the team which had the worst head-to-head record will be given the higher draft pick. If the results of the head-to-head record are tied, the team that lost more home games will be given the higher draft pick.

Pick 15 Team which lost the BoS World Series Classic

Pick 16 Team which won the BoS World Series Classic / The BoS Champions.

9.4 Draft Procedures – During Draft & Post Draft

Trading can be conducted during the Draft on current Draft picks & players. During the brief period, where the Commissioner is logging the draft results, no free agency, player releases, or trading is permitted. 

Once the Commissioner gives the “green light”, owners can trade willingly, during the official trading periods -- including what is now the next upcoming Draft & its draft picks.

10.0 Trades

Trades may be made between any two teams (See also Section 10.5 Three-Team Trades). All trades must be for current MLB players or draft choices that have made their APBA file debuts. You may trade non-carded players who may be out for a season due to injury (example: Adam Wainwright, 2011) or decided to play outside of the states. No trades may be made for “Players to Be Named Later”; Nor should a trade may be made in which a team owner forfeits ALL of its draft picks to one team in any draft/or any type of draft.

10.1 Commissioner Approval

Both owners involved in a potential trade must notify the BoS Commissioner by email before the trade can take effect. During the season, the teams should make the trade in a timely manner, preferably during an active series, with the possible minor league “call ups” or “send-downs”, via email. This will give the Commissioner time to make the roster adjustments for the roster edition of the “Franchise File” after the series is complete. If the trade doesn’t violate any of the trade guidelines, the “Franchise File” for the lineups will be sent, the owners would do their new lineups from the moves, and then send a file back to the Commissioner, then the Commissioner would send the game-play “Franchise Files”. Players can’t be acquired in the middle of the series; the actual transactions will be conducted between series. The players can finish their current series with their old team during the trade talks. Once the trade is approved, the players will be place on their new team rosters.

10.2 Vice Commissioner Trade Approval

For trades involving the Commissioner’s team, the potential trade will be forwarded to the Vice Commissioner for approval or disapproval.

* There is currently no Vice Commissioner in place for the league.

10.3 Effective Trade Deadlines

Trades become effective at the start of the next series, if they are approved by the Commissioner or Vice Commissioner.

10.4 The Mid-Season Trade Deadline

There shall be a trade deadline set at the 110^th game of the season. No trades will be allowed after every team has played their 110^th game. Trades may also not take place between teams who have not played their 110^th game and those that have. The only trades that will be approved after their 110^th game will be those that may be on appeal, or those that were not informed prior to the deadline.

Trading may begin again during the post-World Series time frame, following the player releases required of each team at season’s end.

10.5 Three-Team Trades

Three-team trades can be conducted, however, the most that one team can receive in said deal is a maximum of four players. These trades are subject to the same rules as outlined in 10.0 & 10.1 regarding timing, approval & draft picks.

11.0 Owner Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all BoS owners to abide by the BoS Constitution at all times and to return their files in a timely manner to ensure the smooth running of the league.

11.1 Owners on Vacation

All owners who are going on vacation or traveling due to business may elect the option of having the computer simulate their games while they’re on vacation. Before the owner goes on vacation, he will set his rosters, lineups, and rotations. If an owner has the ability to play their home games on the road/vacation, they are free to do so as long as their games are played in the timely manner expected. If the owner cannot fulfill their duties responsibly after opting for this, they will forfeit the ability to play anymore games while on vacation for two seasons. For the annual drafts, the owner may have the computer make his selection.

11.2 Trade Proposals during Vacations

If a trade offer is made to an owner whom is on vacation and is not actively playing their home games, the Commissioner will try to contact the owner on vacation via email if the trading partner is unable to contact them. If the owner is successfully contacted, trades may continue. If the owner on vacation does not respond, the trade will be put on hold until said owner returns.

11.3 Owners Moving Households

The rules will be handled the same way as an owner going on vacation, with many of the same options. A moving process may take longer though, and the owner must keep the Commissioner updated, so that the Commissioner can keep the league running smoothly. During the time period, the owner’s games will be simulated by the computer after a long-term lineup has been established by the owner. If during a series, a player is injured, the Commissioner will attempt to contact the owner. If unsuccessful, the Commissioner will insert a suitable replacement into the lineup. If the Commissioner is the owner that is moving, the Vice Commissioner will provide a suitable replacement for an injured player if he cannot contact the Commissioner. Any owner, who anticipates a household move, should give the Commissioner a two-series notice in advance so that the Commissioner can keep the league running smoothly.

If for any reason, the owner doesn’t keep the Commissioner updated on his situation and if there is no communication after 4 weeks when the move was started, the owner may potentially lose his rights to his team. The Commissioner will then solicit a new owner to run the vacated team.

11.4 Resignation of Owners

Owners wishing to resign from the league must notify the Commissioner in a timely manner before resigning. The Commissioner, or any current owners, shall then try and find a suitable replacement for the team. However, if a replacement owner is not readily available; the Commissioner shall have the computer simulate the team’s games.

12.0 Game Play, Stadiums & Reliever Adjustments

12.1 Micro-Managers

In the League Manager, all owners have the options to do their lineups as they please, and can place lineups verses LHP's & RHP's. The owners also have the option to designate their own Micro-Manager for road games; It's up the owners to learn and know the specifics of a Micro-Manager (MM) & that MM's characteristics. 

The default Micro-Manager for teams that fail to indicate their choice for Micro-Manager, is Duke Robinson, Jr.

Also should a owner opt out in the middle of the season, the Commissioner will monitor the team's health & team status, while the team runs on AUTO with the default MM - Duke Robinson, Jr. making the team's in-game decisions.

12.2 Stadiums & Stadium Effects

Stadium choices will be left up to each of the owners and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. At the moment some owners will have the same stadium backdrops. Eventually we want to get it to, each owner having their own stadium. A list of stadiums is maintained by the Commissioner and will be distributed to all owners prior to the annual draft. All owners must send the Commissioner their stadium names, at least a weak prior to Spring Training. Stadiums will not be changed during any part of the season. At any time during the off-season, an owner may request a stadium change to the Commissioner via email. The information will be updated, and all the other owners will be informed of the stadium change.

Stadium effects will be turned off for all games including Spring Training, the Regular Season, the BoS All-Star Game, and BoS Playoffs. Domed turned on, to prevent rain-outs, to help save time from rescheduling. Due to a glitch, from time to time, there will be rainouts though. Owners should also notify the Commissioner on the games that rained out, so that the Commissioner can reschedule the game or games right away.

12.3 Reliever/Closer Adjustments

Each team is allowed to request adjustment of up to two relievers in efforts to dictate to the Micro-Manager on how they are used (i.e. Closer, Setup). The allowable adjustments are to the ACTUAL Saves totals (from MLB) -- Most MM's use the reliever with the highest actual saves totals. If you prefer to have some other pitcher close for you, you can adjust two relievers, by raising their saves totals or lowering, or raising one while lowering another -- or lowering two, in case you have 3 actual MLB Closers, and you want to only one to close.

The owner will indicate the numbers they want for the two relievers, to the Commissioner, in which the Commissioner will edit their MLB Saves totals.

13.0 Other Potential Drafts

The Commissioner reserves the right to hold future drafts as necessary.

13.1 Potential Expansion Drafts

Such drafts could include, but are not limited to, an Expansion Draft when and if new teams beyond the original 16 are voted in the league. Prior to an Expansion Draft, the Commissioner will develop rules for the draft and submit them for approval to a majority vote of the current BoS team owners.

13.2 Potential Dispersal Drafts

The potential for a Dispersal Draft may become necessary, when and if the struggle to maintain teams or owners may arise, and the league feels it has no new potential owners upon the horizon. The chance of this potential draft happening can be rare. The Dispersal Draft will be ran as a separate entity from the Annual League Draft; but will be ran the same way as the Annual League Draft, which the worst team gets the top pick and so-on. The potential Dispersal Draft would come to a league vote if the necessity of the matter arises.

14.0 Player Injuries

Injuries are conducted through the AIM (Advanced Injury Management) system, provided by the League Manager. Injuries will last the duration of the days provided. An injured player counts against the 28-man active roster. Owners can choose to place their injured players on the Disabled List by notifying the commissioner while turning in their attached game results or default files via email. A team can have as many as 3 players on their active rosters placed on the Disabled List, players placed on DL will not be held against the active roster, and teams can call-up players, but there should not be more than 28 healthy active players at any time. Once players heal from the DL, they or any of the healthy players must be sent down to the minors.

Injured players will not be sent to minors at any time, and especially in the middle of a series -- This is where the DL can come into effect and help.

During any game where an injury occurs, the owner that was playing the series must email the Commissioner of any injury to his team or an injury occurred on the other team as well.

15.0 The BoS All-Star Game

Every season at the mid-way point, the BoS All-Star Game will be played. The game will be simulated by the Commissioner, who will place the statistics in the BoS database and generate a newsletter of sorts, of the game’s highlights to all the BoS owners. The home venue for each year’s All-Star Game will alternate between the two leagues, and will change locations from ballpark to ballpark. During even years, the game will be held in an National League Park and in the odd years the game will be held in a American League Park. (Inaugural All-Star Game will be at American League, due to us starting the 2013 BoS Season – using the 2012 MLB Season).

15.1 BoS All-Star Player Selections

All BoS owners will select the players through a voting process, which will be run by the BoS Commissioner. After Game #70 of the Regular Season, all owners will commence voting. Each owner will select from both leagues, who they believe deserve to be playing at the BoS All-Star Game. All owners will choose the top 3 choices at each infield position (1B,2B,3B,SS&C), top 6 choices of outfielders, top 3 starting pitchers, and top 3 relief pitchers(with at least one pick, preferably a “closer”). The infield positions, starting pitchers, and relievers will be counted with the (5,3,1) point system, and the outfielders (5,3,1,1,1,1). The player with the most points will be the starter at their position during the BoS All-Star Game. The 2^nd place vote-getter at each position will be that position’s backup.

Each team will have at least one representative at the BoS All-Star Game, and the leftover spots will be considered based on votes.

16.0 Annual Player Awards

At the end of every Regular Season, each BoS owner will vote to award the best players in both leagues to include:

·        MVP (Most Valuable Player)

·        Cy Young Award

·        Fireman of the Year (Best Reliever)

·        The Rookie of the Year Award

Plus Managers of the Years.

Gold Gloves will be awarded at each position to the best fielder at that position based on a combination of fielding percentage, least errors allowed, and Assists with a minimum requirement that the candidate played in at least 115 games during the regular season. The Gold Gloves will be decided by the BoS Commissioner.

Automatic player awards based on performance will also be awarded to include:

·        Silver Slugger (Best Player in Total Average at each position, each league).

·        Golden Slugger (Best player in each league, in OPS).

·        The BoS Sultan of Swat Award – Most HR’s in the entire BOS League.

·        ERA Champion – given to a pitcher in each league with the lowest ERA.

·        Batting Titles – given to batter in each league with the highest batting average.

·        Home Run Titles – given to the HR champ in each league.

·        RBI Champs – given to the RBI leaders in each league.

·        Strikeout King - given to the strikeout leader in each league.

·        Triple Crown – to a player that leads its league in all three of the major categories in AVG, HR & RBI.

17.0 Miscellaneous Game Play Rules

·        Designated Hitter (DH) – used in each league.

·        All games shall be played with “All Injuries and Fatigue” set in the League Settings.