C. Cut-Off Rule

The offensive manager can select any number of trailing runners to advance and the defensive manager can throw to any base. On a play at the plate, and the 20-sided roll results in the last safe range or the first out range, then roll the 20-sider again, and refer to Table 2 to determine if the runner is safe or out.

Table 2: Rule 13.65, CATCHER BLOCKING THE PLATE
                                    
Catcher's Rating     Safe Range   Out Range
       1                1-2         3-20
       2                1-6         7-20
       3                1-10       11-20
       4                1-14       15-20
       5                1-18       19-20
                     

D. Robbing Home Run Rule

Whenever there is a Homerun/Flyout split, the outfielder's defensive ability may be challenged. The rule comes into play when you are rolling a 20-sided die to determine if it is a homerun. If the last number in the homerun range or the first number in the flyout range is rolled, then the outfielder's ability will be checked with another roll of the 20-sider. Refer to Table 3 to determine which outfielder has a chance for the catch:

Table 3: Rule 14.5, OUTFIELDER ROBBING A HOMERUN
                                    
Batter Bats     Last number in HR Range   First number in Flyout range
left-handed          Rightfielder                 Centerfielder
right-handed         Leftfielder                  Centerfielder

For instance, if the safe range is 1-14 and you roll a 14 or 15 on the 20-sider, then you must roll the 20-sider again and refer to Table 4 to determine the outcome:

Table 4: Rule 14.5, OUTFIELDER ROBBING A HOMERUN
                                    
Outfielders's Rating     Safe Range   Out Range
          1                 1-3         4-20
          2                 1-7         8-20
          3                 1-11       12-20
          4                 1-15       16-20
          5                 1-19       20       

If the height of the wall (at the point where the fielder would try to make the catch) exceeds 10 feet, then ignore this rule completely. The height of the wall that is being referred to is the height in Left-Center Field for a right-handed batter or Right-Center Field for a left-handed batter.

Here is a list of current stadiums where the wall is greater than 10 feet:

**Boston        (LCF)
  Chi-NL        (LCF & RCF)
  Detroit       (RCF)
  Florida       (LCF)
**Houston       (LCF & RCF)
  Minnesota     (RCF)
  Montreal      (LCF & RCF)
  Oakland       (LCF & RCF)
**Philadelphia  (LCF & RCF)
**San Francisco (LCF & RCF)

** - indicates current CBML home ballparks

E. Balk/Passed Ball Attempt

When rolling for a batter, and the 20-sided die results in a 2, do not re-roll a 6-sided die to determine if you check for a balk or passed ball as Strat Rule 29.1.C states. Use the result of the 6-sided die from the initial roll to determine if a balk or passed ball chance is in effect.

F. Corners In

If the Corners are In, and the result is a gbA, gbB, or gbC to the firstbaseman or thirdbaseman, if there is no man on thirdbase, refer to the Infield Back chart to determine the results. If there is a man of thirdbase, refer to the Infield In chart to get the result. If the Corners are In, and an X-check to the firstbaseman or thirdbaseman is rolled, refer to the Infield In section of the Fielding Chart to get the result.

G. Pinch Hitting

An offensive manager cannot Pinch Hit after a play has been put on (i.e., going for the lead, stealing, Sac, Hit & Run, WP, PB, or Balk). Also, a Manager CAN voluntarily remove his last player eligible to play a position, i.e. remove second paragraph of Strat Rule 10.1.

H. Pinch Running

You may only pinch run, if the current baserunner is eligible to try to get a lead, or if the baserunner is a dash (-/-) stealer.

I. No Substitute Available

No players may play out of position unless no substitute is available. Then another player may be used under the following rules:

1. There are four distinct positions: infielder, outfielder, catcher, and pitcher. The position being replaced should be replaced with a player of similar position.
   
   
2. The player will have a Defense of 5, a maximum error for that position, an arm of +5, and T1-20 and PB 1-15 for a catcher.
   
   
3. If an outfielder gets injured during a game, and there is no viable substitution for that outfield position, another outfielder may be used to play that position for the remainder of the game. An exception to this is that if the only viable substitution for the outfield position is playing in the infield, the Manager has the option of placing that current infielder into the outfield, or replacing the injured outfielder with another outfielder off the bench. This outfielder's range will be determined by using the following chart (which is also in the SOMSAGI):
   

   
                           position not rated for
       position rated for | CF   RF   LF
                          |-------------
                       CF | N/A   0    0
                       RF | +1   N/A   0
                       LF | +2   +1   N/A
   

   The e-ratings remain the same for each field, and the arm remains the same. An example of this rule is: Your centerfielder gets hurt in the 5th inning. You have no other players in your current lineup or on the bench that can play centerfield. You have a rightfielder-only on the bench with a defensive rating of 2e10 with a -2 arm. You can replace the injured centerfielder with this rightfielder-only, and use the chart above to determine his defensive rating. You would add one to his range, so this player would be a 3e10 with a -2 arm in centerfield for the remainder of the game only.

J. Stealing

If a double steal is attempted, the defensive player has the choice of throwing to 2nd or 3rd. If he attempted to throw to 2nd, the player stealing third can try to steal home by using the attempt to steal home chart (he will have an automatic lead.) the player stealing second will have an automatic lead in a double steal.

If you try for a lead off firstbase, and don't get a good lead, you can always steal second using the second steal number during that inning (while the situation doesn't change). The only exception to this is if you try for a lead, and roll a 1 or 2 on the 20-sider, and a balk or pickoff does not occur, you can steal second using the second steal number after the current batter.

Only players that attempted to steal during the year can try to steal.

K. Pitching

The following rules apply to pitchers:

• Define a baserunner as a player who reaches base on a hit or a walk (not HBP and intentional walk). A pitcher is tired when one of the following occurs:
  
  
  • 3 baserunners in an inning where the dot is in effect.
    
    
  • 4 baserunners in 2 consecutive innings in which the first inning is the dot inning or later.
    
    
• Pitchers who are tired because they pitched recently will enter the game tired. Use the Realistic Usage chart s to determine when a Starter or a Starter/Reliever can make his next start based on his previous appearance.
  
  
• Starting pitchers must pitch a minimum of 4 innings unless he is injured, tired, or gives up 2 runs. Starters are also limited to 28 starts in a regular season.
  
  
• The rule stating that a pitcher is fatigued if he gives up five runs in one inning, six runs in two consecutive innings, or seven runs in three consecutive innings only applies to starting pitchers. It does not apply to relievers.
  
  
• A reliever who pitches an inning or less on two consecutive days can pitch in the next game. The pitcher is considered tired if he tries to pitch more then one inning (in his third consecutive appearance). A pitcher trying to pitch on four consecutive days is automatically tired when he enters the game (or in his third consecutive appearance if he pitched more than an inning in one of his two previous appearances).
  
  
• If a pitcher pitches more than his dot innings, he is considered tired for the next game.
  
  
• The warm-up rule is still in effect as follows:
  
  
  • In order to warm-up a reliever you must announce the pitcher is warming in the bullpen. The bullpen can only hold 2 pitchers at one time. The number of batters it takes to get warm is equal to the pitchers endurance factor.
    
    
  • Once a reliever begins warming, he will continue to warm until it is announced that he is sitting (not warming).
    
    
  • Any reliever with a 1 dot endurance rating and a closer rating of 4, 5, or 6 cannot enter a game before the 6th inning.
    
    
  • Once a reliever is warm, he can be brought into the game. The pitcher will be considered warm for the remainder of the opponents inning. After the inning is over, the pitcher must remain throwing to be considered warm for the next inning. If the pitcher is warm on the final out, he will be considered warm for the next inning. If a reliever is brought into the game before he is warm, then he is tired until he has faced enough batters to be warm.
    
    
  • You may start a reliever warming-up while you are at bat so that he will be warm for the next inning. The period in-between innings is equivalent to a batters worth of warming-up.
    
    
  • If a reliever replaces an injured pitcher, he enters the game warm.
    
    
  • A reliever can warm-up only three times. If he is not used after warming the third time and is later used, consider him fatigued for that entire outing.
    
    
  • When a reliever gets up in the bullpen and does not get warm before the inning ends, he will be considered warm the next inning, and it counts as one time up.
    
    
• In addition to the current reliever rules, the following chart will be used for relievers:
  

                                   
  Table 5: CBML Additional Reliever Rules
  
            Innings Pitched       Days Fatigued
            ---------------       ------------- 
               3.0 - 3.2                1
               4.0 - 5.2                2
               6.0 -                    3
  

• In a closer situation, when a closer has reached his closer endurance, intentional walks cannot make him fatigued. It must be a hit or an unintentional walk (See Strat Rule 28.35.).
• After any appearance, a relief pitcher becomes fully rested only after making no pitching appearances in any games played during the prescribed number of consecutive rest days. For each pitching appearance made during the rest period, the rest period is extended by a day. For example, a reliever pitched 4 innings in one game. By CBML rule, the rest period is 2 days. If the reliever appears the next day, the pitcher is tired and now has to rest 3 days. If the reliever rested the first day, but pitched in the second day, he must rest one day to take care of the original rest day, plus an additional day because he came into the game before he was completely rested.
• A batter cannot enter the game to pitch before the 7th inning of a game.

L. Playing Time:

A player can play no more than 10% more than the number of atbats (AB) or innings pitched (IP). A ratio of 96/162 must be used to determine the number of AB or IP for the season. The result may be rounded.

If a player exceeds the number of appearances for the season, all games played with a player in excess are forfeited unless a doubleplay caused the excess. Stats from the forfeited game(s) will be used.

M. Minor Leagues:

• The minors will contain the extra players over the 25 man roster.
  
  
• An injured player may be sent to the minors the next game unless the player was injured for one game only. There is no free injury replacement for one game injuries. After the injury time has been served, the player may be promoted to the major league roster for the next game.
  
  
• Only one player at the beginning of a series may be brought up to the majors. This does not include injury replacements (injury & recovery). The player must remain in the minors for two series, unless a similar player gets injured during these two series. A similar player is defined as a pitcher for a pitcher, or a hitter for a hitter.
  
  

N. Designated Hitter (DH):

If the DH is used to play the field, the pitcher will hit in place of the player being removed. The DH can only be used for the pitcher.

O. Fielding Chart Clarifications:

On a SI2 rare play on the fielding chart, runners on 2nd and/or 3rd score before the batter overruns 1st base and is picked off.

The SI1 RP found on the 1B/2B/SS/3B X-Chart should only be used on a groudball to 1st or 2nd. If an SI1 RP comes up for a grounder to 3rd or short then consider this a single with runners advancing 1 base.

II. LEAGUE STRUCTURE

A. League Structure:

13 team league playing a 96 game season in 3 divisions -- one 5-team division and two 4-team divisions. Each team in the 5-team division will play 12 games in and 6 out of the division. Each team in the 4-team division will play 14 games in and 6 out of the division. The 96 game season can only be changed by unanimous vote.

B. Draft Process:

• Each team receives the cards of the players from the previous season and the players that were on his roster in the past and did not cut (for up to 5 previous years).
  
  
• Each team receives the cards of the new (never carded) players for their "park" team that are not players distributed in part a. Players not carded for more than 5 years will be considered new players.
  
  
• The owner receives rookie players for their park that are Free Agents. Rookie players are defined in The Baseball Weekly magazine.
  
  
• Owners cannot trade players in which they don't have rights to. This is for potential rookies. The rookies cannot be traded until after the completion of the Major League Season as long as they meet the minimum innings/atbats requirements.
  
  
• Each team can cut to 25 players or less. If more than 25 players are kept, the player will forfeit his top round pick for each player over 25. In order to keep more than 25, the player must have the draft pick(s) to forfeit. After all teams have cut to 25, trades may be made between teams so one team can have more than 25 without penalty.
  
  
• The draft will be in the order of the 13th place to 7th (except for the first round -- see below), and then in the order of elimination in the playoffs. Ties will be broken first by seasonal record, then the face-to-face record, then the divisional record if the teams are in the same division, and if the tie still remains, a coin toss. If a coin toss determines the draft order, then the two teams will alternate the picks on odd and even rounds. Teams will draft until their rosters contain 35 players. All teams will have exactly 35 players at the end of the draft.
  
  
• For the first round of the draft-only, a lottery will be used to determine the order of non-playoff teams. The numbers will be allocated as:
  

  
            D20 Roll        Final Standing
            --------        --------------
               1              7th place
              2-3             8th place
              4-6             9th place
              7-9            10th place
             10-12           11th place
             13-16           12th place
             17-20           13th place
  
      Roll the D20 and whatever number comes up, that place finisher gets
  the next pick.  The die roll range of that place will be added to the die
  roll range of the current worst place team still competing for a pick.  
  For example:
  
     The first die roll is a 14.  The 12th place team would get the first pick
     in the draft.  Subsequent rolls of 13-16 and 17-20 would give the 13th 
     place finisher the next pick.  The next die roll is an 18.  The 13th place
     team would get the second pick.  Subsequent rolls of 10-20 would give the 
     11th place team the next pick, etc.
  
  After seven rolls, the sevin draft picks will be determined.  The rolling 
  of the D20 will take place by the World Series participants before the 
  series is played.
  
  

• No more cuts are allowed once the draft begins.
  
  
• All players not drafted are sealed until the next season.
  
  
• After the draft, trades may be made that would cause a team to have more than 35 players.
  
  

C. Playoffs:

• 6 teams will make the playoffs: the 3 division winners and the 3 teams with the next best records. The two first place teams with the best record receive a bye. The 6th best team plays at the 3rd best division winner and the 4th will host the 5th. The teams will play a best of 5 series as follows: day- off/lower place home / lower place home / day-off / higher place home / higher place home / higher place home. Games 1, 2, & 3 are night games and 4 & 5 day. For rest purposes, consider any games that did not get played to be days off.
  
  
• 1 vs 4/5 and 2 vs 3/6 will play in a best of 7 series as follows: day-off / division winner home / division winner home / day-off / non-division winner home / non-division winner home / non-division winner home / day-off / division winner home / division winner home. Games 4 & 5 are day games and others are night. For rest purposes, consider any games that did not get played to be days off.
  
  
• The winners will play in the World Series with the team with the most wins having home field advantage. There will be two days rest between b and c with the same format as b except games 1, 2, 6 & 7 are day games.
  
  
• Tiebreakers for Playoff Teams:
  • Tiebreaker games will only be played, if the outcome will determine one or more of the following:
    • Bye in first round of the playoffs,
    • Final seed of the playoffs, i.e. two or more teams tied for the last playoff spot,
    • Division Title,
    • Any other important games that the DIC couldn't think of at the time these rules were written.
  • Tiebreaker game(s) will be played during the off-day between the last day of the regular season and the first day of the playoffs. The game will be a night game. Regular season rosters will be used. If more days are needed for tiebreaker games, the first day of the playoffs will be pushed back. The home team will be determined by a coin toss.
    
    
• Tiebreakers for other situations:
  • The team with the most wins between the tied teams will be placed first.
    
    
  • If still tied, use divisional records for same division teams.
    
    
  • If still tied, then a coin toss will break the tie. For non-playoff teams, the winner of the coin toss has the option of picking first in the odd-numbered rounds or the even-numbered rounds.
    
    
• Each owner will present a playoff roster to the DIC by August 1st. A starting pitcher may be designated as a relief pitcher only for postseason. This pitcher will have an endurance rating of 2 with a close rating of N. He cannot start a postseason game.
  
  
• Rosters are fixed for the playoffs. Injury replacements may be made between series but the change will be for the entire series.
  
  
• Playoff player limits:
  
  • 5 game series: .075 * (AB or IP)
    
  • 7 game series: .1 * (AB or IP)
    
    

D. Lists Required:

• Minor league roster.
  
  
• Pitching rotation for previous games.
  
  
• List of tired pitchers and injured players.
  
  
• Maximum number of AB and IP for each player.
  
  

E. Changing Parks:

A team can change to any available park, but the team will receive the rookies from the old park for one year. After a move, the team must stay in the park for 3 years. The only exception to this rule are 1) expansion teams must stay in their initial park for two full seasons, and 2) owners taking over an existing team may move in their first year of ownership. Owners will be asked at the annual rules and cuts meeting if they wish to move to another park based on the current year's draft order.

Lonnie moved to Colorado at the start of the 2000 season.

Dave moved to Chicago(AL) at the start of the 2001 season.

F. Cards on the Table:

During play, the hitter and pitcher cards must be on the table.

G. Season Schedule:

If possible, please play the games in seasonal order. The first 30 games are in the Spring. The next 48 games are in the Summer and the last 18 are in the Fall. Spring and Summer games will be played with a 25 man roster. The Fall games will be played with a team's entire roster. The schedule will be determined by the beloved dictator and will include the season of all series and the number of day games in each series. All day games will be played at the end of the series. The weather will be rolled at random before the starting lineups and pitchers are determined. Also, there is an off-day after every 4th series for each team. This off-day counts toward pitcher's rest time and injury time.

H. Trades:

Any player traded after the Playoff Roster deadline is ineligible for the playoffs.

I. Penalty of Slow Seasonal Play:

A team must play a minimum of 48 games by August 1, all Spring and Summer games by October 1, and the season complete by November 1. For every three games short of these numbers, the team must cut an additional player when cuts are due at the start of the next season (maximum of 3 cuts per period). If any team is 9 or more games behind pace, the Commissioner can designate another player(s) to catch up.

J. Meetings:

At the beginning of the year, two meetings will be set up to establish the new season.

• Meeting 1: Review the rules, discuss trades, cut to 25 players.
  
  
• Meeting 2: Draft.
  
  

K. Statistics:

All statistics on the summary sheet given out at the end of last season and team fielding rating will be required. For team fielding, only the total number of putouts and assists for the team is needed. A team must submit their stats to the DIC following these deadlines:

1. 48 Games -- September 1
2. 72 Games -- November 1
3. 96 Games -- December 1

For every three games short of these numbers, the team must cut an additional player when cuts are due at the start of next the season (maximum of 3 cuts per period).

L. Rule Changes:

All changes must be passed by a 2/3 positive vote of all managers. This includes, but is not limited to, rules, owner removal, owner changes, and expansion votes.

M. Rules Committee:

The beloved dictator has decided to give the league a false sense of freedom by allowing a figurehead group of three people (one of course will be the dictator) to oversee disputes or rule questions. The committee won't contain any foreigners (i.e., Vermonters) and can be dissolved at the whim of the dictator (with the support of 2/3 of the peons). This year's puppets are Lonnie and Doug.

In addition to overseeing disputes or rule questions, the Puppets will have the following responsibilities:

• coordinating/scheduling/playing Vermonters games, and
• coordinating/scheduling/playing games for teams in which the owners have resigned during a season.