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201: EXHIBITION GAMES 201.1 Pre-Season and exhibition games are permitted to be played during the course of a season. It is the sole responsibility of each manager to schedule such games. Statistics, records, and injuries do not carry into the regular season. 202: BEGINNING THE SEASON 202.1 In order to begin an American Baseball League season, each manager must prepare a team roster. The roster must designate the names of all players on the manager's 35-man roster, the names of all players in the minor leagues, all square cards and their eligibility, the players' speed ratings, all pitchers' grades and control ratings, and each player's defensive ratings. League dues must also be paid to the League Treasurer before beginning regular season play. 203: REGULAR SEASON PLAY 203.1 Divisions The American Baseball League is divided into two divisions of four teams. The divisions shall be realigned every four years. The teams are put in order based upon their cumulative winning percentage over the previous four year period. Teams 1, 3, 6 & 8 shall be in one division, and teams 2, 4, 5 & 7 shall be in the other division. The two divisions shall be known as the Budweiser Division and the Miller Division. 203.11 All teams will play a forty-eight (48) game season. The teams with the best winning percentage from each division will be crowned Division Champion at the end of the season. (920105/92) 203.12 In the event that the runner-up in one division has a better record than the winner of the other division, then the runner-up shall be awarded a wildcard bid to the post-season. The wildcard team will play the other division winner in a three-game series. The division winner will be the home team for all three games. There shall be one day off between the end of the regular season and the start of the wildcard series, and there will be one day off between the end of the wildcard series and the start of the Fall Classic. 203.2 Rain Outs Regular season games that are called because of rain must be replayed if they have a bearing on the final standings. "Meaningless" games do not have to be replayed. 203.3 Protests The League shall adopt rules governing procedures for protesting a game when a manager claims that another manager's actions is in violation of these rules. All protests must be submitted to the League for a democratic vote. 203.31 Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules, the protest will not be recognized unless the other manager is notified at the time the play under which the protest occurs and before the next dice roll. A protest arising on a game-ending play must be filed before the beginning of the next game. 203.32 Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, a replay of the game will not be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President, the decision adversely affected the protesting team's chances of winning the game. 203.33 In the event that a team uses an ineligible player, the team must forfeit the game. 204: FALL CLASSIC SERIES 204.1 Tie Breaker In the event that two (2) inter-division teams finish the regular season with identical records, a one (1) game playoff will be played to determine the Division Champion. The tie breaker will be played on the day immediately following Game 48. All pitcher rest requirements and injuries are carried over from the end of the regular season into the tie breaker. In the event that more than two or more teams complete the regular season with identical records, the teams will play a single elimination tournament. The teams with the worst head to head record play first (use divisional record if head-to-head are the same). The home team in each round is the team with the best head-to-head record. In the event that four teams in the same division have identical records, the single elimination tournament will be the team with the best record head-to-head playing the team with the worst head-to-head record, and the other two teams will face each others. Tie breakers for positioning and/or home field advantage are determined first by: 1) head-to-head record among the teams tied. 2) Divisional record 3) Head-to-head run differential 4) Coin flip or dice roll 204.2 Fall Classic Series At the completion of the regular season, the Budweiser Division Champion will the Miller Division Champion for a best-of-seven Fall Classic series to determin the ABL Champion. 204.21 The team with the best overall winning percentage will host Games One, Two, Six , and Seven. In the event that both teams have the same winning percentage, teh team with the best head-to-head record shall host the above-mentioned games. If both teams have the same head-to-head record, then the team with the highest head-to-head run differential (runs scored minus runs allowed) will host the opening games. If both teams are still tied, then the opening games will be hosted by the team with the highest run differential for the entire season. 204.22 A minimum of a three (3) man starting rotation must be used in the Fall Classic series. Pitcher rest rule are carried over from the regular season, with the exception that starting pitchers are eligible to pitch in the Series with only three days rest. 204.23 Any pitcher is eligible to relieve in the Fall Classic and retain their regular grade. All rest rules apply. 204.24 Relief pitchers follow the same rules as the regular season. 204.25 Injuries do carry over from the regular season. The duration of injuries incurred during a tie breaker or the Fall Classic series will be based upon the regular season chart. 204.26 Two (2) off-days will be recognized between the end of the regular season and the start of the Fall Classic series. These off-days shall be counted as rest days for starters, relievers, and injured players. In the event that a tie breaker is played, the start of the Fall Classic is pushed back by one (1) additional day. The Division Champion which competed in the tie breaker will still recognize two (2) off-days before the start of the Fall Classic, but the other Division Champion which did not participate in a tie breaker would consequently have three (3) off-days. 204.27 One (1) additional off-day shall be recognized between game #2 and #3, and between games #5 and #6. These days shall count as rest days for starters and injured players, but not for relievers. 204.28 Square card eligibility for the Fall Classic series is based upon the same calculation as detailed in Rule 101.12, except that the calculation will be based upon a 7 game season instead of 48. 204.29 Each team shall establish a post-season roster by selecting 25 players from their 35 man roster that existed as of Game 37. 205: ALL-STAR GAME 205.1 An All-Star Game will be held on the date of the Winter Meeting at the end of the regular season. The All-Star teams shall be managed by managers of the Division Champions. Each manager shall select representatives from all teams in his division. 205.2 There is no limit to the number of players who can be named to an All-Star roster. However, twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) players should be sufficient for the event. Each team in the American Baseball League must be represented in the All-Star Game by having at least one (1) player on the roster. 206: AWARD SELECTIONS 206.1 Most Valuable Player The Most Valuable Player award is given to the player who is determined to be the best in the League during regular season play. Each manager may nominate two (2) candidates from his team to be eligible for voting. The MVP is selected based on total points received by all voting managers. Each manager shall vot for five candidates, and each candidate selected shall earn five (5) points for each first place vote, four (4) points for each second place vote, three (3) points for each third place vote, two (2) points for each fourth place vote, and one (1) point for each fifth place vote received. 206.2 Cy Young The Cy Young award is given to the pitcher who is determined to be the best pitcher in the League during the regular season. The voting method is the same as is stated for the Most Valuable Player award. 206.3 Rookie of the Year The Rookie of the Year award is given to the player who is determined to have the best rookie performance during the regular season. A rookie is a player who appears on an American Baseball League team roster for the first time. The voting procedure is similar to the MVP except that each manager shall nominate only one (1) candidate from his team, and each manager shall submit three (3) votes for Rookie of the Year. Each candidate shall earn three (3) pints for each first place vote, two (2) points for each second place vote, and one (1) point for each third place vote received. 206.4 Manager of the Year The Manager of the Year award is given to the manager who, in the eyes of his peers, achieved the most noteworthy and/or unexpected success. All managers are candidates for the award. The voting procedure is the same as is stated for the Rookie of the Year award. 206.5 Fireman of the Year The Fireman of the Year award is given to the best relief pitcher in the League during the regular season. Each reliever will receive two (2) for each win and save, and receive one negative (-1) point for each loss. The award will go to reliever with the most total relief points. 206.6 Falls Classic and All-Star Game MVPs The Fall Classic and All-Star Game Most Valuable Player awards will be given to the most outstanding player for the Fall Classic series and the All-Star Game. The selection will be determined by discussion by all managers involved in these events. |
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