Western Mogul Baseball - Official League Rules

[FritzV]

These are the Official League Rules of the Western Mogul Baseball League.

Table of Contents:

I - General Game Format

II - League Organization

III - Team Ownership and Owners' Responsibilities

IV - Basic Play

V - Special Features
A - Home-Grown Players (HGP)
B - Franchise Players (FP)
C - Waiver Wire

VI - Special Authority for the Commissioner

VII - Special Awards and Recognition
A - Post Season Awards
B - Hall of Fame

VIII - Amendments to Rules Approved by Owners
V:C - Amendment to Waiver Wire

IX - Schedule for HGP Signings
V:B - Schedule of HGP Contract Periods

[FritzV]

This is the General Game Format that the Western Mogul Baseball League will operate under.

a) Sim Schedule: Everyday
b) Sim Format: Hourly (9am-6pm Eastern)
c) Sim Speed: 30 games/day
d) Sim Time Zone: Eastern (US)
e) The League is non-equalized

The League is otherwise run under the basic BBMO rules with the exceptions that are listed belowed.

The League will reset as needed. The decision to reset is at the sole discretion of the Commissioner. However, under normal operation the league will reset only with the consent of the owners.

Owners will be given the option to reset no later than the end of the 20th season. If the owners vote to reset then a reset will be granted.

[FritzV]

Western Mogul Baseball has a somewhat unusual organization when compared to other BBMO Leagues. This rule outlines the basic organization of the League.

A) Commissioner - Western Mogul Baseball is governed by the Commissioner, who has ultimate decision making authority in the league.

When disputes arise, that can not be settled by rule or by other means, all authority to resolve that matter will reside with the Office of the Commissioner.

B) League Presidents - Western Mogul Baseball utilizes in addition to the Commissioner, League Presidents. The League Presidents help the Commissioner in the day to day running of the League.

The League Presidents are responsible for the following:
1) Approving all trades within their League.
2) Approving all requests for HGP and FP status by teams in his/her league
3) Overseeing Owner Activity.
4) To resolve any disputes amongst the owners in his league.

Each League President will have an official thread where questions can be posted and requests can be addressed.

It is the responsibility of the League Presidents to notify the Commissioner of items needing to be acted upon by the Commissioner.

[FritzV]

The General Ownership Rules and Responsibilities are outlined here.

Team Ownership - Team Ownership in Western Mogul Baseball is the same as for the rest of BBMO Leagues. As an owner of a franchise in Western Mogul Baseball, you are expected to run your team to the best of your ability. It is your responsibility to manage your team so that it is financially responsible as well as to be competitive.

Ownership Responsibilities are listed as follows:

A) Owner Activity - as an owner in Western Mogul Baseball, you are expected to be active. Activity is not limited to, but includes signing in to check on the status of your team no less frequently than every 3-days.

Any owner that goes more than 3-days without signing in, will be in danger of losing his/her franchise. The Office of the Commissioner will attempt to contact the owner to advise him/her that they are in violation of League Rule III-a. Failure to respond will result in loss of Ownership.

Exception - The exception to IIIa is if the Owner notifies either the commissioner or his/her League President that due to business travel, illness, vacation or whatever that they will not be available for a specified period of time.

B) Contact Information - Each owner will provide the League with a means that they can be contacted. Either a instant messenger address, private message address or email address is acceptable.

Failure to provide a valid contact address, may result in loss of your franchise. It is very important that the League be able to reach you.

[FritzV]

The following rule covers the basic game play for Western Mogul Baseball.

Basic game play is governed by the BBMO program and is in concert with the rules of BBMO. There are some exceptions, and they will be covered here.

a) Drops - At the beginning of the League each team will be eligible to receive a certain number of free drops. The teams have been tiered into 3-tiers. Based on the tier level of your team will determine the number of drops you will be able entitled to.

A1) When the League undergoes a reset, the existing owners will be entitled to 1-additional drop of their choice, regardless of the tier their team is in.
http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showthr...threadid=33364
A2) During the run of the League, as new owners come into the league they will be entitled to the same drops as when the league starts.

B) Financial Responsibilty - Each owner is responsible to control the financial well being of his/her team. You are responsible for the following:
B1) Minor League System - it is the owner's responsibility to set the amount of his/her team's financial assets that will be used to manage your teams minor league system.
B2) Scouting - it is the owner's responsibility to set the amount of his/her team's financial assets that will be used for Scouting.
B3) Medical - it is the owner's responsibilty to set the amount of his/her team's financial assets that will be used for Medical.
B4) Player Contracts - it is the owner's responsibilty to sign his players and free agents to contracts sufficient to be able to field a legal ball team. These contracts have to be managed in such a way as to allow the team to operate with a positive cash flow.

Failure to manage your franchise in a financially responsible fashion may result in loss of the franchise.

[FritzV]

Special Features of the Western Mogul Baseball League:

A) Home-Grown Players - The Home-Grown Player option allows a team to develop and have a chance to retain key prospects.

A Home-Grown Player is any player that comes up to the majors through your farm system and is still under a minor league contract (1-point contract).

(Note:In the new 2003 database for BBMO we are seeing more and more 2-pt, 3-pt and upto even 9-point Minor League Contracts. As such the Commissioner has decided that the definition will be expanded to any player that qualifies as a HGP that you are signing for the first time. Basically submit the request if you think you have a good arguement, and we will review it.)

This player can not have played in the majors for any team other than your own.

For example a minor league prospect traded to Tampa Bay has played one game for Tampa in the majors but has 10-games with Cleveland in the majors. As a result, this player would not be eligible for a HGP contract.

HGP's can be signed under the following basis:

A1- Initial HGP Contract - 50% contract discount or a 25-point contract whichever is lower

A2 - Renewal Contract - (contract #2) - 40% discount or a 35-point contract whichever is lower

A3 - Renewal Contract - (contract #3) - 30% discount or a 45-point contract whichever is lower.

A team is entitled to sign 1-Position and 1-Pitching HGP every 4-seasons.

The signing period will begin with the first season and extend to the end of the 4th season. The second period begins at the first of the 5th season and end at the end of the 8th season. The process continues through the run of the league.

If your team does not use a signing option during the signing period it can NOT be carried over. Also, if a HGP is not resigned, it does not allow your team to sign another HGP until the next signing period.

Additional Clarification - The HGP tag, implies a special relationship between the player and the team. As a result it is assumed that the Team will also be loyal.

As such, as a matter of clarification, a HGP can be traded during the course of his current HGP contract. However in doing so, the Team forfeits the right to sign another HGP until the next HGP signing season, and as such the Team loses one multi-use option. Not only do they provide another team a player at a discount, they deny themselves the option of resigning that player for additional contracts.

Special Clarification for Starting of the League and Resets: Many teams have on their roster a player that can be considered a HGP that is already under pro-contract. Examples would be Derek Jeter in New York, Vlad Guerrero in Montreal and Albert Pujols in St. Louis. In the case of these players owners will have 2-options.

Option#1 - Declare the Player a pre-league HGP. You can take the 50% cut of salary or the 25-pt limit on the current contract. The contract may not be extended. If this designation is renewed, then the player is resigned to a renew contract at the 40% discount or the 35-point minimum.

Option#2 - Declare the Player a pre-league HGP. You may extend the contract at the current rate through the 2010 season. Resigning of this player will be treated as a renew of a HGP contract and will be governed as in option #1.


B) Franchise Players - Each team can designate a Franchise Postition and Pitching Player. Teams can sign Franchise Players on the basis of the Tier system. A team may only have 1-Franchise designee at Postition and pitching at a time.

Franchise Players may be traded, but you do not gain the opportunity to sign a new FP until the current contract expires. If you receive a FP in trade, then that player does not count against your teams FP status.

Tier 1 Teams can sign FP's at a 20% discount. Tier 2 Teams can sign FP's at a 30% discount. Tier 3 Teams can sign FP's at a 40% discount.

Amendment:
At the beginnning of the league or at the reset of the league, a GM may apply for an exception on the FP status for a player. The reason for the exception would have to be stated but basically would have to be on the basis of offering a FP contract to a player that you believe should qualify for HPG consideration. Yes we did say FP status for a HGP. Since this player is no longer a rookie, nor under a rookie contract, this is what we feel is fair. Since not every team has this luxury, then you need to make a management decision.

Here is the mechanics. When approved for the exemption, you could declare Andruw Jones a FP but with a HGP contract for the first contract. That would be 50% discounted contract for up to 7-seasons. You are not obligated to go to 7--seasons, but that would be the maximum. (For clarification, that would be thru the 2009 season). That would include the current season. When that contract is concluded, then this player could be resigned under the regular FP contract system.

This designation uses your FP option when utilized. You would still have your 2-HGP options if you haven't used them.


C) Waiver Wire - Waivers can be asked on players at any time EXCEPT during the playoffs. The player is posted for all Owners to see. The player must have a contract in excess of 10-points and a contract length with more than the current season remaining.

Rule Modification: By a clear vote the owners adopted the following modification to the rules. The rule was amended to include the following options, and goes into effect immediately.

When an owner places a player on waivers he has 3-options: 1) "Irrevocable Waivers" - this means that this player is available on waivers and if not claimed will be become a Free Agent. 2) "Revocable Waivers" - this means that this player can be revoked off waivers at any time by the team. This can be to prevent him from being claimed by a Division Rival or because the Team decides they need him. Once revoked, the player can not be put back on waivers by the Team. 3) "Reclaiming Waiver" - this basically means, that if unclaimed off the Waiver Wire, the Team will reclaim the player and return him to their roster.

The time for waivers has been amended for fairness. When a player is placed on waivers, he remains posted until the waiver period ends. The Waiver period is basically 1/2-day. Waivers posted prior to noon will be exuecuted by the end of play the same day. (For all practical standpoints prior to play the next morning). Players posted after noon will be released by lunchtime the following day.

All interested teams may place a claim for that player. The lowest ranking team(based on BBMO ranking at the time. During the first season, innaugural or post reset, actual team record will be used) placing a claim will win the rights to the player. In the case of a tie, then the team in the same league with the team placing the player of waivers wins. If all parties are in the same league and there is a tie, the Commissioner will settle the matter with a coin toss.

In order to encourage teams to take players offered on waivers, the Claiming Team may alter the amount NOT length of the contract by the same % that they sign FP's.

Remember, this rule is intended as a tool to help wise owners get out of bad situations. Not as an abuse. This claiming allows the lower teams first option at claiming a player (as per MLB rule) and helps to keep them out of the hands of the rich clubs, if both are interested.

The Owners also agreed to impose a penalty for revoking a player. However the Commissioner has opted NOT to impose that penalty at this time, but will do so if the Revocable Waiver is abused. The penalty is 25% of the value of the annual contract.

If he is declared a Free Agent after clearing waivers, there is no mention in the MLB rules of a penalty against the players team.

However, for our league, I would suggest that an exclusion be placed on that player preventing his original team from resigning him.

In addition a player may not be reclaimed by his team off waivers and then re-submitted to the waiver wire later in the season. One option per season, either outright or with conditions.

Please read this and think about it closely. This is not complicated, but it is a potentially effect tool for some teams that need to move a player. I would rather see a GM manage his team than to sit back and run it into the ground.

[FritzV]

"The Commissioner shall be empowered to take any action he may deem in the best interests of the league, with respect to any matter within his jurisdiction."

This provision basically would give our esteemed Commish the blanket ability to do whatever he feels is in the league's best interests, without an owners vote in cases of a need for immediate action.

(This rule was proposed and passed on a vote of 10-1 by the owners.)

[FritzV]

A - Post Season Awards - Western Mogul Baseball will award Franchise Points for the following Computer Determined Awards:
1) Gold Gloves
2) MVP's
3) Cy Young Awards
4) Rookie of the Year Awards

Each franshise of a winning player will receive 5-points for that award winner. In order to qualify for the points, the player must be a member of your team at the conclusion of the post season.

In the event of controversy, the following categories may be contested by League Vote:
1) MVP
2) Cy Young
3) Rookie of the Year

From time to time the Comptuer does the unexplainable and a fairly obvious candidate is completely overlooked. When a League Member chooses to contest a winner in a given category he/she may post a protest. If the Commissioner or League Presidents may at their discretion decide to have a vote.

In the case of a protest or challenge to the computer voting, a thread will be posted to list nominees. Once the nominees are selected a poll will be placed for the owners to vote. The winner of those polls will be declared the Category winner for that season.

In addition to the Computer Selected Awards, there are currently 2-additional categories that the owners vote on. They are as follows:

1) Rollie Fingers Award for the Best Closer in each League
2) General Manager of the Year

The nominees will be determined by the Commissioner with input from the League Presidents. There will be at least 3-4 nominees in each league. Each league will have its own poll. Each poll will have a special category to allow write-in candidates. The winner of the Rollie Fingers Award will be awarded 5-points each on behalf of their team. The GM of the Year will be awarded 10-points each on behalf of their team.

B) Hall of Fame - The computer from time to time nominates Players to the Hall of Fame. Sometimes it does a very good job, other times it is debatable. In Western Mogul Baseball, the Hall of Fame will be controlled by the Owners.

When the Computer nominates players to the Hall of Fame, a poll will be placed. In order for a player to be accepted into the Hall of Fame, the player must receive more than half of the votes and at least half of the League Owners must vote.

When receiving the qualifying vote total, that player will be entered into the Western Mogul Baseball Hall of Fame.

If a player fails to acquire the appropriate number of votes, he may be put back on the next ballot up to three (3) ballots. If he fails to receive the necessary votes in the final ballot to be accepted into the Hall, the player is dropped from the ballot permanently.

[FritzV]

This Amendment was passed by Owners during the 2005 Season. It will not be implemented until or at such time as the rule starts to be abused. At this point, this rule is accomplishing what it set out to do, which is keep teams profitable.

V:C - Amendent: Waiver Rule Amendment
1) 3-Player maximum per season
2) 2-more players may be waived should the team be in debt.
3) An additional 3-players may be waived but with a penalty of 10-points per player for the first, 15-points for the second and 20-points for the third. These waives may be under either option #1 or #2

The Waiver Rule was put into effect to help prevent teams from going in debt. As of this post, we only have 1-team in debt. So I think the rule has so far accomplished its goal.

This amendment would take effect with the beginning of the 2005 Season.

[FritzV]

The following schedule is the official schedule for the signing of HGP's:


1) 2003-'06 (Initial Signing Period)

2) 2007-'10 (2nd Signing Period)

3) 2011-'14 (3rd Signing Period)

4) 2015-'18 (4th Signing Period)

5) 2019-'22 (5th Signing Period)

6) 2023-'26 (6th Signing Period)

7) 2027-'30 (7th Signing Period)