2016 OOTL Constitution
- 1.00 League Operation and Format
- 2.00 General Rules of Play
- 3.00 Rosters
- 4.00 Batter Restrictions
- 5.00 Pitcher Restrictions
- 6.00 Trades
- 7.00 Playoffs
- 8.00 Rookie Draft
- 9.00 Prospect Players
- 10.00 Expansion
- 11.00 Miscellaneous
- Entire Constitution as PDF
1.00 League Operation and Format
1.01 Out Of Their League is a face-to-face non-profit league using an innovated APBA Master Game.
1.02 OOTL has 10 teams in one division. The five teams completing the season with the best records will make the playoffs.
1.03 OOTL plays a 90-game schedule. Each team will play the others once or twice at home and once or twice away.
1.04 Dues will be paid at the Spring Draft. Dues are $10.00. Additional moneys may be assessed.
1.05 This Constitution can be changed by a majority of the league voting “yes” to any rule proposal.
1.06 OOTL’s season will last nine (9) months (three 3-month periods). After playing each opponent in the First Period, each team may play opponents in any order; however, stats must be completed on time for distribution according to the deadlines indicated on the current schedule.
1.07 Should substitute managers be needed, the original manager must handle the scheduling and notify the Executive Committee before the series. Team owners must play every other team owner at least once. Substitute managers must be approved by the Executive Committee prior to the beginning of the season.
1.08 If rotations are exchanged for an upcoming series, away team on the schedule will provide a rotation first. Home team will reciprocate same day.
2.00 General Rules of Play
2.01 The designated hitter will be used. Pitchers may not bat or play any other position. The DH may only take a defensive position due to an injury or ejection when the DH is the last available player at that position. In this case, the pitcher must be pinch-hit for each time he is scheduled to bat.
2.02 The batter must have at least two 31’s if a hit-and-run is called. The runner must be a G28 or lower unless not being held on.
2.03 The Error Number Randomization Chart will be used any time the roll results in a 15-23.
2.04 Pitchers’ power factor and control factor will be determined by the custom CMBA-based league formula and used instead of the Master Game symbols.
2.05 2016 Update APBA Master Game dropped throw, wild throw charts and stadium effect option will not be used. The brown board will not be used. When two (or more) runners attempt to advance on a fly out or hit result, we assume that the tag is applied to a given runner after others runner(s) advance(s). However, when playing the Speakers during the 2016 season, a manager may opt to use the Master Game brown board.
2.06 When (12) or (35) becomes a hit against any grade pitcher, the hit takes precedence over possible base-on-balls by negative control pitchers. Pitching Change Table results of (12) do not apply to negative control pitchers’ walk potential. Roll only for the firstbaseman’s defense.
2.07 The Rare Play Number Randomization Chart will be used any time the roll results in a 36-41. The offense will roll to randomize the 36-41 and then will roll to determine what number (11-66) will together lead to a play result.
2.08 Z-ball equals two balls on batter. Whenever a pitcher successfully turns a (14) into a Z-ball because of his control factor, it will be considered a two-ball count on the batter.
2.09 When the manager on offense chooses to attempt a stolen base or optional advancement on a hit or fly out, the defensive manager will make the dice roll to try to prevent it.
2.10 Injury procedure:
(a) Reduce J factor by one grade before using the APBA injury chart found on the Rare Play boards (relative to scheduled number of games).
(b) Carded J-1’s must be removed from the game. Carded J-0’s must be removed from the game if his manager drops an odd number die, whereas an even number allows the J-0 to remain in the game.
(c) All injuries which extend beyond the game in which the player was removed will be counted as beginning with his team’s next game.
(d) In the regular season, players suffering injuries exceeding three games may be placed on a disabled list for the duration of the injury and replaced with a player from the minors after a one-game travel delay.
2.11 The current Steal Allowance Chart and its restrictions will be used instead of those on the Master Game green board.
2.12 Board changes:
(a) Play result (28) on Bases Empty Rare Play board becomes “two balls”. Pitchers with negative control must roll for a possible walk. Should play result (28) appear consecutively, pitchers with positive control roll to potentially prevent a walk. If successful, count as “three balls”.
(b) Play result (29) on Bases Empty Rare Play board is changed to “two strikes”. Should play result (29) appear consecutively, the batter strikes out.
(c) Play result (7) against a Grade 26 pitcher on Runner on First board is changed from Pitcher Change Table result of (31) to (30).
(d) Disregard any “Game called because of rain” results on Rare Play boards. Re-roll for a different Rare Play. Rain delay results, however, will stand as presented.
Stricken for 2016 (e) Play result (26) on Second Base board requires a defensive roll for fielding: Fielding 1 – Batter out at 1st, runner holds A-4, PO-3; Fielding 2 & 3 – Batter out at 1st, runner advances 1 base A-4, PO-3.
2016 Addition (e) Board result 30, 31 or 32 with Runner on 1st, Runner on 2nd or Runners on 1st and 2nd: increase each Hit Valuation Number by six (6) on fly out advancement attempts.
2.13 If the only remaining player at a given position is injured or ejected, his replacement is always rated the lowest possible number on the Fielding Finder chart and is automatically considered to be Fielding Three.
2.14 When third base is occupied and the defense’s infield is playing “close” or “in,” the offense has the option of playing that runner “safe,” (except with Bases Loaded). This negates the “Fielder’s Choice-Runner Out at Home” result, yet still allows the runner to score on a hit, error or sacrifice fly. In these situations, play results for Fielding One are changed to “Infield Single-Runner Holds Third” wherever it reads “Single through [infield]-Runners Advance One Base.”
2.15 If a Hit and Run is called when a runner is ineligible to steal, follow the updated 2010 Steal Allowance Chart. ALL current stolen base rules and restrictions will apply to the runner’s attempt to steal the base.
2.16 All left-handed pitchers will receive an additional two (2) point advantage after the CMBA style final grade calculation.
2.17 Pitchers’ grades are reduced by -1 with one runner on base; -2 for two or more runners on base. Inherited runners do not affect relievers’ grades in this way. Any pitcher reverts back to his original grade with no one on base. Fatigue or earned run reduction is not affected by this downgrade.
2.18 Stolen base attempts will be capped at 80% of a player’s MLB total attempts (rounded up, according to this chart) for that season. Managers must report to the executive committee when a player is out of attempts so the player can be changed to SSN N on the team roster for the remainder of the regular season.
2.19 When 1st base is occupied, the runner is being held on (HO), and a slow (S) left-handed batter rolls card result 12, the Fielding One result will be a 3-6-3 double play. (A negative control pitcher must first determine whether the 12 results in a walk.) Although defense cannot declare holding the runner at 1st on the Runners at 1st & 2nd board, this rule still applies; however, the Fielding One board result does not change with bases loaded.
2.21 Bunt for a Hit may be called, only when bases are empty, using the chart provided. Any roll result of 0-11 goes directly to the Bases Empty board. If a hit against the current pitcher, rule as a hit; if not, go to defensive roll.
2.22 In the 8th inning or later, the score must be two runs closer than indicated on the play boards to execute a successful pickoff play. Otherwise, use RP board. This restriction also applies to the “Runner on 1st, play result 37 or 39 pickoff chart.
2.23 Following a Bases Empty Rare Play board roll of 28, 29 or 30, offensive player rolls one additional time under the same RP number (36-41) column. If second result is 1-27, use that play. If second result is 28, 29 or 30, use that cumulative result and return to a roll for the offensive card if necessary.
2.24 With 1st base occupied, randomize a hit result of a double as follows by rolling one die:
Runner on 1st – even roll results in a 6; odd roll results in a 3.
Runners on 1st & 2nd – even roll results in a 6; odd roll results in a 3.
Bases Full – even roll results in a 4; odd roll results in a 5.
Hit-and-run with only a runner on 1st, play result 6 remains a 6 with no additional die roll.
3.00 Rosters
3.01 Rosters consist of 29-player major league/taxi squad, five-player minors/injured reserve, plus two prospect players as defined below. The Executive Committee must approve each roster prior to play.
3.02 Only 25 players may be used per series, except injury replacements. This group must include at least two players rated for each infield position, five players rated for the outfield, and four pitchers with at least one available start. The remaining four major leaguers are placed on a taxi squad prior to each series. Each manager must notify each opponent before a given series which four players will be ineligible.
3.02a Each team is required to have a minimum of nine (9) pitchers on its active roster for each series.
3.03 Each team must have 162 pitching starts and adequate relief (relative to scheduled number of games).
3.04 Only players on rosters at the start of the season are eligible for use in that year’s games.
3.05 A player may not spend more than one consecutive season on a given team’s injured reserve.
3.06 Each player may be in a given team’s minors for two years. After that, said player must remain in the majors or be waived. Any amount of time spent in the minors during the season counts as one year.
3.07 Each team may place any combination of players adding up to five in the minors or on injured reserve (IR). Each team is limited to designating one (1) uncarded IR player prior to roster approval per season. A traded player cannot be placed on IR. Injured reserve is defined as a previously carded player on the same team the previous season.
3.08 A member of the Executive Committee must be notified of any roster moves before an upcoming series.
3.09 The fourth starter on an active major league roster may be any pitcher who has a start appearance remaining. A starter with no remaining starts may be designated the fourth starting pitcher only in the final series of the regular season.
3.10 2016 Update Use the last (or currently) available relief pitcher from the active roster who may have been ineligible due to Batters Faced or season Innings Pitched. That relief pitcher begins (or continues) as a 1* -66 -66. If season innings pitched are not exceeded, the relief pitcher would be subject to fatigue moving forward. Stricken for 2016 If managerial decision results in no available substitute at a position, the offending team will forfeit. The final score will be 9-0 and stats will count.
4.00 Batter Restrictions
4.01 Batters are restricted to the number of games played (relative to scheduled number of games). A player with less than two at-bats per game played is restricted by both games played and at-bats.
4.02 A manager may not pinch-hit or pinch-run for the last available player at any position.
4.03 2016 Addition Any catcher that catches 12 innings in one game is ineligible to start the following game.
5.00 Pitcher Restrictions
5.01 Regardless of APBA’s carded or Q rating, any pitcher may start or relieve if he actually did so during the corresponding major league season. If he did not, he cannot in OOTL.
5.02 Carded starters are limited by both games and starts. They may not start more games that actually started or appear in more games than actually appeared in (relative to scheduled number of games). Carded starters who also have at least one relief appearance may use one or all available appearances as a reliever.
5.03 Carded relievers are limited by innings pitched. They may not pitch more innings than actually pitched (with thirds rounded up and relative to scheduled number of games).
5.04 Split-graded pitchers are limited by games, starts and innings pitched per Rules 5.02 and 5.03 above. Split-graded pitchers will be determined by the Master Game Symbols, NOT what is printed on the actual card.
5.05 Any pitcher rated Grade five (5) or lower may start up to 35 games and pitch up to 150 innings of relief (relative to scheduled number of games).
5.06 Except for injury or ejection, no starting pitcher may be removed from a game unless one of the following criteria has been met:
a. At least nine (9) batters faced with no runs surrendered;
b. Anytime prior to nine (9) batters faced if at least one (1) surrendered.
5.07 Graded starters used as relievers are subject to relievers’ rest as follows:
(a) According to the OOTL Pitchers’ Rest Chart, Q0’s & Q1’s will be considered Q1*’s; Q2’s will be considered Q2*’s; and, Q3’s & Q4’s will be considered Q3*’s.
(b) Graded relievers used as starters are subject to the starters’ rest chart. Q1*’s will be considered Q2’s; Q2*’s will be considered Q3; and, Q3*’s will be considered Q4’s.
(c) Split-grade pitchers’ Q ratings are determined by the current BBW disc.
5.08 Required OOTL Pitchers’ Rest Chart will be used for all pitchers. One day of rest is earned by all pitchers after the 5th series and the final series of each 3-month period.
5.09 Right-handed relievers entering a game during the middle of an inning advance five (5) points against the first batter faced only if the batter is a right-handed hitter. If the second batter faced is also a right-handed hitter, the same right-handed reliever advances three (3) points. Left-handed relievers entering a game during the middle of an inning advance three (3) points against the first batter faced only if the batter is a left-handed hitter. If the second batter faced is also a left-handed hitter, the same left-handed reliever advances one (1) point. Relievers less than original base Grade 20 entering in mid-inning can only receive a same-handed advantage to a maximum of Grade 20, before considering batting characteristics. Switch-hitters are immune to this pitching advantage.
5.10 All pitchers fatigue or advance grades based on the current Batters Faced/Rest chart.
5.11 XB/J-4 drafted players must remain on a team’s major league roster throughout the drafted season to be eligible for that season’s playoffs.
5.12 A pitcher may not appear in relief in the game before a start unless there has been a scheduled earned day of rest for pitchers in-between.
5.13 A relief pitcher may not be removed from a game unless he has faced a batter or recorded the third out of an inning.
5.14 After a pitcher has been downgraded a second time due to earned runs allowed, he must be removed from the game immediately.
6.00 Trades
6.01 Trades are allowed to be made anytime. Players traded in the last two (2) months of the season cannot be used in the playoffs.
6.02 Trades may involve players or draft selections. Draft selections beyond the upcoming draft may not be traded. Upon conclusion of the World Series, managers may trade for that draft’s selections or the next, but not beyond the next Rookie Draft.
6.03 Trades have a three (3) day “cooling off” period before taking effect. This period may be waived by both teams. Trades involving first-year managers must honor this period.
6.04 Players’ stats are cumulative.
6.05 The Executive Committee reserves the right to revoke any trade. Once revoked, the trade may not be attempted again during the same season.
6.06 All trades must be reported to a member of the Executive Committee before any of the players involved can be used.
6.07 Unequal trades result in additional players being placed in the minors.
7.00 Playoffs
7.01 The top five teams will make the playoffs. The #4 & #5 teams will play a best-of-five series within a three-day period with one day of rest for pitchers after the series. The division winner will host the winner of that series (#4 vs. #5). Teams seeded first, second, and third will receive four days of rest. Upon completion of the next playoff round, each winner will receive one day of rest. If one series winner completes its series prior to the other, this team will receive additional rest relative to the difference in the number of games played in each series. The division’s second best record will host the third best record. The winners of these two seven-game series will meet in the OOTL Championship, hosted by the better record.
7.02 The team with the better record in each series receives home-field advantage. Games will be split 4-3 or 3-4 determined by the better record’s choice prior to start of play.
7.03 One game of rest earned for pitchers between each series. All playoff teams are restricted to a four-man or more rotation.
7.03a Playoff roster must be fixed per playoff series.
7.03b 25 players will be designated available for the playoffs with no distinction between taxi squad and minors. The Executive Committee must approve each playoff roster prior to play.
7.04 Player restrictions for the playoffs:
(a) J-0, J-1 & J-2 = unlimited
(b) J-3 = limited to four (4) games
(c) Regular J-4 = limited to three (3) games
(d) XB J-4 batters and relievers = limited to two (2) games
(e) XB J-4 starting pitchers = limited to one (1) start
(f) XB J-4 split-grade pitchers = limited to two (2) relief appearances or one (1) start and one (1) relief appearance
2016 Update Starting pitchers for the first three (3) games per series must be announced, visitors first. Once a roster is submitted to the executive committee, it is final.
7.05 Playoffs should be completed within eight (8) weeks of the end of the regular season or be subject to action by the Executive Committee.
7.06 In the event of playoff teams completing the regular season with identical records, seeding will be determined by the better head-to-head record. If head-to-head records still result in a tie, tally each team’s record versus other playoff teams to determine the better seed. In the event of a fifth and sixth place tie, a single-game playoff will be held, hosted by the team with the better head-to-head record. If a one-game playoff is necessary to determine the final playoff team, no game of rest for pitchers will be earned after the game.
7.07 J-0, J-1 or J-2 batters restricted by Rule 4.01 above will be allowed to play in up to four games per playoff round with unlimited at-bats.
7.08 No starting pitcher may start more post-season games than he was eligible to start during the regular season.
7.09 Playoff injuries exceeding three (3) games allow a manager to substitute a player from the inactive roster (taxi squad/minors) without a travel day delay (as in the regular season). The substitute player can only play in the maximum available games remaining for the injured player. The injured player is ineligible for the team’s next series, except for the World Series.
8.00 Rookie Draft
8.01 The Rookie Draft will consist of all carded players not currently on any roster; plus, each team may select up to two uncarded players.
8.02 The draft will consist of a minimum of ten (10) rounds. Non-playoff teams draft in reverse order of regular season winning percentage in each round. Playoff teams draft in reverse order of playoff finish.
8.04 If two teams finish with identical records, the team with the worse head-to-head record slots before the head-to-head winner in every round. 2016 Update Series wins becomes the 3rd tie-breaker; run differential becomes the 4th tie-breaker for draft position.
8.05 Each manager has a four (4) minute time limit for the first ten (10) rounds and a three (3) minute limit each round thereafter. Expansion teams will have a six (6) minute time limit during rounds 1-10 and a four (4) minute limit thereafter.
8.06 Excess players over roster limits may only be selected during expansion years. In that case, a waiver draft will be held by the expansion team of players who did not make the other teams’ cuts. In non-expansion years, roster space must be created before or during the draft in order to select additional players.
8.07 Any player released during the Rookie Draft will not have his minor league time erased if redrafted by the same team.
8.08 If an owner resigns, any draft picks traded by that owner will be replaced by a supplemental draft pick at the end of the corresponding round for the new manager.
9.00 Prospect Players
9.01 Each team may carry two (2) prospects on their minor league roster. Teams submitting less than the two (2) allowed prospects will forfeit the remaining position or positions for that season.
9.02 To qualify as a prospect, a player must be declared a prospect the year he is drafted by the team that drafted him, and must never before have been a prospect with that team.
9.03 Prospects have unlimited time in the minors as long as they remain declared a prospect and meet all prospect criteria.
9.04 Prospects may not be counted to fulfill player requirements per position and may never be called to the majors during the season.
9.05 Prospects are not subject to expansion cut downs.
9.06 Prospect status may only be removed after the Rookie Draft and before the season rosters are submitted. After removing prospect status, the player is immediately subject to all minor or major league rules.
9.07 Trading of prospects:
(a) Prospects may be traded anytime as long as current trading rules are met.
(b) Traded prospects lose that status as soon as the trade is approved/verified by Executive Committee.
(c) A new player may not be elected to replace a traded prospect until after the Rookie Draft and before season rosters are submitted.
10.00 Expansion
10.01 All potential expansion managers will be interviewed by the Executive Committee prior to acceptance into OOTL.
10.02 An Expansion Draft will be held after the playoffs and before the Rookie Draft whenever the league has decided to expand.
10.03 Each existing manager will protect fifteen (15) players if OOTL expands by one (1) team, or twelve (12) players if OOTL expands by two (2) or more teams. A list of each team’s protected players (plus prospect players) will be published. There are no restrictions regarding positions as to what players may be protected.
10.04 Each team will lose the same number of players. After a player is selected from a team’s unprotected group, his manager may protect up to three (3) additional players if OOTL expands by one (1) or two (2) teams; or, may protect up to two (2) additional players if OOTL expands by more than two teams.
10.05 The number of players each established team will lose in the Expansion Draft will be determined by the Executive Committee based on the number of expansion teams.
10.06 If OOTL expands in this way one year after another expansion team(s) has joined the league, that team(s) may protect one additional player at the beginning of the Expansion Draft.
10.07 During the Rookie Draft, expansion team(s) will draft between the non-playoff and playoff teams in all odd-numbered rounds. Expansion team(s) will draft first in all even-numbered rounds.
10.08 After rosters have been submitted to the Secretary, a Waiver Draft will be held by the expansion team(s) for the players that did not make the existing teams’ cuts. This Waiver Draft should be completed before Opening Day and will only take place in expansion years. Expansion team(s) must cut a player to select a player during this three (3) round Waiver Draft.
11.00 Miscellaneous
11.01 Outfielders may only be rotated when a replacement enters the game.
11.02 Protests should be made to the Commissioner. If upheld, the game will be replayed from the point of protest.
11.03 Each team must maintain game sheets for each game throughout the season, in case of misuse verification.
11.04 Stats are due following the 10th day after each period ends. An offense will be defined by the stats being submitted more than a week late. First offense penalty for late stats or late roster submission is forfeiture of a seventh (7th) round draft selection in the next Rookie Draft. Second offense increases this penalty to a sixth (6th) round selection. Third offense increases this penalty to a fifth (5th round selection. Any additional offenses can result in forfeiting multiple draft selections. If the guilty manager no longer owns a designated forfeited selection, the next higher selection must be forfeited. In expansion years, penalty will be a player subtracted from the expansion draft pullback total.
11.04a If any playoff team has not submitted final regular season stats, that team remains ineligible to compete in that season’s playoff until stats are submitted. Non-submission of stats can result in removal from the league.
The Executive Committee can take into account extenuating circumstances prior to applying any penalties in either 11.04 or 11.04a above.
11.05 The following stats are required by the Statistician by the 10th day after each period:
(a) Pitchers; games, games started, complete games, shutouts, wins, losses, saves, innings pitched, hits, earned runs, home runs allowed, walks, strikeouts & ERA.
(b) Batter: games, at-bats, runs, hits, RBI, doubles, triples, home runs, walks, strikeouts, stolen bases, caught stealing, HBP, errors & batting average.
(c) Team totals for each category.
11.05a Any overused player (G, ABs, SBA, GS, IP) will be released from the offending team’s roster immediately. No results will count for the games in which the overused player appeared. No games will be replayed. 2016 Addition The only exception is Rule 3.10 above.
11.06 Along with the three Executives, two Alternates will be elected before each Rookie Draft. Alternates’ only responsibilities will be to rule on protests involving member(s) of the Executive Committee. All new officers take office on Opening Day.
11.07 At any time, the defensive manager may choose to intentionally hit a batter. After issuing two (2) HBP (at least one of which was intentional), that particular pitcher will be considered ejected and must be removed from the game. A pitcher may only intentionally hit one batter per game.
11.08 Batter of the Year and Pitcher of the Year will be voted on at the Rookie Draft based on a five, three, one point system. Managers may vote for their own nominee(s).
11.09 The Home Team is responsible for providing all series results to the Commissioner and/or a member of the Executive Committee within 24 hours of completion.
11.10 All issues not covered by this Constitution will be decided by the Executive Committee.