WHBL Rules (v.4.0)

 

I. General

There are two general rules to live by here at the WHBL.

Firstly, this league has been designed and put together with a singular aim - to have fun! Everyone may see fun in a different light, but always keep in mind that if it's no longer fun, it isn't worth being here.

The second general rule is the "Golden Rule". Anyone who exhibits any sort of abuse towards another GM, or is just generally making life miserable for the rest of us, is subject to immediate removal from the league. Please remember that you should always play with the best interests of the league in mind, along with trying to win. In other words, certain loopholes in rules *will* inevitably appear. Use good judgment in determining whether you should use the loophole, or bring it to the league's attention.

Basically, have fun and be nice (though league-related smack talk is encouraged).
Now, on to the guts of the league ...

II. General Manager Requirements

A copy of OOTP2007 or OOTP 8 is required to play in the WHBL. It makes things oh so much easier when it comes to exporting/importing files.

AOL Instant Messenger or AIM emulators are recommended. Please update your profile in the forums to reflect your messenger address(es).

Managers should be active and should properly give attention to their team. Files don't have to be submitted for EVERY sim, since often times there will be no changes necessary. However, after a reasonable amount of time, especially if injured players are popping up on the active roster and staying there, we'll give you a reminder to come on back. If you just drop of the face of the earth, we'll probably hand the team over to someone else.

And if you're too busy, or just can't give proper attention, it's no big deal to drop the team. Just let us know. We'd rather hear that you're not able to play any longer and will come back when you can, than just not hear from you at all.

Multiple teams may not be controlled by one GM, but multiple people may control a single team, so long as official team decisions are only made through a single forum ID.

III. League Settings

Basic Setup:
Two Leagues, with three divisions in each league. No designated hitter in either league. Thirty teams total. This number is subject to change due to expansion or contraction, based on the needs of the league.

Scouting: Off
Coaching: Off
Financial Coefficient: 1.000
Injuries: Enabled
Injury Frequency: Low
Position Player Fatigue: Average
Player Actual Ratings Scale: None displayed
Player Potential Ratings Scale: 1 to 10
Other Player Ratings Scale: 2 to 8
Show Ratings > Max: No, cut off
Overall/Potential Rating: Stars
Report all player talent changes: Off
Disable Player Development: Off
Create and maintain hidden players: On
Show & use player personality ratings: On
Show & use player morale system: Off
Lineup Selection: Traditional
Ratings Weight: 30%
Current Year Stats Weight: 50%
Previous Year Stats Weight: 15%
2 Years Ago Stats Weight: 5%

Financial Setup:
All markets will be set to "Average" and all fan loyalty set to "Good" to begin the league. All teams' current fan interest will begin at "65". After the league starts, all fluctuations will develop as they may, based on the game engine.

Salary Cap: $100M
Team Cash Max: $35M
TV Contract Minimum: $5M, max adjusted based on market
Minimum Player Salary: $300K
Computer Trades: Disabled
Standard Roster: 25 Players
40-Man Roster Rule: Enabled
Waiver Rule: Enabled
Waiver Period: 3 days
Minor League Option Years: Enabled
Rule V Draft: Enabled
Salary Arbitration: Enabled
Minimum Days for 1 Service Year: 172
Minor League Free Agents: Enabled

IV. Roster Management

- Simulations will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Each sim will be seven game days.
- Files should be submitted via the FTP function in the game no later than 10:00pm Central Time the day of the sim.
- Files can be submitted later than the deadline, with no guarantee of inclusion in the sim. Basically, if in doubt, send it.
- 25 players should be on the active roster at any given time (within the GMs best abilities).
- No more than 40 players on each minor league team.
- GMs must maintain at least a four man rotation during the regular season (three man rotations or more are allowed during the playoffs).
- Pitchers may be assigned/re-assigned to any position.
- No "tanking" is allowed. Teams clearly out of the playoff race will be watched for this.
- GMs may move players within the minors at will.
- Trades will be processed solely by league administrators. DO NOT under any circumstances move players between teams.
- Transactions will all be processed *after* each simulation, unless specifically requested otherwise by a GM with written instructions to the commish and co-commish.

V. Trades

- Trades should be posted in the appropriate place on the forum. Both GMs must approve in writing.
- The league administration has final say in any trades.
- Trade deadline is July 31st each year.
- Post deadline trading is allowed if the player to be traded clears waivers.
- Objections to trades by other GMs should be posted in the trade thread.
- Trades may include players, draft picks, and/or cash.
- No cash for player deals. At least one player from each side must be involved.
- Only draft picks from the upcoming draft may be traded. The only exception is *during* the draft, where next year draft picks may be traded.
- Up to five of a team's upcoming draft picks may be traded.
- In cases of injuries that are longer than 15 days, during a sim, a trade can be withdrawn by the GM receiving the injured player.

VI. Finances

- All WHBL teams must at least attempt to turn a profit.
- Salary cap is $100M.
- Going over the salary cap during the regular season will result in a fine in the amount the team has exceed the cap X2, AND the removal of the player that caused the excess.
- Offseason excess of the cap is acceptable as long as it is "corrected" prior to opening day.
- Cash cap is $35M. Game regulated. Any amount over $35M will be lost.
- The negative cash floor will be removed by the league and override the game’s built in, artificial -$5M floor. In other words if you go into the negative by more than -$5M, it will be reflected, and affect your ability to sign FAs, and draft picks.
- If you cannot afford to sign your draft pick, you may take out a loan from the league. That loan will have to be paid back in two seasons’ time, before we ‘Proceed to Next Season’, with 10% interest applied.
- A GM that defaults on his league loan will lose the cash loaned, plus the draft pick, which will be deposited into the FA market for the offseason.
- Ticket prices are set at the GM's discretion.

VII. Contract Extensions

- All contract extensions will be handled in the game.
- To be offered an extension, a player must be in the last year of their arbitration eligibility, if applicable.
- GMs may negotiate with their player until the player is signed or refuse to negotiate any longer.
- Extensions can be no more than four years, unless the player specifically requests otherwise.
- Signees may not be traded until one year after they have signed their extension.

VIII. Free Agency - In Season

- All free agency offers will be handled in the game.>br> - Contracts for in-season free agents can be no more than four years, unless otherwise demanded by the player.

IX. Free Agency - Off Season

- Offseason free agency will be handled in game. At this time, we will sim up until the last 27 days of off-season free agency (through February 1st). We will then run three days of free agency per real day for nine straight days.
- Signees may not be traded until June 1st of the following season.

X. Amateur Draft

- The draft will be held on June 15th each season.
- The draft will be ten rounds.
- The draft pool will be revealed on or around Opening Day each season. We will begin the draft on the forums immediately. - The first five rounds will take place in the league forums.
- The final five rounds (if applicable) will take place via lists submitted to the commish and co-commish.
- Any time a GM is unable to make their time slot, they may submit a list to the commish and co-commish.
- In the case of a GM absence without a list, league officials will draft as they see fit, at a convenient time.

XI. Rule V Draft

- The draft will be completed via lists submitted to both the commish and co-commish.
A Rule V Draft roster deadline will be set. Any players not protected must be added to the 40-man roster if a GM wishes to protect them.
48 hours later, Rule V Drafts lists will be due. No roster changes can be made between the time the Rule V rosters are set and the time Rule V lists are submitted. This is to prevent last minute changes to the Rule V draft pool.
- The Rule V Draft will include any players that are eligible and unprotected.
- For each player drafted in the Rule V Draft, the drafting team must pay the league a $1M drafting fee. - If a player is chosen in the draft, he must remain on the 25-man active roster the entire following season, or be offered up to the original team for a $500K buyback fee. If the original team declines the buyback, the drafting team may treat the player as any other

XII. Waivers

Waiving a player in the WHBL occurs in-game. If you’d like to waive a player, please do so at your convenience.
- Waiver period is nine (9) days. DFA period is 16 days.
- In order to claim a player on waivers, please do so in-game. Make sure you check the waiver wire regularly to see who is available.

XIII. Player Releases

Players may be released at any time in the WHBL, as long as the releasing team can afford the full financial loss of the remainder of the player's salary. Releases can be done in the game interface and at any time a GM sees fit.

XIV. Incentive Program

In addition to attendance and merchandising revenue, WHBL GMs have an opportunity to earn extra cash each year for enhancing the league. Cash will be awarded for holding offices, contributing articles and, of course, winning. If any cash award puts the team over their cash cap, they may spend the overage in the offseason.

Rewards:
1. For making the playoffs - $1,000,000
2. For winning the Divisional Series - $1,500,000
3. For winning the Continental Series - $2,250,000
4. For winning the Americas Cup - $3,500,000
5. For winning the Manager of the Year Award - $1,500,000
6. For contributing each article with reasonable content and readability to the writer's ability – Commissioner’s discretion.
7. For holding league office - $500,000 per year
8. For designing logos or graphics for their team or the league - Commissioner's discretion
9. The commissioner may also give out cash awards to individuals or teams that contribute
significantly to the enjoyment of the league.

XV. Incentive Expenditures

Expenditures not subject to League approval:

1. Expansion of stadium seating.
- $1M per 1,000 seats for a stadium that holds 50,000 or less.
- $2M per 1,000 seats for a stadium that holds 60,000 or less.
- $3M per 1,000 seats for a stadium that holds 70,000 or less.
Maximum seating capacity for any given stadium is 70,000.
A team may expand a maximum of three thousand seats in a single season.

2. Renaming a team - $5,000,000
- An acceptable logo must also be provided for teams changing names.

3. Increasing team salary cap for one year
- Double the amount of the cap raise. Can be no higher than $20M over cap.
- Must post intention to raise cap *prior* to off-season Free Agent signing period.

4. Building luxury boxes - $5,000,000
- Adds +2 to current fan interest.
- Can be done twice a year.

Expenditures subject to League approval:

1. Changing park dimensions (ballpark factors)
- $250K for each factor of one that moves closer to 100.
- $1M for each factor of one that moves away from 100.

2. Building a new stadium

Notice must be given one year in advance of actual stadium opening. One third of cost is due upon announcement, one third at opening, and one third no less than one year after opening. GM failure to pay on time for any installment prior to opening (1st or 2nd payment), will result in non-construction and a return of half of the funds already paid. Failure to pay the 3rd payment will result in a forfeiture of any benefits originally associated with the stadium and forfeiture of all cash on hand.

- $50M for open air stadium (Increases market size by +1). GM may vary +/-2 ballpark factors away from 100.
- $60M for a domed stadium (Increases fan loyalty by +1). GM may vary +/-4 ballpark factors away from 100.
- $75M for a retractable roof stadium (Increases market size by +1 and fan loyalty by +1). GM may vary +/-6 ballpark factors away from 100.

3. Moving a team

A request to both the commish and the League must be made public the year before the team plans to move, in order to secure proper re-alignment (if necessary). Teams with fan interest over 50 and Fan loyalty at least as good as "Good" are not eligible to move. League scrutiny to move will be tough. The commish spent a long time building the league and setting up the stadiums, minor league teams, etc., and is very attached to them. However, he understands the desire to move and will grant the permission under proper circumstances. ;)

- Cost is $90M to paid out the same as if it were a new stadium.
- Fan loyalty in new market will start at "Good"
- Team Market will be based on the city moved to, as determined by the commissioner.
- Fan interest will start at 80.
- Stadium will be open air, and start with 40,000 seats. Costs to improve stadium apply as mentioned earlier in this section.
- Other questions and variables will be determined by the commissioner prior to the move and discussed at length on the forum.

Rule credits: SSBL, NGBL. Thanks Phil!