Chuck Thompson Memorial Baseball League Constitution - 1961

07/17/09

1. MEMBERSHIP

  1. Owners are expected to own a registered version of the latest edition of the Action! PC Baseball game and the corresponding season files. Owners are not permitted to participate if they do not own the game.
  2. Owners are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner, showing good sportsmanship and consideration in dealing with other members. This includes keeping scheduled game appointments, corresponding and replying to messages, and proper etiquette during and after games.
  3. The commissioner is solely responsible for all membership issues

2. DIVISION FORMAT

  1. CTMBL will have 14 teams, with 2 leagues of 7 teams each. Each team will permenantly be affiliated with a major league franchise and will play its home games in that team's park or stadium. In 1962 the league will expand to 16 teams, with 2 leagues of 8 teams each.
  2. The league plays a 162 game schedule - 4 series of 5 games each vs. teams in division; one series of 6 games each vs. teams in the other division - for a total of 31 weeks.
  3. The All Star Game will be played in the real life park for the corresponding season.
  4. Each division winner will qualify for the playoffs,
  5. The World Series will be a best of 7 series with fatigue, pitch counts, injuries, etc. carried over from the regular season. The team with the better record will host games 1, 2, 6, and 7.
  6. All playoff games must be played head to head.

 3. TEAMS AND ROSTERS

  1. Each CTMBL roster will consist of up to 35 players, which may include players which were not rated for Action! PC Baseball during that season. Each team's roster must have enough usage to cover all positions for an entire year.
  2. The active roster consists of 25 players, of which at least 9 must be pitchers. The active roster must include a backup at every position. One player may qualify as a backup at more than one position.
  3. Players will be set to "Neutral Park" before being put on their CTMBL rosters.
  4. Players may not play out of position unless injuries force a team to do so. Rosters must be adjusted after the series to cover any "missing" positions.
  5. Trades must be approved by the commissioner. Draft choices can be traded but not more than one year in advance.
  6. Trades may be made from the date of compliance with the cap (see below, Salary System) up to August 31 on the CTMBL calandar. Teams may not go over the cap maximum or below the cap minimum as a result of any trade that takes place after the setting of opening day rosters.
  7. During the season players may be picked up off waivers if injuries leave a team without a starter and/or backup at a position. The team must have room under the cap to add this player. At the conclusion of the injury, the player picked up off waivers must be released.
  8. During September on the CTMBL schedule, players may be picked up off waivers for the sole purpose of covering usage. The team will indicate the position(s) they need, and they will be awarded the player with the most at bats or innings pitched. The team would still need to comply with the salary cap.
  9. Players not on a roster become eligible for the next year's annual draft.

4. SALARY SYSTEM

  1. CTMBL uses a salary system which includes a salary cap as well as a salary minimum. The salary figure will be determined using the salaries included in the Action! PC Baseball game. The cap figure and minimum will be determined by multiplying the average MLB salary by 1.2 and 0.9. The cap figures are:
    1. Year
      Maximum
      Minimum
      1960
      130,571,400
      87,047,600
      1961
      136,477,400
      97,928,550
      1962
      138,161,280
      103,620,960
      1963
      136,489,260
      102,366,945
      1964
      137,085,720
      102,814,290
      1965
      137,881,140
      103,410,855
      1966
      134,194,740
      100,646,055
      1967
      133,968,780
      100,476,585
  2. Following the World Series, a league disk will be compiled and team salaries will be distributed. Players who are on a roster but not on the data disk will be assigned a salary equal to the lowest salary awarded to a player on the disk at his position. Any team over the newly adjusted league salary cap figure will be required to cut players to comply with the cap figure. Teams may not trade until they have made cuts to comply with the cap. The commissioner will set a date for such compliance to be made.
  3. From the date of compliance with the cap until the start of the draft, teams may not exceed the cap. Any trades that put a team over the cap must be accompanied by corresponding player release(s) needed to comply with the cap.
  4. At the conclusion of the draft, teams will have two weeks to adjust their rosters through trades or player release to comply with the salary maximum and minimum. The commissioner will make roster moves as needed for teams that do not comply by the deadline.
  5. Opening day rosters will be due two days before the start of the regular season.

 5. DRAFT

  1. An annual draft of all rookies and free agents who are rated by Action! PC Baseball will take place each year. This draft will consist of 8 single pick rounds, with rounds 1-5 held on a Sunday evening, beginning at 7 PM Eastern. Rounds 6-8 will be held on Monday, beginning at 7 PM Eastern.
  2. A lottery will be held following the league championship to determine draft order for the first four picks of the first round. The four teams with the lowest winning percentages will qualify for the lottery. All other teams will fall into place by reverse order of finish. The World Series participants will be placed 13th and 14th, with the League Champion drafting 14th.
  3. After the first round, the draft order will be by reverse order of finish, with the World Series participants will be placed 13th and 14th.

6. SCHEDULE FORMAT

  1. The CTMBL season will consist of approximately 32 weeks played in a 5-game weekly format.
  2. A 2 day window will be provided for submitting manager files or to set up Internet play. The visiting team is responsible to contact the home team. The commissioner will set the days and times for the 2-day window.
  3. If a manager file/request for Internet play is not received by the end of the 2-day window, the home team may play the game using the visiting team as is it set up on the league disk.
  4. At the completion of each series, the home manager will send the file for the games to the commissioner and the visiting manager. A backup of the files should be maintained in case of file damage during transfer.
  5. Any game files not received by the commissioner by the weekly deadline will be auto played.
  6. At the conclusion of each weekly cycle, updated files will be sent to the league members.

 7. GAMES

  1. Before the beginning of the season, the commissioner will send the disk containing the league organization to each coach. This team disk must be used to play league games. This disk must not be altered in any way (i.e., team names, etc.), except by direction of the commissioner, or the visiting / home coach for team lineup/active roster moves.
  2. Online play is encouraged. Managers are expected to play at least 5 series or 30 games online during a season. A substitute coach may also be designated for head to head play.
  3. Visiting managers may send a manager file to be loaded prior to the series. The home team must use the manager file if one is sent. The file should be sent within 2 days of the sending of league files from the commissioner.
  4. Injuries will carry over into upcoming games. Injuries will carry over into the playoffs.
  5. Special rules may be put into place when playing against the computer manager. For example, in the 7th inning or later, with a poor-hitting pitcher due to by for a losing team, the home taem is required to switch the control of the visiting team from computer to human and select an approriate pinch hitter. Then the team should be switched back to computer control.
  6. Catcher fatigue will be used.

  8. PLAYER USAGE

  1. The season and game fatigue components of the Action! PC game will be used. Batters and pitchers will fatigue at 110% with a 50% penalty applied.
  2. Human managers are not allowed to call for a stolen base with base runners who have attempted 110% of their regular sesaon attempts.
  3. Playoffs - Batters must have a minimum of 50 real life plate appearances to qualify for the playoffs. Pitchers must have a minimum of 25 innings pitched in real life to qualify for the playoffs. Pitchers must have started at least 8 games in real life to qualify for a starting pitching spot in the playoffs.
  4. All batters must achieve at least 25% of their real life at bats, and all pitchers must pitch at least 25% of their real life innings. Players who do not meet these requirements will be declared free agents at the conclusion of the season.

 9. RULE CHANGES

  1. Suggestions for rule changes may be made to the commissioner during the off-season. These suggestions will be screened by the commissioner, and if approved a ballot will be sent and a vote taken. All proposals need over 50% approval to pass, with at least 3/4 of the active members voting.