SOMBILLA BYLAWS,
revised
09/16/2020
Officers
Commissioner - Arnie Pollinger (term expired 2017)
Vice Commissioner - Tom
League Guru and Special Consultant - Tsuan
Structure
Rosters
Playing limits
Post-season
The draft
Playing rules
I. Structure
A. Schedule
The SOMBILLA is a eight team face to
face league,
which plays a balanced schedule, each team playing each other 8 times.
The top four teams make the playoffs. The league begins play
at the end of October . The league generally plays one night a week (4
games a night), through February on a night when the maximum number of
players can make it, if possible. The playoffs are usually in March.
The
annual meeting and draft is held in April, as close to the beginning of
the Major League season as possible.
- Off
days: Each team receives an offday after games 20, 28, and 40.
These days off count towards pitcher eligibility (inluding
tiredness and starter availability) and injuries.
B. Ties
1. All ties in the standings, except
those which
could determine playoff teams, are broken by head to head records. In
case of a season split, the second tie breaker is a coin flip.
2. If two teams are tied
for 4th place, there
will be a one-game playoff with the home advantage going to the team
with the better head to head record. The game is considered as game #57
with no days rest so that starting pitchers' eligibility and relievers'
tiredness rules still apply. In addition, all innings and at bats for
this game count towards season limits. Any player with two cards must
use the latest card used during the regular season. Injuries incurred
in the regular season also carry over into the one-game playoff.
(a)
Additional rules
for the one-game playoff:
- Eligible
starter. If an eligible starter's innings + available
reliever
innings are < 9, the starter is still eligible to start. All
eligible starters be allowed to pitch in relief. (As a
practical
matter, this really means one pitcher for teams with a 5-man
rotation).
- Last
pitcher. Once a team’s last pitcher with innings available is
in
the game, he must stay in the game. No used-up relievers can
be
chosen to come in, tired.
- A manager can make any legal
move (i.e. still remove any pitcher before being used up as long as
other unused up pitchers are available), even if that sets up a
situation with a used up pitcher being the last pitcher left in the
game.
- Example: A
manager has 10 innings of pitching left - a starter with 6 innings,
reliever A with 3 innings and reliever B with 1
inning. The
starter could still be removed after only 4 innings and reliever A
could still be removed after only 1inning, leaving the manager with
only reliever B, who would have to stay in for the final 4 innings,
used up after his first inning.
- Ineligible starters
with innings left. Such pitchers are allowed to come in tired
if
there’s been 2 days of rest in between their last start (that would be
2 pitchers in a 5-man rotation or only 1 in a 4-man
rotation).
3. If three teams are tied
for 3rd or 4th, a
round-robin is held (2 games each team), home teams, pitching rules,
playing
limits and 2-carded players apply as described above. If all 3 teams
split the round robin, playoff team(s) will be determined by the best
3-way head to head record(s).
4. If four teams tie for
2nd, 3rd, or 4th, 2
single elimination games will be played. The four teams will be seeded
by total 4-way head to head record, with 1st playing 4th and 2nd
playing 3rd. If 2 of the 4 teams will make the playoffs, (in case of a
4-way
tie for 3rd), the winners of these 2 games shall be the 2 playoff
teams.
If only one team makes the playoffs (a 4-way tie for 4th), the two
teams
winning game 1 shall play each other in a second game, winner advancing
to the playoffs. If 3 teams make the playoffs (a 4-way tie for 2nd),
the
two teams losing game 1 shall play each other in a second game, loser
failing
to make the playoffs. In all cases, home teams, pitching rules, playing
limits and 2-carded players apply as described above.
5. If more than 4 teams tie
for 1st-4th, we'll
play it by ear.
C. Disputes and Mistakes
1. Any dispute arising between two
managers may
be settled in any mutually agreeable manner to the two parties, without
any outside influence. This includes, but is not limited to,
saying 'Fuck it'. In deciding what to do, the two managers should be
guided by the rule that no one should be able to take advantage of
their
own mistake.
2. If the managers cannot
agree on a
resolution, the Commissioner may rule either 1) The game must be played
over
from the point of infraction or 2) The entire game must be played
over. Any mistake found subsequently by examining scoresheets, either
a SOMBILLA violation (e.g. starter without enough rest) or a baseball
violation (e.g. 4 outs in an inning), may be played over at the
discretion
of the Commissioner and the parties involved, taking into account the
effect on playoff positions, the effect of the infraction on the
particular
game, and the pain-in-the-ass factor.
D. Rule Changes
Any league rule may be changed by a
majority of
league franchises (one franchise, one vote). Tie votes keep the status
quo. Any league member may propose a new rule at the annual meeting
and draft.
E. Dues
Dues will be determined
retroactively at the end
of each season. Dues are calculated as league expenses (costs of
producing and mailing newsletters, cost of the Strat-O cards and other
equipment) divided by the number of league members (not franchises).
Anyone who doesn't pay their dues will be suspended from newsletter
privileges.
F. Ballparks
Each team may design its own
ballpark before the
season, but must announce its chosen ballpark by opening night at the
latest. The ballpark design is constrained in two
ways:
First, no ballpark singles or home runs may be higher or lower than the
most extreme park of MLB 30 for that season, and second, the difference
between lefties and righties can be no more than the park of the MLB 30
with the highest differential.
However, there is ‘floor’ of
a difference of 5 for both homers and singles. That is, we
still
use the maximum differential as our designing cap, unless it is less
than 5. For example if the maximum lefty-righty homer
differential among all 30 parks is only 3, the SOMBILLA will increase
this to 5.
II. Rosters
A. Roster Size
Each team has a 26-man playing
roster plus a
20-man taxi squad for a total of 45 players per team. Due to trades,
teams may actually have more or less than 45 players. After each
season, each team cuts from 0-10 players, and drafts players to fill
the roster back to 45.
Computer-only players are
not eligible to be
used, even if the computer-only card is or can be printed.
B. Before the 21st Game
1. Separating the team
For each of the series
preceding game 21, a
manager may choose a different 26-man playing squad. These 25 players
must be chosen before you begin the series, and you are stuck with them
for the whole series, except for injuries. Do not play with your 45
players in one clump. The 26 cards must be separated from the rest of
your cards at the start of the series. This will prevent using more
than 26 players, ineligible players, or picking and choosing from all
45 players until
26 are used.
2. Calling up/sending down
pitchers. Beginning with the 2017-2018 SOMBILLA season, pitchers will be treated linke hitters. We have done
away with pitcher pro-ration of
innings when a team is changing the number of
pitchers on their active roster. Exception - the September (game
46) roster expansion and injury call up.
·
For pitchers being used as the September roster expansion
or injury call up they are limited to the greater of
o Series
proration or
o Starter
point of weakness plus 2 innings or
o (Reliever
point of weakness + 2) x 3 innings.
·
These pitchers are still limited by their yearly
allocation of innings based on the normal rules -- .42*IP or .5*IP (for starred
starters).
·
Basically, in real baseball if you have a player
on the DL, the team can bring up a minor league pitcher for a spot start.
It then makes sense that he would be able to pitch his inning of weakness plus
2 at least. (Unless he is too limited to allow that.)
3. Calling
up/sending down non-pitchers.
Non-pitchers may be called up or sent down without controversy.
C. Roster Freeze and Trading Deadline
1. The roster freeze is before the
21st
game of the season. (See Before the 21st Game on prior page for more
information). The trading deadline for post-season eligibility is
before
the 41st game. The trading deadline for all trades is before the 49th
game. All trades made after the trading deadline, but before a team's
season has ended are unofficial. This means that while there may be an
agreement between the teams, the league does not recognize the trade
and one team could still rescind the trade until its season has ended.
2. Once that 21st game has
passed, your 26-man
roster is fixed (or "frozen") until after the post-season is
over. This means no calling up or sending down players after
the
21st game, with the following exceptions:
- At game 45, each team
may call up
an additional player for a total roster size of 27. The 27th man can be
different for each of the last three series you are eligible to use 27
men. All rules
surrounding playing limits and calling up pitchers (See II (B) 2)
still apply. If one team has not reached game 45, but the
other
team has, the first team will be able to use only 26 players until it
reaches game 45 while the 2nd team may use 27.
- If you acquire a new
player in a trade
(before the trading deadline), that player may be added to your 26-man
roster. If the player is a pitcher or limited batter, his
remaining innings or atbats carry over from his previous
team. If
you do add the new player, you must send down another player.
- If you give up a
rostered player in a
trade, you must fill that player's slot with either a player received
in that trade or by calling up a player. If you call up a
pitcher
as a result of trading away a roster player, the called-up player's
innings are prorated to the number of games remaining on your schedule.
3. Pitchers traded in
mid-season
Pitchers traded in
mid-season cannot start for
their new team unless they have rested the appropriate number of games.
The new team's manager must do one of the following:
(1) If a pitcher was going
to get sent down to
make room for the new pitcher, the manager can keep the new pitcher
'inactive' so as not to take up space on the 26-man roster until
he is eligible, and start the pitcher who was going to get sent down.
If it is after the 20-game roster freeze, a special waiver will be
granted.
(2) Wait to consummate the
trade until he or
she knows that the new pitcher will be eligible to start.
(3) Make sure he or she
holds back a
starter/reliever so that he will be eligible to start.
(4) If none of 1), 2) or 3)
is possible
(because the trade is a pitcher for a pitcher and the new team has no
starter/relievers), he or she may call up a starter for one start (even
if after the
roster freeze) to get the new pitcher back on track. This is allowed
only if you do not have a starter/reliever on your 26-man roster. The
called-up starter's innings will not get charged to any pitcher.
4. Lend-leasing.
All members agree not to engage in
intentional
lend-leasing of players - i.e. deliberately trading a player on a
premeditated, temporary basis (versus a situation where a player is
traded away
with permanent intent, but later is reacquired by the original team).
If a trade occurs which any league member finds objectionable on the
basis of a suspected intentional loaning, then he or she may call it to
question at the next weekly meeting. Parties involved may present a
brief
(<5 minutes) explanation of the disputed trade, if they wish.
All
league members who choose to participate may then vote, by phone or
by proxy if not scheduled to be present that week (one franchise, one
vote),
whether to accept the trade as it stands or reject it if they are
convinced
that it is intentional lend-leasing. The majority decision, whether it
be
of the whole league or any portion thereof interested in voting, is
binding.
Ties are resolved by discretion of the Commissioner.
D. Injuries
1. The injury numbers shown on the
chart are
games in addition to the remainder of the game. You cannot call up a
replacement until the next game, and, if after the roster freeze date,
the called up player cannot be a permanent replacement. You are
allowed to adjust your roster for each series, even for injuries that occur after the roster freeze. When you have more than
one injury at a time, when the injured player returns, the manager may
choose to
send down any injury replacement on the active roster. (Note
that
managers already do not need to keep the same injury call up between
series
after the roster freeze.)
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Roll
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New injury chart
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OK
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5
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Remainder of game
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Remainder of game
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2.
In
case of injury, a player must be called up to fill the open roster
slot, but
only until the injured player returns. When an injured player would return after the 1st
game of a series, the manager can decide to activate the regular (or not)
before each game until the end of the series. Once the series is over,
the regular returns to the roster if he was part of the “Frozen (post-Game 20)
Roster.”
2. If you have no one on
the bench who plays
the position, (except for outfielders) you can designate anyone on the
team to play the position. The fielding rating is the absolute worst
(5,-5, e88) on the fielding chart. For outfielders, refer to the
advanced instructions.
3. Players may be injured
only once during a
season, except that a temporary injury does not count toward the one
injury rule. Each manager is responsible for marking an injury
somewhere on the player's card. A player without such a marking will be
presumed injurable. There are no injuries to pitchers or post season
injuries.
4. Plate
appearances (ab + bb)
Maximum games injured
450+
2
400-449
4
350-399
6
300-349
8
250-299
15
< 250
20
E. Players With 2 Cards
A manager may choose which card to
use,
and may even use both cards, one at a time (one card must be completely
used up before using another). The card is subject to the normal
SOMBILLA limitations. Care should be taken to not use the wrong card by
keeping the 26-man playing roster separate from the taxi-squad.
Post season. The second
card used in the regular
season is the post-season card. However if you
use up
this card of the two-carded player, you could finish the series with
the
card from the other league (but not the combined card for guys with 3
cards).
If the player ended his first post-season card with a double or triple
play
and that play used up outs beyond his first card’s limits, those outs
are
counted against the limited outs of the second card.
If a starred starter has multiple cards, the unlimited (starred) card
for post-season purposes is only the card with the most innings
pitched (e.g., one card has 75 innings, one has 130 innings
and
one 205 innings, you can use only the 205 inninged card as a starred
starter in the post-season). Also, if you used the two
lesser-inninged cards during the regular season, you cannot then switch
to using the starred max-inninged card in the post-season.
F. Players with Interleague cards
The manager must decide,
before the season
begins, whether to use the interleague card all season, or whether to use the two
AL/NL
cards (and follow our normal two-card usage rules above). Under no
circumstances can a manager use all 3 cards. If a pitcher is starred
on the IL card, then he's starred on both the AL/NL cards (except for
the post-season, see above).
G. Pitchers' hitting cards
You can only use a pitcher's
hitting card if the pitcher is pitching in
the game. You cannot use a pitcher's hitting card as a pinch-hitter or as a
DH. Exceptions:
1. The pitcher can pinch-hit for the DH, as long as the pitcher is in the
game. And then you lose the DH for the rest of the game.
2. You can bat
the pitcher's hitting card for a position
player as part of a double switch if the pitcher actually comes in to
pitch the following inning (he must face at least one batter).
III. Playing Limits
A. Non-pitchers
Players with >
399 plate appearances are unlimited.
-
Calculating whether someone has > 399
plate appearances and is unlimited: Player limits are calculated based on plate
appearances. For this purpose, plate appearances equal AB+BB+HBP+SF (sac
flies) + SH (sacrifice bunts).
-
If a player has < 400 plate appearances
as defined in the previous bullet:
Their SOMBILLA season
plate appearances are limited to 42% of their AB + BB as shown on the front of
the player's card, rounded down. (Note that the BB shown on the front of
the player's card already includes IBB).
-
Once
you have determined how many SOMBILLA plate appearances your player has during
the regular season, AB + BB + HBP will count toward that limit. IBB, sac bunts, and sac flies will not. Example:
-
Doof
Snodgrass has 300 plate appearances in real life. He is limited. On his Strat-O card, we see 275 at bats and
22 walks. This means he has 124 SOMBILLA (AB + BB+HBP) plate appearances
available to him = (.42 x 297, rounded down).
A used up player must be
removed before his
next at bat if a substitute is available. Used up players who
must
bat get an automatic popout. A used up player on the bench
may
be used as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner only if it is
possible
to replace him before his next at bat.
B. Starred starters (30 starts and 200 innings)
limited to 50% of the innings on
their card and
may start every 4th game. They can also start more frequently
if they are knocked out.
Innings Pitched
Games Rest Between Starts
1/3 -
1
1
1 1/3 -
2
2
2 1/3
+
3
C. Unstarred starters
limited to 42% of the innings on
their card and
may start every 5th game. They may also start every 4th game if they
pitch no more than 5 innings in a start, and, like starred starters,
can start more frequently than that if knocked out.
Innings Pitched
Games Rest Between Starts
1/3 -
1
1
1 1/3 -
2
2
2 1/3 -
5
3
5 1/3
+
4
D. Relievers
limited to 42% of the innings on
their card. No
reliever can pitch more than 2 consecutive games or he comes in tired.
Also, note that a reliever is automatically tired after reaching his
tired factor plus 2 innings (6 outs).
E. Starter-relievers
1. May not switch from starter to
reliever
or vice-versa without the appropriate rest between games as determined
above in C, that is, 1 game rest for 1/3-1 inns, 2 games rest for 1
1/3-2 inns, 3 games rest for 2 1/3-5 innings. Starter-relievers can
relieve for only up to 42% of 150 innings. Any left over innings may be
used for starting. For example, suppose a starter-reliever has 180
innings. He can relieve for only 63 innings (.42 x 150). The remaining
12 1/3 innings (.42 x 180 - 63) can be used in a starting role.
2. Pitchers who switch from relief to a starter role
(both regular season and post-season) can do so at the latest eligible date
based on all relief appearances within 5 days of their proposed start. Games
pitched in relief do not count as a rest day.
Example: Assume it
is the post-season with a day of rest after game 2 and a starter/reliever is used for 3 innings of
relief in game 1 (triggering 3 days of rest before he is eligible to start – i.e.
game 4). The same pitcher is then used for 1 inning in relief in game 2. Because the pitcher relieved Game 2, he is now not
eligible to start till Game 5 – because Game 2 no longer counts toward his
required three days of rest.
If he then relieves another inning in Game 3, he
now cannot start until Game 6 because he still now has rested only the travel
day and will need to rest Game 4 and Game 5 and then is eligible to start.
Because of the travel day, he could pitch 1 inning either Game 4 or Game 5 and
still start Game 6 since the travel day will allow him his 3 days of rest still
dating back to game 1.
F. Used-up pitchers
A used up pitcher must be removed
from the game
immediately if there are any non-used-up eligible pitchers available
(including tired relievers with available innings left). The
only
time you can leave a used
up pitcher in a game (regular season or post season) is if there is no
eligible pitcher left in the bullpen. Used
up pitchers who must pitch are automatically tired. Used up
pitchers may still pinch-hit or pinch-run.
G. Yanking
Starters
may not
be yanked unless they've pitched
the lesser of (4 innings or their tired factor), or yielded 3 runs. If the only
legal (i.e.,
non-tired) starter has fewer than 4 innings available through
mismanagement of stats, the opponent gets to choose whether the starter
has to be yanked or whether he stays in, tired, until he can be legally
yanked
H.
Mismanagement of Starters
Innings at the end of the Season
1. A
starter who has less
than 4 innings remaining may not start if there is an alternative
starter who can legally start and has 4 or more innings remaining. This
applies during the season, but does not apply to a one or more game
playoff to decide who makes the playoffs.
2.
If no starter on the
roster is eligible because they do not have enough rest (to comply with
B and C above), then you
can start a tired pitcher who has innings left and has 'starter' on his
card. If there is more than one such pitcher, the ‘least tired’ pitcher
with 4 or more innings must start. If there is more than one
pitcher with the same amount of tiredness, then the starred starter
must start before the unstarred starter. If more than one
starter
has the same amount of tiredness and starredness, the manager can
choose who to start among them. Such pitcher is automatically
tired to start the game and the normal starter-yanking rules (4 inns/3
runs apply).
I. Baseball ejection rule
During regular season games, after each team has reached via a HBP, both teams are
warned. For each HBP for the remainder of the game, the pitcher is ejected. Would not apply in
the post-season.
IV. Post-season
A. General
All playoff teams must be prepared
to present
their usage stats before the playoffs to ensure that no team gains an
unfair advantage by being able to overuse its players. 1st place
plays 4th place and 2nd place plays 3rd place. Both playoffs are best
of seven, with a 2-3-2 format. The seventh game home advantage goes
to the team that finished higher. The two winning teams play in the
World
Series, which is also in the 2-3-2 format with the same home advantage
rules. There is a travel day when parks switch, which affects pitchers'
rest.
B. Playing Limits
1. Non-pitchers -
all players who were
limited during the
regular season (less than 400 plate appearances) are limited to 1/15 of
their
AB + BB (as shown on the front of the player's card) per
series,
rounded down. The limits start fresh for each series.
2. Pitchers -
All pitchers may relieve,
regardless of what it says on their card. Starters who relieve have a tired factor
of 2, except that starters who come in during an inning have a tired factor of
1.
All pitchers are subject to the normal rest rules, and have the
following limits:
Playoff innings per series:
Starred starters who
start (only)
are unlimited. All other pitchers may
pitch up to 1/15th of the IP on their card,
rounded down
to the nearest 1/3. However, no such pitcher may have more than 14
innings or fewer than 2 innings available.
3. Starred starters who
start and
relieve have
unlimited starter's innings, but relief innings available are 14 minus
innings pitched as a starter.
4. In game
seven of the World
Series only, pitchers who have started a previous game in the
series and would normally be ineligible to pitch under usage rules,
may in fact relieve but are considered tired. Overall limits of innings
pitched still apply.
C.
Running out of innings
1.
As noted in B2
above, in the post-season all starters can relieve. If your
last
'real' reliever (i.e. someone with “relief” on their card) gets used
up, you have to bring in any eligible pitcher left in the bullpen even
if that guy is actually a starter for the next game. Even if this
leaves you with only tired starred starters for the next game. The only
time you can leave a used up pitcher in a game (regular season or post
season) is if there is no eligible pitcher left in the bullpen. So, in
this situation where a reliever gets used up, you have to bring in the
starter for the used up reliever because the starter is eligible to
relieve. Once this starter's innings are used up (whether in this game
or during his next start) he's tired.
2. If
you have no eligible
starting pitcher (i.e one with enough rest pursuant to IIIB and IIIC)
such pitcher due to having had to use up all your available starters in
relief in a prior game to replace a reliever who was used up (see C1
above), then you can start a tired pitcher who has innings left and has
'starter' on his card. If there is more than one such pitcher, the
‘least tired’ pitcher with 4 or more innings must start. If
there
is more than one pitcher with the same amount of tiredness, then the
starred starter must start before the unstarred starter. If
more
than one starter has the same amount of tiredness and starredness, the
manager can choose who to start among them. Such pitcher is
automatically tired to start the game and the normal starter-yanking
rules (4 inns/3 runs apply).
D. Post-season rosters
The post-season roster is the 26-man roster in place immediately before the 27th man
callup.
Exceptions:
1. A player who is not on the 26-man roster
just prior to the 27th man callup because he is injured, is on the
post-season roster in place of the injury callup.
2. Post-season
Roster (hitters). A team may change his or her post-season roster by
substituting as many unlimited batters who had at one point been on the
roster for the same number of batters who ended the season on the eligible
playoff roster before each of the two possible post-season series.
3. Post-season Roster (pitchers). Before
each of the two possible post-season series, a team may change his or her
postseason roster by substituting any pitcher who had at one point been on
the roster, for a pitcher who ended the season on the eligible playoff
roster as long as the new pitcher has more than 1 fewer playoff inning than the pitcher being
substituted for (That is, the new pitcher can have only up to 15 real life innings fewer than the old pitcher).
4. Teams are allowed to drop a pitcher and add a hitter, or
vice versa, before each series. The called-up hitter must be unlimited.
- Any new
pitcher added has to have pitched 45 or more innings in real life.
- After the
first series, the 26-man roster reverts back to the original 26-man roster, so
that any new swap before the World Series is against the original 26-man
roster, not the 1st playoff round roster.
V. Draft
A. Date
The annual draft is held as close to
the day
before the start of the Major League baseball season as possible.
B. Eligibility
All players with cards and not
presently on
anyone's roster are eligible. All managers will be supplied with
eligibility lists
(exclusive of cut players, of course) prior to draft day.
C. Order
1.
There will be one thingoff among the 5th-8th place teams.
Each team receives these amount of 20-sided dice for the thingoff:
- 5th place - 1
- 6th place - 2 + the number of games behind 5th place
- 7th place - 3 + the number of games behind 5th place
- 8th place - 4 + the number of games begind 5th place
2. Each team rolls their things and keeps the lowest
value.Then the teams are ordered 1st through 4th,
resolving ties with a single thing off.
- In the second round the order is reversed.
- All subsequent rounds are in the order of the
standings. (1st tie breaker by best head to head record, 2nd
by a separate thing off. If the 2nd tie breaker (thing-off) is used, the teams switch picks in rounds 3-12).
3. Compensatory picks - There is a compensatory pick after the 6th
round (counts as an extra draft pick) for any manager having a rostered player
die in the previous year. If the
deceased player was drafted in a round after the 6th round, the
compensatory pick is at the end of the round they were drafted in.
D. Structure/Miscellaneous
1.
2 minutes per
pick. After the 2 minutes are
up, everyone gives you shit. There is a 5-minute
break after the 6th round
of the draft.
2. All
teams receive 12 draft picks, no matter what. Regardless of
any
roster size or trades, you still get 12 picks. A team can
pass on
a draft pick at any time. If a team passes on a pick, it can still pick
up the pick at the end of the draft.
a)
The
implication of this is that
you ordinarily
can't lose a draft pick by trading it away, you just pick it up at
the end of the draft.
b) The only exception to this is if the extra (i.e.
46th) roster spot or extra draft pick is given as part of the trade -
for example, I'll give you player X for a 2nd round pick, but if you
forego your 13th round pick that you'd get for losing the 2nd round
pick,
and I keep my 12th round pick that I'd otherwise forfeit for having an
extra 2nd round pick, (so that I get an extra draft pick and roster
spot)
I'll give you player X for a 3rd round pick instead.
3.
Exactly one week after the
draft, all teams have to cut their roster down to 45. Each team is allowed up to two changes to the draft list as of the Friday
before the draft. There
will
then be a waiver draft in the same draft order as the regular draft of
the players on the cut list. Any team who drafts a player
from
the cut list must then cut another player from the roster to stay at
the 45-man limit.
4. All trades of draft
picks (all
trades for
that matter) must be registered with the Commissioner, who keeps track
of such things.
VI. Playing Rules
A. Etiquette - scheduling
Shit happens. The league realizes
this and
understands when unexpected situations arise. Still, common courtesy
should be followed. Thus, when you are unable to attend a Strat- O
night to which you've previously committed, please call your opponent
to reschedule, as well as the Commissioner, as soon as possible.
B. Etiquette - managing
1. It is the defensive manager's
responsibility
to announce whether the infield or corners are in. No announcement
and the infield is presumed back. Of course, the offensive manager can
always ask.
2. It is the offensive
manager's
responsibility to ask if the other manager will be holding a runner,
unless the players agree otherwise. Of course, the defensive manager
can always announce
a 'holding' without being asked.
3. A squeeze play
undeclared as to 'suicide'
or 'safety' is presumed a 'safety' squeeze.
C. Etiquette - computers
The SOMBILLA is a dice and card league. The use of a computer is
allowed, but only if both players agree before the series.
D. Etiquette - e-ratings
In order to speed up playing time,
all dice and
card playing manager must write their error ratings on their cards. In
order to comply with this rule, managers may write the e-ratings
on cards during games as they encounter e-ratings.
E. Etiquette - going for the lead
General rule: You must announce the
batter before going for
a lead. (Example - one team (call it North Dakota) has a
runner
on first. The pitching team (call it Lagavulan 16) has a good matchup
and knows that North Dakota will pinch-hit, in turn triggering a relief
pitcher. North Dakota cannot go for the lead to take
advantage of
pitcher no. 1's
hold, before pinch-hitting. The reason is that this would never happen
in
real baseball, because the pinch-hitter would have been announced. Once
the
hitter had been announced, the Lagavulan pitcher would have come in. In
other
words, in real baseball, you can't delay (not announce the
pinch-hitter)
while you go for the lead.
Clarifications:
1. Batting team accidentally goes for the lead
before announcing the pinch-hitter, but doesn’t get the lead. The batting team can rescind the roll to go
for the lead, and is allowed to pinch-hit.
The failed lead is counted toward a new pitcher (if any). The offense does not get a chance to steal
against a possible inferior hold nor a second unwarranted chance to get the lead.
2. Batting team accidentally goes for the lead
before announcing the pinch-hitter, and gets caught stealing. The batting manager can still pinch-hit, but
the CS counts.
3. Batting team accidentally goes for the lead
before announcing the pinch-hitter, and gets a SB. Batting manager is not allowed to
pinch-hit. Alternatively, batting mgr
can rescind the SB and pinch-hit. If the
pinch-hit triggers a pitching change, the batting manager can reroll for the
lead. If there is no pitching change,
batting manager cannot reroll for the lead.
F. Stealing home
1. Runner must get the good lead. 2.
Subtract 9
from the second number. 3. Add the following, based on the catcher's
defense rating:
Def. Rating
1
-2
2
-1
3
0
4
1
G.
Stats
- You cannot count IBB in the total BB. They must be tracked
separately (a SOMBILLA reason for this rule is that a BB counts towards
a limited player’s plate appearances, but IBB do not, so you need to
break these out for limited players anyway. In addition, IBB counts
toward OBP, so they must be tracked.)
- If you do not break out HBP separately, then you must count
them
in the total BB. Again, it is not only a real baseball rule, but you
have to do it to properly account for limited players’ plate
appearances, not to mention accurate OBP as above.
- For consistency, in addition to stats currently being done,
all
teams must track pitcher’s hits, walks, and appearances, in
addition to team errors. A couple of teams aren’t doing this. (Note:
the above proposals would also apply to tracking walks for pitchers,
i.e., do not include IBB but do include HBP in pitchers’ walk totals.)
In short, these are now the stats required:
- Hitters: AB, Hits, Runs, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, IBB, BB, HBP
(optional, to break out or include with BB), SB, CS, E
- Pitchers: Appearances, W, L, SV, IP, ER, H, BB (including
HBP
and excluding IBB), K
H. Rainouts - days
off.
1. Before every
series, two dice
are rolled. If snake eyes (a
“2”) come up, there is a rainout. This means that all
pitchers
get an extra day of rest (but no games would actually be postponed - it
would be too much of a pain to play a makeup game).
2. All-Star
break day
off. In celebration of the league’s
unplayed All-Star game, at the Holiday “All-Star” break, the whole
league receives a day off. This not only helps relievers, but could
also help an unstarred starter pitch > 5 innings in his last
start
before the “All-Star” break For those who
traditionally play a series on December 25th, the day off rule would
apply after such series.
3.
Additional day off
rules. The day-off/rainout rule
applies to injuries as an injury day, also applies to the one-or two
game playoff. It does not apply in the post-season.
I. Most misunderstood and/or forgotten Strat-O rules
Old rules worth
repeating. Please take a few minutes to
read these.
1.
Three-out rule. The three-out period to determine when a
relief pitcher is tired, is a rolling 3-out period. That is, a reliever becomes weak after giving
up 3 hits/walks during any
consecutive three-out period after a pitcher’s point of weakness.
2.
Reliever
tiredness. If a reliever pitches 2 or more innings above his relief fatigue
rating then he must rest one day before his next appearance. If he pitches 3 or
more innings above his relief fatigue rating then he must rest two days before
his next appearance. If a relief pitcher is used without the proper amount of
rest, consider him fatigued for the entire outing.
3.
Rainouts before
games 1 and 3 of every series. Two dice are rolled. If snake eyes (a “2”) come up, there is a
rainout. All pitchers get an extra day
of rest (but no games actually postponed).
The day-off/rainout rule also applies to injuries (counts as an injury
day), and a one-game playoff, but not post-season (no rainouts in the
post-season).
5.
Injuries after
the 20th game roster freeze. You
are allowed to adjust your roster for each series, even for injuries that occur
after the roster freeze.
6.
Hitters can pitch! To save innings, use the hitter’s
pitching card found in the official rules.
7.
Holding a runner on 1st - 1B AND 2B or SS have defense
rating go up 1 (e.g. 4e10 becomes 5e10).
8.
Holding a runner on 2nd - subtract 4 from 2nd rating;
must get good lead.
9.
Holding and
baserunning. When a runner is held on first or second, subtract 1 from
running rating. If NOT being held, add 1 to running rating. With runners on 1st and 2nd,
the rule applies to runner on 1st, who is considered held if the
lead runner is held.
10.
Trail runners on throw home = speed + arm - 5.
11.
Trail runners on throw to 3rd = automatic.
12.
Starter yanking - 4 innings or 3 runs.
13.
Lo(max) - 1-7 TRIPLE PLAY; 8-20 double play, lead
runner out.
14.
Tagup from
2nd. On fly (rf) B only, a runner at
second base may advance: Running speed
+/- right fielder's arm, +2 for a throw to third base from right field. The
only OUT chance is a roll of 20. If the roll is higher than the highest safe
chance, but not 20, the runner holds. Example: A 1-14 runner and a -1 arm. Safe
1-15; Hold 16-19; Out 20. This rule
does not apply to fly (rf)B? readings from cards or to F2 readings from the
fielding chart.
15.
Squeeze and
corners or infield in. With the
bases loaded and the corners or infield positioned in, downgrade the bunting
rating two levels instead of one level (e.g. A bunter becomes C bunter) for
squeeze plays.
16.
Low fences. Whenever there is a Homerun/Flyout split
(from the cards or the ballpark
chart), if the last number in the homerun range or the first number in the
flyout range is rolled then the outfielder's ability will be checked with
another roll of the 20-sided die. Refer
to the following chart to determine which outfielder has a chance for the
catch:
|
Batter Bats
|
Last number in HR range
|
First number in Flyout range
|
|
Left-handed
|
Rightfielder
|
Centerfielder
|
|
Right-handed
|
Leftfielder
|
Centerfielder
|
For
instance, if the homer range is 1-14 and you roll a 14 or a 15 on the 20-sided
die then you must roll the 20-sided die again and refer to the following chart
to determine the outcome:
|
Outfielder's Rating
|
Homerun
|
Flyout
|
|
1
|
1-3
|
4-20
|
|
2
|
1-7
|
8-20
|
|
3
|
1-11
|
12-20
|
|
4
|
1-15
|
16-20
|
|
5
|
1-19
|
20
|
17.
Blocking the
plate. Whenever there is a play at the plate the catcher’s blocking ability
comes into play if the last number in the safe range or the first number in the
out range is rolled (sometimes referred to in the SOMBILLA as a ‘disputed
call’). For example, if the safe range
(after all adjustments have been made) is 1-14 and you roll a 14 or 15 on the
20-sided die, then you must roll the 20-sided die again and refer to the
following chart to determine if the runner is safe or out:
Catcher’s
Rating
Safe Out
1
1-2 3-20
2
1-6 7-20
3
1-10 11-20
4
1-14 15-20
5
1-18 19-20
18.
When the bases are loaded and the infield is in, a
gb()A results in a home to first double play.
Other runners advance one base.
19.
gb()A, gb()B, or
gb()C hit to 1b or 3b with
runner on 1st, 1st and 2nd, or 2nd
only, and corners are in, refer to infield in on the charts (because the
fielder is in).
20. The
26th man can be different for each of the last three series you are eligible to
use 26 men.
21. Pitchers are not allowed to pinch-hit and can bat only when they are on the mound pitching in the game.
All of these rules
are also found
on the charts or in the official
Strat-O rules.