MODERN ERA CONSTITUTION
Last Updated: 1/30/2004

1.0 League Structure

1.1 The Modern Era Baseball League is made up of 24 teams using the "APBA" BBW (Baseball for Windows) game, LMPT 4.0. We are a full A.I.M. league, which includes using "MBF," maximum batters faced for pitchers. Players may only play positions they are carded for on the current season disk.

1.2 The DH applies to games played in AL parks only. This is to include the World Series.

1.3 All games played on the road are played by a micromanager "hired" by the general manager of the team. The home team has the option of using a micromanager or manually managing the game, including background mode. The home and road teams may also arrange to play head to head by meeting live or connecting through the internet with NetMeeting or PC Anywhere.

1.4 The Modern Era Baseball League is a full A.I.M. league which uses all of injury factors and fatigue for all teams. Players are limited only by usage percentage. Owners are strongly discouraged from playing any players with negative fatigue ratings where fatigue injuries are likely to occur.

1.4a Starts/Appearances etc. this is limited by MBF and usage not by actual numbers. We are playing a Modern Era Baseball League season, not MLB's therefore no preset limits are in place except the usage rules.

1.5 Game Play: The following is the sequential time table for exchanges files throughout the season:

1. All teams will then be given a deadline in which to send (to the group message board) in a franchise file (F-file) with roster changes, default lineups and default rotation for the upcoming week's games.
2. A Play Ball!! commissioner (C-file) file will be sent to the group message board.
3. The Play Ball!! email will include a deadline for all home managers to play games and send a results F-file to the group message board. Once that deadline has passed the league office will simulate any remaining games and a results C-file will be sent to the group message board.
4. This process will repeat until the season is completed.
   

1.6 In the event of an unowned team - The visitor has the option to play the series. The visitor also has the option to manually manage his team. Otherwise, the series will be simmed by the commissioner.

1.7 Rainouts:  The commissioner will only reschedule games that are necessary for playoff positioning.

2.0 Rosters

2.1 Team rosters are to have 40 total players. The 40 player roster will include 26 players on the active roster and 14 players on the farm team roster.

2.2 Active rosters are not to exceed 26 players.

2.3 Each team must maintain a farm team roster of 14 players at all times. These rosters may be accessed prior to any series and not during a series.

2.4 The Modern Era Baseball League does not allow waiver pick ups unless an emergency arises. If an emergency arises that affects the ability of any team to fill a position, contact the commissioner.   All players picked up during the season will be released at the end of the season. 

2.5 The Modern Era Baseball League is a continuous ownership league. Prior to the draft each year, each team must cut the appropriate number of players to equal their draft picks in the 10 round draft. A team may keep more players and draft fewer player

2.6 Trade protest rule: this rule is to prevent blatantly lopsided trades. If three or more owners submit a written (email) protest to the commissioner regarding a recently completed trade, a poll will be conducted. All owners in the league will be asked to vote to approve or to disapprove the protested trade. A two thirds majority of voting owners will decide if the trade is completed or overturned.

4.0 Player Restrictions

4.1 Players may only play positions they are rated for unless injuries do not allow the game or series to proceed. The home managers are asked to make reasonable decisions to complete a series if any cases of multiple injuries occur to either team.

4.2 The Modern Era Baseball League uses the PR 930 rule for offensive players.

4.3 Stolen Base Rule: Players are limited to 150% of attempts. Any player that exceeds 150% of his actual attempts will have his steal success and steal allowance ratings reduced.

5.0 Playoffs

5.1 The three division winners and a wild card team from each league will be eligible for the playoffs.

5.2 The wild card teams in each league will be the two teams with the highest winning percentage besides the division champs regardless of division.

5.3 In the first round the top seed plays the wild card, other divisional champs will face off. A division winner will not face a wild card team from it's own division.

5.4 Each round of the playoffs will be 7 game series. All playoff series will be played in a 2-3-2 format.

6.0 Fees/Dues and Awards

6.1 There are no longer any fees, dues or awards in the Modern Era Baseball League. The Modern Era Baseball League is a free League!

7.0 The Draft

7.1. All teams draft until they reach 40 players.  We will draft via email. The draft is a straight draft, and no serpentine drafting is done.

7.2 The commissioner may elect to hold a waiver draft as well if there is enough interest.

8.0 Sportsmanship

8.1 Like any fantasy baseball league, the main object of the Modern Era Baseball League is to create some good fun and some friendly competition. Good sportsmanship and fair play is the foundation of this league and it is required that all team owners continue this tradition.

8.2 Any substantiated cases of unsportsman-like behavior may result in that owners dismissal.