League Rules

This will be a living post with the most current rules, updated regularly.

League Overview

The league will use Out of the Park Baseball 2007, version 2.0.2. If a newer version comes along at a later date, the simulation program may be switched.

The league will consist of two 5-team divisions, the Kidman Division, and the Watts Division.

The regular season will be 162 games long.

The top team from each division will make the playoffs, as well as two wildcard teams with the best remaining records. The four teams will square off in a best-of-five Wildcard Playoff. The winners will play in a best-of-seven series for the Aussie Trophy.

Teams may choose the dimensions of their stadium, but the capacity of said stadium may not be above 25,000. If the chosen stadium has a higher capacity than 25,000, it will be lowered to that level.

The players in the league are all fictional and computer-generated.

The season begins in October and ends in March to reflect the seasonal variation of the southern hemisphere.

Sims will vary in length according to the in-game calendar to allow for more roster management toward the beginning and end of the year. The following is a rough sketch of the sim schedule:

last week of regular season; all of playoffs: 1 game(v)/day
Rest of regular season, Spring Training: 3 games(v)/day

Contact Information

Contact information will be distributed via email to the various GMs. To avoid spam, I will not make email addresses (other than my commissioner address) available on the website. It is your responsibility to maintain a list of GMs email addresses or email me for them. If you use instant messenger software, I can also make that contact information available to the other GMs.

General Manager Permissions/Requirements

General Managers (GMs) run the team as they desire. When hired, they run all aspects of the franchise, but may, if they wish, hire people to do some of the jobs, such as a field manager. Teams also have a computer-controlled owner who approves transactions and sets prices.

GMs must own OOTP 2007 in order to submit lineups and transactions.

All CMs must be registered with the League Group. The League Group will be used to communicate with all GMs and serve as the portal for announcements.

If a GM is not as active as the commissioner likes, he may be removed from the league. GMs are expected to upload a new Team File at least once a week or inform the commissioner that they have no changes for the week. The commissioner should be informed of extended absences so he can set the vacation settings accordingly.

The computer owner sets ticket prices and team budgets.

GMs are allowed (and encouraged) to set their team strategies.

Roster Management

Rosters will consist of 25 players up until March 1st, when the rosters will expand to include 40 players.

General managers are to make all transactions, with the exception of trades (see below), on their copy of the league file, and to export them to the commissioner.

Exported team files must be uploaded via the game interface by 8am ET (7am CT; 5am PT) on the day of the simulation.

Team/Ballpark Management

The following charges will be assessed for changes made to team or ballpark settings. These changes are due before preseason begins and will be implemented after preseason begins, but before Spring Training.

Increased seating capacity: $500,000 + $100/seat

Modified ballpark dimensions/factors: $100,000

Team relocation: $1,000,000

Team Nickname: First is free, second $200,000, third $300,000, fourth $400,000, etc

Coaches/Scouts

"Complete Scouting" is ENABLED. See OOTP Game Guide for details on scouting.

"Complete Coaching" is ENABLED. See OOTP Game Guide for details.

Trades

Trades are to occur between two teams at a time.

When a trade is agreed to, it is to be posted in the appropriate forum and signed by the owners of both teams involved with the deal.

The commissioner may not disallow a trade based on fairness, but may do so if the trade will destroy a team's financial situation.

Players, draft picks, and cash can be traded.

The trade deadline is February 28th. No exceptions.

The following trade procedure must be used:
1. Submit the trade to the Commissioner via email.
2. Wait for a message response in OOTPB2007 from the team you initiated the trade with.
3. Send the Commissioner a message regarding your intent to complete the deal.
4. The Commissioner will complete the deal.

Note: Do NOT attempt to complete the trade yourself from within the game, as this will cause all sorts of problems when the Commissioner attempts to import your team.

Player Transactions

Free agent offers are to be exported via FTP.

Personnel Transactions

Personnel offers are to be exported via FTP.

Game Options

Rules

Finances

Player Options