Some general notes as we head towards Season 6 ...

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1. Version in Use - We will continue to use version 5.75 for the foreseeable future

 

2. Contraction - We will be contracting to 28 teams for Season 6 with the Minnesota and Middle Channel franchises being disbanded and the players from those teams made available to the league (see #4). There will be 14 teams in each league with Southlake moving back to the NL West.

 

3. Designated Hitter - The universal DH rule will be into effect for both leagues beginning this upcoming season. Use of the DH by team remains optional on a game-by-game basis. Season 5 NL teams will be given a supplemental pick in the same order of the regular draft following the completion of the 3rd round. This draft pick is optional. In order to participate, an NL must release one pitcher without penalty regardless of their contract status and draft a non-pitcher only. 

 

4. Dispersal Auction - Following the Free Agent Re-Signing period and prior to the Season 6 annual free agent draft, we will disperse the players from both the Minnesota and Middle Channel teams using an auction format. More details on this to follow after the Free Agent Re-Signing period gets under way. 

 

5. Players of the Week - We will be moving back to handing out the weekly player awards on the basis of performances over the entire week rather than one standout game. 

 

6. Draft Lottery - teams are no longer able to improve their chances of moving up in the draft by spending Franchise Points. 

 

7. League Voting Participation - teams that participate in all official league votes will receive two franchise points. Yes, this is like a summer camp participation medal. 

 

8.Postseason Pitching Rotations - currently, the rule regarding rotations is a starting rotation must have at least three pitchers. Rule expansion: no pitcher in the rotation will make more than 3 starts in a series and only one pitcher may make 3 starts. The reason for this change, or rather clarification, is that you may have instances where a pitcher is READY and you may want to start him rather than the normally scheduled starter. This allows for pitchers pitching out of order while ensuring that a true 3 man rotation is used. There is a need for this as the existence of pre 1910 super-armed pitchers may enable a team to get through a series with only 2 starters.

 

9. Committee Membership - members of committees will receive 2 Franchise Points.

 

10. Annual Salary Cap increases - annual increase to the seasonal and total contract salary caps will be going from 1% to 2% effective Season 6 <the math on this will make it increasingly problematic for teams to re-sign players as one re-signing of a large contract itself will exceed the total team cap increase for a season.>

 

11. Player Insurance - a new Franchise Point option - Can only be used during Preseason before the Annual Draft. 

    Team can spend 4 Franchise Points to purchase Insurance on a player which will have the following effects:

                         a) treat the player as being injured for the season. The player will be effectively a No-Card and must spend the season on the Farm. 

                         b) reduce the player insured's salary to $500,000 for the season (the deductible, if you will)

                         This is designed to help with roster management for key players on a team with hefty contracts who have lousy player cards and will mitigate the difficulties in having to meet usage thresholds. 

 

12. Fan Favorite Reroll Option - Beginning in Season 6 (for Season 7 card selection) during the next season card selection process for a Fan Favorite, a team will have the option of having one reroll for the Initial Roll (f1st roll) and one reroll for the Random year roll. The cost of each reroll is 2 FP. 

 

13. World Series Home Team - Homefield advantage for the World Series will be determined by best record. In the event of a tie, the team with the best record within its own division will have home field advantage.

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​14. Wild Card Teams - The number of qualifying wild card teams will need to change.

 

Thanks very much!

Nik