VIII)    PLAYER CHANGES, RESTRICTIONS & USAGE

A)    Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) Changes

1)      All pitchers receiving grades 1 or 2 on the data disk will be upgraded to grade 3.

(a)    All 3 grade pitchers will have their injury rating and durability each set to 2.

2)      Starting Pitchers

(a)    All pitchers usage is restricted by AIM to give pitchers a limitation of 110% or their actual usage (except as noted below).

(b)   Grade 6 or 7, have their Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) increased by 25% 

(c)    Grade 5 or less, have their MBF increased by 100%, with a maximum of 1080 allowed.

3)      Relief Pitchers

(a)    Grade 6 have their Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) increased by 10%.

(b)   Grade 5 or less, have their MBF increased by 100%, with a maximum of 1080 allowed.

4)      Split Grade Pitchers grade 7 or less for Starting Grade have their MBF increased by 10%.

B)    Reliever Setup/Closer Changes

1)      Each team is allowed to request adjustment of up to two relievers in efforts to dictate to the Micromanager how they are used (i.e. Closer, setup).

2)      Allowable adjustments are to the ACTUAL Save values. Most Micromanagers use the pitcher with the highest Actual Saves totals as the primary closer.

3)      If you prefer to have someone else close for you, you can request that up to two relievers actual save totals be raised or lowered. The amount that a pitchers save total can be raised can be no greater than the actual number of relief appearances the pitcher made minus his W/L record.

C)    Pitchers Batting Card Changes

1)      Pitchers with 25 BA or less will have their Batting Card adjusted to a Pitchers Average Batting Card.

D)    Position Player Normalization Changes

1)      All players who have an SF (Season Factor) rating below 100 will have that rating increased to 100, and their PR (Play Rating) rating decreased accordingly.

2)      All innocuous position players will have their injury rating set to 1

E)    Position Player Restrictions

1)      Player’s usage is controlled by AIM which will usually limit a player to at or near his real life games total or Plate Appearance totals.

2)      Players who receive a 930 PR (OBP + SLG% <.600) can exceed there actual limits, allowing players play in approximately 151 games.

3)      930 (Innocuous) players can be used as often as AIM dictates.

F)     Stealing Restrictions

1)      Base stealers will be limited to their actual stolen base attempts plus 20%.  This includes attempts made during hit & run plays and squeezes

2)      Stolen base attempt amounts will be checked periodically during the year by the Commissioner.

3)      Once a player has reached his 120% of stolen base limits, his stolen base numbers will be adjusted so in most cases a stolen base attempt would result in a caught stealing.

G)    Usage Checkpoints

1)      It is the responsibility of each Owner to monitor their own players’ usage.

2)      Failure to review usage/fatigue can cause fatigue problems and lead to injuries.

3)      When a player has reached 0% Ruse, they must be moved to the FARM roster and replaced on the Active Roster.

4)      If any problems should arise during the season please communicate concerns to the Commissioner’s Office.

5)      Flagrant violation of the player usage will result in penalties determined by the Commissioner’s Office. 

H)    Usage Free Agency

1)      Upon conclusion of the Playoffs, and before cutting down to the 45-man Off-season Rosters, all players who have not met the usage requirements will be released from their teams and placed into the MWBL Pre-Season Draft

(a)    Position Players with at least 350 PA during the MLB season that do not at least reach 50% of their MLB usage during the MWBL Regular Season in the American League, or  45% of their MLB usage during the MWBL Regular Season in the National League, are released

(b)   Starting Pitchers with at least 100 IP during the MLB season that do not at least reach 50% of their MBFs during the MWBL Regular Season in the American League, or 45% of their MBFs during the MWBL Regular Season in the National League, are released.

(c)    Split Grade & Relief Pitchers with at least 50 games during the MLB season that do not at least reach 50% of their MBFs during the MWBL Regular Season in the American League, or  45% of their MBFs during the MWBL Regular Season in the National League, are released.