2013 PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL #1 –  Position Players with at least 1 PA during the MLB season who 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.
(PASSED 18-10 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

Reason:  Bringing the PA from 350 down to 1 will force all owners to play every player on their roster, even those without good cards, so teams can no longer stockpile for the next season.  This will help with more competitiveness – either play the player or lose them to free agency.

Proposed by Steve Cutler – Hollywood Werewolves

PROPOSAL #2 – Pitchers with at least .1 IP or 1 G during the MLB season who do not at least reach 50% of their MLB Batters Faced during the MWBL Regular Season in the American League, or 45% of their MLB Batters Faced during the MWBL Regular Season in the National League, are released.
(PASSED 18-10 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

 Reason:  Bringing the IP from 100 down to .1 & the games from 50 down to 1 will force all owners to play every player on their roster, even those without good cards, so teams can no longer stockpile for the next season.  This will help with more competitiveness – either play the player or lose them to free agency.

Proposed by Steve Cutler – Hollywood Werewolves

PROPOSAL #3 – Split Grade & Relief Pitchers with at least .1 IP during the MLB season that do not at least reach 50% of their MLB Batters Faced during the MWBL Regular Season in the American League, or  45% of their MLB Batters Faced during the MWBL Regular Season in the National League, are released.
(PASSED 18-10 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

Reason:  Bringing the IP from 50 down to .1 will force all owners to play every player on their roster, even those without good cards, so teams can no longer stockpile for the next season.  This will help with more competitiveness – either play the player or lose them to free agency.

Proposed by Steve Cutler – Hollywood Werewolves

PROPOSAL #4 – Starting Pitcher Maximum Allowed Starts – League Value –
(PASSED 19-9 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

Proposal Reason: *
Proposed:  Setting a limit to the number of starts for any pitcher in MWBL to be equal to 110% of the starts obtained by the pitcher in MLB who had the HIGHEST NUMBER OF STARTS on that season’s disk (rounded UP). Example: If the pitcher on the DISK for the current season with the highest number of starts had 35 starts – the MWBL Season Limit for any starting pitcher would be 35 * 110% = 38.5 = 39 starts. No pitcher could exceed 39 starts during the regular season.

Rationale: Realism – digital arms can essentially last forever, but the modern pitching arms are prepped and used in a manner that promotes longevity. Starting patterns used by MLB teams take this into consideration and therefore the pitchers of ANY era reflect this type of pattern. In the era where 3 days rest was more the norm, the pitchers’ careers reflected this, in the era where 4 days rest are considered norm, the same thing is true. This particular limitation takes into account whatever the season disk is based on and provides the same 10% boost. Reminder – the 10% boost is based on the number of starts of the MLB pitcher who had the HIGHEST NUMBER OF STARTS on that season disk. NOTE: this might preclude a pitcher from using all his BATTERS FACED in his starts if the manager pulls him early. Of course the extra batters still remaining can be used in relief roles (and the recovery rates based on use will be in effect).

Penalty: If a manager used starts a pitcher in more games than allowed:
(1) First offense: 1 week suspension
(2) Second offense: 2 week suspension (that carries into the post season)
(3) Third offense: Pitcher’s arm is dead for the rest of the season (including playoffs)

Proposed by Bill Schindell – Columbus Explorers

PROPOSAL #5 – Bonus year of control for rookies of the weakest 6 teams (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

Reason:  It is difficult to rebuild in the MWBL and this proposal helps the worst six teams without direct harm to the other teams. Picking rookies is tough and with only 3 years of control a number of talents are lost before they reach the majors. I know the poor team I got lost Sano and T D’Arnaud as they did not play in 2012 and ended up being top 10 picks in the 2013 draft.

As a way to help the weakest 6 teams I suggest that the rookies picked by those teams are controlled for four years instead of three. This would not cause additional work for Stray as you would simple have them be 15s when the rest of the teams are 14s.

I’m not a fan of punishing good teams and GMs, and I feel this proposal assists the weak teams without punishing the good teams.
While the change is not huge, I feel it does help the weakest ix teams rebuild as they are less likely to lose a top prospect because he took a year longer then expected.

Proposed by Ken Kuryliw – Selkirk Steelers

PROPOSAL #6 – Pitchers Game Started (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

 Reason:  Starting Pitchers should be limited to the amount of Games Started that they actually had in the respective year. The allowance of Starting Pitchers to have 40 or more starts just doesn’t make any sense and is unrealistic for this era of Baseball.

Proposed by Dom Provisiero – New York Outlaws

PROPOSAL #7 – Pitching Grades (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

 Reason:  The exact Pitching Grades given by APBA in each respective year should be used. There should be no changing of a Pitching Grade received by a Pitcher from the Game Company.

Proposed by Dom Provisiero – New York Outlaws

PROPOSAL #8 – Extra Defensive Position (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

Reason:  Each team will be able to select one player (only one) each year to add an extra defensive position. The player must have played the position being added at least three games in the previous MLB year and only their grade from the prior year will be carried over.

Example: Asdrubal Cabrera played 2B during his first two seasons before moving to shortstop in 2010. Since he played 2B in 2009 he would be allowed to be graded at 2B for the 2010 replay.

Rational: MWBL is one of the largest draft leagues and adding this option will provide more flexibility for roster coverage. Players sometimes never play a known position in a given season due to the makeup of the team. They don’t instantly forget how to play the position and they would most likely have seen playing time at the position if the roster was different.

Impact: The impact of the proposal should be very small. It should allow a rebuilding team to save a roster spot and avoid an extra .930 player. It might also help a team avoid a one year bottle neck and an unwanted trade.

Proposed by Chris Douglass – Tempe Tempers

PROPOSAL #9 – Playoff Match-up Adjustment – Best Record Holder Can Choose
(THIS PROPOSAL WAS TURNED DOWN 8-19 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

 Reason: Currently the team with the best record must play the winner of the wild card playoff in the first round. Over the last two years (2012 & 2013), this has resulted in the teams with the best records in both leagues being forced to play a wild card team that was superior to the 3rd place division winner.

Proposed by Chris Douglass – Tempe Tempers

PROPOSAL #10 – Starting Pitcher Usage (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

Proposed:   Starting pitchers will be limited to 110% of their actual MLB game starts (rounded up).  Additionally, pitchers may not start more than 36 games in a season, unless their actual MLB games started exceeded 36 games.  In that case, they may make their actual MLB game starts.  The exception to this would be starting pitchers grade 3 or lower, they would be allowed to start as many games as the game will allow (with a cap of 36 games).
 Reason: We need to bring realism into the game.  Too many starting pitchers starting well over 40 games per season.  No pitcher had 35 starts in real life in the 2012 season and only three pitchers had 34 starts.  This is a quirk in the APBA game and managers have been taking advantage of this for years.  Increased starts has lead to massive increases in wins disparity, lowered overall team batting averages, etc.

Proposed by Jason Kerns – Camarillo Quest

PROPOSAL #11 – Realignment
(PASSED 24-4 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

Proposed:   I propose to realign the league so that more people can play against other local players in more head-to-head games in person.
Reason: Right now we have quite a few people who live in roughly the same area but they don’t play each other very much because they are in opposite leagues.

Proposed by Jim Craddock – Motor City Muscle

PROPOSAL #12 – Playoff Roster Threshold of 75 PA for Hitters
(PASSED 22-6 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

 Reason: Require all hitters on the playoff roster to have 75 or more PA to be on the roster. Similar to the 20 inning rule for pitchers. This does not impact the 125 PA threshold required to be a starter.

Proposed by Chris Douglass – Tempe Tempers

PROPOSAL #13 – Expand Wild Card Series Length (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

 Reason: Increase the wild card round from a best of three games to a best of five game series.  Provided that we can use and it works – Makojo’s has a utility for removing the itchy.

Proposed by Chris Douglass – Tempe Tempers

PROPOSAL #14 – Post formula for determining pitcher grades on the website (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

 Reason: Put the formula for determining pitcher grades on the website for all to see and use. It could help owners to have this tool available in order to determine the grades of their staff prior to the official league disk.

Proposed by Rick “Coop” Cooper – Clovis Wheat Kings

PROPOSAL #15 – Reduce the annual draft from 12 rounds to 10.
(THIS PROPOSAL WAS TURNED DOWN 13-14 BY LEAGUE WIDE VOTE)

 Reason: The league expanded to twelve rounds after we increased farm rosters from 10 to 12 and major league rosters from 35-37(38 currently) back in 2003, to allow teams to fill their rosters. I think those last 2 rounds are unnecessary now. They make the draft longer than it needs to be, those late picks get traded so much that they can’t be viewed to hold much value. Plus fewer draft picks just makes them more valuable.

Proposed by Dave Myers – Tijuana Bottle Rockets

PROPOSAL #16 – Reduce Farm Roster Size (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

 Reason: Discussions have been had on what to do to make the rebuilding process for new franchises quicker. I think trying to increase the talent pool available each draft by reducing the number of keepers is an easy way to try and start accomplishing this. 28(teams)x2(spots lost)=56(potentially) extra players available each draft. I used going from 12 to 10 spots in my example but would like to hear feedback and see if owners like another number better.

Proposed by Dave Myers – Tijuana Bottle Rockets

PROPOSAL #17 – Re institute Ballpark Effects (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

Each owner must designate home field ballpark ratings. For all incumbent franchises, the ballpark ratings will go into effect in 2014 and cannot be altered for a three year period. Every three years, incumbent owners may modify HR ratings but not wind, unless the owner chooses to “dome” their stadium. All new franchises must designate their ballpark ratings when joining the league, and must maintain those ratings until all MWBL owners are required to re-designate their ballpark ratings.

When setting ballpark ratings, owners may choose a domed or non-domed stadium. They may also select ratings that are within the ranges observed among the MLB stadiums during the prior 5-year period; that is, all HR and wind ratings must fall within the minimum and maximum ratings given among MLB stadiums during the preceding 5-year period.

Reason:  One of the most fun aspects of this league is the ability to build a team. Some build teams around pitching and defense, and some power. Reinstituting ballpark effects will provide another tool available to owners to make their teams their own.

When MWBL originally adopted ballpark effects, each owner selected the MLB ballpark they wanted. This really benefited a few teams (i.e., the pitching-strong team that picked Dodger Stadium or the hitting-strong team that picked Coors Field), but didn’t impact many other teams. Under this proposal, each team will have the ability to build a stadium that reflects their baseball philosophy, within realistic constraints.

Proposed by George Skiles – Sacramento Capitals

PROPOSAL #18 – Amend RUse Rules for Pitchers (TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

Chance Current Rule “VIII) PLAYER CHANGES, RESTRICTIONS & uSAGE”, A) Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) Changes” beginning with: “2) Starting Pitchers” to state that (a) All pitchers with a Grade 15 or above will have a usage of 100% of their actual usage (except as noted below). (a) usage for Grade 7-14 will have their Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) increased by 10%; (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.

and

“3) Relief Pitchers” to state that (a) All pitchers with a Grade 15 or above will have a usage of 100% of their actual usage (except as noted below). (a) usage for Grade 7-14 will have their Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) increased by 10%; (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.

Reason: simply, limits the over-use of high grade pitchers.

Proposed by George Skiles – Sacramento Capitals

PROPOSAL #19 – The 3 year limit should be extended (to 4 YEARS) to make it fairer and more realistic.
(TURNED DOWN BY VETERANS COMMITTEE)

Reason: The rule applies to a wide variety of prospects in many different situations— from 17 year old Caribbean kids to 22 year old College graduates.
So complete fairness is all situations is very difficult to attain.
Nonetheless, there is widespread general agreement that the average amateur draftee usually requires an average of FIVE years to make it to the MLB, if he ever does.
While the rule cannot cover all circumstances, moving the rule in the direction of the known and widely accepted AVERAGE would make it more fair.
Proposal: Extend the limit from three years to four years, effective with the 2015 draft.

Proposed by Robert Shecter – Manhattan Project