WM 2008 Topics

  1. We do not draw for divisions until after the draft.
  1. Stealing of home is limited to attempts by baserunners with a speed grade of 17 or higher.
  1. Seed the playoffs based on records, not automatically placing wild card winners as high seeds ("high" meaning 3 or 4).

    For example, in SL 2006, wild card winner Festus had a better record than division winner Kilamanjaro. Festus would have earned the 3 seed, and Kilamanjaro would have been seeded 4.

    The caveats added for discussion:
    1) are whether we only do this when we have more than 2 divisions? In 2007 (if the season ended today), Tin Pan Alley has a worse record than wild card Cooperstown ... but the achievement of winning a division when there are only two division winners among a 4-team playoff seems like it should carry extra weight and allow Tin Pan Alley the 2 seed.
    2) and what impact does this have when we have balanced schedules vs. imbalanced schedules?
    3) There maybe should be some importance on "protecting the #1 seed" so they face the playoff team with the fewest wins
  1. Assuming we have an 11-man league in 2008, what are the "logistics" for setting up the league?

    A) 3 divisions, with two 4-team divisions and 1 3-team division, with 1 wild card advancing?
    B) 16 games played against 8 opponents, with a random draw to determine with 2 opponents you play 17 times?
    C) FA draft after round robin ends at 50 games, with the same "cannot exceed 25% of MLB usage" to be drop elig, but then limit the FA pickups to 67% of MLB games played, instead of 75% (keeping 100% of other MLB usage)?
    D) Keep intradivisional series as 5 game series? So division w/ 3 teams ends "free for all" at 152 games, and divisions with 4 teams end FFA at 147 games?

    And if the assumption is wrong and we only have 10 teams (or 9), then we keep the SL 2007 "logistics" (or if only 9, we revert to 2006)?
  1. If a team is forced to acquire a player due to injuries they will get the third player in total runs created sorted at that position in the free agent pool. 108 games in CF is required to qualify as a CF. Same rules apply to this player. He cannot be used on the hit and run play as a hitter or runner. No steals allowed.

    Editor's note: Have we agreed that the player picked up cannot be used on the hit and run play as a hitter?
  1. One relief pitcher is designated as the ‘long reliever’. This pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 4 innings. Restrictions are that they can only enter a game if:
    1. the SP is reduced in grade, ejected or injured or
    2. any time after the 9th inning is completed.
    Pitcher can be used if injury or ejection eliminates all other relievers. Game restrictions and Innings Pitched restrictions are the same as other SL relievers.
  1. I wouldn't mind a discussion and a decision in regards to players who are injured, if they are dropped during the FA, does the player picked up need to sit the remaining games or is he eligible to play right away.
  1. I wouldn't mind a discussion and a decision in regards to us not only drawing for who we play but if it is unbalanced (not divisible by 5), also which team gets slotted against pitcher 1,2, 3,4 or 5. Such as when I played "manager A" I was concerned about facing "pitcher A" versus others.
  1. Given the perception of a home-field disadvantage for the playoffs related to home-road record disparity in the regular season and the cost of possible added innings for home wins in the playoffs, teams that have earned the "home-field advantage" in a playoff series get the choice before the series starts if they want to be home (i.e., home for games 1,2,5,7) or away (i.e., home for games 3,4,6).
  1. Don't make a trade that has no discernable player advantage to your team. Don't even think about it.
  1. Playoff series SBA total cannot exceed MLB SBA total, regardless of Steal Allowance rating.
  1. I propose that immediately following the draft there be a "supplemental draft" in which you can drop players that you have drafted and pick up players that are available.

If you want any other topics to be included in this list, please email keith@apba.net