HOME MATT KADING MEMORIAL APBA LEAGUE MESSAGE BOARD
TEAM PAGES   Rule 1.01 to 1.04   DRAFT
STANDINGS   1.00--Objectives of the Game.   PAST SEASONS
STATS 1.01   Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under  direction of a manager, played on  an enclosed field in ALL STAR GAMES
RULES accordance with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.   NO HITTERS
RULES- Playoffs 1.02   The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent.  
1.03   The winner of the game shall be that team which shall have scored, in accordance with these rules, the greater
        number of runs at the conclusion of a regulation game.    
1.04    THE PLAYING FIELD.  The field shall be laid out according to the instructions below, supplemented by  Diagrams No. 1, No.2 and No. 3.
            The infield shall be a 90-foot square.  The outfield shall be the area between two foul lines formed by extending two sides of the
CONSTITUTION square, as in Diagram 1.  The distrance from home base to the nearest fence, stand or other obstruction in fair territory shall be 250 feet or
Updated 10/26/22 more. A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul lines and 400 feet or more to center field is preferable. The infield shall be graded so...
I. LEAGUE
A. MATT KADING MEMORIAL APBA BASEBALL LEAGUE is a play-by-computer, face to face, continuous ownership draft league
B. All league members must use the APBA DOS Computer Game version 2.0.
C. All league members must use the APBA data disk with some league issued modifications:
1. League's pitching grade system.
2. League's fielding grade system.
3. League's catcher throwing rating system. All catchers with less than 10 IP caught are -4 arm.
4. All pitchers are rated a 2 defensively.
5. Position players receive one 31 on their card. Pitchers receive three 31's on their card.
6. Should a player have qualified for a grade at a position in the prior season, but not qualified for a grade for that same position
     in the current season, then that player will receive a defensive grade for the unqualified position 
    The grades will be as follows: (C-5, Th-4; 1B-2; 2B-5; 3B-3; SS-6; OF-1)
D. Modification of this Constitution shall be achieved by a vote of a majority of the league managers in the league
II. SEASON
A. 162 games.
B. April 1st thru September 30.
C. Two divisions. Top 6 teams in each division make the playoffs.The 1st and 2nd seeds receive byes.
III. ROSTERS 
A. Limited to 40 players 
B. Each team must have enough players and games on the team roster to fill each position for duration of the season
        
IV. ROTATIONS
A. A copy of the season's pitching rotation must be sent to the Commissioner on or before March 31.
B. All starting pitchers must rest 4 days between starts during the regular season.
C. Modifications to the rotation may be made on or before June 30 for effect on July 1 and again on or before Aug 31 for effect on September 1
V. PLAYER USAGE LIMITATIONS
A. Starting pitchers are limited by the Start Innings listed on the team's roster.
B. Relief pitchers are limited by the Relief Innings listed on the team's roster.
C. Position players are limited by the Games and the Stolen Base attempts listed on the team's roster.
D. Position players that exceed their Games limit are no longer eligible to play during the regular season and the playoffs.
E. Starting pitchers that exceed their SP innings limit are no longer eligible to pitch as a starter for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs
F. Relief pitchers that exceed their RP innings limit are no longer eligible to pitch as a reliever for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs
G. Commissioner, may at his/her discretion, declare a player a free agent based on over usage abuse.
VI. PLAYER USAGE DETERMINATION
A. Starting Pitchers       
1. Grades 1 and 2 are limited to actual start innings, rounded up or a minimum of 200 start innings, whichever is greater
2. Grades 3 or higher are limited to actual start innings, rounded up 
B. Relief Pitchers
1. Grades 1 and 2 are limited to actual relief innings, rounded up or a minimum of 100 relief innings, whichever is greater
2. Grade 3 or higher are limited to actual relief innings, rounded up.
C. UFO position players
1. Allowed to play in each game and are defined as position players that meet EACH of the following restrictions:
A. on base percentage plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .600 or below
B. on base percentage of .333 or below
C. slugging percentage of .375 or below
D. catchers with less than a +3 arm
E. defensive grades: C-5, C-6, C-7, 1B-2, 1B-3, 2B-5, 2B-6, 2B-7, 3B-3, 3B-4, SS-6, SS-7, SS-8, OF-1, OF-2
D. non-UFO position players are limited to actual games played
E. Stolen Bases are limited to actual attempts plus 4.  Players with SSN 0 have no limit for steal attempts.
F. Stats, grades and ratings on the website are not deemed final until November 1 of each year.
VII. GAME PLAY
A. Responsibilities
1. All games must be played against another league manager.
2. It is the responsibility of both managers to make sure that the games are played on time.
3. P-files shall be sent to the Commissioner by the last day of each month. 
4. P-files must be sent to the opposing manager upon request.
5. Late p-files will result in a fine of $250,000 and the Commissioner may play the games.
6. Games lost due to damage to a p-file must be replayed by the Commissioner and the remote team with the same winner.
    The host manager will provide instructions. The person responsible for the lost p-file will receive a $250,000 fine
B. Rainouts
1. Games that are rained out before becoming official games must be replayed as if the game never started
C. Injuries/Ejections
1. Any injuries or ejections are for the game in progress only. 
2. Any injury or ejection that happens before the leadoff batter in the top of 1st inning has a play result will require that the game must start over
3. Any injury or ejection or key stroke error that results in a team have not having anyone available to play a position, then the team should attempt
    to make the most logical substitution possible.               
D. Playing rosters
1. Each team is limited to 26 players on the game roster
2. Each team must have between 9 and 13 pitchers on the playing roster at all times.
3. Each team must have at least 2 players for every position on their playing roster at all times with a  minimum of 11 position players
4. Starting Pitchers
1. April - Each team must have at least 4 starting pitchers on the game roster.
2. May thru August-  Each team must have at least 5 starting pitchers on the game roster. 
     Those 5 starters must be made known to your opponent prior to the start of the series.
3. September- Each team must have at least 3 starting pitchers on the game roster
E. Offense
1. Hit and Run play.
A. Any non-pitcher may attempt a hit and run.
B. The hit and run play may not be used with 2 outs.
2. The squeeze may only be attempted once per game. A foul ball, for example, counts as an attempt.
3. Any pitcher may be used as a pinch runner. 
4. The designated hitter is allowed.
5. Pitchers are not allowed to pinch hit (2 way players are exempt from this rule)
F. Defense
1. Players may not play a position not listed for them on the website unless an injury or ejection requires it
2. Any event that results in a team have not having anyone available to play a position,
     then the team should attempt to make the most logical substitution possible.             
G. Pitching
1. The designated starting pitchers (4 in April, 5 in May thru August, 3  in September) may not relieve in the series
2. A pitcher must be removed after allowing 8 runs 
H. Starting Pitching
1. Starting pitchers must pitch to at least 3 batters before being removed
2. Any starting pitcher may be removed after a rain delay regardless of the situation.  (over rides Rule VII.H.1)
3. Starting pitchers are limited to 10 innings in any single game except a SP with a no hitter may pitch until a hit is allowed
I. Relief Pitching
1. Grade 1-3 relievers are not limited by innings pitched in a single game
2. Grade 4 or higher relievers may not pitch more than 3 innings in a game unless they are the last available pitcher
(designated starting pitchers for the series are not considered relievers and are not available to pitch in relief)
3. A relief pitcher must pitch to at least 3 batters or complete the inning in progress prior to being removed (unless there is an injury or ejection)
4. If a pitcher is mistakenly entered into the game, then the pitcher must intentionally walk the 1st batter and leave the game
5. No position player may be used in relief unless the team has run out of relievers
6. Any relief pitcher may be removed after a rain delay regardless of the situation (over rides Rule VII. I. 3)
J. Fines during game play
1. A game usage infraction is a fine of $250,000
2. Fines for games played with wrong home/away team are $250,000 per series for each team.
K. Protests
1. Any rule infraction may result in a game protest but let's use common sense
2. Protested games must be played in its entirety prior to filing a protest.
3. A protest must be made to the Commissioner before the p-file has been updated in to statmaster
4. Commissioner will rule on all protests
L. No game may start until both starting pitchers are correct.  No penalty or advantage to either team for starting over as BOTH teams are responsible.
VIII. TRADING
A. Trading is allowed and encouraged during the off-season. 
B. No trading is permitted from March 26 until the end of the MK World Series.  
C. Any informal trade agreed upon prior to the end of the MK World Series is unofficial and can be voided by either party for any reason until reported
D. All trades must be final and there can be no player to be named later.
E. Trades are not final until both parties communicate the same terms to the Commissioner and until the Commissioner has posted the trade
F. If a trade results in one team exceeding the roster limit, then the excess players must be released or traded within 72 hours
G. Only current draft picks may be traded.
H. Cash may be part of a trade.
IX. DRAFTING
A. Players with MLB experience are eligible to be drafted. A list of eligible players will be provided
B. The draft order shall be determined by inverse order of record except that the twelve playoff teams will be awarded the final twelve selections in each round and the 
     champion will be awarded the final selection in each round
1. Ties for determining draft order shall be broken in the following manner (in order):
A. Worse record in previous season picks first.   A new manager will be considered to have a 0 winning percentage in the previous season.
B. If teams are tied in the previous season, then the season prior to that will determine which team picks first. Again, worse record picks first.
C. In the event, that two new managers are tied in to infinity, then the manager that joined the league first picks first. Coin toss is both managers joined on same day & then alternate rounds.
C. Each player drafted shall be given a 2-year contract at the time of his drafting. The first person chosen in a regular draft shall be signed at $800,000 per year, with
         chosen in a regular draft shall be signed at $800,000 per year, with each subsequent player drafted      each subsequent player drafted in the first round receiving a contract that is $10,000 less per year.  The last player chosen in the first round shall be signed
         in the first round receiving a contract that is $10,000 less per year. The last player chosen in the       at $500,000 per year, with each subsequent player drafting receiving a contract that is $2,000 less per year to a floor of $200,000
D. Each team will be awarded 15 draft picks.
X. MONEY SYSTEM
A. Each team will receive $22,000,000 at the conclusion of the season.
B. Players are paid at 11:59pm Eastern Time on March 31st.
C. Any player whose contract has expired must either be given a 50% raise for a 2 year contract
         (i.e., a $200,000 player is renewed for 2 years @ $300,000 per year) or be released. The re-sign date will be December 31
D. Every contract is guaranteed.  A player who is cut must be bought out of any remaining contract at the time of his release
E. All fines will be divided equally among the other managers.
F. Minor Fines
1. Game play fines are $250,000.
A. a relief pitcher with a 4+ grade pitching more than 3 innings in a game (unless last available pitcher)
B. pitcher staying in the game after allowing 8 runs
C. pitcher not facing enough batters
D. hit and run with 2 outs
E. hit and run with the pitcher
F. more than one squeeze attempt in a game
G. no backup player at a position for a series
H. player/pitcher used out of position without an injury or ejection as the cause
2. Fines for games played with wrong home/away team are $250,000 per series for each team.
3. Fines for lost p-files are $250,000. 
4. Fines for not voting are $250,000
5. Fines for a player having to start a game out of position is $250,000 per game
6. Fines for overusing a starting pitcher for less than 1 IP for the season are $250,000.
7. Fines for overusing a relief pitcher for less than 1 IP for the season are $250,000.
8. Stolen base overusage is $500,000 for each extra stolen base
G. Major Fines.   Major fines start at $500,000 for the first one, then $750,000 for the second one, $1,000,000 for the third, etc.
1. Position players used too many games
2. Starting pitchers over used by at least one inning pitched
3. Relief pitchers over used by at least one inning pitched
4. Pitcher staying in a game after allowing 8 runs and being notified by the opponent
5. Wrong starting pitcher for a game
6. Player used that was not on the team's roster
H. Other fines are limited to $500,000 per incident
I. New managers are not subject to Major Fines for their first 2 months in the league.
XI. MANAGERS
A. Managers are encouraged to build teams that will be competitive every year.
B. Managers are expected to report items timely and accurately.
C. A pattern of bad trading practices, bad managing practices or untimely reporting practices shall constitute sufficient grounds for dismissal
D. Each manager is expected to host their home games.
E. Each franchise may only have one manager
F. Each manager will send a copy of the season's pitching rotation to the Commissioner by March 31
G. P-files shall be sent to the Commissioner by the last day of each month. Being late will result in a fine of $250,000 and the Commissioner
    will play the games
H. P-files must be sent to the opposing manager upon request.
XII. COMMISSIONER
A. The Commissioner can be removed at any time by affirmative votes of 2/3rds of the League managers
B. Commissioner's primary responsibility is to make sure that the league runs smoothly and that league competitive balance is maintained
C. Commissioner shall maintain all league statistics and arbitrate any disputes.
D. Commissioner is empowered to remove managers. 
E. Commissioner, may at his/her discretion, declare a player a free agent based on over usage abuse. 
F. Commissioner makes changes to the data disk
G. Commissioner determines the scheduled games each year