300.
RULES OF PLAY
310.
All games are played subject to the Official Rules of Baseball as applicable. The TCBA plays its schedule using the APBA Baseball Computer Game (BBWIN). If a version of this game later than version 3.5 is used, any features which affect the play of the game which were not included in version 3.5 must not be used, including but not limited to bunting for a base hit, pulling the infield in at the corners, and ballpark effects.
311.
In the event of computer failure prior to the end of a game, the game should be replayed in its entirety.
312.
All managers shall use a copy of the official league data disk for that season. Beginning in Gold ML23 and Yesterday ML61, the official data disk will be created thru an Import of the Bill James Baseball Encyclopedia, aka BJE. This will include hitting cards, pitching grades and fielding grades. There will be an edit to the players fielding grade based on his Fielding Runs for that given season as reported by Total Baseball. A player with 20 or better FR’s gets a 1 point increase for that season, whereas a player with -20 FR or worse receives a 1 point decrease in his fielding grade.
313.
TCBA YESTERDAY/GOLD uses BBWIN's Advanced Injury Management (AIM) system to control player use including fatigue and injury. AIM options being employed include:
314.
Reduced Injury and Fatigue
315.
Mid 20 th century pitcher durability and recovery (Gold = Early 20 th Century)
316.
Batters faced limits are enforced
317.
Pregame AIM auto-substitutions are enabled.
318.
Generally speaking, all player usage limits will be controlled by the AIM factors outlined above.
319.
All players must abide by usage restrictions. Players who fail to abide by those restrictions will be declared free agents immediately and may not be used in any manner by any team for the rest of the regular and post season. It is recognized that some overuse or misuse of players may be attributed to the use of Micro-Managers (MM) or other AIM related factors. Therefore all EXCESS player usage will be subject to appeal on those grounds. Player usage restrictions include:
320.
No player may be used at a position for which he is not rated on the corresponding data disk.
321.
Players are always eligible to start a game at their primary position as indicated on the data disk. They may be used at secondary positions if the following criteria has been met:
322.
A minimum of 10 defensive appearances for the corresponding MLB season.
323.
A minimum of 100 defensive appearances in the players MLB career. Includes appearances that post date TCBA play (ie -after 1973).
324.
No other players meeting the criteria established in rules 320-323 are currently available to play that position.
325.
Rules 320‑323 are waived when necessary to replace an injured or ejected player and no other eligible player is available at the position. No ineligible player may appear at a defensive position before the seventh inning, even if the regular starter is injured, unless all eligible players have been exhausted.
326.
No player may be removed from the game without a defensive substitute available at his position, unless his team is tied or behind in the ninth inning or later. If it becomes unavoidable to use an ineligible player at a position, a weak hitter who once played or might be expected to play the position shall be used.
327.
Each team must include on its playing roster at least two rated players at every defensive position. A player maybe used to meet this requirement at more than one position.
328.
In addition, each team's roster must include at least two rated players at every defensive position who are eligible to start at that position, and whose combined net AIM Player Rating (PR) equals or exceeds 1,100 rating points. (Net PR = PR x SF) For the purposes of this rule, each of the three outfield positions constitutes a single defensive position. A player may be used to meet this requirement at more than one position.
329.
Catchers may not start both ends of a doubleheader.
330.
Players who have reached a stolen base total equal to 125% of their corresponding MLB total may not be used to steal a base outright, but they can be on base when the hit and run is called. (Micromanagers of course can do what they want and the team will not be punished for this.)
331.
Pitcher usage and fatigue are subject to the limitations imposed by AIM's fatigue system. This means there are no further limits on pitcher use beyond the following:
332.
Each team's roster must include enough pitchers to meet a combined MLB total of 160 Games Started in the corresponding MLB season.
333.
Each team's roster must also include enough pitchers to have their total AIM MBF (Maximum Batters Faced) reach a minimum of 6500.
334.
Pitchers with dual grades (split grade pitchers) can start as many games as his manager and his MBF allows)
335.
Straight RELIEF pitchers who, due to the BJE, only receive a single relief grade when in fact they have started a few games, will be treated as follows: a) they can start as many games as their MBF allows, and b) they can only count their ACTUAL GS towards the team’s total minimum requirements.
336.
STARTING pitchers designated "innocuous" will have their MBF factor increased to 900 batters. Each pitcher so designated will be allowed to contribute 20 GS to the team total required by rule 332. Note - starting pitchers who are both innocuous AND have a MLB GS total in excess of 20 starts or more than 900 MBF will be allowed to contribute their full MLB total of GS and/or MBF to their team total. SPLIT GRADED pitchers who’s starting grade is 3 or less, can also contribute at least 20 GS to the team total.
337.
INNOCUOUS Players and Pitchers - the implementation of AIM makes many of the conditions that existed to require an "innocuous" class of players a moot point. However, TCBA will still edit the data disk to enable the "innocuous player" concept to continue. To wit:
338.
Players who meet the following criteria are designated "innocuous players." Innocuous players are defined as players with a batting average less than .235, an on-base percentage less than .315, a slugging percentage less than .350 in the corresponding major league season, and who meet fielding limitations as shown in Appendix B. Players meeting the above criteria will have their AIM Player Rating (PR) changed to 930 and their Season Factor (SF) changed to 100. This will allow "innocuous players" to appear as full time performers in roughly 93% of their team's games. Innocuous Players can START at ANY position rated on their card.
339.
SUPER SUB – One innocuous player may be designated as a “super sub”. This player will get a fielding rating at every position (in addition to what he has on his card as follows: C-5 PB3 Th -4 1b-2 2b-5 ss-6 of-1 (22 arm if he has no rating P-1 Grade 1/1* MF0 WP0 J rating = 1 The SuperSub may not be traded. The SuperSub designation is a one year, one time commitment to a specific player. Once invoked, it is not reversible. Must be Aim and TCBA Innocuous.
340.
Innocuous players will also be subject to the following limitations as to the limits of their actual ‘playing card’ and will be edited with Wizard to accomplish this: A) No innocuous player can have more than TWO single column power numbers on his card or more than THREE 0's with a double column. B) No Innocuous player can have more than FOUR 14's on his card C) No Innocuous player can have a steal rating better than a C 26 (A and B stealers will be bumped to C; ANY number 27-36 will be brought down to 26).
341.
Pitchers with a data disk grade of 3 or less are designated as "innocuous pitchers." Innocuous pitchers will have their Maximum Batters Faced (MBF) value increased to 900.
342.
No pitcher may be removed from a game without a valid baseball reason. Valid reasons include fatigue, allowing the last batter to reach base, pinch‑hitting, lefty‑righty advantage or anything else which would make sense in real baseball.
343.
The pitcher who starts the game may not be removed before pitching two full innings, unless he allows two or more runs, Rule 339 notwithstanding.
344.
No pitcher may pinch‑hit unless it is shown that he was used to pinch‑hit at least 10 or more times (non-pitching performances) during the corresponding ML season.