TIMES BASEBALL LEAGUE - RULES AND CONSTITUTION:  
(Last Updated:  3/25/24 - GM)  -  2025 Updates T/K

(Updates Include: Potential makeup dates; League fees; Playoff dates; Changed Makofske to Cheapjacks on List; Added PW as 2023 champions and upped their total TBL championships to 5.)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.     TBL ROSTERS

2.    POSTING LINEUPS

3.    PLAYER POSITION ELIGIBILITY

4.   THE LIST

5.    ADDING AND DROPPING PLAYERS AS LIST PITCHERS

6.    THE LIST - TBL

7.    THE LIST - MLB

8.    WEEKLY FREE AGENT CLAIMS 

9.    ADDING A CLAIMED PLAYER

10.  ADDING AND DROPPING PLAYERS FROM ROSTER

11.   DOUBLE HEADER CLARIFICATIONS

12.  MLB RAINOUTS / TEAMS NOT SCHEDULED

13.  POTENTIAL MAKEUP DATES

14.  TBL LEAGUE FEES

15.  TBL PAYOUTS

16.  TBL SCHEDULE / CHAMPION SERIES DATES

17.  GAME TIE-BREAKER PROCEDURE

18.  TBL TRADE DEADLINE

19.  THE "DAMN HERB"

20.  SPRING DRAFT ORDER

21.  DIVISION ALIGNMMENT

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1.  TBL ROSTERS:

Beginning in 2023, TBL Rosters will be capped at 47 players.  There is no requirement as to how many pitchers or position players a team carries as long as each teams roster is maintained at 47 players maximum.  Players on a roster may be:  MLB players; MiLB players; college or high school prospects; foreign players or family members.  In short, a TBL owner can stock his roster with virtually anyone.  Players are rostered through the Spring Draft and the weekly Free Agent Pickups (See procedure #8 for FA pickups.)

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2.  POSTING LINEUPS:

All TBL lineups must be posted on the website prior to the first pitch of the first game of the day. If an owner does not post a lineup by this time, his most recent default lineup will be used, including his SP preferences.

Absolutely no changes may be made to a TBL lineup after the first pitch of the first game has been thrown.

Beginning in 2023, teams will list three relief pitchers on their lineup.  In addition, a "Hold" category was added to the scoring procedure.

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3.  PLAYER POSITION ELIGIBILITY:
The first position listed in a MLB box score is the only position a TBL player can appear in a game. For instance, if Pujols starts at 1B and moves to third base later in the game, the only position that he can be used at in our game is 1B (or DH, if you've listed him and he qualifies there.) Doesn't matter if you had him listed as a starter at 3B, he can't be used there.

Also - If a hitter is listed at both a position and as a DH, the position takes precedence. For instance, if you have Pujols listed at 1B and also as a DH, if he plays 1B, that's where you have to play him.

However - If you've got Pujols listed at 1B and DH but not 3B, but he starts at 3B, he should be used as your DH if he qualifies there.

(Revision approved on 3/03/2017) The first player listed who starts at a position will be the TBL starter.  Example:  Your #1 listed player at 1st base comes in as a sub, and gets an official at bat, but your #2 at the position starts, your #2 is your starter.   If none of your listed players start. We default back to our previous rule and that is:

If you list 4 players at 1B and none of them start, but say the #3 guy on the list comes in as a sub, gets an official at bat, plays the position defensively, and none of the other players listed ahead of him appear, then #3 is your guy and his stats count.

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4.  THE LIST:

The List is used to ensure that every TBL team has a Starting Pitcher going on a scheduled TBL game day. If a TBL team does not have a Starting Pitcher available on a TBL game day, they must refer to The List in order to obtain a Starting Pitcher for that day.

Owners cannot refuse, for any reason, to use an active pitcher on their roster if he's scheduled to pitch.

MLB standings from the previous season will determine the order of The List. MLB teams are listed (see below) starting with the worst won-loss percentage to the best won-lost percentage.  

If only one team is using The List on a given day they will simply go down the MLB list of teams until they find a MLB team that is using a Starting Pitcher that is not on a TBL roster.

If more than one team needs a Starting Pitcher, then last years TBL standings from best W/L record to the worst W/L record (see below) will be used to determine the order.

The team with the higher standing from last year will then get the worst MLB team from list below that is not using a H2H roster pitcher.

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5.  ADDING AND DROPPING PLAYERS AS LIST PITCHERS:

You are allowed to temporarily add a free agent pitcher as needed to your roster for a specific game based on "The List."

You do NOT need to Drop a player when using a List PItcher.

Your roster will be at 48 players until you Drop the List Pitcher on the day AFTER he pitches for your team.

There is no PENALTY or FEE for using the List Pitcher (other than they often really suck which is why they are on The List in the first place.)

See the below for directions on using and identifying a List Pitcher.

1. Log-in to the Sam Swami account
2. Select Admin Tools under Commish Admin on left side of main page
3. Select Edit Teams under the Admin Tools Menu on left side of page
4. Select the Add/Drop Players radio button from the Edit Teams menu on the page and Click Submit.
5. You will see the Add/Drop Players page. Select the Team you want to work with (upper left side of page)
6. Select your designated List Pitcher from the Free Agent Player list on the left hand side (Note: the default view is Pitchers). Click the Add Player button.
7. Select the DATE you want to Pickup the List Pitcher so he appears on your roster. This is important. You must the select the DATE of the GAME you want the List Pitcher to appear on your roster. The default view is the current date.
8. Click SUBMIT
9. To DROP a LIST PITCHER - follow steps #1-4 from above. Select the List Pitcher from your team roster on the right hand side of the page.
10. Select the DATE you want to DROP the pitcher from your roster. This should be the DAY AFTER he pitched. This is important.
11. Click SUBMIT. The player will be removed from your roster effective the date you selected for the Drop. That player goes back into the Free Agent pool and is now available to other teams as either a List Pitcher or a Player to be claimed at a future date.

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6.  THE LIST:  TBL 2024  (Based on 2023 TBL Final Standings)

Phillies West

Skid Row

Generation X

Squeeze Bunts

Superbas

Sabermetrics

Naturals

Cheapjacks 

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7.  THE LIST:  MLB 2024  (Based on 2023 MLB Final Standings)

Oakland A's

Kansas City Royals

Colorado Rockies

Chicago White Sox

Washington Nationals

St. Louis Cards

"Anaheim" Angels

New York Mets

Pittsburgh Pirates

Cleveland Guardians

Detroit Tigers

Boston Red Sox

San Francisco Giants

Cincinnati Reds

New York Yankees

San Diego Padres

Chicago Cubs

Arizona Diamondbacks

Miami Marlins

Minnesota Twins

Seattle Mariners

Toronto Blue Jays

Texas Rangers

Philadelphia Phillies

Houston Astros

Milwaukee Brewers

Tampa Bay Rays

Los Angeles Dodgers

Baltimore Orioles

Atlanta Braves

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8.  "WEEKLY FREE AGENT CLAIMS" PRIMER

• Each team has $100 to spend on player movements for the entire year.
• Money cannot be exchanged between teams.
• Money cannot be included in any trade.
• Players claimed must be on a MLB 25 man active roster at the claim deadline, or on the 40 man active roster when rosters are expanded in September.
• Players on the DL cannot be claimed unless they are a member of the active 25 (or expanded 40) man active roster at the claim deadline.
• Players in the minors cannot be claimed unless they are a member of the active 25 (or expanded 40) man active roster at the claim deadline.

• "The primary and sole source of information regarding MLB roster changes will be the official MLB web site, mlb.com." No other web site or media source will be considered a valid source of such information, including the Rotowire web site. The date stamp provided by mlb.com of announcements of any MLB roster changes will govern the eligibility of a player for FA pickup."
• Only MLB roster changes that are announced/posted on mlb.com with a date stamp that is PRIOR to 12:00 midnight Sunday (Sunday night/Monday morning) will be considered as legitimate and valid for FA pickups by the TBL.
• No FA bids will be accepted or considered valid for ANY player if that player's eligibilty for a MLB roster is officially announced / posted on mlb.com AFTER midnight Sunday (Sunday night/Monday morning) and has a date stamp that is later than that Sunday.

• There's no limit to the number of potential pickups you may bid on in a week.
• Any player dropped is not available to be bid on until the following week.
• The coordination of the bidding process will be handled by the website via blind bids.
• Bids should be submitted via the website. You must be logged in as your team, NOT as Sam Swami.
• Bids may be placed anytime during the week, but must be submitted by the bid process deadline of Monday at 12:00PM PST.
• Deadline to place bids: 12:00PM PST Monday.
**** Exception to rule above: On days where TBL games are played on Mondays the deadline to place bids is at 9:00AM Monday**** 

• The highest bid claims the player.
• If two owners bid the same amount on the same player, the following tiebreakers will be in effect:
1. The team with the most money remaining claims the player;
2. The team lowest in the overall standings claims the player;
3. The team with the least points scored overall claims the player;
4. Coin flip

• The final day to place a bid for the season is the Monday prior to the TBL Playoffs. No further bids may be placed after this time.
• After the claims have been processed, the Commissioner will post a note on the TBL message board noting that the transactions have been verified and completed.

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9.  ADDING A CLAIMED PLAYER:

To Add a Free Agent to your roster and Drop a Player from your roster you basically follow the same process as outlined above for List Pitchers.

However, you will need to select the Position of the Free Agent player in order to see him on the free agent list.

Select the position from the horizontal list (just below the Select the Team to Work With list) C 1B 2B 3B SS OF DH P All Hitters

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10.  ADDING & DROPPING PLAYERS FROM A ROSTER:

Below are the general guidelines for Adding / Dropping players for your team:

Free Agents - This is a list of players who are available to that team. The list is sorted by last name and grouped by position. Click on one of the position links to change the group of available players.

Start/Drop Date - This is the start date for the player being added to the roster. Players will get credit for MLB games played on this start date. For example, if you want a player to start counting toward a teams stats on Friday, then use Friday's date has that player's start date. If you drop a player, then this will be the first day he is dropped and he will not get credit for games played on that day. For example, if you drop Albert Pujols on 4/15/2012, then you will not get credit for any stats he gets on that date. 

Position - This is the position to be used for the player on the team's roster. You can add a player with any position. This position is used to keep the team within the league's position requirements. 

Status - This is the status of the player being added to the roster. A = Active, R = Reserve, I = Injured Reserve, M = Minors. Only players with a status of "A" will count toward his team's totals. 

Dropping Players - Highlight a player to drop from the list of current players on the team. Click on "Drop Player" to drop the player. The player will be dropped as of the Start Date selected. Once the player is dropped he will be removed from the current players list. 

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11.  DOUBLE-HEADER CLARIFICATIONS:

When we went to using the website for scoring games this was one of the changes we were forced to make. Previous to using Rotowire we only counted the first game of a DH for a RP and position players. But now that we're using the website to score our games, there is no way to block one game from the feed. So we agreed to use both games for RP's and position players. 

The first position in the first game determines eligibility. So if a player is listed as your starting 2B and played game 1 of a double-header at 3B, but game 2 of the double-header at 2B he would not count, and you would go to your backup.

However, if a player is listed as your 2B in your lineup for the first game of a double header, and is a DH in game 2, he counts as your 2B and gets credit for stats from both games. Same goes for a player who is a DH in the first game, and then plays the position that you have him in on your lineup. He gets credit for stats from both games.

If a position player is listed as your starting 3B and he doesn't play in game 1, but does play game 2 at 3B, he counts as your 3B. You do not go to the backup just because he missed game 1.

If a pitcher started game 1 and was a RP in game 2, he could only be used in TBL as a SP (his relief innings would be added to his starter innings). 

If a pitcher shows up as a reliever in both games then all his innings count.

If a RP only pitches in game 2 as a RP his innings count.

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12.  MLB RAINOUTS / TEAMS NOT SCHEDULED:

If a total of 10 MLB teams do not play due to scheduling, weather or any other unforeseen issues, that days TBL games will be cancelled and made up at a later date.  

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13.  POTENTIAL MAKEUP DATES:  2023

Monday, May 13
Thursday, July 4
Monday, July 22

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14.  TBL LEAGUE FEES:

Each TBL Owner must pay League Fees of $133.86. League Fees are due to LeagueSafe by their deadline of April 30th..

NOTE: $5.86 from each teams league fee goes to LeagueSafe for maintenance of league funds.

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15.  TBL PAYOUTS:  2023

Total Collected: $1070.88

- $450:   To TBL Champion
- $275:    To Runner Up
- $150:    To the Team With The Best Overall League Record After Division Champs Have Been Determined:

- $46.88:   Covers LeagueSafe Fees.

- $149.00:   To Michael Batton for payment to the RotoWire website setup and subscription to Rotowire Fantasy.

(If there is a tie for the Best Overall League Record, this $$ will be split 50/50, to each team. If the two teams agree, they may choose to have a one game playoff to determine a "winner take all." This game will not count towards the final league standings or stats. If three teams tie for Best Overall record, the money will be split three ways; four ways; five ways; etc.)

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16.  TBL SCHEDULE / CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

The winners of the Senior Division and the Junior Division shall meet the week following the end of the TBL Regular Season. 

2024 TBL Schedule

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17.  GAME TIE BREAKER PROCEDURE:

After all points have been tallied for both teams in a TBL game, and the final score is the same for each team, the tie shall be broken in the following manner:
1. The team that has the most Runs Scored for that contest shall be declared the winner;
2. if each team has the same number of Runs Scored, the team with the most Hits shall be declared the winner;
3. if each team has the same number of Hits, the team with the most Runs Batted In shall be declared the winner;
4. if each team has the same number of Runs Batted In, the team whose starting pitcher has the most Innings Pitched, including thirds, shall be declared the winner;
5. if both starting pitchers have the same number of Innings Pitched, including thirds, the team whose starting pitcher has the most number of Strikeouts will be declared the winner;
6. if both starting pitchers have the same number of Strikeouts, the team whose starting pitcher has given up the fewest Hits shall be declared the winner;
7. if both starting pitchers have given up the same number of Hits, the team with the fewest Errors shall be declared the winner; if a tie still exists at this point, the contest will be declared a draw and both teams given a half-game in the standings.

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18.  TBL TRADE DEADLINE:

The deadline for TBL teams to exchange players or draft choices in a trade is 11:59PM, August 31st. Trades will again be allowed after the final out of the TBL Championship Series has been recorded.  

NOTE: All trades should be announced to TBL team owners via a group email as well as a post on the Rotowire forum.

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19.  THE "DAMN HERB":
(DAMN "HERB" = In "Honor of Excellence in Rotisserie Baseball.")

The Damn Herb trophy will be awarded each year to the TBL Champion.

The winner will have his team name engraved on the Damn Herb, and will take possession of the trophy prior to the start of the following season.

PLEASE NOTE: The previous years' TBL champ will foot the bill for the cost of engraving and also has the responsibility of transferring the Damn Herb to the next years champion. This should be done prior to the Spring Draft.

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20.  SPRING DRAFT ORDER - Teams With Identical records:
If two teams finish the previous season with identical won/loss records, the team that has the most total points scored will draft first in round one. The team with the second most total points scored will draft second in round one. If both teams have identical total points scored, the second tiebreaker will be the division won/loss record. If there is still a tie after this, the third tiebreaker will be the team with the least points allowed. At this point, if both teams are still tied, a coin flip will determine who drafts first. Teams will alternate places beginning in round two, and continue this process until the draft is completed.

If three teams finish the season with identical won/loss records, the team that has the most total points scored will draft first in round one. The team with the second most total points scored will draft second in round one. The team with the third most total points scored will draft third in round one. The tiebreaker will be the same as above. In round two, the team that drafted first will slide into the third pick (between these three teams only), the team that drafted second will slide into the top pick (between these three teams only) and the team that drafted third will have the second pick (between these three teams only.) In round three, this process continues, and in round four, reverts back to the original order in round one.

If four, five, etc. teams finish the season with identical won/loss records, the above scenario will be used to determine the draft order.

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21.  DIVISION ALIGNMENT:
(NOTE: For 2023 the TBL owners agreed to continue the two divisions, "Senior" division and "Junior" division.)

Each teams won/loss record during the previous season shall determine the division alignment. If two or more teams have the same won/loss record, then total points scored shall be the tiebreaker. The team with the most total points scored will be the first team placed in a division, followed by the team with less points, etc. If both teams have the same total points scored, then the team with the least points allowed will be placed ahead of the team with more points allowed. If there is still a tie at this point, a coin flip will determine placement.  

The team with the best won/loss record during the regular season shall be placed in the Garin Division. The team with the second best record during the regular season shall be placed in the Lowe Division. This process shall continue until all eight teams have been placed in a division.

Wins during the TBL Championship Series shall not be counted towards a team's overall won/loss record.