We back? We back.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Welp, this has thoroughly sucked. At least we are getting something out of this. 60 games to determine our 2020 champion. With that in mind, we have made some modifications for this year only:

Roto only
There will me no "playoffs" this year and we will be using all 60 games for our champion. Sadly no excitement of the h2h playoffs, but there just is not enough season to do it with. Regular payouts will still occur to the champion.

AUG 15 buyout deadline
As is in the header, we are making this a little later. 2 weeks before the trade deadline. The Full contract buyout deadline is now August 15.

AUG 31 trade deadline
Trade deadline is Aug 31. Again, in the header.

Modified lottery for this year draft (tank prevention)
To make sure people aren't just going tank mode if a player or two misses some time this year (or for any other reason) we are moving to a modified lottery for the draft. This means that the bad teams will still have the best chances of getting the better picks, but tanking will not promise you a top pick. This is a measure for this season only. Details on exactly how the lottery balls will be distributed will be announced at a later date. Dont tank please. Anti-tanking rules are still in effect.

PP thresholds lowered to 50ABs/25IP
This has been moved down proportionally to the number of games this season. If your players pass these numbers this year, their PP clock will start next year.*

* This is not cumulative across years. If they pass 50/25 THIS YEAR ONLY then their clock will start, not cumulatively. Sorry for the poor wording above

COVID related absence is like a normal DL stint
MLB has announced that they will not be disclosing the difference between "DL" and "COVID DL". It would be unfair to speculate and distinguish. So because of this, all DL stints will be treated normally.

If the season does not make it to 60 games and gets re-shut down then no season and (Real life money $10 you paid) money rolls over to next year.
Worst case, if the MLB shuts down or never starts, we will roll the money over to next season. Player contracts will be handled differently if we have to get there.

One last note: This whole situation sucks and is a nightmare to try to navigate esp since we are not actually MLB officials who know things. We might make mistakes, but we reserve the right to fix them and change rules should new situations arise. We're trying our best. Please stick with us and understand that there likely isn't a 100% perfect solution for every problem. We're trying. Please help us instead of yelling at us.

We will be sending emails and chasing owners back here very soon as well. Happy 4th everyone.

[KC Royals GM (Kevin)]

Questions/Comments/Issues/Suggestions:


Modified lottery for this year draft (tank prevention)
- Why would we need to change the draft order process just due to a shortened season? If the standings have enough integrity and meaning to crown a champion then they should have enough integrity and meaning to decide the draft order. Further, don't we already have anti-tanking rules in place so that tanking is impossible? I know when I did not have my best players in I have been threatened and disciplined for it.


PP thresholds lowered to 50ABs/25IP
- In my opinion this is ridiculous. I don't think any players should advance PP in this shortened season. Whatever a player's PP status is right now should be what their PP status is going into 2021. Feels cheap to waste a year on 60 games.


COVID related absence is like a normal DL stint
- What significance do DL stints have here? Obviously my mind isn't in top baseball shape right now but I forget what, if any, significance a real-life DL stint has for this league.


If the season does not make it to 60 games and gets re-shut down then no season and money rolls over to next year.
- Just to be clear, you're saying every current contract is just moved forward a year? For example if I have Barry Bonds at 20:$5M, 21: $8M then if there is no season or anything shorter than 60 games then he will become 21:$5M, 22:$8M? Am I understanding this correctly? If so then I like this rule a lot. In this scenario, would GM's be forced to keep players on 1-year deals? Or could they option to throw those players back in the FA pool?

However, I would strongly suggest that if a player does not play at all in 2020 due ONLY to COVID19 (whether the player willingly chooses to sit out the season or actually has COVID19 and can't play) then the GM should have a choice whether to essentially push the contract back a year or not. So, if I have Barry Bonds at 20:$5M, 21: $8M and he says he doesn't feel safe playing in 2020 due to COVID19 then I think that the GM should have a choice after the season to have the player at 21:$8M OR 21:$5M, 22:$8M .... these could be called COVID19 options and could be decided when tags lock. Again, only suggesting these for players who miss the ENTIRETY of the 2020 season due to choosing to sit out because of the risk of COVID19 or having to sit out because of testing positive for COVID19

Lastly, I think if a player is announced to be willingly sitting out the entire season due to COVID19 risk (such as Ryan Zimmerman) then the GM should be relieved of that contract for 2020's books only.
So if you have a player for multiple years you will still have him from 2021 onward but you would save the 2020-$$ if they say they don't feel safe playing and will sit out the season.

[Tigers (Dingo)]

I have to agree with opposing the change in AB/IP limits, there are going to be a lot of players on the taxi squad getting playing time that they wouldn't have in a normal season, that really shouldn't count against us.

I think we should have essentially a team option on every contract for 2020, you can either have the player on your squad at the normal contract terms or push the contract back one year and keep the rights to that player (they still count as a roster spot but they are ineligible for the 2020 season).

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

"- Why would we need to change the draft order process just due to a shortened season? If the standings have enough integrity and meaning to crown a champion then they should have enough integrity and meaning to decide the draft order. Further, don't we already have anti-tanking rules in place so that tanking is impossible? I know when I did not have my best players in I have been threatened and disciplined for it."

The theory is, this year's standings will not be a good reflection of the franchise in general. If Trout (and other stars) and 10% of the league sit, then there are going to be a lot of teams looking to trade away, rebuild, and try to not be competitive. We're trying to prevent that.

"- In my opinion this is ridiculous. I don't think any players should advance PP in this shortened season. Whatever a player's PP status is right now should be what their PP status is going into 2021. Feels cheap to waste a year on 60 games."

I had PP advance once on 4IP from a pitcher who only pitched after my chin music season was over. No one gave a damn about it then. These numbers are proportional to the full year's worth of games. Also... this year counts. It isn't a waste. It's only a waste to the people who are given an advantage by holding PP players. (eyes emoji). Teams with payroll depend on being able to have those guys reach FA with something left in the tank (not me, but people with payroll). That gives a free year (which again, still counts for money and championships) which we don't want to do.

"- What significance do DL stints have here? Obviously my mind isn't in top baseball shape right now but I forget what, if any, significance a real-life DL stint has for this league."

Sorry, that might not have been clear. I don't mean that DL stints mean anything. Only that we wont give exceptions for COVID specific missed games. Us knowing if its COVID related is entirely based on players disclosing their medical info. MLB will keep it secret. So we aren't going to give exceptions for a COVID missed time as opposed to blowing out yoru elbow or something. Not really a change, just a clarification ahead of time.

"- Just to be clear, you're saying every current contract is just moved forward a year? For example if I have Barry Bonds at 20:$5M, 21: $8M then if there is no season or anything shorter than 60 games then he will become 21:$5M, 22:$8M? Am I understanding this correctly? If so then I like this rule a lot. In this scenario, would GM's be forced to keep players on 1-year deals? Or could they option to throw those players back in the FA pool?"

I did a bad job at this. I meant the real life $10 that was paid to this league is rolled over. As in, we aren't paying out a champion after 35 games, next year will just be free. There was a lot of talk about contract options, exceptions, etc. But by far the easiest and most sense making thing was to try to make this year as normal as it can be. If the season gets shut down then we're going to probably offer options to extend or something, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Jul 3, 2020 15:21:47 GMT -5 Tigers (Dingo) said:

I have to agree with opposing the change in AB/IP limits, there are going to be a lot of players on the taxi squad getting playing time that they wouldn't have in a normal season, that really shouldn't count against us.

I think we should have essentially a team option on every contract for 2020, you can either have the player on your squad at the normal contract terms or push the contract back one year and keep the rights to that player (they still count as a roster spot but they are ineligible for the 2020 season).

We can go back to the normal limits potentially, but just giving an extra year of PP doesn't make any sense to me. This season counts. It is not just a free time to position for 2021. You can win it. Playing in this season counts.

We arrived at 25/50 because it is proportional to the amount to games being played. It isn't against anyone, its just trying to make it as it would be normally. its about 1/4 of the season for a SP.

We definitely are not interested in collecting contract information preferences for the 1500 players under contract in this league.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Jul 3, 2020 13:05:16 GMT -5 KC Royals GM (Kevin) said:

However, I would strongly suggest that if a player does not play at all in 2020 due ONLY to COVID19 (whether the player willingly chooses to sit out the season or actually has COVID19 and can't play) then the GM should have a choice whether to essentially push the contract back a year or not. So, if I have Barry Bonds at 20:$5M, 21: $8M and he says he doesn't feel safe playing in 2020 due to COVID19 then I think that the GM should have a choice after the season to have the player at 21:$8M OR 21:$5M, 22:$8M .... these could be called COVID19 options and could be decided when tags lock. Again, only suggesting these for players who miss the ENTIRETY of the 2020 season due to choosing to sit out because of the risk of COVID19 or having to sit out because of testing positive for COVID19

I mentioned above but didnt quote. We cannot include having COVID. MLB will not announce if a player is missing time for COVID or for another reason due to medical privacy. They have already made a statement about this.

Maybe we could do something for the people just willingly sitting out a season, but what if a guy is coming off an injury and wouldnt be ready anyway, just a free year of salary relief because they can say its COVID now? We're trying to rely as little on medical information as possible here because it makes more rule exceptions.

Its also worth noting that we prob will lose a manager or two out of this, I'm trying really hard to not make the rules more complex. I know those who love every in and out of the league want neat rules and exceptions (you should have seen my proposals in the commish thread) but its gotta stay as realistically simple as it can be, because its surely going to get more messy between now and Sept.

But the main point is, elbow injury and COVID test/scare/whatever is all going to look the same to us unless medical info is leaked or a player willingly discloses it. And I don't want our exceptions depending on that.

[Tigers (Dingo)]

I appreciate what the league office is trying to do here, nobody has any idea what is going to happen as it is, and I can see the point in not trying to add too much complexity.

[Cubs GM (Scott B)]

I know everyone has questions about the upcoming season so I hope this will answer them all: 'Merica

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Jul 3, 2020 21:46:47 GMT -5 Tigers (Dingo) said:

I appreciate what the league office is trying to do here, nobody has any idea what is going to happen as it is, and I can see the point in not trying to add too much complexity.

Thank you. It isn't perfect, but its baseball and its something.

[Twins GM (Mike)]

I think PP changes are fine, it should be proportional to the number of games actually played.

Thanks, for the work/thought behind these ideas/changes. I'm pretty skeptical of the full 60 getting played but will be happy if they do.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

I too am very skeptical that we see a full season of baseball. But here's hoping

[Nationals GM (corkzilla)]

Just like in the Supreme Court there are dissenting opinions. And for transparency sake I voiced the same things as BK, essentially. My biggest issue was with the lottery and suggested we just skip the draft after this season and have a mega draft after next (not a great idea either). Didn’t agree with the PP limits either but I understand. Now I’m going into this season thinking maybe I’ll be able to figure out which of my prospects could be for real or not a year earlier if they get some MLB PT.

In all fairness to the rest of the LO, I was more involved in starting a new job, buying a house and moving my family 7 hours down the road during this time off and didn’t involve myself until after the decisions were made.

That being said, there’s 0 chance of having any good options that don’t highly advantage/disadvantage certain teams in here without making it super complex.

Prior to the league making changes to lessen the gap between salary classes I’d be more butt-hurt. Back then it was easy to feel like every decision was against the little guy but now teams are closer to equal footing than ever before. I hope this shortened season doesn’t sour anyone on this league but, if it does, just know we’re doing our best and it’s nothing personal.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

I feel like there is nothing that we can do to sour anyone on baseball that MLB isn't already trying to do.

[Mets GM (barnstormers)]

Yo Everyone

Since it looks like we are going to have a hybrid half-ass season (directed at MLB not Chin Music) thought I would chime in.

First and foremost, I sincerely hope everyone is managing through this pandemic, disaster, media hype, virus hoax, etc... However each of us describes it, the negative effect on our every day life is real. Young or old, business and profession, none of us were immune. Hopefully all of us have found a bright spot through this. As for me, I haven't had this much sex in 20 years. Since Florida went to a mandated face mask law my wife of 41 years can't keep her hands off me. Never knew she was such a big Elvis fan.

Anyways, all be safe.

Back to business.

No real opinion on the draft. I never have any. But, my picks could effect the team I traded them to. So, leave it alone for their sake.

I don't get the PP thing. PP is not for only 1 season. PP is an accumulation until that player passes the 150/50. Example, I have a PP player with 25 AB's going into this season. He gets 26 AB's this year. Now he has 51 total AB's. Then we go back to normal rules next year. Since he passed the PP based on the 2020 rule, does his clock start next year or not. I'm with Ebony Kevin (politically correct), this rule kinda sucks.

Question: If the season gets shut down 20 games in (my guess it will), any thoughts on potential options mentioned earlier. For example, if I release David Price (he chose to sit out because of COVID) with his 1 year contract and no tag available, do I get him back if the season ends prematurely?

All teams are in different phases of competing each year. New rebuild, 3 year rebuild, compete every year, tread water, occupy space. I'm sure most have concerns based on their own roster and stage of development. Specifically years of control.

Somewhere in the thread it mentioned keeping this season less complex and as simple as possible. I like that.

I suggest if the MLB season makes the full 60 game season we treat this year as any other with the exceptions of ROTO only and the deadlines proposed.

Otherwise, if the season does end prematurely, we skip 2020 (April 1st til November) and put everything back the way it was to start 2021 including contracts, trades, buyouts, etc...

2020 never happened.

Again, simple and less complex.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

1AB or IP advances PP by a year (if it has already started), not starts the clock.

Once the clock starts, it starts. Period. Again, not every team wants to see players controlled for longer. It is a disadvantage to the big market teams who spend in FA to artificially hold up a players PP years. It has been adjusted proportionally to the season games #.

_____


"Question: If the season gets shut down 20 games..."

If they do not complete the season, we will have other decisions. Not going to decide that now. But if you drop a player, he is dropped. Period. We aren't going to undo transactions that are already dont.

[Mets GM (barnstormers)]

I get the 1 AB & 1 IP if your pp clock has started. You move on a year.

Not what I asked.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Yeah, that sentence wasn't relevant, but the next one was. My bad. Once the clock starts, it starts. You cant unstart it the next year.

[Nationals GM (corkzilla)]

Jul 16, 2020 13:51:04 GMT -5 D Backs GM (Tyler) said:

Yeah, that sentence wasn't relevant, but the next one was. My bad. Once the clock starts, it starts. You cant unstart it the next year.

I don't think you see what he's saying. The PP thresholds of 50/150 are cumulative for the start of a player's MLB career. So how can we change that threshold for one season? The issue isn't with advancing the clock, it's starting the clock with shortened thresholds.

So a guy had 49 ABs in MLB last year for his first taste, now he gets 1 AB this year and his clock starts just because the season got shortened? That doesn't make any sense.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Ahh, that makes more sense I suppose.

I was trying to say that if they pass those thresholds in this year only. I'm not a (good) writer.

[Tigers (Dingo)]

You could also have a player that had 140 AB going into this year, but doesn't play this year, is he PP going into next year or not?

[Twins GM (Mike)]

Jul 17, 2020 14:26:54 GMT -5 Tigers (Dingo) said:

You could also have a player that had 140 AB going into this year, but doesn't play this year, is he PP going into next year or not?

it should carry over because he hasn't reached that limit? 

if the season gets scrapped, contracts should be maintained pre covid imo. 

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Jul 17, 2020 14:26:54 GMT -5 Tigers (Dingo) said:

You could also have a player that had 140 AB going into this year, but doesn't play this year, is he PP going into next year or not?

No. 

If they pass the lighter thresholds in THIS SEASON ONLY then their clock will start, otherwise it'll be normal accumulation numbers

[Nationals GM (corkzilla)]

Jul 18, 2020 17:45:24 GMT -5 D Backs GM (Tyler) said:

Jul 17, 2020 14:26:54 GMT -5 Tigers (Dingo) said:

You could also have a player that had 140 AB going into this year, but doesn't play this year, is he PP going into next year or not?

No. 

If they pass the lighter thresholds in THIS SEASON ONLY then their clock will start, otherwise it'll be normal accumulation numbers

So if he has 1 at bat it starts his clock?

Again, I know if he was already in PP it would move his clock but this is about starting the clock.

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

"So if he has 1 at bat it starts his clock?"

How did you possibly get that from what I said?

If, *during the 2020 season statistics ONLY*, they have more than 50AB/25IP, then their clock starts next year. If they do not pass those numbers FOR 2020 STATS ONLY. Then it'll be like normal next year.

I see. Just struggling with why we would change the threshold on something that's cumulative anyways for one year.

So for this year only 50ab/25ip but the 150/50 still applies cumulative? For instance, guy with 140ABs going into this year has 20 ABs. So his would start because it's over the 150 I would guess?

[Tigers (Dingo)]

Jul 19, 2020 17:45:04 GMT -5 D Backs GM (Tyler) said:

Then it'll be like normal next year.

Oh just you wait LOL

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

Jul 20, 2020 5:47:12 GMT -5 Tigers (Dingo) said:

Jul 19, 2020 17:45:04 GMT -5 D Backs GM (Tyler) said:

Then it'll be like normal next year.

Oh just you wait LOL

Normal as in, the length of the season lol.

I honestly don't mind the no fans as long as the commentators have a soothing voice.

[Deleted]

Are these still the instructions for this postseason regarding draft lotter and ABs/IP prospect adjustments?

[D Backs GM (Tyler)]

No we are back to normal this season (assuming the MLB is as well). I'll unsticky.

[Nationals GM (corkzilla)]

When/how are we doing this draft boondoggle?

[Deleted]

^^^ NBA style lotto?