•Rule (1) “THE FARM SYSTEM MAINTENANCE RULE” – All teams must field complete minor league teams of at least 20 players per team at all minor league levels throughout the season. Any owner found to be below the 20 minimum players at any level will be automatically warned to correct their rosters and will have ten days to do so or be subject to expulsion from the league.
•Rule (2) “COMPETITIVE MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS RULE” – All minor league teams other than the Rookie level team must win at least 25% of their games over the full season.
•Rule (3) “ACCEPTABLE TEAM NAMES” – Team names must conform to a league standard. Obscene team names or names that refer to illegal activities or which offend a majority of voting members of the league will not be accepted. Also, team names must be listed properly (e.g. no all upper case, all lower case, etc…). If an owner uses a questionable name for a team, it will require at least two teams complaining about the name to the commissioner, at which time a league vote may be taken to determine if a different name is required.
•Rule (4) “THE TEAM ATTENTION RULE” – Owners are required to either privately trade chat, Sitemail the commissioner or post in the chat forum (any of these options) if they know they are going to be unable to login to the site for ten consecutive days or more. Any owner who does not login for ten consecutive days without having announced so will be sent a message warning them they are in violation of league rules. If five additional days pass without the owner logging in, the commissioner will contact WhatIfSports to seek the removal and/or replacement of that owner. In addition, any flagrant action or inaction that results in clear lack of team competitiveness (including, but not limited to: players playing clearly out of position for lengthy stretches, such as a C playing SS; stretches of multiple games with starters or relievers entering the game significantly fatigued) can result in penalties ranging from warnings, probation or dismissal from the league. What constitutes lack of competitiveness is at the discretion of the Commish and the VC.
•Rule (5) “THE QUALITY RECRUITMENT RULE” – When vacancies become available in the league, for the first five days of a vacancy, priority will be given to owners who have demonstrated that they will stay in a Hardball Dynasty league for two or more consecutive seasons. The commissioner will attempt to recruit members who meet this criteria for that five day period. After that period, the vacancy may be opened up to any potential candidates, including consideration of the public option.
•Rule (6) “55/120/185 MINIMUM WIN RULE” – Starting in Season 17, all ML level teams will be required to win at least 55 games per season, as well as winning at least 120 games in any two back-to-back seasons and 185 wins in any three consecutive seasons.
The following rules are ALREADY rules under WhatIfSports ‘Fair Play’ guidelines (which can be found here: http://www.whatifsports.com/locker/fairplay.shtm) but are being re-posted on our league’s rules page as a reminder to owners.
•Rule (7)- Team Relocation- Teams may not relocate without prior consent from the Commish. (after Season 12)
•Public chat should be respectful. To quote the ‘fair play’ guidelines that can be grounds for league removal: “Owners should always be polite and gracious when dealing with one another” and this “includes personal attacks… There will be a zero tolerance level.“
Veterans Committee and Rules Enforcment:
MLB MWR: Beginning in Season 24, Any league member who falls short of the league MLB MWR will lose his first round draft pick the following season. The only possible exception to this rule will be in the case of an owner who is a first year SP owner who maybe inherited a franchise in disarray. In such a case, only a unanimous vote of the VC will waive the draft pick forfeiture and grant probation... The draft pick forfeiture will be handled as such... the commish will TC the owner who is loosing his pick an acceptable list of scrub prospects that can be drafted in the forfeited slot. That prospect is not to be signed. This is done to prevent the league from loosing legit ML prospects in the draft forfeiture process. Any owner who doesn't adhere to the draft forfeiture process, and instead drafts a legit prospect, is subject to immediate removal from the league.
MILB MWR: If any MILB team falls short of the league mandated 25% win mark, that franchise will be put on MILB probation for one season for each level that was in violation. (I.E. If a AAA and a HiA team were below, that franchise would be on probation for 2 seasons). If the franchise violates the MILB MWR again, while on probation, it will forfeit its first round draft pick from the following season. In the event that the first round draft pick is not protected, and that franchise signs a Type A FA, the draft pick will roll over until it is forfeited. If a team violates both the MLB MWR and the MILB MWR, while on probation (thus yielding double draft pick forfeiture) that owner will instead be expelled from the league.
The VC membership is subject to change should the league membership feel that it is needed. If TEN owners call for a new VC, the current committee will be disbanded and a new one elected.
The Commish also serves the league. If ten owners call for a new Commish, then the Incumbent Commish will step down and a new one elected.
Current Veteran's Committee: MONGOOSE_22, the_oat, leklinner, turzich, tragedy
Season 25 non-55 MWR win totals: none
Season 25 Draft Pick Loss: none
On MILB Probation: none
