[IBL] IMPORTANT -- IBL 2021 Season Update

[Russell Peltz]

Hello IBL members,

Due to the shortened MLB season, many of the parameters (schedule, cutoffs,
limits, etc.) defined in the IBL Constitution and playing rules will not
work next year.

Under the Commissioner's "best interests of the league" responsibility in
the Constitution, I will set forth a minimum set of changes that will make
the season playable and similar to a normal IBL season, but with fewer
games.

All of these changes, including anything on the ballot, will only be in
effect for the 2021 IBL season unless otherwise noted.

-------------------------

Changes for 2021

- If MLB plays at least 800 of its 900 scheduled games, we will create
cards based on 2020 stats and use the following plan.  This appears to be
likely.  In the case that they don't, we will come up with a new plan for
what to do next year.

- We will play a regular season of approximately 60 to 80 games, with
results due every other week and no extra off weeks. The details of the
schedule will be determined after we vote on a playoff structure.

- Unless changed by the vote, we will keep our normal playoff structure
with three division winners and two wild cards in each conference.

- Usage requirements will be scaled by our season length.  [ (IBL season
length) / (MLB season length) ]

- Starts limits will be scaled.  [ (Constitution limit) * 60 / 162 * (IBL
season length) / (MLB season length) ]

- The cutoff for appearances at a position to qualify as "full-time" for
starts purposes is reduced from 24 to 8.  This is also the cutoff to be
allowed to start at a position in the playoffs.

- Any player can be on your playoff roster.  The scaled-down limits will
not be much higher than the cutoff to be carded anyway.

- Playoff minimums for starting will be reduced (50 AB+BB or 50 BF to start
or enter before the 6th, 20 PA vs. a side to start or PH vs.
that side)

- The minimum number of PA/IP to be carded will not be set until after
Retrosheet data is available and we can determine what cutoffs
  will provide a player pool with similar depth as previous seasons.  It is
likely the cutoffs will be lower than the usual 30 AB+BB for
  batters and 20 IP for pitchers, and it may be necessary to have a
different cutoff for catchers to ensure there are enough of them.
  Since uncarded players will not count against your roster limit next
year, there is no risk holding a player before you know if he will
  have a card.  In addition, we will also allow you to make late cuts after
the card set is determined.

-------------------------

In addition to the above rule changes, Sean and I are working on some
ballot items for the league to vote on shortly that can add other
modifications to the 2021 season.

Some of the ballot items to expect:

- We will vote on whether to add additional playoff teams and/or rounds.
This will also help determine the regular season schedule --
  for example, if we choose to have several wild card teams, we will make
the regular season schedule more balanced.  If we add additional
  playoff rounds, they will be treated as "play-in" or "qualifying"
rounds.  That means teams that lose in those extra rounds will not count
  as having made the playoffs when determining tiers for the draft.

- Whether to expand rosters, and if so, what size

- Whether to eliminate starts for position players, and let them start
unlimited at any position at which they are rated

- Whether to eliminate starts for pitchers, and let any pitcher start or
pitch earlier than the 6th inning

- Whether to eliminate vL/vR limits for the playoffs

- Whether to eliminate the 2-week inactive requirement

We will have a separate ballot for items that change the rules permanently
and not just for 2021.  For example, whether to adopt MLB's
3-batter minimum rule for mid-inning pitching changes.


Thanks,
Rusty
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