Set the date, Midwest APBA fans! Champaign, Illinois is hosting the Prairieland Baseball Tournament on April 16, 2016.
The quick and dirty:
When: April 16, 2016 9 am
Where: Champaign, IL (Venue TBA until we get it booked and confirmed)
Cost: $15
Teams eligible: Any MLB team 1900- present with less than 100 wins
If you’re interested and on Facebook, join the event. Otherwise, let me know in the comments or email me that you’re coming and what team you will be bringing.
Here are the rules for the Prairieland APBA Baseball Tournament (thanks Jim and Doug, we used yours as a template!):
Prairieland APBA Baseball Tournament rules
General
o The basic game will be used with the newest version of the boards (last two versions of the booklet). If both managers agree to use old boards, that will be acceptable.
o You may bring any MLB team 1900-present that has won less than 100 games in real life. (APBA issued cards only – no copies allowed). Note: For seasons that a full schedule was not played for labor dispute reasons (for example, 1994), please pro-rate the record to 154 or 162 games as appropriate.
o 20 man max roster (bring APBA roster sheet for your team). (regular and xb cards may be used. No xc’s allowed. Bring regular and xb roster sheet for your team)
o No player with 100 at-bats or less may start a game.
o Teams will be placed into divisions with a blind draw for divisions.
o Round robin play will be used
o Top 2 teams from each division will advance to the playoffs
o Tie breakers; head to head, fewest runs allowed, run differential, most runs scored, coin toss.
o One division head will be chosen to assist in keeping track of scores.
o The DH will be used for all games to speed up play for games and tournament.
Pitching
o A 4-man rotation will be used. Any pitcher designated as a starter in the tournament may not relieve in other games.
o No j-4 starting pitcher may start
o No pitcher only rated as a reliever (denoted by an asterisk next to the pitcher’s grade) may start.
o Regular APBA basic game pitcher grade advancement will be used; 5 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run=equal a grade advancement(example: for grade D pitchers who pitch 5 innings without allowing an earned run will advance to grade C, six innings without allowing an earned run for a grade C pitcher to advance to grade B, etc.) One grade advancement for each additional inning without allowing an earned run. Any pitcher that allows 5 earned runs in any 3 consecutive innings is lowered one letter grade.
o Starters must pitch at least 5 innings unless affected by grade reduction.
o Relief pitchers with *asterisk are limited to two innings or 6 total outs.
o Any relief pitcher is advanced one letter grade for only the first batter they face in the middle of an inning only.
o All pitchers will be grade D starting the top of the 10th inning to ensure speed of game and tournament.
o In the final championship game, any pitcher rated as a starter may start that game. A relief pitcher may not start.
o Pitchers cannot bat but may pinch run.
Fielding
o Total team fielding and optional fielding ratings will be used.
o Any player who does not have a fielding rating for a position will be considered the lowest fielding rating at that position if placed into the game.
o The manager must declare deep or in with a runner on third base. If not declared, the infield will be considered deep.
Baserunning
o A manager must declare whether or not a runner is playing it safe. If they are playing it safe they would only advance as far as the batter. For example, with a runner on first base and the batter doubles, the runner would only advance two bases and go to third and not score despite what the board says. All board steal results or thrown out trying to steal are negated if the manager was playing it safe the runner. Runners who are base coached are still considered out on a pickoff.
o No limit to sacrifice attempts.
Housekeeping rules
o Any injury is only sustained for that game. The player may return to the lineup for the next game.
o Roll for home field prior to the game. High roll wins home field advantage.
o Re-roll both dice if they go off table or out of box
o If one die rolls off, then only re-roll that die.
Tom,
This is awesome! Weekends are becoming limited for new APBA tourneys, this is good news!