This weekend is the Illowa APBA League’s World Series/Draft weekend. Of course, one part of the weekend which I enjoy the most is the league meeting… and I think I’m the only one who seems to get any pleasure out of it.
Below are the five proposed rule changes to our hallowed constitution to be discussed at our league meeting plus a little background. I also added how I might vote. I say “might” because I don’t want any joker at the meeting holding me to it.
“But you said you were against of the extra pick!!”
Here they are:
Proposal #1
Reinstate the “extra pick” in return for submitting an article each month. After the draft, there will be an extra round, in which a manager may drop one player in order to draft another. This extra round is only open to those managers who submit articles for every month in which they played games.
Background:
Quite simply, this rule is to reward “good behavior” as Steve Stein puts it. We used to have this rule and rescinded it, I think partly because it made our teams too strong. However, manager involvement as far as submitting articles, has not been that great so perhaps a carrot approach is worth a look.
My Vote: No. If I had my druthers, I’d get rid of penalty points for lateness. We’re adults here. I don’t want to read a two or three sentence article because someone fulfilled their requirement for the month.
Proposal #2
Eliminate the Unusual Play card
Background: Our league historically has used a lot of modifications to the basic game… the Unusual Play Card, the Pitcher’s Hitting Card, the Error card to name a few. However, as of late, there’s been a feeling among many of the managers of the IAL to get back to the basics and just play the boards. We voted out the Error chart last year. I think some liked it so much they wanted to try to see if we could get along without the UPC as well.
My Vote: Yes. It will be difficult. I’ve played with the UPC pretty much all my adult life. Not only in IAL life but I’ve even adopted it in any solitaire play too. But I’m willing to give it a try.
Proposal #3
I would like to propose the use of the DH for 2010
Background: Pretty self-explanatory. The IAL has used the National League rules for all 34 years of its existence. Every year it’s tradition to end the league meeting with a vote on the DH. It’s normally a perfunctory vote. This year though, I think it’s being seriously considered.
My Vote: No, never, absolutely not
Proposal #4
Each manager decides whether DH is used for the season in his team’s home games.
Background: See above…
My Vote: My vote stays no. It’s one thing to vote for the DH all around but this “home manager decides” doesn’t fly with me.
Proposal #5
I also propose that “No Stealing” goes the way of other base coaching. Either the runner is coached on everything or on nothing.
Background: As we play it now, runners can play it safe but can still be allowed to steal. This rule would disallow that. Playing it safe would mean “PLAYING IT SAFE”.
My Vote: Yes on that one. That makes sense to me.
