What is an APBA mail league and how to set up mail league instructions

I saw a question online recently inquiring about APBA mail leagues and how exactly they work.  It’s a fair question because not every league is a mail league and those that are, do it in their own special way.  

With evolving communications technology today, the line between face-to-face (FTF) leagues and mail leagues is blurring.  On occasion, some games in mail leagues can be played in person and the reverse is true.  Sometimes, managers in FTF leagues cannot get together and have to play a mail series. For example, the Illowa APBA League is primarily a face-to-face league but we occasionally have to play a mail series when we don’t have the time to travel.  

What is a mail league?

The basic concept behind a mail league is a regulation league game or more specifically, a series of games cannot be played face-to-face (either by design or happenstance) and they must be played by the home team’s manager.  Because the visiting manager should have some input into the strategy of his team, it is up to him to provide instructions so the home team’s manager has some guidance on who plays and how specific situations are handled. 

Once the games are played by the home team manager, the stats are compiled and results are sent to the visiting manager so he knows the outcome.  Presumably, this month’s visiting manager would be home manager the next month as per the league schedule.   

Note: while “mail leagues” now most likely refers to email, I remember in the early days of the Illowa APBA League when I would type up instructions on my family’s Smith-Corona typewriter.  I’d stuff it into an addressed envelope and stick a stamp on it before putting in the mailbox. 

Before going on, I will point you to this 2013 APBA Blog article in which John Briggs, commissioner of the Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association, shared an example of one their instruction templates.  The RCMBA is pretty together so I’m not surprised that it’s an excellent example.  Very thorough and detailed.

For those who are writing their first draft of mail league instructions, it may seem a lot so let’s go over what exactly  what you need to effectively communicate your needs to the home manager.  

A Lineup

You gotta have bats if you are going to score runs.  Write out your lineup including positions (especially outfield positions since they will not be obvious). 

Here is an edited example of a lineup from my latest series against Don Smith:

1. Bryant 3B
2. Kipnis 2B
3. Hosmer 1B
4. Goodwin CF
5. Martinez LF
6. Happ RF
7. Cabrera SS
8. Gomes C

 If you are playing a series of games, you may have different lineups for each game or you might use the same one.  

Starting rotation

League series play will require a set rotation of starting pitchers.  

1. Roark (~6 innings)
2. Rodriguez
3. Strasburg
4. Senzatela (~7 innings)

You will notice that I have given some general guidance on usage for Roark and Senzatela.  

Bullpen use

The use of relievers has to be one of most misunderstood facets of mail leagues.  Everyone uses their bullpen differently.  There is the added component of over-compensation by the home team.  That is, doing his best to represent the interests of visiting manager when really, it’s time to pull that A* reliever already.  

To that point, it’s best to be as detailed as possible without being too complicated.  Here is an example:

Use Brebbia in save situations in 8th or 9th inning. Hellickson is my mop-up guy (up or down by 4 runs).

Familia and Siegrist can be used in short relief (one inning or less). Guerra and Liriano can go long.

Take a look at John Briggs’ bullpen instructions mentioned above.  He incorporates a nifty inning/score matrix.  

Pinch hitting and base running

Make sure you give some indication who your main pinch hitters are and how they should be used.  The same should go for pinch running if that is important to your strategy.  

While we’re on the topic of running, let the home manager know if and when your team should hit and run.  

Use Markakis and Reyes as general pinch hitters. Ramos can pinch hit in big situations. I’m giving Hosmer and Puig the series off but they can pinch hit if the game is on the line.

Reyes is available to pinch run in key spots (for Gomes for example, then Torrens can come in). I generally don’t hit and run but if it “feels right”, you can try it with Happ on and Cabrera up.

You can throw in defensive strategy here as well.  If you have a OF-3 itchin’ to get in when you’re up after the 7th inning, it’s a good move.  

Use your “best judgement” 

Almost every set of mail league instructions ends with a line like this… 

In all other cases, use your best judgement.

This is basically a catch-all for the home manager to do what he feels is truly in best interests of your team in situations not covered by your instructions.  

Does your league play by mail?  Does it operate significantly differently?  How about APBA leagues which play other sports?  Are they more difficult to play by mail?