Play Ball! ...
Superstar Baseball (SSB) will be making some changes
to the format this year. For the first time, there will be four
individual heats, each with its own winner that will automatically
advance to the playoffs.
Players should feel free to play any other opponent, any other
time. Managers will be given buttons designating their team,
which they can wear on their badges, to show they are part of
the tournament. In addition, a sign-up sheet will be attached
to the kiosk, so players can use that method to schedule games,
as well.
Tally sheets will be left near the kiosk, and will be available
throughout the convention. Boxscore sheets will also be provided,
for those managers that wish to track that information (which
is entirely optional).
Completed tally sheets must be turned in at the registration
desk by 6pm each day.
Each morning, the prior day's heat standings will be posted
on the event's kiosk (which will be located at the same place,
each day to be announced at the initial meeting).
THE DRAFT
During the first meeting, managers will select a team. Managers
will also be given tally sheets for recording all games played.
The full list of teams is attached each team can be selected
once. You will keep your team for all four heats.
After the initial draft, managers can locate the GM, Chris
Palermo, to receive tally sheets and teams, if they wish to play
(check with the registration desk). Only teams not previously
selected are eligible for selection.
TALLY SHEETS
After each game, the opposing manager must sign the tally
sheet. Opposing managers should not sign the tally sheet until
all the information is completed. The only information that must
be presented to the GM are the teams involved, the date of the
game and the scores, as well as any 'notable' occurrences. The
tally sheet should be filled in from top to bottom - do not skip
games.
THE SCORING
Teams can play each other a MAXIMUM of twice per heat. Additional
plays will be disregarded.
Teams can play a maximum of 10 games per heat. Each heat begins
at 7pm. Make sure to turn in your tally sheets to get credit
for the games you play.
As was the case last year if a sheet is turned in by one team,
and not by the second team, with both managers' signatures on
it, the second team will receive a loss.
There will be a change to the scoring system from last year.
First, since all teams are not created equally, a handicapping
system has been put in place in the form of "outs"
(more later). In addition, points will be earned by each team
-- a minimum number of points is needed to be qualified for the
playoffs (to offset a team going 1-0 and claiming they're undefeated
and qualified for the playoffs).
Teams receive five qualifying points for the first win against
a team; three qualifying points for any subsequent wins; one
qualifying point for any loss
Examples:
Yankees: 8; Padres: 4; first time played:
Yankees receive 5 pts; Padres receive 1 pt.
Yankees: 8; Padres: 4; second time played:
Yankees receive 3 pts; Padres receive 1 pt
Padres: 4; Yankees 1; second time played:
Padres receive 5 pts (first win); Yankees receive 1 pt
THE PLAYOFFS
Once all games are completed in the heat, the top FIVE "point
totals" will be separated, and ranked in order of winning
percentage. The heat winner will advance to the playoffs automatically.
There are NO heat playoffs -- the winner of the heat automatically
advances. In case of a tie (such as two teams that are undefeated),
the team with more points will advance. If those are tied, both
teams will make it (eliminating a wild card team slot, later).
There will be six teams in the playoffs. The four heat winners
will be ranked from 1-4 in order of winning percentage (note:
If a team wins multiple heats, it will be ranked higher than
other teams, even if it's win percentage is lower).
Heat runners-up (those with the best winning percentage among
the non-winners) will be added to round the field to six. If
each heat advances one winner, there will be two wild cards.
That number may increase or decrease depending upon the heat
winning teams.
Any other tie-breakers will be broken by a one-game playoff,
to set the playoff field at six.
In the playoffs:
#6 will play #3
#5 will play #4
#1 will play the winner of #5/#4
#2 will play the winner of #3/#6
There is an advantage to playing more games: The system rewards
those who play frequently (i.e., Play often, Play well).
Laurels will be awarded in the following order:
Loser of the #5vs#4 game: 6th place
Loser of the #6vs#3 game: 5th place
Loser of the 5/4vs#1 game: 4th place
Loser of the 6/3vs#2 game: 3rd place
Loser of the World Series: 2nd place
Winner of the World Series: 1st place
The World Series will be announced either directly before
or after Slapshot (11pm, Saturday evening), with the game
scheduled to be played at 9am on Sunday (but, with only two players,
can be scheduled any time they prefer). Additionally, the results
will be listed on the kiosk.
SSB-SPECIFIC RULES
If you have Superstar Baseball dice, please bring those
this year. Otherwise, because this event is not in one room for
a specific duration of time, a nominal deposit of $5 will be
collected by the GM for anyone needing the special dice for the
game. This money will be returned when the dice are returned
at the conclusion of the tournament.
Teams SHOULD roll for home team. Playing the two games against
opponents home and away is recommended, but that is incumbent
upon the two managers to determine.
No DH will be used.
Pitchers can start every third day (3-man rotation). Starting
pitchers cannot pitch in the two games following a start, regardless
of how many or few innings they pitched. Pitchers appearing in
relief can pitch a maximum of five innings in any game, but MUST
sit out the following game, regardless of how many or few innings
they pitched.
This year, _I_ will not be tracking pitcher usage. That will
be incumbent upon each player. You will still keep track of your
pitchers on a separate tally sheet, and share that with your
opponent; but I will not double-check to make sure pitchers were
used correctly. If you are beaten by a team that has misused
its pitchers, shame on you for not checking!
The rules regarding pitcher TIRE ratings will change slightly.
For tired pitchers, all "D" results (that are not automatic
defensive outs) are treated as blanks (swing). 'D' results that
ARE automatic defensive outs will remain automatic defensive
outs.
Injuries will last for ONE game only.
The players in Right and Left field must have a defensive
rating as an OF and the player in Centerfield must have a defensive
rating as a CF there is no switching of positions.
HANDICAPPING MODIFICATIONS
Each team has a number of "Outs" assigned to it
-- this is the number of outs the team will already have used
BEFORE starting the game.
So, for example -- if a team has 9 outs, and its opponent
has 0 outs, The game will start in the first inning. The opponent
will take its first inning -- batting until it reaches 3 outs,
and then, the team with 9 outs will simply "pass" --
taking 3 outs (no runs, no hits). This will happen for the first
three innings, until all 9 outs have been 'used.' At that point,
the game will resume as normal.
This allows the weaker teams an opportunity to get more hits/runs
by actually "playing" more innings.
TEAM LIST
This is the preliminary, tentative list of teams that will
be available for the WBC.
1970 Season (all teams)
2004 Season (all teams)
Great Teams of the Past:
1902 Pitt
1903 Bos
1909 Chi C
1909 Det
1912 NYG
1915 Phi
1917 Chi WS
1919 Cin
1920 Cle
1922 Stl B
1924 Wash
1927 Bos
1927 NYY
1931 Phi A
1934 Stl C
1934 Bkn
1935 Chi C
1935 Det
1936 NYY
1942 Stl C
1948 Cle
1949 Bos
1952 Phi
1954 NYG
1955 Bkn
1957 Milw B
1960 Pitt
1960 Chi WS
1961 NYY
1965 Cle
1965 Minn
1968 Stl C
1968 Det
1969 NYM
1971 SF
1971 Balt
1972 Atl
1972 Chi C
1973 Oak
1974 LA
1975 Bos
1976 Cin
1978 NYY
1979 Pitt
1980 Phi
1980 KC
1982 Mtl
1982 SD
1983 Chi WS
1984 Det
1984 Chi C
1985 Stl C
1986 Hou
1986 NYM
1986 Bos
1990 Cin
1990 Oak
1991 Minn
1992 Tor
1994 Atl
1998 NYY
1999 Ariz
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