------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | International Replay Baseball League - Founded October 30, 1973 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ***************** IRBL NEWSLETTER # 688 ***************** 12-27-03 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...................................... IRBL Menu Program 2004 Update When you installed this LRD, the IRBL Menu Program should now indicate 2004 and the following three directories should have been created: C:\IRBL\LEAGUE.Y04 C:\IRBL\RESULTS.Y04 C:\IRBL\SERIES.Y04 Please select menu option <5> and verify that the listed values for the Windows operating system, Hard drive letter or DMB game directory matches what is on your computer. If not, then select options <1>, <2> or <3> to change the setting to match what you have. NOTE: The league schedule that is currently included with the DMB IRBL player files and IRBL Menu Program is not the actual 2004 IRBL schedule. I just copied the 2003 schedule just for convenience (if you want to play some practice games). The 2004 IRBL schedule will be loaded into the files before the start of the season. If you encounter any other problems, let me know. ...................................... CARDINALS win IRBL World Series! The CARDINALS defeated the WHITE SOX, 4 games to 3, to win the 2003 IRBL World Series. Congratulations to Don Tobin for guiding his team to the IRBL championship! Check the wild extra-inning battle that the CARDINALS won in game # 6 (10/18/03) by coming from behind and scoring 3 runs in the 9th, one in the 10th and 2 in the 11th. 2003 Post-season results: NL Division Series: EXPOS defeated REDS, 3 games to 1 NL Division Series: CARDINALS defeated DIAMONDBACKS, 3 games to 2 AL Division Series: IRBL # 688 12-27-03 2 WHITE SOX defeated BLUE JAYS, 3 games to 0 AL Division Series: DEVIL RAYS defeated RANGERS, 3 games to 2 NL Championship Series: CARDINALS are tied with EXPOS, 1 game to 1 AL Championship Series: WHITE SOX defeated DEVIL RAYS, 4 games to 3 World Series: CARDINALS defeated WHITE SOX, 4 games to 3 You can see the scoresheets and boxscores for all the post-season games at the IRBL web site. ...................................... Manager changes since the last newsletter (previously announced via email): Manager resignation: Walter Sienzant has resigned as the ROYALS' manager after one season. Walter wrote: "Due to time constraints, I will resign from the IRBL. Good league, however, and if I have the opportunity in the future to make it back, I hope you will take me in." New IRBL DODGERS manager: Richard Pearson 5449 Colony Way Hoover, AL 35226-5060 205-989-8779 rjpearsonjr@earthlink.net Richard was almost the IRBL MARLINS last season but could not join then due to insufficient time to participate. Let's all welcome Richard to the IRBL! Team reservation: The BLUE JAYS have been reserved by a prospective new manager. ...................................... Volunteers needed to handle teams without managers: BRAVES EXPOS IRBL # 688 12-27-03 3 MARLINS PHILLIES ATHLETICS ROYALS TWINS A volunteer is needed to handle each team (release players before draft, draft for the team, prepare team season instructions and monitor player usage). You will get a credit LSP for the off-season player management and drafting and another credit LSP for preparing the season instructions and monitoring team usage. NOTE: John Parker is still the PHILLIES manager but due to continued family health problems and computer problems, he cannot resume handling his team before at least April. New email address: George C. Widenor (TIGERS) gwidenor@sbcglobal.net New telephone numbers: Matt Cummings (ANGELS) 952-473-8442 (home) 952-221-1112 (cell) I have included an updated IRBL Manager Address List. ...................................... UPDATED IRBL RULES: Attached is an updated IRBL Rules file with the year references updated to 2004 plus a change to IRBL Rule # 24D as follows: The three week period for receiving votes on a rule change proposal has been in effect for 30 years going back to when votes were cast by regular mail. Now that 99% of all communications are via email and can be made instantaneously (worst case within a few days), three weeks is too long. The time period has been changed from three weeks to one week. ...................................... PLAYER TRANSACTIONS: The BREWERS traded JULIO LUGO, DARRELL MAY, BREWERS' 4TH round pick, BREWERS' 5TH round pick, BREWERS' 6TH round pick to the RANGERS for RANGERS' 1ST round pick, RANGERS' IRBL # 688 12-27-03 4 2ND round pick, RANGERS' 4TH round pick. The PIRATES traded ANDRES GALARRAGA, TODD PRATT to the RANGERS for RANGERS' 3RD round pick. The PIRATES released IZZY ALCANTARA, JOSE CANSECO, CHRIS DONNELS, JEFF FRYE, CRAIG GREBECK, GLENALLEN HILL, WILLIE BANKS, MARK LEITER, TRAVIS SMITH. The ANGELS traded JASON LANE, ANGELS' 3RD round pick to the TIGERS for TOMAS PEREZ, DAVID RISKE. The ANGELS traded ANGELS' 2ND round pick to the PIRATES for CRAIG BIGGIO, KENT MERCKER. The PIRATES released BILL HASELMAN. The PADRES traded ROGER CLEMENS to the ANGELS for J.J. DAVIS, MIKE DEJEAN, ANGELS' 4TH round pick. The ANGELS traded SANDY ALOMAR JR., ANGELS' 5TH round pick to the DEVIL RAYS for RON VILLONE. The PADRES traded PADRES' 8TH round pick to the ANGELS for JEFF FASSERO. The WHITE SOX released SHANE ANDREWS, P.J. FORBES, TREY MOORE, JOHNNY RUFFIN. The DEVIL RAYS traded KRIS WILSON to the DIAMONDBACKS for GREGG ZAUN. The PADRES traded LUIS RIVAS to the PIRATES for SEAN DOUGLASS, JOSH FOGG. The PADRES released HERBERT PERRY, PEDRO BORBON. ...................................... Rule change proposal and voting: As indicated in my email dated Nov. 6th, the IRBL REDS manager, Jeff,Rankin, has proposed a change to the IRBL rules to repeal the DH rule for the IRBL NL to match the Major Leagues. As indicated in my email dated Nov.10th, this proposal was put to an official vote. The proposal was as follows: Changed the wording of IRBL Rule # 9 from: DESIGNATED HITTER: The DH Rule will be used in the AL and the NL. to: DESIGNATED HITTER: The DH Rule will be used in all games where an AL team is the home team. The pitcher will bat in IRBL # 688 12-27-03 5 all games where an NL team is the home team. Votes were cast either "FOR" or "AGAINST" as described below: "FOR" removing the DH rule for all games where an NL team is the home team or "AGAINST" the rule change (keep the DH rule for the NL and AL) As per the guidelines in IRBL Rule # 24, the proposal would pass if 2/3's of all votes received by the League Office by the voting deadline are "FOR" the proposal (3 weeks from the date of the ballot posting). The deadline for my receiving your vote was Sunday night, November 30th, 12 midnight (Eastern Time). Here are the voting results: 6 --> FOR 14 --> AGAINST 3 --> NOT VOTING Result: The proposal has failed and the DH rule will continue to be used in the IRBL NL. Details of the votes cast can be found at the end of this newsletter. ...................................... Final Penalty Summaries: Below are the final lists of penalties and credits that will be applied to the team draft order. TOT=PUP+LSP TEAM MANAGER --- --- --- ---- ------- 69 30 39 PHILLIES J.Parker 39 39 DEVIL RAYS C.Leeson 19 19 MARINERS D.Pittner 19 19 REDS J.Rankin 18 13 5 ORIOLES S.McEntire 2 2 PADRES A.Cristiani 1 1 CARDINALS D.Tobin 1 1 CUBS G.P.Widenor 1 1 RED SOX F.Hopkins 1 1 YANKEES B.Koopersmith Legend: TOT: Total penalties PUP: Player Usage Penalties IRBL # 688 12-27-03 6 LSP: Late Series Penalties ...................................... The following is the revised team draft order (counting LSP's, PUP's and credits but not counting trades): Note: Due to the penalty totals and the team positions, the PHILLIES and DEVIL RAYS were dropped down two rounds and the ORIOLES and REDS were dropped down one round PRELIMINARY 1 PIRATES 2 ROCKIES 3 TIGERS 4 TWINS FIRST ROUND SECOND ROUND 5 PIRATES 31 PIRATES 6 ROCKIES 32 ROCKIES 7 TIGERS 33 TIGERS 8 TWINS 34 TWINS 9 BREWERS 35 ORIOLES-1 10 BRAVES 36 BREWERS 11 GIANTS 37 BRAVES 12 CUBS-1 38 CUBS-2 13 ANGELS 39 GIANTS 14 YANKEES-1 40 YANKEES-2 15 ATHLETICS 41 ANGELS 16 ROYALS 42 ATHLETICS 17 INDIANS 43 ROYALS 18 WHITE SOX 44 INDIANS 19 DODGERS 45 WHITE SOX 20 PADRES-1 46 PADRES-2 21 METS 47 DODGERS 22 RANGERS 48 METS 23 MARLINS 49 REDS-1 24 EXPOS 50 RANGERS 25 ASTROS 51 MARLINS 26 BLUE JAYS 52 EXPOS 27 RED SOX-1 53 RED SOX-2 28 MARINERS-1 54 MARINERS-2 29 DIAMONDBACKS 55 ASTROS 30 CARDINALS-1 56 BLUE JAYS 57 DIAMONDBACKS 58 CARDINALS-2 THIRD ROUND 73 PHILLIES-1 74 PADRES-3 59 PIRATES 75 INDIANS 60 ROCKIES 76 WHITE SOX 61 TIGERS 77 REDS-2 62 TWINS 78 DODGERS 63 ORIOLES-2 79 METS 64 DEVIL RAYS-1 80 RANGERS 65 BREWERS 81 RED SOX-3 66 CUBS-3 82 MARINERS-3 67 BRAVES 83 MARLINS IRBL # 688 12-27-03 7 68 YANKEES-3 84 EXPOS 69 GIANTS 85 ASTROS 70 ANGELS 86 BLUE JAYS 71 ATHLETICS 87 DIAMONDBACKS 72 ROYALS 88 CARDINALS-3 Additional rounds will be identical to the Third Round. The teams that were lowered are noted by a dash and a number indicating the round the pick originated from. Please note that the differences in the draft order between the first, second and third rounds is due to how the penalty points are applied (refer to IRBL Rule # 13D4). If you find any mistakes in the penalties list or the team draft order, please let me know by Jan. 18th and I will make the necessary corrections. The team draft order will become final (mistakes included) after Jan. 18th. ...................................... UPDATED ROSTERS FILES: During the 2003 Major League Season, 1230 players (619 batters and 611 pitchers) appeared in at least one game. There are 12 more players this season than last season (6 more batters and 6 more pitchers). According to IRBL Rule # 13B1, all 30 teams will be allowed to draft until they have 41 rated players. ...................................... All teams are at or below the rated player limits but if you do want to release players to increase the number of players you can draft, you must release the players by the trading deadline. Please note that if you release too many players, you may end up drafting worse players than you released. Please remember that the 41 rated player draft limit is affected by trading draft picks. Please also remember that the maximum roster size at any time is 60 players. You must release enough non-rated players to make room on your roster for any players that you draft or trade for. At the end of the final pre-season trading deadline, the maximum roster size is 50 players. IRBL # 688 12-27-03 8 ...................................... I have included files of the current cross-referenced IRBL rosters and the DMB Game rosters. Please notify me immediately if you find any errors on the IRBL or DMB rosters. ...................................... The players who played for more than one team are listed on the DMB Roster team that they played the most for. ...................................... It was especially time consuming preparing the rosters this year. Although the DMB game has a "Migrate" feature to match the new season rosters to last year's IRBL roster, I had to identify and place on the appropriate teams 48 players who were rated this year but unrated last year (but rated in a previous season and still on an IRBL roster). It is also time consuming matching players on the DMB rosters to the IRBL rosters when there is a variation in a player's first name from the previous year (such as JOEY DAWLEY to JOE DAWLEY). In addition, I had to move BROOKS KIESCHNICK from the batter section to the pitcher section on the IRBL PADRES team roster (but he is listed as both a batter and pitcher on the Player Usage Form). This former full-time batter, last year pitched in 42 games and also started 3 games in LF and 4 at DH and pinch-hit in 20 games. This relocation was not a simple process with my 20 year old programs. ...................................... The players on the DMB Game Rosters without cross-referencing numbers will be eligible to be drafted (225 total players: 99 batters and 126 pitchers). This total will increase by any additional rated players that are released. ...................................... I have included a file containing the Player Usage Forms for all teams plus a file containing the Player Usage limitations for all the players eligible to be drafted. I have also included some additional information on the forms that you may find useful as a reference in comparing the players. To print out your own teams Player Usage Form, you can use the LIST program to highlight and print your team's page or you can edit and paste IRBL # 688 12-27-03 9 the entire file using your text editor or Word Processor (or using the DOS EDIT program by pressing [E] from the LIST program file list). ...................................... Please let me know if you find any mistakes in the Player Usage Form IRBL season limits. If there are any errors, the correct calculation will override these information sheets. ...................................... The year 2004 IRBL Rookie / Free-Agent Draft will start on Sunday Feb. 15th at 8 am until 9 pm, Eastern Time. At 9 pm, I will make a determination if I can complete the draft that night or to postpone the continuation of the draft until 8 am on the following Sunday. ...................................... I have enclosed a "Method Of Participating In The 2004 Draft" form. Please send me the required information in one of the following ways: 1) Edit and fill in the form and rename the filename extension to your team number in the following format: DRAFTFOR.Txx (i.e., the DODGERS would name the file DRAFTFOR.T03). Then email the file to me. 2) Just include the required information in an email and I will fill out the form for you. ...................................... I strongly recommend that you email me a draft instructions list even if you plan to participate by IRC or telephone just in case you are not available unexpectedly. Refer to IRBL Rule # 13C for details about the draft procedure and draft instructions. ...................................... In order to avoid any mis- understandings, please specify your draft picks (in this order) by indicating batter or pitcher, the DMB roster team name or number, and then the full first and last names for each player. ...................................... IRC (Internet Relay Chat): If anyone wants to participate in the IRBL draft using IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and needs help in using IRC, I recommend downloading the mIRC program from the www.mirc.co.uk web site. The latest version is 6.12. You can try IRBL # 688 12-27-03 10 the program for 30 days and then they expect a $20 registration fee if you want to continue using the program. IRBL Rule # 37 details how to participate using IRC, but here is a summary: After installing and starting the mIRC program, in the setup screen, you would add the marauders.ibl.org server name and then type in the #irbl channel. You will then be logged into that channel and you will see who is currently logged in. Then you can just type messages that everyone else logged into the channel can see. During the draft, I will post each draft pick on the IRC and I will update the IRBL web site. Please note that at times, Internet connection problems sometimes prevents sending updates to web sites so there may sometimes be a delay in keeping the IRBL web site up-to-date during the draft. ...................................... DMB player files: I have prepared a set of DMB player files sorted to the IRBL teams. Please follow these directions to install the files into DMB: Start the DMB game and do the following: o Select "File-Add reference to an existing database" o Navigate to this directory: C:\IRBL\LEAGUE.Y04 o Click "OK" o Select "Game-scheduled" o Verify that the white "Org" box in the upper left corner states the following: IRBL League (12/27/03) (Org) o Close the "Scheduled Game selection" window o Select "File-Add reference to an existing database" o Navigate to this directory: C:\IRBL\SERIES.Y04 o Click "OK" o Select "Game-scheduled" o Verify that the white "Org" box in the upper left corner states the following: IRBL Series (12/27/03) (Org) IRBL # 688 12-27-03 11 You will find all the IRBL players sorted to the appropriate IRBL teams and the players on the free agent list (not assigned to teams) will be eligible to be drafted in the upcoming IRBL draft. ...................................... DEADLINES: Jan. 25 - Trading and player release deadline (6 pm, EST) Feb. 15*- 2004 Draft (start 8 am, ET) Mar. 7*- Trading deadline (6 pm, ET) Mar. 21*- Team instructions to be received by League Office and all managers within your league Apr. 1*- First series of 2004 season *will slip one week for every Sunday the draft continues beyond Feb. 15 ...................................... Files included on LRD # 688: --------------------------- DRAFTFOR.Y04 --> Draft Participation Form DRAFTINF.Y04 --> Player Usage Form for all players eligible to be drafted (extra details) DRAFTPUF.Y04 --> Player Usage Form for all players eligible to be drafted IRBLROST.TXT --> IRBL Rosters IRBLRULE.TXT --> IRBL Rules MANAGERS.TXT --> Manager Address List NEWSL688.xxx --> Newsletter # 688 PLAYERUF.Y04 --> Player Usage Forms for all teams File Extension Legend (xxx): --------------------------- T1C --> Viewable one column newsletter text format TXT --> Viewable text format ...................................... BK IRBL # 688 12-27-03 12 Rule change proposal: Changed the wording of IRBL Rule # 9 from: DESIGNATED HITTER: The DH Rule will be used in the AL and the NL. to: DESIGNATED HITTER: The DH Rule will be used in all games where an AL team is the home team. The pitcher will bat in all games where an NL team is the home team. Voting results: Team Manager F A N ASTROS Marc Schlotthauer X DODGERS Richard Pearson X GIANTS Mike Mayko X PADRES Andrea Cristiani X REDS Jeff Rankin X CARDINALS Don Tobin X CUBS George P. Widenor X METS Gerry McDonald X PHILLIES John Parker X PIRATES Ricky Diaz X ANGELS Matt Cummings X RANGERS Michael Walsh X WHITE SOX Chip Hopkins X BREWERS John Mattfeld X INDIANS Bill Mattfeld X ORIOLES Scott McIntire X RED SOX Frank Hopkins X TIGERS George Widenor X YANKEES Barry Koopersmith X MARINERS Dave Pittner X ROCKIES Wing Lee X DIAMONDBACKS Don Swearingen X DEVIL RAYS Chris Leeson X Totals --> 6 14 3 FOR votes needed to pass --> 14 Vote result --> Failed Deadline --> 11/30/03 Legend: F --> FOR A --> AGAINST N --> NOT VOTING