1. OBJECTIVE

1. To assemble 12 teams made up of a maximum of 27 players per team, whose statistics will be compiled by methods described in this constitution. Teams will draft their players through a snake draft. The 12 teams will form the Trouble With the Curve Fantasy Baseball League, which will be referred to as TWCFBL.

2. LEAGUE INFORMATION

1. The league will consist of 12 teams with 2 divisions. The divisions will be the East and West. There will be 6 teams per division.

2. The length of the regular season will be 21 weeks.

3. Teams compete head-to-head from week 1 thru 21.

4. The 2019 Trade Deadline is August 16th, 2019, at 12:00 PM ET.

5. Six (6) teams qualify for the playoffs. Head-to-Head record will serve as the playoff seeding tiebreaker.

6. The league home is http://fantasy.espn.com/baseball/league?leagueId=81957761 and this is where owners will conduct league business.

3. Terms, Fees & Prize Money

1. The franchise fees are $20 per owner each league season. The 2019 franchise fees are due February 15th at 12:00 PM ET. All dues for future season are due by March 1st of each calendar year. Any owner who does not meet these terms annually will have his team’s owner functions disabled on March 2nd of the applicable calendar year. Said owner will have until March 15th of that calendar year to bring the account into good standing. If the account is not in good standing by March 15th, the franchise will be assumed by the league office for reassignment to another prospective and new league owner. Special payment stipulations may be made for any owner, at the discretion of the league office.

2. If an owner leaves the league or vacates his team, he may waive his right for return of any advanced season fees. However, the league office reserves the right to offer a refund to a leaving owner who is in good standing.

3. Any team assumed by the league office in season will be managed by the commissioner’s office until reassignment. ‘Best line-up’ will serve as basis for setting vacant team lineup.  

4. Understanding of the payment terms: to encourage return ownership and/or to help reduce league turnover. Complexities, depth, and detail of the league will require serious, active, competitive, skilled and COMMITTED owners. These terms may help facilitate that.

5. PayPal or Venmo will be used for all league payments and prizes. You will be awarded your prize via the same method you paid. Payouts will commence approximately one (1) week after the completion of the league season.

6. Any owner who wishes to leave the league should notify the commissioner’s office immediately upon decision. Based upon the timing of the owner’s decision, management decisions affecting the team will differ. The commissioner’s office will determine the course of action until another owner can be installed.

7. Any miscellaneous fees incurred on behalf of the league will be absorbed by the commissioner until further notice. The entry fees are 100% paid out, per the following:

1. League Champion – $160

2. 2nd place – $60

3. 3rd place – $20

4. Communications

1. ESPN has email notifications to keep owners updated on league activities.

2. Use the league chat, league message board and/or email league option to communicate with fellow owners.

3. For trade discussions, the best method would be to send private emails or messages between owners. When a trade agreement is reached, use the league site to initiate the trade approval process.

4. The league board should be used to solicit team specific dialogue, as it may relate to your roster, for players under consideration by the owner for trade, etc.

5. Inaugural Draft

1. The snake draft date & time will be decided once all owners have been established.

2. The draft order for the draft will be determined randomly by the ESPN system one (1) hour prior to the draft.

3. The pick timer is 60 seconds.

6. League Bylaws

1. The league office will consist of one commissioner (Adam Sutton).

2. The commissioner is the primary responsible party and authority for maintaining the host site, collecting league dues, disbursing prize money, interpreting bylaws, conducting league business, arbitrating disputes, recording draft, waiver information, communicating with owners and maintaining the league vision moving into the future.

3. Any disputes should be filed within 48 hours as an appeal to the league office. If the league office receives an appeal, the ruling of the league office is final. All appeals or disputes will be investigated within 48 hours unless the league determines more time is needed.

4. Aside from the initial constitution, any amendments (non-correctional or procedural in nature) are decided using a democratic voting process. These issues will be revised by the commissioners and will be published for all owners as needed.

5. All owners should participate in any voting process.

6. League votes are considered final, unless an appeal is filed with the league office. No ties will be allowed in a voting process. Should there be a tie, the league office will determine the fate of the vote in this instance and results will be made available to the league.

7. Any owner in good standing may put forth a request to modify the constitution and this should be done via league message board in the league office. A poll will then be created to open voting, which will last seven (7) days (or 14 days in offseason) or until all owners have voted.

8. Any poll (unless a trade or fee increase) will need a minimum of seven (7) total votes to have the ability to pass. A poll will pass if 67% or more affirmative votes are given.

The minimum affirmative votes necessary to enact or take action on a poll once the seven (7) vote threshold has been met will be as follows:

7 total-->5 affirmative to pass

8 total-->6 affirmative to pass

9 total-->6 affirmative to pass

10 total-->7 affirmative to pass

11 total-->8 affirmative to pass

12. total-->8 affirmative to pass

J.           Any league fee increase requires unanimous approval.

11. All trades must go to a league vote for approval. Four (4) vetoes will automatically reject any trade. Trade review period is two (2) days.

12. During all league seasons, the league office reserves the right to modify existing bylaws if any loopholes or mistakes are discovered.

1. Owner Conduct

11. Tanking is a serious threat to the league. Tanking is defined as the act of submitting a weaker lineup or ignoring your team/owner duties intentionally. While owners have the freedom to submit lineups that they feel gives them the best chance to win, the rule is in place to keep league competition at the highest level. An owner found guilty of tanking is will be subject to removal from the league.

12. Collusion is a serious threat to the integrity of the league. Collusion is defined as an agreement or cooperation between two or more owners to defraud or purposely provide a competitive advantage for a franchise. Any owner(s) suspected of collusion will be suspended and will not have any league privileges while the commissioner investigates. The commissioner reserves the right to take any action necessary to reverse any potential roster ramifications from the start of the suspected collusion. If the owner(s) are found guilty of collusion, the commission reserves the right to remove any ownership rights and the owner will be banned, effective immediately.

13. Owners will be able to submit lineups, perform waiver/free agent transactions, drop players, participate in trades, make IR moves, create league polls, view league transaction history, participate in drafts, and post to the league message board/chat room.

14. All owners should conduct themselves professionally. Abusive behavior will not be tolerated and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken. All owners are expected to participate in all league events, respond to trade offers in a reasonable amount of time and act in good faith in any league related issues. The league office reserves the right to contact any owner to discuss any participation issues.

1. First offense in regards to owner conduct-written warning to owner, with the option to make the offense public to the league

2. Second offense in regards to owner conduct-2 week suspension/forfeit of games

3. Third offense in regards to owner conduct-removal from the league and a lifetime ban. All league dues and prize money will be forfeited and not refunded. These funds will remain in the total prize fund.

4. All suspensions are subject to appeal, if filed within 48 hours to the league office.

2. Scoring

11. Scoring is standard 5x5 categories as follows:

1. Batting (R, HR, RBI, SB, OBP)

2. Pitching (K, QS, SV, ERA, WHIP) (min. 10 IP)

3. Rosters

11. Each franchise has a maximum of 27 active roster positons (20 starters/7 bench) available. There are also two (2) disabled list (DL) spots available.

12. A team’s starting roster consists of 20 players:

1. C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, MI (2B/SS), CI (1B/3B), OF, OF, OF, OF, OF, UTIL, P, P, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP

4. Acquisition & Waiver Rules

11. Each franchise has $260 budget available to spend on free agents via the free agent auction.

12. Waivers will process each Sunday and Wednesday at 8 AM ET. The minimum bid is $1.

13. The free agent auction tiebreaker will reset each week to the inverse order of the standings.

5. Keepers

11. Starting with the 2020 season, each team will be allowed to keep up to two (2) players. This locks one (1) hour prior to that season’s draft.

12. Inflation will apply to the keeper cost. For example, if you drafted Johnny Baseball in the 15th round, you will lose your 14th round draft pick the following year. If you keep him another year, you will lose your 13th round draft pick the following year and so on.

13. Inflation also applies to waiver acquisitions. If you acquire a player for $2 mid-season, you will have the choice to keep him the following season, but you will lose that amount from your upcoming year’s FAAB pool. You will also surrender a 15th round draft pick.

14. Any players involved in trades will keep their draft status in terms of where they were initially drafted.