Objectives

• A highly competitive league with stable management that boasts strong rivalries and great playoff matchups. To reward great managers who build great teams, but to have enough restrictions that make holding talent challenging, much like economic forces in MLB. A dynasty can occur, but it should be tough to do!
• A structure that is simple and direct so you don’t have to spend too much time figuring out the rules and can therefore make great decisions for your team without worrying about the structure getting in the way.
• The Annual Draft will have good talent each year to make draft picks reasonably valuable and a pipeline for competitive teams to fill holes and for rebuilding teams to add talent.
• To have a limited Minor League system that allows for teams to prioritize up and coming talent in both the draft and trades, but still small enough that it doesn’t rob too much talent from the Annual Draft.
• To make playoffs matter by incentivizing participation that keeps more teams in the races–reduces “super teams” preying on tanking teams.
• To be innovative and open to new ideas from the managers themselves. It will be all our league to bring our best ideas and be open to the ideas of others, but use the above objectives as a guide to ensure any changes elevate these objectives.
• To create a league where when you win it, you brag about it!

Overview: The Champions League is a Winter league using Strat-O-Matic’s most recent version of the computer baseball game and the most recent set of SOM player cards. Each season will use the most recent set of SOM player cards.

League Structure

Winter League playing games from Sept. to March with playoffs finished in April. 

Strat Draft: We use Strat Draft. Rosters will be up to date on the site. All files will be imported and downloaded from the cloud. After each series managers should push the results and are required to send the PRT of those games to the opposing manager or league at large. Baseball Max to be considered by the executive committee upon release for 2025 or 2026, once we’ve fully vetted it and are confident it is stable and improves the league.

Executive Committee:

The Executive Committee will serve revolving 3-year terms unless a member resigns or is voted out of office by two-thirds of the Champions League Managers or otherwise unanimous vote of the EC. Such a vote may be called at any time by one-third of the Managers and must include a separate voting for a replacement. The EC shall have the authority to implement any changes in the Champions League it deems necessary for the wellbeing of the League. Membership will be 5-7 managers. Sabatini will pay membership dues for EC members.

Responsibilities:

• Appoint new Managers to open teams.
• Maintain team rosters, accounting for drafts, roster cuts, and trades.
• Update and maintain strat draft.
• Create LZP and post to strat draft.
• Monitor monthly CMs for errors and usage violations.
• Compile league standings and statistics.
• Maintain the Champions League Web Site, as the primary means of communication
• Create schedules for all Champions League activities.
• Collect Dues and pay prize money (preferably via electronic means–paypal, venmo, zelle or otherwise, so the league does not require a bank account).

EC members:

• Jeff Berens (Strat Draft Maven)
• Tom Stephens
• Ron White
• John Moscariello
• Scot Sabatini
• Spreadsheet Maven: John Stryker

Teams and Managers: The League will consist of 24 teams; each owned by a separate manager, divided into two conferences of 12 teams each: The Premier Conference and the National Conference. There will be two divisions in each league, The Mays Division and Williams Division in the Premier Conference and the DiMaggio Division and Aaron Division in the National Conference.

Once every five years (in years ending with a 4 or 9), managers may move their team to an open major league ballpark. The league will conduct a ballpark draft for any managers looking to move their stadium.

Divisional alignment will only change through relegation, outside of specific decisions from the EC. The teams from the National Conference that earn advancement to the Premier Conference will take the spot of the same team that is relegated.

Dues: First year there are no dues. Second-year dues $15. Playoff teams earn free dues. EC dues paid by sabatini.

Prizes: The Champions League winner will earn his name on a plaque on The Champions Cup and earn the right to have possession of the cup until a new champion is crowned. The winner will also earn $100. The runner up will earn $50.

Schedule

Off- Season Schedule:

• June 1- Rosters cut down
• June 15- Annual Rookie/Minor League Draft begins
• Aug. 23- Off-season trading ends. All cuts must be made.
• Aug. 24-26: First Waiver claims. Must have room on the carded roster to make a claim.

Season Schedule:

• Opening Day Sept. 1
• Each block will be 23 or 24 games, mostly 4-game series
• Game play for each block begins on the first of Each month.
• All blocks finish on the 23rd of each month. Trades finalized.
• Waiver claims on 24^th of each month.
• CMLs due on 28th of each month.

Block Schedule:

• Sept 1 Block 1- In division, same conference 4 game series against other 5 teams, one in-conference division with a 3-game series. (Games 1-23) (e.g. Mays Division plays itself and 1 3 game series vs. Williams, etc.)
• Oct 1- Block 2- other division same conference, 4×6 (Games 24-47)
• Nov 1. Block 3- Interconference, one division plays all six teams in the other division 4×6 (Games 48-71)
• Dec. 1 Block 4- In division, same conference with one each from other division (Games 72-94)
• Jan. 1 Block 5- Interconference, play vs. other division 4×6 (95-118)
• Jan. 28 Trade Deadline. Players must be active by Feb. to be on playoff roster
• Feb. 1, Block 6- Other division, same conference (119-142)
• March 1, Block 7 7A/B- in division, same conference (143-162).
• April- All playoffs. Champions Cup Winner Crowned

Conference Alignment

Initial determination of placement will be based on Fan Graphs War at the end of the Franchise Draft and a brief trading period up until July 20. Trades finished before that date, submitted and confirmed will be enacted for the final WAR tally. Trades coming after July 20 will not impact WAR totals and ranking. All divisions and conferences will be finalized July 21, using the chart below.

Premier Conference – Top 12.

• Mays Division (Seeds 1, 4, 5, 8,9,12)
• Williams Division (Seeds, 2, 3, 6,7,10,11)

National Conference – Bottom 12.

• DiMaggio Division (Seeds 13, 16, 17, 20-21, 24)
• Aaron Division (Seeds 14,15, 18, 19, 22-23)

Future Divisions will not change except teams being relegated and promoted, unless decided by the EC.

Relegation: At the end of each season, the two last place teams (11^th and 12^th place) in the Premier Conference will be relegated to the National Conference, replaced by two teams that will be promoted, which will include the team with the best record and the winner of a National Conference Playoff.

• If there is a tie for the 11^th place finisher of the Premier Conference, a one-game playoff will be played with the winner staying in the Premier Conference and the loser being relegated.
• If there is a tie for the #1 spot of National Conference, there will be a one-game playoff. The winner will be promoted and advance to the playoffs, the loser will compete in the National playoffs for the final playoff spot and promotion.
• The #1 finisher from the National Conference will swap with the #11 finisher from the Premiere Conference. The National Conference playoff winner will swap with the last place finisher of the Premier Conference.

Rosters

Roster Size:

We will use carded players only for the major league roster.

• Roster limits are in force at all times, during the season. If you go over, you have to cut to waivers. MLB rosters are not enforced in the off-season until the cut down date on June 1.
  • Total Franchise Roster: 44
    • MLB Roster: 34.
• • • Minor League Roster Limit: 10.
  • Starting year 2: Two non-carded or computer only DL guys can be protected on the minor league roster, but the team must meets the minimum needed for usage (6000 PAs, 1525 IPs) for the first block or will have to waive non-carded players on the active roster.
• End of season roster cut down:
  • 21 players for Premier League
  • 23 players for National League
  • Up to 2 non-carded players may be protected under the 10-man minor league roster limit.
  • More non-carded players can be protected on the cut-down roster.
  • Non-carded or computer carded players that are not on a roster are not eligible to be drafted until they are carded.
• Waivers open each block. Worst record breaks a tie if two or more managers make a waiver claim on the day the player is announced.
  • All players waived or acquired on waivers will return to the Annual Draft the next season and may not be protected.
  • Teams must stay under the 34-man roster if they make a waiver claim.

Minors

The minor league rosters are designed to be representative of top talent, but with an emphasis on young talent, so it is truly “developmental.” We don’t want to dilute the Annual Draft by having all of the elite rookies and non-carded players already on team rosters.

Each team will have a Minor League roster of UP TO Ten players. The minimum is ONE player.

Minor league players in the FanGraphs (March 1 edition) top 51-200 will be eligible to be drafted in during the Annual Draft and will not be counted against the carded roster limits. Each team can draft four minor league players each season, so long as they have room under the 10-man minor league roster limit.

The Top 50 prospects will NOT be eligible for the annual draft unless carded by Strat-o-matic.

Minor Leaguers drafted will receive a “contract” of ML1. The next year if not carded he will go to ML2, and the following year ML3. If after 3 years he is still not carded he must be added to the protected roster or cut.

ML players can be cut or traded at any time, but their contract designation will not change. If an ML2 is traded he goes to the other team as an ML2. If he is cut, he returns to the draft as an ML2.

Any player in the Top 50 one year and not eligible to be drafted that falls out of the Top 50 and is still uncarded will then become eligible to be drafted.

League Play

162 game schedule. Net play is encouraged but not mandatory, until the playoffs when all games are mandatory.

• All managers play ROAD games, so home ballpark impact helps HAL.
• During each block managers may call up any minor league starter 3 times (must be in the starter schedule when CMs are submitted) as long as all necessary rest for starters is maintained.
• The extra roster slot and the starter call up provision are designed to make the season more realistic to the ways MLB teams juggle lineups.

Playing Rules

Designated Hitter will be used in all games.

Starting Pitchers and Relief Pitchers: Starting pitchers must have at least four calendar days rest between starts, with the exception of *pitchers, who can start on 3 days rest, but cannot exceed 2 more than total starts than actual starts in the MLB season OR 115% usage.

A pitcher may not be used in relief in any series in which he starts a game, or in either the series before or after the series in which he starts a game. Both teams shall be given five days off before each series in order that bullpens are fully rested at the start of each series.

Fielding Positions:

• Players may only start games at a position for which they received a fielding rating for the applicable MLB season.
• Outfielders may play in any outfield position with the standard “out of position” adjustments imposed by SOM.
• Active rosters must include sufficient players rated at each position such that after the first injury in a game, that team’s lineup retains players rated at each position.
• Managers may not choose to play a player out of position unless there is no rated player available.
• Position players may only be used as pitchers when a team’s bullpen has been exhausted.
• Pitchers may only be used as pinch runners and can only play a defensive position or hit if an injury occurs and no other eligible batter can be played.
• Excessive bunting (judgement determined case-by-case by the EC) is not allowed. Sacrifices deemed excessive (best defined as a clear attempt to save Pas with bunts far out of line with the player’s rating and use in MLB) will result in the manager being notified that further bunts will count as IPs.

Computer Managers: Each manager will play their team’s ROAD GAMES. Therefore, managers will prepare computer managers for their home games in each segment and post to Strat Draft cloud by the block deadline (23rd of each month). Note: At the end of each series, results pushed to the cloud have to be designated by the home team or Strat Draft will give an error message that the road team (you) has no games to push.

Computer managers must contain the following information:

• Active rosters 27 carded players and up to three 1 day call up starters used for segments 1 through 6 broken down with these limits:
  15 hitters max. 5 or 6 starters deactivated but still counting toward the 27 man roster. Active relievers for the remaining slots.
• Starting pitchers must be programmed into the computer manager and deactivated in the computer manager – the SOM game will automatically activate and deactivate scheduled starting pitchers as needed, but this will avoid starters being used as relievers, or being used as hitters.
• “Call up” starters are not active and do not count toward the 27-man roster, but must be programmed into the HAL starter schedule. This can be the same starter 3x a block or a different one each time but must meet rest requirements for each start.
• Starting lineups: as many as desired using SOM’s DLM tool, with four lineups at minimum (Right, Rev. Right, Left, Rev. Left). N/A in hal should be filled in.
• All Super Hal features may be programmed (substitutes, bullpen, pinch hitter, pinch runners, base running).
• In Manager Preferences, the settings “Deadball Style” and “Extra Conservative” may not be used for Relief Pitcher Usage. “Do not Let Hal Remove” starting pitchers may not be used.
• All players have 115% usage. We want managers playing to win as much as possible and not playing to manage usage without making it unrealistic overall.

Game and Rule Settings

Rules

Lineups and Usage

 Autoplay / Box Score

Maximum Rule Settings

If SOM introduces new options / rules / settings into the computer game for future seasons, the EC will determine if and how such features will be used in the Champions League.

Deadlines and Penalties

Managers may submit new Computer Managers for each segment. If a manager does not submit a new Computer Manager for a segment, the Computer Manager he used in the previous segment shall continue to be used. In such cases and if the previous computer manager does not have a starting pitcher rotation programmed for the upcoming segment, the starting pitchers used in the last five games of the previous segment shall be used as the starting pitcher rotation for the upcoming segment.

Teams can accumulate over usage penalties and deadline penalties. Over usage penalties can impact playoff positioning. Both over usage penalties and deadline penalties can impact the next season’s draft position (see penalty section below).

Repeated failure to submit a computer manager and/or game results on time and gross misuse of players can lead to either relegation and/or EC review for replacing the manager with one from the waiting list. Pre-season dues, if paid, will not be returned.

Usage Limits: Players are limited to 115% of their actual PA/IP from the applicable MLB season. Player usage is cumulative for the season, and all appearances for all teams count against his usage limit.

Deadline penalties: Each block and off-season deadline will be scored. We understand life gets in the way at times. Communication with members of the EC before a delay occurs will often be sufficient to mitigate penalties, except in the instance where repeated requests/excuses are made.

Any games not played by the block deadline will be quick-played by the league office and all potential over usage penalties will be applied.

Deadline penalty points will be scores as follows:

• All successive deadlines: 1 penalty point.
• For each 3 points accumulated the team will drop 2 spots in the upcoming draft.
• For 10 or more points the team will face relegation and/or EC review for possible suspension.
• Missing a draft window will not incur a penalty point, but the selection will be skipped. The pick can be made at any point when the manager returns. FOR THE FRANCHISE DRAFT, a MISSED TIME SLOT will be chosen by HAL, unless the manager has previously notified a member of EC that they prefer to leave the spot open until they are capable of making the pick. In most instances HAL will be allowed to draft to ensure the team is meeting requirements and getting competitive cards. Simple answer: Prepare for the draft using Auto-draft feature, sending a list to a member of the EC or being available as scheduled to select your pick.

Penalties for Overuse: At the end of the regular season, a designated member(s) of the EC will publish a list of penalty points for each team and it’s impact on the playoffs and/or upcoming draft position.

A team’s total overuse, if any, shall be converted to “Overuse Points” using the following formula: PA Overuse: 1pt per PA, 3 pts per IP. 115% is the buffer, so it’s STRONGLY ADVISED to stay clear of the line!

The first 5 points of over usage are not penalized. At 6 points the team will drop ½ game in its win/loss record. Each total of 5 more points will reduce another ½ game.

Any game started by a pitcher already over his usage will have to be replayed, either by the offending team’s opponent or quick play by the league office and the team will be given 5 penalty points of over-usage.

For every 20 points of total over-usage the team will be dropped 1 slot in the next year’s draft, combined with the potential dropped slots from above for missed deadlines.

Excessive overuse:

Teams with 51 or more Overuse Points may be deemed ineligible for post season play. Sometimes honest mistakes happen. The EC may reduce or waive penalties for teams and players if imposing such penalties would not be in the best interests of the Champions League as a whole. The offending team will be given a chance to explain the overuse to aid in the best determination of the playoff impact.

Individual Players for Playoffs who exceed excessive overuse standards will be suspended for playoff games or series based on the chart below:

If a team has traded a draft pick that is subject to the above penalties, the other manager can accept the penalty’s reduced position, or appeal to take a one-round higher pick in the next season’s annual draft.

If a manager leaves the league or is suspended draft position penalties will not be enforced on the new manager, but playoff penalties will remain if the season has not yet concluded.

EACH BLOCK the EC will review games for misuse and check CMs for errors. Any requests to change a CM must be made by the manager within 48 hours or the league will make any necessary changes to help the team comply (though a penalty point may be assessed if the team does not comply). Upon review of results, players may be ruled ineligible for the next cycle of games:

• Any players who is likely to overused by HAL in the next block.
• A pitcher who is used both as a reliever and a starter within the same series the month before.
• A reliever who is permitted to start a game the month before.
• A pitcher who starts with less than the required days of rest the month before.
• Other areas of potential excessive overuse as determined by the EC

Replays may be required if the rules or CMs are not followed. Owners can request a replay within the same month by e-mailing the EC with the reason for the request. Any game improperly played will have to be replayed in a timely fashion or will be quick-played by the league office.

Homerism Protection: We have sought out managers with a proven track record and strong reference, so we don’t expect to be in the midst of accusations of foul play. Everyone should try to be open to net play when they can. And all teams will conduct themselves with the best of Strato values.

That said, we will guard against “homerism,” which can lead to hard feelings, manager turnover and strife–none of which we need in a fun hobby. To protect against this, we will use these guidelines for everyone, from the EC to the newest member:

• Any team that has a plus-minus of 18 games for two straight seasons will be under EC review. Penalties could include relegation or lost draft picks.
• Any team that has a plus-minus of 24 games for two seasons will be reviewed by the EC for either relegation or suspension, with his team going to the next manager on the waiting list.
• Any team with an inverted plus-minus of 20+ games from the National Conference, will be reviewed by the EC and could be docked positions in the draft. If two or more seasons persist, they will be under EC review.

These are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, largely intended to provide communication between the manager and the EC before accusations and distrust is made among competing managers. Yes, manage your road games to win, but it’s wise to use road games for usage concerns, which should help keep home and away within a reasonable level. Home games by HAL in your ballpark will help those records be slightly improved in the favor of overall balance.

We know some managers play a super aggressive style that HAL can’t replicate. But 18-plus win/loss differential for 2 years or more is cause for concern.

We will consider of course the totality of the circumstances before taking any action and will have open dialogue before any action is deemed necessary over a sustained period of time.

Simple answer: Communicate before it becomes a problem and use all of these guidelines as that… something to check in and be aware to avoid unnecessary rifts that can hurt a league.

Competitive Gaming Rule:  Teams are to do their best to field their most competitive roster throughout the season. The following strategies for “tanking” are not allowed:

• Strategy/Lineups created without quality players or quality players made inactive far below their allowed PA/IPs.
• Using autoplay to play road games. While some quick play is understood (though not preferred) excessive autoplay generally causes the team to be less competitive on the whole.
• Game play or CM’s designed to save PA/IP but reduce competition (excessive bunting, running into outs, leaving pitchers far past their fatigue).
• Not using the best players to a reasonable level of their PA/IP total.

Roster management to protect PAs or IPs (i.e. placing a quality reliever inactive for a block, or batting a top player lower in the lineup) is part of the game. The above circumstances would have to be deemed intentional and excessive.

If the EC determines a manager is employing such tactics, a warning letter will be sent. Repeated instances could result in lowered draft position, relegation and/or suspension. Remember, we’re a play-to-win league. Yes, times will call for rebuilding, but even then teams should manage to be as competitive as possible throughout the season.

Playoffs

Our goal is to make the playoffs competitive for as many teams as possible. To do this we’ve created a mini-playoff for the National Conference that will allow the lower tier a chance to compete against the top teams.

Days Off:

• There are no scheduled off days should a 1-game playoff be needed before or after the series.
• There will be one scheduled off day between each Playoff Series and at the beginning of the playoffs from the regular season.
• In a best 2 out of 3, there are no days between the three games.
• In a best 3 out of 5, there is a day off after game 2.
• In a best 4 out of 7, there is and off day between games 2 and 3 and games 5 and 6 in each “Best-of-Seven” series.
• Games not needed in any playoff series will also be considered days off for the team advancing to the next series.

Tiebreakers: Ties for seeding in the playoffs (except ties for playoff qualifier as designated below) will be determined as follows:

1. Best record head-to-head competition
2. Best home record
3. Largest run differential (runs scored minus runs allowed)
4. Coin toss

Ties for Wild Card playoff qualifiers will be determined by as many one-game playoff series as necessary to determine the playoff teams in each league.

• If there is a tie for the #1 spot of National Conference, there will be a one-game playoff.
• If there is a tie for the 11^th place finisher of the Premier Conference, a one-game playoff will be played with the winner staying in the Premier Conference and the loser being relegated.
• If there is a tie for the final spot in either conference playoff, there will be a one-game playoff.

There will be no off days in between the regular season, these one-game series and the Wild Card Series. For purposes of determining any overuse penalties, statistics from the one-game series shall be considered post-season statistics. Starters in these games must have sufficient rest from the regular season and will need sufficient rest in future playoff series.

NetPlay is mandatory for all playoff games. If a manager cannot play via NetPlay, they must find a replacement manager in the league (or someone from the EC as assigned) to manage their team so that all games can be played via NetPlay.

Playoff rosters: Active rosters for each playoff series shall consist of 26 players (not the 27 used in the regular season to mitigate usage concerns), all of whom were on the team’s roster by the trading deadline. Active rosters:

• may not be changed during a playoff series but may be changed for the next playoff series if a team advances.
• must include an eligible back-up at each fielding position, just as in the regular season.
• Cannot include any player suspended for any games of post-season play due to over usage penalties.

Starting Lineups:

• All hitters in the starting lineup for any playoff game must be rated at the position at which they are used.
• All starting pitchers for any playoff game must have pitched at least 75 innings in the previous MLB regular season, with the exception of an opener — any pitcher with a starter rating of (1) or (2). Openers can start 1 game of any playoff series under SOM fatigue rules for usage. All other rests of starter/reliever apply (see below).
• All starting pitchers must have at least four calendar days of rest in between starts. Please note *pitchers cannot start on three days rest (as this is almost never used anymore in MLB) but can relieve within a same series with less rest limitations, see below.
• If a pitcher is used as both a starting pitcher and as a relief pitcher (1), that pitcher must have three calendar days off before and after each game he is used as a starting pitcher. Both of these rest requirements for starting pitchers carry over from one playoff series to the next playoff series. * Pitchers can be used as a relief pitcher (1) two days after this start and only require 3 days rest from the relief appearance to again be a starter.

Playoff Player Usage Limits: As in the Regular Season, only players with printed cards are eligible for the playoffs. Players with “Computer-Only” cards are ineligible for the playoffs. During the playoffs, players shall be limited to the number of PA /IP innings pitched for each series as shown in the chart below and rounded to the nearest at-bat or whole inning. Any ABs/IPs used in extra innings will not count against these usage limits.

Any playoff game in which a player is used in excess of the above usage limits can be appealed to the EC for review by the losing manager. Depending on how egregious the over usage was the EC may rule for the game to be replayed or the game forfeited. The overused player can be suspended for any number of games determined to be reasonable based on the overuse.

Results from each playoff series (in the form of game result files and box scores / PAC files) shall promptly be reported to the EC by one of the managers involved in that playoff series. One manager or both shall also provide a report to the team website.

Playoff Eligible:

• The top six teams from the Premier Conference make the playoffs.
• Two division winners are top two seeds regardless of records and will play two teams from the National Conference in the first round.
• The 4 next best records are seeded #3-6.
• The top team from the National Conference is #7 seed and is automatically promoted the following season.
• The #2-#5 teams of the National Conference will have a “play in” tournament. The winner takes the #8 and final seed and is promoted to the Premier Conference the next season.
• The 8-team playoff will determine the winner of the Champions League Cup.
• All 8 teams earn free dues for the following season.

Playoff Bracket:

Trades

All trades are permanent. No loaning or leasing of players is permitted. Trades may not include “Players to be named later” “Future considerations” or any other consideration other than players or draft picks. All transactions within a trade must be completed at the same time – that is, trades that involve players moving to a new team in one segment and other players moving to a new team in a different segment are not permitted. A trade that includes an agreement that the same teams will make a subsequent trade at a later date will not be permitted.

No player or draft pick traded from one team to another can be re-traded to the original team for a period of 18 months.

Draft Pick Protection: To reduce the motivation for teams to adopt a “tanking” strategy and to maintain competitive balance within a season the following draft pick trading restrictions apply:

• Draft picks for the upcoming draft can be freely traded once the prior draft is completed. The following year’s draft picks can be included in trades ONCE the previous season has ended. Prior to the draft, picks from the upcoming draft AND the following draft will be allowed with the following restrictions:
• Draft picks for the following season’s draft require that teams must retain at least three picks in the first five rounds at all times, and at least one of these three picks must be in the first two rounds in the following year’s draft to protect the team’s draft currency should the manager drop from the league.
• Draft picks after Round 14 may not be traded before the draft. During the draft any pick can be traded within that draft.

Trades that involve more than seven players or picks from any one team will be reviewed by the EC to ensure such moves are in the best interest of the league. Any member of the EC directly impacted (either involved in the trade or impacted as a competitor of those trading) will be recused from the review of the trade.

Deadlines: Trades may be made at any time, with the exception that there will be no trading between the Jan trade deadline through the end of the Regular Season. (No Trade Period). All trades made after the end of the Regular Season shall not be effective for any of the Champions League Season’s Playoff Series.

Both managers involved in a trade must report such trade to the EC. Trades shall generally become effective on the first day of the next Block, subject to detailed Regular Season schedules and deadlines established in advance by the EC for each Regular Season.

Annual Draft 

Each year the Annual Draft will be held in June with the exact date to be determined and announced in advance by the EC. The draft will take place in Strat Draft.

The Annual Draft will include 20 rounds (each manager must select four minor league cards). The draft is sufficient for all teams to meet their roster limit of 34 active players and 4 minor league rookie selections if the normal draft schedule is applied.

If excessive trades occur, a team may not have enough selections in the draft but can fill their roster with FA waiver claims as needed.

All teams that meet their roster limit of 34 carded players and 4 minor league players drafted will have any remaining picks passed (and cannot be traded). Should a team have traded a pick earlier that is eventually passed, the team that traded for the pick will be allowed to keep it.

All teams must make the needed cuts to reduce their rosters by June 1. Managers must report their roster cuts to the EC.

Prior to the date of the draft, the league will publish a list of players (carded and minor) eligible for the Annual Draft. Players receiving printed cards in the applicable SOM Card Set for the upcoming Champions League season and who are not on a Champions League roster are eligible for the draft. Any played waived prior to the draft will be eligible (minor or carded).

NOT Eligible for the draft:

• Players receiving “Computer Only” cards
• Non-carded players in the Fangraphs top 50, March 1 edition, as determined by the League office.

A list of all eligible players will be supplied by the league, along with an active LZP. All eligible players will be posted on Strat Draft prior to the start of the draft.

IF AN ELIGIBLE PLAYER is somehow missed and not posted to strat draft, teams must notify the league of the error prior to the start of the draft or that player will remain ineligible for the entire draft.

The Annual Draft schedule will have specific 30-minute time blocks, with 24 picks scheduled each weekday and have specific 20, 15 and 10 minute time blocks with between 36 and 72 picks scheduled each weekend day.

Managers may provide a draft list or use the Auto Draft feature of Strat Draft for an upcoming pick if they know they will not be available during the 15-minute time block established for that draft pick. If a manager does not make his selection before the end of the 15-minute time block for that draft pick, their turn in the draft order will be passed. Managers do not lose that draft pick, but only their place in line. Managers may use that draft pick at any time before the end of the draft to select from the players available at the time that draft pick is used.

DRAFT ORDER DETERMINATION

• After the mini-playoffs, two National League teams will be promoted (#1 team and play-in playoff winner.. both of whom will compete in the 8-team playoffs for the League Championship Cup. 
• The two worst records (Tie-breaking formulas are in the constitution) will be relegated to the National conference. 
• Draft order next year will go as follows:
• WEIGHTED LOTTERY: 7 lowest National league record teams (those not making the play-in tournament).
• 8-10: Three teams from play-in tournament that didn’t advance, by regular season record.
• 11-12: Two team relegated from Premiere Conference, by regular season record.
• 13-16: Four non-playoff teams from the Premiere Conference by regular season record.
• 17-18: National Conference teams that were promoted REGARDLESS OF PLayoff FINISH.
• 19-24: Premiere conference teams by regular season record (NOT playoff success). 

Cloud Instructions

LEAGUE CODE: 5007

LEAGUE ACCESS: 10176

To download the league

• In the game, go to ‘Cloud’->’Download League from Cloud…’
• Enter the league number (5007) and the access code(10176) and hit OK.  These numbers will stay the same for the entire year.
• After you get the ‘file has downloaded successfully’ message, hit OK again
• Confirm you want to restore the league.
• Choose what you want to restore (sometimes there will only be rosters and stats) and hit Ok.
• Confirm with OK one more time and the league will be restored – click final OK.

Claim your team

• After you download the file for the first time during the year, you MUST claim your team. This only needs to be done once per year.
• Select  the appropriate league and then select your team
• Go to ‘Cloud’-> ‘Claim Team’
• You’ll be asked to enter a user name and password. Write down/record your password for future reference.  Then hit OK.
• Please note: Your individual password was provided to you. If you get an error contact Strat Maven Jeff Berens for a reset.

To push your CM to the cloud

• Download the latest version of the league.
• Select the appropriate league and your team
• Create/update your CM.
• Go to ‘Cloud’ -> ‘Push Computer Manager’
• Enter 0 and DO NOT LOCK your CM. We may need to make corrections, etc. as the rules explained above.
• You will get a message letting you know the CM was pushed successfully

Playing the games for the month:

• Huge and Important Warning!!!!  Do NOT download the league from the cloud if you have game results that haven’t been pushed.  When in doubt, push results, then download.
• Download the latest version of the league.
• Update schedule (Schedule Batch Change) as usual.
• Select the appropriate league, and your team.
• Play the games as usual.  If games have been pushed, you may download the league when you want to see any updated usage from games already posted.
• From time to time you will get an email update from the Draft Maven telling you can start working on your CM early. Follow those guidelines as directed.

To push your game results

• Select the appropriate league and then select your team.
• Go to ‘Cloud’ -> ‘Push Game Result Files’
• YOU MUST SELECT THE HOME TEAM of the games you’ve played, since you were the road manager! For this reason we recommend pushing your game result each series.
• You can watch the upload progress in the bottom window of the main screen and should get a message confirming success.
• Next, select the team you played, then go to ‘Cloud’ -> ‘Push Game Result Files’.   Repeat this for each team you’ve played. Strat only pushes results from games played at the selected team and you cannot select multiple teams to push results from.
• Once all game results have been pushed to the cloud, please send your boxscores out to the league email address. 
• A note about pushing game results: the process moves the game result files to the Exported folder (from the EXPORT folder) after the push has completed.  If you want to save off game result files before pushing the results, copy the game result files from the EXPORT folder – do not move them.  The Strat game expects to find game result files in the EXPORT folder.

Website

The Champions League Website is here. https://thechampionsleague.net/

The website will be the official posting place for all news, updates, and chatter. Managers are encouraged to submit blog posts, update results and participate in the forums, but it is not required.

Managers are encouraged to limit leaguewide emails and use the forum as the preferred source of communication.

Series updates can be posted to the forum.

The forum, blog or website must NOT BE USED to air complaints against a specific manager. Concerns of these nature should be addressed only to a member of the EC. Penalty points will be incurred for attacking another manager after an initial warning is given.

PLAY BALL!