RULES OF THE B.A.D. LEAGUE 

REGULAR AND POST SEASON PLAY

(As of March 2024)

 

​

​​​I. SCORING

A. Points

1. Field players earn one point for each run scored and each RBI

2. All Pitchers: 

a. 0.5 points for each strikeout

b. 2.5 points for each win

c. 3 points for each quality start

d. 4 points for each save

B. Starting Rosters

1. One player at each infield position

2. Three outfielders 

3. Four pitchers (starting and/or relief)

C. Ties

1. Add collective points of the top three non-starters of the tied teams.

2. If necessary, additional players will be used until the tie is broken.

D. Final standings determined by final playoff results each year.​​

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II. PRE-DRAFT

A. Protections

1. Each team may protect one player from the previous year’s roster.

2. A player may be protected by the same team for a maximum of three consecutive years.

3. After a player has been protected for three years, he is automatically placed in the auction, whether he qualifies by previous year

points or not, and he may not be protected by another team for that year.  

 4. If a team chooses not to protect any player from previous year’s roster they may select anyone not protected. Such selections must

be made during a prescribed time before the draft gathering, and the selection order reflects the order of the rookie draft.

 5. If a team's protected player is injured before the BAD draft, teams have the right to protect a different player from the full field of

non-protected players.

B.  Establishing Auction  

1. Top 25 players after protections identified.

2. List to be shaped by a pool that includes top three from previous year at C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, SP; top two at RP; top five at outfield for a

total of 25 candidates. 

3. League will determine, by general consensus, which 21 to be auctioned; or 19 for eight teams.   

C.  Rookie and Triple AAA promotions

1. Teams may promote any rookie who has lost his rookie status or any Triple AAA player said team does not want to be exposed to the

regular draft.

2. Said players eligible for promotion but who will miss much of the next year due to injury (i.e. Tommy John surgery) may have the

decision delayed by a year; they go in the "freezer" and do not count against Triple-A limits, for example.

3. Rookies and Triple-A players can be reclaimed in the next draft based on a chart the League produces that correlates draft picks

with the previous year’s BAD League point total by position. (See appendix)  

4 There is no limit on the number of promotions a team may make.

5. All promotions use a team’s own draft picks and not any collected in trades.

6. If a team's promoted player is injured before the BAD draft, teams have the right to drop the player and reclaim the draft pick.

D.  Position eligibility

1. If, in the previous season, he played 50 or more games at a position.

2. If he played fewer than 50 at any position but more than 20 at a position.

3. Fewer than 20 games played at any position.

a. Player reverts to previous year's designation. 

b. Subject to review by the League each year. 

4. League will revisit each farm system before draft and address position changes as necessary, though the ESPN site will ultimately

determine a rookie’s eligibility.  

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III. THE REGULAR DRAFT

A. Auction Process

1. Each team begins with $100. The money is non-transferable.

2. A team can only bid if it has the money to cover the bid. 

3. Teams nominate a player in inverse order of regular draft (i.e. BAD champion picks first) 

4. Opening bid must be at least $10. 

5. Open public auction until the player is “sold” to the highest bidder.

6. Auction only includes 18 of 21 players posted. 

7. Leftover money is used for the Triple Play or otherwise carried over to the Free Agent Auction.

B. “The Triple Play” -- Auction of final three players

1. Each attending team makes one bid for one of the three remaining players. 

2. High bid for each player claims that player.

3. In the event of a tie, teams may dip into the current year’s vault for free agency.

4. All remaining money is transferred to the post-draft auction.

5. "Triple B": Bonus picks are given to the six teams not winning the Triple Play.  

a. These picks are taken in the same order as the 16th round. 

b. Selections made after Triple-A players reclaimed and before the 17th round. 

C. Draft

1. A 16-round draft begins after the first auction. 

2. Draft order:

a. Championship Series: Belknap Cup winner drafts 9th, 2nd drafts 8th, 3rd drafts 7th.

b. Middler Tournament: Winner drafts 4th, 2nd drafts 5th, 3rd drafts 6th. 

c. Scollege Bowl: Winner drafts 1st, 2nd drafts 2nd, 3rd drafts 3rd. 

3. Draft commences for four rounds (Rounds 1-4)

4. Draft sequence is inverted completely for the next eight rounds (Rounds 5-12) 

5. Draft sequence reverts to original four rounds for the final four rounds (Rounds 13-16) 

6. Gentlemen’s agreement to try to limit three minutes per selection.

7. Gentlemen’s agreement to share immediately news of injury status.

8. In the event of late-breaking news during the draft that impacts an already protected, purchased, or drafted player before the draft is

complete:

a. Protected players, top two auction players, and 1st round selections can be replaced immediately.

b. For all other players, the League will either award a team the option to replace the lost player in between the 8th and 9th

round or at any time after the 8th Round and before the 17th Round begins. 

D. Final Round (the 17th round)

1. The draft sequence for the “17th round” will be determined by lottery after the Free Agent Auction.

2. A rookie drafted with the 17th pick loses his “below-the-line” status.

3. The 17th round is typically a post-draft weekend activity just before Opening Day.

4. The 17th round takes place before the Tinker round.

E. GM absence from draft

1. The Commissioner will get the GM player-rankings in advance, including for the Top Auction.

2. Absent team will be given the top remaining name on that GM’s list after the initial 12 players are auctioned.

3. Absent team given a second player after 17 players have been claimed.

4. For the regular draft, GMs in attendance will be assigned Rounds to serve as proxy for absent GM. 

a. Proxy GM chooses what position the absent team needs next.

b. Proxy team consults the absent GM’s rankings and takes the top undrafted player at that position, presuming there is no

question about the player’s injury or MLB roster status.​

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IV. ROOKIE DRAFT AND FARM SYSTEM

A. Procedure

1. Three rounds of rookies follow the regular phase of the draft. 

a. League may decide to hold final round of rookie draft at a later date (i.e. June) 

b. If 3rd round is put off for later, the rookie round precedes the supplemental draft.

c. Bonus picks should be after all teams have drafted three rookies (i.e. June) 

2. Draft sequence reflects the final regular season finish, with the exception of the Scollege Bowl winner drafting first and the BAD

League Champion drafting last.

B. Qualifications for rookie status:

1. Under 130 MLB at bats (in a single season).

2. Under 50 MLB innings for a starting pitcher (single season); 25 for relief.

3. For a player at the beginning of a season for whom it is not clear whether he will be

starting or relieving, 25 innings becomes the threshold for determining status.

4. No more than 20 saves for a closer (single season).

5. Rookies not qualifying as major leaguers remain in the team's farm system.

C. Trading & Selling Rookie Picks

1. Draft position can be traded for other players until the rookie draft begins.

2. Draft position cannot be traded for money. 

3. Rights to the draft pick cannot be traded.

4. At set time, teams may hold a public auction for draft picks. (Opening bid: $10); money reverts to team selling the pick.

D. Bonus Babies

1. Team with the first player to reach 100 points is awarded a rookie pick. 

2. Bonus pick should be taken within a week.

3. Bonus babies cannot currently be on an MLB roster.

E. Triple AAA

1. Teams allowed only four roster spots. 

2. Players are eligible only if:

a. Lost official rookie status (by B.A.D. League standards).

b. Not drafted during regular B.A.D. draft.

3. Teams may trade Triple AAA candidates before the regular draft begins but not once it begins.

4. Teams who have surplus candidates for Triple AAA after the regular draft will see those players dropped into a quick public auction. 

a. Bidding begins at $1, using the pool of free-agent money. 

b. The money from the auction evaporates and is not given to the previous team.

c. Players not purchased are flushed out of the BAD League.

5. During the season, teams have 48 hours to make the Triple AAA roster conform to the 4-limit roster.   

6. Triple AAA players may be promoted the next year using the same chart as rookies (See appendix).

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V. FREE AGENT AUCTION

A. To take place after the auction, regular draft and rookie draft.

B. Each team is annually given $100 to spend.

1. Money cannot be traded. 

2. $100 can be supplemented by leftover money after the Triple Play portion of the draft.

3. Money not spent in one year is lost for the next year: Use It or Lose It.

C. Auction Process

1. After the regular draft, each team privately submits three names. 

2. Teams choose which player to put on block.

3. Nominating order reflects the inverted order of 1st round of regular draft.

4. Opening bids start at $10. 

5. Each team is permitted one time-out during the auction.

6. Players receiving no opening bids are thrown to the back of the pack and put up for auction a second time at the end of the auction.  

7. In the event of a tie bid, teams may dip into next year’s free agent money to break the tie. ​

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VI. ROSTER MANAGEMENT

A. Post-Draft Injuries before Opening Day

1. Protected players, the top two players obtained in the first auction, and the team's 1st round selection may be replaced, 

if injured, at any time.

2. This replacement can take place before the 17th round, if necessary.

3.All other injuries suffered before Opening Day to all other players can only resort to the Tinker Option.

B. Tinker Round

1. Before Opening Day and at set time, teams may replace any player or players on roster for any reason.

2. Players protected or drafted during the regular phase of draft (including bonus picks) are eligible.

3. Players promoted for the draft are eligible to be tinkered.

4. Free agents in the back auction are not eligible to be tinkered unless they are injured between the B.A.D. draft and the Tinker round. 

5. The Tinker selection does not need to be at the same position. 

6. Any player acquired as a Tinker automatically becomes an above-the-line player.

7. Selecting order reflects draft position of players to be replaced. 

8. All picks must be completed by the date set by the League Office.

C. Change Days

1. Starting players can be changed only on Mondays during regular season.

2. Traded players can be inserted into starting line-up immediately and not wait for a Monday.

3. Teams can only have 12 players on the starting roster, including 3 outfielders and 4 pitchers. 

4. DH slot is provided on the ESPN site as needed but teams can still only field 12 starters.

D. There are no longer any IL moves in the BAD League. 

E. Trades

1. "Gentlemen's Rules" apply: Must share recent information re: trades, health, etc.  

2. No tanking or fire-sales:  All teams can only trade in an honest effort to compete in the current season.  

3. During the season no trade can be made for future considerations.

4. The League and/or League Office must be notified of all trades as soon as possible.

5. Trades can be made any day of the week.

6. There are no point restrictions on trades.

7. Players on the IL may be traded.

8. Players obtained in a trade may be inserted into starting line-up immediately, if desired.

9. A starting position hole created by a trade may be patched immediately for all positions except for a starting pitcher, which must

wait until Monday so as not to get a potential extra start as a result of the trade.

         10. No rookie can be included in a trade after MLB games resume after the All-Star break.

         11. Trade deadline to be set for the 1st Sunday after the final supplemental draft in late July/August.

F. August Tinker Round

1. Following the final supplemental draft and at a set time by League Office (likely August 15th).

2. Teams may replace any player or players on roster who are on the MLB IL-60 list.

3. All BAD League "above-the-line" players are eligible but not Triple A or rookies.

4. Unlike pre-opening day Tinkers, these selections must be at the same position.

5. Any player acquired as a tinker automatically becomes an "above-the-line" player.

6. Selecting order reflects the draft/selection order of players to be replaced.

7. All picks must be completed by the date set by the League Office.

G. Roster Size  

1. Above-the-line rosters must conform to "3-7-9" formula by Opening Day. 

a. No more than 3 players at all infield positions.

b. No more than 7 outfielders.

c. No more than 9 pitchers (starters and/or relief). 

2. Teams must have at least one drafted player at every position before Opening Day.

3. The 3-7-9 formula holds for the entire BAD League regular season.

4. During the season, teams have 72 hours to conform or the League Office will drop the lowest player.

5. Triple AAA players and rookies are considered “below-the-line” and do NOT count for 3-7-9.

H. Position Eligibility

1. Players retain the position they were drafted in for the current BAD League season.  

2. Rookies position eligibility upon player's actual promotion to MLB:

a. Initial rookie positions are established by the ESPN site, not by BAD League rules.

b. BAD League will confirm rookie position after the player's first 10 games in MLB.

c. If a rookie eventually qualifies at two different positions by BAD League standards, , a team must declare a single position

before MLB games resume after the All-Star break.  

I. Final Roster and Points

1. Team rosters are frozen at the BAD League trade deadline set in August each year.

3. Final tallies for teams include top 12 players at the 12 required positions. ​

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VII. SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFTS

A. Timing & Number of Selections

1. One supplemental draft in late April or early May (one round via email).

2. Second supplemental in early June (two rounds - in-person if possible)

3. Third supplemental in early August (one round via email).

B. Teams draft in inverse order of current standings overall (#1-9)

C. Restrictions

1. Neither the rights to a draft pick nor the draft position can be traded.

2. A team may take any player, at any position, not currently in the BAD League.

3. Player must have played one third of his games at the position chosen.

4. No point restrictions on draft picks.

5. Rosters must still conform to 3-7-9 after the first two supplemental drafts.

6. Any player drafted in supplemental automatically becomes an “above-the-line” player. 

D. Absenteeism

1. Proxy selections allowed

2. If a GM is a no show, a team forfeits drafting position in said round until the end of the draft.​

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VIII. DIVISIONS & PLAYOFFS

A. Divisions are based on previous year's three post-season tournaments.   

B. Regular season ends after Sunday games, four weeks before the end of the actual MLB regular season.

C. Scoring system is the same as in the regular season.

D. Playoff rosters 

1. All players on roster, including Triple A and rookies, are eligible for starting positions.

2. The two teams with the highest regular season totals may select one player not currently in the BAD League to add

to it's roster as a bonus heading into the playoffs.

a. Top team "drafts" first.

b. These are considered temporary players; teams does not retain player’s rights.

E. Championship Playoffs

1. Is a one-month championship tournament, initially beginning with the three division winners and two wild cards. 

2. All teams begin with zero points at the beginning of the playoffs.

3. Top five teams are ranked by regular season points.

4. The top regular season team is awarded a first-round bye and automatic inclusion in the Finals. This team accumulates team points

while idle for the first fortnight.

5. Team #2 plays team #5 while team #3 plays team #4 in a two-week head-to-head match-up.

a. Winner carries their points to the Finals.

b. Loser carries their points to the Middler Tournament.

6. Finals include top three teams for the final two weeks of the playoffs.

7. The "Belknap Cup" is awarded to the team with the highest team total over the final month.

8. Ties: See Rule I, C 

9. Extra “play-in” games in MLB count for BAD League playoff totals.

         10. The top three teams will form the Adams Division next season.

         11. Second and third-place teams in the Finals are each awarded a bonus rookie pick in the next draft (2nd drafts before 3rd place).

F.  Middler Tournament

1. This is a one-month tournament.

2. All teams begin with zero points at the beginning of the playoffs. 

3. The regular season 6th place team waits for the first two weeks of the playoffs,

but collects team points during that first fortnight.

4. The _________________ is awarded to the team with the highest team total over the final month.

5. Winner of the Middler Tournament gets a bonus rookie pick next season.

6. These three teams will form the Besserer Division next season.

G.  Scollege Bowl

1. Is a one-month tournament for the bottom three regular season teams only.

2. All teams begin with zero points at the beginning of the playoffs.

3. The Scollege Bowl is awarded to the team with the highest total for 12 players over the month.

4. Ties: See Rule I, C 

5. These three teams will form the Conlon Division next season.

6. Winner picks first in the next regular draft and is the last team to nominate in the auction.

7. Second place in the Scollege Bowl will draft 2nd in the next draft; 3rd place will draft 3rd.

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​​​IX. EXPANSION

A.  Any new franchise must be officially approved by League consensus.

B.  Drafting position:  End of round one, beginning of round two, and in the middle of each round thereafter; the rookie draft follows the same

sequence.​

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APPENDIX:

Rookies who have lost their “below-the-line” status and Triple A players can be reclaimed in the following draft based on the following

chart. Players are ranked by position using previous year’s point totals. 

 

For all infielders:                                                   

Ranked 1-5 = 5th round pick

Ranked 6th =  6th round pick

Ranked 7th = 7th round pick

Ranked 8th = 8th round pick

Ranked 9th = 9th round pick

Ranked 10th = 10th round pick

Ranked 11th = 11th round pick

Ranked 12th = 12th round pick

Ranked 13th = 13th round pick

Ranked 14th = 14th round pick

Ranked 15th = 15th round pick

Ranked 16th or lower = 16th round pick

 

For outfielders and pitchers:

Ranked 1-15 = 5th round pick

Ranked 16th, 17th, 18th = 6th round pick

Ranked 19th, 20th, 21st = 7th round pick

Ranked 22nd, 23rd, 24th = 8th round pick

Ranked 25th, 26th, 27th = 9th round pick

Ranked 28th, 29th, 30th = 10th round pick

Ranked 31st, 32nd, 33rd = 11th round pick

Ranked 34th, 35th, 36th = 12th round pick

Ranked 37th, 38th, 39th = 13th round pick

Ranked 40th, 41st, 42nd = 14th round pick

Ranked 43rd, 44th, 45th = 15th round pick

Ranked 46th, 47th, 48th or lower = 16th round pick