League Characteristics

* A. NATURE OF LEAGUE o The ICBL is a continuous-ownership league. All players, once drafted, will remain with their team until traded or released. * B. COMPOSITION OF LEAGUE AND SCHEDULE 1. The ICBL is composed of two twelve-team leagues, each containing three four-team divisions. The DH is used in the American League while pitchers must bat in the National League. 2. The season will start at a time in March determined by the Commissioner and will run for a period of 28 weeks. Each team will play 22 games versus the other teams in its own division and 12 games versus the teams in the other divisions in its league, for a total of 162 games. There will be no interleague play. * C. PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS 1. Playoff qualifiers will be the three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record. Ties will be resolved by a one-game playoff at the home field of the team that won the season series between the two. 2. In the event of a tie in the season series, the Commissioner will toss a coin to determine the site for the playoff game. In the event of multiple team ties, the Commissioner will devise a tie-breaking plan. * D. PLAYOFF STRUCTURE 1. Postseason playoffs will consist of three rounds: 2. The first round will pit the division winner with the best record against the playoff qualifying team with the worst record, with the other two playoff qualifiers facing each other. This round will be best-of-five with games played in the following sequence: The team with the better record will be the home team for games 1, 2, and 5. In the event the teams have identical records, the season series result will determine which team has the home field advantage. 3. The second round - the League Championship Series - will be a best-of-seven series pitting the winners of round one. Home field advantage for games 1, 2, 6, and 7 will go to the team with the best regular season record. In the event of identical records, the season series results will determine which team has the home field advantage. 4. The third round - the World Series - will pit the LCS winners. Home field advantage for games 1, 2, 6, and 7 will be awarded on a rotating basis with the American League team hosting these games in EVEN numbered seasons and the National League team hosting them in ODD numbered seasons. The actual calendar year is used in this calculation. 5. There will be one day of rest between the end of the season and the beginning of postseason play and between games 2 and 3 and 5 and 6 (if scheduled) of each playoff series. For rotation purposes, LCS and WS start dates will be based on all series going their maximum duration and one day off between each series.