------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | International Replay Baseball League - Founded October 30, 1973 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ***************** IRBL NEWSLETTER # 567 ***************** 1-7-99 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...................................... ************** ***** URGENT MESSAGE ***** ************** LRD # 567 contains an updated version of the "IRBL Menu Program" (version 7.00.06). The upgrade should have automatically installed when you loaded this LRD. Each manager should verify that the new version was installed correctly by selecting menu choice "Display Or Change IRBL Menu Program Configuration" from the "IRBL Menu Program" and confirming that the 4th line from the top of the screen states the following: "Program version: 7.00.06" This new version includes changes to accommodate the two new teams (the DIAMONDBACKS and the DEVIL RAYS) NOTICE: This newsletter should be appearing in the \IRBL\RESULTS.Y99 directory. When you installed this LRD, the following three directories should have been created: \IRBL\LEAGUE.Y99 \IRBL\RESULTS.Y99 \IRBL\SERIES.Y99 You can archive or delete any files that you do not want from the 1998 (Y98) versions of the above 3 directories. DMB Version 7.0d: ---------------- Please confirm to me that you are using DMB version 7.0d (not 7.0c). You will see this displayed when you start DMB. If you do not have 7.0c, then either download it from the DMB web site or request that I place it on the IRBL BBS for you to download. ************** ***** URGENT MESSAGE ***** ************** ...................................... The ATHLETICS have been reserved by a prospective new manager. ...................................... IRBL # 567 1-7-99 2 ...................................... NEW DMB PLAYER FILES: The 1998 Major League Season DMB Player diskette contained 1186 players (633 batters and 553 pitchers) (after deleting the individual team ratings for multi-team players). There are 63 more players this season than last season (plus two additional teams). According to IRBL Rule # 13B1, 16 teams will be allowed to draft until they have 40 rated players and 14 teams will be allowed to draft until they have 39 rated players. The following 16 teams will be allowed to draft until they have 40 rated players: DEVIL RAYS, DIAMONDBACKS, ROCKIES, BLUE JAYS, ASTROS, REDS, INDIANS, RANGERS, METS, ORIOLES, YANKEES, CUBS, CARDINALS, PADRES, MARINERS and BRAVES The following 14 teams will be allowed to draft until they have 39 rated players: TIGERS, TWINS, ATHLETICS, RED SOX, GIANTS, ANGELS, EXPOS, ROYALS, MARLINS, BREWERS, PHILLIES, DODGERS, WHITE SOX and PIRATES ...................................... Most teams are 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 39 or 40 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. ...................................... I have included files of the current cross-referenced IRBL rosters and DMB Game rosters plus the updated DMB IRBL player files. Please notify me immediately if you find any errors on the IRBL or DMB rosters. IRBL # 567 1-7-99 3 ...................................... The players who played for more than one team are listed on the DMB Roster team that they played the most for. ...................................... The players on the DMB Game Rosters without cross-referencing numbers will be eligible to be drafted (109 batters and 107 pitchers) (a total of 216 players at the moment). This total will increase by any additional rated players that are released. You can also see these 216 players if you access the "Agents" option using the DMB game. ...................................... There are about the same number of players eligible for the draft this year as last year (so far). Hopefully, the draft will be completed in one day (especially if I get some on site help again this year). The draft will start on Sunday Feb. 14th 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 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. These files will be updated with every new LRD installation throughout the trading season. 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 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. ...................................... I have enclosed a "Method Of Participating In The 1999 Draft" form. Please send me the required information in one of the following ways: IRBL # 567 1-7-99 4 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 or upload the file to the IRBL BBS 2) Call me and tell me the information. ...................................... I strongly recommend that you email me a draft instructions list even if you plan to participate by telephone just in case you are not available unexpectedly when I telephone you. 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, either verbally or on your printed list when you make a selection. ...................................... 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. You can try the program for 30 days and then they expect a $20 registration fee if you want to continue using the program. After installing and starting the mIRC program, in the setup screen, you would add the irc.isbl.com server name (that is the IRC server that was used last year by the IRBL managers during the draft) and then type in the #irbl channel (which I recently created and tested). 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 IRBL # 567 1-7-99 5 updates to web sites so there may sometimes be a delay in keeping the IRBL web site up-to-date during the draft (as I found out last year). ...................................... DEADLINES: Jan. 24 - Trading and player release deadline (6 pm, EST) Feb. 14*- 1999 Draft (start 8 am, EST) Mar. 7*- Trading deadline (6 pm, EDT) Mar. 21*- Team instructions to be received by League Office and all managers within your league Apr. 1*- First series of 1999 season *will slip one week for every Sunday the draft continues beyond Feb. 14 ...................................... Files included on LRD # 567: --------------------------- DRAFTFOR.Y99 --> Draft Participation Form DRAFTPUF.TXT --> Player Usage Form for all players eligible to be drafted IRBLROST.TXT --> IRBL Rosters NEWSL567.xxx --> Newsletter # 567 PLAYERUF.TXT --> Player Usage Forms for all teams File Extension Legend (xxx): --------------------------- T1C --> Viewable one column newsletter text format TXT --> Viewable text format ...................................... BK