The Arizona Challenge is a Rotisserie-style fantasy auction competition that tests each participant's ability to assemble a roster of the best players within budgetary and time limitations.

I. OBJECT

To assemble a roster of baseball players whose cumulative statistics exceed those of all other team owners.

II. TEAMS/ROSTERS/BUDGETS

There can be just about any number of owners participating. Sizes of rosters, budgets and the player pool will be determined based on the number of participants. Examples:

Number of   Player    Roster   
Owners      pool      Size     Budget
=========   ======    ======   ======
12          AL or NL   23       $260  
16          MLB        23       $260  
20          MLB        18       $200  
24          MLB        15       $170  
30          MLB        12       $135

Roster composition will be determined by roster size, although traditional Rotisserie makeup will be used as a base. For instance, a sample 15-man roster would have 1 player at each defensive position, one utility player and six pitchers. An 18-man roster would add 1 pitcher, 1 outfielder and 1 infielder.

III. THE AUCTION

A major league player draft in the form of an open auction will be conducted. This auction will follow traditional Rotisserie rules, with the following exceptions:

A. Time Limit: The auction will be limited to a pre-determined time span. This will be set ahead of time and will usually be three or four hours. Owners must fill as many of their roster slots in the time allotted. Unfilled roster slots will remain open for the season.

Drafting against the clock adds a new element to the competition. Owners must now be aware not only of filling their roster with the highest caliber player at the best value, but must also gauge the flow of the draft to ensure that they fill as many roster slots as possible.

B. Player Panel: A 5-man panel will be appointed to determine which players are opened for bidding during the course of the auction. The panel will meet prior to the start of the auction to set a strategy for player bidding.

Taking this in-draft decision-making process away from the owners and putting it into the hands of an independent panel adds a new layer of strategy to the competition. The panel has absolute control over the flow of the draft. They can decide to create runs on players, cause artificial inflation, or hold back on key positions at any time. Owners must anticipate and be ready to bid according to how they see the draft unfolding. Bribing of player panel members is strictly prohibited.

C. Draft Support Materials: Each owner and Player Panel member will receive a set of league depth charts prior to the start of the auction. These charts will list players by position within major league team, but include no statistics or player values. This document, and a pencil, will be the only support materials allowed at the auction.

D. Miscellaneous:

A player may be drafted ONLY at the position at which he appears on the depth charts supplied at the draft.

A minimum of 50% of offensive slots and 50% of pitching slots MUST be filled by the conclusion of the draft. Any shortfall will be filled with players chosen by the Player Panel.

E. The rosters assembled at the conclusion of the draft will be the final rosters for each team. There will be no player movement of any kind after the completion of the auction.

IV. STATISTICS/STANDINGS

Traditional Rotisserie 4x4 statistical categories will be used for this league. Standings will be computed according to traditional rules as well.

There will be no minimum innings or minimum at bats requirement.

Weekly standings will be computed from final auction rosters, and a winner determined at the conclusion of the regular MLB season.