Newark 2017 Major League Interleague ...
Red Jacket/Midlakes/PalMac/Newark 2017 Major League Interleague Game Rules Revision – April 7, 2017 PRECEDENCE OF RULES: 1) Interleague Rules 2) Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken Rules Current MINIMUM PLAY FOR PLAYERS Every player on the roster who is present for the game shall participate for a minimum of six (6) defensive outs with in the first four (4) innings of the game and must each be a complete inning. Players who arrive after the start of the third inning are not subject to this rule. All players must play at least (1) one defensive inning in an infield position. This rule is not in effect during playoffs. Other than pitchers, there are free substitutions throughout the game. Players may be freely substituted at any time during the game. Games called due to environmental conditions or curfew that result in a player not attaining the required six (6) defensive outs will not be considered a violation of this rule. MINIMUM PLAYERS FOR A TEAM Each team must be able to field a team of 7 players at the scheduled game time. If a team can’t produce 7 players, the team must forfeit. If a team has less than 9 players, but has enough to play, that team will have to take an out for each vacant position in the batting lineup. These outs will be charged at the end of the batting lineup. BATTING LINE-UP All players present for the start of the game will be placed in the batting order. Once the batting order has been established, a player will not, under any circumstances, be changed in that order. If the player should be removed from the game for any cause, his/her position in the batting order will be skipped over. If he/she is re-entered at a latter point, he/she will be reinstated into the order exactly in the same position as on the original batting order. Players who arrive after the start of the game will immediately be inserted in the last position on the lineup card/scorebook, when they arrive in the team dugout. BATTING OUT OF ORDER If there is a player that is batting out of order and is caught by the any team, the following goes: 1) If it is during an at bat, the correct batter will be put at the plate with the existing count 2) If it is after an at bat, that at bat stands and the batter who was skipped doesn’t bat until their next at bat. PITCHER RE-ENTRY A player once removed as a pitcher, may not pitch again in the same game. PITCHING LIMITATIONS AND REST PERIODS: Maximum of six (6) innings per week, measured from Monday through Sunday. Pitching rest periods between appearances, regardless if it crosses into different weeks: Two (2) innings or less must have one (1) calendar day rest. Three (3) innings must have two (2) calendar days rest. Four (4) or more innings must have three (3) calendar days rest. Although we don’t use pitch count, please use it for your decision making as a coach. SPECIAL PITCHING RULE FOR MAKEUP GAMES ONLY IF ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS A pitcher will be allowed to pitch 2 innings one game and 2 innings the next day if the team plays consecutive days due to a makeup game. The pitcher still must abide to the 6 inning weekly maximum and days of rest if they pitched previously in the week. The only pitchers available to pitch in the first of the consecutive games are pitchers who didn’t exceed 2 innings in the previous game, if that game was two days before. In case of a double header, the pitcher who pitches in the first game is NOT eligible to pitch in the second game. 1
TRIPS TO THE MOUND: One (1) trip to the mound is allowed by a manager or coach per inning. On the second trip, the pitcher must be removed from the game as the pitcher, if in the same inning. Also, if there are three trips during a pitchers appearance over the course of the game, they must be removed on the third trip. INELIGIBLE/ILLEGAL PITCHER: Games in which an ineligible/illegal pitcher is used are grounds for protest. Once an ineligible/illegal pitcher has been identified, he/she must be immediately removed as pitcher and the game is automatically played under protest. The protesting manager has the option of removing the protest at the end of the game. INNINGS PITCHED IN "NO-CONTEST": Innings pitched in a "no-contest" or a suspended game will be charged against the pitcher's eligibility for the week. INTENTIONAL WALKS ARE NOT ALLOWED In no way shall a pitcher intentionally walk a batter INTENTIONAL PITCH AT THE BATTER: If, in the umpire's judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect to: 1) Expel the pitcher from the game 2) Expel the pitcher and the manager 3) Warn the pitchers and managers from both teams that another such pitch will result in the expulsion of the offending pitcher and manager. The penalty for all balks is as follows: 1) If the ball is not delivered to the batter, it is declared a "no pitch" and the ball is dead. No runners may advance or be put out. 1 ball is added to the batter. 2) If the ball is delivered to the batter, it is declared a "ball" and the ball is dead. 3) If the batter safely reaches first base and all proceeding runners are not put out, the ball remains alive and in play. If a runner gets out, the runners will return to the base where they started on prior to the pitch and the batter will get a ball added to their count. 4) In all of the above cases, the umpire will warn the pitcher not to repeat such actions. Each pitcher gets one warning before a ball is added to the batters count. 5) Each pitcher will get an explanation of the reason of the balk. GENERAL RULE - BREAKING PITCHES: Pitchers are not allowed to throw breaking ball pitches that require a turning or "breaking" of the wrist. Such pitches are commonly called a curve, drop ball, screwball, or other. Pitchers who throw a "natural" break in the ball are allowed. This is up to the coach to enforce this. If an issue shall arise, it must be brought to the attention to the umpire. The umpire will then give a warning to the coach and pitcher. If it then happens again, the pitcher must be removed. Knuckle balls and changeups are allowed. DROPPED THIRD STRIKE: A batter may attempt to take first base when a third strike IS NOT caught by the catcher. If the batter starts to walk back off to the dugout, then the batter is out.
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RUNNERS When playing 50/70 format, runners are allowed to lead off the bases. The runners may advance at any time at their own risk as long as the ball isn’t declared dead. The runner is only allowed to steal home after the pitch has been made. They can’t steel home on the pitch. SUICIDE SQUEEZES AND SLASH BUNTS ARE NOT ALLOWED Suicide squeeze is where the runner on third attempts to steal home when the batter is trying to make an attempt to hit the ball. Slash bunt is where the batter squares to bunt, pulls the bat back and then swings. In both cases the ball is dead and the batter is out. Any runner will be returned to the base where they started at. There will be no warning given. ALTERED BAT An altered bat is considered an illegal bat and must be removed from the game when discovered, but no penalty is assessed against the batter. All bats must be 2 ¼” diameter. DEFELECTED WILD PITCH, PASSED BALL, OR OVERTHROW: If a pitched or thrown ball goes through the catcher or fielder and remains in the playing field and subsequently is deflected or kicked into an area where the ball is dead, the runners will be awarded one (1) base from their position at the time of the pitched or thrown ball. RUNNER CONTACT RULE: The runner is out when he/she does not slide or attempt to get around any fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag at any base. Any contact with the defensive player with arms held in front of the chest, head down in a ramming position, leading with the shoulder or cross-body block is interpreted as intentional ramming of the player and the runner is called out and immediately ejected from the game. No other runners may advance beyond the current base already attained. Runners must show an attempt to avoid contact. If they don’t, they will be called out. SLIDING All runners must slide feet first going into the base but may slide head first going back to the base. TIE: If there is a tie after 6 innings, the game will be played until there is a winner. The time limit can’t be exceeded if there is a game that follows and it is up to the umpires discretion to call a game because of darkness. I the game ends tied, the game will be resolved regardless of their effect upon league standings. Games will be resumed from the point of suspension and player substitution rules will apply as if play were continuous. Tie games in the final week of the regular season will be resolved only if they effect league standings. Tie games will be picked back up where they left off at the earliest date any field is available. If there is a player that is at the continuation of the game but was not playing in the original game, they will be inserted in the last position on the lineup card/scorebook. If a player is not there for the continuation of the game that was there in the original game, that position will be skipped over without any penalty. SUSPENDED GAMES: Games suspended due to rain or darkness before 4 innings (3 ½ if home team is ahead) will be picked up where the game was suspended. However, all pitching records will count towards that pitching week. A game is considered complete after 4 complete innings (or 3 ½ if home team is ahead). If the game gets called after that, you revert back to the last complete inning for the score. If the score is tied after the last completed inning, the game will be picked up where it was left off. See Tie above.
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RAIN OUTS OR CANCELLED GAMES: Rain out games or cancelled games due to school functions are to be made up on the next Friday. No Exceptions!!! Birthday parties and such are not reasonable excuses. This is a packed schedule with very little room to make up games. There are dates in June set aside for makeups, but these dates are reserved for the last week of the season. FITNESS OF THE PLAYING FIELD: The managers of both teams shall agree on the fitness of the playing field before the start of the game. Once the umpire is present, the decision is entirely up to him and will make the binding decision. This is not a protest situation.
PROTESTING A GAME: 1) Protesting a game and resolving the protest shall be in compliance of the current year's Babe Ruth rulebook. The use of an ineligible pitcher can be filed with offending team's league representive up to 24 hours after the scheduled start of the game in which the protest occurred. Any other protest must be made known to the umpire and the other teams manager at the time of the occurrence. Once another pitch is made, there is no longer any grounds for protest. Any judgment call is not up for protest. 2) When two teams are from the same organization, a protest will be handled internally amongst the respective organization. When there is a protest filed when two teams are involved from two different organizations, the protest committee will be made up of 1 person from all organizations. 3) Each organization is responsible to supply people that have baseball knowledge and have nothing to do with the team or the league that’s filing the protest, if possible. RUNS PER INNING RULE: 1) A 5 run or a plus one rule per inning. The team that is down has the advantage of going 5 runs up if or plus one in their half of inning Example one: Team 1 scores 5 runs in the top of the 1st, team 2 can score up to 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Example two: Team 1 is up 9 to 7 after one inning. The team with 9 can go to 14 and the team with 7 can score 8 runs to go up 15 to 14. A home run over the fence - all runs will count even if it exceeds the run limit rule. In the park home runs, the only runs will count are the ones that force the run limit rule 2) A 12 run mercy rule will apply. If one team is ahead by 12 runs after 4 innings, the game is over and complete 3 ½ innings may only need to be played if the home team is winning by 12 runs after the visiting team gets there 4th inning at bat. If the visiting team is ahead by 12 runs after any ½ inning, the home team gets equal number of bats. Example: If the visiting team is up by 12 runs after 4 ½ innings, the home team gets to bat. 3) The 6th inning or in extra innings, any team can score unlimited runs
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TIME LIMITATIONS No new Inning can start after 8:15 pm 1) The above rule does not pertain to the any extra innings. It is then left to the umpires discretion. 2) If a game isn’t in the 6th inning and it is obvious that the game won’t get to the 6th inning, the umpire shall tell each coach at the top of the new inning that the inning will be the last and it will be the unlimited run inning 3) There is a 2 hour time limit on games on the weekend ONLY where there is a game following the one being played
Balls Each team is responsible to provide one game ball per game CONDUCT Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans. Any coach or player ejected from a game shall leave the premises immediately for the duration of that game and will not be permitted to participate in the next scheduled game for his team. It will also be the manager’s job to remove any unruly fan from their team.
SCORE REPORTING The home team is responsible for reporting the score at the conclusion of the game. Score reporting should be texted to Maynard, (585) 281-5354
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TRIPS TO THE MOUND: One (1) trip to the mound is allowed by a manager or coach per inning. On the second trip, the pitcher must be removed from the game as the pitcher, if in the same inning. Also, if there are three trips during a pitchers appearance over the course of the game, they must be removed on the third trip. INELIGIBLE/ILLEGAL PITCHER: Games in which an ineligible/illegal pitcher is used are grounds for protest. Once an ineligible/illegal pitcher has been identified, he/she must be immediately removed as pitcher and the game is automatically played under protest. The protesting manager has the option of removing the protest at the end of the game. INNINGS PITCHED IN "NO-CONTEST": Innings pitched in a "no-contest" or a suspended game will be charged against the pitcher's eligibility for the week. INTENTIONAL WALKS ARE NOT ALLOWED In no way shall a pitcher intentionally walk a batter INTENTIONAL PITCH AT THE BATTER: If, in the umpire's judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect to: 1) Expel the pitcher from the game 2) Expel the pitcher and the manager 3) Warn the pitchers and managers from both teams that another such pitch will result in the expulsion of the offending pitcher and manager. The penalty for all balks is as follows: 1) If the ball is not delivered to the batter, it is declared a "no pitch" and the ball is dead. No runners may advance or be put out. 1 ball is added to the batter. 2) If the ball is delivered to the batter, it is declared a "ball" and the ball is dead. 3) If the batter safely reaches first base and all proceeding runners are not put out, the ball remains alive and in play. If a runner gets out, the runners will return to the base where they started on prior to the pitch and the batter will get a ball added to their count. 4) In all of the above cases, the umpire will warn the pitcher not to repeat such actions. Each pitcher gets one warning before a ball is added to the batters count. 5) Each pitcher will get an explanation of the reason of the balk. GENERAL RULE - BREAKING PITCHES: Pitchers are not allowed to throw breaking ball pitches that require a turning or "breaking" of the wrist. Such pitches are commonly called a curve, drop ball, screwball, or other. Pitchers who throw a "natural" break in the ball are allowed. This is up to the coach to enforce this. If an issue shall arise, it must be brought to the attention to the umpire. The umpire will then give a warning to the coach and pitcher. If it then happens again, the pitcher must be removed. Knuckle balls and changeups are allowed. DROPPED THIRD STRIKE: A batter may attempt to take first base when a third strike IS NOT caught by the catcher. If the batter starts to walk back off to the dugout, then the batter is out.
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RUNNERS When playing 50/70 format, runners are allowed to lead off the bases. The runners may advance at any time at their own risk as long as the ball isn’t declared dead. The runner is only allowed to steal home after the pitch has been made. They can’t steel home on the pitch. SUICIDE SQUEEZES AND SLASH BUNTS ARE NOT ALLOWED Suicide squeeze is where the runner on third attempts to steal home when the batter is trying to make an attempt to hit the ball. Slash bunt is where the batter squares to bunt, pulls the bat back and then swings. In both cases the ball is dead and the batter is out. Any runner will be returned to the base where they started at. There will be no warning given. ALTERED BAT An altered bat is considered an illegal bat and must be removed from the game when discovered, but no penalty is assessed against the batter. All bats must be 2 ¼” diameter. DEFELECTED WILD PITCH, PASSED BALL, OR OVERTHROW: If a pitched or thrown ball goes through the catcher or fielder and remains in the playing field and subsequently is deflected or kicked into an area where the ball is dead, the runners will be awarded one (1) base from their position at the time of the pitched or thrown ball. RUNNER CONTACT RULE: The runner is out when he/she does not slide or attempt to get around any fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag at any base. Any contact with the defensive player with arms held in front of the chest, head down in a ramming position, leading with the shoulder or cross-body block is interpreted as intentional ramming of the player and the runner is called out and immediately ejected from the game. No other runners may advance beyond the current base already attained. Runners must show an attempt to avoid contact. If they don’t, they will be called out. SLIDING All runners must slide feet first going into the base but may slide head first going back to the base. TIE: If there is a tie after 6 innings, the game will be played until there is a winner. The time limit can’t be exceeded if there is a game that follows and it is up to the umpires discretion to call a game because of darkness. I the game ends tied, the game will be resolved regardless of their effect upon league standings. Games will be resumed from the point of suspension and player substitution rules will apply as if play were continuous. Tie games in the final week of the regular season will be resolved only if they effect league standings. Tie games will be picked back up where they left off at the earliest date any field is available. If there is a player that is at the continuation of the game but was not playing in the original game, they will be inserted in the last position on the lineup card/scorebook. If a player is not there for the continuation of the game that was there in the original game, that position will be skipped over without any penalty. SUSPENDED GAMES: Games suspended due to rain or darkness before 4 innings (3 ½ if home team is ahead) will be picked up where the game was suspended. However, all pitching records will count towards that pitching week. A game is considered complete after 4 complete innings (or 3 ½ if home team is ahead). If the game gets called after that, you revert back to the last complete inning for the score. If the score is tied after the last completed inning, the game will be picked up where it was left off. See Tie above.
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RAIN OUTS OR CANCELLED GAMES: Rain out games or cancelled games due to school functions are to be made up on the next Friday. No Exceptions!!! Birthday parties and such are not reasonable excuses. This is a packed schedule with very little room to make up games. There are dates in June set aside for makeups, but these dates are reserved for the last week of the season. FITNESS OF THE PLAYING FIELD: The managers of both teams shall agree on the fitness of the playing field before the start of the game. Once the umpire is present, the decision is entirely up to him and will make the binding decision. This is not a protest situation.
PROTESTING A GAME: 1) Protesting a game and resolving the protest shall be in compliance of the current year's Babe Ruth rulebook. The use of an ineligible pitcher can be filed with offending team's league representive up to 24 hours after the scheduled start of the game in which the protest occurred. Any other protest must be made known to the umpire and the other teams manager at the time of the occurrence. Once another pitch is made, there is no longer any grounds for protest. Any judgment call is not up for protest. 2) When two teams are from the same organization, a protest will be handled internally amongst the respective organization. When there is a protest filed when two teams are involved from two different organizations, the protest committee will be made up of 1 person from all organizations. 3) Each organization is responsible to supply people that have baseball knowledge and have nothing to do with the team or the league that’s filing the protest, if possible. RUNS PER INNING RULE: 1) A 5 run or a plus one rule per inning. The team that is down has the advantage of going 5 runs up if or plus one in their half of inning Example one: Team 1 scores 5 runs in the top of the 1st, team 2 can score up to 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Example two: Team 1 is up 9 to 7 after one inning. The team with 9 can go to 14 and the team with 7 can score 8 runs to go up 15 to 14. A home run over the fence - all runs will count even if it exceeds the run limit rule. In the park home runs, the only runs will count are the ones that force the run limit rule 2) A 12 run mercy rule will apply. If one team is ahead by 12 runs after 4 innings, the game is over and complete 3 ½ innings may only need to be played if the home team is winning by 12 runs after the visiting team gets there 4th inning at bat. If the visiting team is ahead by 12 runs after any ½ inning, the home team gets equal number of bats. Example: If the visiting team is up by 12 runs after 4 ½ innings, the home team gets to bat. 3) The 6th inning or in extra innings, any team can score unlimited runs
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TIME LIMITATIONS No new Inning can start after 8:15 pm 1) The above rule does not pertain to the any extra innings. It is then left to the umpires discretion. 2) If a game isn’t in the 6th inning and it is obvious that the game won’t get to the 6th inning, the umpire shall tell each coach at the top of the new inning that the inning will be the last and it will be the unlimited run inning 3) There is a 2 hour time limit on games on the weekend ONLY where there is a game following the one being played
Balls Each team is responsible to provide one game ball per game CONDUCT Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and fans. Any coach or player ejected from a game shall leave the premises immediately for the duration of that game and will not be permitted to participate in the next scheduled game for his team. It will also be the manager’s job to remove any unruly fan from their team.
SCORE REPORTING The home team is responsible for reporting the score at the conclusion of the game. Score reporting should be texted to Maynard, (585) 281-5354
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