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SPRING SEASON
Everyone, especially managers, should first read the “annual” Babe Ruth League, Inc. Baseball Rules and Regulations … cover to cover !!! That is the gospel unless the league has otherwise overridden something.
The GLBR By-Laws, as now constituted, have only 3 local league rules.
1) Ten Run Rule
2) 13 Year Old Prep Division
3) Minimum Playing Time
We also have instituted an Extra Hitter (EH) and a playing time limit (2 hours) the past few seasons. These rule options are discussed on pages 20 of your rule book; we have exercised our local league option on these rules, and they are discussed later in this document.
Below isan explanation of the local rules, a clarification of other rule book rules, and a description of how book rules fit into our local league rules, where applicable.
Behavior Violations
If a manager and/or coach is/are ejected from a game, no matter the reason, he/she will not be able to coach at the next game. If he/she is ejected from a second game, no matter the reason, the Board will review the circumstances and he/she may be barred from managing for the remainder of the season. Any player ejected from a game, is to be immediately reported to the League by the player's manager.
Minimum Playing Time (local rule)
All players in GLBR will be provided an opportunity to play a minimum of three (3) defensive innings and be provided the opportunity to bat at least once during a regulation game. This includes games that are shortened due to time limit, 10-run rule, or darkness. If a player does not meet the minimum league requirement, then the player must start the next game and play until he meets the minimum playing requirements (3 defensive innings).
Ten Run Rule (local rule)
A game will be terminated once becoming regulation (after 5 innings, or 4.5 innings if the home team is ahead) if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs and each team has had equal times at bat or the home team is leading.
Time limit (local adaptation)
GLBR uses a 2-hour time limit. No new full inning shall start after 2 hours have passed. The home team will be allowed to have its at-bat, if behind or tied, once the 2-hour limit is reached. The visiting team may start its at bat in a new inning only prior to 2 hours.
Extra hitter (local adaptation)
The Extra Hitter (EH) is a position in the batting order. It allows a team to bat 10 players in the line-up. A player playing this position is interchangeable at any time with any other player currently in the line-up. [For example, just like a 2B and SS can switch positions in the middle of an inning, or from inning to inning, so can the EH and any other position]. The EH allows teams to more easily satisfy minimum playing requirements. The EH is also treated just like any other position in the batting order for substitution purposes, and is therefore subject to all normal substitution rules. Overall, the EH is an extra position in the line-up, and is therefore dissimilar to the Designated Hitter (DH). GLBR does not use the DH.
The EH can be used only when it is announced as a starting lineup position. If you start with an EH, then you have to finish with one. Any person that is in the batting order as an EH still is required to physically play 3 defensive innings. An inning as an EH (batter only) does not count toward 3 defensive innings. At bats, of course, do count toward the minimum at bats requirement. Obviously, if a team has only 9 players, the EH is not used
The decision to use the EH is always at the option of the League prior to the beginning of the season. If the League opts to use the EH, then it becomes mandatory for all teams to use the EH in every game. GLBR has opted to use the EH, and therefore it is mandatory.
Courtesy runner
A courtesy runner may only be used for the catcher or pitcher if there are two outs in the inning only. GLBR encourages the use of the courtesy runner to speed up the game. The courtesy runner shall be a player that is not currently in the line-up. If the team has no players not currently in the line-up, or such a player is injured, then the courtesy runner will be the player that made the previous out in the inning.
Incomplete games
In the event that a game is called, by the umpire, due to weather, then the following rule applies, and the game will be replayed in its entirety at a later date:
Page 52/53, rule 4.10(e): "...If a 13-15 or 16-18 Division game fails to reach the regulation minimum of 4.5/5 innings played it is not a regulation game and must be replayed as a new game. According to Baseball Rule 4.10(e) if it is declared a "No Game" by the umpire, no records (pitching or otherwise) are kept and pitching eligibility, etc., is intact as it was prior to the beginning of the "No Game" situation. It is as if no pitch was thrown, no ball hit or caught. NOTE: This applies to local league games only."
HOWEVER, in the event that a game is called due to darkness or the 2-hour time limit, then that game is deemed complete, regardless of what inning the game is in. The game will be over, and the winning team is declared the winner, or a tie game is declared a tie. Keep in mind, the 2-hour time limit rule allows for each team to have equal at bats (unless the home team is ahead prior to the bottom of the inning … see above).
Pitcher limitations
· 16-19 yr-old players have no pitching limitations.
· A 13-yr-old or 14-15 yr-old pitcher may pitch 7 innings per calendar week … this is Monday thru Sunday. Monday starts a new week.
· One pitch thrown in an inning counts as one inning pitched.
· A 13-yr-old or 14-15 yr-old pitcher must have 2 calendar days rest between pitching assignments IF HE PITCHES MORE THAN 3 INNINGS IN A GAME. Each game in which he pitches is considered an assignment. If the pitcher that starts the game returns to the mound in the same game (see rule below), that is still considered ONE assignment.
· If a pitcher throws 3 or less innings in one game, then he is therefore allowed to pitch in the next game, and does not need 2 days rest. The 7-inning per week rule still applies.
· If the game is declared a “no game” (called before regulation, as per the rules on this topic), then pitching records are like they were before the game started (as if no pitch had been thrown).
· These rules apply to ALL 13-15 yr-old players, including 13-yr-old swing players that play up in a 14-15 yr-old game (i.e., innings pitched in such games count toward a pitcher’s innings record).
Pitchers re-entering games as pitchers
The rule book states all the rules associated with pitchers, and there are no Local League rules that override any rule book rules. The rules say this (starting on page 10, and also on page 45), in layman’s terms:
· The pitcher is like any of the other 9 players for substitution purposes.
· 2 trips to the mound by a coach, to visit the pitcher, in the same inning is a mandatory removal from pitching, AND if that pitcher is removed due to 2 trips to the mound, THEN that pitcher cannot come back to pitch later in the game.
· A pitcher removed from the line-up (i.e., comes out of the game) cannot return until his substitute has played his minimum playing requirements (3 defensive innings and bat once). For example, if you take Pitcher A out of the game, and sub in Player B, then Pitcher A cannot go back in the game, at pitcher or any other position, unless and until Player B has played 3 innings in the field and batted once.
· A pitcher can re-enter the game as the pitcher if he was pinch-run for with 2 outs. For example, Pitcher A gets a hit, and then you enter a pinch-runner for Pitcher A, you can re-insert Pitcher A as the pitcher in the next inning.
· A pitcher may not occupy more than one additional position in the field in the same inning after having been taken off the mound. For example, if a pitcher is removed from the mound and brought to shortstop, then he must finish the inning at shortstop.
Other than the above rules, which are stated in layman’s terms, there is no place in the rule book that says a pitcher “cannot” be taken off the mound or out of the game and then re-inserted as a pitcher later in the game.
Playing-Up
Thirteen year-old players may be periodically called up to play at the 14-15’s division when it is demonstrated that the upper division team will lack sufficient rostered players to field a team for a game. No 13 year-old player will be called up to the 14-15’s division for a game without prior coordination with the affected prep league manager.
The decision on whether a 15 year-old player is allowed to play up in the 16-19’s Division is, according to the rule book, at the discretion of the President of the League. Permission must be granted in advance by the President, for any and all cases.
Bat drop restrictions
There are no drop restrictions. The rule book states that 13-15 year-olds should use a senior league approved bat. 13's can use a little league bat if they are more comfortable with such.
Donuts/bat weights
There are no rules that prohibit the use of donuts or bat weights, provided they are used safely and in a reasonable manner such that players’ safety is upheld. Bat weights should not be left lying around in playing territory, and it is the Managers’ responsibility to make sure bat weights are properly stored during play. The umpire reserves the right to eliminate the bat weight from the game if the Manager and his team does not take appropriate precautions with the bat weights.
Coaches uniforms
There is no formal uniform requirement for coaches. However, all of us at GLBR agree that ALL managers and coaches should at least be dressed appropriately and neatly, to represent our league well. We strongly encourage coaches to wear at least their team jerseys, and to tuck them in and be uniform in style/color. Work clothes and shabby clothes are strongly discouraged.
Managers are responsible for:
o Ensuring that players receive the best possible instruction in the art of baseball.
o Their conduct and the conduct of their players while engaged in GLBR activities.
o The proper conduct of parents during the course of a game.
o Timely submission of all required roster information, game scores and the like requested by the Board and necessary for the good of the league.
o Accountablity for the return of all GLBR equipment and uniforms (where applicable) issued.
o Ensuring that all players receive at least the minimum of playing time required.
o Active undertaking in all reasonable GLBR fund raising activities.
o Filing accident and incident reports with the League President and Secretary.
o Recording Umpire(s) of Record for each game played. Tendering this info with game results.
Failure to abide by the above will adversely affect future consideration as a returning manager.
Removal of Managers, Coaches and Players
The GLBR Board has the authority to discipline managers, coaches and players during the course of a season for conduct deemed detrimental to the good order of the league. Such actions may include warning, suspension or termination. Actions that constitute grounds for these actions include, but are not limited to: physical or verbal abuse of players, reckless disregard for conducting league activities in accordance with established rules, and reckless disregard for the safety of players while under their charge.
Disciplinary action shall only be taken upon the completion of a GLBR Board review, and a resulting affirmative decision, by two-thirds vote of the Board, to act on such . Prior to such action, the manager or coach in question shall be notified of the nature of the charges and given an opportunity to respond to the charges before the Board.
FALL SEASON
Below are an explanation of the local rules, a clarification of other rule book rules, and a description of how book rules fit into our local league rules, where applicable. Rules and Regulations that are identical with those defined in the Spring Season, above, will not be duplicated here.
Free substitution and continuous batting order (local rule, Fall only)
These rules are optional and apply to the Fall Season only.
Each team may opt to play the game with free substitutions, as long as the minimum playing time requirements are met. A player can start the game in one spot in the batting order, be taken out of the game, and then re-enter the game as many times as desired, to any position in the batting order. The same holds true for non-starters. One exception: Pitchers must follow standard Babe Ruth pitching rules for re-entry.
Each team may opt to play the game with a continuous batting order, batting its entire roster of players all the way through for the entire game. If this option is chosen, then free defensive substitutions will apply (i.e., players may enter and re-enter the game an unlimited number of times).
Extra hitter (local adaptation)
This rule is optional for the Fall season only. If the team opts to use a continuous batting order, then the EH rule does not apply.
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