cmba-bylaws/docs/03-playing-rules.md

Playing Rules

Playing Rules

Except where specified in this document, games shall follow the Official Baseball Rules of Major League Baseball.

These rules shall not incorporate the following rules of Major League Baseball:

• Rule 4.03(c)(4) specifying limitations on when a position player can pitch.
• Rule 5.02(c) specifying limitations on infielder placement.
• Rule 7.01(b) incorporating the parameters of the Extra Innings Rule, which includes starting each half-inning following the last regulation inning with a runner on second base.
• Rule 5.10(m)(1) limiting the number of mound visits.
• Rule 5.10(g) requiring that pitchers must face at least three batters.
• Rules 5.07(c) specifying time limits on pitchers and batters. Limitations on pitcher disengagements (i.e. pick-offs) shall also not be incorporated.

Regulation Games

Games played under the auspices of both recognized Managers of the participating teams shall count as official. A regulation game is defined as follows

1. A regulation game consists of seven (7) innings, unless extended because of a tie score, or shortened because the home team needs none of its half of the seventh inning or only a fraction of it, or because the umpire calls the game in accordance with Reasons for a Game to be Called.

2. If the score is tied after seven completed innings play shall continue until (1) the visiting team has scored more total runs than the home team at the end of a completed inning, or (2) the home team scores the winning run in an uncompleted inning. If a regulation game is called with the score tied, it shall remain a tie game.

3. If a game is called by the umpire, per Reasons for a Game to be Called, it is a regulation (official) game:

   1. If four innings have been completed;
   2. If the home team has scored more runs in four or three and a fraction half-innings than the visiting team has scored in four completed half-innings;
   3. If the home team scores one or more runs in its half of the fourth inning to tie the score.

   Postseason games are exempt from this definition as specified in Completion of Playoff Games.

4. Slaughter Rule: The game shall be ended and the leading team declared the winner:

   1. If after 4 complete innings the visiting team is ahead in the score by 15 or more runs, or if after 3½ innings the home team is ahead by the same, the game will be ended and the leading team declared the winner.
   2. If after 5 or more complete innings the visiting team is ahead in the score by 12 or more runs, or if after 4½ innings or more the home team is ahead by the same, the game will be ended and the leading team declared the winner.

   The Slaughter Rule is applicable for the playoffs as specified in Completion of Playoff Games.

5. If a game is called after 3 complete innings and one team is ahead by 10 or more runs, the game will be ended and the leading team declared the winner.

   Postseason games are exempt from this definition as specified in Completion of Playoff Games.

6. If a game is postponed or otherwise called before it has become a regulation game, the umpire-in-chief shall declare it “No Game,” meaning the game must be restarted (not resumed) at a later date.

   Postseason games are exempt from this definition as specified in Completion of Playoff Games.

Reasons for a Game to be Called

An umpire, in their discretion, may declare a game called if

1. Darkness prevents further safe play.
2. Rain, lightning, or other inclement weather precludes safe conditions.
3. A new inning would start after 8:15 p.m at a field without lights.
4. Local laws or field rules (e.g. lightning detector) prevent continuation of the game.
5. Other circumstances prevent further safe play. The Rules and Competition Committee may rule on any forfeit or loss of points as applicable.

Game Equipment and Uniforms

Games shall be played with legal baseball equipment and player uniforms as required by League Rules and Policy.

Minimum Number of Players

Teams must start the game at the scheduled starting time if they have a minimum of (8) players present. League policy may designate a forfeit time after which a team with less than the minimum is subject to forfeit. A team may not wait until this forfeit time for players to arrive. The game must begin as soon as a team reaches this minimum.

1. In the event a team starts a game with eight (8) players, the ninth spot in the batting order shall be considered an out recorded to the pitcher. A team may insert a ninth player in the vacant ninth spot after the start of play.
2. The vacated spot in the batting order shall be considered an automatic out.
3. Should a team fall below the minimum, the game is terminated and the team loses by forfeit.

A team may finish the game a player short, that is one (1) player less than they started the game with (eight (8) players for a nine (9) man line-up, nine (9) players for a ten (10) man), provided the team does not fall below this minimum.

Player Injuries

Should a player suffer a debilitating injury during the game and cannot continue, and a team has no more eligible players on its bench, a team can use a player that was removed from the game to replace him. This replacement player must be the first player removed from the game, and if this player is unavailable the next player is used (and so on). If no reserve is present, the vacated spot in the lineup is skipped and all batters move up accordingly, with no penalty to the affected team.

1. If a substantial case can be made that a team skipped a spot with the intent to gain a competitive advantage, a protest by the opposing team may retroactively be ruled as a forfeit.

Designated Hitter

The League shall follow the Major League designated hitter rule at all times, with the exception that a team may designate a D.H. for any position on the field.

Designated Runner

The League shall elect to use a designated runner rule, similar to the designated hitter rule.

1. A runner may be designated to run for a specified player in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the player(s) in the game.
2. The designated runner must take the place of the specified player whenever that player reaches base or the designated runner.
3. If the specified player is substituted, this substitute player may inherit the designated runner.
4. Designated runners are subject to the same substitution rules as the designated hitter as defined in Designated Hitter
5. Teams with no eligible players remaining on the bench (i.e. all players are in the batting lineup) may elect to use the player that made the last out as the designated runner.

Extra Hitter

Prior to the start of the game a team may choose to play an extra hitter (EH). If the team uses this option, the following conditions apply:

1. An EH shall only bat. They cannot take a position in the field as a tenth fielder.
2. The EH shall be treated like any other position in the field, and can be substituted for, switch positions, or anything else that a position player can do.
3. There is no limit to the number of extra hitters a team may elect to use, provided the names and numbers of these players are included in the lineup exchanged before the game.

Courtesy Runner

Teams may use courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers at any time. It is not mandatory to do so (speed-up rule), but the umpire(s) are required to keep the game moving expeditiously.

1. Courtesy runners for pitchers and catchers cannot be, or have been, in the game at any time other than as a courtesy runner. Teams with no eligible players remaining on the bench must use the first player taken out of the game or the player that made the last out.
2. The pitcher or catcher must play at least one (1) defensive out to be eligible for a courtesy runner unless they reach base in the first inning as a member of the visiting team.

Batting Lineup

The batting lineup shall consist of at minimum 9 slots (or 8 adhering to section Minimum Number of Players). Additional slots may be used without limit (see Extra Hitter). Any player may be substituted in their batting lineup slot by using a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner for that player. The original player may not re-enter the game as a hitter.

A/B Batting Lineup Slots

In regular season play, any batting lineup slot may be optionally designated as an "A/B" batting slot, meaning it is shared between two players adhering to the following rules:

1. The batter designated "A" shall bat the first time through the lineup and the batter designated "B" batting the second time through the lineup, continuing in alternating fashion for the remainder of the game.
2. Rules for the substitutions of either "A" or "B" batter are the same as any other batting lineup slot.
3. In the event of injury of either player when there are no reserve players available, the uninjured player shall bat in place of the injured player without penalty.

In postseason play, the A/B batting slot rule defined above shall not be applicable.

Defensive Lineup

In regular season play, the defensive line-up is independent of the batting lineup and substitutions shall be allowed as follows:

1. Any player may be freely substituted in the defensive line-up at any time, without affecting the players’ in the batting line-up. Players may enter, exit, and re-enter the game in the defensive line-up without limitation.

In postseason play, the free defensive substitution rule defined above shall not be applicable and substitutions shall be made in accordance to applicable League and MLB rules.

Collisions

NO COLLISIONS ARE ALLOWED, UNLESS THE CONTACT RESULTS FROM A SLIDE. It is the base runners responsibility to slide or avoid contact. Fielders and runners must abide by Official Baseball Rules regarding Interference, Obstruction, and Catcher Collisions.. Unless the umpire rules that the contact was incidental or the result of Obstruction by the fielder, the runner shall be called out, the ball declared dead and the runner automatically ejected from the game. Per Flagrant Collisions. if the collision is determined by the umpire to be flagrant the player may be subject to the further penalty as defined in that section.

Umpire Disputes

Discussion of a disputed umpires call shall be limited to the Managers, base coaches and the “aggrieved player. No player or other coach (third party) shall be allowed to leave the dugout or their defensive position to join in. The penalty for violating this rule shall be the immediate ejection from the game.