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Homeplate arrow MBL Game Rules
MBL Rules Print E-mail
Rules are MLB American League rules except as follows: Sportsmanship:
  • The highest levels of sportsmanship shall be maintained at all times.
  • Players should not pursue arguments with umpires or attempt to show-up umpires after any spontaneous reaction to a call.  Only managers and field captains (players taking rules, limited to two players besides manager) shall request explanations of calls, and only with significant discretion.  Umpires are not obligated to discuss calls.  
  • Players, Managers, Umpires & Fans shall maintain the highest levels of decorum and respect at all times.
  • Any fighting, spitting, throwing of items are an automatic ejection and suspension.
  • Fans of teams that are unruly or disruptive, or that harass players, managers or umpires will be asked to be removed from the field area.  An umpire has the discretion of forfeiting a team’s game in extreme circumstances.  Managers should maintain influence over their team’s fan base. 

 Game Time, Player, Game & Field Issues:

  • Games are 7 innings subject to a maximum of 2 hours and 20 minutes beginning with the first pitch, exception being an extra inning game which may begin new innings until 3 hours have elapsed- no new innings after 3 hours. 
  • Teams must field eligible nine players to begin a game, no exceptions. 
  • Teams without nine players receive a twenty minute grace period before being a declared to have forfeited the game.
  • A team causing a grace period delay is assessed an out to their lead-off hitter in their first turn at-bat if the game is played.
  • Teams may finish a game with eight players due to injury or personal emergency if the leaving player has played the field or had an at bat.  If the team loses a player due to ejection to reach eight eligible players, in that case, the team forfeits for being short on players.
  • If a team is playing with eight players, the emptied spot in the line-up is an automatic out when that spot in the line-up comes up to bat.
  • No courtesy runners. (see vet rules)
  • A ten run rule only applies during doubleheaders between the same two teams.  In those cases, if a team is down by ten or more runs after their at-bat in the fifth inning, the game is over.
  • Base coaches do not need to wear helmets when in the field, although the MBL recommends it.  Base coaches must position themselves in or behind coaches box at the base they are coaching.
  • Doubleheaders between the same two teams will have a twenty minute break between the first and second game (and not start before the scheduled time unless both teams agree).  Teams split field time for warm-ups.
  • Split doubleheaders where one team is playing twice will have a twenty minute break between games.  The team that didn’t play in the first game gets the field for warm-ups.
  • Second game of a set, with different teams playing each game, will have a 30 minute break between the games (but not to start before the scheduled time), with each team getting the field an equal amount of time.
  • On plays at the plate, any other base or in the baseline: The baserunner may not purposely create a full contact collision for any reason.  Runners should make an attempt to avoid full-force collisions (generally by sliding, though sliding is not required) or side-stepping.  A runner is not expected to make any sudden moves to avoid partial contact if such a move to avoid contact can possibly cause him to lose his footing or balance in such a way that he may injure himself- in the opinion and judgement of the umpire.  Position players and catchers are under equal responsibility to avoid creating collisions when they do not have the ball; as such, any position player or catcher blocking the baseline without the ball or without attempting to catch the ball should be called for interference in accordance with MLB AL rules, and ejected if the interference is judged by the umpire to be done on purpose to slow, hinder or disrupt a runner and puts the runner in possible endangerment of injury. Any position player who is ejected for causing a collision that injures a player will be suspended until one game after the injured player returns to playing, and not less than three games.
  • Weather Delays and Cancellations:
    • In the event of bad weather, games are considered complete after completion of five innings or four-and-a-half if the home team is leading. 
    • Games cancelled prior to the above definition for a complete game are replayed completely. 
    • Umpires have discretion to cancel a game due to weather.  A game should be delayed up to an aggregate of forty minutes prior to cancellation if the weather report indicates potential clearing and field conditions are potentially playable.  Umpires should make every effort to complete a game if field conditions permit.  Game in-play time limit remains 2 hours and 20 minutes, regardless of the length of a delay.
    • Check www.baseballmilwaukee.com or  http://www.milwaukee.gov/router.asp?docid=16305 for cancellations two hours before game time whenever possible.
    • Managers and umpires may call the Commissioner or President for cancellation information.  Players contact their manager.
    Equipment:
    • Aluminum bats are limited to a minus 3 weight to length ratio and should follow NCAA rules for construction. For example, a 34-inch bat must weigh at least 31 ounces. No minus 4 or minus 5 bats.
    • Players may wear metal cleats. 
    • Catchers must wear a cup.
Manager Game Reporting Responsibilities: 
  • Managers shall provide line-up cards with all players listed who are at the game, for each other and the home-plate umpire prior to a game.
  • Winning manager will submit an online game summary form at www.baseballmilwaukee.com by the Tuesday following the game. Failure may result in all non-reported wins being recorded as ties.
  • Each team shall keep game statistics for both teams.
  • Managers will submit team statistics the week after the final week of the season to the league via email.
  • Managers should preserve their score book for 20 years, then bury them in a time capsule or donate them to the MBL.
Identification:
  • Players must carry a picture ID in the case eligibility is questioned.
  • If a manager wishes to challenge a player's eligibility, he should request that the head umpire ask the player to produce a picture ID. If the player can not or will not produce a picture ID, he may play, but the game is under protest. The protest should be submitted within four days following the incident by the manager protesting.
Playoff Eligibility:
  • Players must achieve one at-bat and/or inning pitched for each game regularly scheduled for their team to be eligible for the playoffs and have played in a game before the end of June.  There will be no adjustments made due to rain-outs or cancellations.  So, if a team has 18 regularly scheduled games, playoff eligible players must have at least 18 at bats, 18 innings pitched or a combination- even if the team gets fewer than 18 games played due to weather or forfiets (managers be aware).
  • A player may also be eligible for the playoffs if the following apply:  He qualified for the playoffs based on PAs &IPs the previous season or two of the three previous seasons and he made an appearance by the end of June.
  • A player may also be eligible if he qualified for the playoffs based on PAs &IPs the previous season or two of the three previous seasons AND he notified the league he was coming off of a significant injury that prevented him from playing until later in the season.
  • MBL Management reserves the right to prohibit ringers from playing in July or the playoffs.  Ringers are defined as recent professional players or Division 1 college players clearly added only for the playoff stretch drive or playoffs.  We do encourage former professional players and Division 1 players to play in the league, however, as regular team members, not late season roster additions.
  • Players who switch teams within the past year will not be allowed to play in the playoffs against the team they left, through the next full season after switching teams.
2010 Playoffs
  • Eight teams make the playoffs, comprised of the top four teams in each division. 
  • Seeds 1-4 in the American Division will play seeds 4-1 in the National Division in round on, , with the home team being the higher seeded team.  
  • There is no reseeding, we will have a bracket format.
  • Home teams are determined by record after round one.

Tie-breakers:

  • Play-in game IF and only IF neither of tied teams have a game scheduled the make-up weekend.  Follow below if either have to play the make-up weekend.
  • Head to head (two teams only)
  • Division Record
  • Record among teams tied in standings
  • Coin flip.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 18 October 2009 )
 
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