http://www.msblnational.com/Rules.html

 

Monterey Bay MABL Rules Outline

This outline does not replace the more detailed rules document

This outline is a supplement for quick reference

Metal Bat weight / length differential

must not be greater than -3

i.e. no -5 or -7 bats allowed

Baseballs

Only Rawlings Official MSBL Baseballs are allowed

Each team must bring at least 3 new baseballs to each game

Game time / inning limits

All games are 9 innings with no time limit and 12 innings maximum

Exceptions

Solicito Park

No new inning after 3 hours

Salinas Muni

No new inning after 3 hours   

 Watsonville HS (when lights are being used)

No new inning after 3 hours

All games that have another game following on the same field

No new inning after 3 hours

Playoff games carry no time or inning limit

Rain

If a game has gone 5 innings it will be considered complete

Does not apply to playoff games

Darkness

If a game has gone 7 innings it will be considered complete

Does not apply to playoff games

If a game is not played to completion by league standards

The league will make an attempt to reschedule

If a game is underway then it will resume from where it left off

Mercy Rule

12 runs after 5 innings

10 runs after 7 innings

Does not apply to playoff games

Batting Order

Minimum 10 batters in the lineup

Unless a team has only 8 or 9 players at the game

Batters leaving the batting lineup

Must be replaced by a substitute if one is available

If no substitute is available

In the event of an illness, injury or prior engagement.

The players spot will be skipped with no out assessed

In the event of an ejection

Automatic out first time through the order then spot is skipped

Batting out of order

If error is caught before the third out after the mistake

Game will revert to skipped batter’s at bat

Skipped batter will bat then the player who batted out of order will be called out and the game will continue.

If the error is caught after 3 outs but before the end of the skipped batters next at bat

The skipped batter will no longer be allowed to bat in the game.  No out assessed.

Adding players to the batting order once game has started

OK to add to the bottom of the lineup

OK to pinch hit for a batter

All offensive changes must be announced to opposing team manager or scorekeeper

If not announced, the pinch hitter or added  batter will be called out as soon as he enters the batters box

Teams have 3 outs to catch any batting order errors

Batters who have been pinch hit for

May not renter the game as a hitter or runner

May continue to play in the field or pitch

Once a team starts using an A/B Position in the batting order

They must continue to use it throughout the remainder of the game

Unless a player is forced to leave the game and no pinch hitter is available

Injury, illness, prior engagement

No out assessed

Ejection

Out assessed first time through the order

Waiver Forms

All players must sign prior to participating in a league game

Teams must submit player waiver forms to the League President

Teams have a one game grace period

If a player participates in a second game and his waiver form is not on file with the League President, the team will forfeit the game and future games the player participates in until the waiver form is on file with the President of the league .

Player Age

Not eligible to participate until their 18^th birthday

Forfeits

A team must have 8 players for an official game

Must notify president at least 3 hours prior to game time to avoid $80 fine.

Fine will be paid to umpires scheduled to work the game

Each umpire will receive $40

Defensive Positions

A defensive player may be substituted at any time with out affecting his position in the batting order

Pitcher

May re-enter the game after being removed

Only one time during the game

Not in the same inning

Player Fan, Umpire Behavior and Team Responsibility

The following is prohibited at the field of play before, during or after games

The field refers to the general playing area and ancillary areas (In view of the school) (Includes parking lots)

Audible Profanity

speaking of sexual acts, speaking of using drugs, speaking of drinking alcohol, curse words loud enough for fans or people living near the field of play can hear.  Punishment will include warning then ejection and possible suspension.

Fighting

Among players, fans, umpires

Immediate ejection and suspension

Throwing at batters

Immediate ejection and suspension

Be guilty of objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official’s decision

Immediate ejection from game and possible suspension

Be guilty of verbal abusive attack upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game

Ejection and possible suspension

Consume alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during the game or be upon the field of play, dugout or school / city grouds at any time in an intoxicated condition

Ejection and suspension

Smoke or chew tobacco on the field of play, in the dugout, stands or school grounds.

Warning, then ejection

Loud Music / Driving Fast on School Grounds

Warning then forfeit of game

Finding remnants after a game of (chew, illicit drugs, alcohol, cigarettes) anywhere on the school / field property will subject team(s) to forfeit of game and possible expulsion from the league.

Vandalism of any kind on city / school grounds

Suspension and possible forfeit of game

Players and Fans must use toilets at the fields or drive to a public toilet

Do not urinate in the bushes, forest, hidden location on city or school grounds

Fans in violation of any of the previously mentioned penalties (warning and/or removal from the premise, forfeit of game if they refuse to leave. 

Players are responsible for their fans behavior at games.

Individual players and teams will be held responsible for their fans conduct at games.

Collisions / Contact between offensive and defensive players

The intent of these rules is to avoid unnecessary violent collisions whenever possible

Any flagrant collisions will result in ejection and possible suspension

Illegal contact

Runners may not attempt to dislodge the ball from a fielder

Penalty

Runner  will be called out

Fielders may not block the base path without possession of the ball

Runners still need to avoid violent flagrant collisions

If a runner is guilty of such a collision they will be ruled safe but ejected from the game.

Runners may not slash or kick the fielder with either leg

Force play / Double Play situation

Base runner and batter will be called out if…

Do not slide and make contact with the fielder or alter the play

Use a rolling or pop up slide and make contact with the fielder

Runner’s raised leg makes contact with the fielder above the knee

Runners may not slide inside,  outside or  past the base to attempt to break up a double play

Runners must slide directly into and not beyond  a base

Legal contact

If a fielder blocks the base path with possession of the ball

Runner is allowed to slide directly into the base

Not to the side of the base

Unless attempting to avoid a collision / tag

Not past the base

Decoy Rule

Fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose

 Fielders may not fake a tag forcing a player to slide

Penalty

Runner is safe

All  runners move up one base

Courtesy Runners

Must notify opposing manager prior to start of the game

If not so notified opposing manager may deny request

Maximum of 2 batters per game can have courtesy runners

Catchers may have a courtesy runner with two outs

Pitchers may NOT have a courtesy runner with two outs

If a batter runs for himself he will lose his courtesy runner for the remainder of the game

Pitchers

One intentional walk per game

Limit of 4 hit batters per game

Umpires

Each team is responsible for paying one umpire $70 prior to the start of each game.  (play-off games are $80 per umpire and the 3^rd umpire is paid by the league)

If only one umpire is present at the game then each team will pay that umpire $50 (Total $100).