CLEVELAND MSBL GAME RULES

Played under modified American League rules, meaning the MLB slide rules are in play.  Also, the fake to third, throw to first play is now a balk, as it is in the majors.  WE USE "TRADITIONAL" MOUND VISITS (meaning 1 per inning per pitcher without removing pitcher).  Pitchers are NOT required to pitch to 3 batters in a row.  And the MLB extra inning shootout (with runner on 2B) will NOW be used in 2022.

Lineups:
Defensive: There are unlimited defensive substitutions for players.
Offensive: Every effort should be made to have all players (who are capable and willing) to bat must bat at least once every game.
The starting offensive line-up must have at least 9 batters (all can be DH’s if it’s the manager’s choice). The
maximum number of batters is limited only by a team’s roster.
a) The batting order may be expanded at any time.
b) The batting order may NOT be decreased.
c)  A team must have 8 players to start an official game, but the ninth slot in the mandatory 9-man lineup will be declared an out THE FIRST TIME around the order ONLY, unless someone possibly arrives to fill that slot.  Players who arrive late can be added to the bottom of the lineup to avoid the out. The spot will be skipped after the initial time around the lineup, but a player can be added anytime he arrives during the game.
Managers are required to submit the official line-up, including last name, first initial, and jersey number of all
players present at the time of ground rules, to the home plate umpire and the opposing manager and the official. All possible substitutes MUST BE listed on the lineup card or they can be deemed ineligible by the opposing manager.
Players arriving after the start of the game then may be added during the course of the game –
the opposing team’s manager and scorekeeper MUST BE notified of the addition for the player to be able to participate.

Time Limit:
9-innings scheduled: No new inning may start after 3:00 of playing time, subject to local curfew.
7-innings scheduled: No new inning may start after 2:30 of playing time, subject to local curfew.
The game will be complete when the inning is finished after the time limit. EXCEPTION: When time limit is called before the last inning has begun, if the score differential is 3 runs or fewer at the end of the inning where time limit is reached, one more inning will be played before the time limit is enforced.
If game remains tied after time limit is reached, the game will continue with “normal” baseball conditions until a winner is determined (unless a local youth team is waiting to play and requires us to leave the field).  This is the only situation where a game could result in a tie score (which would be completed at a later date if it affects the final standings).

NEW RULE IN 2022!!!

In the event of a tie game after 9 innings (regardless of time used) a runner will be placed on second base to start the top of the 10th inning and continue this way for every half inning until a winner.  This runner should be the last "batted out" from the previous inning (not the runner that may have been forced out on the base).  If the runner is the catcher, he must run until two outs before a courtesy runner is awarded.  Or you can line share or subsitute with less than 2 outs.  During extra innings, each batter starts with a fresh count.  Also, if time limit is reached and it is also tied, you go to this same procedure to try to determine a winner.  We don't end games in a tie unless both teams agree to end it that way.  We have ELIMINATED the rule of playing another inning if the score is within 3 runs at time limit.  If you reach time limit and the game is not tied, the game is over once that inning is completed.

Weather:

Once a game begins, it is the umpires discretion to call or delay a game due to weather activity.  Games are stopped for lightning, but not thunder.  Games that are postponed mid game (but not official) will be considered "suspended" and will be continued from that point forward at a future time.  Managers should compare score books so they know where the game left off.  Any game where the losing team batted at least five times or more (either 4.5 or 5 full innings) will be an official completed game (it may also be halted for other reasons than weather, such as field scheduling issues).  Any game called in the top half of an inning will "revert back" to the score of the previous inning.  For example, in the top of the seventh inning the visiting team scores 4 runs and is now winning 5-2 when the rains come, the score would revert back to the score at the end of the sixth inning, which would have been 2-1 in favor of the home team.  The reason for this is that the home team didn't have the chance to bat in the bottom of the seventh to have a chance to score.  If it is a playoff game, the game will be suspended at the point of stoppage and will be picked up at a later date, so the score would not revert back at that point.

Suspended games:

If a game starts and 2 complete innings are played, then the game gets stopped due to weather, the game will be picked up from that point forward at a later date.  Should there be less than 2 innings played, the game would completely start over when made up at a later date.

Mercy rule: 10 runs after 7 innings in a 9-inning game; 10 runs after 5 innings in a 7-inning game.

Substutions:
Defense: Free substitution at all times. (Exception: See Pitchers, next item.)
Pitchers: Pitchers may re-enter as pitchers as long as they remain in the game defensively.
A re-entered pitcher is limited to 4 warm-up pitches.
Offense: Those players not in the initial offensive line-up can be inserted in the batting order by adding them to the end of the line-up or by having them pinch-hit or pinch-run for another player. Anytime a player is added or inserted to share a battling slot, the manager must notify the umpires and the opposing manager and scorekeeper. In any situation where a player is announced as a pinch-hitter or a pinch runner, baseball batting-order rules apply (any player who is pinch-hit or pinch-run for cannot bat or run again – but may remain in the game defensively).
Offensive line-sharing: Two (or more) players may share a position (batting or running) in the offensive lineup; the sharing may be initiated by the manager at any time and is not limited to one batting position.
a) Neither player may appear anywhere else in the offensive lineup.
b) If one of the players is incapacitated (cannot play) for any reason, the remaining players in the shared position continue as before.
c) If all players in the shared position are incapacitated (cannot play) for any reason, and no substitute, who has not appeared in the offensive line-up is available, the batting position is an automatic out.
If a player in the offensive line-up has to leave the game due to injury, other commitment or ejection, he must be replaced in the line-up by another player.
a) If there is no reserve player available, the position is declared vacant and it will be an automatic out whenever the position comes to bat for the remainder of the game (including a resumed suspended game if there still is no replacement – the original player may not re-enter if he had been ejected). If an ejected player is at bat when ejected, his replacement will assume the ball-strike count. If there is no replacement, it is an automatic out.
b) Exemption: If a team bats everyone available and the offensive order is at least 14 batters long, the batting position of players forced to leave for injury or other commitment will be bypassed (the batting order may not decrease below 13, and players leaving the batting order due to injury may not continue to play defense); an automatic out will only be enforced in case of an ejection.
Courtesy Runners:
No courtesy runners are permitted. Exception: A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher with 2 outs as a speed-up consideration. The courtesy runner must be the last offensive player to be put out (either as a runner or as a hitter).
Pitchers:
Pitchers may re-enter as long as they remain in the game defensively.
There is no maximum on how many innings a pitcher may pitch in a game or a week.
While pitching, a pitcher may not wear white or gray undershirt sleeves or wear batting gloves or wristbands on his pitching arm.
If a pitcher hits 4 batters in a game, he must be removed.
Intentional walks are allowed. As per MLB rule, pitchouts need not be thrown. Just notify the home plate umpire of the intentional walk.
 
Forfeits:

Teams will forfeit under the following conditions:
Fewer than 8 players are available at the start of game after 10-minute grace period.  NO GRACE PERIOD (NEW IN 2022)
Fewer than 8 players are available after the start of (or during) the game because players being lost due to
ejection’s or injuries. This is the case regardless of the inning the game is in.
Use of an ineligible player.
Failure of an ejected player to leave the park.

Playoffs:
It is a DOUBLE elimination playoff system (for both GOLD and SILVER divisions).
Each game is 9 innings in duration.
Playoff games will have no time limit however the run rule is still in effect, except for the championship series. We play regular baseball until there is a winner (no shootout).
The seedings are determined by regular season record (won-loss percentage).
Tiebreakers - If more than one team has the same won-loss percentage, we go to a list of tiebreakers. If a team forfeits during the regular season, they automatically lose all tiebreakers and they will have the lowest seed of the team (or teams) they are tied with.
The first decider is head to head record. If they split the season series, then it goes to runs allowed against each other. If that is a tie, then it is runs allowed against all teams for the regular season.
If there are more than two teams tied, the tiebreakers are still head to head (with all the other teams with the same record), then runs allowed against those teams.

Ejections: Any ejection will carry a 2-game suspension (game of suspension plus following game).

An extra suspended game can be added for over-the-top behavior directed towards officials or the throwing of equipment following ejection. Any player ejected three times in one season is suspended for the rest of that season and all of the following season.

a) Field conduct: Ejected players are required to gather their belongings and vacate the dugout within a reasonable amount of time. Players may stay on the field site, but may have no further contact whatsoever with umpires and game participants.
b) Appeals: All suspensions may be appealed in writing to the Governing Board. Verbal appeals must be presented within 24 hours of the ejection; written appeals must be in the league office within 48 hours.
(If a player is ejected in the first game of a double-header, player or manager may contact the league commissioner by phone to appeal suspension and be eligible to play second game. Make sure umpire is available to get approval from the league.)
c) Carry over: Sanctions will carry over from season to season.