Junior Baseball Rule Changes / Clarifications for 2014

Junior Baseball Rule Changes / Clarifications for 2014

(1) Rule CHANGE -- New MLB balk rule

(2) Rule CLARIFICATION -- Game over at 2.5-inning or 3.5-inning mark if visiting team a mathematical winner when game called

(3) Rule CLARIFICATION -- of player drops / adds on resumed game

(4) Rule CLARIFICATION -- of 15-foot rule in Midget / Rookie

(5) Rule CLARIFICATION -- of Pitching Rules on Resumed Game

(6) Rule CLARIFICATION -- on No Supplemental Player Beyond 9 Players

(7) Rule CHANGE -- More Special Rules for Rookie League

(8) Rule CHANGE – Eliminate category of legacy bats from being legal so as to conform our approved bat rule with Nations and Little League—so that, effectively, only BPF 1.15 bats and wood bats are legal

(1a) New MLB balk rule

(1b) New language in rule book (new text in blue)

8.10(b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw.

8.10(c) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. Throwing legally to a base without balking requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk. A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base and is required to throw (except to second base) because he steps. It is a balk if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher steps toward third and does not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. It is legal for a pitcher to feint a throw to second base. Of course, if the pitcher steps off the rubber and then makes a third-to-first move, it is not a balk.

(2a) Game over at 2.5-inning or 3.5-inning mark if visiting team a mathematical winner when game called

(2b) New language in rule book (new text in blue)

(4.12a) If a regular-season game is called on account of weather or the condition of the playing field, it is a regulation game if the home team is ahead and at least two and one-half innings have been completed in the Rookie and Midget Leagues, or three and one-half innings have been completed in the Pee Wee and Bronco Leagues. A regular-season game in the Rookie and Midget Leagues is also a regulation game when called in the third inning if at least two and one-half innings have been completed and the visiting team has mathematically won a three-inning game. Likewise, a regular-season game in the Pee Wee and Bronco Leagues is also a regulation game when called in the fourth inning if at least three and one-half innings have been completed and the visiting team has mathematically won a four-inning game.

(3a) Clarification of player drops / adds on resumed game

(3b) New language in rule book (new text in blue)

(4.12e) When a regular-season or playoff game is resumed, there is no automatic out for a player who was in the original lineup but who is absent for the resumed game. In such event, his spot in the original batting order is skipped with no penalty. If such absent player was a baserunner at the time the game was called, he is replaced as a baserunner with the player who made the last out. If such absent player was in the middle of an at-bat at the time the game was called, he is replaced as the batter with the next batter in the batting order, where such next batter assumes the count of the absent player. Rule 6.02 still applies in a resumed game so that if a team only has eight players in the resumed game, an out is recorded in the absent ninth player’s spot at the bottom of the original batting order.

(4.12f) When a regular-season or playoff game is resumed, a player who was absent from the original lineup may play in the resumed game. Such player is added to the bottom of the original batting order.

(4a) Clarification of 15-foot rule in Midget / Rookie

(4b) New language in rule book (new text in blue)

5.03 Defensive Positioning: In the Rookie and Midget Leagues, ten (10) players play in the field, with four (4) in the outfield (two on each side of second base when viewed from home plate). In the Rookie and Midget Leagues, there is a limit to how far back the infielders can play and how far in the outfielders can play. There is a single 15-foot line—that is, a 15-foot line marked parallel from the baselines—that separates the infielders from the outfielders. When playing back, the infielders may not cross over that 15-foot line. When playing in, the outfielders may not cross over that 15-foot line. Please note that this 15-foot line rule applies only to the initial positioning of defensive players: once the batter hits the ball, outfielders and infielders are free to cross the 15-foot line as they react to, and try to make a play on, the batted ball.

(a) APPROVED RULING: If a Rookie or Midget team wanted to, it could play one, two, three or all four outfielders at shallow depth, but no further in than the 15-foot line. The Rookie or Midget team is free to place its outfielders as shallow or as deep as it wants, so long as all four outfielders are behind the 15-foot line.

(b) APPROVED RULING: An infielder can make a fly ball catch beyond the 15-foot line so long as he was initially positioned within the 15-foot line. Likewise, an outfielder can make a fly ball catch inside the 15-foot line so long as he was initially positioned beyond the 15-foot line. An infielder can go beyond the 15-foot line to cut off a throw from an outfielder or to retrieve a ball so long as he was initially positioned within the 15-foot line.

5.10 Outfielder Restrictions: Rookie and Midget outfielders cannot make a tag out or force out in the infield; outfielders have to throw the ball into the infield for such an out. Outfielders may not freeze the runner either. EXAMPLE: Left center fielder cannot run to second base and tag the runner for an out; he has to throw the ball to an infielder to attempt to make an out.

(5a) Clarification of Pitching Rules on Resumed Game

(5b) New language in rule book (see blue text below)

8.01 Bronco League Pitching Limits: In Bronco League games, the innings during which a pitcher may pitch are limited as follows. For 2-game weeks:5 innings maximumper game per pitcher, 8 innings per pitcher per week. For 3-game weeks or 4-game weeks:5 innings maximum per game per pitcher, 10 innings per week per pitcher, and no more than 8 innings total in two consecutive games during the week.

(a) Example: In a 3-game week, a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 5 innings in the first game, 3 in the second game, and 2 in the last game; or 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 2-4-4, or 5-0-5; but not 5-5-0, 0-5-5, 4-5-1, or 5-4-1.

(b) No pitcher shall pitch more than 5 innings on any one calendar day or more than 8 innings during any two consecutive calendar days, including Sunday and Monday.

(c) In a resumed game, a pitcher is still limited to 5 total innings in that game. So, for example, if a pitcher pitched 4 innings in a game that is suspended due to bad weather, such pitcher would be limited to pitching 1 more inning in the resumed game. As another example, if a pitcher pitched 2 innings and 2 outs before a game was suspended due to bad weather, such pitcher would be limited to pitching 1 out and 2 innings in the resumed game. For the purpose of this per-game innings-pitched limitation, the resumed game is treated more as a game continuation than a new game.

(d) For the purpose of this calendar-week innings-pitched limitation, a resumed game is effectively treated as a new game and only the innings actually pitched in that resumed game count towards the weekly pitching limit. This is consistent with the main goal of the rule, which is to protect young arms. So, for example, if a pitcher pitched 4 innings in a game on Saturday that is suspended due to bad weather and then scheduled to be resumed the following Friday, the following 4-1-5 innings-pitched sequence would be legal in a 3-game week where the resumed game fell between two regularly scheduled games:

(i) Tuesday, regular game: 4 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(ii) Friday, resumed game: 1 inning pitched by Pitcher A (on top of 4 innings pitched in suspended game on prior Saturday)

(iii) Saturday, regular game: 5 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(e) For the purpose of this rule, if a pitcher delivers one pitch to a batter in a resumed game, he shall be considered as having pitched in one inning. So, for example, if a pitcher pitched 2 innings and 2 outs in a game on Saturday that is suspended due to bad weather and then scheduled to be resumed the following Friday, the following 3-3-4 innings-pitched sequence would be legal in a 3-game week where the resumed game fell between two regularly scheduled games:

(i) Tuesday, regular game: 3 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(ii) Friday, resumed game: 1 out and 2 innings actually pitched counted as 3 innings pitched by Pitcher A (on top of 2 innings and 2 outs pitched in suspended game on prior Saturday)

(iii) Saturday, regular game: 4 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(f) Any player who is pitching in another league (for example Baseball USA Select League, Katy PONY, Cy-Fair AAA, Post Oak LL, etc.) is limited to pitching 2 innings in a single game and a total of 4 innings in a week. This does not apply to pitchers pitching on tournament or SBMSA co-op teams.

8.02 Pee Wee League Pitching Limits: In Pee Wee League games, the innings during which a pitcher may pitch are limited as follows. For 2-game weeks: 4 innings maximumper game per pitcher, 6 innings per pitcher per week. For 3-game weeks:4 innings maximum per game per pitcher, 8 innings per week per pitcher, and no more than 6 innings total in two consecutive games during the week.

(a) Example: In a 3-game week, a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 4 innings in the first game, 2 in the second game, and 2 in the last game; or 2-4-2, 3-3-2, 2-3-3, or 4-0-4; but not 4-4-0, 0-4-4, 3-4-1, or 4-3-1.

(b) No pitcher shall pitch more than 4 innings on any one calendar day or more than 6 innings during any two consecutive calendar days, including Sunday and Monday.

(c) In a resumed game, a pitcher is still limited to 4 total innings in that game. So, for example, if a pitcher pitched 3 innings in a game that is suspended due to bad weather, such pitcher would be limited to pitching 1 more inning in the resumed game. As another example, if a pitcher pitched 1 inning and 2 outs before a game was suspended due to bad weather, such pitcher would be limited to pitching 1 out and 2 innings in the resumed game. For the purpose of this per-game innings-pitched limitation, the resumed game is treated more as a game continuation than a new game.

(d) For the purpose of this calendar-week innings-pitched limitation, a resumed game is effectively treated as a new game and only the innings actually pitched in that resumed game count towards the weekly pitching limit. This is consistent with the main goal of the rule, which is to protect young arms. So, for example, if a pitcher pitched 3 innings in a game on Saturday that is suspended due to bad weather and then scheduled to be resumed the following Friday, the following 3-1-4 innings-pitched sequence would be legal in a 3-game week where the resumed game fell between two regularly scheduled games:

(i) Tuesday, regular game: 3 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(ii) Friday, resumed game: 1 inning pitched by Pitcher A (on top of 3 innings pitched in suspended game on prior Saturday)

(iii) Saturday, regular game: 4 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(e) For the purpose of this rule, if a pitcher delivers one pitch to a batter in a resumed game, he shall be considered as having pitched in one inning. So, for example, if a pitcher pitched 1 inning and 2 outs in a game on Saturday that is suspended due to bad weather and then scheduled to be resumed the following Friday, the following 2-3-3 innings-pitched sequence would be legal in a 3-game week where the resumed game fell between two regularly scheduled games:

(i) Tuesday, regular game: 2 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(ii) Friday, resumed game: 1 out and 2 innings actually pitched counted as 3 innings pitched by Pitcher A (on top of 1 inning and 2 outs pitched in suspended game on prior Saturday)

(iii) Saturday, regular game: 3 innings pitched by Pitcher A

(6a) Clarification on No Supplemental Player Beyond 9 Players

(6b) New language in rule book (new text in blue)

(3.03b) RULE CLARIFICATION: A supplemental player may be brought up under these rules only if he becomes the ninth (or lesser) player on the team in need. No supplemental player can be brought up to be the tenth (or greater) player.

(7a) More Special Rules for Rookie League

(7b) New language in rule book (new text in blue)

5.12 Coach Positioning on the Field in the Rookie League: As per Rule 3.07(a), a team in the Rookie League is allowed to have coaches on the field to coach its defensive players. During play, all such coaches shall remain behind the white chalk line separating the infield from the outfield. Each team is allowed one warning per game (i.e., one warning per team, not one warning for both teams) for any coach violating this rule. A subsequent violation will result in all coaches of the offending team being removed from the defensive field of play for the remainder of the game.