PLAYING RULES OF THE SOUTHERN MAINE MENS BASEBALL LEAGUE -- 2009

 

A.     Sportsmanship

 

    1.   Use of profane language, throwing equipment, slamming bats or helmets, persistent heckling from the dugout, or other similar actions are cause for immediate ejection from the game.  No appeal.

    2.   Any player ejected from any game for any reason will serve a one game suspension for the first offense. A player ejected from a second game will be suspended for the rest of the season.

    3.   Any player hitting or striking an umpire for any reason will be suspended from the league indefinitely.

    4.   Consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal substances on or near the field before, during, or after the game is prohibited.

    5.   Smoking on the field or in the dugout before or during a game is strictly prohibited. 

 

B.     Team Rosters

 

    1.   A player is eligible to play in the SMMBL once they have reached their 25th birthday of the current year.

    2.   Any team found to have an underage player on the roster will forfeit all games played, and the team representatives will each serve a one game suspension. This suspension will count as either a first or second offense as outlined in Section A, Rule 2.

    3.   A team’s official roster will consist of a minimum of fourteen (14) playing players. Rosters above 15 players will be assessed a $50/player fee.

    4.   Each team is allowed two (2) Twilight League players thirty-four (34) years old and younger and unlimited number thirty-five (35) and older as of April 15^th of  the calendar  year.  A Twilight player is anyone who has played in the    Twilight League or any other 18+ League in the 3 years prior to the upcoming season.

    5.   Signed and returned registration forms will comprise a team’s official roster; no other player can participate in an SMMBL league sanctioned game.

    6.   Dues are as stated in the by-laws.

    7.   Players lost to injuries may be replaced at anytime.  The injured player, if replaced, is done for the remainder of the season.

    8.   Players must play in 50 % (rounded up) of the teams played regular season games to be eligible for tournament play.

    9.   Team reps are to enter their roster and home games to establish a team page and then enter the box scores on a weekly basis.

    10.  At end of the season, the Commissioner, using Scorebook.com, will determine who is eligible for the playoffs.

    11.  If your team forfeits 2 games, your team will not be allowed to play in the playoffs.

    12.  Forfeits:  Each team will add $100.00 to the entry fee for forfeits.  If a team forfeits, that fee will go to the opposing team.  The team has to put up $100.00 before the next game.  Penalty: Non-payment will mean that the next game will be a forfeit.

 

C.     Uniforms & Safety Equipment

 

    1.   In order to play in an SMMBL game, all team players must wear the team’s full baseball uniform, which includes the official hats, shirts pants and numbers. (Belts, 2 in 1 socks or stirrup socks are expected, but not required).  Team reps must administer.

    2.  Helmets are required to be worn by all batters, runners at all times in live ball territory.

    3.  Catchers are required to wear a catcher’s protective helmet.

    4.   Metal or rubber cleats are permitted.

 

D.    Line Ups

 

    1.   Teams may begin a game with 8 players without penalty.  Teams may wait no longer than 15 minutes for a 9th player to arrive.

    2.   All players in attendance at a game must be included in the batting line up in a consistent order for the entire game.

    3.   All players in attendance at the game must play a minimum of three (3) innings in the field, unless a player states he does not wish to play in the field, or if a physical reason prevents the player from playing the field.

    4.   Players must have two (2) plate appearances or be in attendance for five (5) innings to be considered played in said game.

    5.   Players showing up after the game has started must be added to the bottom of the batting line up.

    6.   If a player leaves during a game, is injured, or is ejected, his spot in the lineup is skipped without a penalty.

    7.   Players and managers are the only people covered under the league insurance (as part of the team’s fees).  Family members on the bench during the game will not be the responsibility of the SMMBL.

 

E.     Player Substitutions

 

    1.   Free defensive substitution is allowed for all players other then the pitcher. Once a pitcher is removed from a game as a pitcher, he may not return to pitch during the same game, but may play any other position in the field.

    2.   Team’s will be allowed two (2) courtesy runners per game. The opposing team must be notified prior to the start of the game, which players will need a courtesy runner. The player making the last batted out will be the courtesy runner. If the lead-off hitter requires a runner, the last batter in the lineup is used.

    3.   If a player is injured during a game, he may be replaced by a courtesy runner and not removed from the line-up as long as the team has not used up the two (2) courtesy runners allowed.  If the team has used its two courtesy runners, a pinch runner is used and the injured player must be removed from the line-up for the remainder of the game..

 

F.      Pitching Rules

 

    1.   A pitcher may pitch a total of six (6) innings per game and a total of seven (7) innings in any two games in one day.

    2.   Pitchers are not permitted to wear white or gray sleeves and are not permitted to wear batting gloves or wristbands on the mound.  They are also not permitted to use white, gray or multicolored fielding gloves.

    3.  Pitchers are allowed eight (8) warm up pitches between innings

    4.   Relief pitchers are allowed eight (8) warm up pitches upon entering the game. The discretion of the umpire is used when a change is made due to an injury.

 

G.    Base Running & Fielding

 

    1.   Infielders may not decoy a tag.  Once pitcher is on the pitching rubber and batter is in the batter‘s box, a player may not fake a bunt then swing away (slash).  Offending player is ejected.

    2.   All base runners must avoid any intentional collisions with a fielder. If a collision is intentional or malicious the offending player is out and also ejected.

    3.   All base runners must slide or give themselves up if a play is being made on them. All base runners must slide or avoid contact or get out of the base line to avoid interference on a double play situation. Failure to do so will result in both the runner and batter being called out. All other runners will return to the base occupied at the time of the interference.

    4.    A catcher or other player may not block the plate without the ball, illegal blocking of the plate is interference.

 

H.    Complete Games

 

    1.   All games (regular season, playoff and double-headers) are nine (9) innings.

    2.   Playoff games called because of weather or darkness are considered a suspended game and must be completed from the point they were stopped.

    3.  Regular season and double-header games are considered complete according to the Sporting News Official Rules of Baseball.

    4.  Regular season games not completed because of lights going out will be handled the same as games stopped due to weather/rain.

 

I.       Wood Bats

 

    1.   Only wood bats are allowed in the SMMBL. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.  No altered, laminated, glued, coated or composite wood bats will be allowed. A batter is out if he uses or attempts to use any bat other then wood. No advancement on the bases will be allowed and any out or outs made during a play shall stand. You will also be ejected from the game, plus you will be suspended one (1) game.

 

J.      Rain Outs

 

    1.   Field reps will have the first determination for canceling games dues to weather.  In the event of a cancellation, the Commissioner will notify the team reps.

    2.  The home team will have the responsibility to call off games due  to weather if the field reps do not close the field.  The home team shall call Mac Herrick (839-3554 or 807-7188) to cancel the umpires.  If they fail to call, they will be assessed the umpire fees.

    3.   All games canceled throughout the regular season will be rescheduled by the Commissioner.  Both teams will have five (5) days to contact the Commissioner with a make-up date agreeable by both teams.

 

K.  Rules

 

    Official Baseball Rules Published by The Sporting News Govern Any Rule Not Specifically Mentioned in our playing rules. (Delete the Designated Hitter Rule) This is for the umpires use.