EASTERN NEW YORK CONNIE MACK AND MICKEY MANTLE BASEBALL LEAGUE, INC. LEAGUE RULES ADOPTED: April 30, 2018
SECTION I: STANDINGS AND STATISTICS 1.SCOREKEEPER SECTION II: PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 1.SERVICE AREA 2.TEAM TERRITORIES 3.ROSTERS 4.RELEASES 5RESIDENCE S6 AGE CUTOFFS SECTION 111. EQUIPMENT 1.BASEBALLS 2.BATS 3.HELMETS 4.SPIKES TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION IV. OTHER LEAGUES. 1.OTHER LEAGUES SECTION V. CONDUCT OF GAMES 1.UMPIRE PAYMENT 2.LINE-UP CARDS 3.START OF GAMES 4.DESIGNATED HITTER 5.RE-ENTRY 6.CONDUCT 7.TOBACCO 8.NUMBER OF PLAYERS 9.INELIGIBLE PLAYER 10.MERCY RULE 11.RESCHEDULING GAMES 12.NO UMPIRES 13.COLLISIONS 14.EXTRA HITTER 15.COMPLETE GAME 16. DOUBLEHEADERS S 17. PITCH COUNT LIMITATIONS SECTION VI. FORFEITS 1.PENALTY 2.POST SEASON ELIGIBILITY
SECTION VII. POST SEASON PLAY SECTION IX. COMMITTEES 1.COMPLETING THE SEASON 2. TWO-WAY TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE 3. MULTIPLE-TEAM TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE 4, FINAL RECOURSE TO BREAK TIES 5. ASSISTING IN HOSTING TOURNAMENTS 6. ALL-STAR GAME 7. POST-SEASON PLAYER DRAFT 8. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 1. PROTEST COMMITTEE 2. NOMINATING COMMITTEE 3. CODE OF CONDUCT COMMITTEE
I. STANDINGS AND STATISTICS 1. Scorekeeper. A League Scorekeeper may be appointed by the Board to compile records of play, maintain League standings, report game results during the playing season and perform such other duties as may be properly assigned by the President or Board. He will be paid a fee as determined by the Board and the League will provide him basic instructions in advance. The home score book will be the official score book at a scheduled League game. It shall be the responsibility of the winning team to report all game results immediately to the League Scorekeeper/Website. The home team must inform the Scorekeeper of any game postponements and the rescheduled date within 72 hours. II. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 1. Service Area. The League serves amateur baseball players in Albany, Bennington, Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren and Washington Counties. 2. Team Territories. A member franchise may request that the Board grant them exclusive rights, in each League Division separately, to draw players who reside in particular school district territories and all players must reside in such territories except as otherwise provided in this section. If a member franchise has more than one school district, the district territories must be adjacent to each other. No member franchise may have exclusive rights to a territory or territories whose total combined school district population as set forth in the most current applicable Bed Count (As published for the current school year by the appropriate State Athletic Assoc.) exceeds 3,500. The maximum population penalty for adding a player from an open territory will be 300 or ½ of the Open Territory s BED number, whichever is lower. If a member franchise wants a player on its roster from a territory of another member franchise, it must receive a release from that other franchise and his appearance on the roster will have no effect on the member franchise s population count. If an open territory becomes closed due to the addition of a new franchise, Players rostered from previous seasons whom retain eligibility from that territory will have the option to choose which franchise to play with: their previous team or the newly created Franchise where they reside. If a Franchise holds a territory and rosters no players from said territory for 2 consecutive seasons, that territory will become open in the third season, and League teams may add players from that territory following the population count rules outlined above. In certain extraordinary situations in which the best interest of the League is served, the Board, by a vote of three fourths of all members present at a league meeting, may waive such requirements and may impose such limitations or requirements as it deems appropriate. 3. Rosters. Each team manager shall submit a completed League roster, proof of insurance and birth certificates copies for each player on its roster to the President and Secretary by the first day of the League season. A League Official shall not certify his own team s roster. All players must be certified by League Officials each season before they are allowed to play. A player who is removed from a roster prior to July 1 must obtain a release from that team before being allowed to join another team, as well as being approved by majority vote of the membership. If a member franchise ceases to exist or is ejected from the league, its players may be added to another team roster, provided that the player s school district population count shall be added to the new member franchise s population count which shall not exceed 3,500. No team may have more than FIVE players from open territories on their roster. The size of a roster will be determined in accordance with the rules of AABC For League play, and for the appropriate sanctioning body, should a team qualify for a post-season berth for that affiliation. A player who is added to a roster may play as soon as the member franchise notifies the President or Secretary, but the member franchise must submit the updated roster with the player s birth certificate via email, fax or in person, to the President or Secretary for certification within 72 hours. Any player legally listed or added to a team roster shall be eligible to play in League games.
Teams may drop players from their roster before July 1 st each season. Once a player is dropped from a roster, he cannot be added again, and will not be eligible for post-season play. After July 1 st each season, players can be added to rosters to compete in League games, but they will not be eligible for post-season play For any sanctioning body the League should affiliate with. During an inactive season the franchise may grant one year releases to any players from their territories who wish to play for other teams in the league. An inactive franchise cannot refuse a release request for a player who wishes to play for other franchises within our league during inactivity. The inactive franchise will retain its franchise territory rights during their years of inactivity. If franchise reactivates, players with remaining eligibility will return to the reactivated franchise unless unconditionally released to another league franchise. If a franchise is absent and not excused from at least three of the regular meetings in October, February, March, and April, the Franchise will become inactive and their territories will be declared open for the upcoming season. 4. Releases. Any player committed to a team shall be considered committed to that team throughout his eligibility In each League Division, Connie Mack OR Mickey Mantle, unless released in writing by the member franchise. Provided, however, that a member franchise may limit the release to one year. Upon releasing a player from their territory for current playing season, and provided that player remains actively rostered with another League team, the member franchise may add a player from an open territory without incurring a penalty to their BED count total. 5. Residence. A player s legal residence, except in the case of emancipated minors, shall be the residence of that player s parent or legal guardian. S6. Age Cutoffs. To be eligible for 16U division play, a player must turn 17 on or after May 1 of the current season. To be eligible for 18U division play, a player must turn 19 on or after Jan 1 of the current season. To be eligible for post-season tournament play, all players must meet the age cut-off restrictions for the national sanctioning body tournament in which his team participates, or onto which team the player is drafted for post-season play." III. EQUIPMENT 1. Baseballs. The official baseball of the League shall be Official High School grade (NFHS Stamped) or better. No Babe Ruth stamped balls are allowed. Prior to the game, both managers and umpires must agree that game balls meet League specifications. After start of game, umpire will ensure that balls used in game play meet League specifications. Visiting team will have right to protest game if only non-regulation balls are supplied by the home team. Protest must be declared prior to the start of the game, or when non-regulation balls are introduced into the game and not immediately removed upon discovery. If visiting team is able to supply regulation balls when the home team cannot, League will enforce penalty to reimburse that team from home team s escrow balance with the League. If protest Committee rules that the game must be replayed, game will be replayed at the visitor s field, and home team will pay for both umpires and supply regulation balls. Each home team shall have available at least six new official League baseballs for use at each scheduled League game. 2. Bats. AABC tournament bat rules shall apply in League Play: Only wood, Laminate or composite wood of similar material bats may be used (the only exception to the similar material is the Baum Bat). The bat must not exceed forty-two (42) inches in length and 2.61 inches in diameter.
3. Helmets. The use of NOCSAE approved headgear (hardhat) with double ear flaps while batting and running the bases is mandatory. The use of NOCSAE approved protective headgear (hardhat) and throat protector, or hockey style mask while catching is mandatory. The use of NOCSAE approved protection headgear (hard hat) must be worn by base coaches while in the field of play. Umpires will be directed to not allow base coaches without proper headgear on the field. 4. Spikes. Metal spikes may be used in all League games. IV. OTHER LEAGUES 1. Other Leagues. Member franchises may participate in other leagues, provided that ENYCMMM League games take a priority. V. CONDUCT OF GAMES 1. Umpire Payment. Teams will split umpire fees at each League Game. 2. Line-up Cards. All starting players eligible to play must be listed in the batting order with uniform number and position given to the opposing team prior to the start of the game. Substitutes may be listed on the lineup card as a courtesy. All substitutes during the game must be reported to the umpires and the opposing team scorekeeper when they enter the game. 3. Start of Games. Games are to begin, weather permitting, no later than 30 minutes after the scheduled time. Failure to start on time will result in a forfeit. 4. Designated Hitter. The League employs the designated hitter (DH) rule from the American League: A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire-in-Chief. The Designated Hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game. Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter himself becomes a Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re-enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.
A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of the Designated Hitter. A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter. Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the DH role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch-hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. 5. Re-entry. The League uses the high school re-entry rule for starters only. Any of the starting players may withdraw and re-enter a game provided that such player occupies the same batting position whenever he is in the line-up. A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter. The starting pitcher is governed by the provisions of Official Baseball Rule 3.05 if withdrawn while on the mound pitching. The starting pitcher withdrawn while a batter or a base runner may re-enter the game immediately. If the starting pitcher is removed from the game because of a second trip in the same inning he may re-enter the game in any position with the exception of pitcher. If a player re-enters illegally as a pitcher, fielder or runner, there is no penalty except that he must be removed from the game immediately when discovered. If he re-enters illegally as a batter, such illegal re-entry is penalized according to the Official Baseball Rule 6.07. 6. Conduct. Any player, manager or assistant coach who throws equipment, uses bad language or engages in any unsportsmanlike conduct during a league game may be ejected by an umpire. If ejected, such player, manager or assistant coach will be suspended for the next game and may be subject to additional disciplinary action as the League deems appropriate. A suspended manager or coach may attend the next game, unless prohibited by the Umpire Assoc. responsible for the game, but may not participate in any aspects of the game and may not sit in the dugout. A suspended player must sit on the bench in uniform during the next game that he attends. A second ejection in the same season will result in a two game suspension and a third ejection in the same season will result in a three game suspension. If a player does not sit on the bench the next game, then he will be considered suspended until such time as he fulfills his suspension. Any report of unsportsmanlike conduct on the playing field which is received by the League within 24 hours of the incident shall be subject to such disciplinary action as the League deems necessary. Suspensions shall be carried into the next League season as necessary. 7. Tobacco. The on-field and dugout use of tobacco by players, team officials and League officials during League play is banned. In some cases the home field or facility s rule on tobacco may be more prohibitive than our League rule, in which case teams will obey the stricter home site rule. 8. Number of Players. A team must have nine position players to start or continue playing a game or the team shall forfeit the game 9. Ineligible Player. The use of an ineligible player shall result in the forfeiting of any games in which the ineligible player played. 10 Mercy Rule. A regular season game will be terminated after 5 innings if the visiting team has a 10 run lead or after four and a half(4½) innings if the home team has a ten run lead. 11. Rescheduling Games. The home team shall be responsible for rescheduling games that are not played within 72 hours. To the extent possible, the date and time of a rescheduled game should be acceptable to both teams and a team should try to accommodate another team s request to reschedule a game. Playing in a non-
league tournament or game shall not be a reason for rescheduling a game unless tournament or non-league game falls on a team s No-Play dates submitted prior to the season. A game must be rescheduled for any of the following reasons as allowable OFF Days: 1. High school baseball games. 2. High school baseball or awards banquets. 3. High school graduation day. 4. July 4 th Holiday At the March meeting each season, the Executive Board will also determine the maximum allowable number of noplay dates a team can submit for the upcoming season s schedule. If a team needs to request to postpone a game after the season begins, for an allowable non-weather related reason, like a school event, they must give notice to their opponent at least 48 hours before the scheduled game time. If they fail to make the request at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game, the opponent is allowed to accept a forfeit, or agree to re-schedule the game with the requesting team having to pay for both umpires, as well as any penalty fees the umpire association may have assessed for the cancellation. During the last week of the season, make-up games impacting post-season berths must take precedence over those that do not. Executive Board can intervene to enforce this as necessary. For any game which needs to be rescheduled, the home team shall offer three possible dates that the visiting team does not have a game scheduled. Where the teams are not able to reach an agreement on rescheduling a game within 72 hours, the Executive Committee shall decide if, where, and when a game should be rescheduled or may decide that the game is to be played on the original date. 12. No umpires. If umpire(s) do not show for a game within thirty minutes of the scheduled starting time of the game, the game shall be rescheduled at the visiting team s field. The home team of the original game shall be the home team for the rescheduled game. If the umpire(s) do not show for a game that is scheduled for the last week of the season, the visiting team has the option of accepting a forfeit or re-scheduling the game. 13. Collisions. The Major League Baseball sliding rule will be in effect at all bases with the exception of no malicious contact at the discretion of the umpire. 14. Extra Hitter. In League Games, a team may use ONE Extra Hitter (EH) in any position in the batting order and shall be treated as any other starter. For example, the EH may switch with a field player, provided that both players keep their respective places in the batting order. A player on the bench may also pinch hit for the EH. If the extra hitter is removed from the line-up for any reason, and no eligible substitutes remain, that spot will be an automatic out for the remainder of the game. In games designated as non-league on the schedule, a team may use additional Extra Hitters in their line-up as desired. In non-league designated games, rostered players coming late to the game may be added to the bottom of the line-up as Extra Hitter. If a player in a non-league designated game is removed for any reason, and there are no eligible substitutes for that position in the line-up, the team shall not have to take an out when that position comes to bat. 15. Complete Game. A game shall be deemed complete if it cannot be completed because of darkness or weather after 4 innings if the visiting team is leading or after three and a half (3½) innings if the home team is leading. 16. Doubleheaders- If teams schedule a double-header, where one of the games is an extra non-league game not on schedule, the first game played shall be the official League game and be counted in the standings.
S17. Pitch Count Limitations Teams will adhere to the AABC pitch count limits listed below for each player age. Teams must keep accurate pitch count records for each game, and share them with opponents upon their request. The home team score book shall be the official record of pitch count totals for each game. If a pitcher reaches a pitch count threshold that would cause him to have to be removed from a game after throwing one pitch to a batter, he will be able to continue pitching to that batter until the at-bat ends, or the inning ends. However, pitch count totals are firm, and will not be adjusted to allow pitchers totals to revert back to a lower days rest threshold. If a manager believes an opponent is in violation of the pitch count rules, he may submit in writing an official protest to League Officials within 24 hours of completion of the game. If the Protest Committee finds that a team has violated the pitching rule, the team shall forfeit the game in which the violation occurred. LG AGE Daily Pitch Max Required Rest 0 Days 1 Days 2 Days 3 Days 4 Days 15-16 95 1-30 31-45 46-60 61-75 76+ 17-18 105 1-30 31-45 46-60 61-75 76+ VI. FORFEITS 1. Penalty. If a team forfeits a game, it will pay the League within 72 hours a penalty fee of $50. If umpires need to be paid because of the forfeited game, the forfeiting team will also be responsible for paying both umpire fees. If the League s Treasurer and the home team do not receive the appropriate fee within 72 hours, any game which that team is scheduled to play after that time will be considered a forfeit until the penalty fee is received. Fines for 2 nd and subsequent forfeits will be $100. Teams that forfeit more than two games during the season will be placed on probation and franchise rights will be reviewed prior to the start of the next season. Fines will carry over to the next season as necessary. 2. Post-Season Eligibility. After a team has forfeited two games for lack of players, it will not be eligible for post-season play. Games forfeited based on article V, section 12 (no umpires) do not apply here. If a team loses post-season eligibility due to more than one forfeit, or are unable to complete their season, the games that have been played to date in the season will still be counted in the standings. If a team must forfeit a game because they do not have enough players to finish a game, or start the 2 nd game of a doubleheader that day, due to an injury(s), it shall be a forfeit loss, but it shall not count toward their post-season eligibility forfeit limit, nor shall they be fined.
VII. POST-SEASON PLAY 1. Completing the Season. Teams must complete their full season by playing or accounting for all games on their schedule in order to qualify for post season play. 2. Two-Way Tie-Breaking Procedure. In case of identical records of play, the formula to be applied in resolving two-way ties shall be as follows: a. The regular season head-to-head results between the two teams. b. If there is still a tie or if for any reason there is no regular season record between the two teams, the teams records shall be compared against the team occupying the highest position in the final League standings. When higher finishing teams tie for a position in the standings, they shall be considered one team with regard to breaking a tie for lower finishing teams. In such event, the combined record of the higher finishing teams against each of the tied lower finishing teams shall be compared. For the purposes of implementing the previous sentence, only tied teams that are higher in the standings than the two lower tied teams shall not have their ties resolved by application of the two-way tie or multiple team formula provided for herein prior to applying the provisions of such sentence. 3. Multiple-Team Tie-Breaking Procedure. If more than two teams are tied, then all such tied teams shall be considered as a mini-conference. Records of games involving all the tied teams are combined. The best record in the mini-conference by winning percentage removes a team from a tying position. If after combining their records against each other the tie is not resolved, then the teams finishing above them will be added to the mini-conference to resolve the tie. If two teams remain tied, such tie shall be resolved by resorting to the twoteam formula. If more than two teams remain tied, then the remaining tied teams shall be reconsidered as a miniconference and the preceding provisions of this paragraph are applied again. 4. Final Recourse to Break Ties. If 2 or 3 above fails to resolve a tie, the Board may, in its sole discretion, order a one-game playoff between the tied teams if circumstances permit. If such a playoff game is not conducted, the Board shall resolve the tie by a coin flip. 5. Assistance in Hosting Tournaments. Each member franchise must assist the League in hosting post season tournaments by providing on-site personnel and/or designated equipment or shall pay a fee of $75 to the League. 6. All-Star Game- Each year the league will conduct an all-star game, with each team having the option to send at least one player to participate. The structure and timing of the game shall be at the discretion of the executive board. 7. Post-Season Player Draft- teams who qualify for post-season play may add players to their rosters from other teams their Division, provided that the players meet the tournament qualifications for the sanctioning body, and do not cause their rosters to exceed the sanctioning body s tournament allowable maximum. Post season draft will be conducted as follows: - Draft order will be determined by the order of the final standings, regardless of which tournament berth a team has selected, and will be conducted at the League meeting following conclusion of League play. - The draft length will be such that each team qualifying for the post-season make selections if they are able
and so desire, until all teams decline to pick, or all teams have reached their maximum roster size. - League teams not qualifying for the post-season will have time to present their players who are eligible and interested in being drafted by post-season teams. These players will be entered into the Eligible Draft Pool (hereafter EDP). Any additional players from the League may be requested to be entered into the EDP before the draft selections start. - Post-season teams will only be able to draft from players listed in the EDP. - When a player is selected, he can be contacted to determine if he will play for the drafting team. If he accepts, he will be added to the drafting team s post-season roster and removed from the EDP. If he declines, the player will be removed from the EDP and cannot be drafted by another team. The team would then get to select another player from the EDP. This player CAN be added beyond the first level of tournament play (state-level) so long as the original team that desired to draft him has been eliminated for their post-season affiliated tournament. - A post season team may pass on a selection if they wish. - Players on post-season qualifying teams may be drafted, so long as the teams are not participating in the same tournament, and cannot participate for the team which drafts them until their team is eliminated from their post-season tournament. - Teams may draft a player already drafted so long as the teams are not participating in the same postseason tournament. The player would be committed to play for only the original team that drafted them until that team is eliminated from their post-season tournament. - Following the conclusion of the draft, non-selected players from the EDP may be added by post-season teams provided they adhere to AABC regulations on roster size, eligibility. The League Secretary will notify the membership of these selections. - The structure and timing of the post-season drafts for teams qualifying for post-season play for Affiliations other than AABC will be determined by the Executive Board. - Players must remain committed only to their regular season team until they are eliminated from that team s post-season play. AABC commitment shall supersede any other affiliation s tournament or post-season play. 8. Player Eligibility - To be eligible for post-season play, a player must be on an official League roster before July 1 st and meet the minimum games played requirement as specified by the affiliating body s tournament rules. If a team receives a forfeit win, that game shall count toward the minimum play requirements for all rostered players. IX. COMMITTEES 1. Protest Committee. The Protest Committee shall consist of the Commissioner and two other members who are appointed by the Commissioner with the approval of the Executive Committee and who are not affiliated with either team involved in or affected by the protest. In the event that the League has not appointed a Commissioner, the Protest Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the Executive Committee who are not affiliated with either team involved in or affected by the protest. The Protest Committee shall render judgment on all game disputes, provided that the team manager has advised the umpires and the opposing team manager at the time of the occurrence of a disputed decision that he is playing the game under protest and has informed the Protest Committee orally within 24 hours and in written form within 72 hours. A fee as set by the Board shall accompany each protest filed with the Committee, returnable if the protest is upheld by a majority vote of the three members. The Protest Committee shall resolve each written protest within 72 hours of its receipt and shall immediately thereupon render its decision to the parties to the dispute. 2. Nominating Committee. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed annually by the President prior to the annual meeting, to present a slate of nominations at the Annual Meeting for Officers to serve during the next calendar year.
3. Code of Conduct Committee. The Board may appoint a Code of Conduct Committee consisting of five members. The Committee shall have jurisdiction over all issues arising out of a violation of these rules and the League s By-Laws. Its findings and determinations with respect to discipline shall be final, binding and no appeal to the Board shall be permitted. This Committee shall have the authority to discipline, suspend or remove any individual when the conduct of the individual with regard to league activities is considered detrimental to the best interests of the League. The individual involved shall be informed of the general nature of the charges with sufficient specificity and clarity to prepare an appropriate response and shall be given the opportunity to appear at the meeting to answer such charges.