Proposed 2017 Changes 1) Pitching rules 1) Cap Total pitches thrown in a week. Maximum of 95 pitches* at Major 70 and maximum 85 at minors & Major 60 s. If coaches abuse this rule coaches will face disciplinary action may include up to 1 game suspension. If pitcher reaches that limit in the middle of a bat they will be allowed to finish the at-bat and removed at the end of the at bat. 2) Pitching Rule 2) one-calendar days rest after pitching more than one inning in any game 3) Pitching Rule 3) Any pitcher may be removed from the game can not re enter the game as a pitcher. West Linn Baseball Managers Information and League Rules for Majors 70, Majors 60 and Minors. 1) Rules and Policies: All Games are played by the rules established by Cal Ripken 2017. All questions relating to this document can be directed to your League Coordinator or the Cal Ripken Coordinator. 2) Calling in Scores: Within 24 hours, managers or their assistants from both teams need to call or email their League Coordinator to report on the game played. The following information will be needed: Game number Final score for both teams (include team numbers). Pitchers names, ages and # of innings and total pitches pitched for both teams. 3) Official Scorebook: For game situations, the home team scorebook is official. It is mandatory that both teams keep a scorebook. It is suggested that the scorekeepers for both teams sit together and agree (where possible) on what is a hit or error. The League may collect scorebooks at the end of the season for review. 4) Rain Outs: If a game is rained-out, the home team manager should call the Umpire Coordinator then the League Coordinator. The League Coordinator will secure the next available date to make up the game. The Coordinator will then contact both Managers with that date. Coordinators are currently being recruited and will be finalized within a week. 5) Field Conditions: The home team is responsible for preparing the field before the
game. The visiting team is responsible for raking the field, putting away bases and tarp home plate and pitcher s mound. Home plate and the mound should be tarped after every game unless the League Coordinator species otherwise. This is especially important at Oppenlander. Note: The home team is responsible to provide two new baseballs for each game. 6) Umpire Control: Once a game is started, the umpire has total control over the game, including delays and cancellation due to weather, darkness or field conditions. 7) Time Limits: The rule is that no inning may begin 1:45 after the start of the game. The home team needs to supply an official timer to work with the umpire. The umpire should notify both Managers when it appears that an inning will be the last. The umpire has final say over any dispute. The Time Limit applies to ALL Minor League games. The time limit only applies to Majors 70 and 60 if there is a game that follows or if it is the last game played on Saturday or Sunday. There are no time limits on weekday evening games for M60 and M70. 8) Maximum Runs Per Innings: Innings one through five have a five run limit for each team. There is no limit for the sixth inning (under tournament rules or tied games, any inning beyond the sixth also has no run limit). Please note: Under no condition or agreement is the five run limit lifted for innings one through five. 9) Extra Innings: Extra innings will be allowed for games that have no time limit (see item VII about). If a game ends in a tie due to another game following or because a game is called for playing conditions, it is counted in the standings as 1/2 a win and 1/2 a loss. 10) Mercy Rule: If the home team is ahead by ten or more runs after 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 innings, or if either team is ahead by ten or more runs at the end o the 4th or 5th inning, then the game is stopped and the team that is ahead is awarded the win. The game is officially over at that time. See the Cal Ripken Divisions Rules and Regulations or additional rules for regulation games. 11) Removal of a Player During the Game: If a player is not able to bat or play due to injury, there is no penalty. If the player is ejected from the game, an out is recorded when his normal time at bat occurs. If a player leaves a game early on his own accord, an out is not recorded: however, the manager must disclose this to the umpire and opposing manager prior to the game. If the manager fails to disclose this information, an out will be recorded for player leaving early. 12) Avoidance of Body Contact: It is the responsibility of the base runner to avoid body contact with a defensive player. This means the base runner is even allowed to run out of the baseline if that is the only way he can avoid a collision with a defensive player making a play on a ball. This rule does not allow a base runner to run out of the baseline
to avoid a tag. Also, this rule does not allow a defensive player to commit an obstruction (see Official Baseball Rules). The purpose of this rule is to avoid injuries. It has been stated in the past that a runner advancing from third to home must slide. This is not the case; however, the runner must avoid contact. If the defensive player has the ball and is in a position in front of the plate, the runner must avoid contact. We must urge all players as runners to slide if there is doubt. 13) Dropped 3rd Strike at M60 Level. Dropped 3rd strike will not be in effect at the M60 level. Runners may advance at their own risk, but the batter is out on the called or swinging 3rd strike. 14) Game Conduct: Good sportsmanship is demanded. Opposing team players, coaches or fans are never to harass a player or players of the other team. Any cheers or rhythmic chants are not to occur while a pitch is being delivered or a hitter is attempting to hit. If any unsportsmanlike behavior continues after a warning by the umpire, the umpire may eject the guilty player(s), coach, manager or fan(s) from the game. 15) League Issued Uniform: All uniforms items issued by the Association will be worn as issued and will not be changed or replaced in any way except the following: 1) Player name on the back of league issued hat, 2) Player name on back of league issued jersey. 16) Playing Time Rule: No player shall sit out more than 2 innings in a game and must play at least 2 innings in the infield in a 5 innings or longer game. Pitcher and catcher are considered infielders. To be considered a game at least 4 innings must be played or 3 ½ if the home team is winning. If your game is shortened due to rain, darkness, time limit, 10 run rule or if it goes 4 innings it will be considered a game and every kid needs to have played in the infield. Reasonable exceptions will be made for the visiting team if they don t take the field in the bottom of the 4th. Extra innings games: If a game goes to extra innings, each player can sit out no more than 3 innings in the game. If a coach violates this rule, a letter to the president and player agent will need to be written explaining the circumstances as to why the rule was violated. Disciplinary action may include up to 1 game suspension and may result in forfeiture of games for multiple offenses. West Linn Baseball Pitching Rules Majors 70, Majors 60 and Minors 1) For the purpose of these rules there are no partial innings. If a player delivers one pitch in an inning, it is counted as one inning pitched. A player is allowed to pitch six innings per calendar week or maximum of 95 pitches* at Maj 70 and maximum 85 at minors & Major 60 s. If coaches abuse this coaches will face disciplinary action may include up to 1 game suspension. If pitcher reaches that limit in the middle of a bat they will be allowed to finish the at-bat and removed at the end of the at bat.
2) A Cal Ripken calendar week is Monday through Sunday. 3) A pitcher must have one-calendar days rest after pitching more than one inning any game and two-calendar days rest after pitching more than two innings in any one game. This rule applies through the change of a calendar week. (i.e. if a player pitches two innings on Saturday he is not eligible to pitch again until Monday and if the player pitches three innings on Saturday he is not eligible to pitch again until Tuesday) Any pitcher may be removed from the game can not re enter the game as a pitcher. be replaced by another pitcher and return later in the game. However, if the pitcher was removed on the second trip to the mound or ejected, he is not eligible to pitch again during that game. Anytime the pitcher is replaced during an inning it counts as a trip to the mound. 4) Pitcher to catcher ban: any pitcher who pitches more than two innings in a game may not go behind the plate to play catcher for the remainder of the day. 5) Games, in which an ineligible pitcher is used as specified above, the game shall be declared forfeited. 6) Minor League only: No player can pitch more than three innings per game. Rules 1 through 5 apply. 7) Major League 70 only: In a calendar week (as defined in rule #2 above), there is a limit to the number of league age twelve year old innings each team may use. Rules one through 5 apply. A rainout or cancelled game will not allow a team to not follow the rule. League age twelve year olds have birthdays between May 1st and April 30th. See below for schedule. Rule is enforced by game. Example: You can t use more than nine of your thirteen twelve year old innings in the first 2 games of a 3 game week. The second game would be forfeited. 12-year old innings per week 2-games 9 innings maximum 3-games 13 innings maximum 4-games 17 innings maximum When an ineligible pitcher has been used the game in which the violation occurred shall be forfeited. If the example above occurred in a three game week the 2nd game would be forfeited. If the coach used a fourteenth twelve year old inning in the third game it would also be a forfeit. If not only the second game would be considered a forfeit. 8) The same rules apply to league playoffs and tournaments. 9) Pitching Innings Pitched Guidelines: According to most orthopedic surgeons a pitcher who is 10 years old should throw no more than 50-65 pitches in one game. Obviously this can be different based on the athlete himself. If Mechanics and fundamentals are
sound (or the opposite) the above-mentioned number can and probably will vary. Strength and size and maturity also will play a part in pitch count. This does not include warm up pitches before the game and warm-ups between innings. Although there is no clear cut rule regarding the number of pitches in a game we believe that if a 10 year old exceeds that number there is a potential for harm to that young pitcher. We have had several instances in the past that exceed the guideline number of pitches in one game by a pitcher. Although we all sometimes feel the pressure to do well, we should not subject any player at our three levels to any type of potential harm. The following is a guideline to the number of pitches that each pitcher should pitch in a game and in warm-ups. Age _ Warm-Ups _ Game Pitches 8-9 15-20 40-45 10-11 25 50-65 12 30-35 65-75 Obviously with any player younger than 10 you can work backwards but there is a league rule in effect that limits innings pitched to 3. Please pay attention to the number of pitches, as this is the most important aspect. These, at this point are guidelines. We will look for your better judgment to prevail.