DENVER MSBL 18+/25+/35+/44+ RULES
Updated January 2012
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IMPORTANT: MLB rules shall apply to those areas not specifically addressed by MSBL rules.
The Denver MSBL was formed in 1988 to provide men age 18, 25 ,35 ,44 and older competitive recreational baseball programs that emphasize fun, enjoyment, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Mature attitudes must prevail regardless of the competitive nature of the league. Above all, we are here to have fun and play the game we love. The responsibility of keeping this premise is equally borne by the Executive Board, team managers, players, umpires and fans.
Sec. 1
AGE REQUIREMENTS
a) All leagues are designed by age and are for those players of the minimum age by Dec. 31 in the year of play. For Denver MSBL 25+ teams, players must have attained the age of 25 no later than the last day of the year in the season they are playing. For Denver MSBL 35+ teams, players must have attained the age of 35 no later than the final day of the year in the season they are playing. 43+ teams can have 2 players over 40 and the rest must have turned 44 before they play. Pitchers must have reached the age of forty before they can pitch. That age will increase one year for one more year. Players may be grandfathered in if they played for a team the year before and the whole team moves up a division. 18+ players must turn 18 before they start playing.
b) Players may "play down," that is players in the 35+ or 45+league are eligible to play in the 25+ league, but younger players may not "play up" in the older divisions. There are no exceptions.
c) Any intentional violation of this rule will result in the forfeiture of all games in which an ineligible player participated with commensurate losses placed on their record.
d) Managers are responsible for the proper application of this rule when placing any player onto the team roster. Opposing managers may challenge a player at any time by requesting, through the manager, the player's membership card and ID. If the player does not produce them, the challenging manager may file a protest under the league's protest protocol.
d.1) Protests shall be filed within 24 hours by email or phone or text to
the respective league president or representative.
e) Ineligible players shall forfeit all payments and be ejected from the league. Responsible managers shall explain to the President the cause for the offense and face suspension or removal as manager.
Sec. 2
ROSTERS AND TEAM FEES
a) Team commitments and non-refundable deposits in an amount to be determined league officials shall be given in check or money order at specified dates.
b) Team schedules and league baseballs shall not be provided to any team that fails to pay the entire League fee before the beginning of the season. Teams that have not paid their fee by the deadline are ineligible to play until the fee is paid.
c) Each registered team must have no fewer than 13 players on the roster to be eligible for league play.
c.1) If a team cannot fill out its roster and it's deemed to be in the best interests of the league, the President may assign players from the remaining free-agent pool following the draft.
d) Roster additions and deletions shall be provided to the membership coordinator and may occur throughout the season until July 4th. After July 4th the team must prove hardship to add a player. Players removed from any roster who have properly paid their fees may, at the discretion of the league president, be placed on a different team.
e) Final rosters are due by noon, July 4, of the season to the President and are thereafter locked. Only players on the final roster shall be eligible for post-season play and subject to the rules of post-season eligibility.
e.1) Players on the initial roster shall be eligible for league playoffs players added after that must play in three games for that team.
f) There is no discount for players wishing to play in two leagues, though they need only pay a single annual membership fee to the National MSBL.
g) Rosters must include each player's first name, last name and jersey number, shall be posted on the Internet statistics page used by the league. Failure to list any player on the website roster will cause that player to be ineligible for league play at the discretion of the Executive Board.
h) Teams shall be placed into divisions based on prior year's performance or, in the case of new teams, at the discretion of the President.
Sec. 3
QUALIFICATIONS
a) All players must sign a waiver of liability -- agreeing not to hold Denver MSBL, its officers, directors, employees and agents responsible for any injury, damage or loss resulting from participation in the Denver MSBL or its activities -- to be eligible to participate in any league activity or game. Waivers must be provided to the team manager before a player can participate.
a.1) Waivers must include each player's name, date of birth, mailing address, email, phone number, emergency contact and the name of the team for which they are committed to play.
a.2) Managers shall provide a copy of each player's signed waiver to the league President prior to participating in any game.
Sec. 4
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
a) All teams must have reasonable uniforms and be in full uniform by June 1st of each year. Uniforms shall be consistent with the standards of Major or Minor League Baseball. Jersey numbers must be easily visible. Team names can be duplicated in the league's different age groups but may not be duplicated in the same league.
b) All batters and runners must wear an approved batting helmet that includes a least one ear flap which, when the player is batting, faces the pitcher. The following players are "Grand-fathered" under this rule only and do not have to abide by the "flap" requirement of this rule, but must wear a helmet when batting or running the bases: Ron Beeks.
b.1) Cracked helmets shall not be worn and must be removed at the direction and discretion of the home plate umpire.
c) All catchers are required to wear complete catcher's equipment, including a protective "skull cap" and mask or a one-piece "goalie" mask when in the catcher's box.
d) Metal spikes are permitted.
e) Wood and wood-composite bats are required for all Denver MSBL games without exception.
f) ALL base coaches MUST wear a batting helmet while attending the bases. This is a requirement of National MSBL and our insurance carrier.
g) All children under 18 years of age MUST wear a batting helmet while in the dugout or any other portion of the playing field at all times. This is a requirement of National MSBL and our insurance carrier.
Sec. 5
BASEBALLS
a) The President shall choose the official baseball to be used in league play prior to the start of each season.
b) Each team shall receive an allotment of baseballs prior to their first game and they are to be used for the entire season.
c) Each team shall furnish the home plate umpire three (3) new and unused official baseballs prior to each game. Additional official, unused baseballs shall be provided as needed, divided evenly among both teams, at the discretion of the home plate umpire.
c.1) If a team runs out of new baseballs, used ones may be allowed at the discretion of the home plate umpire and both managers.
d) Remaining baseballs shall be divided evenly to each team upon the game's completion.
Sec. 6
ALCOHOL AND SMOKING
a) The consumption and use of drugs, alcohol and smoking tobacco products on the baseball fields, in the dugouts or anywhere on the grounds of private fields -- campus, parking lots, etc. -- is strictly prohibited. This is a "zero tolerance" policy and will be enforced.
b) Anyone violating this policy is subject to suspension for a first offense and ejection from the league for a subsequent violation.
c) Any team or player whose intentional violation of this policy results in the loss of any field for Denver MSBL use shall be responsible for repaying all funds lost as a result.
Sec. 7
CODE OF CONDUCT
a) All members of Denver MSBL/MBL are expected to conduct themselves in an adult manner, free from abuse, attack or threat. Every member of the league is expected to uphold the highest levels of sportsmanship.
b) The following offenses are subject to immediate ejection from a game and suspension or expulsion from all league play pending a review by the league President and Disciplinary Committee:
b.1) Laying a hand on, shoving, striking or threatening an umpire, player or spectator;
b.2) Verbally attacking, threatening or abusing an umpire, player or spectator before, during or after a game.
b.3) Managers and umpires MUST file a written report to the Executive Board within 48 hours of the incident.
c) Members of the league who refuse to abide by an umpire's decision shall be ejected and may be suspended from league play until review by the President and Disciplinary Committee.
d) All players and umpires shall keep in mind common rules of decency at the fields used by Denver MSBL/MBL.
e) Players and umpires who change clothing in parking lots or other areas of public display shall not do so in a manner that may be viewed as offensive or objectionable to any reasonable person.
f) Ejections: All players and managers ejected from a game shall immediately gather their belongings from the dugout and leave the playing facility and be out of sight and sound within five (5) minutes. Play will resume at the discretion of the home plate umpire.
f.1) Umpires shall file an ejection report with league officials detailing the reason and circumstances of the ejection.
f.2) Ejected players and managers are subject to league discipline for flagrant or malicious acts leading to an ejection.
f.3) Penalties for flagrant acts: First offense, one-game suspension; second offense, at least one-game suspension and $50 fine; third offense, ejection from league.
f.4) Players deemed to be habitually ejected may be fined or suspended additional games by the league Disciplinary Committee.
Sec. 8
SCHEDULES AND OFFICIAL GAMES
a) Games shall be scheduled at times and locations determined by the Executive Officers.
a.1) All games are limited to three hours, time to be kept by the home plate umpire or his designee.
a.1.A) Umpires shall give the official start time at the home plate meeting of the managers. Umpires shall estimate the time of the first pitch and inform both managers of the time.
a.2) No new inning may begin after time has expired unless the game is tied. If the game is tied there shall be one inning with the California rule instituted, meaning there is a runner placed at second who shall be the last batted out of the previous inning with no outs. If at the end of this inning the game is tied, then it shall be recorded a tie.
b) Innings already in progress when time expires shall be completed if you cannot it will be a suspended game. and picked up at a later date. The league reserves the right not to reschedule if the game has little or no bearing on the teams standings.
c) Teams with only seven (7) eligible players at game time will be given a player by the opposing team to play the game. This can be a defensive only player and can be switched out at any time. If the eighth player shows up the defensive player can return to the other team. A team with only six players at game time will be given 20 minutes to produce a 7th player if it does not it will then be declared a forfeit and the forfeiting team shall pay each umpire $30.
c.1) Only two pool players may be used subject to the rules governing pool players to make nine (9).
c.1.A) Pool players must be removed from a game when a team has at least nine (9) eligible roster players.
c.1.B) If a team has two pool players and an eligible roster player shows up, the pool player batting lowest must be replaced in the game by the roster player unless the opposing manager allows the existing pool player to stay.
c.2) No games subject to forfeiture shall be rescheduled.
c.3) Teams causing a delayed start shall revert to the Visiting team should it have been the scheduled Home squad.
d) Teams must be ready to play on time when at least eight (8) eligible roster players have arrived.
d.1) Teams shall not play with fewer than eight (8) players on the field at any point in the game.
d.2) Umpires shall begin all games on time when both teams have an eligible number of players.
d.3) Teams with eight (8) players that lose a player during the game for any reason shall have 15 minutes to add a pool player or the contest shall be stopped and declared a forfeit regardless of the score or inning.
d.4) A team with eight (8) players shall leave the ninth batting position vacant and skipped without penalty.
d.5) The ninth (9) position must be filled by an eligible roster player when he arrives.
e) A team with nine (9) or more players that loses a player in the lineup for any reason shall add a substitute from the bench or a pool player. If one is unavailable, the batting position shall be skipped over without penalty.
e.1) The sole exception to this rule is for an ejected player. An ejected player's batting position shall be filled with a substitute or, if one is unavailable, the position shall be declared an out the first time the vacant spot is reached in the lineup. Thereafter it shall be passed over without penalty.
e.2) Pool players may not be added to fill the place of an ejected player unless the team lineup is reduced to seven (7) and then only to the bottom of the order.
f) Delayed start times shall not affect the three-hour time clock except for unforseen circumstances such as mechanical difficulties or weather.
f.1) Delayed starts from weather shall not affect the three-hour limit unless 15 minutes have expired when the clock shall begin to toll.
f.2) Delayed starts because of player shortage will be deducted from the game time..
g.1) Post-season games must be played until a winner is declared.
g.2) Post-season games called because of darkness or curfew shall be resumed at the next available date.
g.3.A) Teams resuming a suspended game shall maintain the same line ups, new players shall be added to the end.
h) MERCY RULE: Any team leading by 12 or more runs after seven (7) complete innings shall be declared the winner and the game concluded.
h.1) Teams may agree to end a game before the seventh inning if one team is behind by 15 runs in the 5th or 6th innings.
i) Umpires shall stop game clocks only for those games delayed because of injury, mechanical difficulties (lights) or other unforeseen occurrence other than weather or player shortage.
j) Rain Delays: Managers shall be responsible for determining whether a game shall be begin or called on account of poor weather. Once the game begins the discretion remains with the home plate umpire and the managers on delaying or calling a game. If both managers agree the game can be suspended and the umpires shall return the unplayed portion of their money to the teams.
j.1) Managers must check the Denver MSBL rainout line if the weather is threatening, actively raining or it had rained the night before to determine whether scheduled games have been postponed or relocated to a different field or time.
j.1.a) Games canceled on account of rain shall be rescheduled at the soonest possible date. Late-season cancelations shall only be rescheduled if the game is necessary to determine playoff seedings.
j.2) Game clocks shall not stop during a rain delay or delayed start.
j.3) Games called by rain shall become official and not rescheduled if the Home team is ahead after 4-1/2 innings or the Visiting team is ahead after 5 innings. All other rain shortened or otherwise shortened games shall be resumed from where they were stopped, in the subsequent game teams shall duplicate there rosters and if a person is not there he shall be skipped over and all others will be added to the end of the line-up. Pitchers may re-enter the resumed game once but not in the first resumed inning if they were removed in that inning, they must wait until the next inning.
k) Darkness: Games called on account of darkness, whether natural or by malfunction, shall be suspended and the game played on another date from the point it was stopped only if the outcome may alter the final standings or playoff positions.
k.1) All playoff games called for darkness shall resume at the earliest convenient time to both teams at the discretion of the league.
k.1.A) If the game cannot be rescheduled then a winner shall be declared based on the score of the previous fully-completed inning of an official game. If that score is a tie then the game is declared a tie.
k.2) Teams shall maintain the same line ups from the suspended game upon resuming play, with new players added to the end of the line-up.
Sec. 9
HOME TEAM AND INFIELD PRACTICE
a) The home team shall occupy the first base dugout, unless managers agree otherwise.
b) Subject to local field rules, the visiting team shall begin infield practice no later than 40 minutes prior to the official game time and limit the practice to 15 minutes. Infield practice is not guaranteed and teams may be asked to begin without it to keep game times on schedule.
c) As time allows, home teams have the right to infield practice the final 15 minutes before game time regardless of whether the visiting team has practiced or has received its own 15 minutes.
Sec. 10
FORFEITS
a) Managers must contact a league official and the opposing manager when they know they will be unable to field a team for a particular game.
b) Teams unable to play a scheduled game shall forfeit the game. Forfeits shall be scored 12-6 to maintain run differentials.
c) Teams that forfeit two (2) games at any point of the season because it could not field the minimum number of players shall be forced to add another player to their roster or face immediate suspension.
d) A team that forfeits at least two (2) games in a season for any other reason -- unsportsmanlike conduct, etc. -- shall be ejected from the league immediately and in not entitled to a refund of any team funds.
Sec. 11
NUMBER OF BATTERS
a) There is no limit to the number of batters a team may list in its batting line up.
b) A team with only 10 eligible players in the dugout must place them all into the batting order. In 18+ the number is 9.
b.1) A team may bat fewer than 10 players if the opposing team has only eight (8) or nine (9) players in its dugout.
b.2) A team that bats fewer than 10 players must add to their line up as the opposing team adds players, matching their number until the 10-player minimum is reached.
c) Line-up cards must include all players eligible to play and in the dugout.
d) Batters may be added to the line up at any time during a game, but only at the bottom of the order.
d.1) Batters may be inserted in the middle of a line up as a substitution.
d.2) Substituted players may not return to the line up, but may play defensively
e) Managers may use the "A/B" rule.
e.1) Any batting positions may use two batters in each position, designated "A" and "B."
e.2) The two batters shall alternate at bats with "A" batting first and "B" batting the next time around.
e.3) Substitutions of any "A/B" is allowed, but once "A/B" positions are declared they may not be eliminated.
e.4) If one of the batters in an "A/B" setup is injured, ejected or otherwise leaves the game, the vacated spot shall be passed over without penalty. Thereafter the remaining player shall fill the position and bat normally.
Sec. 12
DESIGNATED RUNNERS
a) Each team is allowed two (2) designated non-runners per game and may be named before or during the game (3) shall be allowed in the 42+ league.
a.1) Non-runners can run if they choose to and will not forfeit their rights if they do so for the subsequent times.
Players who have designated runners do not have to touch first base on a walk or a hit by pitch. the designated runner can go straight to first base.
b) Pitchers and catchers are allowed designated runners at any time at the discretion of the manager.
b.1) Only pitchers of record are allowed designated runners. A pitcher is the pitcher of record only when he has actively taken the mound and throws a pitch that counts.
b.2) Relieved pitchers remain the pitcher of record until their substitute takes the mound and throws a pitch that counts. At that time, the relieved pitcher is no longer allowed a designated runner unless he is named as one of the two (2) allotted non-runner slots.
b.3) Pitchers and catchers may choose to run at any time in the game.
c) Designated runners shall be the last recorded out in that inning. If there are no outs, the last recorded out from the previous inning shall be the designated runner.
c.1) A strikeout shall be considered a recorded out and eligible as a designated runner.
c.2) If the last recorded out is ineligible to run -- already on the bases, currently batting or on deck -- then the recorded out immediately prior to that shall be the designated runner.
c.3) If no outs are yet recorded in a game, or the eligible number of designated runners is exhausted, the designated runner shall be the last batter in the batting order.
Sec. 13
BASERUNNING
a) All players must avoid collisions with a fielder who is in the act of making a play.
b) Runners who fail to avoid a fielder shall be automatically called out.
c) Runners must slide directly to a base -- not to the sides of a base -- or fall away opposite the fielder in order to avoid a collision. Failure to do so shall, at the discretion of the umpire, result in the runner being called out and the batter called out.
d) Home plate collisions must always be avoided.
e) Catchers may not stand up the line unless actively attempting to catch a thrown ball and must not block the base path.
e.1) Catchers must not block the plate with his body or foot, but may use his mitt only.
e.2) Catchers who illegally block the plate shall, at the discretion of the umpire, forfeit the play and the runner shall be called safe.
e.3) Runners must not lower their shoulder to collide with a catcher or use excessive force or risk being called out.
e.4) The umpire has the discretion to award a base to a runner who gives himself up to avoid a certain collision.
e.5) Umpires may eject a player whose actions in a collision are deemed malicious.
Sec. 14
SUBSTITUTIONS
a) Managers may substitute defensive players without limitation except for the pitcher.
b) Pitchers may leave the game and may only return to pitch in a different inning.
b.2) A pitcher who has been removed from a game a second time is ineligible to return to that position in that game.
c) Players, except pitchers, may be substituted defensively without affecting their offensive status in the line up.
d) Batters who are pinch-hit for may not return to the batting order but may continue to play defensive positions.
Sec. 15
INTENTIONAL WALKS & HIT BATSMAN
a) One intentional walk is permitted per game only. All four balls must be thrown.
b) A pitcher who hits four (4) batters in a game must be removed and cannot re-enter the game in that position.
Sec. 16
FAKE TAGS
Runners shall move up a base, at the declaration of the umpire, if an infielder makes a fake tag at any base with the intent of making a runner slide.
Violators shall be warned on a first offense and ejected from the game for a subsequent offense.
Sec. 17
POOL PLAYERS
a) All players registered and active with the Denver MSBL qualify as pool players and pay a National fee.
b) Teams may use up to two (2) pool players who shall be placed only in the eighth and ninth positions of the lineup.
b.1) An eligible roster player who shows up after a pool player has been inserted to the lineup must replace the pool player batting lowest in the order.
c) Pool players may not pitch.
d) Individuals may only be used (4) times as a pool player by the same team in a season.
e) Pool players are ineligible to participate in any post-season playoff game.
f) All pool players must comply with the age requirements of the league they are playing.
Sec. 18
ONLINE STATISTICS
a) The Executive Board each year shall designate an Internet website where game statistics shall be kept and compiled for the season.
b) All managers or their designee shall be responsible for posting game and player statistics for their team onto the website within a reasonable time after each game is complete.
c) Managers shall post all required stats including pitching and batting stats to be elligible for the playoffs.
d) Team statistics are subject to verification from time to time as deemed necessary.
g.1) Verification shall be via the team's game book and that of an opposing team as needed.
Sec. 19
PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS
a) Players who have participated professionally in either the major or minor leagues are subject to the following limitations before
they may play in Denver MSBL games:
a.1) 35+ league, at least 5 years since professional play;
a.2) 25+ league, at least 2 years since professional play;
a.3) 18+ league, at least 1 year since professional play.
a.4) 42+ league, at least 8 years since professional play.
Independent baseball and Mexican leagues shall not be considered professional.
Sec. 20
PAYMENTS TO UMPIRES
a) Umpires must be paid in cash by team managers before the game begins. Each umpire shall be paid $65 at the home plate meeting.
b) If only one ump is prepared at game time, he shall be paid $45 by each team at home plate if the other umpire shows up both teams shall give an additional $20 to the home plate umpire the home plate umpire will then divide the money, Seven dollars an inning shall go to the late umpire and the remainder to the other official.
c) If a game is not started by decision of the managers, field people, league official or umpires the umpires shall be given $20 per umpire for show up fee.
d) Umpires are cautioned not to take checks but if they do they are responsible for insufficient funds and can not charge the league.
e) If the game is suspended for any reason the pay scale is as follows:
1 inning or any part of an inning $20
2 innings or any part of the second inning $25
3 innings or any part of the 3rd inning. $30
4 innings or any part of the 4th inning $35
Into the 5th inning without a complete game $40
All rescheduled games shall be paid at $8 per inning with a minimum of $15 to go to each ump.
g) Teams unable to pay an umpire at the beginning of a game must do so by the 4th inning or the contest will be stopped and they will forfeit the game. A team that forfeits for not paying an umpire shall be suspended from all future games until the unpaid umpire from the forfeited game is compensated.
h) In the event of a forfeit, each umpire shall be paid $30 as a show-up fee, the total amount to be borne by the forfeiting squad immediately.
h.1) If the forfeiting team is unable or unwilling to pay the umpires, the league shall bear the expense, to be reimbursed immediately by the forfeiting team.
h.2) A forfeiting team that does not pay the umpire fees at the field shall be suspended from all future games until such time as the fee is reimbursed to the league.
Sec. 21
PLAYOFFS AND LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS
a) Playoffs and year-end tournaments shall begin following the end of the season at the earliest possible date.
1) Games shall follow the 3-hour time limits established in Sec. 8 of these rules and employed
during the regular season, except for final and semi-final contests.
b) All final and semi-final playoff games shall be a 9-inning contest and shall be played to completion and a winner declared.
Games suspended due to darkness or malfunction shall be resumed at the next available date.
c) Umpires shall be compensated the regular season amount of $65 per game and under the same conditions as outlined
in Sec. 20 of these rules.
1) Umpires shall receive $8 per inning not less than $20 for suspended games resumed at a later date and return the remainder of the funds to each manager. Umpires working the resumption of play in the suspended games shall receive $8 per inning.
e) Bracket seedings shall be determined as follows:
1) In the order of finish based on points.
A) Ties shall be broken in the following order, moving to the next if a tie remains:
Head-to-head record vs. tied opponents; Runs scored against, runs scored against common opponents, coin toss.
b) Ties with three or more teams shall be decided by runs scored against, then runs scored against common opponents.
2) First place teams shall be seeded highest based on points, followed by the remaider of the division in the order
of points. Ties to be broken according to Sec. 20.e.1.A/B
3) The team with the highest seed shall be the home team in any scheduled post-season game unless that team is coming up from the losers bracket to play an undefeated team.
f) Only initial rostered players or rostered players who appeared in a minimum of (3) regular season games on a single team are eligible to play
with that team in any post-season contest. Initial rostered players must appear in one game before July 4th.
1) A rostered player is one who appears on a team's roster by the annual cut-off date. Or one approved by hardship after that date.
2) Pool players are prohibited in post-season games.
3 Teams found to violate any rule within this subsection shall immediately forfeit the game and be subject to
suspension for the remainder of the post-season.
g) All other regular season MSBL rules shall apply to post-season games unless superceded by a rule in this section.