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4.00 STARTING AND ENDING A GAME
4.01
Unless the home club shall have given previous notice that the game
has been postponed or will be delayed in starting, the umpire, or
umpires, shall enter the playing field five minutes before the hour
set for the game to begin and proceed directly to home base where
they shall be met by the managers of the opposing teams. In sequence_
(a) First, the home manager shall give his batting order to the
umpire in chief, in duplicate. (b) Next, the visiting manager shall
give his batting order to the umpire in chief, in duplicate. (c)
The umpire in chief shall make certain that the original and copies
of the respective batting orders are identical, and then tender
a copy of each batting order to the opposing manager. The copy retained
by the umpire shall be the official batting order. The tender of
the batting order by the umpire shall establish the batting orders.
Thereafter, no substitutions shall be made by either manager, except
as provided in the rules. (d) As soon as the home team's batting
order is handed to the umpire in chief the umpires are in charge
of the playing field and from that moment they shall have sole authority
to determine when a game shall be called, suspended or resumed on
account of weather or the condition of the playing field. Obvious
errors in the batting order, which are noticed by the umpire in
chief before he calls "Play" for the start of the game,
should be called to the attention of the manager or captain of the
team in error, so the correction can be made before the game starts.
For example, if a manager has inadvertently listed only eight men
in the batting order, or has listed two players with the same last
name but without an identifying initial and the errors are noticed
by the umpire before he calls "play," he shall cause such
error or errors to be corrected before he calls "play"
to start the game. Teams should not be "trapped" later
by some mistake that obviously was inadvertent and which can be
corrected before the game starts.
4.02
The players of the home team shall take their defensive positions,
the first batter of the visiting team shall take his position in
the batter's box, the umpire shall call "Play" and the
game shall start.
4.03
When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game,
all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory.
(a) The catcher shall station himself directly back of the plate.
He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make a
play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base
on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines
of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. PENALTY:
Balk. (b) The pitcher, while in the act of delivering the ball to
the batter, shall take his legal position; (c) Except the pitcher
and the catcher, any fielder may station himself anywhere in fair
territory; (d) Except the batter, or a runner attempting to score,
no offensive player shall cross the catcher's lines when the ball
is in play.
4.04
The batting order shall be followed throughout the game unless a
player is substituted for another. In that case the substitute shall
take the place of the replaced player in the batting order.
4.05
(a) The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field
during its term at bat, one near first base and one near third base.
(b) Base coaches shall be limited to two in number and shall (1)
be in team uniform, and (2) remain within the coach's box at all
times. PENALTY: The offending base coach shall be removed from the
game, and shall leave the playing field. It has been common practice
for many years for some coaches to put one foot outside the coach's
box or stand astride or otherwise be slightly outside the coaching
box lines. The coach shall not be considered out of the box unless
the opposing manager complains, and then, the umpire shall strictly
enforce the rule and require all coaches (on both teams) to remain
in the coach's box at all times. It is also common practice for
a coach who has a play at his base to leave the coach's box to signal
the player to slide, advance or return to a base. This may be allowed
if the coach does not interfere with the play in any manner.
4.06
(a) No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall
at any time, whether from the bench, the coach's box or on the playing
field, or elsewhere_ (1) Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign
a demonstration by spectators; (2) Use language which will in any
manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, an umpire, or
any spectator; (3) Call "Time," or employ any other word
or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play
for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.
(4) Make intentional contact with the umpire in any manner. (b)
No fielder shall take a position in the batter's line of vision,
and with deliberate unsportsmanlike intent, act in a manner to distract
the batter. PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game
and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall
be nullified.
4.07
When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game,
he shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in
that game. He shall remain in the club house or change to street
clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the grandstand
well removed from the vicinity of his team's bench or bullpen. If
a manager, coach or player is under suspension he may not be in
the dugout or press box during the course of a game.
4.08
When the occupants of a player's bench show violent disapproval
of an umpire's decision, the umpire shall first give warning that
such disapproval shall cease. If such action continues_ PENALTY:
The umpire shall order the offenders from the bench to the club
house. If he is unable to detect the offender, or offenders, he
may clear the bench of all substitute players. The manager of the
offending team shall have the privilege of recalling to the playing
field only those players needed for substitution in the game.
4.09
HOW A TEAM SCORES. (a) One run shall be scored each time a runner
legally advances to and touches first, second, third and home base
before three men are put out to end the inning. EXCEPTION: A run
is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play
in which the third out is made (1) by the batter runner before he
touches first base; (2) by any runner being forced out; or (3) by
a preceding runner who is declared out because he failed to touch
one of the bases. (b) When the winning run is scored in the last
half inning of a regulation game, or in the last half of an extra
inning, as the result of a base on balls, hit batter or any other
play with the bases full which forces the runner on third to advance,
the umpire shall not declare the game ended until the runner forced
to advance from third has touched home base and the batter runner
has touched first base. An exception will be if fans rush onto the
field and physically prevent the runner from touching home plate
or the batter from touching first base. In such cases, the umpires
shall award the runner the base because of the obstruction by the
fans. PENALTY: If the runner on third refuses to advance to and
touch home base in a reasonable time, the umpire shall disallow
the run, call out the offending player and order the game resumed.
If, with two out, the batter runner refuses to advance to and touch
first base, the umpire shall disallow the run, call out the offending
player, and order the game resumed. If, before two are out, the
batter runner refuses to advance to and touch first base, the run
shall count, but the offending player shall be called out. Approved
Ruling: No run shall score during a play in which the third out
is made by the batter runner before he touches first base. Example:
One out, Jones on second, Smith on first. The batter, Brown, hits
safely. Jones scores. Smith is out on the throw to the plate. Two
outs. But Brown missed first base. The ball is thrown to first,
an appeal is made, and Brown is out. Three outs. Since Jones crossed
the plate during a play in which the third out was made by the batter
runner before he touched first base, Jones' run does not count.
Approved Ruling: Following runners are not affected by an act of
a preceding runner unless two are out. Example: One out, Jones on
second, Smith on first, and batter, Brown, hits home run inside
the park. Jones fails to touch third on his way to the plate. Smith
and Brown score. The defense holds the ball on third, appeals to
umpire, and Jones is out. Smith's and Brown's runs count. Approved
Ruling: Two out, Jones on second, Smith on first and batter, Brown,
hits home run inside the park. All three runs cross the plate. But
Jones missed third base, and on appeal is declared out. Three outs.
Smith's and Brown's runs are voided. No score on the play. Approved
Ruling: One out, Jones on third, Smith on second. Batter Brown flies
out to center. Two out. Jones scores after catch and Smith scores
on bad throw to plate. But Jones, on appeal, is adjudged to have
left third before the catch and is out. Three outs. No runs. Approved
Ruling: Two out, bases full, batter hits home run over fence. Batter,
on appeal, is declared out for missing first base. Three outs. No
run counts. Here is a general statement that covers: When a runner
misses a base and a fielder holds the ball on a missed base, or
on the base originally occupied by the runner if a fly ball is caught,
and appeals for the umpire's decision, the runner is out when the
umpire sustains the appeal; all runners may score if possible, except
that with two out the runner is out at the moment he misses the
bag, if an appeal is sustained as applied to the following runners.
Approved Ruling: One out, Jones on third, Smith on first, and Brown
flies out to right field. Two outs. Jones tags up and scores after
the catch. Smith attempted to return to first but the right fielder's
throw beat him to the base. three outs. But Jones scored before
the throw to catch Smith reached first base, hence Jones' run counts.
It was not a force play.
4.10
(a) A regulation game consists of nine innings, unless extended
because of a tie score, or shortened (1) because the home team needs
none of its half of the ninth inning or only a fraction of it, or
(2) because the umpire calls the game. EXCEPTION: National Association
leagues may adopt a rule providing that one or both games of a doubleheader
shall be seven innings in length. In such games, any of these rules
applying to the ninth inning shall apply to the seventh inning.
(b) If the score is tied after nine completed innings play shall
continue until (1) the visiting team has scored more total runs
than the home team at the end of a completed inning, or (2) the
home team scores the winning run in an uncompleted inning. (c) If
a game is called, it is a regulation game: (1) If five innings have
been completed; (2) If the home team has scored more runs in four
or four and a fraction half innings than the visiting team has scored
in five completed half innings; (3) If the home team scores one
or more runs in its half of the fifth inning to tie the score. (d)
If each team has the same number of runs when the game ends, the
umpire shall declare it a "Tie Game." (e) If a game is
called before it has become a regulation game, the umpire shall
declare it "No Game." (f) Rain checks will not be honored
for any regulation or suspended game which has progressed to or
beyond a point of play described in 4.10(c)
4.11
The score of a regulation game is the total number of runs scored
by each team at the moment the game ends. (a) The game ends when
the visiting team completes its half of the ninth inning if the
home team is ahead. (b) The game ends when the ninth inning is completed,
if the visiting team is ahead. (c) If the home team scores the winning
run in its half of the ninth inning (or its half of an extra inning
after a tie), the game ends immediately when the winning run is
scored. EXCEPTION: If the last batter in a game hits a home run
out of the playing field, the batter runner and all runners on base
are permitted to score, in accordance with the base running rules,
and the game ends when the batter runner touches home plate. APPROVED
RULING: The batter hits a home run out of the playing field to win
the game in the last half of the ninth or an extra inning, but is
called out for passing a preceding runner. The game ends immediately
when the winning run is scored. (d) A called game ends at the moment
the umpire terminates play. EXCEPTION: If the game is called while
an inning is in progress and before it is completed, the game becomes
a SUSPENDED game in each of the following situations: (1) The visiting
team has scored one or more runs to tie the score and the home team
has not scored; (2) The visiting team has scored one or more runs
to take the lead and the home team has not tied the score or retaken
the lead. National Association Leagues may also adopt the following
rules for suspended games in addition to 4.11 (d) (1) & (2)
above. (If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 4.10 (c)
(d) & (e) would not apply to their games.): (3) The game has
not become a regulation game (4 1/2 innings with the home team ahead,
or 5 innings with the visiting club ahead or tied). (4) Any regulation
game tied at the point play is stopped because of weather, curfew
or other reason. (5) If a game is suspended before it becomes a
regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled
game, the regularly scheduled game will be limited to seven innings.
(6) If a game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is
continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly
scheduled game will be a nine inning game. EXCEPTION: The above
sections (3), (4), (5) & (6) will not apply to the last scheduled
game between the two teams during the championship season, or League
Playoffs. Any suspended game not completed prior to the last scheduled
game between the two teams during the championship season, will
become a called game.
4.12
SUSPENDED GAMES. (a) A league shall adopt the following rules providing
for completion at a future date of games terminated for any of the
following reasons: (1) A curfew imposed by law; (2) A time limit
permissible under league rules; (3) Light failure or malfunction
of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical
field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal
equipment). (4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being
turned on. (5) Weather, if the game is called while an inning is
in progress and before it is completed, and one of the following
situations prevails: (i) The visiting team has scored one or more
runs to tie the score, and the home team has not scored. (ii) The
visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and
the home team has not tied the score or retaken the lead. (b) Such
games shall be known as suspended games. No game called because
of a curfew, weather, or a time limit shall be a suspended game
unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game
under the provisions of Rule 4.10. A game called under the provisions
of 4.12(a), (3) or (4) shall be a suspended game at any time after
it starts. NOTE: Weather and similar conditions_4.12 (a) (1 through
5)_shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall
be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game
if stopped for any of the five (5) reasons specified in Section
(a). Any regulation game called due to weather with the score tied
(unless situation outlined in 4.12 (a) (5) (i) prevails) is a tie
game and must be replayed in its entirety. (c) A suspended game
shall be resumed and completed as follows: (1) Immediately preceding
the next scheduled single game between the two clubs on the same
grounds; or (2) Immediately preceding the next scheduled doubleheader
between the two clubs on the same grounds, if no single game remains
on the schedule; or (3) If suspended on the last scheduled date
between the two clubs in that city, transferred and played on the
grounds of the opposing club, if possible; (i) Immediately preceding
the next scheduled single game, or (ii) Immediately preceding the
next scheduled doubleheader, if no single game remains on the schedule.
(4) If a suspended game has not been resumed and completed on the
last date scheduled for the two clubs, it shall be a called game.
(d) A suspended game shall be resumed at the exact point of suspension
of the original game. The completion of a suspended game is a continuation
of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams
shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the
moment of suspension, subject to the rules governing substitution.
Any player may be replaced by a player who had not been in the game
prior to the suspension. No player removed before the suspension
may be returned to the lineup. A player who was not with the club
when the game was suspended may be used as a substitute, even if
he has taken the place of a player no longer with the club who would
not have been eligible because he had been removed from the lineup
before the game was suspended. If immediately prior to the call
of a suspended game, a substitute pitcher has been announced but
has not retired the side or pitched until the batter becomes a baserunner,
such pitcher, when the suspended game is later resumed may, but
is not required to start the resumed portion of the game. However,
if he does not start he will be considered as having been substituted
for and may not be used in that game. (e) Rain checks will not be
honored for any regulation or suspended game which has progressed
to or beyond a point of play described in 4.10 (c).
4.13
RULES GOVERNING DOUBLEHEADERS. (a) (1) Only two championship games
shall be played on one date. Completion of a suspended game shall
not violate this rule. (2) If two games are scheduled to be played
for one admission on one date, the first game shall be the regularly
scheduled game for that date. (b) After the start of the first game
of a doubleheader, that game shall be completed before the second
game of the doubleheader shall begin. (c) The second game of a doubleheader
shall start twenty minutes after the first game is completed, unless
a longer interval (not to exceed thirty minutes) is declared by
the umpire in chief and announced to the opposing managers at the
end of the first game. EXCEPTION: If the league president has approved
a request of the home club for a longer interval between games for
some special event, the umpire in chief shall declare such longer
interval and announce it to the opposing managers. The umpire in
chief of the first game shall be the timekeeper controlling the
interval between games. (d) The umpire shall start the second game
of a doubleheader, if at all possible, and play shall continue as
long as ground conditions, local time restrictions, or weather permit.
(e) When a regularly scheduled doubleheader is delayed in starting
for any cause, any game that is started is the first game of the
doubleheader. (f) When a rescheduled game is part of a doubleheader
the rescheduled game shall be the second game, and the first game
shall be the regularly scheduled game for that date.
4.14
The umpire in chief shall order the playing field lights turned
on whenever in his opinion darkness makes further play in daylight
hazardous.
4.15
A game may be forfeited to the opposing team when a team_ (a) Fails
to appear upon the field, or being upon the field, refuses to start
play within five minutes after the umpire has called "Play"
at the appointed hour for beginning the game, unless such delayed
appearance is, in the umpire's judgment, unavoidable; (b) Employs
tactics palpably designed to delay or shorten the game; (c) Refuses
to continue play during a game unless the game has been suspended
or terminated by the umpire; (d) Fails to resume play, after a suspension,
within one minute after the umpire has called "Play;"
(e) After warning by the umpire, willfully and persistently violates
any rules of the game; (f) Fails to obey within a reasonable time
the umpire's order for removal of a player from the game; (g) Fails
to appear for the second game of a doubleheader within twenty minutes
after the close of the first game unless the umpire in chief of
the first game shall have extended the time of the intermission.
4.16
A game shall be forfeited to the visiting team if, after it has
been suspended, the order of the umpire to groundskeepers respecting
preparation of the field for resumption of play are not complied
with.
4.17
A game shall be forfeited to the opposing team when a team is unable
or refuses to place nine players on the field.
4.18
If the umpire declares a game forfeited he shall transmit a written
report to the league president within twenty four hours thereafter,
but failure of such transmittal shall not effect the forfeiture.
4.19
PROTESTING GAMES. Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure
for protesting a game, when a manager claims that an umpire's decision
is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted
on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the
decision of the League President shall be final. Even if it is held
that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the
game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President
the violation adversely affected the protesting team's chances of
winning the game. Whenever a manager protests a game because of
alleged misapplication of the rules the protest will not be recognized
unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest
occurs and before the next pitch is made or a runner is retired.
A protest arising on a game ending play may be filed until 12 noon
the following day with the League Office.
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