2020 LISM League Rules
2020 LONG ISLAND STAN MUSIAL BASEBALL LEAGUE, INC. RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rule 1- LI Stan Musial Baseball League, Inc. shall be ruled in accordance with the official rules of baseball [“MAJOR LEAGUE RULES”] which shall be in force unless an exception is noted in our league rules.
Rule 2- The only way rules can be added, dropped or modified is by majority approval of the Board/Directors
Rule 3- If an interpretation of a rule or a situation is in question the President and Rule Commissioner should be notified immediately for clarification. If there is a question during a game, the umpire’s ruling is used.
Rule 4- Once final schedule is issued, games played in accordance with that schedule; no changes to be made. This schedule takes precedence over other leagues.
Rule 5- All league fees must be submitted in full by June 15th. The deposit must be submitted by the March manager’s meeting and is non-refundable.
Rule 6- Rosters must have a minimum of 14 players, maximum of 30 players. Rosters must be entered on league website by 6/15. A player must sign a roster before playing in a league game. Once a player has signed a roster he becomes the property of that team unless he is released before 6/15. Once a player has participated with a team he is considered locked into that team for the season. Only exception is if a written waiver is given from the team and is approved by the league. All players become free agents on 9/01.
Rule 7- Players must meet league eligibility standards to participate in playoff games. Players failing to meet the minimum standards for at-bats, games played or innings pitched cannot play in the playoffs. The only exception is if there is an injury or other extenuating circumstance and this must be approved by the league no later than July 15th. Eligibility will be determined by statistics entered on league website.
Rule 8- Use of a player not officially on a team’s roster will cause said team an automatic forfeit. Exception – to avoid a forfeit, a team may request a player from a team in another division. Must be approved by Commissioner and not be a pitcher. Manager is asked to submit player stats after game to Board for input.
Rule 9- All teams are responsible for field maintenance, including clean-up, repair & proper conduct. Judgment must be used in determining if a field is playable due to rain. Puddles can be swept, but in no event can holes be dug or mud be swept onto the outfield/infield grass. This kills the grass and can cause the league to forfeit use of the field. Teams will be held financially responsible for damage caused to fields.
Rule 10- All players must be fully uniformed (matching hats & jerseys & must wear baseball pants) by 6/15. Managers/coaches on baselines need to be in uniform. Managers & coaches on the bench need not be in uniform. If they are not in uniform they cannot make trips to the mound, coach baselines or question umpires’ calls. The umpire can eject any manager, coach or player in accordance with this rule.
Rule 11- Any former professional player must be approved by President & Board to play in the League and must fill out and file the proper reinstatement forms with the league.
Rule 12- The League’s official baseball is the Rawlings Pro Baseball (R-100) No other balls are allowed. Baseballs can be obtained from the League President.
Rule 13- The use of baseballs are to be shared by each team, each game, regardless of who is the home team.
Rule 14- Mercy Rule: play is stopped under this rule when 1) a team has a lead of 10 or more runs after the trailing team has batted at least 5 times 2) a team has a lead of 15 or more runs after the trailing team has batted at least 3 times. 3) for a 9 inning game it is a 12 run lead after 5 innings.
Rule 15- Lightning Rule: As soon as lightning is visible 15 minutes before a game or during play of a game, the game must be stopped for a minimum of 20 minutes. If a lightning delay causes a game to be delayed MORE THAN 50 MINUTES, the game shall be called. If the 1st game of a DH is canceled due to lightning, the 2nd game of the DH is also canceled.
Rule 16- Home team is decided by field permit in single games. If neither team has the permit for the field, or both teams have permits for the same field, the team listed 2nd on the schedule is the home team. For DHs, the 2nd team listed on the schedule is the home team for the first game & the visiting team for the 2nd game.
Rule 17- Slide / Avoid contact rule: All players must slide or avoid contact at all four bases. The only exception is when breaking up a double play; in that case the runner must slide within reach of the base without malicious intent. Barreling over the catcher, or any other player is strictly forbidden. Failure to comply with these rules will cause the player to be called out on the play and be ejected from the game. Fake tags are illegal and are cause for ejection.
Rule 18- All players must wear a double-flap helmet when batting/on base unless a waiver is forwarded to the League office waiving all responsibility for the League in case of injury. The player who signs the waiver to use a single flap helmet becomes solely responsible. Catchers must wear skull caps and throat protectors or hockey-style masks. Umpires may eject players for refusal to wear such equipment. Managers are responsible for catchers to wear protective gear while warming up pitchers.
Rule 19- The local rule for the designated hitter (DH): Use of the DH is optional. The DH can be used for any position player, not just the pitcher. The DH can never change his spot in the batting order. A DH can be substituted for without affecting the fielder being DH’d for. If the DH enters the game defensively, the use of the DH is lost for the rest of the game. Now, every fielder must have a spot in the batting order. The fielder previously being DH’d for will occupy the player’s spot who was replaced in the field by the DH.
Rule 20- Local rule for the extra hitter (EH): Use of an EH is optional. An EH is a player who is in the batting order in addition to the players in the field/DH. Use of an EH creates a 10 man batting order. You can use multiple EH’s, therefore you can have a batting order longer than 10 if you desire. EH’s can go into the game defensively with no affect on the batting order. The player being replaced defensively simply becomes the EH. Manager may add additional EH[s] to bottom of order at any time during game. If player forced to leave game at any time during game for any reason and cannot be replaced in the order, each time the vacated spot comes up in the batting order, an out is assessed.
Rule 21- Local speed-up rule (courtesy pinch runners): Speed up rule for pinch runners will be in effect for each team to use up to 2 pinch runners for 2 players in its batting order. These players must be designated prior to the start of the game and it is optional. When a designated player reaches base, he must be replaced by a runner immediately. If a replacement is not made prior to the next pitch, then it cannot be made. The replacement runner must be the last man to bat out in the batting order. Addendum #1 - speed-up rule must be utilized 1st time available for a batter-runner or cannot be used later in game. It cannot be a player not in the game. There is no change to designated batters for a courtesy runner once the game starts.
Addendum #2 – if a catcher is not designated to have a runner at the start of game, he must be pinch run for by the last man out in the batting order with 2 outs to speed up the game.
Rule 22- Insurance claims must be reported to the League office immediately. Incidents need to be recorded & reported to the insurance co within 48 hours
Rule 23- The local rule for forfeits. Forfeit time is 20 minutes. If a team does not have enough players at game time there is a 20-minute grace period for the players to show up. After 20 minutes the game is declared a forfeit, in the case of a DH, an additional 20 minutes will be waited for the 2nd game & then both games are declared forfeits. The team that forfeits is responsible for all of the umpire fees.
Rule 24- All games can start on time with 8 or 9 players present. Less than 8 players for any reason will result in forfeit. If a team starts with 8, no out will be given for the 9th spot in the batting order at any time. If a team starts with 9, and a player is injured or leaves, the first time through the batting order, the spot vacated will be given an out, one time only.
Rule 25- A manager must be declared before each game. The manager is the person who is listed on the League manager’s directory. If the listed manager is not present a manager for the game must be declared.
Rule 26 If a defensive conference on the mound includes the manager who is on the field, it is considered a pitcher’s conference except when the manager is the catcher then it is the discretion of the umpire as to what constitutes a conference.
If a pitcher’s conference occurs twice in an inning or 3 times in a game, that pitcher must be removed from the pitching position.
Rule 27- Protests must be lodged at the time of incident with the home plate umpire before the next pitch is thrown. Umpire must sign and properly note the protesting manager''''s scorebook. A phone call to the league within 24 hours and a written application of protest within 72 hours are required. The protest committee consisting of 3 Board of Director members [known as Rules Directors] will determine the outcome and has the authority to overturn the decision made on the field. A fee of $100 must accompany the written protest. The fee will be returned if the protest in upheld. The protest committee will decide the outcome of the protest and if a replay of the game is necessary from the point of protest, and if the protest has any bearing on League playoff standings or it is does not warrant continuation.
Rule 28- Rainouts/suspended games are generally not replayed. If teams desire a game to be made up, it is the responsibility of both managers to agree on a replacement date, time & acquire the field. The Board of Directors must approve the game &assign umpires. Teams not permitted to schedule games on their own.
Rule 29- Teams must enter game results of all played games on the League Lineup website within 7 days – winning teams will receive a loss if not entered within 7 days.. Teams must enter player stats for May games played by June 15th, June games by July 15th and full, complete stats by day after end of regular summer season. Failure to do so will result in game losses by 6/15 - 7/15 & elimination from post-season if qualified by end of season. Exception – players selected for Summer Division All-Star games must have complete stats entered prior to date of game.
Rule 30- Standings for division champions & eligibility for post-season play will be determined as follows: A) won-lost percentage B) head to head record C) total wins D) record vs. common opponents E) playoff
Rule 31- When a game reaches a time curfew or is interrupted by rain the game reverts to the last completed inning. If an inning is not finished it does not count. Games where 5 innings are completed are official. Playoff games must be played to completion. Suspended games in played will be completed.
Rule 32- Ejections - Player/Manager-Penalties/Warnings
Ejection – Board determines ejection non-aggressive and non-threatening
First Offense – League Warning, Second Offense - $50 fine donated to charity Third Offense - $75 fine donated to charity, Fourth Offense – One Game Suspension
Ejection – Board determines ejection aggressive and threatening to another player/mgr/umpire
First Offense - 1 Game Suspension, Second Offense - 3 Game Suspension, Third Offense - Season Suspension
Ejection - Board determines physical contact with another player/manager/umpire
1st Offense - 6 Game Suspense plus team fine donated to charity $50, Second Offense - Season Suspension
Ejection - Team leaves bench.
1st Offense - Manager Warning, Second Offense - Manager Suspended 1 Game, 3rd Offense - Manager Suspended 3 Games
Rule 33 - When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, that person must leave the bench area and be out of sight & sound from the game. A coach cannot run the team from from a distant area. Failure to comply will result in a forfeit.
Rule 34 - Physical abuse of an umpire will result in banishment from the league for 1 year. Physical abuse of an opposing player will result in suspension and if occurring while a game is in play, the game may be canceled as well. Banishments, suspensions & reinstatements will be determined by the League office
Rule 35 - Alcoholic beverages on the playing field, dugouts or stands are strictly prohibited & are grounds for immediate dismissal & suspension. Any player found drinking during a game will be suspended indefinitely pending a hearing. If during a DH, the ejections goes for both games. A hearing of the rules committee will be held for further action. No smoking on field of play or in the dugout - players guilty of such conduct shall be immediately suspended from further game play.
Rule 36 - Photo IDs for Insurance Requirements as well as league integrity. All managers are required to have photo ID copies of all players on rosters available at all games.
Rule 37 - Line-up cards must be exchanged with the opposing manager at the start of every game listing player name and jersey number.
Rule 38 - If a team is aware that they cannot filed enough players for a game, they can contact a Board member or the President to find a possible replacement team. League Administration will attempt to find an appropriate replacement to play the game & indicate same on the league website. If unable to find a replacement, team will forfeit.
Rule 39 - Ex-Pro and Pro Wood/Zorilla Player Guidelines for playing in the Summer Divisions
Ex-Pro Player Guidelines
Level 1 Player - a player who has ever appeared on a AAA or MLB roster in last 5 years.
Level 2 Player - a player who has ever appeared on an A or AA roster.
Level 3 Player - a player who has only played Rookie League or Independent League Ball.
Amateur - a player that has never played and Pro Baseball or who has not played Pro Baseball within last 10 years.
DIVISION ALLOWANCES OF EX-PRO PLAYERS
PRO WOOD - no limit on number of Ex-Pro Players
Division 1 - 1 Level 1, 2 Level 2, Unlimited Level 3
Division 2 - 0 Level 1, 1 Level 2, 3 Level 3
Division 2A/3 - No Ex-Pro Players

Special Note- any current Ex-Pro Wood/Zorrilla player who was on a Summer Division team in 2017 for 2 seasons or more will be 'grandfathered' into the roster for 2018, & will not count towards the new rules for these players as highlighted above.

Pro Wood / Zorilla Players allowed to play Summer Divisions - cannot pitch!
Division 1 - 3 Pro Wood Players
Division 2 - 2 Pro Wood Players
Division 2A/3 - No Pro Wood Players

Rule 40 - Roster Exemptions for Injury/Military Service
must be submitted in writing to Board & President prior to 7/15, max 2 per team. Proof may be requested.
Rule 41 - Team Placements will be decided after league registrations by the Board/President. League Champs [except D1] will move up to the next division and all returning teams will be reviewed for placement based on previous year's record & past team history. New teams will provide roster to Board for review, if requested. All teams wishing to be considered for a division after placement by league on a website in March can submit an email w/reasons to the Deputy Director asking for team placement review. Deputy Director will submit to Board & president for a final review and decision after review will be final.
Rule 42 - Any team forfeiting 2 dates during the season may be dropped from the league pending Board decision based on payment of full league fees [team will be given 48 hours to pay all fees in full] & league standing. Any team forfeiting 3 dates will be dropped from the league immediately. In either case, if a team is dropped, no other team will be allowed to take forfeit wins from the dropped team except game from the 2 or 3 dates.
Addendum - No team will be awarded more than 4 for wins during the season. This will agree with the max number of forfeit losses a team can receive before being dropped from the league and the max number of forfeit wins that eams can receive from a forfeiting team.
Rule 43 - Manager w/2 Summer Division teams