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Important: Before each season begins, we have a Divisional Managers meeting. At this meeting managers agree to (sometimes) change the rules below. Please review your divisional meeting NOTES in HEADLINES on the front page of the website.
4. LENGTH OF GAMES
A (7 or 9 inning) game called due to inclement weather shall be official after five completed innings.
Each 9-inning game shall have a three-hour time limit. Each 7-inning game shall have a 2.5-hour time limit. The clock starts running upon the actual start of play (the 1st pitch), not scheduled start of play. The time at the last out of the prior inning determines if the time limit has expired (not the time at the start of the next inning). Once an inning has started, it shall be played to its completion. Games that are tied at the end of time-limit end as a TIE. The game remains an official tie and shall be included as such in the standings
MERCY RULE
4.C. A 9-inning game shall be ruled official and completed after seven innings if a twelve or more run discrepancy exists in the score. A 7-inning game shall be ruled official and completed after five innings if a ten or more run discrepancy exists in the score (Mercy Rule). This shall not apply to playoff games
6. DEFENSIVE LINEUP
6.A. All players may be substituted for defensively at any time without affecting the player's status in the batting order (Free Substitution). A player playing defensively receives credit for game played. You may play defensively and not be part of batting order if your team meets the required minimum of 11 batters. Make sure when entering stats the defensive player receives credit for game played.- Put this on back of scorebook page.
6.B. The pitcher, once removed, may re-enter to pitch only one time during the remainder of the game. He cannot re-enter to pitch in the same inning in which he was removed. If a pitcher completes an inning and is then removed, he may not pitch in the next inning, but must wait until the following inning before pitching once again.
6.C. A removed pitcher may play any other position.
7. NUMBER OF PLAYERS
7.A. A team must have a minimum of eight players in order to begin a game.
7.B. If a team starts a game with eight players, and a ninth player arrives, he must be inserted into the lineup immediately. He may be inserted into the batting order into any position that has not yet batted. If all positions in the batting order have already batted, he must be added to the bottom of the order.
7.B.1. The above rule applies to the arrival of a tenth and/or eleventh player arriving after the game has started. Players must be inserted into the batting order immediately in order to attain the legal minimum of eleven hitters.
7.C.1. If a team's ninth player arrives after the start of the game, he must enter the game immediately, and bat in the borrowed player’s vacated position in the batting order. The borrowed player must leave the lineup of the borrowing team. He cannot become a tenth player. The borrowed player is then free to be used by his own team’s manager as the manager wishes.
PITCHERS
8.B. Intentional walks are permitted. Pitchers do NOT throw four balls out of the strike zone in order to issue such a walk.
8.C. If a pitcher hits four batters in a game, he must be removed upon hitting the fourth batsman. The pitcher is not permitted to re-enter the game as a pitcher if removed under this rule.
9. COURTESY RUNNERS
9.A. Each team shall be allowed two courtesy runners per game.
9.B. The manager must name the players who will require courtesy runners prior to the start of the game. If a manager prior to the start of the game names fewer than two courtesy runners, that manager may add, without permission of the opposing manager, courtesy runners up to a total of two for any players deemed by the manager to have been injured during play.
9.C. The player making the immediately previous batted out who does not have a courtesy runner designated must be inserted as the courtesy runner. If that player also has a courtesy runner designated then the batted out previous becomes the courtesy runner.
9.C.1. In the event that a courtesy runner is needed prior to an out being recorded in the first inning, the last batter in the batting order must be inserted as the courtesy runner.
9.C.2. The manager has the option of not inserting his current pitcher or catcher as a courtesy runner. In that instance, the courtesy runner shall be the player who made the next previous out.
9.D. Once the game has started, a courtesy runner may be used if:
1) Two courtesy runners have not already been named, and
2) The batter-runner has sustained an obvious injury.
9.D.1. Once the game has started, and two courtesy runners have already been named, and a player sustains an obvious injury, a pinch-runner must be used. This is a player substitution in the batting order.
The spirit of the SJMSBL rules is based on fairness, a level playing field & good sportsmanship. Intentionally following the letter of the law but not the spirit while exploiting technicalities, loopholes, and ambiguous language will NOT BE TOLORATED.
9.D.2. Once the game has started, the opposing manager may allow an additional courtesy runner if:
1) Two courtesy runners have already been named, and
2) There are no reserves left on the bench, and
3) The batter-runner has sustained an obvious injury.
9.E. The courtesy runner must enter the game immediately upon completion of play.
9.E.1. If the batter-runner chooses to run or fails to get a courtesy runner prior to the next pitch, he loses his right to a courtesy runner for the remainder of the game unless the opposing manager still allows it.
9.F. Teams cannot change the batter-runner designees after the start of the game unless the opposing manager allows such a change.
9.G. The manager has the option of inserting courtesy runners for his current pitcher or catcher if they are on base with two outs. (Speed Up Rule.)
9.G.1. If a manager chooses not to use a runner for his pitcher or catcher in a given inning, he still retains the option to do so at a later point in the game.
9.G.2 If at ground rules the two opposing managers agree to as many courtesy runners as necessary as long as it is the last batted out that agreement shall be in effect for the duration of the game. This can apply to regular season and playoff games but must be in agreement with both opposing managers.
9.G.3. While batting two players that require a courtesy runner in one spot in the batting order using the A/B rule, both batters will be allowed to have a courtesy runner once reaching base while using up only one of the two courtesy runners allowed per game.
CLICK HERE for a copy of all the Rules
