League Amendments – 2008 Season
1. The time limit will be to 2 hours and 30 minutes, and there will be no mercy rule since the game length has been reduced to 7 innings. No new inning will begin after the time limit has expired, however the current inning will be completed (i.e. the home team will get their half of the current inning if they are trailing or tied.). A new inning constitutes the visiting team’s first at-bat of that inning.
2. The only person allowed to “discuss” a call with an umpire is the team manager. Should any player be ejected from a game, that player will miss the remainder of that game as well as the next game his team plays. THIS IS NOT A NEGOTIABLE RULE. If the player does not sit out the next game played, both he and the team manager shall be suspended for the next two games their team plays. Any manager ejected shall miss the remainder of that game only and is eligible to return for the next scheduled game. After the manager has 2 ejections, the remaining league board of directors shall review the situation and determine the proper action.
3. There will be NO alcoholic beverages allowed at any field being used by the Charleston Men's Senior Baseball League. This applies to before, during, or after the games either on the field or in the parking areas. Any disregard to this policy WILL result in a season long suspension for the first offense and permanent expulsion for any subsequent offense.
4. Any attempted or actual physical contact with an official (pushing, shoving, hitting, etc.) by any player shall result in that player’s permanent expulsion from the Charleston Men’s Senior Baseball League.
Any attempted or actual physical contact with a player, manager, league representative, etc. by any player shall result in that player’s permanent expulsion from the Charleston Men’s Senior Baseball League.
5. Managers are NOT permitted to “recruit” players from another team. If a player from another team wishes to play for you, your first contact as a manager should be with me. I will then go to the opposing manager to request this player’s release. A PLAYER MUST BE GIVEN HIS RELEASE BY HIS MANAGER IN ORDER TO PLAY FOR ANOTHER TEAM IN THE LEAGUE, OR HE MUST SIT OUT ONE FULL SEASON. RATHER THAN SIT OUT, HE MAY RE-ENTER THE DRAFT WHERE HE BECOMES ELIGIBLE TO BE DRAFTED BY ANY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.
All player releases must be reported to the league president.
Any manager recruiting players is subject to suspension at the discretion of the league president and the board of directors.
6. A player is eligible to participate in an official league sanctioned game if they reach their 30th birthday by December 31 of the current season. The 2004 season was the final season for each team to keep 1 under 30 players on their roster. Those players under 30 left over from the 2004 season (participated in at least 8 games) will be grandfathered in to remain as members of the league. The under 30 player shall not be allowed to pitch until his 30th birthday. No other players under the age of 30 will be allowed to play.
7. No player out of uniform will be allowed to play. Uniform consists of matching jerseys and caps. Players must also wear baseball pants and spikes or rubber cleats. Players who are out of uniform will NOT be allowed to play until this player is attired in the correct team uniform. Additionally, no two players on the same team will be permitted to have the same number (i.e. one number per player on a team). The opposing manager or umpire at any point may assess this rule during the game. From the point where this rule has been assessed, the player in violation becomes ineligible with no penalty for previous innings (i.e. his performance in the game up to that point stands). If there is no substitute for this player, then his place in the lineup will be skipped over with an out assessed only for the first time (see Amendment #12 below).
8. A team will be allowed 2 courtesy runners (last batted out) to be used for injured players. These courtesy runners must be indicated on the lineup card and discussed with the opposing manager prior to the start of the game.
Note: In the event of an injury during the game, one of the two original UNUSED courtesy runners may be used for the injured player. If the team has assigned both of their courtesy runners prior to the game, one may be switched during the game for the injured player. No additional courtesy runner will be permitted.
Note: Courtesy runners are NOT transferable from one player to another at any time during a game regardless of whether or not the original player remains in the game. Once a courtesy runner has been designated at the beginning of the game, there is no switching (i.e. If players A and B are assigned courtesy runners at the beginning of the game and player B comes out of the lineup, the new player does NOT get a courtesy runner).
Any violation of this rule whether approved by the opposing manager or not will result in a forfeit of the game by the offending team. This is in effect in order to avoid situations that have occurred in the past where one team allows another to use extra courtesy runners, then another team does not allow extra courtesy runners and problems arise. Under NO circumstances will any team have more than 2 players using courtesy runners during a game.
9. League fees will have due dates set by the league president for the non-refundable deposit ($500) and the balance (including all waiver, photocopied I.D.’s (if required), and rosters). Should a team fail to meet the deadline for the deposit, said team shall be omitted from the season schedule. Should a team fail to meet the deadline for the balance due (including all waivers and rosters), the season will begin with said team forfeiting each game until the balance has been paid and the required forms have been turned in. After two consecutive forfeits, said team will be taken of the schedule permanently.
10. Players added to the bottom of the lineup during a game can either be single additions or added into the A/B format.
11. Any pitcher may re-enter the game after he has pitched only one time during that game. Once he has been removed from the mound the second time, he can no longer pitch in that game. (i.e. Pitcher ‘A’ starts the game and is relieved by Pitcher ‘B’ in the 3rd inning. Pitcher ‘A’ returns to pitch the 4th inning and is relieved by Pitcher ‘C’ in the 5th inning. Pitcher ‘B’ may return to pitch the again however, Pitcher ‘A’ is no longer eligible to pitch in that game.)
12. Should a player become injured during the course of the game and need to be removed from the lineup and the team has no eligible players on the bench to substitute, his spot in the batting order will be skipped over with NO penalty assessed to his team. This player must remain in the dugout until the game has been completed unless the injury is deemed serious in nature and emergency care is required. This rule does NOT pertain to a player who must leave the game for other commitments. Should a player have to leave the game for any other reason aside from an injury sustained within that game (i.e. ejection, ruled ineligible by rule, previous commitment, etc.), the national rules will apply and an out will be assessed the first time his spot in the lineup comes up and no penalty from there on.
13. As indicated in the MSBL official rules, each team will be allowed 2 intentional walks per game.
14. In the case of a tie game, the league board of directors will determine the best course of action to be used to reach a conclusion prior to the start of the season.
15. It is advised that all players and managers be familiar with the official MSBL rules and regulations found on the MSBL National web site (www.msblnational.com) as well as in the front of the league scorebooks. If you do not have access to these rules, request a copy and one will be made available to you.
2008
League Officers and Managers / Board of Directors
Mike Greer (President) – Cubs
David Richter (Vice President) – Cardinals
O.B. Brier (Treasurer) - Twins
Mike Costanzo - Cyclones
Dave Maningding - Pirates
Dave Heidenberg - Yankees