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Little League
2008 Little League  Rules Changes	"Leaving Early" Rule	Visits to the Mound	Top 40 Baseball Rule Myths

Changes to the 2008 Official Regulations and Playing Rules
For all Divisions of Little League Baseball®

[Note: These are Official Little League Baseball® regulations.  Many youth leagues have specific rules differences.  We have not included all of the 2008 changes, but have tried to include those that are of general use to those leagues that we service.  It should also be noted that Official Little League Baseball® rules include the double first base, which may or may not be used in the youth leagues in our area. Official Little League Baseball Rule Books are available only from Williamsport.  Go to www.littleleague.org for more information.]

Regulation VI: PITCHERS

(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.)

(b) Players once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers;

(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:

League Age

11-12 85 pitches per day

9-10 75 pitches per day

7-8 50 pitches per day

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. NOTE: A pitcher who delivers one or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

(e) A player may not pitch in consecutive games.

(f) Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder.

(g) The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.

(h) The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.

(i) Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.

(j) A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League. (See Regulation V – Selection of Players)

(k) A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.

NOTES:

1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately.

2. Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.

3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.

Example 1: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required three days of rest.

Example 2: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required three days of rest.

Example 3: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based on his/her pitching record during the previous three days.

NOTE: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.

Rule 3.03 – 3. pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers;

Leaving Early Before the Pitch Reference

“When a pitcher is in contact with the pitcher's plate AND in possession of the ball AND the catcher is in the catcher's box READY TO RECEIVE delivery of the ball, base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has REACHED THE BATTER.”

Confusion on this rule arises in regard to what exactly do they mean by "REACHED THE BATTER" and "READY TO RECEIVE" and just when does a runner have to return and what is the proper penalty when a runner leaves early and then the pitch is hit?

Ready to receive means the catcher must have his equipment on (including his helmet) and be in the catcher's box facing the pitcher. He does NOT have to be squatting. The batter does not have to be in the batter's box. Because the batter may not be in the box, the catcher is not required to squat.

Reached the batter means, literally, that if the batter is standing in the front of the box the pitch reaches him at a different time than when he is standing in the back of the box. It is NOT when the pitch crosses the plate, which is the most common misinterpretation.

Frequently in Little League, a batter who is a fast runner will run all the way to second after receiving a base-on-balls. This occurs mostly when a runner is on third. Managers think they can stop this by having the catcher immediately return the ball to the pitcher and have the pitcher step on the rubber before the runner arrives at first. SORRY! The official ruling from headquarters is: you may not stop a runner who is ALREADY ADVANCING and continuing to advance prior to the pitcher and catcher being in position. If a runner stops or is already stopped when the pitcher steps on the rubber, that runner must return. He is liable to be put out while off base, but if he advances after being stopped while the pitcher was on the rubber, he shall be sent back. The umpire must use good judgment. The defense should not be granted time out while a runner is advancing. All play must be stopped before the umpire grants time out.

Leaving Early When a Hit Occurs Reference

The rulebook takes a full page attempting to explain what to do in all possible situations when any runner leaves early before a hit. I will try to simplify it. It's not easy though. There is one loophole in the rule that allows the offense to go unpenalized. If a runner or runners are forced to advance and have left early and the batter gets a "clean" hit, no penalty is imposed. A "clean" hit means it was a single, double, or triple in the umpire's judgment. If it was a hit and an error or an advance on the throw, the batter will be sent back to the base that was the scored value of the "clean hit" and all runners must go back to the bases they originally held or the one nearest the batter after the batter has been placed at the value of the "clean" hit. Any time a base becomes available after a hit, runners will be sent back.

Here are some basic keys that help simplify the rule:

1. If one runner is guilty they are all guilty.
2. You move the batter-runner back to where you judge the value of the clean hit. Any advance made by him, beyond his "clean" hit, is nullified.
3. Place all runners back on their original bases whenever possible. Put them as close as possible to the batter-runner after placing the batter-runner at the base judged to be the clean hit.
4. If any bases become empty due to any runner or the batter-runner being put out, return the runners to those bases.

EXAMPLE: Bases loaded, no outs. Batter hits a "clean" double, and tries for third thinking the throw is going home. The throw is cut-off and they get him out at third. Before the hit a runner left early. Guess what? The batter is out and ALL runners return. Because his out left bases empty, you put all runners back to their original bases. The offense just loves that call! In that same play, if the out on the batter had been the third out, no runs would count due to the fact that they could have been put back if it had not been the third out. They really love that call!!!

When a runner leaves early he remains guilty even if he returns before or after a hit.

EXAMPLE: A runner on 2nd leaves early, then a fly ball is hit to right field. The runner retouches after the catch and heads for 3rd. The throw gets past F5 and the runner scores. RULING: You put the runner back on second. They love that call too!

There is NEVER an out called for violating rule 7.13. That's just the way it is written. Your play where the guy beats the force at second is one of a few instances where they get away with leaving early. There is no penalty. However, it is not advisable for a coach to do this because it can hurt him other ways.

For instance:
R1 leaves early and a single is hit to right. The right fielder misses the ball thru his legs. R1 continues on to score and the batter goes to third. Well, since R1 left early and the "clean" hit was a single, you put the batter back on first and R1 on second.

They just lost a run because they violated the rule in hopes of beating a possible force at second. Is it worth trying to beat the force at the risk of losing a run?

By Jim Booth

The rule governing defensive conferences is different for 
Youth Leagues than it is for Baseball    

8.06 - This rule, which applies to each pitcher who enters a game, governs the visits of the manager or coach to the pitcher.  [Defensive Conference]

(a) A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the third time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. Example: If a manager visits Pitcher A once in the first inning, then makes a pitching change in the same inning, Pitcher B would be allowed two visits in that inning before being removed on the third visit.

(b) A manager or coach may come out three times in one game to visit with the pitcher, but the fourth time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. Example: If a manager visits Pitcher A twice in the first three innings, then makes a pitching change in the fourth inning, Pitcher B would be allowed three visits in that game before being removed on the fourth visit, subject to the limits in (a) above.

(c) The manager or coach is prohibited from making a third visit while the same batter is at bat.

APPROVED RULING 1: At the time a pitcher is removed, a visit shall not be charged to the new pitcher.

APPROVED RULING 2: A conference with the pitcher or any other fielder to evaluate the player's condition after an injury shall not be considered a visit for the purposes of this rule. The manager or coach should advise the umpire of such a conference, and the umpire should monitor same.

Top 40 Baseball Rule Myths

All of the following statements are FALSE.
Read the explanations and rule references to find out why.

1. The hands are considered part of the bat.
2. The batter-runner must turn to his right after over-running first base.
3. If the batter breaks his wrists when swinging, it's a strike.
4. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball.
5. The batter cannot be called out for interference if he is in the batter's box.
6. The ball is dead on a foul-tip.
7. The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes.
8. The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out.
9. The batter may not overrun first base when he gets a base-on-balls.
10. The batter is out if he starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike.
11. If the batter does not pull the bat out of the strike zone while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike.
12. The batter is out if a bunted ball hits the ground and bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat.
13. The batter is out if his foot touches the plate.
14. The batter-runner is always out if he runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball.
15. A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players, after a homerun is hit over the fence.
16. Tie goes to the runner.
17. The runner gets the base he's going to, plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play.
18. Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out.
19. Runners may never run the bases in reverse order.
20. The runner must always slide when the play is close.
21. The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base.
22. A runner may not steal on a foul-tip.
23. It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball.
24. An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out.
25. A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.
26. Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called.
27. No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up.
28. A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit.
29. The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces.
30. If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds it's a catch.
31. You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal.
32. The ball is always immediately dead on a balk.
33. If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball.
34. The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made.
35. With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his windup and then stops.
36. The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw.
37. The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw.
38. If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence it is a homerun.
39. The ball is dead anytime an umpire is hit by the ball.
40. The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime.

See http://eteamz.active.com/baseball/rules/obr/myths/ or cllick on the number of the "Myth" for an explanation.