2009 Little League Rules and Regulation Changes
Finally after weeks of waiting the 2009 Little League Rules and Regulation Changes are in! One there is one doozy! Completely out of left field for me, and I thought I was in the know. The more I learn, the less I seem to know.
Baseball Rules Changes
Following is the document distributed by Little League tonight. The most drastic change is that a pitcher may now move to catcher if they pitch 40 pitches or less in a game. The old rule for 2008 was if a pitcher threw 1 pitch, they could not catch the rest of the day.
Also, there are two options, one of which the local board or the interleague commissioner must adopt, that define days of rest and/or games for a pitcher. They have given leagues the option to remove the mandatory 1 game rest but, if you select this option, an additional days rest is added to each pitch count level.
So a pitcher in 2008 that pitched 61 or more pitches in a day would have to have 3 days rest AND a game, instead, the local league or interleague commissioner could adopt option 2 which would allow for a pitcher to have to rest 4 days, but no mandatory game. Unless the game was Monday or Thursday, this would not change the rule really. Rain would change it, but that is about all. A league scheduling their games on TUE/SAT, for instance, would feel no effect from the change.
My personal opinion is go with option two. I am always for selecting good managers and empowering them to succeed. Option two gives the manager the most flexibility. What do you think? I am curious.
A second clarification, that had not been finalized yet, is that they made the Junior League maximum bat diameter 2 5/8″, just like Seniors. There was some question on this before, but now it is official.
The Stupid Insurance Rule of the Year: Coaches can’t wear casts on the field?????????? Sometimes you have to wonder about our society.
The rest of the rules are simple clarifications that most people already knew anyway. I am surprised to learn that defacing the ball only requires the pitcher to be removed from the mound and not the game. Cheating should result in ejection in my mind. Am I missing something here?
CHANGES/UPDATES TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL®
RULES AND REGULATIONS – 2009
(Last update: October 30, 2008)
Regulation IV (i) Note 3
What is changed: Text added for clarification.
NOTE 3: In Minor League, if a half-inning ends because of the imposition of the five-run limit in “Rule 2.00 – Inning,” and a player on the defense has played for the entire half-inning, that player will be considered to have participated for three consecutive outs for the purposes of this rule. However, if the player has not played on defense for the entire inning, that player will be credited only as having played for the number of outs that occurred while the player was used defensively.
Regulation VI – PITCHERS
What is changed: Increases the maximum number of pitches a pitcher could deliver, and then be permitted to become a catcher in that day; Provides a second option for required rest; Deleted (e.) and moved that text up so that it applies only to Option 1.
(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) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher. Junior, Senior, and Big League Divisions only: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.
(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 17-18 105 pitches per day
13-16 95 pitches per day
11-12 85 pitches per day
9-10 75 pitches per day
7-8 50 pitches per day
Exception: 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 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Prior to the start of the regular season the local league Board of Directors (or leagues involved in interleague play) must choose one of the following pitching rule options to be used by all teams in the league or a specific division during the regular season. NOTE: The local league Board (or leagues involved in interleague play) may select option 1 or option 2 but may not pick parts of option 1 and option 2 to make a local league rule.
Option 1:
(d) Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 – 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 – 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 – 75 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 26 – 50 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-25 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
NOTE: A player may not pitch in consecutive games. Exception – League Age 16 and under – A player may pitch in consecutive games if 40 or less pitches were delivered in the previous game. League Age 17-18 – A player may pitch in consecutive games if 50 or less pitches were delivered in the previous game.
Option 2:
(d) Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 – 60 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 – 40 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 – 75 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 26 – 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-25 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
(e) DELETED for 2009
(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. (Exception: In the Big League Division, a player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games 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 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 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 (or four days, if the league is using Option 2).
Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.
Rule 1.10
What is changed: Reduces the maximum diameter for a bat in the Junior League Baseball division from 2 3/4 inches to 2 5/8 inches. (Maximum diameter for bats in Senior League and Big League remains at 2 5/8 inches.)
1.10 – The bat must be a baseball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.
Little League (Majors) and below: it shall not be more than thirty-three (33) inches in length nor more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter. Non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less;
Junior League: it shall not be more than 34 inches in length; nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part.
Senior/Big League: it shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-Iong bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All non-wood bats shall meet the BESR performance standard, and such bats shall be labeled with a permanent certification mark.
In all divisions, wood bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches (18 inches for Junior/Senior/Big League baseball) from the small end. A non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited. An illegal bat must be removed.
NOTE 1: Junior/Senior/Big League: The 2¾ inch in diameter bat is not allowed in any division.
NOTE 2: The traditional batting donut is not permissible
NOTE 3: The bat may carry the mark “Little League Tee Ball.”
NOTE 4: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that cannot pass through the approved Little League bat ring for the appropriate division must be removed from play. The 2¼ inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Tee Ball, Minor League and Little League Baseball divisions. The 2 5/8 inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Junior, Senior and Big League divisions of baseball.
Rule 1.11 (k) Note
What is changed: Clarified to include managers and coaches.
(k) Casts may not be worn during the game. NOTE: Persons wearing casts, including managers and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.
Rule 3.02 Penalty
What is changed: Clarified to make it clear that the pitcher could remain in the game after the infraction, but at a different position.
PENALTY: The umpire shall demand the ball and remove the offender from the pitching position. In case the umpire cannot locate the offender, and if the pitcher delivers such discolored or damaged ball to the batter, the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position at once.
Rule 3.03 Note (1)
What is changed: Added for clarification.
NOTE 1: A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements.
Rule 7.10 (d)
What is changed: Added for clarification.
EXCEPTION: If an otherwise proper appeal is being made by a player who has to go into foul territory to retrieve the ball in order to make an appeal or if the appeal is being made by the catcher (who may never have been in fair territory at all), the appeal will be adjudged to have been properly executed.
Retrieved 10/30/08 from http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/RR_Changes_BB_09_10-30-08.pdf
Tournament Baseball Rules Changes
Nothing substantial here other than pitchers being able to move to catcher as long as they have not pitched more than 40 pitches. No rest changes, they kept the game needed for competitive reasons. They really don’t want a team dominating with two pitchers as teams have done in the past. Again, you need 5 or 6 good pitchers to make it to the World Series, it’s all about the pitching!
CHANGES/UPDATES TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL®
TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES – 2009
(Last update: October 30, 2008)
Teams
What is changed: Increases the maximum number of players on a Senior League or Big League affidavit.
Senior League: Teams and Eligibility Affidavit shall consist of, and must be limited to, a maximum of sixteen (16) players, one (1) manager and a maximum of two (2) coaches.
Big League: Tournament teams may be selected from all league teams in a district or may be a regular season unit team. Teams and Eligibility Affidavit shall consist of, and must be limited to, a maximum of seventeen (17) players, one (1) manager and a maximum of two (2) coaches.
Participation In Other Programs
What is changed: Removes the prohibition on participation in non-Little League programs for all divisions, but still provides the local league with the ability to remove a player who repeatedly misses games or practices.
Participation in other programs during the International Tournament is permitted, subject to the provisions of Regulation IV (a) Note 2.
League Eligibility
What is changed: Clarified to establish that the league must schedule at least on-half of the regular season games to be played not later than June 15; Establishes the last date by which certain forms and/or requests must be submitted.
In order for a Little League program to be eligible to enter a team or teams into the International Tournament (including 9-10 Year Old Division and 10-11 Year Old Division) the following must be accomplished as indicated:
1) The league must be chartered in the division(s) for which it wishes to enter a tournament team(s), no later than June 9, 2009. Examples: Chartered in Little League Majors to enter a Major Division team (11-12 year olds); chartered in Senior League to enter a Senior Division team, etc.
2) The league must have scheduled and played, at a minimum, a 12-game (per team) regular season exclusive of playoffs and tournament games for each division entering tournament. See Reg. VII. The schedule shall be arranged so that at least one-half of the games are scheduled prior to June 15.
3) All waivers requests (for the league, team, player, manager, and/or coach) of any kind must be submitted and approved not later than June 9, 2009.
4) All regular season team rosters must be submitted to Little League International in accordance with the requirements outlined in Regulation IV (g), not later than June 9, 2009;
5) Team number revisions and fees incurred by the league must be paid in full by June 9, 2009.
6) All combined team and interleague play requests that may involve tournament play must be submitted and approved not later than June 9, 2009.
Failure to meet any of the listed requirements could result in a team or teams being declared ineligible by the Tournament Committee at Little League International.
4. PITCHING RULES – LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, 9-10 YEAR OLD, 10-11 YEAR OLD DIVISION, AND JUNIOR LEAGUE
What is changed: Increases the maximum number of pitches a pitcher could deliver, and then be allowed to become a catcher in that day; Removes the Senior League pitching rules from this section and places them with the Big League rule.
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed above 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 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
4. PITCHING RULES – SENIOR LEAGUE AND BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL
What is changed: Increased the maximum number of pitches a pitcher could deliver, and then become a catcher in that day; Added the Senior League pitching rules to this section.
These rules replace the regular season pitching regulations. Violation of these pitching rules is subject to protest and action by the Tournament Committee in Williamsport if protested before the umpire(s) leave the playing field.
a. Any player on a tournament team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a tournament team may use in a game.)
b. A tournament pitcher may not pitch in regular season or Special Games while the team is still participating in the tournament.
c. A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.
d. 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: 16 – 18 (Big League) 105 pitches per day
14 – 16 (Senior League) 95 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed above 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 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
e. Pitchers league age 14 and above must adhere to the following requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest, and a game (see f. below), must be observed.
• If a player pitches 36 to 60 pitches in a day, one calendar day of rest, and a game (see f. below), must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1 to 35 pitches in a day, no rest is required.
f. A player may not pitch in consecutive games. Exceptions – A player may pitch in consecutive games if:
1. less than 36 pitches were pitched in the previous game, or,
2. the previous game was at another level, and the pitcher has received the required number of days of rest as noted in (e.) above. (Levels are District, Section, State, Division, Region, and World Series.)Note: A contest decided by forfeit does not constitute a “game” for the purpose of this rule unless one complete inning was physically played before the game was forfeited. (Forfeits are only by decree of the Tournament Committee in Williamsport.)
g. A player may not pitch in more than two games in a day.
h. In a game suspended by darkness, weather, or other causes and resumed the following calendar day, the pitcher of record at the time the game was halted may continue to the extent of his/her eligibility, provided he/she delivered 60 or less pitches, and subject to each of these conditions:
1. If the pitcher delivered 35 or less pitches before the game was suspended, that pitcher’s pitch count will begin at zero for the continuation portion of the game;
2. If the pitcher delivered between 36 and 60 pitches before the game was suspended, that pitcher’s pitch count will begin with the number of pitches delivered in that game;
Retrieved 10/30/08 from http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/Tourn_RuleChanges_BB_09_10-30-08.pdf
Softball Rules Changes
Nothing at all substantial here other than managers can’t wear casts on the field?????? I am really struggling with this stupid rule. It’s the stupid rules that cause all the fights in Little League.
CHANGES/UPDATES TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL®
RULES AND REGULATIONS – 2009
(Last update: October 30, 2008)
Rule 1.11 (k) Note
What is changed: Clarified to include managers and coaches.
(k) Casts may not be worn during the game. NOTE: Persons wearing casts, including managers and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.
Rule 1.15
What is changed: Adds “optic yellow” to prohibited solid colors.
(a) The pitcher’s glove shall be of one solid color other than white, gray, or optic yellow, or if multi-colored, white, gray or optic yellow shall not be included in the colors. A glove that is judged to be distracting is illegal.
Rule 3.02
What is changed: Clarified to make it clear that the pitcher could remain in the game after the infraction, but at a different position.
PENALTY: The umpire shall demand the ball and remove the offender from the pitching position. In case the umpire cannot locate the offender, and if the pitcher delivers such discolored or damaged ball to the batter, the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position at once.
Rule 3.03
What is changed: Added for clarification.
NOTE 1: A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements.
Rule 7.10 (d)
What is changed: Added for clarification.
EXCEPTION: If an otherwise proper appeal is being made by a player who has to go into foul territory to retrieve the ball in order to make an appeal or if the appeal is being made by the catcher (who may never have been in fair territory at all), the appeal will be adjudged to have been properly executed
Retrieved 10/30/08 from http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/RR_Changes_SB_09_10-30-08.pdf
Softball Tournament Rules Changes
They have relaxed the pitching requirements slightly stating that a pitcher that pitches less than three innings need not have a day’s rest, but it was two before. They have not removed the game requirement though so this doesn’t really change much.
They are allowing 9/10 division pitcher to pitch 7 innings in one day. We lost a game like this that went into extra innings and we ran out of pitchers. Had our starter been able to pitch one more inning, who knows, we may have been able to win, maybe not, but you never know. We lost by 7 runs because our sub couldn’t pitch any strikes. We knew this, but what could we do? You only have 2 weeks to practice your tournament team.
CHANGES/UPDATES TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL®
TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES – 2009
(Last update: October 30, 2008)
Participation in Other Programs
What is changed: Removes the prohibition on participation in non-Little League programs for all divisions, but still provides the local league with the ability to remove a player who repeatedly misses games or practices.
Participation in other programs during the International Tournament is permitted, subject to the provisions of Regulation IV (a) Note 2.
League Eligibility
What is changed: Clarified to establish that the league must schedule at least on-half of the regular season games to be played not later than June 15; Establishes the last date by which certain forms and/or requests must be submitted.
In order for a Little League program to be eligible to enter a team or teams into the International Tournament (including 9-10 Year Old Division and 10-11 Year Old Division) the following must be accomplished as indicated:
1) The league must be chartered in the division(s) for which it wishes to enter a tournament team(s), no later than June 9, 2009. Examples: Chartered in Little League Majors to enter a Major Division team (11-12 year olds); chartered in Senior League to enter a Senior Division team, etc.
2) The league must have scheduled and played, at a minimum, a 12-game (per team) regular season exclusive of playoffs and tournament games for each division entering tournament. See Reg. VII. The schedule shall be arranged so that at least one-half of the games are scheduled prior to June 15.
3) All waivers requests (for the league, team, player, manager, and/or coach) of any kind must be submitted and approved not later than June 9, 2009.
4) All regular season team rosters must be submitted to Little League International in accordance with the requirements outlined in Regulation IV (g), not later than June 9, 2009;
5) Team number revisions and fees incurred by the league must be paid in full by June 9, 2009.
6) All combined team and interleague play requests that may involve tournament play must be submitted and approved not later than June 9, 2009.
Failure to meet any of the listed requirements could result in a team or teams being declared ineligible by the Tournament Committee at Little League International.
Tournament Playing Rules
What is changed: Increases the circumference of the softball to be used in the 10-11 Year Old Division from 11 inches to 12 inches.
1. SOFTBALLS: Softballs meeting Little League specifications for a 12-inch softball shall be used in 10-11 Little League, Junior League, Senior League, and Big League play. The 11-inch softball shall be used in the 9-10 division.
4. PITCHING RULES – LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL, 9-10 YEAR OLD SOFTBALL, AND 10-11 YEAR OLD DIVISION
What is changed: Establishes the maximum number of innings a player could pitch in a day; Allows for consecutive days of pitching if two or less innings are pitched in a day; .
f. A player may not pitch in more than nine (9) innings in a day. 9-10 & 10-11 Year Old Division players may not pitch in more than seven (7) innings in a day.
g. If a player pitches in less than three (3) innings in a calendar day, no rest is required.
h. If a player pitches in three (3) or more innings in a calendar day, one day’s rest is required. This also applies between regular season games following Tournament elimination or Special Games following the Tournament.
EXAMPLE (1): A player may pitch on Saturday in regular season play then, after one (1) calendar day’s rest, pitch again in the next level of tournament play on Monday.
EXAMPLE (2): A player may pitch on Saturday in the final district game then, after one (1) calendar day’s rest, pitch again in the next level of tournament play on Monday.
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) A player may pitch on consecutive calendar days if less than three (3) innings were pitched in the previous calendar day.
(2) In a game suspended by darkness, weather or other causes and resumed the following calendar day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of the remaining eligibility that pitcher would have had during the previous day. However, in no event shall any pitcher pitch more than nine (9) innings (seven [7] innings – 9/10 and 10/11) in any game
Retrieved 10/30/08 from http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/Tourn_RuleChanges_SB_09_10-30-08.pdf
Very exciting stuff from Little League. What do think about the new rules changes? Please chime in, let’s get some debate going here!
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Congratulations to the Phillies
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies and the city of brotherly love. They were the better team this year and they deserved the series. How about Brad Lidge going perfect all season long in save opportunities? Pretty sweet! Congratulations to my friend Brian Kerrigan The Sports Uniform Guy a Philadelphia native and lifelong Phillies fan.
As a lifelong Yankees fan from the Washington, DC metro area, and now a Florida transplant, I have to admit the Rays made me believe. I had the opportunity to see them play the White Sox in mid season at the Tropicana in Tampa and it was a fun time. Hard to believe as I watched them all year knowing they would crumble at some point, but they didn’t, they stood strong, held their ground, won the American League Pennant, and played for the World Series Title. That Joe Maddon, the Rays’ manager, is something else. There is a role model we should all try to emulate. Class act, across the board. Made a plan, let his team know the plan, then executed the plan. Both managers were class acts in this series and always seem to be. Wonder why that is???…hmmmmm….
Anyway, congrats again to the Phillies, too bad the ‘Skins are not going to let them in the NFL playoffs!
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Rays and Phillies Delayed Game Taught Me Something
OK, who out there knew that if a game was tied going into the bottom half of the inning that the game would be suspended and then resumed from where it left off? That’s what I thought. Since we were kids we knew that a game that is official, but does not complete an entire inning reverts back to the prior inning’s score! Using what I have always thought the rule was, the Phillies win the series!
It would suck that they won the series that way, but apparently up until last year, that’s the way it was. Tom Boswell of the Washington post lets us in on another secret of the game last night. No matter what the inning or the score, all parties had agreed and commissioner Bud Selig had blessed that they would play every inning of the game, regardless. Now there is a rule! A good one I might add! That should be the rule across the board. Why would we shorten a game because of rain when the teams are likely to play the next day, or at least again later in the season.
What if that one game cost a team the pennant? What if it cost them a shot at a wild card? We could all go home earlier as well as they wouldn’t normally wait in the middle of August until 1AM to continue the game. I doubt we will get the rule for the regular season, but in the playoffs, and the World Series at a minimum, it needs to be there.
This, of course, got me thinking. Did Little League change their rules as well? I know that is a game completes the first inning but is not official it is picked up where it left off. If the first inning is not completed, the game starts over. But what if it is completed in the 5th inning or tied in the top of the fifth? What is the Little League ruling then?
A quick check of my handy dandy 2008 rulebook confirms my suspicions. The Little League Phillies would have won the game. The game reverts back to the prior inning in an incomplete inning if the visitors tied or went ahead in their half of the inning. I think Little League may want to revisit this and go w/ the Major League Baseball rule. Or play every game all the way out other than time limits or 10-run rules. This includes during tournament play.
Do we really thing the tournament committee in Williamsport would allow the international World Series Champion to be crowned with a shortened game? I don’t think so. Why not make the rule universal?
I assume the reason for the rule in the first place was because travel was so cumbersome 100 years ago when the rules of the game were written. This is no longer the case, why would we shorten any game? That gives and advantage to the team against their next opponent as they didn’t have to use their bullpen, it also leaves less opportunity for success for record breakers.
I vote we never have a shortened baseball game again at any level other than time limits where allowed and 10-run rules where allowed.
Should a winner be determined in a shortened baseball game? What is your feeling?
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Mr. Supplement Your Perfect Training Partner
For years muscle training was discouraged in baseball. They thought it would actually take away from performance. The athlete of today knows better. If you are going to be a top level athlete, you have to work out and you have to do weight training. Mr. Supplement makes you get the most out of your training legally!
VERY IMPORTANT: In my prior league we used to have the Washington Redskins strength training coach come out and speak to us. He was VERY adamant that weight training not occur until AFTER puberty. His position was that weight training for younger kids damages their growth plate. I have no idea.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT: thelittleleaguecoach.com knows NOTHING about weight training and does not pretend to nor do we wish to portray that we do. We know how to coach little kids and teach them the game of baseball and life’s lessons that go along with it. WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WEIGHT TRAINING OR SUPPLEMENTS OR ANYTHING. You are personally responsible for ANY decisions you make for yourself or your child. DO NOT DEPEND ON US, do your own research.
That said, Mr. Supplement seems to be a great place to pick up sports supplements such as Redbak, Muscletech, and Hydroxycut. During High School soccer training we used to use vitamins and endurance enhancers and they worked very well. We simply wanted to be able to train longer and get better, and the supplements seemed to do that. It could have been completely mental, but it worked for us as we were 1 goal away from a championship.
Anyway, for all your supplement needs, should you choose to use them, check out Mr. Supplement.
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Hey Rays! We Still Believe!
They may be down three games to one, but those of us in the great state of Florida still believe you can do it! Win tomorrow night and bring the series back home!
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Rain Delays Stink
It is 1:15 in the morning, I have 8 lessons tomorrow starting at 9AM, what am I still doing up? I am either addicted to baseball or really stupid. I will let you decide. Is this game actually going to go into extra innings as well?
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Football, Cheerleading, and Soccer Trophies
As the seasons wind down, it is time to purchase Football, Cheerleading and Soccer trophies. A great site to purchase from is Trophiesales.com. They have a wide selection of Cheerleading Trophies as well as just about any other type of trophy you could ever want.
The site boasts secure ordering, great prices, and 100% worry free shipping. They have cups, columns, resins, plaques, and medals and a wide variety of each. Additionally they have Football Trophies and Soccer Trophies ready to go and ready to customize.
You are not alone though, they have live representatives available during business hours to fulfill your orders or answer any questions you may have. They accept all credit cards and ship anywhere in the United States via UPS.
Visit this link for all your Cheerleading Trophy needs.
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That Judgment Thing Again
I hate to keep harping on the same thing over and over again, but why do people judge others so quickly these days? Is it my perception changing or is it getting worse? It seems that more and more everyone is quick to have an opinion about this or that, yet they only have a limited amount of knowledge about the person or situation on which they are passing judgment.
“When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically. Matthew 7:2-5 declares, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.”
Do we really need any other guidance than that? How about we all take a step back and naturally assume the other person has good intentions, then confront them directly with any issues we may have with them. Would anyone be on a field coaching, umpiring, volunteering on the board, or working concessions with ill intent? Of course, but rarely, very rarely. 99.9% of Little League volunteers are well intentioned, how about we treat them with respect and forgo judgment based on hearsay or small amounts of information we have compiled? Wouldn’t the field be a much better place then?
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Another Three Dog Night
These three practices back to back should be difficult but tonight it was very fun. We focused on aggressive offense and aggressive defense to stop the aggressive offense. It was very fun and everyone was focused and learning. A great night on a beautiful evening.
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