SADDLE RIVER VALLEY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
ALLENDALE, SADDLE RIVER, HO-HO-KUS
FINAL 2010
APPENDIX IV
MAJOR LEAGUE
NOTE: Except as specifically amended in the Local Rules and Interpretations or in this Appendix, the Major League (5th and 6th grades) will be governed by the Official 2010 Little League rules.
AMENDMENTS (listed alphabetically):
DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENTS – Unless accomplished as part of a pitching change, defensive positions are NOT to be changed in the middle of an inning.
FIELD DIMENSIONS – listed below are the proper field dimensions in feet. In all cases, the distances are measured from the rear point of home plate (closest to the catcher). The distances for first and third base are measured from home plate to the rear of each base (closest to the outfield). The distance to second base is measured from home plate to the center of the base. The pitching distance is measured from home plate to the front edge of the pitching rubber.
Pitching Rubber 1st & 3rd 2nd base
50’6” 65 92
PITCHING –
1. Maximum innings – the following restrictions are intended to protect pitchers’ arms. Pitchers will be subject to DAILY and WEEKLY limits on the number of innings pitched “IN ALL LEAGUES” IN WHICH THEY PARTICIPATE (Majors, travel, club, school leagues, etc.). Players, parents, and coaches are required to communicate accurate information regarding innings pitched to their coaches. Any violation of this rule CAUSED BY PITCHING IN A LEAGUE GAME will result in the player being prohibited from pitching in two consecutive League games involving his team. Any violation of this rule during the playoffs will result in forfeiture.
i) Weekly maximum – For the purposes of this rule, the week begins on Sunday morning and ends on Saturday night. Pitching innings accumulated in a contest declared “no game” WILL count toward a pitcher’s weekly maximum.
a) Regular season – Six (6) League innings; Eight (8) innings in ALL LEAGUES
b) Playoffs – If three (3) or more League playoff games are played in one week the limit is eight (8) innings in ALL LEAGUES. Otherwise, the regular season limit is in effect.
Note: The rules pertaining to the weekly maximum will remain in effect as the season transitions from the end of the regular season to the beginning of the playoffs.
ii) Daily maximum – Three (3) League innings; Four (4) innings for ALL LEAGUES. Players may pitch in a maximum of two games in one day (doubleheader), subject to these daily limits. If a player pitches any number of innings in more than one game on any day, he will be deemed to have pitched the daily maximum.
iii) Pitching on Consecutive Days – Players are permitted to pitch on consecutive days, PROVIDED:
a) The pitcher is eligible to pitch, and;
b) The total innings pitched IN ALL LEAGUES on consecutive days may not exceed four (4) innings in total and not more than 2 innings on a single day.
2. Days of Rest – [Note: the end of one week and the beginning of another has no effect on the Days of Rest requirements. For example, if a player pitches on Saturday and again on Sunday, he is ineligible to pitch until Wednesday (at the earliest, depending upon the number of innings pitched on each day) despite the fact that Sunday was the first day of a new week.]
i) Regular season – A player who has pitched will be required to take days of rest as follows:
a) Two (2) days of rest if the player has pitched on consecutive days IN ANY LEAGUE.
[Example: If a player pitches two (2) innings or less on Saturday and two (2) innings or less on Sunday, that player cannot pitch again until Wednesday]
b) Three (3) days of rest if the player has pitched three (3) innings in a single game OR has pitched any number of innings in two games IN ANY LEAGUE on a single day.
[Example 1: If a player pitches three (3) innings on Saturday, that player cannot pitch again until Wednesday]
[Example 2: If a player pitches one (1) inning on Saturday morning and then throw one (1) pitch in a game on Saturday afternoon, that player cannot pitch again until Wednesday]
ii) Playoffs – Days of rest rules are amended as follows:
a) If a player pitches three (3) innings in a game, he must have one (1) day of rest (e.g. Monday, Wednesday).
b) If a player pitches less than three (3) innings in a game, he may pitch the next day. HOWEVER, any player who pitches on consecutive days must then be required to take two (2) days of rest before he is eligible to pitch again (e.g. Monday, Tuesday, Friday).
c) If a player pitches any number of innings in more than one (1) game on a single day must then be required to take two (2) days of rest before he is eligible to pitch again (e.g. Monday 1, Monday 2, Thursday).
STEALING – of any base is permitted, except that stealing HOME is prohibited. Once a runner has reached 3rd base (not by way of stealing 3rd base) AND HIS FORWARD MOMENTUM HAS BEEN STOPPED, he must return to 3rd base at his own risk to await the next pitch. From this point forward, the runner on 3rd base can only advance as the result of a batted ball, base on balls that forces him home, or an errant throw that leaves the field of play (dead ball) causing all runners to advance the required number of bases as determined by the umpires.
Here are some examples that should clarify this rule:
1. Runners on 1st and 3rd – the runner on 1st attempts to steal 2nd base. The catcher can try to throw the runner out without fear that the runner on 3rd at the time the pitch was thrown can break for home. The runner on 3rd is NOT permitted to score.
2. Runner on 3rd – after the pitch crosses the plate, the runner leads off the base and the catcher or pitcher attempts a pick-off. The throw from the catcher or pitcher goes into left field or out of the field of play. The runner on 3rd is NOT permitted to score on the wild throw. If the pick-off is successful, the runner is out. (See related “pickle” rules below)
3. Runners on any bases with 3rd base UNOCCUPIED – on any attempt to steal 2nd or 3rd base, a runner that is not thrown out is permitted to advance to 3rd base ONLY.
A runner that is caught in a pickle between 3rd base and home in the continuation of a play that began with a batted ball is at risk and the runner, if not tagged out, can safely return to 3rd base or may score. However, if the runner is caught in a pickle as a result of (i) a pick-off or (ii) over-running 3rd base on a steal attempt, the runner is at risk of being tagged out. In these circumstances there are only three (3) possible outcomes:
1) The runner is tagged out.
2) The runner makes it back safely to 3rd base
3) The runner “scores” but, by local rule, he will be returned safely to 3rd base and any other baserunners that had advanced during the pickle will be required to return to the last base touched if forced to do so.
SLIDING – sliding head first into a base is not permitted, except when a runner is heading back to a base pursuant to an attempted pickoff throw.
BUNTING – to keep with the spirit of rec baseball, each team may only bunt one time during each of their at-bats.
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