Winter Ball 2013

League Rules (due to the new nature of indoor wiffle ball, some rules could be subject to change if a majority of league players believe a rule change is necessary)

1) Length of games. Games are 5 innings. If a game is tied at the end of five innings, a game will be decided in a shootout.

A shootout will played as follows:

·         Each team manager chooses three players. At the end of three at-bats, the team with the most total bases wins, with walks equaling .5 total bases. (So a walk, plus double, plus walk would be 3 total bases. The next team bats, guy hits a HR, game is over, and the box score shows the team won by one run.)

·         A walk may NOT be issued without at least one strike being thrown by the pitcher.

·         If after the first sudden death, the game is still tied, the team brings in a second pitcher and we go to sudden death. One AB a piece until a team wins. The shootout will not count towards a pitcher’s innings.

2. Outs per inning. There will be three outs per half-inning.

3. Balls and strikes. Three strikes constitute a strike out, and five balls is a walk. If a batter has two strikes and tips a pitched ball into the strike zone, he/she is out. In the event that there is no umpire, the pitcher calls balls and strikes and batter calls fair/foul.

4. Mercy rule. If a team is behind by 10+ runs after 3 innings or 15+ runs after two innings, the mercy rule is invoked automatically and the team that is ahead is awarded the victory.

5. Offense. The Winter Ball Field will consist of a singles line, outfield wall, an 8 foot by 8 foot backdrop, and 24” by 28” strike zone. The backdrop is placed three feet behind the strike zone. The strike zone will be placed three feet behind the home plate. Unlike outdoor wiffle ball, there will be no doubles line due to how fast the artificial turf is expected to be. Bases are 45 feet apart. The pitcher’s mound will be 45 feet from the back tip of home plate.

Playing the game (For the Winter Ball novice, remember the following: when in doubt, play it out. Rules can be sorted out after a play is complete. Always remember that, just as in softball or baseball, the runners on base will dictate how far the batter can go after hitting the wiffle ball beyond the singles line.)

·         Any ball that is hit over the singles line is “in play.” In other words, fielders, base runners, and the batter should play it like one would in softball or baseball.

·         In all cases where a ball is hit beyond the singles line, the LEAD RUNNER(s) DICTATES ADVANCEMENT.

When no one is on base, there are instances when a batter is awarded an automatic hit:

·         WHEN NO ONE IS ON BASE and the batter strikes the ball so that the ball hits ON or BEYOND the singles line, the batter is awarded a single. Any attempt by the batter to advance beyond first base leaves the batter open to be thrown out.

·         WHEN NO ONE IS ON BASE and the batter strikes the ball so that the ball hits the blue wall, it is an automatic triple.

·         In ALL CASES, if the ball hits the netting section above the blue wall, but below the thread line, it is a homerun.

·         Any ball that hits off the netting above the infield or outfield is IN PLAY.

If the wiffle ball does not go beyond the singles line:

·         Any ball that hits the ground before the singles line can be recorded as an out if the fielder fields the ball cleanly (e.g., keeps the ball in front of him/her and within arm’s reach) and throws it into the backstop. A scorekeeper/umpire can rule an error if he/she believes it took too long for a throw to be made to the backstop.

·         A ground ball in which a fielder fields the ball and then attempts to hit the backstop but misses, will be considered a single and the batter will be credited with a single unless he/she is pegged/tagged out. Runners cannot advance an extra base if the ball misses the backstop. Runners may not advance on a legitimate throw to the backstop unless the runner is on third and the ground ball is hit to the right side of the infield (since this would likely score a runner from third in a baseball game).

Sacrifice fly:

·         With a runner on third, if a batter hits the ball into the air and it is caught, and the runner on third, leaving at or after the time the ball is caught, scores without being tagged out, it will be scored a sacrifice fly.

Bunting: A player may bunt the ball--but only to move a runner up from first to second or from second to third, and only in the last inning of a game.

·         a player may not bunt if the bases are loaded.

·         a purposefully bunted ball is an automatic out for the batter and will be scored as a sacrifice for the batter if it is successful at advancing a runner.

·         if a batter attempting to bunt hits it into the air and it is caught it is an out and no runner may advance.

·         if a batter fouls off the bunt on the third strike it is an out.

·         squeeze attempts are NOT permitted.

Leads or stealing bases:  In general, base running follows baseball rules, w/ the following exceptions: a base-runner may not take a lead on the base nor may a runner steal a base.

6. DEFENSE/ Recording an out. In general, outs follow traditional baseball rules, except:

Fielders:

·         A manager can switch fielders in and out of the game but please do not switch fielders in the middle of an inning unless it is absolutely necessary.

Ground balls that hit before the singles line:

·         Any ball that is hits the ground in the infield and is fielded cleanly (e.g., or at least kept in front of said fielder) by a defensive player and thrown into the backstop in the air or on ONE hop is an out.  The ball cannot roll into the backstop.

·         If there is a player on base in a force-out situation, then the lead runner is out on a throw to the backstop. If a player is on second or third, and not in a force out position, then the batter is out. If said runner chooses to attempt to advance, he/she can be pegged or tagged out.

·         The ball must be in front of the defensive player when he/she fields the ball. If the ball is bobbled away from the reach defensive player, the runner is safe and credited a single (if no one is on base at the time). If there are runners on base at the time, then it is possible for the defense to record an out at another base, as in baseball. In a possible error situation, the player can also be pegged out on their way to first.

·         If a ground ball has stopped before handled by the fielder, the fielder must pick the ball up cleanly and throw to the backstop. Any bobble in this particular instance is an error and the batter and any runners on base can attempt to advance.

·         If the fielder misses the backstop, the runner is credited a single (if no one is on base at the time).

·         If the player closest to the ball misses the ground ball, the ball is in play and the runner can advance.

·         Runners may NOT advance on an errant throw to the backstop in a fielder's attempt to record an out. They CAN advance if the fielder attempts to peg a runner out.

Pop ups:

·         Pop-ups must be caught unless an infield fly rule is in effect (when runners are on first and/or second). See hitting rules for pop-ups. If NO legitimate play is made on the ball, the batter is automatically awarded first base. If a fielder touches a pop up, it is in play and must be caught.

·         In all cases except on bunt attempts, the lead runner is out on a throw to the backstop.

Recording a double play:

·         A double-play can be recorded when there is a runner on-base in a force position and the fielder, after fielding the ball cleanly, hits the strikezone with the ball.

Anything not covered here follows MLB baseball rules.

7. Scoring. It is the responsibility of either umpire or, if there is no umpire, the batting team’s manager to keep score each inning. Scorer must indicate any pitching changes.

8. Teams. A team will put NO MORE than four players in the field, including pitcher. A full team squad is considered to be a team that plays at least four players.

·         A team can have as few as zero and up to as many as six DHs in their game-day lineup.

·         A team may NOT use any players who have not registered by January 15th, unless approved by the commissioner or East Fishkill Golf Center.

·         A team must field at least three players or it will forfeit the game. A forfeited game will be recorded as a loss for the team that forfeits. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF THE TIME OF OTHER LEAGUE MEMBERS BY SHOWING UP TO YOUR SCHEDULED GAMES!

9. Weather. It is the commissioner’s  or East Fishkill’s decision to call a game due to inclement weather.

10. Equipment. HV_WBL will provide wiffle balls and bats for all games. However, teams may supply their own wiffle balls. Use of said ball is solely at the discretion of the umpire or in absent of an umpire, the starting pitchers on both teams. Pitchers are allowed to "break in" a wiffle ball but under no circumstances will cracked or otherwise broken wiffle balls be allowed for league play. NO SCUFFED WIFFLE BALLS. Decision as to whether a ball is acceptable for league play is left up to member of the league commission. Any game ball brought by one team can be used by the other team.

Bats. All bats MUST be approved by the Commissioner. No bat with a circumference greater than 2.75" (that of a traditional baseball bat) will be allowed. No Moonshot or similar "Xtreme" fast plastic bats will be allowed at the Barn Yards. Yellow and aluminum bats are allowed.

Pitching rules

11. Pitcher's mound. The pitcher's mound will be 45 feet from home plate and in line with centerfield.

12. Maximum innings. Official max inning count is 17 innings per pitcher for a 10-game, 5-inning per game season.

In the absence of rules stipulated below, pitching follows baseball rules. As stipulated:

Relieving a pitcher:

·         Once you take your pitcher out, you can bring him or her back in, but … once a pitcher is out of the inning, the pitcher can no longer pitch in that -- or the next -- inning.

·         If you replace the pitcher with someone on your bench, the pitcher is done for the day.

·         Starting pitchers MUST bat during the game in which they start. If they are pinch hit for by a player off the bench, they must leave the game.

·         Once a pitcher reaches his max inning count, he may no longer pitch in any capacity for the regular season.

Pitching rubber:

·         RH pitchers must place their right foot on the pitching rubber when delivering a pitch. LHpitchers their left foot.

Player conduct

13. Please keep games competitive but friendly. Fighting and bullying is not allowed under any circumstances. Anyone who starts a physical altercation, hits someone, or attempts to bully or intimidate someone through name calling or otherwise, will be suspended from the remainder of at least the Winter Ball season and will forfeit his registration fee.

14. No alcohol permitted during games. Drunken or disorderly persons will be asked to vacate the property.

Teams: Names and Attire

15. Team names. In an effort to maintain some semblance of consistency, we are encouraging team captains to choose their team's "last" names from among Major League Baseball team name, e.g., the Milton Giants, the Yankees, the Kingston Marlins, etcetera. We will consider Minor League/Negro League team names, and even NFL team names. Team names are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registering team can choose the team's "first" name, though all names must be approved by the League.

Trades & Waivers

16. Trades. Trades are allowed but must be approved by the commissioner, or, if they involve the commissioner's team, a trade must be approved by the captains of the team or teams not involved in the transaction. Trade deadline is March 1^st.

17. Waivers. A team may place a player on waivers by notifying the entire league via the forums, email or Facebook page. Last place team has first crack at a player placed on waivers by a team captain.