TCWBA CONSTITUTION
Established - 2000
Last update:... April 2021 ...
Table of Contents
- I---- Government
- II--- Player Limits & Eligibility
- III-- Roster
- IV--- Trades
- V---- Free Agent & Waiver Draft
- VI--- Series play
- VII-- Protests
- VIII- Playoffs
- IX--- TCWBA alterations
- X---- APBA format
- XI--- APBA Game Play Clarifications
- XII-- MLB Rules/Scoring aids
I - GOVERNMENT
COMPOSITION
- The TCWBA will consist of eighteen teams divided into three divisions of five teams each.
- The divisions will be named Bob Prince, Harry Caray and David Hamilton.
- Each team will be managed by one person although an assistant may be used, subject to commissioner approval
SEASON
- The TCWBA regular season will run from October 1 thru March 30th.
COMMISSIONER
- The TCWBA will be run under the direction of one person, the commissioner. His decision on any matter will be final.
- Rule changes will be done by the commissioner requesting a vote on the proposed change.
- The commissioner may judge a proposal to be so important that league approval with a 2/3 affirmative vote, is required.
- The commissioner (or his delegate) will be responsible for administering all items relating to the league.
RULE CHANGES
- Changes to this constitution will be done in the form of a proposal to the entire league issued from the commissioner.
- All non-expansion rule changes will require a 2/3 affirmative vote unless otherwise stated by the Commissioner.
EXPANSION
- Upon a 3/4 affirmative vote by the league, expansion will be permitted to the size approved.
- The expansion team(s) roster will be filled by all existing teams protecting 12 players.
- The new team(s) will select one player from each team per round.
- At the conclusion of each round, the existing teams will then protect two more players.
- This process will continue until the expansion team(s) has 32 players.
II- PLAYER LIMITS & ELIGIBILITY
ELIGIBLE
- All carded players issued as part of 30 man APBA rosters for the current year.
- Non-carded players may be carried on the roster of any team, if the player remains on a roster since last carded.
- The Commissioner will publish rosters for each team showing player limits and eligible positions
POSITION PLAYERS
- GAME LIMITS
- Player game limits are calculated as follows: (all fractions rounded to 1 decimal pt)
- MLB PA per game @ 3.1 or more = actual games
- MLB PA per game between 2.4 and 3.1 = actual games x 0.7
- MLB PA per game less than 2.4 = actual plate appearances (shows a "P" on your roster).
- DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
- The commissioner will publish a list of qualified defensive starting positions, in the form of an official roster.
- Qualification for use at any position is determined by meeting either of the following criteria:
- .. Played five games at the position in the last MLB season & carded by APBA(or)
- .. Played 5% of games at the position if actual games are less than 100 & carded by APBA
- Players not qualified may be used only as an injury or ejection replacement - see Section VI
- POSITION PLAYERS USED AS PITCHERS
- Players who pitch and play a defensive position will have separate game limits for both
- Those with an APBA pitching rating can be used whenever needed but are limited to actual innings pitched.
- .. Those without such rating can pitch only when no eligible pitchers are available to complete a game as grade "Dw1"
- .. If the above applies, see Section XII - MLB Rules regarding loss of DH
PITCHERS
- STARTS/INNINGS
- All pitchers regardless of grade are restricted to their actual number of starts.
- All pitchers regardless of grade are restricted to their actual complete innings as a starter and/or reliever except:
- Any starter with a season total of less than 1 complete inning will be reduced to 0 starts.
- See Section IX- PITCHING & PITCHING - RELIEVERS for additional rules
- PITCHERS BATTING/OTHER POSITIONS
- Players who pitch and play a defensive position will have separate game limits and/or plate appearance limits for both
- Restricted to their actual plate appearances as a pitcher
- May be used as a pinch hitter equal to actual pinch hit appearances
- If used as a DH they must meet Position Player requirements as a two way player (waived for 2022 season)
- When moved to another defensive position it will void DH use
OVERUSE
- Teams that overuse players will receive the following penalties.
- Penalties are based on games and/or plate appearances for position players - Starts and/or innings for pitchers:
- 1 player... Any amount, the team will lose their 5th round pick in the next free agent draft.
- 2 players.. The team will lose it's 4th round draft pick in the next free agent draft.
- 3 players.. The team will lose it's 3rd round draft pick in the next free agent draft.
- 4 players.. The team will lose it's 2nd round draft pick in the next free agent draft.
- 5 players.. The team will lose it's 1st round draft pick in the next free agent draft.
- more than 5 players.. will follow the above pattern for each additional player plus the 1st round penalty.
- Any overused player who exceeds their limit by 5 games, plate appearances, starts or innings will become a free agent.
- Any player overused in regular season is not eligible for post season play.
- The Commissioner reserves the right to remove a manager if the overuse is deemed exceptional and intentional.
MLB SEASON
- In the case of an abbreviated MLB season all limitation factors will be adjusted to reflect a 162 game season.
III- ROSTER
GENERAL
- Regular season: Maximum roster size is 35 players, including non carded.
- .. All teams must have players qualified to start 162 games at each position
- .. All teams must have at least 162 total pitching starts available, regardless of pitchers grade
- .. All teams must have at least 450 relief innings
- Off season: Unlimited and unrestricted except the week prior to the Draft. See Section V - Free Agent Draft for limits.
ACTIVE ROSTER
- See XI- Series Play
UNAFFILIATED PLAYERS
- Any carded player not on a roster, will be placed in the next free agent draft.
IV- TRADES
GENERAL RULES
- All trades shall be reported promptly, to the commissioner or other person designated to record such.
- The commissioner will rule on any disputed trade
- The commissioner may declare any trade void, in the best interest of the association.
OFF SEASON
- Trading is allowed from April thru September
- No trades are permitted during the regular season except during the in-season trade window.
- Trades may involve any amount of players and/or draft picks except as noted below.
- DRAFT PICK TRADING:
- Deals involving them are permitted from April 1st until the week prior to the next draft
- Only current year picks for rounds 1-8, of that same year draft, can be traded
- You must always retain at least five draft picks
IN SEASON
- An in-season trade period will be permitted during the last 3 days of January.
- Trades made during this time must be for equal player amounts and restricted to all of the following:
- ...A maximum of three players per team in one trade.
- ...A maximum of five players traded for one team during this entire period.
- ...No more that three trades per team during this period and only one trade between the same teams.
- ...Draft picks may not be traded during this week.
V- FREE AGENT DRAFT & WAIVER DRAFT
FREE AGENTS
- All carded players, not on an TCWBA roster, are eligible to be drafted.
DRAFT ORDER
- Except as noted below, teams will in pick in the inverse order of the previous seasons winning percentage in each round.
- Expansion teams will draft after all teams losing 100 games in the previous season or fourth, whichever is lower.
- The first five draft picks of the FIRST round, will be determined by a weighted drawing involving the five teams with the lowest won loss percentage from the previous season.. SEE LOTTERY BELOW
FREE AGENT DRAFT TIME FRAME and LENGTH
- The draft will consist of eight rounds, followed by bonus picks.
- Team must always retain five draft picks
- The draft will be held on-line around the middle of June
FREE AGENT DRAFT LOTTERY
- Only the five teams with the lowest won-loss percentage are permitted to participate in the lottery
- If any of the "lottery" picks are traded, the acquiring manager/team will take the place of the original team.
- The commissioner will select a date for the lottery based on a designated state daily four digit number.
- The team with the lowest winning percentage will submit 5 four digit numbers to the commissioner. Example…(0000-9999).
- The team with the second lowest will submit 4 four digit numbers.
- The team with the third lowest will submit 3 four digit numbers.
- The team with the fourth lowest will submit 2 four digit numbers.
- The team with the fifth lowest will submit 1 four digit number.
- The team closest to that number will receive the number one pick. Next closest receives pick two; etc.
PRE-FREE AGENT DRAFT ROSTER REDUCTION
- One week prior to the draft all teams will reduce their roster to 30 (35 for expansion teams).
- Teams reducing to less than 30 will gain bonus draft picks equal to the excess reduction.
- Bonus picks will begin after the normal scheduled rounds.
- After bonus picks are assigned, teams further reducing their roster via trades will NOT receive extra picks
TIEBREAKER
- Ties for draft pick seeding will be broken in the following manner & order:
- .. Record vs each other ..team with more losses/worse pct is awarded the better pick
- .. Best away pct vs all teams ..team with better pct is awarded the better pick
- .. Division standing ..team with lower position is awarded the better pick
- .. Coin flip - winner receives the better pick in odd numbered rounds
WAIVER DRAFT
- Following the final cut down to 35 and prior to the regular season, a two day waiver period will exist.
- During that period (Sep 28-29) any team may claim any player (carded or not), that was waived in the final cut to 35.
- Waiver draft order will be the same original (pre lottery) drafting order used in the last free agent draft.
- A maximum of one claim is permitted per team in each round with three total rounds.
- For each claim awarded, an equal number of players must be cut from your roster.
- Trading of Waiver Draft slots is not permitted
VI- SERIES PLAY
GENERAL
- PITCHER REST REQUIREMENTS
- Starting pitchers are required to rest at least 4 games between each start
- Any starter who can also relieve, must have 4 games rest between start and relief appearances or vice versa
- Any pitcher (starter/reliever) regardless of his grade, who pitches for less than 6 outs in a game, is exempt from all rest rules
- .. NOTE: After series 3, 8, 14, 20, 25 there are four days rest in the schedule. (the end of each month)
- STARTING PITCHER ROTATION
- Each team must set a starting rotation that complies with rest requirements.
- The rotation is sequential from one series to the next series
- Scheduled byes do NOT count as rest days.
- PITCHERS BATTING/OTHER POSITIONS
- Pitchers are restricted to their actual pitching plate appearances
- Pitchers may never be used as a pinch hitter but can pinch run.
- If a pitcher is moved to another defensive position it will count as a game played vs his position limit
- If above line applies, see Section XII - MLB Rules regarding loss of DH
- POSITION PLAYERS
- Substitution order - (1) qualified players (2) any APBA rated player for that position (3) anyone on roster
- IF NO qualified SP or RP is available to pitch then a position player can be used as a pitcher with a Dw1 grade
- .. Read Section XII regarding DH use and substitution/elimination of DH
- DH USE
- .. Optional for regular season games
SCHEDULE
- Determines each series for that month.
- A series is the away and home games vs that one team.
- Each series should be thought of as 1-10 or 1-6 or 1-8 and the away games always happen first.
- The scheduled games are sequentially listed when considering your starting pitcher rotation.
- -- note: your first game (at home) in a 5/5 series is g6, in a 3/3 series g4, in a 4/4 series g5
- After series 3, 8, 14, 20, 25 there are four days rest in the schedule. (the end of each month)
ACTIVE ROSTER
- Maximum of 26 players may be on the active roster during the season except final 5 series when all may be active
- Active & inactive players may be exchanged without limitation at the beginning of each series.
- In each series, you must have the same active players, for both the away AND the home games, vs one team.
- .. You must have qualified defensive starting players as noted in “Players & Limits”.
- .. Active rosters must have at least one qualified backup for: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS and two OF
- .. Players who are eligible to play multiple positions are counted as the backup for any and all eligible positions.
- See Section III- TEAM ROSTERS for active roster requirements
INSTRUCTIONS
- Instructions will be sent to all scheduled teams of a month no later than the 1st day of that month.
- Instructions will be sent to one specific team and will include:
- -- Active roster, lineups, pitching rotation, relief pitchers, injury replacements and strategy.
- -- Pitching rotations will be obvious and clearly listed, with the game number that each pitcher will start, next to his name
- -- Players assigned to a position must have that position listed on their posted team roster
- Failure to comply releases the home manager from any interpretation he makes or use of active players
SERIES RESULTS
- You must play & send the results to the Commissioner, by the 27th day of that month.
- They will include complete stats for both teams complying with GAME SCORE SHEET & STATISTICS sections.
- The visiting manager should check those results for errors, questions and update his year to date statistics.
- Results will include: Excel series recap and stats (or hand version).
GAME SCORE SHEETS
- In general the Excel recap will be the only requirement however the following may apply:
- If previously requested by the opposing manager, the home managers will produce score sheets of each game
- Those score sheets will indicate when the following items occurred:
- .. Hit and run was used.
- .. Unusual play card or Error card was used.
- .. Infield was moved in.
- .. Substitution was made.
- .. other noteworthy occurrences.
STATISTICS
- The following statistics will be kept and documented in this order:
- BATTING (G AB R HT RBI 2B 3B HR BB K SB CS HBP SF-SAC DP E)
- PITCHING (W L G GS CG ShO Sv SIP RIP HT R ER HR BB K HB WP BK)
PENALTIES
- If any manager fails to receive instructions/results he should inform the other manager of the missing item.
- After contacting the other manager and the matter is still not resolved he will notify the commissioner.
- He may then receive permission to play the games, with any competitive lineup and pitching rotation of his choice.
- He will then ignore any results or instructions received in violation of the above stated rules.
VII- PROTESTS
METHOD
- If the visiting manager believes he has valid grounds for a protest, he should notify the opposing manager with a note explaining the issue
- If the two managers cannot reach agreement on how to satisfy the protest, the commissioner will be notified and he will issue a ruling.
VIII- PLAYOFFS
TIME FRAME & PARTICIPANTS
- The Playoffs will begin after one day's rest (Day 163) following the regular season.
- The playoffs will include the first place team of each division and three best remaining W/L% teams as wildcard entries
- All games will be played on-line or face to face unless the commissioner has permitted otherwise
SEEDING
- Teams will be seeded based on WL%, in descending order.
- The three pennant winners will be 1, 2, 3 and the wildcard teams 4, 5, 6.
SCHEDULE
- The opening round is a best of five series... Seed 3v6 and 4v5... Seed 1 and 2 receive a bye.
- The second round is a best of seven series... Seed 1 plays the lowest seed remaining and Seed 2 plays the other team.
- The third and final round is a best of seven series for the Championship involving the two remaining teams.
HOME TEAM
- The team having the best WL% will be home for games 1 & 2 in all rounds.
- They will also be home for game 5 in Round one or games 6 & 7 in Round two or three.
- Anytime a pennant winner plays a wildcard team they will be home as described above.
PLAYOFF TIEBREAKER RULES
- TIES - ALL TEAMS QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS:
- 1- Record vs each other (team with more wins is home or seeded higher)
- 2- Away pct vs all teams (team with better pct is home or seeded higher)
- 3- Coin flip (winner is home or seeded higher)
- ... If a tie exists determining which team receives a bye in round one, rules from below will apply...
- TIES - OTHER
- One playoff game will be held the day after game 162 as game 163. See above for home team
- The March active roster rules will apply
- .. all players will have one extra game (or 1PA for players limited to PA) added to regular season limit
- .. all starting pitchers will have one extra start and 7 starting innings added to their season limit
- .. all relief pitchers will have one extra inning added to their season limit
- .. starting pitcher rest requirements will apply by applying games 160-162 - See SECTION VI
REST
- There is a scheduled rest day after game 162 and the end of Round 1 and Round 2.
- Note: Round 1 - you need to consider who pitched those final three home games of the regular season.
- Additionally there is a scheduled rest day after game 2 of each round and after game 5 in Rounds 2 and 3.
- Bonus rest days: any series ending prior to the maximum number of games will count as additional rest days
- Starting pitcher rest requirements are three days, if recording 6 outs.
ACTIVE ROSTER
- Active roster is limited to 26 players including a maximum of 13 pitchers.
- You must have qualified defensive starting players as noted in section II- Players & Limits.
- Active & inactive players may be exchanged without limitation at the beginning of each round.
- Any player overused in regular season is not eligible for post season play.
DH USE
- Use of the DH is mandatory for the start of each game
POSITION PLAYERS - GAME LIMITS PER ROUND
- The maximum posted below will not exceed the regular season limit
PITCHING & LIMITS PER ROUND
- The maximum posted below will not exceed the regular season limit
- Starting pitchers (those permitted to start per regular season rules):
- ... Limited to 5% of the regular season limit (complete innings & not rounded up) +5ip.. (In Round 1 +3ip)
- ... Any starter with regular season start limit of less than 5 will have a 0 (zero) start and innings limit
- ... Maximum of 11 innings per game.
- Relief pitchers, (those permitted to relieve per regular season rules):
- ... Limited to 10% of the regular season limit (complete innings & not rounded up) -1ip.. (In Round 1 -2ip).
- ... Any pitcher with less than 5 regular season relief innings will have a 0 (zero) innings limit
- No Qualified relief pitchers available:
- ... The most rested starting pitcher will be used when ALL other relief options are exhausted.
- ... He will be grade Dw and any further use of this pitcher will be restricted to our usual rest requirements.
TCWBA MODIFICATIONS
- Unless specified in this section, all other TCWBA modifications and/or rules of the APBA Basic Game, will apply.
IX- TCWBA ALTERATIONS
ALL of the following alterations will be used for all TCWBA games
"35" RULE
- To encourage platooning/use of part-time players & assist switch hitters, the following rule will be used:
- Whenever the play result number is "35" AND the hitter bats opposite of pitchers arm:
- .. he will be given a single and all base runners will SAFEFLY advance one base.
- .. if "W" pitcher on mound, the hit overrules the walk
- .. the above includes when the hit & run or sacrifice book is in use.
- An ambidextrous pitcher facing a switch hitter per MLB rules, must designate which arm he will use against that batter and therefor the batter will be hitting from the opposite side.
BALL/STRIKE
- Any play result of 14 (ball) or unusual play result of "ball" is changed to "two balls"
- Any unusual play result of "strike" is changed to "two strikes"
- NOTE: Per MLB rules, a foul ball is considered a strike unless the batter has two strikes.
ERROR CARD
- It will always be used when the play result is 15 thru 21 EXCEPT when the result is "hit by pitcher".
- IF the FIELDING CHART is applicable, it applies preceding the use of this card
- Reroll dice and use the following result:
FIELDING CHART
- PRN = 18, 19, 20 (BASES EMPTY)
- Reroll and use the follow result
- FIELDER EXCELLANCE CHART
- ..1B4 or 2B8 or SS9 or 3B5, roll 1 die … 1-3 out/ 4-6 error as per APBA
- ..1B5 or 2B9 or SS10 or 3B6, roll 1 die . 1-4 out/ 5-6 error as per APBA
- PRN = 21 (ANY BASE SITUATION except: HBP)
- use firstbaseman defensive rating to determine fielding column:
- ..1B4/5= column 1
- ..1B3 = column 2
- ..1B2 = column 3
HIT & RUN
- Whenever a hit & run is called for, the APBA hit & run booklet will be used.
- Batter is limited to hit & run attempts equaling the 31's on his card
INJURIES
- No injury will be for more than the occurring game
INTENTIONAL WALK
- When the defense calls for IBB, the offense may use a dice roll or the defense may require a dice roll, which is then ignored because of IBB.
PITCHING
- No pitcher may exceed 11 innings in one game.
- See Section VI- Pitching regarding use of position players as pitchers & other rules.
PITCHING - RELIEVERS
- In addition to APBA rules, the following will apply:
- The APBA temporary upgrades will also be applied when beginning an inning.
- After 6 outs all relievers are reduced to grade D except those who average over 2ip per appearance (green shade ip on roster)
- Any reliever allowing 3 earned runs in an inning, loses a grade (AC/AB/A would go to B)
- Any reliever allowing 5 earned runs overall loses a grade (AC/AB/A would go to B)
- Section VI- SERIES PLAY has pitcher rules regarding rest days
RAIN OUTS
- There will be no rainouts. All will be recorded as a rain delay and continued.
- Any pitcher continuing after the delay will be reduced one grade.
SLOW RUNNER CHART
It will always be used when:
- PRN = 7 thru 11 , the below chart will be used when the runner is slow and the hit&run is not in use
- The runner will SAFELY advance the following number of bases:
- APBA "play safe" is not to be used for any result or base situation.
UNUSUAL PLAY CARD
It will always be used when there is any baserunner and:
- PRN = 23 or 36-41, Reroll dice and use the following result:
X- APBA FORMAT
GAME BOARDS
- APBA Basic Game Boards (v2006) will be used.
- APBA Hit & Run Book (v2006) and the Sacrifice Book (v2006) will be used.
- Advanced APBA pitching and fielding rules will be used.
- The APBA "ZZ", "K", "R" ratings will be used.
- APBA's "Optional Scorer's Rule" (Error/Hit category) is optional
- The APBA MASTER GAME will NOT be used.
- The APBA BBW GAME will NOT be used excepting use by the Commissioner for game play of a team without a manager.
- APBA's "Optional Base Coaching" (Playing safe) will NOT be used.
- APBA OPTIONAL SCORERS RULE is optional
- ... This year is an E -1 which means ONLY WITH 1 OUT do you use the below
- ... For play results 15-23 and 38-41 when the result of the play is an error or base hit.
- ... If the play result is an error, change the result to a hit
- ... Do NOT use this Optional Scorers Rule if:
- ... ... There is a hit and error on the same play
- ... ... The error occurs on a stolen base attempt.
- ... ... The play result is foul ball OR hit by pitcher OR interference
- ... ... A sacrifice OR hit & run has been called
XI- OFFICIAL APBA GAME PLAY CLARIFICATIONS
DOUBLE COLUMN CARD RESULTS
- In following situations the result is always changed to the indicated number, regardless of play result column.
- MAN ON 3rd - Card result = 6 .. "Double column cards score this same as "5-Double"
- MEN ON 1st &2nd - Card result = 2 .. "Double column cards score this as "5-Triple"
- BASES LOADED - Card Result = 6 .. "Double column cards score this as "4-Double"
APBA RESULTS and SCORING OF SAME
- BASES LOADED with less than 2 outs; Final result is 38 - "Infield fly batter out; PO6- SS loses ball in sun; runners advance."
- The batter gets an rbi and charged with an at bat but not a sac fly.
- DOUBLE PLAYS - In APBA it's impossible for a force DP to occur with "Man on 2nd" or "Man on 3rd" or "Men on 2nd and 3rd" meaning no one can be charged with GiDP.
- Further if at anytime you see an OF involved in a DP or the words "fly out", "pop out", "foul out", "line drive" there cannot be a GiDP.
- A separate fielding statistic, that we don't record, regarding doubleplays says a team gets fielding credit for any doubleplays it completes
- NOTE: A triple play is a separate statistic from a doubleplay and not included in doubleplay statistics.
- When "picked off" is used, the runner is NOT charged with a caught stealing. It's simply a defensive play resulting in an out
XII- MLB RULEBOOK
PITCHER 3 BATTER RULE
- See RCMBA Constitution for full details: http://rcmba.com/constitution.html#XII
EXTRA INNINGS - MAN ON 2nd BASE
- See RCMBA Constitution for full details: http://rcmba.com/constitution.html#XII
5.11 - DESIGNATED HITTER
- (1) A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game.
- (5) The Designated Hitter may be used on defense, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made
- (8) Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a position on defense, such move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for that club for the remainder of the game.
- (12) Once a Designated Hitter assumes a position on defense, such move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for that club for the remainder of the game.
- (13) A substitute for the Designated Hitter need not be announced until it is the Designated Hitter’s turn to bat
- (14) If a player on defense goes to the mound (i.e. moves from position on field and replaces the pitcher), this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter’s role for that club for the remainder of the game.
9.4 - RBI
- is a statistic crediting a batter whose action causes one or more runs to score as set forth in this section
- (a)The official scorer shall credit the batter with a run batted in for every run that scores:
- .. (1)unaided by an error and as part of a play begun by the batter's safe hit (including HR), sac, SF, infield out or FC unless rule 10.04(b) applies.
- .. (2)by reason of the batter becoming a runner with the bases full because of a BB, HBP, interference or obstruction; or
- .. (3)when before two are out, an error is made on a play on which a runner from third base ordinarily would score.
- (b)The official scorer shall NOT credit a run batted in:
- .. (1)when the batter grounds into a force double play or reverse force double play; or
- .. (2)when a fielder is charged with an error because the fielder muffs a throw at 1B that would have completed a force DP
9.7 - STOLEN BASE/ CAUGHT STEALING
- (h)charge a runner as "caught stealing" if such runner is put out or would have been put out by errorless play when such runner:
- (1).. tries to steal;
- (2).. is picked off AND tries to advance; or
- (3).. overslides while stealing
- NOTE: A runner "picked off" is NOT charged with caught stealing. It is simply a defensive play resulting in an out.
9.16 - EARNED RUNS AND RUNS ALLOWED
- An earned run is a run for which the pitcher is held accoutable.
- The official scorer shall reconstruct the inning without the errors (including catcher's interference) and passed balls,
- giving the benefit of the doubt always to the pitcher in determining which bases would have been reached by runners had there been errorless play
- In determining earned runs an IBB, regardless of circumstances, shall be construed in exactly the same manner as any BB
- (a) The official scorer shall charge an earned run against a pitcher every time a runner reaches home by aid of:
- .. safe hit
- .. sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly
- .. stolen base
- .. putout
- .. fielder's choice
- .. base on balls or hit batters
- .. wild pitch (including a wild pitch on a third strike that permits a batter to reach first base)
- BEFORE fielding chances have been offered to put out the offensive team.
- For purposes of this an interference penalty shall be construed as a fielding chance
- (b) NO RUN SHALL BE EARNED when scored by a runner who reaches first base:
- .. (1) on a hit or otherwise after his time at bat is prolonged by a muffed foul fly;
- .. (2) because of interference or obstruction; or
- .. (3) because of any fielding error.
- (c) NO RUN SHALL BE EARNED when scored by a runner whose presence on the bases is prolonged by an error, if such runner would have been put out by errorless play.
- (d) NO RUN SHALL BE EARNED when the scoring runner's advance has been aided by an error, a passed ball or defensive interference or obstruction, IF in the official scorer's judgment the run would not have scored with the aid of such misplay.
- (e) An error by the pitcher is treated exactly the same as an error by any other fielder in computing earned runs.
- (f) Whenever a fielding error occurs, the pitcher shall be given the benefit of the doubt in determining to which bases any runners would have advanced had the fielding of the defensive team been errorless.
- (g) When pitchers are changed during an inning, the official scorer shall not charge the relief pitcher with any runs (earned or unearned) scored by a runner who was on base at the time such relief pitcher entered the game, nor for runs scored by any runner who reaches base on a fielder's choice that puts out a runner left on base by any preceding pitcher.
- (h) A relief pitcher shall not be held accountable when the first batter to whom he pitches reaches first base on four called balls if such batter has the following counts when pitchers are changed. It will be charged to the preceding pitcher. Any other result except four balls will be charged to the relief pitcher..2 balls, 0 or 1 strike(s)..3 balls, 0 or 1 or 2 strike(s)
- (i) When pitchers have changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall NOT have the benefit of previous chances for outs not accepted in determining earned runs.
9.19 - SAVES FOR RELIEF PITCHERS
- The official scorer shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets ALL 4 of the following conditions;
- (a) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
- (b) He is not the winning pitcher;
- (c) He is credit with at least 1/3 of an inning pitched
- (d) He satisfies ONE of the following conditions:
- .. .. enters the game with a lead of no more than 3 runs pitches for at least one complete inning (3 outs);
- .. .. enters the game, regardless of count, with the potential tying run either on base or at bat or on deck;
- .. .. he pitches effectively for at least 3 (complete) innings and maintains the lead.