Rule 3.03 Substitution and Re-Entry Rules for Phase II of the Majors season

For the regular season in all divisions, we have used a continuous batting order and free defensive substitution. For some managers and coaches going into Phase II of the Majors season or into LL post-season tournament play, the carefree substitution holiday is over.

For phase II of the Majors season there are two items that govern the roster changes;

Regulation IV(i) - Every rostered player present at the start of a game will participate in each game for a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time. For the purposes of this rule,"six (6) defensive outs" is defined as: A player enters the field in one of nine defensive positions when his/her team is on defense and occupies such position while six outs are made;"bat at least one (1) time" is defined as: A player enters the batter's box with no count and completes that time at bat by being retired or by reaching base safely.
Penalty: The player(s) involved shall start the next game, play any previous requirement not completed for Section (i) and the requirements for this game before being removed.
The manager shall for the:
     A.  First Offense - receive a written warning.
     B.  Second Offense - a suspension for the next scheduled game.
     C.  Third Offense - suspension for the remainder of the season.
Note 1: If the violation is determined to have been intentional, a more severe penalty may be assessed by the board of directors. However, forfeiture of a game may not be invoked.
Note 2: There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened for any reason, at which time the local league may elect not to impose a penalty on the manager/coach. However, the penalty in this regulation regarding the player who did not meet mandatory play cannot be reduced or waived in a shortened game.

Rule 3.03 - A player in the starting lineup who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game once, in any position in the batting order, provided:

1. his or her substitute has completed on time at bat and;
2. has played defensively for a minimum of (6) consecutive outs;
3. pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers;..
4. only a player in the starting lineup may re-enter the game;
5. a starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter  (S2) must then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six defensive outs) before starter (S2) can re-enter the game.
6. Defensive substitutions must be made while a team is on defense. Offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base.

Note 1: A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements.
Note 2: When two or more substitute players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time, the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders, designate to the umpire-in-chief such player's positions in the team's batting order and the umpire-in-chief shall notify the official scorer. The umpire-in-chief shall have the authority to designate the substitute's place in the batting order, if this information is not immediately provided.
Note 3: If during the game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due to illness, injury, ejection, or inability to make a legal substitution  the opposing manager shall select a player previously used in the lineup to re-enter the game, but only if use of all eligible players has exhausted the roster. A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry.

Adhering to these regulations and rules can be as simple as "pairing" or "connecting" two players in a position in the batting order and insuring the subs enter early enough to fulfill their mandatory play requirement (MPR). 

So what are the pitfalls? Where are the gotchas?

Rules 6.05 & 6.09 - Uncaught third strike

In the Majors division, an uncaught third strike(commonly but erroneously referred to as a dropped third strike)occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch for the third strike. Any pitch is considered uncaught if the ball touches the ground before being caught or is dropped after being caught. The distinction is important as a cleanly caught ball that has skipped in the dirt is an uncaught ball for purposes of this rule. The specific rules concerning the uncaught third strike are Rules 6.05(b) and 6.09(b).

On a dropped third strike with no runner on first base or in any situation with two outs, the batter immediately becomes a runner. The strike is called, but the umpire does not call the batter out. The umpire may or may not verbalize "no catch". The batter may attempt to reach first base and must be tagged or thrown out. With two outs and the bases loaded, the catcher who fails to catch the third strike may step on home plate for a force-out or make a throw to any other base for the force. 

If at the time of the strike three pitch, first base is occupied with fewer than two outs, the batter is out and cannot become a runner. This is to avoid having the defense deliberately drop a third strike pitch to set-up a double or even triple play.

Regardless of the outcome of an uncaught third strike, the pitcher is credited with a strikeout. Because of the dropped third strike rule, it is possible for a pitcher to record more than three strikeouts in an inning.

In Tee Ball, AA and AAA, the dropped third strike does not apply and the batter is out on any called or swinging third strike regardless of whether it is caught by the catcher.

Prayers for the LL kids of Boston

In August 2002, shortly before my 39th birthday, my son Chance was born. Knowing I needed to get in shape to keep up with this child,  I decided I would run my first marathon that coming Spring and would run my second, the Marine Corps Marathon soon after his first birthday in the Fall of 2003. 

My goal was simple - Qualify for Boston.

I failed to do so in those two attempts but therein lies a blessing in that I became involved in what became an annual family tradition - raising money for cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I became a member of the 2004 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team and even better, my brother John joined me. For each of the next 5 years, 2004 through 2008 we made the journey to Boston after a winter filled with training and fundraising. I made lifelong friends along the way and connected with old friends I had long ago lost touch with. My relationship with my brother, always strong,  was cemented over the many miles of running and through the shared goal of raising money for a cause we grew to love. 

For each of those 5 marathons, Melissa and Chance waited for me somewhere near the finish and on at least one year waited right in the area where the blasts occurred. The toll of 10 marathons has necessitated that my fundraising is now done on a bike in the annual 192 mile Pan-Mass Challenge but my brother still runs. He ran his 9th straight Boston Marathon yesterday. He had finished more than an hour before the blasts and I was quite sure he was safe but the time until he contacted my mother to report he was okay was something I don't ever want to experience again.

I am overwhelmed reading the stories of those killed particularly that of an 8-year old boy. He played in the Savin Hill Little League for the Rangers which was Chance's first tee ball team. Like all our CHLL children he was no doubt looking forward to the Little League season and like any young boy he was happy to be off school on a beautiful spring day. 

Last night I ended our teams practice by telling the boys, as I always do, to go thank your parents for bringing you here and tonight to be extra sincere and grateful when you do.