MTBA is affiliated with National MSBL and we will be going be the National MSBL Rules. The national MSBL rules can be found by click on this link...
Below are local MTBA rules that differ from national
Metro Tulsa Baseball Association Rules And Regulations
These rules hereinafter are an assembly of the current standing MSBL league rules and MTBA league rules in an effort to have one set of governing rules over MTBA league and playoffs. It shall be the intent of the MTBA board to review, vote on, and add any MSBL league rule changes to these annually at the pre-season meeting(s). These rules as approved shall serve as guidelines to be enforced upon followed by each team fairly and equally.
1. Registration
1. A. All players must be registered with the league prior to playing in any game.
1. B. Allowing an UN-registered player to play will result in forfeiture of the game. The offended player and manager will be banned until investigation is completed by league commissioner and president.
1. B.1. A second offense within a season will result in the team being banned from play-offs, and a third offense overall will result in team being banned from league.
1.B.2 If found true the player will be banned for 1 year, manager suspended for 1 game. A second offense will result in review of play-off eligibility
1. C. All registered MTBA players are eligible for MSBL sanctioned regional and national tournaments, per the MSBL tournament rules.
2. Draft Order
2. A. The league will annually hold a new player workout and Player Draft. All players who take part in the new player workout(s) are eligible to be drafted by any team per the draft order.
2. B. The draft order is determined by the play-off finish from the previous year, with new teams added after the returning teams.
2. B.1. New teams will get the first set of picks in the second round only
3. Players
3. A. Once a player joins or is placed on a team they are permanently assigned to that team.
3. B. In the event a team disbands during the season or at a seasons end all players become eligible free agents.
3. C. Players may not change teams during the year or leave a team and play on a new team the next year without consent. The league does allow exceptions based on circumstances.
3. D. No player may switch teams without consent of both managers, the league President & Commissioner, and if compensation can be reached. Compensation may include draft picks, returning jerseys, equipment, or financial compensation for property not returned. If this does not meet with approval, the player must sit out 1 calendar year from competition from the last date of his playing, or (re)- enter the leagues draft making himself able to any team for selection. However up to 3 players may form a new team with league approval, however no more then 2 players may come from one team. Compensation is not required for the 3 players forming the new team. This process will be reviewed and approved by the commissioner and/or board
3. E. If a player is not invited back by his team, he must be given his release so that he may go to the team of his choosing or (re)-enter the draft.
3. E.1. If he is invited back and he desires not to play for his former team and cannot be successfully traded, the player must sit out 1 calendar year from competition from the last date of his playing, or (re)- enter the leagues draft making himself able to any team for selection.
3. F. Professional Eligibility status for MTBA play is as follows:
3. F.1 Any player who played MLB/ High-level professional baseball must be out of professional baseball for 5 calendar years from last game played.
3. F.2. Any player who played Affiliated “AAA” must be out of professional baseball for 3 calendar years from last game played.
3. F.3. Any player who played Affiliated “AA” must be out of professional baseball for 2 calendar years from last game played.
3. F.4. Any player who played affiliated rookie or any class “A” level must be out of professional baseball for 1 calendar years from last game played.
3. F.5. Any player who played unaffiliated Minor League or Independent baseball must be out of professional baseball for 6 months from last game played.
4. Teams
4. A. A team must have 14 registered and paid players to be considered a team.
4. A.1. A team can carry no more than 25 players on their active roster.
4. B. Managers will provide the league with a roster with numbers, within 3 weeks of season start.
4. B.1. Active rosters will be set upon completion of two-thirds of a team’s regular season games.
5. Game Length and Time Limit
5. A. All Games are 9 innings.
5. B. Regular season will have a 2 hour and 45 minute time limit.
5. C. Games are to start on time; it is the player’s responsibility to be ready to play.
5. D. Sunday games clocks will start promptly at scheduled game time or 20 minutes following the conclusion of the previous game if the game runs long.
6. Run Rule
6. A. Run rule is 15 run after 5 innings played & 10 run after 7 innings played for all games.
6. B. If a game has a 10-run difference it is stopped immediately when time limit is reached.
7. Rainouts & Suspended Games
7. A. In the event a game has started but later stopped by weather, darkness or any reason, it will be considered a suspended game.
7. B. Suspended games will be rescheduled and restart at the same point it was stopped.
7. C. If the suspended game has completed 5 innings (4.5 if home team leads) or 1 hour and 30 minutes it is considered final.
7. D. If a game is stopped mid inning and has reached completed status it will revert back to the last completed inning for final score. Unless home team has taken the lead in the current inning.
7.E The league will make 1 attempt to make up a rained out/suspended game. If the second attempt is rained out the league will not make up the game and it will be a non contest.
8. Playoffs
8. A. The number of teams will determine number of byes and format will dictate flow. Format will be determined at the pre-season meeting.
8. B. The playoff rankings are set by the teams winning percentage in the regular season. In the event of a tie it will be decided by head-to-head competition first, followed by record vs top team in standings until tie is broken, then run differential in games vs involved teams. Finally a coin flip will determine order
8. C. Every effort will be made to play all games but if rain outs/cancellations become a problem the board will determine if rounds need to be skipped.
8. D. If a team forfeits more then 15% of their games, they will be deemed ineligible for the playoffs
8. E. Teams must "answer the bell" on schedule with their own roster, no substitutes from other teams of any kind are allowed in playoff games.
8. F. The use of either wood baseball bat or approved BBCOR aluminum or composite bats is allowed.
8. G. Time limit is 3-hours for all playoff games.
8. H. Run rule is in effect, per league rule.
8. I. If a playoff game is tied after 9 innings or time limit, 1 extra inning will be played. If still tied then every following inning will start with the last batter from previous inning on 2nd base (courtesy runner rule applies).
8.J. If a player who was in the batting order and has already batted is skipped or removed from the order, then that player may not return to the game no matter the number of players on the batting order.
9. Game Rosters
9. A. A team must have 8 players to start a game.
9. B. If a team falls below 8 players it is considered a forfeit and the game is over.
9. B.2. Circumstances will be evaluated before rendering a decision.
9. C. In the event a team has 8 players they will take an out every time the 9th player comes to bat.
9. D. If a team starts with 9 players and falls to 8 players for any reason an out is taken only the first time that player comes to bat.
9. E. If a player has to leave for any reason (work, ejected, injury) but his team has at least 9 players no out is taken as long as his team announces it before the at bat.
9. F. Teams may obtain and use substitute players from other teams to play. Substitute players cannot extend beyond 11 total players.
9. F.1. Substitute players may not pitch and must bat at the bottom of the order.
9. g A team may get a sub for 20% of total games and no player may be a sub for a team more then 1 time.
9.h If a player is removed from the batting order/skipped during the game the team will not take an out as long as they maintain at least 9 batters. The player can return to the field as long as the team does not drop below the minimum number of batters. If the team drops below 11 batters then that player may no longer play.
10. Batting Lineups
10. A. For the sake of fairness and accuracy, the team’s roster consisting of last names and uniform number shall be exchanged before the start of each game.
10. B. A team can bat as many players as desired. Teams must bat at least 11 positions (teams may use A/B positions or shared batter) if that many players are available. Once a team declares the use of this A/B system, it must continue using it for the remainder of the game.
10. C. If one team has less than 11 positions, the opponent may bat the same number of positions as the other team. (Ex. If team A has 10 players and team B has 12. Team B can bat 10 positions if they choose). However, if a team adds a batter after the game starts the opposing team must as well. As stated teams can bat an A/B or shared position in the order as long as they bat the minimum number of positions or can use a shared batter spot.
10. D. If a team has more than 9 players and still only bats 9, they will be assessed an out each time the 10th & 11th batting position or equal to the opposing team’s batting order, whichever is less is skipped. Batting only 9 players is NOT a protestable offense.
10. E. If the manager wishes to add players to the bottom of the lineup (i.e. hitting positions 12, 13, 14, etc.), he may do so at any time. Added players can be added as individual hitters, A/B hitters, or shared batter position to the bottom of the lineup at any time during the game. Teams cannot add a “B” or shared batter to an existing lineup spot once the game begins. If a team increases the size of their lineup, they must continue to use that many hitters in their lineup
10. F. Any added player to the bottom of the lineup or pinch hitter must notify the home plate umpire and the opposing team manager or opposing team scorekeeper of the batting order change. If no notification is made, and proper protest is made, an automatic out will be assessed to that batter.
10. G. The penalty for a team having a player bat without being properly announced, out of turn, or not designated on the exchanged roster is an out, if protested after one pitch is thrown.
10. H. The opposing team must protest this illegal player at the time of the offense. Penalties will not be retroactive and teams may not protest the use of this illegal player once the game is completed.
10. H.1 In the case that a team has mistakenly put the wrong numbers for their players on the lineup given to the home plate umpire and the opposing team, the team will correct the error(s) with no penalty.
10. I. If a player is pinch hit for, he may not re-enter the game as a hitter, but may stay in the game defensively. Hitters in the A/B position from the batting order may be pinch hit for, just as any other player.
11. Defense, Pitching, & Intentional Walks
11. A. All defensive players may be substituted for at any time, except the pitcher.
11. A.1. Defensive players need not be in your batting order.
11. B. In regards to substituting for the pitcher, only the starting pitcher may re-enter the game to pitch once in the game, as long as he did not leave the game due to injury and his replacement received extended warm up.
11. B.1. He must wait until the start of the next inning before he can resume pitching regardless of whether he stays in the game (i.e. as the right fielder). This can only be done once per game, irrespective of the number of pitchers.
11. C. If a pitcher hits four (4) batters in one game, the pitcher must be removed only at request of opposing team.
11. D. No player while pitching may wear white or gray sleeves, nor may a pitcher wear a batting glove or wristband.
11. E. Each team is allowed to intentionally walk an opposing team player once in a game.
11. E.1. The team in the field will notify the home plate umpire of the intended intentional walk and the batter will automatically be awarded first base. No pitches are thrown.
11. E.2. If a second intentional walk is attempted, a balk will be immediately called and all baserunners will advance forward one base.
12. Courtesy Runners
12. A. Players that will need courtesy runners, must have their manager notify the opposing manager prior to the start of the game. If not so notified, the opposing manager may deny the request.
12. B. Each team will be allowed a maximum of 2 players or positions per game receiving a courtesy runner each time that they reach base.
12. B.1. The individual who runs for these player(s) needing a courtesy runner is not determined ahead of time. It is always the last batted out who must run for the person needing the courtesy runner.
12. C. The offensive team that is replacing the courtesy runner has 30 seconds to make the runner change. If the runner is not replaced within this time period, the original runner must run and the right to use the courtesy runner for this particular player or position will be forfeited for the balance of the game.
12. C.1. The 30-second time limit will begin at the time the umpire calls for time to allow replacement for the runner.
12. D. If a batter (designated as needing a courtesy runner) opts to run, or forgets to get a courtesy runner and subsequently runs will lose his courtesy runner for the remaining portion of the game.
12. E. Once the game begins and the full complement of 2 courtesy runners has not been used, if a player sustains an injury, an additional courtesy runner may be used.
12. E.1. In the event a player becomes injured during the game and the maximum number of courtesy runners (2) have already been designated, a pinch runner must be used and no courtesy runner will be allowed.
13. Uniforms & Helmets
13. A. All teams must have full baseball uniforms consisting of caps, numbered baseballs jerseys, baseball pants, belt, socks, cleats- All players uniforms must be similar design to his teammate’s uniforms.
13. B. No player out of uniform will be allowed to play without the opposing manager’s consent.
13. C. Requirements to have a uniform to play will be allowed a grace period set by the board annually.
13. D. Metal cleats are permitted.
13. E. All batters and runners must wear helmets The MTBA strongly urges that all helmets are double ear flapped, but at a minimum, the batter’s ear that faces the pitcher must be covered by an earflap.
13. F. Catchers, while playing defense, must wear a protective helmet and mask in combination.
13. G. Base coach’s helmet use is highly encouraged, but up to team discretion.
14. Bats & Baseballs
14. A. Players may use either approved wood, BBCOR aluminum, or BBCOR composite baseball bats.
14. B. During league designated wood bat games, only wood bats will be used.
14. C. Each team should bring a minimum of (3) league provided baseballs to each game. Only league provided baseballs shall be permitted for game play.
15. Collisions, Decoys, & Slide Rule
15. A. Collision Rule-The rules committee is concerned about possible unnecessary and violent collisions that may occur with the catcher at home plate, and with infielders at all bases. The intent of this rule is to encourage base runners and defensive players to avoid such collisions whenever possible.
15. A.1. When there is a collision between a runner and a fielder who clearly is in possession of the ball, the umpire shall judge:
- Whether the collision by the runner was avoidable (could the runner have reached the base without colliding) or unavoidable (the runner’s path to the base was blocked) or -Whether the runner actually was attempting to reach the base (plate) or attempting to dislodge the ball from the fielder.
- PENALTY—if the runner, a) could have avoided the collision and reached the base, or b) attempted to dislodge the ball, the runner shall be declared out even if the fielder loses possession of the ball. The ball is dead and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the interference. If the collision by the runner was flagrant, the runner shall be declared out and ejected from the contest. The ball shall be declared dead.
- If the fielder blocks the path of the base runner to the base (plate), the runner may make contact or slide into, a fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base or plate
15. A.2. If the defensive player blocks the base (plate) or base line clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is safe and an immediate dead ball shall be called.
- If the base runner collides flagrantly, the runner shall be declared safe on the obstruction, but will be ejected from the contest. The ball is dead.
15. B. Decoy Rule-Any fielder may use a decoy only if it serves a strategic purpose. E.g. If a fielder, who sees a man attempting to steal second base during a hit and run, looks upward into the sky and says that he’s got the pop-up when in fact the ball has been hit on ground is a legal decoy as it may cause the runner to retreat to first base and prevent him from advancing.
15. B.1. If a fielder fakes a tag, forcing a player to slide, when there is no strategic purpose or apparent play, the runner will be ruled safe and all runners will advance one base.
15. B.2. This is entirely an umpire judgment decision and not a rule that may be protested.
15. C. Force Play Slide Rule- The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.
15. C.1. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases.
- “On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground.
- “Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.
- Exception—a runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.
- If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.
15. C.2. Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner:
- Makes a legal slide directly to the base, or
- Is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly down the line between the two bases to attempt a play.
- Makes a legal slide and makes contact with a defensive player who is on or over, but not beyond the base.
15. C.3. When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (a) make contact with, or (b) alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.
15. C.4. Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:
- The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder;
-The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;
- The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;
- The runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder, “Beyond the base” means, any part of the offensive player’s body makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.
- The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;
- The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.
- PENALTY---
- With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
- With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no other runner(s) shall advance.
- If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected from the contest.
- If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.
16. Prohibitions & Team Responsibility
16. A. Absolutely no alcohol or tobacco products within the confines of the field. If the field is affiliated with a school no alcohol or tobacco on the premises, period.
16. B. Pets are not allowed within the baseball complexes.
16. C. No kids or non-team personnel in the dugout for any reason during the game. The dugout is for players and one adult score keeper if they choose.
16. D. All teams are required to help with field maintenance after games, and in some instances before games. This includes raking/caring for the mound and home plate. Smoothing of baselines. Dragging the field, chalking the field, making sure your dugout is clean, making sure the stands are picked up, and trash thrown away.
16. D.1. Home team rakes home plate after each game.
16. D.2. Visiting team rakes the mound after each game.
16. D.3.Failure to do so will result in manage/player suspension, team suspension/forfeiture, and if the problem persist removal from the league.
17. Code of Conduct & Player Behavior Code of Conduct
17. A. The league has the right to suspend or expel any team member who abuses league rules or who does not exhibit sense of sportsmanship, or who plays without regard to the safety of the umpires or other players.
17. B. An Umpire with professional regard has the sole discretion to expel any player or manager from the game.
17. C. Fighting amongst players or aggressive physical contact with an umpire will not be tolerated. Players expelled from the game for either violation will be subject to suspension or expulsion from the league.
17. D. The league has high standards of player, team, and fan sportsmanship. MTBA will place suspensions on players or teams for infractions unbefitting to the image and policies of the league.
17. D.1. Teams are responsible for the actions and control of their respective fans.
17. E If a player is ejected twice during a season, they will be suspended for 2 games. Third ejection will results in a 1 year ban. Both managers are required to report a ejection within 24 hours.
17. E. 1 If a player exhibited treats of violence, physical contact, foul language directed towards others or damages/attempts to damage property they will be expelled from the league and the team will be suspended for 1 game which will constitute a forfeit.
18. Grievances, Protest, & Appeals
18. A. A team may protest a believed mistake in rule application within 24 hours to league commissioner.
18. B. Teams get one free protest a season
18. C. Any additional protest will cost the teams $50, if they are successful then the money will be returned
18. D. Rulings will be made by commissioner or his agent within 48 hours. If teams are not satisfied with the ruling they may appeal to the entire board. Board will vote with the exception of involved teams. If not consensus is reached then the original ruling will stand
19. Forfeits and not enough players
A team must give 24 hours notice of not having enough players. If they do an attempt will be made to make up game after all rain outs. If it cannot be made up it will be considered a forfeit
If a team gives less then 24 hours a make up will be attempted after all rain-outs and any other games have been made up. If a date cannot be found it will be considered a forfeit.
The main focus of this league is to have fun.