KonaBaseball.com

Special League Rules

The KonaBaseball.com league observes the rules of Major League Baseball at its foundation. Modifications are made to give managers flexibility in their lineups so as to readily accommodate all players on the teams (particularly older players, less-skilled individuals and those with physical limitations). Other deviations from MLB rules are designed to prevent a team from using a tactic of bringing personnel from outside the league to bolster their rosters during the playoffs.

Unlike MLB, KonaBaseball.com rules permit unlimited substitution of defensive players. A minimum of eight is required at all times. At the start of each game, a 10-minute grace period is provided.

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Offensive substitution rules are also more liberal than those of MLB. The manager may choose to bat a standard 9-man lineup (8, if only that number is available) or may choose to bat more (up to the total number of players available on the bench). Once a player bats (or runs as a pinch runner), he may only appear in that same position within the batting order.

If a player must leave the game (for reason of injury, ejection, or otherwise), the player shall be declared out at his next at-bat, then is merely passed over in the lineup at subsequent at-bats.

To encourage participation, the team may choose to start the game with a standard 9-batter batting order, or may include any additional batters up to and including all 16 players on the roster. Also, at any time during the game, additional batters (who have not already batted) may be added to the end of the batting order.

By way of example, a team could choose to start the game with 12 batters occupying 11 batting positions (perhaps the lead-off position is being "platooned" by two batters who take turns batting in the #1 slot). As the game progresses, the manager may elect to add a 12th batting position in the 3rd inning, and a 13th and 14th and 15th batting position in the 5th inning.

The only restriction is that, once a player bats in a specific position in the batting order (or appears as a pinch runner), that player may only bat/run in that same position in the batting order. However the original player and the substitute player may re-enter for one another freely throughout the game.

Again, referring to the example of platooning lead-off batters, each of the two players may only bat in that same lead-off position, but the two platooning players may re-enter freely (either player taking the "at-bat" throughout the game).

The batting order rules have nothing to do with the defensive fielding, wherein unlimited substitutions are permitted. Accordingly, it is possible for a team to use seven players for defensive purposes only, seven different players for offensive purposes only, and only two players in the game participating both offensively and defensively.

For each team in any game, as many as two players may qualify for the use of a Courtesy runner. The courtesy runner is the last recorded out (or the player listed at the bottom of the lineup, if no outs have yet occurred - 1st inning only) . If, while serving as a courtesy runner, a player is scheduled to be on deck, the courtesy runner shall be replaced by the player who most recently scored a run.

Once a player exercises the option of declaring himself eligible for a courtesy runner, he must use a courtesy runner for the rest of the game. Failure to do so invalidates his courtesy runner eligibility, and he then must run for himself for the rest of the game.

In order to exercise the courtesy runner rule, the eligible player must, at the end of the play wherein he safely reaches base, request time out from an umpire in an expeditious manner. Upon the umpire's call of time out, the offensive team has one minute to produce the proper courtesy runner at the appropriate base. Failure to do so in a timely manner invalidates that player's courtesy runner eligibility for the rest of the game, and he must run for himself. Accordingly, it is highly recommended that each team be prepared to respond promptly whenever one of its players (eligible for courtesy runner) comes to bat.

If anyone detects that the wrong player is serving as courtesy runner, corrective action shall be made without penalty, so long as the offensive team proceeds in an expeditious manner. If a subsequent play has occurred (including a stolen base) before the errorneous courtesy runner is detected, the wrong runner shall be declared out. However after such subsequent play has been completed, once the next pitch is delivered, any incorrect courtesy runner is deemed to be the proper courtesy runner.

The courtesy runner shall be the player who made the last recorded out. If, at the start of the game, there are no outs recorded as yet (or this is the second courtesy-runner incident with only one out recorded so far), the courtesy runner shall be the player furthest away in the batting order (generally, the player listed on the bottom of the lineup).

There is no provision for any reserve player (not in the batting order) to be the courtesy runner, and there is no "designated" courtesy runner allowed. However, under liberal batting order rules, use of a pinch runner in connection with the platooning rule gives similar flexibility to the manager.

If the player who made the last out is someone who also qualifies for a courtesy runner, the player who made the second most recent out shall be the courtesy runner instead. If the player who made the last out (or second last out in the previous example) is either on deck or coming to bat, the courtesy runner shall be the player who most recently crossed home plate. Similarly, if a courtesy runner is on base when it is his turn to be on deck, the courtesy runner shall be replaced by the player who most recently crossed home plate.

A team that forfeits more than one regular-season game due to a shortage of players is automatically seeded in last position for the playoffs. A third regular-season forfeit results in a situation wherein the double-elimination provision of the playoffs is reduced to single elimination. A fourth-regular season forfeit results in total disqualification from the playoffs.

Wood, aluminum and composite bats with weight to length factors of no greater than -7 shall be permitted.

In order to be eligible for inclusion in any and all playoff games, a player must have participated (either offensively with at least one at-bat or defensively for at least one full inning) for at least three games during the regular season. An at-bat shall include a walk, a hit-by-pitch or other any other plate appearance where at least one pitch is thrown, regardless of whether it is considered an at-bat for regular scorekeeping statistical purposes.

Rarely are there rainouts in Kona. A 7-inning game needs to go at least 4 innings (3 1/2 if home team is ahead). Games suspended before such point are cancelled and rescheduled. Tie games that are suspended after such point will be scheduled to be resumed at the point of interruption, adjustments to lineups permitted.

If a pitcher hits four opposing batsmen with pitches, he must be removed from the pitcher's position for the remainder of the game. He may continue in the game both offensively and defensivley and is not ejected (unless deemed to be intentionally throwing at batters).

If anyone shows up in a Yankee's hat, one of the umpires might eject him. He can't stand the Yankees. Another umpire is a Yankees' fan, and hates the Red Sox. Since these two guys seem to make up the rules as they go along, the advice presented here is to not wear either hat to the game.