Playing Rules Regular Season

* A. USE AND AVAILABILITY OF PLAYERS 1. Players are allowed to play only the positions listed on their "cards". The ONLY exception is when the last player at a position is injured during a game or series. 2. When using a player in a position not rated on his card, the substitute should be a reasonable choice, subject to the judgment of the Commissioner should there be a complaint (e.g., a utilityman should be the first choice if possible, a player who played the position in question in a previous year if necessary, and a lefthanded thrower should not play in the infield other than first base unless there are no other options). 3. If a team cannot cover a position for the first game of a subsequent series due to injury, a trade or waiver claim must be made (coverage of a position means there is a starter and a backup for each position, according to the Roster Rules above). * B. STARTING PITCHERS There are no restrictions on how long a starting pitcher has to remain in the game after he faces a batter, but the pitcher has to have had at least one start in the previous MLB season in order to start a game in the ICBL (the only exception would be if a team is physically decimated on the road and the automode of League Manager chooses a reliever to start; see section G.1 below). * C. PITCHERS AS HITTERS, HITTERS AS PITCHERS 1. A pitcher cannot be used as a designated hitter or pinch hitter unless he was used as such in MLB, with this exception: A pitcher may be used as a pinch hitter provided all other players on the bench have been used in an extra inning game. 2. Pitchers can be used as pinch runners. If a pitcher is injured while pinch running, the length of the injury will be what is reported by the game. 3. Hitters may be used as pitchers in blowouts if necessary, but total appearances on the mound by all hitters on a team should not exceed six in a season and total innings pitched by all hitters on a team should not exceed nine in a season. * D. HIT-AND-RUN PLAY The H&R play can be used anytime the score is within three runs, up to a maximum of four times per game per team. It may be used once every two innings after the ninth inning. A hit and run attempt that results in a foul ball or a basestealing attempt does not count against the maximum number usable. * E. RAINOUTS In the event of a rainout in which the game is not official, the Commissioner will reschedule the game for a later date if necessary. If the rained out game is a tie, it will be replayed at the end of the season if it has a bearing on the pennant race. * F. INJURIES AND DISABLED LIST 1. With Advanced Injury Management (AIM) being used, injuries will last for the duration of the injury as determined by LM. Players in an injured status should not be removed from the active roster but may be placed on the DL. 2. If a manager wants a player put on the DL (so that he can call up a substitute), he will inform the Commissioner and the Commissioner will edit the duration of the injury to add the number of days necessary to extend the injury to 15 days. If the original injury was greater than 15 days, no editing is required. 3. NOTE: Removing an injured player from the roster without informing the Commissioner can result in a suspension of that player beyond the duration of the injury. 4. If a player is scheduled to come off the DL in the middle of a series, his manager should either adjust his roster before the series to allow room for him to be active when his injury is over (while also observing all coverage rules) OR request the Commissioner to extend his DL stint through the end of the series. * G. RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTEGRITY OF USAGE 1. Home managers should be aware of the identity of the visiting team's starting pitcher before beginning a game. Since LM may chose another pitcher when the scheduled pitcher is not available, the home manager should confirm that the choice is appropriate, and if the choice seems questionable, either contact the visiting manager or commissioner for advice or use good judgment and make a better choice (i.e., use a starter rather than a reliever, a reliever with plenty of innings remaining rather than a closer, etc.). 2. Hitters inserted out of position in the starting lineup by LM (indicated by display of position in purple rather than red or yellow) should also be checked for appropriateness and changed by the home manager if necessary (see section VII, A, 2 for guidelines).