League Rules

DODGERTOWN WEST

League Rules

(Effective 7/15/2024)

ORGANIZATION - Dodgertown West, also commonly known as DTW, is an unincorporated association established loosely established in 1984 as a recreational baseball league for adults ages 30 years and over.

A. Dodgertown West Government
1. The day-to-day activities and long-term forecasting and planning of Dodgertown West are overseen by an Executive Committee made up of members willing to volunteer their time and effort and a Board of Directors.
2. The Executive Committee is comprised of a commissioner, vice-commissioner, secretary, treasurer and/or such other officers and committee chairpersons deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
3. Committee Eligibility – Any Dodgertown West member who is currently registered and in good standing, is eligible to serve on the Executive Committee. Executive Committee members are appointed by the Commissioner and/or the Board of Directors and serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner and/or the Board.
4. Board of Directors consists of six (6) members elected by the membership and the Commissioner.
5. Length of Term – Elected Directors serve a term of two (2) years, with the three (3) longest-serving board members retiring each year. This rotational scheme allows for necessary management continuity while opening the board to fresh input and energy. Directors who have served their two-year term are eligible for re-election one (1) year after their term has lapsed.
6. Commissioner – the Commissioner shall be selected by the Board of Directors and shall serve at his own pleasure for as long as he is willing and able to do so.
7. Meetings – The Executive Committee meets at least once per year to nominate a slate of Executive Committee candidates, to review the state of the league, and address such business it deems necessary.
8. Committee Succession – At or near the end of each calendar year, the Executive Committee will nominate a slate of candidates for the three (3) board positions due to be vacated at yearend. This slate of candidates is submitted to the Dodgertown West general membership for vote. The league secretary will promptly tabulate and report the results. The candidates garnering the top three (3) vote quantities become the new Executive Committee members and assume their duties on January 1^st of the ensuing calendar year.
9. Committee Member Replacement – In the event an Executive Committee member is unable to carry out his/her duties on the board, the Executive Committee may appoint a replacement. The board will discuss appropriate replacement candidates and may make a selection without holding a general election if they see fit. Replacement board members will serve out the remaining term of the board member they replace, and are eligible for re-election as discussed in paragraph 2.B above.

ELIGIBILITY

DTW Member – Any person, male or female, shall be eligible to join and participate as a Member in league if:
1. He/She shall be at least thirty (30) years of age; Sons and/or daughters of a Member who may not have attained thirty (30) years of age, may nevertheless play with Member and on Member's team provided the Member shall first request a waiver for said child from the Board and the Board shall have agreed to the waiver. The forgoing notwithstanding, in no event shall a child of a Member under the age of 25 be permitted to play nor shall anyone under the age of 30 be permited to pitch.
2. He/She shall have attended the Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp in Vero Beach, Florida and/or its equivalent otherwise known as “fantasy camp” and/or has been sponsored by a Dodgertown West member.
3. Upon application, anyone not meeting the requirements under 1. and 2. above may be admitted to play upon the approval of the league Commissioner.
Guests – otherwise eligible players who live out-of-town, future attendees of either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants Adult Baseball camp, Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp instructors, former Los Angeles Dodgers and Brooklyn Dodgers players, current members of a MSBL or MABL, and relatives and/or friends of league brought in to augment Dodgertown West tournament teams).

FEES AND STRUCTURE

Administrative Fees, Forms and Waiver - All regular members shall be required to:
1. pay an annual registration fee of $50.00 or in such amount as may be adjusted from time to time shall be paid upon registration, and
2. as may be from time to time required by the board, have submitted both a completed Dodgertown West personal bio/questionnaire and a signed injury and liability-release waiver form to the Commissioner. Each member is subject to suspension from play with Dodgertown West if they have not complied with this section.

Game Fees – Members shall pay a game fee for each game he/she shall play with DTW.
1. The fee for play in Dodgertown West is $15.00 per game, or as adjusted by the board from time to time.
2. All players must remain current with their game fees. Any player reaching a level of $200.00 in arrears is subject to suspension until these fees are brought up to date.

League Structure
1. Dodgertown West is comprised of six (6) teams. The number of teams may be changed from time to time as needed based on the league membership.
2. Each team shall have a manager who has volunteered to manage. Each team is also allowed to have an assistant manager.
Player Draft
1. The managers and members of the Executive Committee shall meet twice a year (within the month prior to the end of any given season) to hold a player draft. Players eligible for the draft must be compliant with all the above stated parts of this section.
2. Any player joining Dodgertown West after a draft shall be deemed a pool player until the next scheduled draft at which time he/she shall be eligible for the draft.

Player Pool
1. All regular members (drafted or non-drafted) and guests are eligible to play in scheduled Dodgertown West league games as a Pool Player provided that he/she shall have on file with the league secretary an executed DTW injury and liability-release waiver.
2. A Pool Player wishing to play in a scheduled game shall submit his/her name to the Pool Manager prior to the desired game. See Section 5.

RULES OF PLAY

The League’s Rules of Play shall be the same Rules as established by Major League Baseball and MSBL except as modified by the following.

Games
1. All games will be 9 innings unless the score it tied in which case the game will be played until one team is ahead at the end of the next full inning.
2. The foregoing notwithstanding, no new inning will begin after 2 hrs and 45 min from the start of the game. The umpire(s) shall be the keeper of the time, shall determine when this limit is reached and notify the respective teams.

Equipment
1. Helmets. All base runners are required to wear a batting helmet while batting and running the bases. Any base runner refusing to wear a batting helmet will be called out.
2. Catchers. All catchers are required to wear protective headgear at all times while in the act of catching whether during active game play or warming up the pitcher in the bull pen or between innings. Any catcher refusing to wear headgear while in the act of catching will not be allow to play in the game.
3. Bats. The League is a wood bat league and all players are required to use wood bats except for players over the age of 70 years who may use metal or composite bats which meet current BBCOR standards.

Base Stealing. A runner, at his/her own risk, may steal any base, including home, on an errant pitch as defined herein below. With runners on 1st base or 1st and 2nd bases, a runner may also advance on a pitched ball, whether or not an errant pitch, when the pitcher fails to deliver said pitch from the stretch position. Any runner advancing in violation of this rule may be put out by the defensive team upon delivering the ball while in play to and tagging the base which the runner occupied prior to the advancement. No other runners may advance on any play that attempts to record an out against the offending runner provided the play at the original base is completed without an errant catch or throw, in which case any runner aside from the offending runner may advance at that runner’s own risk.

Base Runner Advancement.
1. Definitions:
  1. Errant Pitch: An "errant pitch" is a pitch from the pitcher that either hits the ground first before being caught by the catcher or is missed entirely by the catcher (wild pitch or passed ball as those terms are defined by MLB) or if caught by the catcher, is subsequently dropped.
  2. Errant Throw: An "errant throw" shall be defined as a throw that is not caught by the fielder from the catcher.
2. In general, a runner may advance at the runner’s own risk to the next base without a hit ball on an errant pitch and/or an errant throw as defined above.
3. On a third strike not caught by the catcher, a base runner other than the batter-runner may advance at the runner’s own risk (See Base Stealing above). As to the batter-runner and situations when there are two outs, MLB rules apply.
4. Advancement on an Errant Pitch: In the event of an errant pitch as defined above a runner may advance as many bases as the runner may choose to attempt subject to being tagged out by a defensive player or players.
5. Advancement on an Errant Throw: If the "initial" throw from the catcher is an "errant throw" or is mishandled by the fielder, the runner may advance or continue advancing "all he can get" at his own risk. A throw that bounces (one or more times) before reaching the fielder is not an "errant throw" unless the receiving fielder fails to securely catch said throw. A secure catch of such a throw shall be determined in the best judgment of the umpire.
6. No batter aged 70+ may be thrown out at 1st base on a hit by that batter where the ball reaches the outfield. This rule does not, however, preclude a fielder from attempting to retire, on the same play, any other base runner by force or tag out.

No contact: No Player shall initiate intentional contact with an opposing player in an attempt to interfere or avoid a play. The umpire shall use his best judgment to determine if the contact was intentional or in the course of a play.
1. If a base runner initiates intentional contact with a fielder, the base runner will be called out. If a base runner breaks up a double play by initiating intentional contact with a fielder, the umpire will call the batter-runner out as well. All base runners must either slide directly into the base (not through it and into the fielder) or to the side of the bag away from the fielder, or give up their right to the base to avoid initiating contact or interfering with the fielder making the play by stopping or leaving the base path.
2. A fielder may not at any time block a base (including home plate) or be in the base path so as to impede or obstruct the base runner’s right to the base or the base to which the base runner is proceeding. If a fielder causes a collision or impedes a base runner’s progress, the interference rule will be enforced and the runner will be safe and the umpire may advance the runner to the base to which the runner would reasonably be expected to reach safely if the runner had not been impeded.
3. Any player who makes "malicious contact" with another player, in addition to the ruling on the play as defined above in (a) and (b) is subject to ejection from the game by the umpire and suspension from league play by the Executive Board.
4. To avoid collisions at 1st base, the runner will be allowed to step on the dirt on the foul side of the base. That area, the same size as the base will be considered an extension of the base for the base runner. The infielder must use the regular base to make an out.

Pickoffs. Pickoff attempts shall be governed by Major League Baseball and MSBL rules with the following modifications.
1. On a pickoff attempt by the pitcher the out must be recorded by a tag of the base runner. In the event of an errant or mishandled throw, the runner may advance, at his own risk, to any succeeding base, including home; on such a play, the runner must make an attempt (a movement or motion) to return to the base previously occupied before any advance can be made. The subject runner must tag that base before advancing. No runner may advance on the initial throw of a pickoff attempt; the throw must be errant or mishandled before any runner may advance. In the event of an errant or mishandled pickoff attempt to a specific base, any other runner occupying another base at the time is not required to return to his original base before advancing.
2. On a pickoff attempt by the catcher, runner must be tagged out. No out will be recorded by merely tagging the base (force out).
3. In all cases following a pickoff attempt, an out may only be recorded when the runner is tagged while not in contact with the appropriate base. MLB rules shall apply.
4. A runner occupying a base different than the base being thrown to may not advance on an initial throw (from pitcher or catcher) unless the throw is "errant" or mishandled by the fielder but then may advance at his own risk.

No Balks In the event a pitcher balks, no base runners shall advance. However a pitcher may not balk and pick a runner off a base, in order to pick a runner off base the pitcher must make a legal move to that base.

Intentional Walk. In an attempt to keep the game moving, each team is permitted one intentionally walk per game. The pitcher or catcher may announce the intentional walk of a batter at any point prior to or during the batter’s at-bat. No pitches need be thrown.

Batting Order. All players present at the beginning of each game will be listed on the official batting order for the team to which they are assigned, and they will bat in the order they are listed for the entire game. Any player who arrives after the start of a game will be inserted at the bottom of the batting order and will bat in that position for the remainder of the game. The batting order of each team will be determined at the discretion of the team manager with the following stipulation. All regular members of a team roster must be listed in the batting order before any pool player. The only exception to this rule will be in the case of a regular roster player arriving after the start of a game.

Defense and Substitution. Free substitution of defensive players is allowed at any time during a game with the following restrictions. No pool player may be a part of the starting defense in preference over a regular member of a team roster. Pool players may start if fewer than nine team roster players are available, except that a pool player may start at catcher if no team roster player is willing or able to start in that position. No pool player may start as a pitcher (see “Pitchers’ below). If a team has at least nine team roster members in attendance, all nine of these players must be placed in the starting defense and play at least one inning before a pool player may be substituted (with the possible exception of the catcher, as noted above). In the spirit of fairness, the Dodgertown West Executive Committee strongly suggests that all players be given approximately equal defensive time as physical condition allows. No pool player may play more innings on defense than a team roster player without the team roster player’s express permission.

Pinch or Courtesy Runners
1. Pinch runners are required on the base paths for pitchers and catchers whenever there are two outs.
2. Players with injuries that limit their running and who have made it safely to any base may request a pinch runner regardless of the number of outs. The runner requesting a pinch runner must ask the umpire for time out and have that request acknowledged before leaving the base.
3. Under no circumstances shall a batter be permitted to have a substitute runner from home plate. A substitute base runner may be permitted to run for any base runner at any time.
4. In order to keep games moving, managers are to have a pinch runner ready prior to commencement of any at-bat that may necessitate a substitution. The pinch runner will be the player who made the most recent batted out. If no out has been recorded in the game, or if the out(s) recorded were by players excused from pinch running as defined herein, the pinch runner will be, in this order: (1) the player to score most recently in the inning; or if no run has scored, (2) the previous player in the batting order. If these players are excused from pinch running, the pinch runner will be the next available prior unexcused player in the same order of preference.
5. Players excused from pinch running are the active pitcher, catcher, and any player with an injury that would prevent him from pinch running.

Pitchers
1. A rostered pitcher may pitch a maximum of five (5) innings per game. These innings do not have to be continuous. For example, a pitcher may start a game and pitch any number of innings not exceeding four (4), be substituted for, and then return later in the game to complete his five (5) innings. The foregoing notwithstanding, a pitcher may not reenter the game as a pitcher more than once.
2. A pool player may pitch a maximum of five (5) innings per game.
3. No pitcher may exceed their allowed innings unless agreed to by both managers. No pool player may enter a game as a starting pitcher unless agreed to by both managers, and only as a result of a team having no one on its own roster who is either capable or desiring to pitch. The preference here is that a regular roster player be the starting pitcher. Starting roster pitchers must pitch at least one (1) inning, unless unable to continue due to injury.
4. Hit Batters. If during any one game, a pitcher shall hit with a pitched ball three (3) batters, said pitcher shall be removed from the mound and may not reenter to pitch during said game.
5. "A" Pitchers. At the draft prior to the beginning of each season, the managers and the draft manager shall determine who shall be deemed an "A" pitcher based on the pitcher's superior pitching skill and ability. At no time during a given game shall an "A" pitcher or combination of "A" pitchers be permitted to pitch more than a maximum of 5 innings. The forgoing not withstanding, an "A" pitcher playing as a pool player in a given game shall be permitted to pitch a maximum of 3 innings. By way of example only, a rostered "A" pitcher pitches 3 innings. A pool "A" pitcher playing on the same team as the rostered "A" pitcher would normally be able to pitch a maximum of 3 innings. However in this event, the pool "A" pitcher shall not be permitted to pitch in more than 2 innings, despite the provisions of L 2 above.

Umpires. Dodgertown West will employ two umpires for each game. The umpire stationed behind home plate will be designated as Umpire-in-Chief. All judgment decisions of the umpires will be final. Umpires will enforce all rules of Major League, MSBL, and Dodgertown West. Any protests will only be allowed regarding the specific interpretations of these rules. Protests will be heard and ruled upon by any Executive Committee members in attendance at the game if the managers cannot come to a resolution between themselves.

Decoys and Collisions. If a player forces a runner to slide due to a decoy where there is no play on the runner, all runners will advance one base. If the same player who has made the illegal decoy does this twice in a game, he will be ejected and will be subject to suspension by the Executive Committee. This is not to be confused with smart baseball. For example, a fair decoy is when a shortstop who sees the base runner advancing from first to second, looks upward into the sky and says that he has the pop-up, when in fact the ball has been hit on the ground to the second baseman. This play might cause the base runner to put on the brakes and retreat to first base, giving the defense a chance to get the force at second. This differs from intentionally making a runner slide when there is absolutely no play.
1. Players must not intentionally collide with any other players. In the case of a base runner intentionally colliding with a fielder, the base runner will be called out and may, at the umpire’s discretion, be ejected from the game, and the Executive Committee may suspend them at their discretion. In the case of a base runner intentionally colliding with a defensive player at second base in order to break up a double play, the umpire may call the batter-runner out as well. All base runners must either slide or give up their right to a base (i.e. avoid a collision by stopping or leaving the base path) if the defensive player has possession of the ball, is in the act of receiving the ball, or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able to make an apparent play on the base runner.
2. If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball, is not in the act of receiving the ball, or is not about to immediately receive the ball so that they are able to record an out (i.e. make an apparent play at any base), they cannot block the base (including home plate) or be in the base path so as to impede (obstruct) the base runner’s right to that base or the base to which the base runner is proceeding. Under such circumstances, the defensive player is responsible to avoid the collision. If a collision occurs under these circumstances, the base runner will always be considered safe and the obstruction rule will be enforced. The umpire may advance the base runner to a base to which the base runner was reasonably expected to reach safely, if they had not been impeded. If a defensive player intentionally causes a collision with the base runner, the umpire may eject them from the game, and the Executive Committee may suspend them at their discretion.

On-Field Conduct. Dodgertown West is a recreational league, and as such, all players are required to adhere to the rules of good sportsmanship. Players engaging in abusive language or displays of anger which may endanger the safety of other players are subject to ejection at the discretion of the umpires. Fighting will absolutely not be tolerated under any circumstances. Any players engaged in fighting will immediately be ejected from a game, will be required to leave the playing field and the ballpark, This rule will apply not only to the baseball field itself, but to all surfaces and structures that are a part of the complex in which the field is situated. Bad sportsmanship will not be tolerated. Any player ejected from a game at any time will be suspended a minimum of two (2) games. The board at its discretion may increase the severity of the suspension, including expulsion from the league, depending on circumstances.

Dressing and Undressing. Dressing and undressing in the parking lots is not permitted. Please use rest rooms, locker rooms or, as a last resort, dugouts, if such need arises.

No Alcohol. No alcoholic beverages, and no drinking of such beverages, is permitted on the fields, surfaces, and structures upon which Dodgertown West plays baseball. This includes parking lots, picnic areas, gymnasiums, recreation buildings, et. al. Failure to comply with this rule will be cause for suspension for one year from Dodgertown West. This includes all DTW baseball activities (league play, tournaments, et. al.).

No Smoking. Smoking is prohibited at all field venues unless otherwise permitted at the said venue.

Application of Rules. The Rules governing play shall be applied in the following order DTW rules, MSBL rules, and Major League Baseball rules.

THE POOL

To help ensure that an optimum number of players will be in attendance for each game and to give players who so desire an opportunity to play more than just those games scheduled for their team, the League will permit all members in good standing to participate in the Player Pool.

Eligibility. Any regular member of Dodgertown West (see Paragraph 2.A) shall be eligible to enter into the weekly player pool. Guests and non-drafted Dodgertown West players (see Paragraph 3.C.) may also enter the pool and play, provided that any such player has executed the required league injury and liability-release waivers.

Procedures.
1. In order to be eligible for the pool, players must call the pool manager no later than the Tuesday prior to the next scheduled game. Any guest member must contact an active member of DTW and that member (host) must contact the pool manager. Non-active players in the pool will be given priority at the pool manager’s discretion.

When a player calls into the pool, that player should make the pool manager aware of which game(s) the player is available for (morning, afternoon, or both if applicable). Any request to play on a specific team, especially in the case of out-of-town visitors and guests, will be honored if at all possible, and with regard to team parity. It is also suggested that the host make his own manager aware in the case of a guest wishing to play on the same team as the host.

Drawing from the Pool. Managers must call the pool manager by Wednesday prior to game day to report whether or not they anticipate needing pool players. This will allow the pool manager to release pool players to the teams as needed. Managers who have fewer than twelve (12) of their roster players scheduled to be in attendance for a game must request players from the pool manager. Requests for specific positions may only be made in the case of the need for a pitcher or a catcher. Any other specific requests will be allowed only on a general basis, such as a shortage of infielders or outfielders. Be advised that if a team is missing its “A” level shortstop that week, a specific request may not be made for an “A” level shortstop out of the pool.

Players in the pool will be assigned at the discretion of the pool manager with an eye towards team parity. No player may be directly solicited outside of the pool without the express permission of the pool manager, and not until all players currently in the pool have been assigned to a team. The only exceptions to this would be in cases where a team specifically needs either a pitcher or a catcher, and there are none signed up for the pool that week; even in such a case, this can still be done only with the pool manager’s permission.

Violation of these pool-drawing policies (e.g., a manager recruiting a player before all players in the pool have been assigned, and/or without the permission of the pool manager) will result in a warning from the Executive Committee to the manager. Repeated violations will result in the manager being suspended from further team management at the discretion of the Executive Committee.