Pancho Coimbre Baseball League
League Charter
Revised April 14th, 2023
The following rules and regulations have been agreed to by the league managers and administrators whose signatures appear below. In general, the league managers agree that our league is primarily recreational, and rules should not need to be enforced by any more than an honor system among managers. That said, any rule violation is subject to forfeit, even after the game has been played.
Overall Rules
The Pancho Coimbre league rules are the same as Major League Baseball American League rules, except for those rules and regulations listed in this charter. Pancho Coimbre, however, does not (at this time) comply with MLB’s newly instated (2023) Pitcher / Batter Timers, throw-over rules, timeout allowances, and base sizes. Field ground rules that do not conflict with official playing rules will be made and enforced by the umpires. Ground rules and other rule reviews should be discussed and agreed to by the home plate umpire and both managers prior to each game.
GameChanger.com
The official league and team statistics and schedules are found on Pancho Coimbre 2023 | GameChanger (web) and via the GameChanger app. The league fee includes GameChanger fees. The league admins (Andrew Wagner, Solomon Prophete, and Jamey Libhart) are responsible for administering the Pancho Coimbre GameChanger site and app. The home team for each game is responsible for scoring each game. Any discrepancies should be reviewed and discussed in real time.
Bats
Only solid wood bats, Baum bats, and BBCOR-certified wood-only composite bats are permitted for use. All non-solid wood bats must be clearly labeled. If a batter uses an altered bat, he is out, ejected, and possibly subject to additional penalties. Runners must return to where they were at Time of Pitch, though any outs on the play will stand.
Cleats
Only rubber/plastic cleats are allowed in all league games. Metal spikes are not permitted. Players wearing metal spikes are subject to immediate ejection from the game. Managers are responsible for informing their players of this rule, and they are also responsible for checking for spikes prior to games. If, during a game, a player is identified as wearing metal spikes, the player wearing metal spikes will be immediately ejected from the game. If a second player on the same team is identified as wearing metal spikes, both that player and the manager of the team will be immediately ejected from the game.
Conduct
All managers are responsible for the conduct of their players. No player shall initiate an argument, nor violent conduct — written, verbal, or physical, on field or off — with an opposing player, teammate, umpire, league official, and/or fans. Penalty for such actions will be handed down by League Officials. This includes throwing of equipment. There will be no throwing of equipment. Umpires have the right to eject any player/manager for doing so during the game.
Refer to the Pancho Coimbre League Code of Conduct Addendum below.
Dugouts
Dugouts are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Lineups
To the extent possible, all lineups should be entered in GameChanger prior to arriving at the field, although managers are permitted to edit their lineups until pre-game grounds rules meetings occur. Managers are required to verify their respective lineups in GameChanger prior to the start of games.
Courtesy Runner
In the spirit of faster game play, a “courtesy runner” may be used for the catcher when there are two outs. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out, unless that player is hitting or otherwise unavailable. If that player is unavailable, the player who made the previous batted out must be used.
Designated Hitter
Any team may use a Designated Hitter. To avoid confusion, the MLB rule states as follows:
A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire in Chief. The designated hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game. Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter becomes the Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order. A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of Designated Hitter. A Designated Hitter may not pinch run. A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter. Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once the game pitcher bats for the Designated Hitter this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. (The game pitcher may only pinch hit for the Designated Hitter). Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. A substitute for the Designated Hitter need not be announced until it is the Designated Hitter's turn to bat.
Extra Hitter
Teams have the option to designate an Extra Hitter (EH) resulting in a 10-player batting lineup. This does not preclude the option to use a Designated Hitter (DH) in the game to bat for the pitcher, as per MLB American League rules above. Similar to the DH rule, the intent to use an EH must be declared and included in the lineup cards presented to the umpires at the start of the game. Failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of an EH for that game. The EH is treated as any other defensive position in that it can be moved freely to any defensive position at any time. However, a player in a non-EH defensive position may not be moved to EH, then to pitcher within a single inning.
If a team elects to use an EH in a game and is unable or refuses to maintain ten players in the batting order at some later point in that game for any reason, an automatic out will be recorded each time the EH slot is scheduled to bat for that team from that point in that game until completion, unless a substitute player named in the submitted lineup card for that game, but not previously present, arrives at the field prior to completion of that game.
The EH rule applies to all league games, including postseason games.
Forfeits
Any team that is unable to field eight (8) officially-rostered players no later than fifteen (15) minutes after a scheduled start time will be considered to have forfeited the game. If a team is forced to start a game with fewer than nine players, the opposing team will have the option of selecting whether they will be the home or visiting team for that game. After the official season schedule is released, any team that forfeits a game up until 9 p.m. the night prior to that game (by informing the opposing manager and league commissioner) will incur a $75 penalty, payable to the opposing manager for that game. Any team that forfeits a game between 9 p.m. the night prior to that game and the scheduled game time will incur a $150 penalty, payable to the opposing manager for that game.
Ground Rules
Out-of-play boundaries on all fields are to be consistent with the provided diagrams. Fielders are permitted to make throws that cross an out-of-play area, such as from foul ground behind third base to home plate on Field 11. Additional ground rules are to be discussed and agreed upon prior to the start of games.
Knockout Rule
Any nine inning game in which the run differential equals or exceeds twelve (12) after five (5) full innings have been completed or ten (10) after seven (7) full innings have been completed will be called a “knockout” and will be called off by its umpires. Any seven inning game in which the run differential equals or exceeds ten (10) after five (5) full innings have been completed will be called a “knockout” and will be called off by its umpires.
Official Baseball
The official baseball of the league is the Wilson A1000-NABA. Other baseballs can be used as long as they meet Major League specifications, although the Wilson A1000-NABA baseball is preferred. The home team is responsible for providing three new baseballs to the home plate umpire prior to the start of each game. The visiting team is responsible for providing two new baseballs to the home plate umpire prior to the start of each game.
“Pete Rose” Rule
Runners must make attempts to slide, dive or move out of play to avoid collisions with fielders at all bases. During a play at home plate, if the catcher has the ball or is in the process of fielding a throw, a runner who does not attempt to slide or avoid a tag will be ejected from the game.
Player Age Eligibility
All players must be at least 18 years of age to play in the league.
Player Movement
There are no roster size limits, except in the postseason, when a 25-player limit will be in effect.
Postseason Eligibility
A player must play in at least one third of a team’s completed regular season games for one team to be eligible to play for that team during the postseason. Forfeits are excluded, except in cases where a team expected to play two games but was awarded a forfeit victory in one of the games. In this case, all players participating in the played game will get credit for playing in a second game (and the team game will be included in the eligibility calculation. Players who pitch in at least five games or pitch 21+ innings will also be postseason-eligible.
Postseason Format
The following is the postseason format with eight (8) teams in the league. Format may change depending on number of teams in league during any given season:
Two Rounds of Playoffs. Top four (4) teams make the playoffs.
Round 1 (Semis) – Best of three series; schedule matchups based on end of year league standings. 1 plays 4. 2 plays 3. 1 and 2 have home-field advantage. First two (2) games are seven (7) innings. Decider, if necessary, is a nine (9) inning game.
Round 2 (Championship) – Best of three series; home field advantage to top regular season finisher. First two (2) games are seven (7) innings. Decider, if necessary, is a nine (9) inning game.
Tiebreakers to decide team postseason seeding/positions will be (in this order):
Head to head record
Run differential
Season runs allowed
Coin flip
Protests
Protests will follow MLB protocol during play. Within 24 hours of a protested game’s completion, the protesting manager must email a summary of the protest to the league managers for review. Within 48 hours of receipt of this email, the league managers (excluding the two involved in the protested game) shall vote on whether:
The protested decision violated the rules, AND
If so, whether the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game
In all protested games, the decision resulting from this vote shall be final. Should the protest be upheld, the protested game shall become a suspended game to be completed at a future date upon which it shall resume from the point of the protest. In the event of a split vote among league managers, any protest shall be denied.
Note: The league reserves the right to declare any suspended game a called game toward the end of the season if permitted field times are limited due to rainouts throughout the season and there are no playoff implications for the teams involved. Such a decision must be agreed to by the managers involved in the protested game.
Rainout Policy and Standard Operating Procedure
A final decision on the playability of the field will be rendered no less than two (2) hours prior to the scheduled game time. It is each manager’s responsibility to contact his opposing manager and Big Apple Umpires with questions regarding potential cancellations. Standard procedures are as follows:
Call the North Meadow Ballfield Hotline at 212-628-1036 periodically to check field status. Although this Hotline may not be updated as often as possible, dialing ‘0’ may lead to a Parks Department representative who can provide a more accurate status report.
Team managers should communicate with one another, along with Big Apple Umpires, to confirm that the fields are either open for play or not, based on the information provided on the Hotline. If the fields are open, all games are to be played.
Rosters
All team rosters should be kept up-to-date in GameChanger. Any new players must be added by their manager prior to their participating in games. NOTE: Players should never be deleted from the roster in GameChanger; a player can be edited as needed (e.g., changing numbers).
Schedule
Once the schedule is official, changes can only be made by the initiating manager with the consent of any manager affected by that change. The league commissioner and the GameChanger administrator must be notified of any changes.
Time Limit Rules
Umpires are to start games at the scheduled times, unless they are delayed due to weather, previous games, etc. Per forfeit rules (above), they may be delayed for up to 15 minutes to allow a team to have a 9th player. At the start of each game, home plate umpires must verbally confirm start times with each manager; no new inning may start more than 2:45 from the actual start time (both seven (7) inning and nine (9) inning games), except postseason games. E.g., if a game starts at 1:05pm, and the 8th inning is completed at 3:55pm, the game is to be called regardless of score.
Umpires
Prior to every game, the umpires must meet with the team managers, or an appointed team representative, to review ground rules and time limit rules relevant to the game.
Umpires are responsible to arrive on time to all games, so that the game can start at its scheduled time.
Uniforms
As of opening day, all players on the field for a team must wear matching hats and jerseys/shirts, and remain doing so for the entire season, playoffs included. While duplicate numbers and switching uniforms is permitted, particularly early in the season, this type of behavior should only be done in good faith and with the approval of the opposing team’s manager. All rosters inputted in GameChanger must have a player’s name and jersey number. During a game, managers have the right to protest if they feel there is an ineligible player, or if there is a player wearing a different jersey than shown on the GameChanger website. All managers are responsible for their team’s adherence to the proper dress code.
ADDENDUM
PANCHO COIMBRE BASEBALL LEAGUE CODE OF CONDUCT
As a general guideline, Team Managers and the Commissioner, hereinafter to be known as The Officers, are responsible for upholding this protocol. More serious player offenses will be evaluated by Team Managers and the Commissioner. Anyone who abuses the league's code of conduct is subject to suspension or expulsion at the sole discretion of The Officers. If, as a participatory Team Manager, that Team Manager fails to cast their team vote or exercise their team’s right to oppose the Officers suggested policy or move in an expedient fashion (three days after meeting or email announcement) will forfeit their team’s vote.
1. PLAYER BEHAVIOR AND TEAM RESPONSIBILITY
1.01 General Suspension/Expulsion Rule: The Officers set the standard for sportsmanship and will enforce suspensions/expulsions for all conduct deemed inappropriate for league members. All interactions with umpires, spectators, and other players fall under this purview.
1.02 Alcoholic Beverages: The consumption of alcoholic beverages on or in the vicinity of the playing field is prohibited by the New York City Parks Department unless explicit permission is granted. Please see: https://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-05 and https://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-04. Managers are responsible for enforcing this rule with their team before, during and after each game. Failure to abide by this rule could result in the Parks Department taking away League Permits.
1.03 Umpire Authority: An umpire has sole discretion to eject any player or manager from a game.
1.04 Prohibited Conduct: Players, managers, and spectators shall always conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. No player, manager, or spectator shall commit the following:
(a) Initiate ANY contact with or threaten a league official, umpire, opposing player, teammate, or spectator — verbally or physically — on field or off. Umpires have sole discretion to eject offending players, managers, or spectators during game play. Players, managers, and / or spectators guilty of such conduct shall immediately be suspended from further participation until a full review has been completed by the The Officers.
(b) Refuse to abide by an official's decision. Objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official's decision may be grounds for ejection and further penalties.
(c) Use unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of the game against the body or person of an opposing player.
(d) Be guilty of any physical attack as an aggressor upon any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game.
(e) Be guilty of a verbally abusive attack or abusive gesture toward any player, manager, official, or spectator, before, during, or after a game.
(f) Smoke on the field of play or in the dugout.
2. EJECTIONS
2.01 Incident notifications: Following any game where an ejection has occurred, Umpires must notify the Umpire Assigner via email; depending on the situation, a written report may be warranted. The Umpire Assignor will notify the Commissioner.
2.02 Commissioner notifications: The League Commissioner will make a written report of his findings to the following individuals:
o The player or coach in question.
o The Manager of that player’s team.
o The Officers.
o The Umpire Assigner.
o The managers of all opposing teams to be faced while the player is under
SUSPENSION
• 2.03 Suspension Schedule: Any player who is ejected from a game will receive an automatic suspension as outlined in the schedule below. This penalty is effective beginning with the very next scheduled game. Regular season and post‐season will be considered as the same season. Suspensions can carry over from one year to the next.
(a) EXCEPTION: If the player designated at the beginning of the season as the team manager is ejected from a game due to his actions as a manager rather than a player (such as questioning a call on the field), there will be no automatic game suspension. However, the league reserves the right to introduce a suspension or expulsion on the basis of further review.
# OF SEASONAL EJECTIONS | AUTOMATIC GAMES SUSPENDED
1st Ejection 1 game
2nd Ejection 2 games
3rd Ejection Suspended for remainder of season, inc. playoffs
Any player who participates in a league game while under automatic suspension will be subject to additional penalties, and his team will be stripped of any wins gained during the use of an ineligible player.
2.04 Further action: The league reserves the right to review any ejection for further disciplinary action. Additional suspensions may be administered by the Commissioner upon examination of the umpire report and consultations with managers.
2.06 Appeals: Please refer to rule section 4. 3.
PENALTIES/DISCIPLINE
3.01 The league, by majority vote of The Officers not involved in the incident, may suspend any player or manager for such a period and upon such terms as it may propose, as a direct consequence for conduct deemed detrimental to the welfare, interest, reputation, or character of the league.
3.02 The league shall promptly investigate each reported offense to determine the precise nature of each violation on the basis of league rules and, accordingly, deliver a penalty that is proportionate to these actions.
3.03 While each situation is uniquely judged on its own merits, a baseline for first‐time disciplinary action is provided below. These penalties lay atop the automatic ones presented in Section 2.03.
OFFENSE RECOMMENDED PENALTY
Excessive arguing and foul language 1-2 games
Umpire contact 3+ games
Fighting, physical, written, or verbal 6+ games (possible lifetime expulsion from league)
threats before, during, after game
Physical attack against an umpire, 1+ year (possible lifetime expulsion from league)
player, teammate, or spectator
3.04 Once The Officers have completed their deliberation, their decision and underlying rationale shall be conveyed to any players involved, as well as their managers.
3.05 Once a player has been placed on probation for the remainder of the season, any subsequent violation of the Code of Conduct shall result in that player’s suspension for the remainder of the season, including playoffs.
4. Grievances, Protests, and Appeals
4.01 Anyone suspended for 3 or more games may file an appeal of the Officer’s decision. Single or two game suspensions are not subject to appeals.
4.02 Grievances may be filed by an individual player or by his manager provided that a said grievance is formally submitted to The Officers in document form.
4.03 Affected players or managers may appeal any action or ruling via the submission of a formal appeal, delivered The Officers in a timely manner via written or electronic communication.
Agreed and accepted by:
Uptown Angels
Downtown Bulls
Los Cubs
New York Clippers
Kings Country Monarchs
Triboro Tigers
Legends
Brooklyn Dukes
Joe Goldstein (Big Apple) Umpires)