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Looking at the ball going over the
fence isn't going to help.  
~ Hank Aaron

BOSL RULE CHANGE SUBMISSIONS – 2012 (October 12, 2012)

Rule Change Proposal #1 – That the following rule be eliminated, “ALL BATTERS WILL BE PITCHED TO.  If in the umpires' opinion the batter has been intentionally walked, the batter shall be awarded 2nd base.” -  Note, the player who submitted this rule also mentioned that another thought would be making it a hard rule (i.e. 4 straight balls = 2nd Base) rather than having umpires make subjective rulings.

Rule Change Proposal #2A – That the following rule be added, “An outfielder will NOT be permitted to throw out the current batter at first base on a force play.  Doing so will result in the batter automatically being awarded first base.  Should the batter/runner already “own” first base (i.e. making the turn towards second base, tagging up, etc.), the outfielder is permitted to throw to first base if they so choose.” – Note, there are 3 versions of this rule proposal (2A, 2B, 2C) for the sole purpose of getting away from the gentlemen’s agreement and making it a hard rule one way or the other.

Rule Change Proposal #2B – That the following rule be added, “An outfielder will be permitted to throw out the current batter at first base on a force play.  Exception: If the current batter was a declared singles hitter prior to his at bat, an outfielder will NOT be permitted to throw out the current batter at first base on a force play.  Doing so will result in the batter automatically being awarded first base.  Should the batter/runner already “own” first base (i.e. making the turn towards second base), the outfielder is permitted to throw to first base if they so choose.”

Rule Change Proposal #2C – That the following rule be added, “An outfielder will be permitted to throw out the current batter at first base on a force play.”

Rule Change Proposal #3A – That the following rule be added, “Peel Rule – When a base runner is on his way to second base or third base during a force play/double play situation, the runner is expected to peel off to allow the fielder to make an unencumbered throw to either first or second base (i.e. the second half of the double play).  Failure to do so will result in both base runners being ruled out.  Should the fielder drop the ball during the act of the force play and the umpire deems that the peeling runner would have been safe had he not peeled off, the runner will be awarded the base at the umpire’s discretion.” - Note, there are 2 versions of this rule proposal (3A, 3B) for the sole purpose of getting away from the gentlemen’s agreement and making it a hard rule one way or the other.

Rule Change Proposal #3B – That the following rule be added, “Peel Rule – The BOSL does not implement a peel rule of any kind at either second or third base.  Base runners run at their own risk.”

Rule Change Proposal #4 – That the wording of the following rule, “The pitch must be delivered at a slow speed and have an arc between six and fifteen feet on its path to the home plate. Height of the arc is to be determined at the umpire’s discretion.” – be changed to - “The pitch must be delivered at a slow speed and have an arc between six and twelve feet on its path to the home plate. Height of the arc is to be determined at the umpire’s discretion.” – Note, player who submitted this rule did so due to inconsistent calling by umps and to get us back in line with SPO rules and those of other leagues.

Rule Change Proposal #5 – That the following rule be added, “Should a game be tied after 9 innings and the time curfew has not been reached, the game shall go to extra innings until such a time that a winner has been decided or the time curfew has been reached.”

Rule Change Proposal #6A – That the wording of the following rule,

“A team may borrow one player from the opposing team for defensive purposes only when they are unable to field a team of 10 or more roster players.  The borrowed player shall play at the catching position.  In the interest of player safety, if the borrowing team has a roster player that is unable to play any other position besides catcher, the borrowed player may play another field position if agreed upon by both sets of captains.  A borrowed player does not bat.

Rule application:
                  10 or more roster players - (no borrowing permitted)
                  9 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher)
                 8 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher, 3 outfielders)
                7 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher, 3 outfielders, 3 infielders)”

– be changed to –

“If a team is short a player(s), they will be permitted to request to borrow a player(s) from any team in the league to field a full team of 10 players.  If the shortage is known before the game, the affected captains will contact the opposing team captains to discuss the shortage and agree on the borrowed player(s).  If it is due to a last minute no-show of a player(s), then the discussion with the opposing captains should take place at home plate before the game and be agreed to at that time.  A team may NOT borrow a player(s) to take them past 10 players.  Should a late player(s) arrive during the course of the game, the opposing captains will have the right to have the borrowed player(s) removed from play.  The borrowed player(s) will bat in the last position, but may be used to fill any defensive position without restriction.  The borrowed players should be of “like” rating where possible.”

Rule Change Proposal #6B – That the wording of the following rule,

“A team may borrow one player from the opposing team for defensive purposes only when they are unable to field a team of 10 or more roster players.  The borrowed player shall play at the catching position.  In the interest of player safety, if the borrowing team has a roster player that is unable to play any other position besides catcher, the borrowed player may play another field position if agreed upon by both sets of captains.  A borrowed player does not bat.

Rule application:
                  10 or more roster players - (no borrowing permitted)
                  9 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher)
                 8 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher, 3 outfielders)
                7 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher, 3 outfielders, 3 infielders)”

– be changed to –

“A team may borrow one player or two players from the opposing team for defensive purposes only when they are unable to field a team of 10 or more roster players.  The first borrowed player shall play at the catching position.  The second borrowed player shall play at the first base position. In the interest of player safety, if the borrowing team has a roster player that is physically unable to play any other position besides catcher, the borrowed player may play another field position if agreed upon by both sets of captains.  Borrowed players do not bat.

Rule application: 
       10 or more roster players - (no borrowing permitted) 
         9 roster players - (borrowed player is catcher) 
         8 roster players - (borrowed players are catcher and first basemen)"

Rule Change Proposal #7 – That the following rule be added, “Modified Anticipation Rule: A player will NOT be called out should they lose contact with the base on a swing and miss by the batter.  The runner will, however, be deemed out under any other circumstance (i.e. ball, hit, foul, etc.)”

Rule Change Proposal #8A – That the following rule be added, “A batter’s box is chalked prior to each BOSL game according to existing rules/measurements.” – Note, the batter’s box is not accorded to subjective interpretation.

Rule Change Proposal #8B – That the following rule be added, “Elimination of Batter’s Box: With the exception of stepping in front of the plate (an automatic out while making contact with the ball) the batter’s box will be deemed non-existent.” – Note, the batter’s box is not accorded to subjective interpretation.