When was this OBR rule changed?

[greymule]

Current OBR rule:

4.12
SUSPENDED GAMES.
A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons:
. . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead

I remember (perhaps wrongly) that at some time in the past, the situation described under number (5) would have reverted back to the last complete inning (and the home team would have won). However, I don't see such a change listed on the MLB rules changes site. Can anyone shed light on this?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Rule 4.12 was completely rewritten and reformatted. Also, 4.11(d), the National Association optional suspended game rule has been inserted into the rule book. 4.11(d) was deleted in its entirety (and added to 4.12). The new 4.11(d) says:

(d) A called game ends at the moment the umpire terminates play, unless it becomes a suspended game pursuant to Rule 4.12(a).

Then the note for 4.12(a) was totally rewritten, incorporating the old 4.12(b), and rewording the whole thing to change the definition of a suspended game:

NOTE: Weather and similar conditions—Rules 4.12(a)(1) through 4.12(a)(5)—shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. If a game is halted by weather, and subsequent light failure or an intervening curfew or time limit prevents its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. If a game is halted by light failure, and weather or field conditions prevent its resumption, the game shall not be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game if stopped for any of the six reasons specified in Rule 4.12(a).

Of course, they added a 6th reason:

4.12(a)(6)It is a regulation game that is called with the score tied.

The whole thing confuses the heck out of me.

[greymule]

Thanks. Do you know when this re-writing took place?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Before the 2006 season. Many rules have been changed. I will send you them via e-mail. Look for them in your e-mail, they are there.

Steve

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by greymule

I remember (perhaps wrongly) that at some time in the past, the situation described under number (5) would have reverted back to the last complete inning (and the home team would have won). However, I don't see such a change listed on the MLB rules changes site. Can anyone shed light on this?

Reverting back hasn't been part of OBR in a long time. The rule was changed this year to make things easier.

BTW, if the Players Association does not approve all changes this year, then said changes automatically become permanent and effective in 2007.