Suspended Games

[canadaump6]

I've looked all over my rulebook to try and figure out what happens with the situation I am about to describe, but it doesn't point out what is to happen.

Let's say we are in the 6th inning of a game. Top of the 6th inning, offensive team is down a couple of runs when lightening strikes, the field gets washed out and everybody goes home. Is this a suspended game, or do we cancel out anything that happened in the top of the 6th and only anything that happened before the top of the inning is official?

Could someone point me to a rule reference as well?

[DG]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I've looked all over my rulebook to try and figure out what happens with the situation I am about to describe, but it doesn't point out what is to happen.

Let's say we are in the 6th inning of a game. Top of the 6th inning, offensive team is down a couple of runs when lightening strikes, the field gets washed out and everybody goes home. Is this a suspended game, or do we cancel out anything that happened in the top of the 6th and only anything that happened before the top of the inning is official?

Could someone point me to a rule reference as well?

The Official Rules have an index in the back. Under Suspended Games you will find 4.12 is listed.

[TwoBits]

You've played 5 complete innings. Under OBR (which I'm pretty sure you're playing under after reading several of your posts, Canadaump), the home team is winning, and the game is official. No need to finish it at a later date.

[canadaump6]

What if the visiting team is batting in the bottom of the 6th, they are down by one, bases loaded, nobody out? You guys have not made it clear what would happen in that situation. Would the score revert to the last completed inning, or would we have to resume the game at a later time? 4.12 does not help with this situation and yes I am well aware that the rulebook has an index at the back (or front in my case).

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

What if the home team is batting in the top of the 6th...

Only in Canada.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

That's not what he said.

Yes it is, until he edited it to: "What if the visiting team is batting in the bottom of the 6th...", which is no better.

RIF, Paul.

BTW, greetings from NYC. Two wonderful games so far...the Yankees lost both!

[DG]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

What if the home team is batting in the top of the 6th, they are down by one, bases loaded, nobody out? You guys have not made it clear what would happen in that situation. Would the score revert to the last completed inning, or would we have to resume the game at a later time? 4.12 does not help with this situation and yes I am well aware that the rulebook has an index at the back (or front in my case).

If the home team is batting in the top of the 6th the coaching staffs for both teams and both of the umpires are all screwed up. I would like to think this an impossible situation.

Let's assume the visitors were really batting in the top of the 6th. 4.12(5) spells out your situation. If the visiting team has not taken the lead after trailing after the 5th, the game is over. Suspended would only apply if they trailed after 5, and took the lead in the top of the 6th, when the lightning came.

[canadaump6]

Looks like I messed up on this one guys. I meant to say "let's say the home team is batting in the bottom half of the 6th". It probably raised a lot of confusion, and it will be too hard to backtrack on what was said. I know the moderators like to lock threads, so I would like for this one to be locked up too.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

What if the visiting team is batting in the bottom of the 6th,

same problem as before.

they are down by one, bases loaded, nobody out? You guys have not made it clear what would happen in that situation. Would the score revert to the last completed inning, or would we have to resume the game at a later time? 4.12 does not help with this situation and yes I am well aware that the rulebook has an index at the back (or front in my case).

If the game has gone enough innings to be a regulation game, and the home team is winning, it's an official game -- the home team wins.

If the visitors were ahead at the end of the last inning and are still ahead, it's an official game -- the visitors win.

If the home team was ahead at the end of the last inning, but the visitors are now ahead, it's either a suspended game or the score reverts, depending on what rules baseball canada has adopted.

Originally Posted by TwoBits

You've played 5 complete innings. Under OBR (which I'm pretty sure you're playing under after reading several of your posts, Canadaump), the home team is winning, and the game is official. No need to finish it at a later date.

Didn't OBR just change the rule this year - games are now suspended instead of considered completed. This happened once to either the Cubs or White Sox this year. They finished the game the next day, then played the regular game.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by BigGuy

Didn't OBR just change the rule this year - games are now suspended instead of considered completed. This happened once to either the Cubs or White Sox this year. They finished the game the next day, then played the regular game.

I do believe you are correct in your rule change interp. I think MLB got tired of games that went over five innings and were re-played from the start. I don't know what they do if both teams have to travel the next day and are not scheduled to play again. I suppose they pick it up at the end of the season if it means anything in the standings. This way all stats in the suspended game count, also. They most likely don't get recorded if the game is not made official, however.

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I think MLB got tired of games that went over five innings and were re-played from the start.

If the game is not tied, then the score is final, unless of course the visiting team comes back to tie or take the lead in the top half of the sixth inning onwards. The new suspension rule comes into play when there is a tie game. In the past these game would be played right from the start, even if they went extra innings. Now these games are played at a later date. But as I was saying, it's not a suspended game unless the visiting team takes the lead or ties the game in the top half of their inning.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BigGuy

Didn't OBR just change the rule this year - games are now suspended instead of considered completed. This happened once to either the Cubs or White Sox this year. They finished the game the next day, then played the regular game.

That's for "tie" games -- before, they would be started over; now they are suspended and resumed.

If one team is winning (unless the visitors took the lead and teh home team hasn't batted), and the game has gopne 5 innings, then it's a completed game and the team that's ahead wins.

[NewUmpinCT]

I'm new and didn't have to think twice... Game is official after 4 1/2 w/ Home team up or after 5 inn w/ home team down.

Then to come back with Visiting batting in bottom of 6th...
Thanks for the comic relief..