Meeting Notes 04/19/2024

Roll call was done in Division order. Teams were advised if they didn’t agree with division they were to discuss it with Art after the meeting.

Regular Season starts 4/28/24

As discussed in last month's meeting, there will now be a monthly meeting to be held at the clubhouse.

o   The meeting schedule is posted on the website.

o   Next meeting is Friday, May 31^st

o   Manager’s meetings are needed to discuss issues and to ensure there is a follow-through on those issues discussed.

o   Every team must have one representative and each person can only represent one team.

Umpires will meet with Gil separately.

Bats will be provided by the league; this was a unanimous agreement at the previous meeting.

o   If bats need to be replaced, teams agree to collectively pay to replace them.

o   Bats will be tested periodically.

o   It was asked if the league would be willing to buy bats off some teams, the response was that the League could buy bats off of teams.

Bats would need to be new or semi-new and bought within the last year.

o   Bats have to pass the 200 compressions.

Parks:

o   Los Nietos is secured until the end of June.

o   Trying to get Little Lake as well. There is an upcoming meeting with SFS to see how they will be renting parks from now on

o   Salt Lake Park may be an option in the future as well as Ford Park

There will be a registration agreement letter to be sent by Art to managers.

o   League is aware of past issues with misinterpretation of rules by managers and/or umpires. League wants to ensure umpires are aware of all rules and are interpreting the way they were meant to be interpreted.

o   A council will be created for those instances where there is a dispute/protest regarding a call or problem in a game.

o   Possibly a manager from each division.

o   If there are volunteers for the council, reach out to Art.

There will be a $20 p/month fee for the clubhouse, to help sustain it for league use only.

o   All meetings will be held at the clubhouse.

o   Clubhouse open for managers or players use for private events.

Rules regarding uniforms and “no bottle use” will be enforced in the upcoming season and there will be fines created.

Looking into filming games to promote the league and to showcase teams and the traditions the league has created. More to come.

Still pending play off games for winter season but the Regular season will start on April 28^th.

All teams must be in full uniform by the 3^rd game

Rules will be provided to all umpires.

Gil reminded managers that teams should not be disrespectful or hot-headed during games. Friendly banter is understandable, but it should not go past that.

o   Can not risk losing parks due to a player’s misbehavior.

o   There will be consequences for players who do not adhere to the rules.

Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Notes 05/31/24

• Teams were advised to give email addresses so that we can email the pitcher’s waiver if they do not want to wear.
• Meeting notes now available under “meeting notes” on LAMSL website

Playoff scenario

o   Division A

• Typically, 5 team play-offs but, in the past, we have allowed 6 team play-offs to avoid teams from not showing up when they felt they would not make the playoffs.
• In the Winter league everyone makes play-offs to keep everyone motivated.
• Art is proposing that we continue this format which is:
  • have a wild card Sunday where the 6^th and 7^th seed would play, the top seed home team.
  • Doubleheader,
  • Winner plays the 5^th seed in a single-game elimination.
  • Following Sunday, single game elimination again between the winner from the previous Sunday vs 4^th seed.
  • Then typical playoff scenario.

o   Division B will follow Division A play-off scenario.

o   Division C & D

• Everyone in Division C & D will play each other once and then split off.
• Top 5 will go to Division C and bottom 6 will go to Division D.
• If the season goes smoothly and barring any unforeseen circumstances, once the division split, each division will play another round against their division.
• However, if the season is dragging, and C & D are too far behind the other divisions, we will start playoffs after the split.

Father’s Day – teams are advised to reach out if they do not want to play on Father’s Day.

o   Question asked if it would go against team bye, Art confirmed it would not.

Bye’s- Because most divisions have an odd number of teams, each team already has a bye schedule. Teams were advised to let us know now if they know they need a bye in the coming weeks so that we can schedule their bye to go along with the season.

o   Teams are allowed one other “emergency” bye for the season (i.e. not enough players)

o   After the one emergency bye, if a team is requesting another emergency bye, they will either need to pay both team fees or take the forfeit.

o   No Byes in the playoffs (only true emergencies will be considered)

o   In two out of three play-off games, if a team needs a bye, we will give it to them but they take the loss. Again, must be an emergency (going to a sporting event does not constitute an emergency).

Hit-by-pitch rule: There has been confusion regarding this rule.

o   The question has been: if the batter is in the batter’s box, that’s his box, and regardless of if the pitch is coming in at 60 MPH or 20 MPH, if the batter gets hit, he should be able to take the base.

o   The league stance: it is the umpire’s discretion. If the umpire feels the batter could have avoided being hit, he doesn’t have to give him the base.

o   Players should not be arguing with the umpire. This call is just like a strike, it is the umpire’s call.

Another issue is runners trying to obstruct the opposing team during a double play.

o   Advise players to either slide or run to right field.

o   What is happening is runners are waiting until the last minute to move, causing the other team to not attempt the double play to avoid hitting the running player.

o   We are instructing umpires that anything they see is close, whether the player attempts to throw the ball or not, to call it an automatic double play.

Dead ball – anything in front of the plate is a dead ball.

o   Umpires don’t always have the same angle as other players but should be called dead ball.

o   Anything that crosses the plate is a live ball.

o   Again, it is the umpire's call.

Umpires - we have umpires who work in other leagues and may confuse the rules, but we will go over the rules with new umpires again.

Schedules – We will be posting two weeks out. Apologize for delays.

o   Give us advance notice for byes. Once the schedule is posted it is too hard to reschedule.

o   We will send out the season schedule, so teams know when they play, when they have a bye, and who they are playing but not what time or what park.

Team photo IDs – No responses to Gil’s messages. Art and Elsa didn’t send out notices.

o   All teams are asked to send us the player’s photo so that we can make IDs.

o   Ideally on an email with the name under each photo.

o   Teams are only allowed a certain amount of players p/team.

o   Ids are crucial for playoffs to ensure extra players are not added.

Sign-in sheets at games.

o   Need to be signed every week. If umpire doesn’t give it to you, ask for it.

Pitcher’s waivers

o   We need a signed waiver for those pitchers who do not want to wear the pitcher’s mask.

Uniforms – as of Sunday 6/9/24 all teams must be in uniform, and shirts tucked in.

o   Fines for not tucking in your shirt.

o   Shirts need to be tucked in all the way around not just in the front.

o   Difference between shirts coming out during the game and not being tucked in at all.

o   City officials have been known to drive around and we want to present a good impression.

o   No metal spikes allowed on cleats – no exceptions.

o   Composite spikes are allowed.

NO BOTTLES AT THE PARKS

o   Tell your fans and players, especially the young ones.

o   If a team is caught with bottles at a park like Santa Fe Springs, they will not be scheduled there anymore.

Rainouts – Expect to play until advised games are canceled.

o   Unless it is pouring everywhere, and the forecast shows it is going to rain for hours then we wont know until Sunday morning if we can play.

o   8:00 games unfortunately may have to show up in questionable cases.

o   Please do not text asking if games will be canceled. As soon as we are either told by the park or we have made a decision, we will text everyone.

Sportsmanship – Managers please encourage your players to always show good sportsmanship. For the most part, it has started as a good competitive season. We would like to keep it this way.

o   Remind players that balls and strikes are not to be contested.

o   Park staff are making reports to Park and city officials, and we do not want to lose a park because of bad sportsmanship.

o   Managers need to control their players.

o   The two players who come to the plate when game time is called are the only ones allowed to act as managers throughout the game.

o   Control your fans as well, they are an extension of your team.

Missing meetings

o   If you miss a meeting, there is a fine and the following month you are visitor. That was previously agreed. Will be posted on the website.

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