Should unlimited sub rule be reviewed?

Over the dozen or so years and probably many years before, managers of teams in the Powerline Baseball League have used the “bat everyone” rule.

The rule, ambiguously written and oft-misinterpreted has provided some friction over the years, notably in my mind when Scott Peterson with the Armena Royals was challenged by The Brewers for re-entering a game for the same player he was replaced by earlier. The Brewers played the final inning under protest, but won the game anyway.

Other confusions over what happens if there’s injury or if a player has to leave, or one shows up late has also caused some murky waters during games.

In one sense, especially speaking from a men’s baseball recreational-like league manager’s point of view, it can lessen tension on the team and makes things easier to manage. On the other hand, it’s not quite how baseball is played. You can’t take an inning or two off and then re-enter when you’re hamstring, or lungs have stopped burning.

One player in the PBL under the condition of anonymity said rules such as this were the result of some older teams who crafted the rules to suit their needs back in the dark ages.

“(The rules) need to go away,” he said. “This is the reason there was so many stupid rules added to our league in the first place. They just try to break the rules.”

Another had this to say:

“It’s weird to have a rule like that in baseball because the Powerline Baseball League I think is the only one that has it,” he said. “I have only ever seen unlimited substitution in slo-pitch.”

Knowing several players are against the “bat everyone/unlimited substitution rule” could it be time to revisit and abolish the rule that many teams still use?

Several years ago, the league had a no DH rule. That was changed to align back with men’s baseball rules. If teams wanted, the league could decide to allow an EH if no DH was used – thus allowing a 10-person line-up with substitutions. But then, what’s the point maybe?

What are your thoughts? Does the rule need to stay to maintain recreation standards, or are we at a point where real baseball rules should come into play all season – not just in playoffs.

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Jason Buzzell