(1) Players still in High School (or younger) shall be ineligible for drafting.
VOTE: 3 YES 14 NO RULE DEFEATED
(2) Pitchers shall not be allowed to bat in any game situation unless: (i) no position players are available to bat and an in-game injury results in the need for a new batter; (ii) the pitcher is brought in solely to bunt and is replaced by a position player after bunting or running the bases; (iii) the pitcher is forced to bat due to the team moving its DH into the field in the 8th inning or later in the game (or earlier if the DH is moved into the field due to an in-game injury); or (iv) the pitcher is pinch-hitting for another pitcher or an unlimited batter.
VOTE: 8 YES 8 NO 1 ABSTAIN RULE DEFEATED
COMMISSIONER NOTE: AS I READ THE RULES, PITCHERS ARE NOW FREE GAME TO BAT.
(3) Some position players and pitchers may be designated as "unlimited" players. Unlimited status is calculated on the basis of ON BASE AVERAGE plus SLUGGING PERCENTAGE (OPS). The Commissioner will each year establish the OPS, which will be used as the demarcation between regular players and those who are unlimited. The demarcation number for determining unlimited players will be 125 points below the major league average OPS for batters and 50 points higher than the same average for pitchers.
VOTE: 2 YES 15 NO RULE DEFEATED
(4) Any manager who accrues in excess of $325,000 in overuse player fines will not be eligible for the playoffs.
VOTE: 13 YES 4 NO RULE APPROVED
(5) Before the start of play each season, each team must have enough pitchers for 162 starts and position players to provide 600 at bats for each position (including the DH). Specifically each team must have a minimum of 5 outfielders, 6 infielders and 2 catchers for a total of 13 position players. One player can serve as a backup for more than one position, but every starter must have a backup.
VOTE: 7 YES 10 NO RULE DEFEATED
(6) Each team must maintain a minimum of 20 minor leaguers at the start of each season.
VOTE: 5 YES 12 NO RULE DEFEATED
(7) Players who have 500 or better at bats will be considered unlimited and will only be restricted by their injuries. Players with less than 500 at bats will receive their actual at bats plus 10 percent.
VOTE: 4 YES 13 NO RULE DEFEATED
(8) Players with 100 or more at bats and pitchers with either 10 starts, 30 relief appearances or 50 innings will be considered carded.
VOTE: 5 YES 12 NO RULE DEFEATED
(9) Six teams from each league will qualify for the playoffs. The first and second place team in each division will be eligible for the playoffs with the 2 teams with the best overall records will be given a bye in the first round. Teams 3, 4, 5 and 6 will play a seven game series with home field advantage going to the two teams with the best record. Team 3 plays team 6 and team 4 plays 5. The winners advance against the 2 teams with byes. The bye teams will receive the home field advantage.
VOTE: 7 YES 10 NO RULE DEFEATED
While only 1 rule change was approved, I am very glad that we had so many proposals this year to stir debate. I will mention that various of the defeated proposals did have support and some managers voting no mentioned that they would be willing to consider some of these proposals in different forms or in different circumstances, so I encourage continuing the debate.
