Welcome to the 2023 TMBL season!
Expansion team – the Knights, lead by General Manager Manny Montes
TMBL welcomes our newest expansion team. Manny is a proven TMBL veteran, and he looks to build a fun and competitive team. We wish him and the team the best.
League fees
Please send your league fee by e-Transfer to tbbl1 [at] hotmail.com.
New players: the fee is $380 (includes a new league jersey).
Returning players: the fee is $350, and if you pay by April 15, the fee is $330.
The full fee must be received by 11:59 PM on May 6 to continue playing past that date.
To keep your spot, the full fee must be received by 11:59 PM on May 20.
Jerseys
Extra jerseys are available for $40 each. Please let your General Manager know by April 15.
Returning players who were traded will have their new jersey covered by the league (free of charge).
There may be an opportunity to replace misprinted jerseys. Please send pictures of the misprint to tbbl1 [at] hotmail.com by April 15.
Equipment/clothing coordination
The league supplies one jersey to every player and shares helmets and catching gear.
As a reminder, players are required to use their own gloves and wear a baseball hat, baseball pants, baseball cleats (metal allowed) and protective cup (all positions).
Other than the jerseys, teams may set their own team colours/patterns/patches.
If coordinating equipment/clothing with the team causes you financial hardship, please contact any TMBL Director in confidence.
Attendance
Teams expecting short attendance (eight or fewer players) should notify the league at least two days before the scheduled game (for most weeks, by 11:59 PM on Wednesday).
The league reserves the right to expand rosters for teams missing the deadline twice.
Field maintenance
If extra rakes are available, the home team is responsible for raking the basepaths and the mound after the game.
Rule updates
TMBL is not adopting any of the three MLB rule changes for this year: pitch timer, base sizes or defensive shift limits.
However, we are introducing a pace of play timer: a timer of two minutes and thirty seconds (2:30) will be used between innings:
- Penalty (regular season): none.
- Penalty (post season): automatic ball (if ball is not pitched by the 0-second mark) or automatic strike (if hitter is not ready to hit by 5-second mark).
The timer begins when the final out of the inning is recorded.
If the final out of the inning is subject to review, the timer begins when the umpire confirms the out.
If the pitcher is on base, on deck or at bat when the inning ends, the timer begins when the pitcher leaves the dugout for the mound.
If the catcher is on base, on deck or at bat when the inning ends, the timer begins when the catcher enters the dugout (another catcher can begin warming up the pitcher). Note: the league permits a courtesy runner for the catcher after two outs.
The last warm up pitch must be thrown by the 20-second mark.
The batter must be ready to hit by the 5-second mark.
The timer also applies to pitching changes and begins as soon as the relief pitcher crosses the foul line.
A pitcher may throw any number of warmup pitches within the above limits.
Divisions
With the addition of the Knights, TMBL goes back to two four-team divisions:
- Delgado Division: Dodgers, Knights, Reds and Trash Pandas
- Halladay Division: Brewers, Cubs, Sox and Tigers
Division winners will receive the top two seeds in the playoffs.
Players will also represent their respective divisions in the end of season All-Star game.
Recap – key dates
April 15: last day for discounted league fee for returning players; last day for jersey orders.
May 6: suspension for non-payment begins.
May 20: loss of roster spot for non-payment begins.
The season begins
Our season begins on Saturday, April 29 with a rematch of the 2022 Finals. At 10 AM the defending champion Reds look to defend their title against the runner-up Trash Pandas.
Good luck!
