401.1  A starting pitcher must rest at least four (4) days after each appearance as a starter.

401.2  A starting pitcher is eligible to maintain his original or any grade advancement (see Grade Advancement) for nine (9) consecutive innings in any given start.  After the starter has completed nine (9) innings, his pitching grade will be reduced by one (1) letter grade, and will continue to be reduced by one (1) letter grade for each additional complete inning pitched thereafter.

401.21  A starting pitcher who has an A grade, whether graded as such or earned in advancement, shall remain an A grade for the tenth (10th) inning before beginning grade reduction process (see 401.2).

401.3  A relief pitcher who does not have a starting pitcher grade is not eligible to start a game.

401.4  A complete log of the pitchers who have started each game must be kept by each manager and this log must be available to opposing manager upon request.

401.5  A starting pitcher is required to bat ninth in the batting order at the start of the game.

402:  RELIEF PITCHERS

402.1  A relief pitcher is eligible to pitch up to four (4) innings in any three (3) consecutive games with letter grade assigned on his card.  After the reliever has completed four (4) innings in a three (3) game series, his pitching grade will be reduced by one (1) letter grade, and will continue to reduce by one (1) letter grade for each additional inning pitched thereafter.

402.11  A reliever who pitches two (2) innings or less in one (1) game is not required to rest any games following that particular appearance.

402.12  A reliever who pitches more than two (2) innings and up to four (4) innings, inclusive, in one (1) game is required to rest one (1) game following that particular appearance.

402.13  A reliever who pitches more than four (4) innings in one (1) game is required to rest two (2) games following that particular appearance.

402.2  When a relief pitcher enters a game in the middle of an inning, his grade is raised one (1) letter against the first and only the first batter he faces, resetting to his normal grade for each batter he faces thereafter.  This does not apply to relievers who start the beginning of an inning or to relievers who have the letter grades A, A&C, or A&B.

402.3  A starting pitcher who does not have a relief rating cannot enter a game in relief unless the manager has evidence that the pitcher did make at least one relief appearance during the regular MLB season.  (APBA will not issue both a starter and reliever grade to a pitcher who does both unless the grades are different.)  In this case, he will retain the letter grade, control and fielding ratings.

402.4  A fielder who is used as a relief pitcher will be considered a grade D pitcher with a W control rating and a 1 fielding rating.

402.5  A complete log of pitchers who have been used in relief for all games must be kept by each manager.  This log must be made available to opposing managers upon request.

403:  GRADE ADVANCEMENT

403.1  The grade advancement are as follows:

If a D pitcher allows no earned runs in any five (5) consecutive innings, his grade is advanced to C.
If a C pitcher allows no earned runs in any six (6) consecutive innings, his grade is advanced to B.
If a B pitcher allows no earned runs in any seven (7) consecutive innings, his grade is advanced to A.
If an A pitcher allows no earned runs in any eight (8) consecutive innings, he will not then be affected in subsequent innings by grade reduction.  Pitchers may not be advanced beyond the A letter grade.

403.2  Any grade advancements are confined to single games and do not carry over from previous games.

404:  GRADE REDUCTIONS

404.1  If a pitcher allows five (5) earned runs in any three (3) consecutive innings or less, his grade is reduced by one (1) letter grade immediately after the fifth (5th) earned run is scored.  A pitcher's grade can continue to be reduced by one (1) letter grade for every five (5) earned runs allowed in a consecutive nine-out period.  In the case of D pitchers, no reduction will occur, but the D pitcher will lose eligibility in subsequent innings for grade advancement.

404.2  All grade reductions are confined to single games and do not carry over from previous games.

405:  PITCHING CONTROLS

405.1  Control letters W, X, Y, Z and ZZ are honored in every situation where indicated, and may change normal play result.  Control letter K is treated as a X and Y, and recorded as such.  Control letter R is not recognized, and normal result is recorded. (060212/06)

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This page was last updated on February 13, 2006.