Rule 5

[Theoldmole]

OK, I have to ask: What are Rules 1 through 4?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Rule 1 is cover your mouth when you cough.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Rule two is no graven images.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rule 5 is the only rule referred to as such but the others are also technically governed by rules as well. I do believe the June amateur draft is Rule 1, and there were other drafts (there originally were drafts three times a year IIRC, one for previously drafted, one for American Legion players etc etc etc.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, the June Draft is Rule IV.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Here you go.

The first rule is the stupid territory rule.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Rule 1:

* In order to relocate to another club�s home territory, a major league club must comply with four conditions: o It must notify the club whose territory it wishes to move to prior to October 31 of the preceeding year. o It shall satisfy the Commissioner of the long-term viability of the club in its new territory. o The stadiums of the two clubs may not be located within five miles of one another unless both clubs agree otherwise. o The moving club shall pay the first club a sum of money deemed appropriate by the Commissioner. * In no event shall any home territory house more than two MLB clubs. * Home territories are defined in Article VIII, Section 8 of the Major League Constitution

"In no event shall any home territory house more than two MLB clubs."

That means that there's no way that the Dodgers or Giants can return to New York unless either the Mets or Yankees leave?

(Not that it's gonna happen, but still...)

[Benjamin Grimm]

Rule 7:

The contract between the organization and the player may be terminated before its expiration by either the organization (via release) or the player as provided in the contract.

Thinking of Frankie Rodriguez here. Nothing in this appears to bar the Mets from releasing him after Game 54, unless there's something specific in his contract.

And this is from Rule 9:

When a major league player's contract includes a bonus provision, such bonus must be paid or adjusted with the assignor club before the Commissioner approves the assignment. The assignee club will assume only the basic salary stipulated by the contract. However, if the assignment is completed pursuant to an unconditional release waiver claim, the assignor must pay the bonuses due at the assignment and the assignee assumes any further bonuses that accrue after the assignment.

So if Frankie gets picked up after a release, the new team appears to be on the hook for the 55th game, and the salary that would kick in. On the other hand, a vesting of an additional year isn't really a bonus.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The New York Area should have six teams. In addition to the two established ones, there should be the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, Manhattan Latins, Jersey Gardeners, the Connectut Algonquians, and the Long Island Buttafuocos

[metirish]

This is great , I never thought to think that there might be four other rules.

[Theoldmole]

Rule 41 is the one that intrigues me.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's retired for Tom Seaver!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: The New York Area should have six teams. In addition to the two established ones, there should be the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, Manhattan Latins, Jersey Gardeners, the Connectut Algonquians, and the Long Island Buttafuocos

I tend to agree. (But I'd name the Long Island team the Mallards or the Sounds. Certainly not the Buttafuocos.)

The biggest cities should have multiple teams. Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix. Why not?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, they're not THAT big (Philly's just around 5.5-5.9M for the region; Houston's 5.0-5.8; Phoenix/Glendale is around 3-4M).

Demo-wise, NYC (18M+) should have a third team before any of those gets a second.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I just don't know why any city needs to get a team, you know?

[G-Fafif]

The first rule of Rule 41 is you don't talk about Rule 41.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

'Cause it's family-friendly, wallet-emptying, soul-stomping, time-monopolizing, mood-altering fun!

[Willets Point]

Rule 34 - If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Rule 49- That guy who cut you off in traffic? He is guaranteed to be on the phone.

[Guest Edgy DC]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: 'Cause it's family-friendly, wallet-emptying, soul-stomping, time-monopolizing, mood-altering fun!

I mean to emphasize "get." Why should franchises be conferred on cities? If you want a team, establish it. And if MLB won't allow them to play, join another league and decare your team to be an major league franchise that the Yankees are too yellow to oppose.

[Guest themetfairy]

Rule 4 - Seat Belts.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Rule 49 is "If you have an award-winning season for the Yankees, your number will be retired."

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: 'Cause it's family-friendly, wallet-emptying, soul-stomping, time-monopolizing, mood-altering fun! I mean to emphasize "get." Why should franchises be conferred on cities? If you want a team, establish it. And if MLB won't allow them to play, join another league and decare your team to be an major league franchise that the Yankees are too yellow to oppose.

I like the idea of the Newark Bears buzzing their motorcycles around the YSIII concourse, raising hell and yelling stuff like, "GRANDERSON, YOU PUSSY, COME OUT AND PLAY-AY!"

Edited April 26, 2011 by Guest

[Fman99]

Rule 81 is that if you're sitting behind home plate at an MLB game, and the television cameras are on, and you're on your cell phone talking to someone at home and waving, then you're a fucking douche.

[RealityChuck]

Is there a Rule 6?

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Edited April 26, 2011 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

Rule 6 actually pertains to Rule 5:

Rule 6: Players Selected in the Rule 5 Draft Restrictions A player selected in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft may not be released or assigned to the minors until: (a) he first receives a 15 day trial period in spring training; ( he is granted waivers; and (c) he has been offered back to his previous club by outright assignment. Offer of Outright Assignment - Procedure An offer of outright assignment back to a player's previous team shall be made through the Commissioner for the consideration of 50% of the price paid for selection. Upon receiving notice, the previous team has 72 hours to accept or reject the assignment, unless that player is eligible for free agency, in which case the team has 24 hours to accept or reject the assignment. Failure to accept constitutes a rejection. If the previous team rejects assignment, the selecting team owes no further obligation to the previous team. Active List Restrictions A selected player must remain on the 25-man roster (or the DL) of the selecting team for a full season, after which the selecting team's obligations to the previous team are fulfilled, and the selecting team may then assign the players to the minor leagues as it sees fit. However, a selected player must remain on the Active List for the selecting team for an aggregate of 90 days for that season, or the Rule 5 restrictions will continue to apply for the following season until that player has been on the selecting team�s Active List for an aggregate of 90 days. Salary on Return The selecting team is liable for any excess salary over and above that player's previous season contract.

[RealityChuck]

Obviously a mistake.

There is NO rule 6.

[Frayed Knot]

Rule seven: No poofters