As expected the Steering Committee of the World Baseball Classic made a few changes for the 2009 edition of the WBC on Thursday. They increased the pitch-count limits per game in comparison to the 2006 Classic and pitchers, who have thrown 30 pitches, will not be allowed to go back-to-back. Also, the video replay rules of Major League Baseball will be adopted, which means umpires can review homeruns.
The most important and interesting rules are the last two: The teams have to announce their starting pitchers one day before the game, stopping the ridiculous practice in International Baseball. And a modified IBAF extra inning rule will be used, although the rule might not be in effect for the championship game.
The complete press release following Thursday’s meeting:
- Pitch-count limits will be increased to 70 per game in Round One, 85 per game in Round Two and 100 per game in the semi-finals and final (increased from 65/80/95 in 2006);
- With semi-final games being played on consecutive days, a pitcher rest equalization rule will be implemented to avoid giving an advantage to the team that played first. Any pitcher who throws 30 or more pitches in the semi-finals will not be eligible to pitch in the finals;
- The MLB rule on video replay will be adopted, allowing a review by umpires for certain “boundary” calls (home run over fence; fair/foul home run call; fan interference on home run call);
- Base coaches will be required to wear protective helmets;
- Participating teams will be required to announce the next day’s starting pitcher;
- A variant of the IBAF extra-inning rule, which was used in the 2008 Olympics, will be utilized: beginning with 13th inning, each half-inning will begin with runners on first and second base, with the batting order intact. The applicability of the rule to the championship game of the tournament is under review by the Rules and Regulations Committee.
