I will be posting some of the Questions I am asked about the rules of Baseball !!!!! If you have a Rule you want explained, email me and I will try to respond to you ASAP. Please Label all Questions as 'Stump the Ump' so I know to give them priority!! The best Questions will be used in this section of my homepage.
Question #1 `Lightnin
With a runner on third the offencive team tries a sucide squeeze, the bat hits the catchers glove as he tries to bunt the ball what is the call??
Answer #1
Double Penalty Batter runner is awarded 1st the pitcher is charged with a Balk and R3 scores .. Rule Reference 7.07h
Question #2 Bob Nicholas
A pitched ball hits the dirt comes off the catcher and roles out of play. Where would the runner on first go??
Answer #2
R1 ia awarded 2nd base .. Rule Reference 7.05h
Question #3 Aaron Welch
Can a player change the side of the plate which he is hitting from in the
middle of his at bat? Last year Robbie Alomar started out on the right side
of the plate, the count was 1-2 and he broke his bat fouling a pitch off.
He went and got a new bat and resumed his at bat on the left side of the
plate. He the got a base hit. If the Blue Jays argued ths....what would
the ruling be?
Answer #3
6.06 b a batter is out for illegel action when he steps from the batters box to the other while the pitcher is in a position ready to pitch.
This means that if the pitcher is on the rubber and he moves from his present box to the other ....Robbie Alomar had gone to the duggout so he was not in a batters box and can therefore switch sides.
Question #4 `Lightnin
Runner on 3rd base (R3), 3 Balls 2 Strikes 2 Out, Pitcher standing on the rubber taking his signs, R3 brakes for home and crosses the plate before the pitch without being hit by the pitch. The pitch is a called third strike retiring the bater. Does the run count??
Answer #4
4.09 a One run shall be scored each time a runner legally advances and touches 1st, 2nd, 3rd and home, before three men are out to end the inning. EXCEPTION A run shall not score if the runner advances to home during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter runner before he touches 1st.
In this case the batter runner does not reach 1st so the run does not count because the play starts from the time the pitcher takes up a legal pitching position (ie as soon as he toes the rubber to take his signs).
Question #5 Bob Nicholas
Batted ball hits the front of third base and roles out of play where does the runner on first go?
Answer #5
Ground Rule Double R1 to 3rd base and Batter to 2nd base... Rule Reference 2 Fair Batted Ball Hits Base .... Rule Reference 6.09 e & f Fair Ball Bounces Out of Play
Question #6 Glanbrook Coach
Is the batter runner still required to run in the running lane after a dropped third strike??
Answer #6
Absolutely, the batter runner is required to run in the lane anytime he is attempting to reach 1st no matter what the circumstance .. Rule Reference 7.09k
Question #7 `Lightnin
With runners on the corners the pitcher is called on a Balk during his delivery, the pitch is thrown, the batter squares to bunt withdraws his attempt and is drilled by the pitch. Where do the runners and the batter runner go??
Answer #7
The Balk is enforced R1 is awarded 2nd base R3 is awarded home and the batter runner stays as the batter ... Rule Reference 8.05
Question #8 Bob Nicholas
Catcher is throwing down to 3rd to try and catch the runner in a run down... the ball hits the runner in foul teritory and roles out of play where do R2 and R3 go?
Answer #8
Both Runners awarded Home... Rule Reference 7.05g
Question #9 Unsigned
How can you have an Infield Fly Rule called when the catch is made on the Outfield Grass?
Answer #9
2 Definitions...An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not a line drive or bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort.
The reason this seems to confuse many fans of the game is there is NO limit as to where the catch by the infielder may be made. If the Flyball is so high that the infielder can set up and wait for the ball to drop it should probably be called an Infield Fly....this is not to say however that a diving over the shoulder catch by the SS is an infield fly because that is NOT ordinary effort.
Question #10 Glanbrook Coach
What is the penalty for a catcher pushing a ball into his mitt with his mask in his throwing hand?
Answer #10
Any ball played by a player using detached gear or any part of his uniform is a 2 base award. Rule Reference 7.05d
Question #11 Jim Brewer
I would like to know the correct interpretation of the 8.05 balk rules so that I can make the proper on field ruling to the following situation:
Runner on second base - 1 out
R2 takes lead off second, f4 is covering second base and the pitcher
comes to his stretch position and makes a complete stop. The "INSTANT"
the pitcher lifts his front(free) foot, R2 breaks for third base. The
pitcher raise his front foot and knee to maximum height and has not yet
committed himself to pitch to the batter or to spin and attempt a pick
off move. Could you please respond to each of the following scenarios.
A. Pitcher spins on his pivot foot and steps toward second base, (his
free foot crossed the back edge of the rubber ONLY BECAUSE he stepped
to second) then he DOES NOT throw to second but runs at baserunner and
gets R2 in a run down and eventually R2 is tagged out.
B. With the Pitcher's knee at maximum height, the Pitcher sees runner
break for third and pitcher steps and throws to third and R2 is easily
retired.
Answer #11
A) This is not a Balk, the pitcher may fake to 2nd so he is not required to throw.