Baseball Myths and Confusing Rules
2015 Myth: The hands are part of the bat
• The hands are not part of the bat • If the ball hits the ba er’s hand, he or she is a hit batsmen, as long as the ba er is not making an a empt to hit the ball when struck. • If the ball first hits the bat, and then the hand, then the ball is foul – Rule 6.08 b Myth: “He turned into fair territory, tag him!” • In order to become liable to be put out a er running through first base, the runner must make an a empt to advance to second base. • A emp ng to avoid a tag a er running through first base is not considered an a empt to advance – Rule 7.07 c Myth: “It hit the plate, it’s foul!”
• The plate is in fair territory, and any ball that contacts the plate is a live ball, as the plate is part of the field – Rule 2.00 Myth: “He’s in the box, how can that be interference?” • If the ba er interferes with a fielder who is a emp ng to make a play on a runner, it is interference, regardless of posi on. • If he makes an a empt to get out of the way, interference should not be called • Rule 7.09 Myth: A foul p is a dead ball
• Any pitch that is pped directly into the catchers hand is a foul p. A foul p that is not caught does not exist. If dropped, this is just a foul ball. • Always a live ball (this means that a runner can steal, be picked off, etc.) • If there are already two strikes on the ba er, the foul p is strike three Ba ng out of order
• This one seems complicated, its really pre y simple • First, you need to understand the appeal process: – The appeal must be made before a pitch is delivered to the next ba er – The coach of the defensive team will call me, and both teams scorekeepers and the umpires will determine whether or not there was an infrac on. Ba ng out of order cont’d
• There is an infrac on if any ba er ba ed in the wrong order • The ba er who was due to bat is called out • The play that occurred with the improper ba er hi ng is nullified • The ba er who is due up next is now brought up to hit Ba ng out of order cont’d
• The ba ng order is Abel, Baker, Charlie, Daniel • If Baker hits in Abel’s place, Abel is called out and Baker comes to the plate, even though he just hit. If a pitch is delivered to Charlie before the appeal, then there is no call • If Baker hits in Abel’s place, but the defensive team points this out a er one strike has been delivered to Baker, Abel replaces Baker at the plate and inherits an 0-1 count—Nobody is called out – Rule 6.07 d Myth: “He didn’t pull it back, that’s a strike!” • If a player shows bunt and does not contact the ball, a strike is only called if he makes an a empt to bunt the ball. • This means that if a ball sails over the ba er’s head and he/she does not pull the bunt back, but instead leaves it where it was, near their chest, it is not a strike. – Rule 2.00 Myth: The ba er is out if he steps on the plate • The ba er is out if he/she hits the ball with one or more feet en rely outside of the ba ers box • This means that part of the foot could be in contact with the plate and the ba er would not be called out – Rule 6.06 Myth: Tie goes to the runner
• There are no es in baseball, the umpire must rule that either the ball or runner got to the base first – Rule 7.08 e Myth: One base is awarded on a throw out of play • No. The penalty for throwing the ball out of play is 2 bases. Those two bases include the base the runner was advancing to and the next base. • These bases are determined based on either the me of the throw or the me of the pitch depending on the play. – Rule 7.05 g Fact: Never touch a runner!
• If a coach touches the runner in an a empt to assist said runner, the runner is out – Rule 7.09 h – High fiving does not count Slide or avoid contact
• A runner does not have to slide—ever! • He has to slide or avoid contact • He does not have to slide or avoid contact when the fielder is not making a play on the ball • Just because the runner hit the catcher does not mean he is out if there was no play at home • The rule refers to contact with a fielder, not the ball – Rule 7.08 a Myth: “It bounced before it hit him, he doesn’t get first base!” • While a pitch that bounces before reaching the plate cannot be a called strike, it is a live ball • If it strikes the ba er, that is a HBP, and the ba er is granted first base – Rule 6.08 b The Infield Fly Rule
• First, there must be runners on first and second base or the bases must be loaded with less than 2 outs • Any fair fly ball that can be caught on a rou ne play by an infielder • Obviously, the defini on of a rou ne play differs by level—be sure to note that the dirt infield boundary has no effect on the Infield fly rule The Infield Fly Rule cont’d
• The umpire will point with his/her le hand and verbally declare the ba er out • This eliminates the force on the base runners, but the ball is s ll live • Runners can advance at their own risk, but must tag up if the infield fly is caught (not if it is dropped). • An a empted bunt cannot be an Infield Fly – Rule 2.00 Myth: “He le early, he’s out!”
• A runner is never out for leaving early • If a runner leaves early: – He/she will be sent back to the last unoccupied base if such exists – If, on an infield hit, a runner leaves early, no runs shall be allowed to score – This could mean that with the bases loaded, a runner is removed from third base—He is not out • Rule 7.13 Obstruc on vs Interference
• Obstruc on is called on the defensive team, while interference is called on the offensive team (Disregarding catcher’s or Umpire’s interference) • Obstruc on takes place when a member of the defensive team hinders the progress of a runner • There does not have to be contact for obstruc on • The umpire(s) can award the runner the base they believe he/she would’ve reached had there been no obstruc on • Coaches: watch out for your first basemen being in the base path Obstruc on vs Interference
• Interference is called on the offensive team when a runner or ba er interferes with a defender who is making a play on the ball • This could come in infinite different forms • A common one is on the throw from second to first on a double play when the runner is hit with or hinders the making of the throw • One or more runners can be called out for interference, it is an umpire’s judgment