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Baseball Rules Primer

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Baseball Rules Primer These are not all the rules, but an attempt to aid managers, coaches, players, parents, fans in a better understanding of the basic rules and a greater appreciation of the game. This is not a substitute for the rules. It is strongly recommended that you obtain and read the rule book. The rules book is broken down into basic sections covering: General information Regulations Objectives of the game Definitions Game preliminaries Starting, stopping and ending a game Putting the ball in play, live ball, dead ball The batter The runner The pitcher The umpire An index for quick reference for a particular circumstance tournament rules We encourage having the rule book with you during games so that as a situation arises or occurs, you can look up the rule quickly. Dominick Boncore © 2003 1 BALL- A legal pitch which in FLIGHT is outside the strike zone AND is not struck at by the batter. STRIKE- A legal pitch which meets any of these conditions- a) Is in the strike zone and not struck at by the batter. (Ball is alive). b) Is struck at by the batter and missed. (Ball is alive). c) Is hit foul by the batter with less than two strikes. (Ball is dead). d) Is bunted foul by the batter. (Ball is dead). e) Touches the batter as the batter swings at it. (Ball is dead). f) Touches the batter in Hight in the strike zone. (Ball is dead). g) Becomes a foul tip. (Ball is alive). h) When a batter refuses to enter batter's box at the umpires direction, the umpire shall direct the pitcher to pitch the ball, each such pitch shall be called a strike. (Ball is alive). i) Touches the runner in the strike zone, when that runner is attempting to steal home base. (Ball is dead). Note 1) Junior, Senior & Big leagues only. FAIR TERRITORY- That playing territory within and extending horizontally and vertically from home plate down the tirst and third base lines to the outfield fence and foul poles. Note 1) Home plate, the bases, the foul lines and foul poles are in fair territory. Dominick Boncore © 2003 2 FAIR BALL- is a batted ball that meets any of these conditions) SETTLES in fair territory before passing first or third base. b) Is ON or OVER fair territory, when bounding past first or third base toward the outfield. c) Touches first, second or third base. d FIRST falls in fair territory on or beyond first and third base. e) Touches a runner or umpire in fair territory before touching a fielder. Note 1) See interference. f) While in FLIGHT leaves the playing field in fair territory. Note 1) A batted ground ball fielded in front of first or third base OR a batted fly ball/line drive shall be adjudged according to the relative position of the BALL and the FOUL LINE and NOT whether the fielder was in fair or foul territory. CATCH- Player has demonstrated secure possession, complete control of the ball in the players' hand or glove and voluntary release of the ball. Note 1) It is a catch if ball is caught when INITIALLY rebounding off a defensive player/s NO CATCH- Ball drops as result of collision or falling, if ball touches ground, fence or caught when rebounding off an umpire or offensive player. Dominick Boncore © 2003 3 TRAPPED BALLS - are NOT catches until player has demonstrated complete control of the ball in the players' hand or glove. Note 1) Offensive players can leave their bases the instant a fly ball/line drive touches the defensive player or glove. FOUL TIP- A batted ball that goes SHARP and DIRECT from the bat to the catchers hand or glove and is legally caught. It is not a catch if it is a rebound unless the ball has first touched the catchers hand or glove. Note 1) A foul tip is AL WA YS a strike and a live ball. INFIELD FLY- A FAIR fly ball which can be caught with ORDINARY effort by an infielder when first and second, or first, second and third are occupied with less than two out. (Ball is alive). Note 1) Line drives and bunts are NOT infield flies. IN FLIGHT- A batted, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or other object other than a fielder. BATTERS LEGAL POSlTiON- shall be with both feet within the batter's box. Note 1) The lines forming the batter's box are part of the batter's box. BATTER HIT BY A PlTCH- is entitled to first base ONLY if- a) The batter was NOT attempting to hit the ball, the ball was OUTSIDE the strike zone AND the batter has made AN ATTEMPT to avoid being hit by the pitch. (Ball is dead). Dominick Boncore © 2003 4 BATTER IS OUT WHEN- a) The batted fair or foul fly ball, other than a foul tip is legally caught by a fielder. (Ball is alive). b) A third strike is legally caught by the catcher. Note 1) Does not have to be legally caught by the catcher for little league 12 yrs or younger. (Ball is alive). c) A third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied with less than two out. (Ball is alive). Note 1) Junior, Senior & Big league only. d) After an un-caught third strike with first base unoccupied OR first base occupied with two out the batter or first base is tagged before the batter touches first base. (Ball is alive). Note 1) Junior, Senior & Big league only. e) Bunting foul on a third strike. (Ball is dead). f) An infield fly is declared. (Ball is alive). g) With two strikes, the batter is hit by a legal pitch while attempting to hit the pitch. (Ball is dead). h) The batted fair ball touches the batter before touching a fielder. (Ball is dead). i) With a runner on third, two out, and two strikes on the batter, the runner attempts to steal home on a legal pitch, which touches the runner in the batter's strike zone. (Strike three, third out, no run scores), (With less than two out, strike three, run scores) (Ball is dead in both cases). Note 1) Junior, Senior & Big league only. Dominick Boncore © 2003 5 BATTER IS OUT WHEN- (continued) j) After hitting or bunting a fair ball, the BAT hits the ball a second time in fair territory. (Ball is dead). Note 1) The batter is not out, if the bat is dropped and the BALL rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire's judgement, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the balI. (Ball is alive). k) After hitting or bunting a foul ball, the batter INTENTIONALLY deflects the ball in any manner while running to first base. (Ball is dead). I) After hitting a fair ground or settled ball, the batter or first base is tagged before the batter touches first base. (Ball is alive). m) Hitting a legal pitch with one or both feet on the ground ENTIRELY outside the batters' box. (Ball is dead). n) Interfering with the catcher's fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter's box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher making the play. (Ball is dead) Note 1 ) Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out. (Ball is alive). 2 )Batter is not out if runner trying to score is called out for the batter's interference. 3) Batter is not out if when striking at, and missing the ball, the swing carries the bat all the way around and in the umpire's judgement, UNINTENTIONALLY hits the catcher or the ball in back of the batter before the catcher has securely held the ball. (Ball is dead). Dominick Boncore © 2003 6 BATTER IS OUT WHEN- (continued) o) In running the last half of the distance from home plate to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, the batter runs inside or outside the three foot runners' lane, and in the umpire's judgement, INTERFERES with the fielder taking the throw. (Ball is dead). Note 1) The lines forming the runners' lane are part of the lane. 2) The batter may run outside or inside the three foot runners' lane to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball. p) In the umpire's judgement, the batter lNTENTIONALLY interferes with a fair batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball, with the obvious intent to break up a double play. (Ball is dead). Note 1) The runner closest to home plate shall also be called out, regardless of where the double play might have been possible. q) A preceding runner, in the umpire's judgement lNTENTIONALLY interferes with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete a play. (Ball is dead). Note 1) This rule applies to breaking up a double play, rather than trying to reach a base. r) An infielder INTENTIONALLY drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with a force situation at any base before two are out. (Ball is dead). Note 1) If the infielder permits the ball to drop UNTOUCHED to the ground, the batter is NOT out, except when the Infield Fly rule applies. (Ball is alive). s) Stepping from one batter's box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch.
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