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Baseball's "Unwritten" Rules

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Baseball's archived as http://www.stealthskater.com/Documents/Baseball_01.doc (also …Baseball_01.pdf) => doc pdf URL-doc URL-pdf more sports-related articles are on the /Sports.htm page at doc pdf URL Baseball's "Unwritten" Rules 1. Don't stand on the dirt near home plate while a pitcher is warming up. 2. Don’t steal the catcher’s signs using means outside of the diamond. It’s fair game for base runners to steal signs from the catcher. But when a catcher has to go through multiple signs with the bases empty, something’s not right. Using technology such as video cameras, binoculars, or walkie-talkies should not be used to give hitters an advantage at the plate. 3. Don’t make the first or third out at third. Pure strategy. If a base runner makes the first out of an inning at third base, that means he took a gamble because he otherwise could have scored from second base on 2 sacrifice outs. A runner should not risk making the third out at third base because he would score from second on most any base hit. 4. If a Pitcher Hits a Teammate, Hit One of Theirs. This unwritten rule gets teams into trouble big time since it leads to ejections and potentially fines and suspensions depending on the severity of the incident. Still, it makes sense why the rule is done. Intentionally throwing at hitters will be reciprocated by the other team. Look out! If any player violates an unwritten rule, he or his team’s top slugger should expect a beanball later in the game, series, or even season. The retaliation game continues until the umpire starts tossing people. 5. If you do intentionally hit a batter, don’t aim at his head. Throwing at someone intentionally is one thing. But headhunting is a whole 'nother bag. Ray Chapman, a shortstop for the Cleveland Indians in the early 20th century, died after getting hit in the head with a pitch. Until 1971, players were not mandated to wear a batting helmet. With the increase of concussion awareness throughout all sports, headhunting might be the biggest no-no of all the unwritten rules. 6. Base runners should not shout or distract a fielder getting under an infield fly. Made well- known recently by Alex Rodriguez, players should not yell or do anything to distract fielders settling under an infield fly. Many in baseball consider it bush league. The Yankees led by 2 runs when Jorge Posada popped up to third base with two out in a May 30, 2007 game at Rogers Centre. Rodriguez, running from first base, shouted “Ha” as he passed third baseman Howie Clark who then backed off and allowed the ball to drop. 7. Don’t walk across the pitcher’s rubber. Another ploy centered around Alex Rodriguez, the pitcher’s mound is not to be walked across by base runners en route to the dugout or back to a base after running on a foul ball. On April 22, 2010, Rodriguez trotted back to first base across the infield grass and the mound after rounding second base on a foul ball. A’s pitcher Dallas Braden was irked to say the least. "I don't care if I'm Cy Young or the 25th man on the roster. If I've got the ball in my hand and I'm on that mound, that's my mound! He ran across the pitcher's mound foot on my rubber. No, not happening. We're not the doormat anymore." 1 8. Don’t bunt to break up a no-hitter in the late innings. 5 outs shy from a perfect game, Ben Davis bunted for a base hit against Curt Schilling in a May 26, 2001 affair between the Padres and Diamondbacks. Like many of these unwritten rules, there is a gray line. In this case for what inning a no-hit bid turns from premature to serious. Generally speaking, a bunt to break up a no- hitter in the late innings is frowned upon. 9. Don’t discuss a no-hitter in progress. A rule commonly disregarded by broadcasters, speaking of a no-hitter in progress is a definite no-no in the dugout. Depending on the pitcher’s attitude, sometimes teammates won’t even come within 10 feet of a pitcher waiting in the dugout to get back on the mound and try to complete a no-hitter. Some fans will take this superstition seriously enough to forbid their friends from mentioning it while watching a no-hit bid on TV. 10. Don’t steal bases when leading by a wide margin. Your team is leading by half a dozen runs and it’s the 8th inning. Your team’s equivalent to Rickey Henderson is on first base. But that is not the time to swipe a bag. Even though that rare, miraculous, 9th inning comeback occurs from year-to- year, stealing bases with an insurmountable lead is bush league. 11. Don't Steal Bases When Greatly Behind. Conversely, if a team is down 11-0 and the man on first tries to steal second base, it just looks bad. It's really disrespectful more to your own team than the opponent since it doesn't help much. That extra base is not going to be the difference maker. 12. Don't Steal Third with 2 Outs. This unwritten rule is more for practicality than respect. If you have the opportunity to steal third base, then it means you're already in scoring position. And with 2 outs, you'll be charging to home plate if there's a line drive anyway. Trying to steal third base is difficult enough to begin with. So trying with 2 outs and potentially ending the inning is just a stupid move. 13. Pitchers should not show up their fielders. Some pitchers show little emotion on the mound (win or lose) while others like to take out their frustrations on coolers in the dugout. No matter how important the play, a pitcher should not show up his fielder for making a costly error. The "Gaylord Perry Law". Gaylord Perry always had a habit of putting his hands on his hips and doing other acts of frustration whenever the team was struggling on the field. Fielders don't glare at pitchers when they give up a home run. So why should pitchers be allowed to do whatever they want? They already get a safe zone in the pitcher's mound after all. 14. Don’t admire your home run right after you hit it. Conversely, a hitter shouldn't show up a pitcher after allowing a home run. This is another one that is brought about more out of respect than anything. When you hit a home run, you're supposed to act like you've hit one before (especially since that's almost always the case anyway). If it's a slight stare and you're Albert Pujols, generally it can slide. If you're watching it without even running the bases, it's not only disrespectful but also stupid since you don't really know if the ball's going to leave the park. Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa hit more than a thousand home runs combined. For many of those, they showed up the pitcher by shuffling, spinning, or admiring it. Neither pitchers nor hitters are willing to back down and that is why you still see both parties provoking each other today. 15. Catchers should not turn around to speak to an umpire after they are in their crouch. If there is any question of the umpire’s call on a pitch, catchers are told to face forward while making any comments. Turning around and getting in an umpire’s face is a sign to fans that there may have been a bad call and players and umps alike don’t want to be embarrassed. Major League Baseball has a very stern policy on arguing balls and strikes. It won’t take long for a manager to get thrown out of the game. But this rule isn’t documented, just accepted. 2 Follow the Umpire's Code. This is one that is really for the fans and media personalities just as much as the players and coaches. It's fine to disagree and complain to umpires. But they have their own code of conduct and batch of unwritten rules. You can complain all you want about a bad call. Just don't call him a bad umpire as we have seen the difference between the two in action. Working within an umpire's unwritten rules can certainly pay off for teams as well. 16. Don’t slide with your spikes up. Ty Cobb is the first player that comes to mind for this unwritten rule. Many players from his era publicly complained of Cobb’s tendencies to slide into bases with his spikes up putting fielders in harms way. It is one thing to slide away from the bag to break up a double play. But deliberately trying to put someone on the disabled list is another. Always go in with a "clean" slide. 17. Don't swing at the first pitch after back-to-back home runs. 18. Don't "work the count" when your team is up or down by a lot. 19. Don't swing at a 3-0 pitch when your team has a comfortable lead. 20. Don't embarrass opponents by having relievers throw fastballs when facing other relievers.
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