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 baer’s hand, he or she is a hit batsmen, as long as the baer is not making an aempt 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 aer running through first base, the runner must make an a'empt to advance to second base. • A>empOng to avoid a tag aer running through first base is not considered an aempt 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 baer interferes with a fielder who is aempOng to make a play on a runner, it is interference, regardless of posiOon. • If he makes an aempt to get out of the way, interference should not be called • Rule 7.09 Myth: A foul Op is a dead ball • Any pitch that is Opped directly into the catchers hand is a foul Op. A foul Op 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 baer, the foul Op is strike three Bang 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 baer – The coach of the defensive team will call Ome, and both teams scorekeepers and the umpires will determine whether or not there was an infracOon. Bang out of order cont’d • There is an infracOon if any baer baed in the wrong order • The baer who was due to bat is called out • The play that occurred with the improper baer hing is nullified • The baer who is due up next is now brought up to hit Bang out of order cont’d • The bang 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 aer 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 aempt to bunt the ball. • This means that if a ball sails over the baer’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 baer is out if he steps on the plate • The baer is out if he/she hits the ball with one or more feet enOrely outside of the baers box • This means that part of the foot could be in contact with the plate and the baer would not be called out – Rule 6.06 Myth: Tie goes to the runner • There are no Oes 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 Ome of the throw or the Ome of the pitch depending on the play. – Rule 7.05 g Fact: Never touch a runner! • If a coach touches the runner in an aempt 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 baer, that is a HBP, and the baer 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 roune play by an infielder • Obviously, the definiOon of a rouOne 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 leM hand and verbally declare the baer out • This eliminates the force on the base runners, but the ball is sOll live • Runners can advance at their own risk, but must tag up if the infield fly is caught (not if it is dropped). • An aempted bunt cannot be an Infield Fly – Rule 2.00 Myth: “He leM 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 ObstrucOon vs Interference • ObstrucOon is called on the defensive team, while interference is called on the offensive team (Disregarding catcher’s or Umpire’s interference) • ObstrucOon takes place when a member of the defensive team hinders the progress of a runner • There does not have to be contact for obstrucOon • The umpire(s) can award the runner the base they believe he/she would’ve reached had there been no obstrucOon • Coaches: watch out for your first basemen being in the base path ObstrucOon vs Interference • Interference is called on the offensive team when a runner or baer 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 .