2017 Baseball
Baseball Explained
Baseball is a game played by two teams, one out the other in. The one that's in sends players out, one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count. When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out. When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out. The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in.
The Classic Argument
In the Following, What s Going On?
Bases loaded, less than two outs. Batter hits ground ball which is fielded by first baseman playing off the bag. F3 then attempts to tag R1. U1 gives the safe sign. F3 next throws to catcher (whose foot is on home plate) in time to force out R3. No other play attempted. Offensive manager requests a review. Why would he do this?
RULE 1 CONCEPTS 7 innings and 9 players Names on lineup cards, approved by UIC Players on fair ground at time of pitch Front edge of pitcher s rubber in front of line going through 1 st and 3 rd Wood bat versus one not made from a single piece of wood BBCOR.50
RULE 1 CONCEPTS(cont d) Any fielder can wear glove/mitt Glove/mitt worn by fielders has size limitations Loose equipment rule Uniform restriction for pitcher Batter s helmet Catcher s equipment
Rule 1: Players, Field and Equipment
Batting Order - player s name is the key [1-1-3] If a media area is to be used - established before game [1-2-8] Any game started on a non-regulation facility by mutual agreement-cannot be protested for this reason. [1-2-12] If loose equipment (on or near the field) interferes with play, the umpire may call an out(s), award bases or return runner, based on his judgement and the circumstances concerning the play. [1-3-7] Catcher s mask/helmet combination - meets NOCSAE standard; includes full ear protection; throat protector; one piece or multi-piece design [1-5-4]
Bats must be legal; penalty for illegal bat is severe. Bats - BBCOR.50 [1-3-2] Exception is the Easton Lock & Load What about just the leg?
The Baseball 5 to 5¼ ounces in weight 9 to 9¼ inches in circumference COR 0.555 Two strips of white horsehide or cowhide NFHS Authenticating Mark Baseballs can come apart during a game
RULE 2 CONCEPTS Fair Ball Conferences Foul Ball Foul Tip Infield Fly Catch Tag Interference Obstruction Force Out Slide Strike Zone Substitutions
Rule 2: Playing Terms and Definitions
A fair ball is a batted ball which: (a) settles on fair territory between home and first or third base; (b) contacts fair ground on or beyond an imaginary line between first and third base; (c) is on or over fair ground when bounding to the outfield past first/third base; (d) first falls on fair ground on or beyond first/third base; (e) touches first, second or third base; (f) while on or over fair territory, touches the person of an umpire or player, their clothing or equipment; (g) while over fair ground passes out of the playing field in flight.[ 2-5-1]
A catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a live ball in flight and firmly holding it, provided he does not use his cap, protector, mask, pocket or other part of his uniform to trap the ball. The catch of a fly ball by a fielder is not completed until the continuing action of the catch is completed. A fielder who catches a ball and then runs into a wall or another player and drops the ball has not made a catch. A fielder, at full speed, who catches a ball and whose initial momentum carries him several more yards after which the ball drops from his glove has not made a catch.
When the fielder, by his action of stopping, removing the ball from his glove, etc., signifies the initial action is completed and then drops the ball, will be judged to have made the catch. The same definition of a catch would apply when making a double play. It is considered a catch if a fielder catches a fair or foul ball and then steps or falls into a bench, dugout, stand, bleacher or over any boundary or barrier, such as a fence, rope, chalk line, or a pregame determined imaginary boundary line from the field of play. Falling into does not include merely running against such object.
It is not a catch when a fielder touches a batted ball in flight which then contacts a member of the offensive team or an umpire and is then caught by a defensive player. (When a batted ball or a pitch is involved, the above definition of a catch applies. A fielder may have the ball in his grasp even though it touching the ground while in his glove.) [2-9-1]
Commentary: The fielder must hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. Only two circumstances may be interpreted as creating a voluntary and intentional release. They are when the momentum of the catch is complete (i.e., the fielder has reversed his direction and is running the ball back toward the infield or when the fielder is reaching for the ball to make a throw. A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. G. Demetriou It is not a catch if immediately following contact with the ball, the fielder drops it as a result of a collision with another player, a wall or fence, or the ground. G. Demetriou
A charged conference is a meeting which involves the coach or his non-playing representative and a player or players of the team. [2-10-1] A pregame conference is a meeting involving the umpires, both head coaches and team captains (if available) near home plate: begins 5 minutes before game time; exchange/check lineup cards; discuss ground rules; verify players are properly equipped; verify equipment is legal; express the expectation of good sporting behavior; both teams in bench area until meeting concluded. [2-10-2]
A foul is a batted ball: (a) which settles on foul territory between home and first base or third base; (b) that bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory; (c) that first falls on foul territory beyond first or third base; (d) that, while on or over foul territory, touches the person of an umpire or a player or any object foreign to the natural ground; (e) that touches the ground after inadvertently being declared foul by an umpire; (f) that hits the batter in the batter s box; (g) that hits the ground or home plate and then hits the batter or the bat which is held by the batter, while he is in the batter s box. [2-16-1] A foul tip is a batted ball that goes directly to the catcher s hands and is legally caught by the catcher. It is a strike and the ball is in play. [2-16-2]
An infield fly is a fair fly (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, and provided the hit is made before two are out and at a time when first and second bases or all bases are occupied. [2-19] (Ruling may be affected by wind, but not by sun.)
Offensive Interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat: (a) which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play; (b) when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder, with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline; (c) a coach physically assists a runner during playing action. [2-21-1] Umpire Interference is when an umpire inadvertently moves so as to hinder a catcher s attempt to throw, or when a fair ball touches an umpire as in 5-5-1f, or thrown ball as in 5-1-1g. [2-21-2] Spectator Interference is an act by a spectator which impedes the progress of the game. [2-21-3]
Follow-Through Interference is when the bat hits the catcher after the batter has swung at a pitch and hinders action at home plate or the catcher s attempt to play on a runner. [2-21-4] Backswing Interference is when a batter contacts the catcher or his equipment prior to the time of the pitch. [2-21-5]
Obstruction is an act (intentional or unintentional, as well as physical or verbal) by a fielder (not attempting to make a play), any member of the defensive team or its team personnel that hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play as in 5-1-3 and 8-3-2; or when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter as in 5-1-2b, 8-1-1e, 8-3-1c and 8-3-2. When obstruction occurs, the ball becomes dead at the end of playing action, and the umpire has authority to determine which base or bases shall be awarded the runners according to the rule violated (unless runner does not legally attempt to avoid a fielder in the immediate act of making a play on him or dives over a fielder). [2-22-1] A fake tag is an act by a defensive player without the ball that simulates a tag. A fake tag in considered obstruction. [2-22-2] The fielder without possession of the ball denies access to the base the runner is attempting to achieve. [2-22-3]
A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, a least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, he must slide with reach of the base with either a hand or a foot. A runner may slide or run in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. [2-32-1]
A slide is illegal if: (a) the runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide into the fielder; (b) the runner s raised leg is higher than the fielder s knee when the fielder is in a standing position; (c) except at home plate, the runner goes beyond the base and then makes contact with or alters the play of the fielder. At home plate, it is permissible for the slider s momentum to carry him through the plate in a straight line (baseline extended); (d) the runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg; (e) the runner tries to injure the fielder; (f) the runner, on a force play, does not slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. [2-32-2, a-f]
The strike zone is that space over home plate, the top of which is halfway between the batter s shoulders and the waistline, and the bottom being the knees, when he assumes his natural batting stance. The height of the strike zone is determined by the batter s normal batting stance. If he crouches or leans over to make the shoulder line lower, the umpire determines height by what would be the batter s normal stance. [2-35]
Width of the Strike Zone 17 inches
Width of the Strike Zone 17 inches 2 x 2.94 inches of baseball
Width of the Strike Zone 17 inches 2 x 2.94 inches of baseball 2 x 2 inch margin of error 26.88 inches wide 29 inches from batter s box to batter s box
A force-out is a putout during which a runner who is being forced to advance is tagged out, or is put out by a fielder who holds the ball while touching the base toward which the forced runner is advancing. [2-24-1] Force Play is a play in which a runner legally loses his right to occupy a base by reason of the batter becoming a runner. (from MLB)
What s Going On?
Bases loaded, less than two outs. Batter hits ground ball which is fielded by first baseman playing off the bag. F3 then attempts to tag R1. U1 gives the safe sign. F3 next throws to catcher (whose foot is on home plate) in time to force out R3. No other play attempted. Offensive manager requests a review. Why would he do this?
A substitute is a player who is eligible to replace another player already in the lineup. [2-36-1] An unreported substitute is a player who, by rule, can be in the game but has entered without reporting. [2-36-2] An illegal substitute is: (a) a player who enters or re-enters the game without eligibility to do so (b) a player who re-enters the game in the wrong position in the batting order (c) a player who enters the game on defense while the player for whom hi is batting is also on defense (d) when the player for whom the DH is batting enters the game as a batter or runner in a different position in the batting order (e) a player who violates the courtesy runner rule. [2-36-3]
Tag: A tag out is the put out of a runner, including the batter-runner, who is not in contact with his base when touched with a live ball or with the glove or hand when the live ball is held securely therein by a fielder. The ball is not considered as having been securely held, if it is juggled or dropped after the touching unless the runner deliberately knocks the ball from the hand of the fielder. [2-24-4] A tag is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove, or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove. The fielder must maintain or regain control of his body and if he drops the ball due to his lack of body control or control of the ball, it is not a tag. A voluntary and intentional release is substantive proof of complete control. G. Demetriou
Is there a difference between tagging a runner and tagging a base? In a footrace to the bag when the fielder beats the runner (on a force play), that s an out. A subsequent drop does not affect the outcome. The reason: The fielder has possession of the ball and once he stepped on the base the runner is out as long as the fielder is not bobbling the ball. Fitzpatrick in BRD
Compilation of MLB Ejections Is there something to be learned from each of these ejections?
THE END