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 amer running through first base, the runner must make an a'empt to advance to second base. A>empOng to avoid a tag amer 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>empong to make a play on a runner, it is interference, regardless of posioon. If he makes an a>empt 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 ba>er, the foul Op is strike three
BaYng 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 Ome, and both teams scorekeepers and the umpires will determine whether or not there was an infracoon.
BaYng out of order cont d There is an infracoon 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 hiyng is nullified The ba>er who is due up next is now brought up to hit
BaYng out of order cont d The bayng 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 amer 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 enorely 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 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 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 rou7ne 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 ba>er 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 a>empted 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 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