Quinte Baseball Umpires
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Myth 1 - The hands are considered part of the bat.
The hands are part of a person's body. If a pitch hits the batter's hands the ball is dead; if he swung at the pitch, a strike is called (NOT a foul). If he was avoiding the pitch, he is awarded first base.
Rules: 2.00 PERSON - The PERSON of a player or an umpire is any part of his body, his clothing or his equipment.
Rules: 2.00 TOUCH - To TOUCH a player or umpire is to touch any part of his body, his clothing or his equipment.
Rules: 2.00 STRIKE - A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which— (e) Touches the batter as he strikes at it;
Rules: 6.05 - A batter is out when— (f) He attempts to hit a third strike and the ball touches him;
Myth 2 - The batter-runner must turn to his right after over-running first base.
The batter-runner may turn left or right, provided that if he turns left he does not make an attempt to advance. An attempt is a judgment made by the umpire. The requirement is that the runner must immediately return to first after overrunning or over sliding it.
Rule: 7.08 - Any runner is out when—
(c) He is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base. EXCEPTION: A batter-runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning or oversliding first base if he returns immediately to the base;
APPROVED RULING: (1) If the impact of a runner breaks a base loose from its position, no play can be made on that runner at that base if he had reached the base safely.
APPROVED RULING: (2) If a base is dislodged from its position during a play, any following runner on the same play shall be considered as touching or occupying the base if, in the umpire’s judgment, he touches or occupies the point marked by the dislodged bag.
(j) He fails to return at once to first base after overrunning or oversliding that base. If he attempts to run to second he is out when tagged. If, after overrunning or oversliding first base he starts toward the dugout, or toward his position, and fails to return to first base at once, he is out, on appeal, when he or the base is tagged;
Rule 7.08(j) Comment: Runner who touches first base in overrunning and is declared safe by the umpire has, within the intent of Rule 4.09(a) "reached first base" and any run which scores on such a play counts, even though the runner subsequently becomes the third out for failure to return "at once," as covered in Rule 7.08(j).
Myth 3 - If the batter breaks his wrists when swinging, it's a strike.
A strike is a judgment by the umpire as to whether the
batter attempted to strike the ball. Breaking the wrists, or the barrel of the
bat crossing the plate are simply guides to making the judgment of an attempt,
these are not rules.
Rule: 2.00 STRIKE
Q4. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball.
A4. The plate is in fair territory. There is nothing special about it. If a batted ball hits it, it is treated like any other batted ball.
Q5. The batter cannot be called out for interference if he is in the batter's box.
A5. The batter's box is not a safety zone. A batter could be called out for interference if the umpire judges that interference could or should have been avoided. Rules: 2.00 INTERFERENCE, 6.06(c) Official Baseball Rules.
Q6. The ball is dead on a foul-tip.
A6. There is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If the ball nicks the bat and goes sharp and direct to the catcher's hand or glove and is caught, this is a foul-tip by definition. A foul-tip is a strike and the ball is alive. It is the same as a swing-and-miss. If the ball is not caught, it is a foul ball. If the nicked pitch first hits the catcher somewhere other than the hand or glove, it is not a foul-tip, it is a foul ball. Rules: 2.00 FOUL-TIP, STRIKE Official Baseball Rules
Q7. The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes.
A7. The batter can switch boxes at any time, provided he does not do it after the pitcher is ready to pitch. Rule: 6.06(b) Official Baseball Rules
Q8. The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out.
A8. The PROPER batter is the one called out. Any hit or
advance made by the batter or runners due to the hit, walk, error or other
reason is nullified. The next batter is the one who follows the proper batter
who was called out.
Rule: 6.07(b, 1)
Official Baseball Rules
Q9. The batter may not overrun first base when he gets a base-on-balls.
A9. Rule 7.08(c and j) simply state that a batter-runner must immediately return after overrunning first base. It doesn't state any exceptions as to how the player became a runner. It could be a hit, walk, error or dropped third strike. See Official Baseball Rules
Q10. The batter is out if he starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike.
A10. The batter may attempt first base anytime prior to
entering the dugout or a dead ball area.
Rule: 6.05(c), 6.09(b) Casebook interpretation
Official Baseball Rules.
Q11. If the batter does not pull the bat out of the strike zone while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike.
A11. A strike is an attempt to hit the ball. Simply
holding the bat over the plate is not an attempt. This is umpire judgment.
Rule 2.00 STRIKE
Official Baseball Rules
Q12. The batter is out if a bunted ball hits the ground and bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat.
A12. The rule says the BAT cannot hit the ball a second time. When the BALL hits the bat, it is not an out. Rules: 6.05(h) and 7.09(b) Official Baseball Rules
Q13. The batter is out if his foot touches the plate.
A13. To be out the batter's foot must be ENTIRELY outside the box when he contacts the pitch. There is no statement about touching the plate. The toe could be on the plate and the heel could be touching the line of the box, which means the foot is not entirely outside the box. Rule: 6.06(a) Official Baseball Rules
Q14. The batter-runner is always out if he runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball.
A14. The runner must be out of the box AND cause
interference. He is not out simply for being outside the lane. He could be
called for interference even while in the lane. This is a judgment call.
Rules: 2.00 INTERFERENCE, 6.05(k), 7.09(k)
Official Baseball Rules
Q15. A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players, after a homerun is hit over the fence.
A15. The ball is dead on a homerun over the fence. You
can't be put out while the ball is dead except when you pass another runner.
Rules: 5.02, 7.05(a)
Official Baseball Rules
Q16. Tie goes to the runner.
A16. There is no such thing in the world of umpiring. The runner is either out or safe.
Q17. The runner gets the base he's going to, plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play.
A17. When a fielder other than the pitcher throws the ball into dead ball area, the award is 2 bases. The award is from where the runners were at the time of the pitch if it is the first play by an infielder before all runners have advanced or from where each runner was physically positioned at the time the ball left the throwers hand on all other plays. Rule: 7.05(g) Official Baseball Rules
Q18. Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out.
A18. Rule 7.09(I) says the runner is out if the coach
PHYSICALLY ASSISTS the runner. Hand slaps, back pats or simple touches are not
physical assists.
Q19. Runners may never run the bases in reverse order.
A19. In order to correct a base running mistake, the runner MUST retrace his steps and retouch the bases in reverse order. The only time a runner is out for running in reverse, is when he is making a travesty of the game or tries to confuse the defense. Rules: 7.08(I), 7.10(b) Official Baseball Rules
Q20. The runner must always slide when the play is close.
A20. There is no "must slide" rule. When the fielder has
the ball in possession, the runner has two choices; slide OR attempt to get
around the fielder. He may NOT deliberately or maliciously contact the fielder,
but he is NOT required to slide.
Rule: 7.08(a, 3) this rule does not apply to professionals.
See
Sliding and
Collisions.
Q21. The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base.
A21. The bases are in fair territory. A runner is out when hit by a fair batted ball, except an infield-fly. Rules: 5.09(f), 7.08(f) Official Baseball Rules
Q22. A runner may not steal on a foul-tip.
A22. There is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If the ball
nicks the bat and goes to the catcher's glove and is caught, this is a foul-tip
by definition. A foul-tip is a strike and the ball is alive. It is the same as a
swing-and-miss. If the ball is not caught, it is a foul ball.
Rules: 2.00 FOUL-TIP, STRIKE
Official Baseball Rules
Q23. It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball.
A23. A force play is when a runner is forced to advance
because the batter became a runner. When the batter is out on a caught fly, all
forces are removed. An out on an a failure to tag-up, is NOT a force out. Any
runs that cross the plate before this out will count.
Rules: 2.00 FORCE PLAY, 4.09
Official Baseball Rules
Q24. An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out.
A24. A runner must touch all the bases. If the runner
misses a base to which he was forced because the batter became a runner and is
put out before touching that base, the out is still a force play. If this is the
third out, no runs may score. The base can be touched or the runner can be
touched, either way it's a force out.
Rules: 2.00 FORCE PLAY, TAG, 7.08(e), 7.10(b)
Official Baseball Rules
Q25. A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.
A25. The runner MUST avoid a fielder attempting to field a
BATTED ball. A runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when
attempting to avoid a tag.
Rules: 7.08(a), 7.09(L)
Official Baseball Rules
Q26. Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called.
A26. An Infield-fly is no different than any other fly ball
in regard to the runners. The only difference is that they are never forced to
advance because the batter is out whether the ball is caught or not.
Rules: 2.00 INFIELD-FLY, 6.05(e), 7.10(a)
Official Baseball Rules
Q27. No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up.
A27. Yes it can. This is not a force play. A force play is
when a runner is forced to advance because the batter became a runner. When the
batter is out on a caught fly, all forces are removed. An out on an a failure to
tag-up, is NOT a force out. Any runs that cross the plate before this out will
count.
Rules: 2.00 FORCE PLAY, 4.09, 7.10(a)
Official Baseball Rules
Q28. A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit.
A28. A pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the
pitcher. It doesn't matter how it gets to the batter. The batter may hit any
pitch that is thrown.
Rule: 2.00 PITCH. (If the ball does not cross the foul line, it is not a pitch.)
Q29. The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces.
A29. A pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't matter how it gets to the batter. If the batter is hit by a pitch while attempting to avoid it, he is awarded first base. Rules: 2.00 PITCH, 6.08(b). Official Baseball Rules
Q30. If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds it's a catch.
A30. A catch is legal when the umpire judges that the
fielder has COMPLETE control of the ball. The release of the ball must be
voluntary and intentional.
Rule: 2.00 CATCH
Official Baseball Rules
Q31. You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal.
A31. You can tag a base with ANY part of the body.
Rules: 2.00 FORCE PLAY, PERSON, TAG, 7.08(e)
Official Baseball Rules
Q32. The ball is always immediately dead on a balk.
A32. If a throw or pitch is made after the balk call, the ball is delayed dead. At the end of the play the balk may be enforced or not depending on what happened. On a throw; if ALL runners advance on the play, the balk is ignored. If not, the balk award is enforced from the time of pitch. On a pitch; if ALL runners INCLUDING the batter, advance on the play, the balk is ignored. Otherwise, it is no-pitch and the balk award is made from the time of the pitch. Rule: 8.05 PENALTY Official Baseball Rules
Q33. If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball.
A33. The position of the player's feet or any other part of
the body is irrelevant. A ball is judged fair or foul based on the relationship
between the ball and the ground at the time the ball is touched.
Rule: 2.00 FAIR, FOUL
Official Baseball Rules
Q34. The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made.
A34. An appeal may be made anytime the ball is alive. The
only time the ball must go to the pitcher, is when time is out. The ball cannot
be made live until the pitcher has the ball while on the rubber and the umpire
says "Play." If time is not out, the appeal can be made immediately.
Rule: 2.00 APPEAL, 5.11, 7.10
Official Baseball Rules
Q35. With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his windup and then stops.
A35. A pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the
pitcher. If the ball is not delivered, it is not a pitch. If this happens with
runners on base it is a balk.
Rule: 2.00 PITCH.
Official Baseball Rules
Q36. The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw.
A36. The pitcher is required to come to a complete stop in
the Set position before delivering the pitch, not before making a throw.
Rule: 8.05(m)
Official Baseball Rules
Q37. The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw.
A37. If the pitcher steps off the rubber he is no longer the pitcher, he is a fielder. He can throw to a base from the rubber, provided he does not break any of the rules under rule 8.05 Official Baseball Rules
Q38. If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence it is a homerun.
A38. As long as the fielder is not touching the ground in
dead ball territory when he catches the ball, it is a legal catch if he holds
onto the ball and meets the definition of a catch. If the catch is not the third
out and the fielder falls down in dead ball territory, all runners are awarded
one base. If the fielder remains on his feet in dead ball territory after the
catch, the ball is alive and he may make a play.
Rules: 2.00 CATCH, 6.05(a), 7.04(c)
Official Baseball Rules
Q39. The ball is dead anytime an umpire is hit by the ball.
A39. If an umpire is hit by a batted ball before it passes
a fielder, the ball is dead. On any other batted or thrown ball, the ball is
alive when the umpire is hit with the ball. Umpire interference also occurs when
the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's attempt to prevent a stolen base.
Rules: 2.00 INTERFERENCE, 5.09(b), 5.09(f)
Official Baseball Rules
Q40. The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime.
A40. The umpire who made a call or ruling may ask for help
if he wishes. No umpire may overrule another umpire's call.
Rules: 9.02(b, c)
Official Baseball Rules