Baseball rules quiz (1 Viewer)

[posty]

Well, this is a good one and one that many are not familiar with.It is indeed legal, as Posty said, and is generally referred to as the "skunk in the outfield" play.1. Runner can basically take his lead pretty much anywhere he wants -- except for taking it in a position in which to get a running start when tagging on a caught fly ball.2. The baseline is indeed established based on where the runner is when a play is made on him -- and this has nothing to do with the line between the actual bases. If the runner is in the grass area of right field and a play is made on him -- his baseline becomes a straight line between where he is then and the base (well, 3 feet on either side of that line). If he then stops and runs back to the other base, a NEW baseline is established -- from where he is then in a straight line to the base he is running toward.*The whole point of the play is generally to cause a balk, an error, or to get in a pickle play for the purpose of scoring the runner on 3rd base without having to get a hit. I've only seen it happen twice and it truly freaks out the defensive team (and the umpires, too, if they aren't skilled).So, now you've learned something today.

I can't imagine trying this in a high school game... Most of the officials would call that runner out ASAP...

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

I can't imagine trying this in a high school game... Most of the officials would call that runner out ASAP...

So, you whip this out and tell them you appreciate the wonderful job they are doing managing the defense for the opposing team. From the NFHS casebook (High School rules).

SITUATION 16: With R1 on third base, R2 takes a position about three feet in the grass behind first base The pitcher, in a pick-off attempt, throws to first base and R2 runs directly from his position to second base The defensive coach argues that this is an unfair tactic and that R2 should be declared out RULING: While a runner may not position himself behind a base to get a running start, there are no other restrictions as to where a runner must be when taking his lead from a base From wherever he positions himself, his baseline is established from that point directly to the base toward which he is attempting As long as he does not run more than three feet away from that direct line to avoid being tagged when a play is being made on him, his action is legal (8-2, 8-4-2a Note, 8-4-20)

OBR (Official Baseball Rules) have no prohibition of this other than saying you can't lead off to get a running start behind the base and also defining the basepath. It is permissible because it isn't prohibited. NFHS goes a step further, in the casebook, to specifically say it IS permissible.I've seen this once in middle school ball (14 year olds) and once in a high school game. The high school umpires got it right. Middle school umpires called "time" . Coach had a private discussion with them. 2 pitches later the runner did the same thing -- and runner on third score in the process.You won't see it in MLB because the defense isn't stupid. Works great, though, at lower levels.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Runner on 2nd base, 1 out.

Count on batter is 3-2. Pitch comes way inside, pitch hits batter on the arm as he swings and misses.

You make the call.

 

[posty]

Runner on 2nd base, 1 out.Count on batter is 3-2. Pitch comes way inside, pitch hits batter on the arm as he swings and misses.You make the call.

Strike 3

 

[Breed]

Uh-huh... finally one that I know. Or at least I think I do.

 

[Billy Bats]

^^Yep, I agree with them.^^

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Runner on 2nd base, 1 out.Count on batter is 3-2. Pitch comes way inside, pitch hits batter on the arm as he swings and misses.You make the call.

Strike 3

Correct, strike 3. That one was easy. Not much comment on the "skunk in the outfield" play.Any questions that you guys have regarding a particular rule or game situation?

 

[Big Petey]

Runner on 1st. Batter hits ball that bounces off the pitching rubber and into the 3rd base dugout. Where do the runner and batter end up??

 

[The Kerminator]

Wouldn't that be a foul ball? Batter is still at bat and runner returns to base.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Wouldn't that be a foul ball? Batter is still at bat and runner returns to base.

Correct.

 

[Billy Bats]

Wouldn't that be a foul ball? Batter is still at bat and runner returns to base.

Correct.

Really? That surprises me, why wouldn't it be fair if it hit something that was in fair territory? If a ball hits a player then rolls foul, isn't it still fair? Would this not be the same thing? Curious.

 

[Jayrod]

Here's one I'm curious about......

A batter hits a fly ball down the line that is slicing foul. The fielder runs to make an attempt to catch it and dives for it. On his last step before diving, his toe hits the foul line. He dives and hits the ball with his glove, but does not catch it.

Is it fair or foul?

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Wouldn't that be a foul ball? Batter is still at bat and runner returns to base.

Correct.

Really? That surprises me, why wouldn't it be fair if it hit something that was in fair territory? If a ball hits a player then rolls foul, isn't it still fair? Would this not be the same thing? Curious.

The pitching rubber is not an "object". It is a normal part of the field -- say, like the edge of the grass that is 2 feet inside the line.You are right that if it hits a player then goes across the line that it would still be fair.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Here's one I'm curious about......A batter hits a fly ball down the line that is slicing foul. The fielder runs to make an attempt to catch it and dives for it. On his last step before diving, his toe hits the foul line. He dives and hits the ball with his glove, but does not catch it.Is it fair or foul?

Foul ball. It is where the ball is, not the fielder.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).

Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.

Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.

Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.

Legal defensive play or not?

 

[RoxSolid]

Illegal, I'm pretty sure the pitcher can not be touching the rubber nor can he be straddling it. Anywhere else and the play is legal

 

[Billy Bats]

Wouldn't that be a foul ball? Batter is still at bat and runner returns to base.

Correct.

Really? That surprises me, why wouldn't it be fair if it hit something that was in fair territory? If a ball hits a player then rolls foul, isn't it still fair? Would this not be the same thing? Curious.

The pitching rubber is not an "object". It is a normal part of the field -- say, like the edge of the grass that is 2 feet inside the line.

Cool.

 

[Billy Bats]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.Legal defensive play or not?

Illegal, balk and run scores??

 

[posty]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.Legal defensive play or not?

Legal... As long as the pitcher doesn't toe the rubber...

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.Legal defensive play or not?

Legal... As long as the pitcher doesn't toe the rubber...

Oooh, and you've been right on the others. MLB rules actually say, "On or astride the rubber."Prevous poster was correct -- balk and run scores.Now, let me modify it: How is the rule different for NCAA and then different still in NHFS (High school) rules?

 

[Big Petey]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.Legal defensive play or not?

Legal... As long as the pitcher doesn't toe the rubber...

Oooh, and you've been right on the others. MLB rules actually say, "On or astride the rubber."Prevous poster was correct -- balk and run scores.Now, let me modify it: How is the rule different for NCAA and then different still in NHFS (High school) rules?

NCAA = The pitcher cannot enter the dirt area of the mound.................Consequence = balk

 

[Big Petey]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.Legal defensive play or not?

Legal... As long as the pitcher doesn't toe the rubber...

Oooh, and you've been right on the others. MLB rules actually say, "On or astride the rubber."Prevous poster was correct -- balk and run scores.Now, let me modify it: How is the rule different for NCAA and then different still in NHFS (High school) rules?

HS = Within 5 ft of the pitching rubber. This most likely comes from HS fields not being built to standard dimensions.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Here's another -- Hidden Ball Trick w/ Major League Rules (OBR).Runner on third. Infielders come to the mound for a "conference". Third baseman actually has the ball.Pitcher goes to the mound, and does not toe the rubber but straddles it.Runner takes his lead and 3b tags him out.Legal defensive play or not?

Legal... As long as the pitcher doesn't toe the rubber...

Oooh, and you've been right on the others. MLB rules actually say, "On or astride the rubber."Prevous poster was correct -- balk and run scores.Now, let me modify it: How is the rule different for NCAA and then different still in NHFS (High school) rules?

HS = Within 5 ft of the pitching rubber. This most likely comes from HS fields not being built to standard dimensions.

Big Petey = right on both posts. Since a runner will typically not take a lead until the pitcher is on or about the rubber you can't really pull it off in NCAA and hard to do in High School. Now, most baseball prior to H.S. (14 and under) is played by OBR/MLB rules so it is on/astride the rubber.*I'll get another rule posted today. Someone else fell free if you have a good one.

 

[Billy Bats]

Question regarding scoring of a game winning HR.

Scenario: Bottom 9th, score tied, batter for home team hits at least a 2 run HR to win the game. They only needed one run to win, so the batter doesn't round the bases and touch home plate. How is this scored and does he still get credited with a HR?

PS- I don't know the answer, wondering if anyone knows how this works. Thanks.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Question regarding scoring of a game winning HR. Scenario: Bottom 9th, score tied, batter for home team hits at least a 2 run HR to win the game. They only needed one run to win, so the batter doesn't round the bases and touch home plate. How is this scored and does he still get credited with a HR?PS- I don't know the answer, wondering if anyone knows how this works. Thanks.

I will check on this. However, this is what I think it would be:-- HR, 2 RBI (1 runner on). HR is only play on which more than 1 run can score in a walk off win situation.-- Now, if it were tied and 1 runner on 3rd, and you hit one through the gap for what appears to be a 100% for sure double -- it would only be scored as a single since the game ended as soon as the runner on 3rd scored.*I'll check on the part about not touching home plate.

 

[meeka]

Question regarding scoring of a game winning HR. Scenario: Bottom 9th, score tied, batter for home team hits at least a 2 run HR to win the game. They only needed one run to win, so the batter doesn't round the bases and touch home plate. How is this scored and does he still get credited with a HR?PS- I don't know the answer, wondering if anyone knows how this works. Thanks.

I will check on this. However, this is what I think it would be:-- HR, 2 RBI (1 runner on). HR is only play on which more than 1 run can score in a walk off win situation.-- Now, if it were tied and 1 runner on 3rd, and you hit one through the gap for what appears to be a 100% for sure double -- it would only be scored as a single since the game ended as soon as the runner on 3rd scored.*I'll check on the part about not touching home plate.

I think that actually happened in a playoff game where the player was mobbed by his team and never made it around the bases. The ball went over the wall, the winning run had already scored and he was mobbed after he rounded first by his teammates. It was ruled a single.ETA...I think.

 

[Billy Bats]

Question regarding scoring of a game winning HR. Scenario: Bottom 9th, score tied, batter for home team hits at least a 2 run HR to win the game. They only needed one run to win, so the batter doesn't round the bases and touch home plate. How is this scored and does he still get credited with a HR?PS- I don't know the answer, wondering if anyone knows how this works. Thanks.

I will check on this. However, this is what I think it would be:-- HR, 2 RBI (1 runner on). HR is only play on which more than 1 run can score in a walk off win situation.-- Now, if it were tied and 1 runner on 3rd, and you hit one through the gap for what appears to be a 100% for sure double -- it would only be scored as a single since the game ended as soon as the runner on 3rd scored.*I'll check on the part about not touching home plate.

I think that actually happened in a playoff game where the player was mobbed by his team and never made it around the bases. The ball went over the wall, the winning run had already scored and he was mobbed after he rounded first by his teammates. It was ruled a single.ETA...I think.

Yep, I do remember that as well. I'm thinking it was the Twins? But that's one of the reasons I was wondering the outcome, along with fantasy baseball implications. So he was probably only credited with one rbi, I assume, if nobody else scored after the winning run.

 

[posty]

Question regarding scoring of a game winning HR. Scenario: Bottom 9th, score tied, batter for home team hits at least a 2 run HR to win the game. They only needed one run to win, so the batter doesn't round the bases and touch home plate. How is this scored and does he still get credited with a HR?PS- I don't know the answer, wondering if anyone knows how this works. Thanks.

I will check on this. However, this is what I think it would be:-- HR, 2 RBI (1 runner on). HR is only play on which more than 1 run can score in a walk off win situation.-- Now, if it were tied and 1 runner on 3rd, and you hit one through the gap for what appears to be a 100% for sure double -- it would only be scored as a single since the game ended as soon as the runner on 3rd scored.*I'll check on the part about not touching home plate.

I think that actually happened in a playoff game where the player was mobbed by his team and never made it around the bases. The ball went over the wall, the winning run had already scored and he was mobbed after he rounded first by his teammates. It was ruled a single.ETA...I think.

Yep, I do remember that as well. I'm thinking it was the Twins? But that's one of the reasons I was wondering the outcome, along with fantasy baseball implications. So he was probably only credited with one rbi, I assume, if nobody else scored after the winning run.

I think it was Robin Ventura from the Mets...

 

[ooofffaaa]

Question regarding scoring of a game winning HR. Scenario: Bottom 9th, score tied, batter for home team hits at least a 2 run HR to win the game. They only needed one run to win, so the batter doesn't round the bases and touch home plate. How is this scored and does he still get credited with a HR?PS- I don't know the answer, wondering if anyone knows how this works. Thanks.

I will check on this. However, this is what I think it would be:-- HR, 2 RBI (1 runner on). HR is only play on which more than 1 run can score in a walk off win situation.-- Now, if it were tied and 1 runner on 3rd, and you hit one through the gap for what appears to be a 100% for sure double -- it would only be scored as a single since the game ended as soon as the runner on 3rd scored.*I'll check on the part about not touching home plate.

I think that actually happened in a playoff game where the player was mobbed by his team and never made it around the bases. The ball went over the wall, the winning run had already scored and he was mobbed after he rounded first by his teammates. It was ruled a single.ETA...I think.

Yep, I do remember that as well. I'm thinking it was the Twins? But that's one of the reasons I was wondering the outcome, along with fantasy baseball implications. So he was probably only credited with one rbi, I assume, if nobody else scored after the winning run.

I think it was Robin Ventura from the Mets...

That is correct.