baseballrules

During the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers could have had a double play when Pedro Martinez attempted a sacrifice bunt during the top of the third inning during Game #2. However, a little gamesmanship by Dodgers first baseman James Loney did not go unnoticed by the umpires.

With one out and Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz on first base, Martinez popped up his bunt. Loney had the ball in his glove, but let it drop. Ruiz, thinking the ball would be caught, had gone back to first.

Loney threw to Ronnie Belliard, who covered first base and stepped on the bag before tagging Ruiz. The umps ruled only Martinez out on the play and allowed Ruiz to occupy first base.

The umpires ruled that Loney intentionally dropped the ball. According to MLB rule 6.05 (L), the batter is automatically out if an “infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases.”

If he had fielded the ball on a hop, Loney could have attempted a more conventional double play by throwing to second base to force Ruiz and trying to double up Martinez at first.

Last Wednesday, Geovany Soto, catcher for the Chicago Cubs, learned about Rule 7.05 (j) from the MLB rulebook. So did an umpire.

As he tried to control a pitch in the dirt from David Patton during the fourth inning, Soto used his facemask to corral the ball and bring it into his grasp. Home plate umpire Doug Eddings needed to be reminded that the mask cannot be used to catch a ball. Nor can any other piece of equipment other than a glove. Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha brought it to Eddings attention.

As a result, Soto was charged with an error and runner Felipe Lopez was allowed to move from second to third.

In the Cubs TV booth, former catcher Bob Brenly said “Geo knows better than that” and that every catcher is taught not to use a tool of ignorance as a fielding instrument as one of baseball’s first lessons.

But Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella later said that his catcher probably wasn’t aware of the rule. ”We told him he couldn’t use his helmet either, just to be sure.”

Is a walk considered an official at-bat, or just a plate appearance?

A walk is not considered an official at-bat, but it is a plate appearance. Since it is not an official at-bat, it does not factor into figuring batting average.

Section 10 of Baseball’s Official Rules Book states that no time at-bat shall be charged when a player: a) hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly; b) is awarded first base on four called balls; c) is hit by a pitched ball; or d) is awarded first base because of interference or obstruction.

During the early 1900s, players such as Heinie Groh used what was called a “bottle bat.” Groh used it from 1912 to 1921. The bat had a thick barrel that was about 17 inches long. It had a thin handle, which also was about 17 inches long. It weighed about 46 ounces.

By today’s standards, the bat would be illegal in MLB. Current rules require that bats not be more than two and three-quarter inches at their thickest and not more than 42 inches in length.

The Sacrifice Fly is credited to a batter who hits a fly ball (fair or foul) that results in a runner successfully tagging from third after the catch and scoring a run. The batter is not charged with an at-bat while he is credited with an RBI.

The batter is charged with an at-bat if there isn’t a runner on third who scores after the catch, even though a runner on first or runners on first and second tag and move up one base after a catch.

From 1931 to 1953, except for 1939, a batter who hit a sacrifice fly was charged with an official at-bat. The outs were recorded as outfield putouts.

The New York Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins a couple of weeks ago. They protested the game but it will remain in the “L” column.

“I still think it’s kind of funny what happened, interesting,” said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. “I’ve thought about it many times.”

The protest addressed the top of the eighth inning when Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez made an improper substitution.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Marlins pinch-hit outfielder Alejandro De Aza for pitcher Renyel Pinto, who was batting ninth. When the inning ended, Gonzalez informed home-plate umpire Tim Timmons of the changes. De Aza was to remain in the game and play left field in place of Chris Coghlan. Reliever Leo Nunez entered the game, and he was positioned in Coghlan’s leadoff spot.

However, when the eighth inning started, Coghlan was in left field. Nunez threw one pitch, a strike, to Derek Jeter. Girardi told the umpires that Coghlan was supposed to be out of the game, with De Aza in left field.

For more than five minutes, play was delayed,. Eventually, Coghlan left the field. De Aza headed to left field, only to be replaced by Jeremy Hermida. The Marlins were leading 6-3 at the time.

Umpire crew chief Jeff Kellogg outlined the protest after the game: “We’re going to file an incident report and all that. The protest is over the pitcher should have been removed from the game, or the pitch should not have counted. That’s the protest. Either or. One or the other should have happened.”

Working in favor of the Marlins was Rule 3.05, which states: “If an improper substitution is made for the pitcher, the umpire shall direct the proper pitcher to return to the game until the provisions of this rule are fulfilled. If the improper pitcher is permitted to pitch, any play that results is legal. The improper pitcher becomes the proper pitcher as soon as he makes his first pitch to the batter, or as soon as any runner is put out.”

Additionally, there is a comment for Rule 3.05 (c) that reads: “If a manager attempts to remove a pitcher in violation of Rule 3.05 (c) the umpire shall notify the manager of the offending club that it cannot be done. If, by chance, the umpire-in-chief has, through oversight, announced the incoming improper pitcher, he should still correct the situation before the improper pitcher pitches. Once the improper pitcher delivers a pitch, he becomes the proper pitcher.”

One of the games most interesting rules is the Infield Fly Rule. We hear it mentioned more than any other rule by radio and TV announcers calling the play-by-play, but how many of us really understand it?

Here’s the explanation:

The Infield Fly Rule (specifically, rule 6.05e, coupled with the definition in rule section 2.00) is intended to prevent unfair gamesmanship by the fielders that would result in an easy double play or triple play.

Rule 6.05:

A batter is out when—
(e) An Infield Fly is declared;

Rule 2.00:

An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the
purpose of this rule.

When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”

The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.

Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder—not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.

When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05(l). The infield fly rule takes precedence.

Rule 6.05 (l):

An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases; APPROVED RULING: In this situation, the batter is not out if the infielder permits
the ball to drop untouched to the ground, except when the Infield Fly rule applies.

Whew! That is a mouthful for a simple play. As mentioned at the beginning, this regulation was included in the official rules when it was determined that players were deliberately dropping pop-ups to turn double and triple plays.

The best way to remember a simple version of the rule: The Infield Fly Rule is called and the batter is automatically out when, with runners on first and second, or first, second and third, and with less than two outs, the batter hits the ball in the air that the umpired determines can be caught in fair territory by a fielder.

Now you quickly can recognize the rule when you watch a professional or youth league game.