The World Baseball Classic Rules Worth Knowing
The World Baseball Classic begins Monday, March 6, so it is time for us to understand the rules, at least the important ones. Since the WBC is a product of close cooperation and negotiation between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, there are plenty of rules for everyone. Most of the “non-game” rules…
2024 MLB Universal Ground Rules
Listed below are the Official MLB Universal Ground Rules for the 2024 Season. Courtesy of MLB UNIVERSAL GROUND RULES The following Ground Rules are to be uniform across all 30 Major League ballparks. The Ground Rules listed below will not be listed on the individual ballparks Ground Rules, but will be in effect at all…
MLB UMPIRE MANUAL
CONTENTS I. On-Field Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 II. Medical, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation . ….
Controversial Calls and Rule Interpretations in 2025
Play No. 1 The Twins and A’s played at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on June 3, 2025. In the top of the sixth inning, Brooks Lee, facing Jacob Lopez, hit a bouncer toward first base with two outs. A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom attempted to field the ball, he slipped and the ball deflected…
2024 MLB Replay Review Regulations
Listed below are the official MLB Replay Review Regulations for the 2024 Season. Courtesy of MLB Replay Review Regulations On-Field Regulation 2-12 I. Overview Video replay review in Major League Baseball (hereafter, “Replay Review”) is designed to provide timely review of certain disputed calls in all Championship Season, All-Star and Post- Season games played in…
August 2024 Rules Question and Answer
Question #1 What constitutes passing a runner per rule 5.09 (b) (9)? Is the trail runner considered passing the lead runner if any part of his body passes the lead runner, or does the body of the trail runner have to go completely by the lead runner? In this Eastern League game between the Altoona…
MLB Rules Questions and Answer September 2023
On-Deck Interference? QUESTION: In the Pirates-Cubs game on September 19, 2023, interference was called on the on-deck batter. Was that the proper call? Can you explain what happened? ANSWER: The Pirates and Cubs played at Wrigley on September 19, 2023 In the bottom of the sixth, Patrick Wisdom was batting with the bases empty and one…
Rule 7.00 – Rules of Play
7.01 Playing Field, Equipment & Safety: 7.01.A The playing field shall be laid out according to the recommended dimensions contained within these rules. (Chart 7.01.A-1) 7.01.B For details on field layout including recommended direction of play, fair and foul territory requirements, infield and outfield grades, pitcher’s mound height and slope,…
Rule 13.00 – Safety Rules
13.01 FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL CONCUSSION LAWS: USSSA, as a sanctioning body of athletic events, shares the concerns being raised on a national and local level regarding concussions and concussion symptoms in participants, coaches/managers and umpires/referees in USSSA sanctioned activities. USSSA encourages its directors, umpires, coaches, referees, teams, team managers, and all adults involved in…
