Rule 2 – Section 22 – OBSTRUCTION AND FAKE TAG
2-22-1 Obstruction is an act (intentional or unintentional, as well as physical or verbal) by a fielder, any member of the defensive team or its team personnel that hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play as in 5-1-3 and 8-3-2; or when a catcher or fielder hinders a batter as in 5-1-2b, 8-1-1e, 8-3-1c and 8-3-2. When obstruction occurs, the ball becomes…
Rule 2 – Section 25 – OVERRUNNING OR OVERSLIDING
2-25-1 Overrunning or over-sliding is the act of a runner who, after touching the base to which he is advancing, allows his momentum to carry him past the base so that he loses contact with it. For the right to overrun first base, see 8-2-6. For cases where a runner is not credited with a stolen…
Rule 2 – Section 27 – PENALTY
2-27 A penalty is the action taken by the umpire against a player, coach or team for a rule infraction. Penalties include: restricting the coach to the dugout; ejecting an offending player or coach; declaring a batter or runner out; awarding a base to a batter or runner; awarding a ball to a batter (for…
Rule 2 – Section 26 – PASSED BALL
2-26 A passed ball is a pitch which the catcher fails to stop or control when he should have been able to do so with ordinary effort, and which enables a runner including the batter-runner to advance.
Rule 2 – Section 23 – ON-DECK CIRCLE
2-23 An on-deck circle for each team is a circle five feet in diameter located 37 feet to the side and away from home plate if space permits. Otherwise, it should be a safe distance to the side and away from home plate (See Diagram 2).
Rule 2 – Section 24 – OUT: FORCE-OUT, PUTOUT, STRIKEOUT, TAG OUT, THROW-OUT
2-24-1 A force-out is a putout during which a runner who is being forced to advance is tagged out, or is put out by a fielder who holds the ball while touching the base toward which the forced runner is advancing (9-1-1 for special case.) 2-24-2 A putout is the act of a fielder in retiring a batter…
Rule 2 – Section 28 – PITCHER, PITCH, PIVOT FOOT
2-28-1 The pitcher is the player who is designated in the lineup as being responsible for delivering (pitching) the ball to the batter. 2-28-2 A live ball delivered to the batter is a pitch. The term implies a legally delivered ball unless otherwise stated. When a pitcher commits a balk and completes his delivery to the batter,…
Rule 2 – Section 29 – PLAY, DOUBLE PLAY, FORCE PLAY, PLAY RULING, SQUEEZE PLAY
2-29-1 “Play” is the order given by the umpire when it is time for the game to begin, or to be resumed after having been suspended when he called “time.” The term is also used to denote a unit of action which begins when a pitcher has the ball in his possession in pitching position and…
Rule 2 – Section 30 – RUN, RUNNERS, RETIRED RUNNERS
2-30-1 A run is the score made by a runner who legally advances to and touches home plate (9-1). 2-30-2 A runner is a player of the team at bat who has finished his time at bat and has not yet been put out. The term includes the batter-runner and also any runner who occupies a base….
Rule 2 – Section 31 – SACRIFICE
2-31 A sacrifice is a bunt which enables any runner to advance, or a fly ball (sacrifice fly) which enables a runner to score. In either case, the result is the batter-runner being put out before he reaches first base, or would have resulted in his being put out if the batted ball had been…
