What Happens When a Batter/Runner Overruns First Base on Walk?
A base on balls entitles the batter to go to first base. But is the batter, now a batter/runner permitted to overrun 1B like he can if he has a base hit? This is one of the most misunderstood rules in baseball. It is time you learned it once and for all. Chris Welsh and…
Red Sox Outfielder Deflects Batted Ball Over the Wall
The Rays and Red Sox played Game Three of the ALDS at Fenway October 10, 2021. In the top of the 13th with the score tied 4-4, the Rays had Yandy Diaz on first base and two outs when Kevin Kiermaier ripped one to deep right-center. The drive hit the wall on the fly, then…
MLB Batter Leans into Pitch and Wins the Game
A controversial ending gave the New York Mets a win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field. The game was tied in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. Anthony Bass appeared to strike out Michael Conforto looking but home plate umpire Ron Kulpa ruled the baseball…
Catcher’s Interference: A Potential Game-Changing Decision for a Manager
Perhaps the most impactful catcher’s interference call of the 2020 season occurred in the deciding game of the White Sox vs. A’s series in Oakland. With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, Tommy La Stella was batting for the A’s with Sean Murphy on first base and two outs when La…
What Happens After a Balk? (MLB/OBR Rules)
Byron Buxton Lodged Ball Stops Beneath Padded Wall in Outfield…Double? Home Run? Reviewable?
Base Awards on Throws from the Outfield
The Blue Jays hosted the Rays on Aug. 16th when a base award issue emerged. In the top of the fifth, the Rays had Yandy Diaz on first and two outs when Ji-Man Choi hit a shot that went to the right field corner. Jays’ right fielder Teoscar Hernandez fielded the ball and fired it…
Over Throws from the Outfield and Base Awards
When an outfielder makes a throw that goes into dead ball territory (DBT) such as the dugout or the stands, all runners are awarded two bases from the last base they touched at the moment the ball is released by the outfielder. Infield overthrows into DBT have a separate rule which I will cover in…