The Contentious Life of the Ghost Runner: Controversial Extra-Innings Rule Back for 2022
Sixty-five years ago this week, the defending World Champion New York Yankees beat the Washington Senators 2-1 on an Opening Day walk-off hit. The hero that day was third baseman Andy Carey, who came up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and fouled off six pitches before hitting a single to…
IF THE ASTROS CHEATING SCANDAL HAPPENED IN HIGH SCHOOL
IF THE ASTROS CHEATING SCANDAL HAPPENED IN HIGH SCHOOL By Brady Hood and Rules Desk As the fallout from the Houston Astro’s cheating scandal continues, one can wonder what effect, if any, will this have on amateur baseball at the high school level. This spring all over the country teams will take the…
2020 NFHS POINTS OF EMPHASIS AND HOW TO FOLLOW THEM
THIS RULE APPLIES TO NFHS NFHS POINTS OF EMPHASIS AND HOW TO FOLLOW THEM By Brady Hood Each year NHFS compiles a list of rules for coaches and officials to emphasize during the course of the baseball season. This year there are six rules that will require extra attention. Ending a regulation game…
Recent protest has many asking, “What is a protest?”
With last month’s Cubs-Nationals game ending in a protest from Joe Maddon, the topic of protesting in baseball came back to life. Although it is rare, with protests only being upheld 15 times in Major League Baseball history, it allows teams an avenue to enforce the Official Rules of Baseball at times when the umpires…
Texas Two-Step; Edwards told to change, Doolittle, too late
The ninth inning of the May 18 game between the Washington Nationals and the visiting Chicago Cubs began like any other late-inning, three-run game. Nationals closer Sean Doolittle toed the slab in a save situation and retired Albert Almora Jr. for the first out. The next pitch is where the controversy officially became a game…
Can a batter hit a pitched ball that has bounced in the dirt?
If a pitcher bounces the ball in the dirt, can a batter hit the pitch legally? Yes. This is treated like any other pitch. The ball can be batted and if the batter is touched by the bounced pitch, he is awarded first base on a hit by pitch. But a pitch that bounces on…
Can a runner go back and tag a missed base while the ball is dead?
Can a runner go back and tag a missed base while the ball is dead? Well, that depends. Here are some circumstances to consider. For instance, if a batter-runner misses first base and his fair batted ball ends-up in the seats for a book-rule double, he can still return to touch his missed base while…
Runners Passing Runners, Oh My!
Author: Rich Marazzi: Rules consultant- Blue Jays, Brewers, Cardinals, D’backs, Dodgers, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Rangers, Rays, Reds, Red Sox, Royals, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, the Sinclair Regional Sports Networks, ESPN, YES, and White Sox TV Passing the Runner: Rule 5.09 (b) (9) The passing the runner rule might be best understood if it read, “When…
MLB Umpires Misinterpret Mound Visit Rule
Under rule 5.10 (L), (3) (4), a manager is prohibited from making a second visit to the mound while the same hitter is at bat but if a pinch-hitter is substituted for the batter, the manager or coach may then make a second visit to the mound but must then remove the pitcher. The D’backs…
Oops! MLB Umpire Catches Wild Pitch
In the July 27, 2018 Jays-White Sox game in Chicago, top of the fifth inning, Curtis Granderson was batting for the Jays with Russell Martin on third, Randal Grichuk on second, and Devon Travis on first with one out. Sox pitcher Thyago Vieira unleashed a wild one. The ball bounced in the dirt and was…
