Rules Controversy

Expert Analysis

When does a fly ball stop being a fly ball?

Topics: Appeal, Batted Ball, Fielding, Replay Review, Rules Controversy

When is a Batted Ball No Longer “In Flight” The White Sox and Tigers played at Comerica this past Friday, April 8, 2022. In the bottom of the ninth the Tigers had Austin Meadows on third base and two outs when Javier Báez hit a shot to deep right-field that took right fielder AJ Pollock…

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Christian Yelich Called Out After Overrunning 1B

Topics: Batter Runner, Rules Controversy, Runners, Uncategorized
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Expert Analysis

Catcher’s Interference: A Potential Game-Changing Decision for a Manager

Topics: Appeal, Base, Base Awards, Baseline, Batter, Batter Interference, Catcher Interference, Coach, Expert Analysis, Interference, Manager, Official Baseball Rules, Placing Runners, protest, Quick Pitch, Rules Controversy, Umpire, Uncategorized

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…

Expert Analysis

Do-Overs in Baseball

Topics: Baseball Myths, Rules Controversy, Uncategorized

Ump Calls Time Before Pitch The most common “Do-Over” is when an umpire calls “Time” just before the pitcher delivers the pitch. Rule 8.03 (b) (2) empowers all umpires on the field to call “Time” for legal cause. An unexpected “Time” call once took away a win and a grand slam home run. In the…

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IF THE ASTROS CHEATING SCANDAL HAPPENED IN HIGH SCHOOL

Topics: Latest News, NCAA, News, NFHS, Rules Controversy

  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…

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Recent protest has many asking, “What is a protest?”

Topics: Appeal, Balk, Blog, Coach, Definitions, Latest News, Manager, News, Official Baseball Rules, protest, Rules Controversy, Umpire, Uncategorized

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…

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Texas Two-Step; Edwards told to change, Doolittle, too late

Topics: Balk, Blog, Coach, Definitions, Latest News, Manager, News, Official Baseball Rules, Pitcher, Quick Pitch, Rules Controversy, Umpire

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…

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A Bobble in Real Time is a Catch in Slo-Mo

Topics: Base Awards, Definitions, Expert Analysis, Manager Ejection, Rule changes 2019, Rules Controversy, Umpire Manual Rules, Uncategorized

What Happened? Rich Marazzi: The Marlins beat the Tigers 5-4 in 11 innings on Tuesday night. A costly overturn of a “no catch” on the field call could have contributed to the Tigers’ defeat. The Tigers were batting in the bottom of the ninth with runners on first and third and one out when Ronny…

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Dodgers and Angels Players Ignore Umpires…What Happens Next is Chaos

Topics: Baseline, Batted Ball, Batter, Catcher, Fair Territory, Fielding, Latest News, Official Baseball Rules, Pitcher, Placing Runners, Rule of the Week, Rules Controversy, Runners Passing Runners, Umpire

The Onus is on the Defensive Team not to Play on a Retired Runner The Dodgers and Angels played in Anaheim on July 6th.  In the top of the sixth the Dodgers had Justin Turner on second and Cody Bellinger on first with one out when Matt Kemp singled to left scoring Turner.  Justin Upton…

Expert Analysis

Catcher’s Interference

Topics: Batted Ball, Batter, Batter's Box, Blog, Catcher, Catcher Interference, Dead Ball Area, Definitions, Equipment, Expert Analysis, Fair Territory, Fielding, Interference, Latest News, Manager, Obstruction, Official Baseball Rules, Rule of the Week, Rules Controversy, Umpire

On Sunday the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros played at Minute Maid.  In the bottom of the second, Tony Kemp was batting with the bases loaded and one out when Kemp’s swing made contact with the mitt of Royals’ catcher Drew Butera.  Plate umpire Lance Barrett ruled the ball dead because it was a…

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