RUNNER MISSES HOME PLATE
Rules 5.09(b)(5), 5.09(b)(12), 5.09(c)(2): Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(12) states that should a runner, in scoring, fail to touch home plate and continue on the way to the bench (making no effort to return), the runner may be put out by the fielder touching home plate and appealing to the umpire for a decision. However, this…
BATTER-RUNNER PASSING FIRST BASE
Rule 5.09(b)(4): The exception to Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(4) prohibits the batter-runner from being tagged out for overrunning or oversliding first base if he immediately returns to the base. However, once the batter-runner returns to first base safely after overrunning/oversliding the base, he is no longer protected from being tagged out if he subsequently loses…
ABANDONMENT ON A FORCE PLAY
Rules 5.01(b)(1), 5.09(b)(2), 5.09(b)(1) and (2) Comment, 5.09(b)(6): A base runner being called out for abandoning his effort to touch the next base does not change a force play to a tag or time play on any other runner(s).
OUT OF THE BASEPATH
Rule 5.09(b)(1): When determining whether a base runner should be called out under Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(1), so long as the umpire determines that a play is being made on the runner and an attempt to tag is occurring, i.e. the fielder is moving to tag the runner, no physical tag attempt is required to…
INFIELDER INTENTIONALLY DROPS FLY BALL OR LINE DRIVE
Rule 5.09(a)(12): Under Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(12), the batter is out, the ball is dead, and runner(s) return to their original base(s) when an infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive with runners on first, first and second, first and third, or bases loaded (with less than two out). Note that the…
THROWN BALL STRIKES HELMET OR BAT
Rule 5.09(a)(8): If a thrown ball strikes a helmet or bat accidentally (no intent on the part of the runner to interfere) in fair or foul territory, the ball remains in play the same as if it had not hit the helmet or bat. If, in the umpire’s judgment, there is intent on the part…
BUNT/FOUL BALL
Rule 5.09(a)(4): • A pitched ball striking a bat as the batter is pulling it back after initially squaring to bunt is a foul ball (assuming the ball goes into foul territory). • The definition of a bunt is already included in the Official Baseball Rules. The purpose of this interpretation is to clarify that…
FIELDER GOING INTO OUT-OF-PLAY AREA
Rule 5.09(a)(1) Comment: The Comment to Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(1) stipulates that no fielder may step into or go into a dugout to make a catch. However, if a fielder, after making a legal catch on the playing surface, steps or falls into any out-of-play area at any point while in possession of the ball,…
COMMENT REGARDING GAME-ENDING PLAYS
Rule 5.08(b): When the winning run is scored in the last half-inning of a regulation game, or in the last half of an extra inning, with the bases full as the result of any play other that those set forth in Official Baseball Rule 5.08(b), the ball is in play and runners may be retired….
RESTRICTIONS ON PITCHERS WARMING UP
Rule 5.07(b): The home club pitcher may not warm up on the mound prior to the start of the game. To do otherwise could give the home club pitcher some advantage, and because pregame practice conditions should be equal for both starting pitchers, both pitchers should warm up where pitchers normally warm up. A game…
