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…
Deflected Balls Go Into Dead Ball Territory
Deflected Balls That Go into Dead Ball Territory: Part I This is the first of a three-part series involving rules that relate to pitched, thrown and batted balls that are deflected into dead ball territory or remain in play. In this edition, I’ll cover deflections that go into dead ball territory on throws from the…
Marisnick Lucroy Brutal Collision Legal or Not?
Marisnick/Lucroy Collision at the Plate Perhaps the most egregious runner/catcher collision of the 2019 season occurred in the Angels-Astros game on July 7, in Houston, when the Astros’ Jake Marisnick ran over Angels’ catcher Jonathan Lucroy. With the game tied at 10-10 and one out in the bottom of the eighth, Angels’ reliever Hansel Robles…
Outfielder’s Throw is Deflected into Dead Ball Territory
Whenever a thrown, pitched, or batted ball is deflected into dead ball territory, umpires must be able to make the proper base award and coaches should be able to determine if the base award was proper. This can impact the outcome of a game. Thrown Ball Deflected into Dead Ball Territory Take what occurred when…
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…
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…
When the Umpire Messes up an Infield Fly
Umpires are human so sometimes they make calls that make no sense, like calling an Infield Fly with no runner at 2B. It happens quite a bit at the amateur level and often causes chaos because no one knows what to do. Bring some sensibility and calmness to you next rules discussion by learning this…
Andrew McCutchen Called Out of the Baseline…What?
Did Andrew McCutchen go beyond the legal three feet base path to avoid this tag? You make the call. Then, read the expert analysis by Rich Marazzi on what is legal on the base paths. Expert Analysis by Rich Marazzi In the bottom of the seventh with the score tied, 4-4, the Phils had Andrew…
The Runner’s Right of Way Rule….Did the Umpires Apply it Wrong?
The Guardians hosted the White Sox on April 21. In the bottom of the seventh, the Guardians had Josh Naylor on second with no outs when Ernie Clement hit a chopper to Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. Naylor ran into Anderson as he was attempting to field the ball and the ball came out of Anderson’s…
Drop a Knee – When Can a Fielder Block a Base?
You see it all the time, a stolen base attempt, the fielder gets to the base before the runner then drops his knee, foot or leg in front of the base to keep the baserunner from touching the bag. Is this a legal play? What should coaches, players, umpires and fans know about the rule…
