9 Rules Questions Answered Here
1. Infield Fly Rule situation. The bases are loaded and one out when the batter hits a pop fly near first base in fair territory. The umpires invoke the IFR. The runner on first base, who is several feet off the bag, is tracking the fly ball instead of locating the first baseman who is…
The 2021 Minor League Rule Change Experiment
The 2021 Minor League Rule Change Experiment The minor leagues are the final proving ground. Players that adapt to the speed of the game, exhibit the most consistency to perform and outplay their minor league peers head to the big leagues. Most minor leaguers, however, eventually head home with no more than a whiff of…
Can Teammates Assist a Runner to First Base?
The Rangers-Orioles game on July 4th in Baltimore ended on an intriguing note. With the score tied 6-6, Rougned Odor led off the 10th with a bunt single off Rangers’ pitcher Matt Moore that advanced automatic runner Austin Hays to third. Moore then intentionally walked Ramón Urías to load the bases before hitting Luis Mateo…
Ask the Rules Guy Episode #1 Rich Marazzi – Runner’s Lane Interference, Obstruction, & more…
Rules Expert Rich Marazzi joins Chris Welsh for a lively discussion about runner’s lane interference, obstruction (several different examples) and a crazy MLB home run where the batter that hit the HR didn’t score the run.
July 2023 MLB Rules Question and Answer
Play No. 1 QUESTION: There was a question in a recent Pirates game as to whether or not an outfielder made a legal catch in left field. Can you explain what happened? ANSWER: The Pirates and Marlins played at loanDepot park on June 24, 2023. Jon Berti led off the bottom of the fifth inning…
Special Report: Time Play Rules Controversy
The 2017 baseball season wasn’t quite two days old when we had our first “Time Play” confusion. When the third out of an inning is not the result of a force play and it happens about the same time a runner is crossing the plate, the plate umpire must decide “in time,” what occurred first-the…
How a Smart Baserunner Can Exploit the Basepath Rules
In the game of baseball, as in all major sports, coaches instruct their players to take what the defense gives them. Conversely, it would be a good idea for defensive players to take what the offense gives them. Let’s look at the following play. The Cardinals and Pirates played two games on Sept. 18 at…
2019 INSTANT REPLAY RULES
For Official Information regarding Major League Baseball Replay Review Regulations click this link: http://m.mlb.com/official_rules/replay_review
The Rules of Trading Players Away
This classic baseball instruction video comes from back in 2003 with Cincinnati Reds interim General Manager, Brad Kullman. Reds broadcaster Chris Welsh asks Brad about the rules of trading players away before the deadline.