BACKSWING (FOLLOW-THROUGH) HITS CATCHER
Rules 6.03(a)(3), 6.03(a)(4), 6.03(a)(3) and (4) Comments: If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and in the umpire’s judgment unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of the batter on the follow-through or backswing while the batter is still in the batter’s box, it shall be called a strike only (no…
BATTER INTERFERES WITH CATCHER
Rules 6.03(a)(3), 6.01(a)(1): If the batter interferes with the catcher’s throw to retire a runner by stepping out of the batter’s box, the plate umpire shall call “Interference.” The batter is out and the ball is dead (provided the catcher’s initial throw does not retire the runner; see following paragraph). No player may advance on…
SPECTATOR INTERFERENCE
Rules 6.01(e), 6.01(e) Comment: The umpire shall call spectator interference by first signaling and calling “Time” (both hands overhead) to halt play and then grasping the left wrist with right hand (held above the head) to indicate spectator interference. …
FIELDER PROTECTED WHILE MAKING A PLAY
Rule 6.01(a)(10): Note that under the Official Baseball Rules, a fielder is protected while in the act of fielding a batted ball. If, after a player has fielded a batted ball but before he is able to throw the ball, a runner hinders or impedes such fielder, the runner shall be called out for interference….
1.06 Objectives of the Game
The winner of the game shall be that team which shall have scored, in accordance with these rules, the greater number of runs at the conclusion of a regulation game.
PITCHER CHANGING DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
Rules 5.10(d) Comment, 5.10(g): The purpose of this Comment is to prohibit a player from being a substitute for a pitcher more than once in the same inning. Thus, a player who starts (or enters the game during) an inning as a pitcher may substitute for any position(s) afterwards; however, he may not return to…
SIGNAL TO THE BULLPEN
Rules 5.10(b), 5.10(b) Comment: The manager must notify the umpiring crew that he is making a pitching change by clearly and unambiguously informing the home plate umpire of the pitcher who will be entering the game. Additionally, the manager should be mindful to signal for a left-handed pitcher with his left hand, or a right-handed…
APPEAL PLAYS—APPROVED RULINGS
Rule 5.09(c): (1) Runner on first base, one out. The batter doubles. Runner on first rounds the bases and tries for home. On the play at the plate, the catcher misses the tag and runner misses the plate in sliding by. As the catcher begins to chase the runner to apply a tag, the batter-runner…
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).
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…
