Javier Baez – Sneaky Single or Out of Baseline?
The Cubs and Dodgers played at Wrigley on Tuesday, April 29, 2019, when an interesting “out of the baseline” controversy developed. In the bottom of the second, Javy Baez was batting with an 0-2 count and one out when he tapped a soft ground ball to Dodgers’ first baseman, David Freese. It looked like an…
Controversial Tag Play at the Plate
The Cubs beat the Pirates 1-0 at Wrigley on May 18, 2024 in a game that ended in a controversial tag play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. The play that was unsuccessfully challenged by Pirates manager Derek Shelton focused on the TAG rule, not the home plate collision rule. Here is…
2023 Home Plate Collision and Pitcher Declaration
Regarding the Collison at Home Plate rule, the catcher has no restriction when receiving a throw from the pitcher or a drawn-in infielder. The following two plays illustrate those aspects of the rule. Catcher Receives Throw from the Pitcher The Nationals hosted the Guardians on April 15, 2023. In the top of the eighth, the…
High Schools Coming of Age in 2024
The National Federation of High School baseball rules committee has completed their annual meeting and there are some changes ahead for the 2024 season. The evolution of the game of baseball has made electronic communication between coaches and catchers a mainstay at the upper levels of competition, and now high school players will also be…
Elly De La Cruz’s Stolen Base Thwarted by Batter Interference Call
The Reds hosted the Mariners at Great American Park on April 16, 2025. In the bottom of the eighth, Austin Hays was batting with a 0-2 count facing Gabe Speier with Elly De La Cruz on first base. Hays struck out, and De La Cruz, who was stealing on the play was also called out…
Batter Runner Interference Costs Guardians vs Orioles
The Guardians and the Orioles played at Camden Yards on April 16th. In the top of the eighth, the Guardians had the bases loaded and one out when Ángel Martínez, facing Yennier Canó, hit a tapper back to the mound. Canó flipped the ball underhand to catcher Adley Rutschman for the force. Rutschman then fired…
Robles Catch and Carry
The Mariners and Giants met at Oracle Park on April 6, 2025. In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, 4-4, the Giants had Luis Matos on first base and one out when Patrick Bailey sent a fly ball into the corner deep down the right field line. Mariners’ right fielder Victor Robles…