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…
Smart Baserunning 2023
In the following four plays of this report, you will see where runners played excellent Ruleball by executing sound running strategies and utilizing what the rules allow. Yankees Smart Base Running The Yankees and Red Sox played a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park on September 14, 2023. In the nightcap, clever base-running by Oswaldo Cabrera…
MLB Rules Questions and Answer September 2023
On-Deck Interference? QUESTION: In the Pirates-Cubs game on September 19, 2023, interference was called on the on-deck batter. Was that the proper call? Can you explain what happened? ANSWER: The Pirates and Cubs played at Wrigley on September 19, 2023 In the bottom of the sixth, Patrick Wisdom was batting with the bases empty and one…
Running Third to Home
The Giants and Cubs played at Wrigley on September 5, 2023. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cubs had Jeimer Candelario on third base and Yan Gomes on first with one out when Nick Madrigal hit a ground ball to Casey Schmitt. The Giants’ third baseman threw errantly to the plate. Most likely the…
Runner and Umpire Collide
The Padres hosted the Cubs on June 4, 2023. In the bottom of the third inning the Padres had Fernando Tatis Jr. on second base and Jake Cronenworth on first and two outs when Ha-Seong-Kim hit a ground ball to Dansby Swanson. The Cubs shortstop tossed to second baseman Nico Hoerner for the inning-ending force…
Two Runners Tagged on Same Base-Double Play
In my last report I covered the topic of Two Runners on the Same Base. As stated, when possible, a team should never have two runners on the same base because if both are tagged and the wrong runner exits the base, the defensive team can execute an easy double play. That’s what happened in…
May 2023 Question and Answer
Extra Innings Rule QUESTION: Say we go to extra innings and our No.6 hitter made the last out in the bottom of the ninth. We come to bat in the bottom of the 10thinning, and we put our No. 5 hitter on base, because we know he is much faster, and we want to try…
Hit-By-Pitch Strikeout
The Phils and Cubs played at Wrigley on September 28, 2022. Nico Hoerner led off the bottom of the sixth facing Aaron Nola. With a 2-2 count, he swung at a pitch and the ball rolled slowly between home and third. It was fielded by Nola who didn’t have a play. There was a question…
Runner’s Lane Interference Controversy
The Cubs and Mets played at Citi Field on September 13, 2022. In the top of the fourth, the Cubs had runners on first and second and no outs when Michael Hermosillo, facing Jacob deGrom, laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by James McCann. The Mets’ catcher fired to first baseman Pete Alonso….
