Catcher Illegal Positioning
The Rangers and White Sox played at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 20, 2023. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Chicago had Elvis Andrus on second base and two outs when Zach Remillard hit safely to left field. Rangers’ left fielder Travis Jankowski fired home and Andrus was called out by plate umpire D.J….
Catchers Blocking the Plate in 2023 MLB Season
Catcher Legally blocks the Plate on Throw from Drawn-In Infielder The Royals hosted the Reds on June 12, 2023. In the top of the 10th, the Reds had TJ Friedl on third base and one out with the score tied 4-4 when Jonathan India hit a ground ball to third baseman Maikel Garcia who threw…
Foul Ball Changed to Fair
The Yankees and Reds played at Great American Ball Park on May 21, 2023. In the bottom of the first, the Reds had Jonathan India on first base and two outs when Spencer Speer hit a slicing fly ball down the right field line. India was running on the pitch. Yankees’ right fielder Jake Bauers…
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…
Spectator Interference?
The Twins and Tigers played at Comerica Park on September 30, 2022. In the top of the fourth inning the Twins had Gio Urshela on first base and one out when Ryan Jeffers, facing Tyler Alexander, hit a shot down the left field line. With the naked eye it appeared that the ball touched one…
2022 Rules Questions: September Edition
Runner Obstructed During Rundown Question: See the above attachment before reading this play. In this situation, the runner going from second to third is obstructed during the rundown. I know this is a Type 1 obstruction because there was a play being directly made on the runner. The umpires awarded the obstructed runner third base…
Runner Fails to Retouch Base
The Yankees and Red Sox played at Fenway on September 13, 2022. In the top of the second, the Yankees had Oswaldo Cabrera on first base and one out when Miguel Andújar, facing Nick Pivetta, hit a fly ball to Alex Verdugo in right field. Cabrera, who was off with the pitch, went beyond second…
Legal Catch Controversies from 2022 MLB Season
The official definition of the “Catch” rule that is referenced in this report: A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform…
