Runner Interference Call Ends Rays Threat Against Pirates and Paul Skenes
The Pirates hosted the Rays on April 18, 2026. In the top of the second inning, the Rays had the bases loaded with no outs when Hunter Feducia, facing Paul Skenes, hit a ground ball to Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz. Richie Palacios, the runner on first, impeded Horwitz as he attempted to field the…
O’Hearn: Retouch of Second Base Not Necessary
The Pirates hosted the Natioinals on April 14th, 2026. In the bottom of the eighth, Marcell Ozuna was batting with a 1-2 count and Ryan O’Hearn on first base with one out when Ozuna hit a shot toward left-center field. Daylen Lile, the Nationals’ left fielder, raced over and made a great catch. Meanwhile, O’Hearn…
Fielder Intentionally Drops Bunt Fly Ball
The Nationals and Pirates played a double header at PNC Park on September 7, 2024. In the top of the ninth of the first game, the Nats were winning 4-2. Jacob Young was the batter facing David Bednar. Young hit a bunt pop fly in front of the plate. Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez came…
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…
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…
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…
You Make the Call!
There are three different scenarios in this report and I am challenging you to make the call for each one which may not necessarily concur with my opinion. Play No. 1 The Brewers and Mets played at Citi Field on June 28, 2023. In the top of the eighth, the Brewers had runners on first…
McCutchen Creates Time Play
The A’s and Pirates played at PNC Park on June 5, 2023 when the Bucs’ Andrew McCutchen played smart Ruleball to help the Pirates win the game. Here’s what happened. In the bottom of the sixth, the Pirates had Austin Hedges on third, McCutchen on second, and Bryan Reynolds on first and one out when…