rich marazzi

Expert Analysis

When does a fly ball stop being a fly ball?

Topics: Appeal, Batted Ball, Fielding, Replay Review, Rules Controversy

When is a Batted Ball No Longer “In Flight” The White Sox and Tigers played at Comerica this past Friday, April 8, 2022. In the bottom of the ninth the Tigers had Austin Meadows on third base and two outs when Javier Báez hit a shot to deep right-field that took right fielder AJ Pollock…

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Rich Marazzi Mailbag June 2020

Topics: Balk, Batted Ball, Obstruction, Placing Runners, Runner Interference

Q. With the minimum three batter rule scheduled to go into effect this year, if the substitute pitcher comes in the game with one out and gets the next batter to hit into a double play, he does not have to pitch the following inning. But if the manager sends him out for the next…

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Ask the Rules Guy Episode #1 Rich Marazzi – Runner’s Lane Interference, Obstruction, & more…

Topics: Uncategorized

Rules Expert Rich Marazzi joins Chris Welsh for a lively discussion about runner’s lane interference, obstruction (several different examples) and a crazy MLB home run where the batter that hit the HR didn’t score the run.

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Ask the Rules Guy #3 Rich Marazzi, Ron Roth, Chris Welsh

Topics: Video - Ask The Rules Guy
This is a video post.
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Hidden Ball Trick by Rich Marazzi

Topics: Runners, Uncategorized

 The Hidden Ball Trick in baseball has been around as long as peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack. Many runners have been caught napping over the years by clever thinking infielders who have used a variety of tactics to execute the ancient ruse.  Former shortstop Gene “Stick” Michael was one of the great hidden ball tricksters…

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Oops! MLB Umpire Catches Wild Pitch

Topics: Catcher, Definitions, Equipment, Interference, Latest News, Lodged Ball, Placing Runners, Placing Runners, Umpire, Umpire Interference, Uncategorized

In the July 27, 2018 Jays-White Sox game in Chicago, top of the fifth inning, Curtis Granderson was batting for the Jays with Russell Martin on third, Randal Grichuk on second, and Devon Travis on first with one out.  Sox pitcher Thyago Vieira unleashed a wild one. The ball bounced in the dirt and was…

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Bruce Bochy Knows the Rules!

Topics: Catcher, Dead Ball Area, Dugout, Latest News, Placing Runners, Placing Runners

Regarding throws from the infield that go out of play, umpires must determine if it the “first play” or “second play.”  By rule, when an infielder initially fields the ball, that is NOT A PLAY. The infielder’s “first play” is either: (1) a throw to a base (most common), (2) an attempted tag of a…

Expert Analysis

Batter Cannot Cause Balk – MLB Umpire Misses the Call

Topics: Balk, Batter, Latest News, Pitcher, Umpire

Batter’s Actions Cause Pitcher to Balk On July 11, 2017, the Rockies hosted the D’backs. In the bottom of second, the Rockies had Ian Desmond on first and Gerardo Parra on third with two outs and Tony Wolters at bat facing Jorge De La Rosa. Wolters asked for a “late” time out which was not…

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