Failed Execution of a “Time Play” Proves Costly to the Yankees
The Red Sox and Yankees played in New York on July 5, 2024. In the bottom of the third with the Yankees winning 3-1, the Yanks had Anthony Volpe on third and DJ LeMahieu on first and one out when Ben Rice hit a sharp ground ball to Sox first baseman Romy González who stepped…
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…
Multiple Ways a Time Play Can Score a Run
The Phillies hosted the Giants on August 23, 2023. In the top of the tenth inning the Giants had Wade Meckler on third and Paul DeJong on first and one out when Thairo Estrada lined to center field for the second out. The ball went from center field to first base where DeJong was doubled-up…
Runner Abandonment 2023
Moore Out for Runner Abandonment The Royals hosted the Mariners on Aug. 17, 2023. In the top of the seventh, Dylan Moore was batting with one out. He hit a looping fly ball to left fielder MJ Melendez who made a running, sliding attempt to catch the ball and dropped it. Moore, thinking the ball…
2023 Game and Inning Ending Plays
I’m sure you remember Kool and the Gang’s popular hit, “Celebrate Good Times Come On.” Over the years baseball players have prematurely celebrated victories because of their ignorance of the rules. In this column I am covering six game-ending situations that players and coaches should be aware of. Unless noted, the Pro, NCAA, and NFHS rules…
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…
Brewers Create Time Play
The Brewers and Giants played at Oracle Park on May 5, 2023. In the top of the first, the Brewers had Owen Miller on third and Brian Anderson on first with two outs. Luke Voit was the batter facing Sean Manaea. Anderson took an extended lead prompting a pickoff throw from Manaea. This put Anderson…
Yankees vs Guardians Time Play
The April 12th, 2023 Yankees-Guardians game was marked by controversy that led to the ejection of Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone and a 10-minute delay. Here is what happened. In the bottom of the first, the Indians had Steven Kwan on third and Jose Ramirez on second and one out when Josh Naylor hit a flare…
Test Your Baseball Knowledge: Continuous Action Appeal
The above is a video of a High-A minor league game that was played on August 31, 2022 when the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) hosted the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies). Let’s call the batter Jones, the runner Smith, and the pitcher Johnson. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hudson Valley’s Jones was batting with…
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