Video Library
Our video library is home to dozens of rules-related clips that will make you a smarter coach,
umpire, player, or fan. This is also the only place to view episodes of the highly acclaimed
“Baseball Tech Talk” seen on Fox Sports Ohio, featuring former Major League Pitcher and longtime
Fox Sports broadcaster Chris Welsh and Major League umpires Ted Barrett and Greg Gibson.
Nearly 200 video rules segments are
currently being uploaded here.
Batter Induced Balk
If a batter or other offensive player attempts to cause a pitcher to balk by stepping out of the box, asking for “time” or in any other manner, as the pitcher is delivering the pitch to the plate, the umpire should not call a balk.
Assist
The lead runner on the base path is permitted to physically refrain the trail runner from passing him on the base path. However, a coach may not touch a runner to assist him on the base paths. If a coach intentionally touches a runner, the ball remains alive, and the runner is called out for interference by the coach.
Ball Hits Dirt, Then Player
If a pitched ball touches the dirt and then hits the batter, the correct ruling is a dead ball and hit by pitch. A batter is permitted to swing at a pitch that hits the dirt. If he hits the ball fair, the play goes on as normal. If a batter swings and misses at a pitch that hits the dirt and the ball bounces up and hits the batter, it is rules a strike and a dead ball.
Catcher’s Interference
Catcher’s interference occurs when a batter swings and touches the catcher’s glove. The umpire points and calls “that’s catcher’s interference.” The ball remains alive and the play develops. If the batter gets a base hit, he gets credit for a base hit. If the batter swings and misses, hits a foul ball or makes an out, the umpire will call time and award the batter 1B on catcher’s interference.
Note: There are circumstances where the manager of the offensive team can decide to take the play instead of the catcher’s interference. If a batter hits a sacrifice fly and plates a run, the manager might prefer that over a catcher’s interference penalty. The umpire is not obligated to inform the manager of the offensive team he has a choice in this situation.
Fake to 3rd – 1st
At the professional level, a pitcher may no longer fake a pickoff throw to 3B and then spin around and throw or fake a throw to 1B. While engaged on the rubber, a pitcher may fake a pickoff throw only to 2B.
Batter Touches Foul Ball
Can a batter be called out for touching a foul ball? The answer is yes. If a batter intentionally touches a foul ball that has a chance to be fair in an effort to keep the ball foul, he is ruled out and all runners return to their previous base.
Bat Interference
When a bat touches a live batted ball several things can happen. For instance, a batter bunts a ball, drops his bat, and then the ball rolls into the bat. If a batted ball rolls into a stationary bat in fair territory and stays in fair territory, the ball is live and in play. If the batted ball rolls into a stationary bat in fair territory and comes to rest in foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a batted ball rolls into a bat in foul territory, it is immediately a foul ball.
Foul Tip or Foul Ball
It is important to know the difference between a foul tip and foul ball. A foul tip is a pith that touches the bat and goes directly into a catcher’s hand or glove. The ball remains alive ad runners can attempt to advance at their own risk. A foul ball is a pitch that touches the bat and is not caught by the catcher. The ball is dead and all runners must return to their base.
Detached Equipment
If a fielder uses detached equipment to field a pitched ball (usually this is a catcher scooping a ball with his mask), there is a one base penalty for any runners on base. If no runners are on base, there is no infraction. If a fielder uses detached equipment on a fair batted ball, the penalty is three bases for all runners including the batter runner.
Strike Zone
The strike zone is defined as the hollow of the knees to the midpoint of the batter’s belt to the top of his shoulder. The umpire should determine the strike zone when the batter is prepared to swing at a pitch. The strike zone is a three-dimensional area, so if any part of the baseball passes through any part of the strike zone, it is considered a strike.
Dropped 3rd Strike
The rule for “desertion” or “abandonment” varies along different levels of baseball. At the pro level a batter gives up his right to run to 1B on a dropped third strike when he leaves the dirt cut out area around home plate.
Switch Hitting
A batter is permitted to switch from one batter’s box to the other, provided he does it after the pitch or when the pitcher is not delivering a pitch to the plate. If the batter switches from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is delivering a pitch, he will be called for interference and ruled out.
