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COMMON BASEBALL MYTHS
1. The Hand is part of the Bat! NO IT IS NOT! If the pitched ball hits
the batter (before it
hits the bat or catcher), it is always a Dead Ball! Period! Both umpires should
signal the dead
ball with both hands up in the air. If the pitch was a ball, then the batter
gets first base
(assuming he did not lean into the pitch) - only the runners forced to move up,
advance. If the
pitch was a strike (swinging or in the strike zone), it is a strike, a Dead
Ball Strike! If it is strike
3, the batter is out (dead ball strike 3 - even if the ball bounced up
and hit him as he swung - it is
not a dropped 3rd strike - batter can not advance to
first no matter how many outs there are - no
runners can advance). Plate umpire also should give the out sign in this case.
2. A Dropped Third Strike has to be dropped . NO IT DOES NOT! The
catcher does not
have to catch (caught in the air) the ball and then drop it. It is a 3rd strike
and the ball touches
the ground, either before the swing, out in front of the plate, or during the
swing if the ball hits
the ground before the catcher fields (capturing a ball that has hit the ground)
or traps the ball,
or after the swing if the catcher catches and then drops the ball. This even
applies when the
batter swings and the ball is too high or too far outside or inside for the
catcher to catch/field and
it sails back to the back stop. However, the batter is not eligible to advance
to first whenever first
base is occupied with less than two outs. The plate umpire needs to know when
the batter is
ineligible to advance to first and give the out sign on a Dropped Third Strike
and say The
Batter is Out! The batter is eligible to advance to first when first is Not
occupied with less than
two outs or no matter where the runners are whenever there are two outs. The
Plate Umpire
should signal only the strike sign and point down and get out of the way of a
possible throw down
to first. The field umpire should help you out by giving a right hand down
clinched fist for a
caught 3rd strike - out, or pointing down to the ground if it is a
dropped 3rd strike. The field
umpire should give the out or safe call at First on a throw down only if
the runner is eligible to
attempt to advance to first. With the new rule change, the batter who is
eligible to run to first and
does not, is out once he leaves the dirt circle around the plate.
3. A pitched ball that hits the ground in front of the plate is a dead ball.
NO IT IS NOT -
It is a Live Ball. It is a ball , unless the batter swings at it (becoming a
strike), may even be a
dropped third strike; the ball may be hit foul or fair, into play, or the ball
may even bounce up
and hit the batter and become a dead ball (batter advances to first - or if he
swung, it would be a
dead ball strike). The plate umpire should give the proper sign based on what
happened on the
play (walk - left hand to first, hit batsman - hands in the air for dead ball,
strike, and/or
out............). This is also true for a pitcher ball hitting the plate.
4. A Foul Tip is a foul ball, or a foul ball is a foul tip. NO IT IS
NOT! A foul tip is not a
foul ball, and a foul ball is not a foul tip. A foul ball is a ball that hits
the bat does not go directly
back to the catcher and is not caught by the catcher. It is a dead ball, base
runners can not
advance. The umpire puts both hands straight up and then points into foul
territory; and he yells
Foul Ball if the ball is close to being fair, otherwise yelling foul ball is
not necessary. A foul
tip is a ball that comes off the bat and goes directly into the catcher s mitt
and is caught (the
ball must tip the bat and the catcher must catch it, in the air). It is a live
ball, base runners
may advance. The umpire should say nothing but give the tip sign (two hands
brushing together
at the finger tips), and then the strike sign, and if third strike, the out
sign. If a base runner is
stealing, and reached the base safely, he may stay, if he comes off the base or
attempts to go back
to the previous base, he may be tagged out, as it is a live ball. Do not allow
an out if the runner
attempts to return to the previous base if he leaves due to the opposing team
(player or coach)
telling him it is a foul ball - that is verbal obstruction - put him back on
that base and give him an
extra base. If he leaves due to his coach telling - he is fair game. (Umpire -
do not yell Foul
Ball on a foul tip; and do not give the foul tip sign on a foul ball)
5. A batted ball hitting in or coming to rest in the batter s box is a foul
ball. NOT
ALWAYS! It doesn t matter where the ball first hits, it only matters where the
ball is touched
or comes to rest. If the ball stops in the front part of the batter s
box, on or inside the
(imaginary) foul line drawn from 3rd or 1st to the back of the
home plate - it is a live and fair ball.
The plate umpire should simply point into fair territory (Never
yell Fair , only point). If the
ball stops on the foul side of the foul line, it is a foul ball, put both hands
up and yell, Foul
Ball !! Again, only yell Foul Ball if it isn t obvious. If the ball hits the
batter while in the batter s
box, it is a dead ball. It the ball his the batter-runner while outside the
batters box, it is either
foul or fair, based on where the ball is; and if in fair territory, he is out
and the ball is dead -
no runners can advance.
6. The foul line and the bases are foul territory. NO THEY ARE NOT! They
are Fair. If
the ball is touched over or inside of or stops on the foul line or hits 1st
or 3rd base, it is a fair ball.
If the ball hits the home plate it is initially a fair ball, although it may
still roll foul or be touched
in the box and would therefore be a foul ball, and should so be called. If
after hitting the plate,
the ball goes into fair territory or is touched in fair territory, the Plate
Umpire should simply
point into fair territory (Never yell Fair , only point). If the ball comes to
rest or is touched on
the foul side of the foul line and does not hit 1st or 3rd base,
it is a foul ball. If it is not an obvious
foul ball, the plate umpire should put both hands up, then point foul and yell,
Foul Ball ! Do
not yell foul ball when it is obvious. When a hit ball travels in the air
inside or over 3rd or 1st, it
is not always a fair ball - a fair or foul judgement depends on where the ball
lands beyond the
base. On the first base side the field umpire in the A position makes the call;
otherwise, it is the
plate umpires call.
7. A fair or foul ball is based on where the player is. NO IT IS
NOT! It is based on where
the ball is, regardless of where the player is. The player can be in fair
territory and reach into
foul territory and touch the ball and it is a foul ball. A player can be
tracking a pop up and be
standing in foul territory and reach into fair territory and touch the ball and
it is a fair ball. The
plate umpire should move to the line, and make the appropriate fair signal or
foul signal and
call; the field umpire should do the same if the ball and the field umpire are
near the first base
line, beyond the first base bag..
8. Tie goes to the Runner. NOT TRUE! There is no such rule or policy, in
fact, tie goes to the
Umpire. If it looks like a tie (remember that the speed of light is much faster
than the speed of
sound - the caught ball that you heard, really happened before the runner s
foot hit the bag that
you were watching) - He s Out!. If the play is that close - a bangger, get your
out, unless he is
distinctly safe. Sometimes, some umpires may lean toward or against a good or
bad defensive
play. The batter-runner must be seen to be clearly safe at first or he
is out!
9. The runner has the right to the base path. YES and NO. Well, in
certain situations. A
defensive player can not block the base or the base path (direct line to the
base) unless he has the
ball or is in the process of making the play (catching the ball). This is an
Obstruction call, with
your left fist out/down and clinched, watch the play - if there is a play on
the obstructed runner
going into a base, call Time immediately and say, I ve got defensive
obstruction on the ____
baseman............ , point at him and then send the runner to the base you
thought he would have
made (Note: if runner going back in to a base - award him the next base). If
the play was not
on the obstructed runner, but you thought he could have advanced to another
base, then call Time
after the play and make a similar announcement. If the obstructed runner made
it safely to the
base you thought he should have, then unclinch your fist and do not say
anything. On the other
hand, the runner must allow the defensive player a free and unaltered attempt
to make a play on
a hit or thrown ball (including vacate the base path). This includes a
subsequent throw by the
defensive player (ie., an attempted double play turn). This is an Offensive
Interference call and
it should be made immediately with both hands up, while yelling Dead Ball, I ve
got
interference on the Runner, the Runner is Out and give the out sign. There
could even be a
double play called if you thought there was a reasonable chance that the
interference kept the
play from being made at a base, especially if you thought it was intentional.
When it happens, the
ball is dead, all runners go back. Now, it is possible that the play, is so
close to both obstruction
and interference that the call is too hard to make - in this case the probable
call is - nothing -
That s just baseball Coach . When the players are close together, the runner is
flying and the
defensive player all of sudden has to move into the base path to make the catch
and they collide
and the ball falls out - you ve got to make a decision, is it obstruction, is
it interference, was there
unsportsmanlike conduct with the hit, or was it a bang bang play and they were
not able to
modify their paths - if not, it was just baseball. This happens a lot
at home and first. Remember,
it s Defensive Obstruction (DO) and Offensive Interference.
10. There is a mandatory slide rule for every base. NO THERE IS NOT!
There is a
mandatory slide rule for the home plate in the Oak Hill Supplement Rules, but
not in Pony or
Major League Baseball. If there is contact at any base, the umpire shall judge
if the contact was
intentional, was it dangerous, malicious, unsportsmanlike, could it have
compromised the safety
of one or both of the players? The offensive player will be judged safe or out,
as it actually
happened, and the offending player may be warned or ejected, based on the
severity of the
contact under the unsportsmanlike rule. If Malicious Contact causes the
ball to become
dislodged, then do not allow the offensive player to be rewarded for his
unsportsmanlike behavior
- call him out and eject him. Obstruction or Interference may also be called.
Although this is
mostly seen at the home plate, this is also applicable at any base, especially
at second. A base
runner does not have to slide at the other bases, but the unsportsmanlike rule
applies everywhere.
We also want to judge on the side of safety in a youth league. (ie., a player
sliding to one side of
the second base bag to take out the defensive player to break up a double play,
call interference
and get that out and the one at first - he can not get in the way and certainly
can not compromise
safety) - if the player came in with cletes up - at least a warning, probably
to the whole team,
maybe an ejection. - if the shoulder was down, or the arms and hands are used,
and it looked like
your fullback taking on a linebacker, and/or if the defensive player was bowled
over - - probable
ejection). Watch the runners hands to make sure he is not
grabbing the defenders
foot............this is difficult because, remember, you still have a play to
watch at first.
11. An offensive coach can call time out and talk to his batter as many times as
he
wants. NO HE CAN NOT. He may only have one charged timeout during a half
inning (a
timeout should be requested by the coach or the umpire should charge a time out
if the batter has
already stepped into the box and the coach calls him out or the batter leaves
to go talk to the
coach). If the coach makes a habit of talking to the batters before getting
into the box, delaying
the game, stop that practice, if it doesn t stop, call timeout and warn the
coach) . He can
however, talk to the any offensive player (including the batter, even after in
the box) during the
other team s or umpire s timeouts and it does not count.
12. A defensive coach can not go to the foul line or out onto the field and talk
to his
pitcher or other defensive players as the pitcher is warming up without
counting as
one of his visits. THIS IS NOT TRUE. A coach may do this and it not
count. He may even
switch pitchers without an inning being charged to the first pitcher. Once the
first pitch is
thrown - a visit will become official. After a coach makes a second visit to
the same pitcher in the
same inning, he must remove the pitcher. If a coach goes to a catcher or any
fielder and that
defensive player then goes to the pitcher - that is a visit!
13. If a pitcher takes signs from the coach, it is a balk. NO IT IS NOT. The
pitcher must
take the signs from the catcher while on the pitching plate. This doesn t quite
say that the pitcher
must only take signs from the catcher, but if he does, he must be on the
rubber. The rules do
not address the coach giving signs so there is no penalty.
14. It is a balk if the first or third baseman s foot is out of bounds when the
pitcher
makes a play or pitches. NO IT IS NOT! Although the rule says that a
catcher must have
both feet in the catchers box at the time of the pitch, or it is a balk, but it
is not a call that we
typically make. The same rule says that all players must be in fair territory
at the time of the
pitch, but does not assign a specific penalty (it is not a balk). If you see
this, tell the offending
player to get back into fair territory, if he continues to do this, warn him,
and then ejection is a
possibility.
15. An infield fly can only be hit in the infield. NOT TRUE! With less
than two outs, runners
on first and second or bases loaded (watch the umpires before the first pitch
to the batter - they
should be giving the infield fly sign to each other), the batter is out if a
fair fly ball is hit such
that an infielder could possibly make a play on the ball with normal
effort . The ball and the
play may be behind the infield (in the shallow outfield), it all depends on
where a normal effort
play can be made. This is a total judgement call and the CALL should be made
loud. Infield
Fly, the Batter is Out ! The call is made by the Plate Umpire - the Field
umpire points to the ball
if he thinks it is a fly ball that should be called an infield fly. If the ball
is near the foul line, the
call should be, Infield Fly if Fair and then if fair, call the batter out. If
infield fly is called and
enforced, the play is still live but the runners do not have to advance, even
if the fly ball was
dropped by the infielder. There is no force play - but if the runners take off,
they may be put
out by being tagged only - remember it is not a force, touching the bag with
the ball will not
cause an out. Also, if the ball is caught and the runners are off the bags, the
ball may be thrown
behind the runner to a bag to catch a runner off, just as with a regular fly
ball. Although the
infield fly should be called out by the umpires, if is not heard or even if it
is not called, the batter
is out by rule.
16. Oh, and here is a really good one! Standing on a base is a safe haven!
NOT ALWAYS!
Depending on the action, the mere fact that a runner is standing on a base is
not a guarantee that
he will be safe. He is safe if by being on base, that interferes with a fielder
making a catch;
however, if he intentionally interferes, he can be called out and it can even
be a double play. A
hit fair ball hits a runner who is standing on a base - that is Interference,
he is Out, it is a dead
ball, no runners advance (must return) except those runners forced to advance
by virtue of the
batter being awarded first (ie., if the bases were loaded and the ball hits the
runner while
standing on second base, he is out, the batter goes to first, the runner at
first goes to second, and
the runner at third goes back to third as the force was taken off when the
runner at second was
called out for interference. Now, a runner standing on a base is safe when
tagged by a defensive
player - right? Not necessarily! An appeal play could cause him to be out. And
there is the
classic run down at third and he gets back to third only to find that the
runner at second has
moved up to third also - both are tagged while on the bag, is anyone out? Yes,
the trailing or
back runner is out - Wait a minute, what if it was a force play, ball hit to
short, throw to home,
third base runner goes back to third, but the runner from second is also on
third, both are tagged
- who is out? Wrong! The lead or front runner is out. When the runner at second
advances to
third and acquires third on a force play, the runner at third must vacate and
advance to home. At
that point the runner from second is safe on third and the runner on third is
out, for failing to
advance, even while standing on the bag.
17. A right-handed pitcher, in the stretch position, can not throw to first
before
disengaging? AGAIN, THIS IS NOT TRUE! He can, if he does it right. Under
Windup - the
rules say that a pitcher can do three things: he can step and throw to the
batter; he can step and
throw to a base; or he can disengage (and then become a fielder and do
anything). This is true
for the Streach or Set Position also. Notice the first two require that he step
- this means a
clear step to the base he is throwing to. He must gain ground! A right
handed pitcher, with a
runner on first, can step directly to first and throw to first without having
to disengage. The step
must be a slide step, he can not raise his leg or knee, simulating going home.
Other rules limit
the raising of the leg, to going home, to third or second (or to first for a
left handed pitcher). A
move to first after raising the leg is a balk. Note: A legal move to first
while on the rubber,
without throwing the ball, is a balk. This includes the jump spin move (which
actually doesn t
meet either of the three criteria, but we don t call it). The jump spin move is
a move that is
initiated from the rubber - It still must meet the step to the base or the
disengage requirement.
So, if a pitcher does a jump spin move to first and does not gain ground, or
does not throw the
ball to first, it is a balk. The disengage move must be obviously a
disengagement first (step
back behind the pitcher s plate - he can not throw before the step) or it is
illegal. This means that
a snap throw must follow these rules - there has to be disengagement first. I
also saw a pitcher
do the step to first and the jump spin from the windup - this looks illegal,
but I am told it is not
???????? More to come !!!!!!!!
18. It is illegal for a pitcher to throw to an unoccupied base. Right? WRONG!.
The rules
specify that it is not to be considered illegal for a pitcher, with a runner on
first, to turn and
throw to second. Why, I don t know, but it is there. But maybe even more
interesting, the rules
specify that it is not illegal to throw to any unoccupied base, for the purpose
of making a play!
For instance, if the runner at second takes off to third, the pitcher can throw
to third to make the
play (but the pitcher Must make the appropriate moves on and off the pitching
plate or a balk
maybe called - for instance, if a right handed pitcher in the stretch, he can
make the standard
move to third and throw - he does not have to disengage).
19. A Pitcher can be removed or changed at any time. NOT TRUE! A starting
or substitute
pitcher that pitches one pitch must complete his pitching to that batter or
substitute batter before
he can be removed - do not allow a coach to remove that pitcher. Refusal by the
coach to adhere
to this rule is grounds for ejection.
20. A Balk is a dead ball. NO IT IS NOT! It is a delayed dead ball. When a
balk is called it is a
dead ball, unless the pitch is thrown, and if the batter advances to first
(walk, hit by pitch, error,
hit, dropped 3rd strike, catcher s interference .......) and every
runner advances safely to the next
base, the balk is dropped and the play stands. Better watch out on this one. It
this case, it is a
live ball, all runners (including the batter) can advance as many bases as they
want. Once the
batter and each runner have advanced one base safely, then any runner is
subject to being put out
with a tag (and the coach can t have the balk back). Umpires - on a Balk, do
not throw up your
hands (which is the signal to kill the play), instead, point to the pitcher and
yell, That s a
Balk! , then wait to see what happens.
21. An appeal has to be made from the pitcher s plate. NO, NOT
NECESSARILY! An
appeal has to be an obvious appeal - an accidental or incidental touch of a
base or player does
not count. If the ball is live, a player or the head coach can announce that
they are appealing
that X runner (they must identify him) missed X base (they must identify the
base). A player
can tag that runner or the appropriate base. You do not have to have the
pitcher get on the
mound, toe the rubber and then disengage to appeal, unless the ball is dead.
Now, if it is a dead
ball, the pitcher must toe the rubber and have time called in by the Plate
Umpire, then he can
disengage and make the appeal - an appeal is a live ball but is not a play. The
defensive team
gets one attempt to get it right and it must be made before the next play or
attempted play
(typically a pitch, but may be a pick off attempt). An attempted appeal during
a dead ball does
not count. A really interesting situation would be if the appealable play ended
the half inning, at
what point in the game would it no longer be possible for the defensive team to
make the appeal -
an appeal must be made before all infielders leave the infield (across the foul
lines). What if
the team wanted to make two successive appeals - would the second appeal not be
allowed
because it occurred after the first appeal - successive appeals are allowed as
even though they
are live, they are not plays (remember, an appeal must be made before the next
play). A
successful appeal may negate one or more runs being scored and/or may end the
inning.
22. Running out of the baseline (more than 3 feet) to avoid a tag, the runner is
out. YES,
But it is not the baseline that governs this. At the time of the play, when the
defensive player
that can make the play has the ball, the runner gets a direct line to the base,
from wherever he is.
He may even be in a run down and his positioning continues to change. If the
runner tries to
avoid a tag and deviates from his direct line to the base by more than 3 feet,
he is out by rule-
it has nothing to do with a baseline. Note that the runner must avoid a fielder
who is attempting
to make a play, so there may be a case where the runner goes around the X
baseman and it
appears he trying to avoid a tag, when he really is just giving him room to
make the play -
judgement call. On abandoning the base - any runner that leaves his base (maybe
thinking he
was out, or a foul tip was a foul ball) may be tagged out or even called out by
the umpire for
abandoning his base.
23. A bases loaded walk can tie or win a ball game. WAIT A MINUTE! Keep
your head in
the game. The batter must go all the way to first and touch the base. In fact,
all runners must
move up one base safely (touching the next base) or they are subject to being
called out on
appeal. Case - bases loaded, score tied, 2 outs bottom of the last, batter
draws a walk, team goes
crazy, run comes in to score, but the first base coach and the batter runner
are jumping up and
down hugging each other and the batter runner fails to touch first base and
then goes to
congratulate all the other players........................ the defense appeals
first base and the batter
runner is called out for failing to touch first and abandoning the base. Since
it is a force out, the
run from third does not count. There are all kinds of situations in which this
kind of thing might
happen (dropped third strike, walks, hits, hit-by-pitch, last run in an inning
run rule, etc) be on
your toes and don t give up on the play.
24. Any Coach can argue a call. NO THEY CAN NOT - Not at Oak Hill. Only a
Head Coach
may discuss a call with an umpire and only one head coach at a time. Do not
allow an assistant
coach to get involved.
25. The batter must get out of the catcher s way on a throw to a base. NOT
TRUE In
fact, the batter s box is a safe zone. As long as the batter is in his batter s
box, he can not be
called for interference (as long as he does not intentionally interfere). The
catcher must go
around the batter. If the batter backs out, steps forward, or tries to get out
of the way and ends
up getting in the way, he can be called for interference. If a batter swings
hard at out out side
pitch and comes out of the box and steps in front of the plate when a catcher
is attempting a
throw to seconbd, he can be called out for interference.
26. The ball can t hit the bat more than once or you are out. NOT ALWAYS
TRUE. If
the ball hits the bat twice while still in the batters box, it is just simply a
dead ball. The ball can
bounce up and hit the bat while the batter has come out of the box on his way
to first and the ball
is live, the batter is not out. The batter can drop the bat and the ball rolls
into the bat and the
ball is live, he is not out. If the batter intentionally hits the ball a second
time with the bat, he is
out and it is a dead ball (be careful here, if it looks like he tossed the bat
toward the ball, which
could interfere with the catcher or another player, I would call him out for
interference anyway,
hit bat or not).
27. The ball is dead if it hits an umpire. MAYBE! If a batted ball hits an
umpire when the
umpire is in front of an infielder, it is an dead ball (or if a fielder has a
reasonable change to
field the ball). If the umpire is anywhere else, it is a live ball (if the
fielders are up for a play at
home and the field umpire is behind them). Also, if an umpire is hit by a
thrown ball it is live.
28. The runner is out if hit by a batted ball NOT if the runner is behind
the fielders (just
as for an umpire- if the players are playing up). Even if the ball was sure to
go through or in
between the fielders, as long as the runner was beside or in front of the
fielders or closer to the
batter, then he is out and it is a dead ball.
Remember to delay all of your calls, whether you are behind the plate
(balls/strikes) or in the field.
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