Rule 7

Batting

Batting Out of Order

• Ask yourself TWO questions– Is the improper batter still at bat?– If NO, has there been a pitch to a new batter, a

play or attempted play, intentional base on balls, or have all infielders crossed the foul line at the end of an inning?

Batting Out of Order

Still at BAT?

Replace with proper batter

Advancesby runners

(stolen base, balks, etc.) stand Has

there been a pitch, a play/attempted play, or have all Infielders

crossed the foulline?The last batter is

now the proper batter

The current batter is the one that follows the new

“proper” batter on the lineup

Player who SHOULD have batted is OUT

Any outs (other than improper batter) stand and other runners return

Current batter is the one following the “proper” batter called out

Advancesby runners

(stolen base, balks, etc.) while

Improper batterwas at bat stand

YES

YES

NO

NO

Batter Interference

• Watch for interference with catcher on steals• With 2 outs, the batter is out• With less than 2 out and runner is advancing to home

plate– If runner is tagged out, ignore the interference and ball

remains live– If runner is not out, ball is dead and the runner is called out

• Attempt to put out runner at any other base– If runner is out, ignore the interference– If runner is not out, Batter is out, all runners return to base

occupied at time of pitch• Batter is out on strike 3 and interferes

– Umpire’s Judgment– Did the interference prevent additional outs?– Two outs may be ruled

Rule 8

Base Running

Appeals

• What may be appealed?– Runner misses a base– Runner leaves a base before fly ball is caught.

(When can the runner leave?)• May leave as soon a the ball is first touched

– Batting out of order– Check Swing

Appeals

• When are appeals allowed– Live Ball

• Fielder in possession of ball touches base missed or left too soon

• Fielder tags the runner that committed a violation

– Dead Ball• After runners have completed advancement and time is

called• With or without the ball• A coach or any player• Only verbal appeal is required

Appeals

• When must an appeal be made?– Immediately after the play, and…

• Before the next pitch (legal or illegal)• Before an intentional walk• Before the next play or attempted play

– At the end of an inning, before the pitcher and all infielders have left the fair territory

– On the last play of the game, before the umpires have left the field of play

Appeals

• Who rules on the appeal?• A runner cannot return to touch a base when

– He has reached a base beyond the missed base or left too soon and the ball becomes dead

– He has left the playing field– A following runner has scored

Appeals

• Consideration for Force Play or Timing Play– Base left too soon

• Timing Play• Runs may score ahead of upheld appeal for 3rd out

– Base missed when forced to advance• Force Play• No runs may score on upheld appeal for 3rd out

– Base missed when not forced to advance• Timing Play• Runs may score ahead of upheld appeal for 3rd out

Appeals

• Does the defense loose their right to appeal if the offensive initiates a play before the next pitch?

• Can runners advance during a live ball appeal?

• Are multiple appeals allowed?

Base Running Awards• One Base (Runner)

– Balk • Time of infraction

– Pitch from pitcher’s plate goes out of play• Time of pitch

– Throw from pitcher’s plate goes out of play• Time of throw

– Unintentional catch and carry • Time of pitch

– Catcher Obstruction, if attempting to advance• Time if pitch

– Forced because Batter is awarded 1st base• Time of pitch

– Pitch strikes a Runner• Time of pitch

Base Running Awards• One Base (Batter)

– Walk• Time of pitch

– Pitch thrown out of play on ball four• Time of pitch

– Batter is obstructed (only if infraction is not ignored)• Time of pitch

– Hit by Pitch• Time of pitch

– Runner interference (unintentional)• Time if pitch

– Umpire interference, Runner hit by batted ball• Time of pitch

– Pitch lodges in Defensive Player’s uniform or Umpire’s uniform or equipment on ball four

• Time of pitch

Base Running Awards• Two Bases (Batter and Runners)

– Fair batter ball bounces over, through, goes under, lodges in or under fence

• Time of pitch

– Fair batted ball of thrown ball lodges in defensive Player’s or Umpire’s uniform or equipment

• Time of pitch

– Live thrown ball or pitch touched by illegal glove or mitt• Time of infraction• Award to Batter on a pitch only when he has right to advance to 1B

– Live thrown ball or pitch touched by detached Player equipment which is thrown, tossed or kicker by a Fielder

• Time of infraction• Award to Batter on a pitch only when he has right to advance to 1B

– First throw by an Infielder and ball goes out of play or lodges in or under fence

• Time of pitch

Base Running Awards• Two Bases (Batter and Runners)

– For any subsequent play by an Infielder or for any throw by on outfielder and ball goes out of play or lodges in or under fence

• Time of throw

– Intentional catch and carry• Runners only - Time of pitch

• Three Bases (Batter and Runners)– Fair batter ball contacted with detached player equipment or illegal

glove/mitt• Time of infraction

Base Running Awards• Four Bases (Batter and Runners)

– Fair batted ball over fence in flight• Time of pitch

– Fair batted ball hits foul pole above fence in flight• Time of pitch

– Fair batted ball prevented from going over fence because it is touched by a Spectator• Time of pitch

– Fair batted ball prevented from going over fence because of contact with detached Player equipment to illegal glove/mitt

• Time of pitch

• Umpire Judgment (Batter and Runners)– Spectator interference

• Time of infraction

– Runner(s) obstruction – minimum of one base unless infraction is ignored• Time of infraction

– Defensive malicious contact• Time of infraction

Slide Rule

• LEGAL slide– May slide head first or feet first– If feet first, at least one leg and buttock must be

on the ground– Must slide within reach of the base with a hand or

foot– May slide away from a fielder to avoid contact or

altering the play

Slide Rule

• ILLEGAL slide– Rolling, Cross Body or Pop-up slide into the

fielder– Runner’s leg/foot is raised higher than the

fielder’s knee when the fielder is in a standing position

– Goes beyond the base and then makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder

– Runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg– Runner tries to injure the fielder– On a FORCE PLAY, if the runner does not slide on

the ground and in a direct line between the bases unless….

Slide Rule

• FORCE PLAY– If a Runner slides, the runner is required to slide

in a direct line between the bases into the base…UNLESS

• The runner slides in a direction AWAY FROM the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder

Slide Rule

Hurdling / Diving over fielder

• Runner dives over a fielder– Illegal

• Runner is out• Ball remains live unless interference is called

• Jumping, hurdling or leaping to avoid a fielder

– Legal, if the fielder is lying on the ground– Illegal

• Ball is dead immediately• Interference is called• Runner is out• Other runners return to base occupied at time of pitch

Malicious Contact

• Safety Rule• “Hard” contact is prohibited• Applies to Defense and Offense

– On offense, malicious contact is interference– Malicious contact supersedes Obstruction– The ball becomes dead immediately

Malicious Contact

• Penalties– Offender is ejected from the game– On Offense

• Player is ejected• Declared out, unless he has already scored

– On Defense• Player is ejected• Rule safe or out on the play• Award base(s)

– Umpire judgment– Where would runner(s) be had malicious contact not have

occurred

Fake Tag

• Prohibited by rule• By definition, a fake tag is obstruction• A fake tag is also illegal conduct• Penalty

– Warning to coach of team involved and next offender shall be ejected

– Award obstructed runner a minimum of one base

Intentional Walk

• How do you handle an Intentional Walk?– It may be requested by the catcher or the coach– It may be done before pitching to the batter, or on

any count– Call time and award the batter first base

Questions ?