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Baseball Rules and Regulations
This category is for questions regarding the rules and regulations of baseball which includes asking about rules on safe and out calls, error calls, home run calls and much more.
3,260 Questions
If a ball gets stuck on a player is it an out?
The ball is dead and all runners advance one base.
I just wanted to add onto this answer. When this happens the ball is a live ball until the runs advance a base. i.e if the ball never touches the ground and gets stuck in a jersey it would could as a lineout/fly out and the batter would be out, then it is a dead ball... if somehow it happens on a ground ball a force out can be made, but a batter cannot be tagged out
Does catchers interference factor into on base percentage?
No. On-base percentage is calculated by adding hits, walks and hit-by-pitches and dividing that number by the sum of all at-bats, walks, hit-by-pitches and sacrifice flies. (Source: www.homerunweb.com/onbase.html)
A fielder's choice does not improve a player's batting average, and neither does an error.
djagameking:
Actually an error counts towards your on base percentage, just not your average. Does a fielder's choice count towards your obp.
Does the umpire decide if a pitch is a ball or a strike?
Typically an umpire points a finger somewhere, usually up or to their right for a strike, or they'll just raise their hand abruptly. For an out, they'll make a fist, sometimes they'll throw their fist on a tag or a close play.
Forfeit score in little league baseball?
forfeit (baseball) In rare cases, baseball games are forfeited, and the score is recorded with the forfeiting team scoring no runs; their opponents are credited with the same number of runs as innings scheduled. Thus, a forfeited professional baseball game score will be 9-0; most amateur leagues play seven-inning games, thus forfeits are recorded as 7-0. However, if a forfeit occurs in the middle of a official game in which the forfeiting team is losing, the score will be recorded as it stands at the point of forfeit. from answers.com the score is one run per inning for the winning team and 0 runs for the losing team.
Can a batter be replaced during his turn at bat?
As long as the pitcher has pitched to at least one batter previously, a change can be made during an at bat. If the batter is the first batter the pitcher has pitched to, (s)he may not be taken out unless having suffered an injury that the umpires deem is serious enough to warrant being taken out of the game.
Can field ump call a hit by pitch?
YES but he should do so after a conference with the home plate umpire. The idea is to get the call right and if the base umpire saw something the home plate umpire did not see he should confer with the the plate ump to get it right.
Can a batter leave the bat on his shoulder when in the batters box?
Yes, batters can be ejected while they are batting, usually by arguing about the strike the zone with the umpire. This usually only happens after the batter has struck out, rather then in the middle of the count, but if the batter argues too much, the umpire can toss him at any time.
Are there rules on how long high school baseball practices can last?
Yes. You will need to contact your state or league for your area.
Can a female play baseball legally?
Nothing is keeping her from it. A woman once pitched in the Minor Leagues.
Runner runs into fielder in basepath catching thrown ball?
This is nothing, just part of the game. Play continues.
Of course, it shouldn't happen, and the umpire can expect an earful from the offensive team's manager.
What happens if a pitched ball bounces and the batter hits it?
The answer is listed under 2.00 - "Definitions of Terms" official baseball rules. It states that: If a pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a "ball". If such a pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. If the batter hits such a pitch, the ensuing action shall be the same as if he hit the ball in flight.
Yes. MLB Rule 6.08(b) makes no distinction as to whether the ball does or does not hit the ground prior to hitting the batter. MLB Rule 6.08(b) is below:
" He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball; If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched.
APPROVED RULING: When the batter is touched by a pitched ball which does not entitle him to first base, the ball is dead and no runner may advance. "
Why are there 162 games in Major League Baseball season?
Each Major League team plays 162 games. There are 30 MLB teams and each game involves two teams which gives us:
MLB Games = 162 * 30 = 4,860 Games
There is no reason to divide games by 2 as a game is defined as played by 2 teams. Each MLB team plays 162 games.
In an actual season this will vary as some games are rained out and never rescheduled while on occasion an extra game is played to settle a tie (last year San Diego & Colorado each played 163 games due to tieing for the NL Wildcard after 162 games). In 2007 due to the one extra game to settle the NL Wildcard, 2,431 Regular Season Games were played in Major League Baseball.
On a third strike is aball which is caught as it bounces out?
In the MLB, the only time a dead ball can occur on a third strike, is on the 3rd out of that half of the inning. Any other called third strike keeps the ball in play until the pitcher steps on the rubber with the ball or calls time.
How far is the little leagueworld series mound?
The Distance From Home Plate To The Pitching Mound Is 46 Feet
What happens next inning if 3rd out occurs while batter is still up?
He can't. He can only be knocked out on strike three, tag-outs (which accurs when a fielder with the baseball tags the batter), or fly-outs (which a fielder catches the baseball before it touches the ground). However, if a fielder catches the baseball before it touches the ground, but it touched the ground before it was hit by the bat, then it's still fly-out.
Does the infield fly rule apply to a bunted ball?
No, as long as it is a fair ball. Once the umpire signals the infield fly rule the batter is automatically out. However, if the ball is dropped and is ruled a foul ball, the umpire reverses his call and the batter continues his turn at bat. Nevertheless, the batter can not reach first from that batted ball. You will often find an umpire state "Infield fly, Batter is out if Fair". When the rule is in effect, the batter may not get on first base.
It's important to know that there are different types of bunts. There's bunting for a base hit, swinging bunts and, most commonly used, sacrifice bunts. The limited foul attempt rule is in effect for all bunts. However, for the first two aforementioned types, the batter is trying to get on base; thus, is wary of the ball/strike count and will rarely attempt a bunt with a two strike count. The only instance the rule comes into play is when a player is asked to lay down a sacrifice bunt in order to advance a base runner.
A sacrifice bunt is viewed as the simplest way to put the ball into play. A batter performs a sacrifice bunt by holding the bat in the strike zone until the ball meets the bat. Due to the apparent simplicity, the umpire, in attempt to move the game along, will not allow an unlimited amount of foul attempts. Answer Actually, when you foul tip a ball on the third strike you're out!
And a foul tip is when the batter skims the ball and the ball goes into the catchers glove.
Clarification
The first answer given is completely wrong. The umpire makes no assumption on the reasoning behind why a batter is bunting. A sacrifice bunt can be performed with 0 strikes just as a bat for a hit can be performed with 2 strikes - the rule applies to both of these. A "swinging bunt" is not defined in the Rules; it is a term used to describe when a batter swings, but the ball only goes a few feet, much like a bunt.
When there is any "swinging motion" whether a full swing, half swing, check swing or "swinging bunt", the 2 strike bunt rule does not apply. This has been a rule as long as baseball has been around. A logical reason for it would be to level the playing field for pitchers and batters alike -- it wouldn't be very fair for a pitcher if a batter were given chance after chance to lay down a bunt until successful. The same reason is behind the 2 strike caught foul tip on a swing rule.
In high school baseball what is the distance between pithers mond and home plate?
60 Feet, 6 Inches.
The same as the majors.
Why is the pitchers mound elevated?
It's to give the pitchers an advantage. Of course, these days, there isn't much of an advantage. Back in the 60s, it was raised (the mound was made higher) since the pitchers complained about the batter's advantage. Shortly thereafter, it was lowered to its present height due to the dominance of pitchers like Bob Gibson.
What is the width of a Major League baseball?
A Baseball "diamond" is a actually a square that measures ninety feet on each side. The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate is sixty feet, six inches.
Who gets the win if both pitchers pitch 3 innings in a 6 inning game?
Assuming it's an MLB game that's shortened to 6 innings, the winner would have to be the second pitcher because, by default, the starter cannot be credited with a win unless he pitches at least 5 innings.
How much time between innings in major league baseball?
I believe it's 8 warm up pitches in the major leagues, but in highschool baseball it is either 5-8 pitches or 2 minutes
Can a little league pitcher re-enter?
A starting pitcher who is removed cannot re-enter in either league, if he is removed from the game. It's rarely if ever done in Major League baseball, but if a pitcher is removed as a pitcher but placed in another position he can later return to the pitcher position.
a batter is OUT when a third strike is not caught by the catcher when 1st. base is OCCUPIED BEFORE (2) are out. RULE 6.05 (c)
So in the case mentioned above the batter is out and the runners may advance at their own peril. The batter does not get an RBI.
Rule 6.09 (b) states that the batter becomes a RUNNER when the third strike called by the umpire is not caught providing (1) first base is UNOCCUPIED,or (2) first base is OCCUPIED WITH TWO OUTS. In the case above the catcher after retrieving the ball could try to throw to first to get the batter runner out or he could tag home before the runner from third touches the plate for a force out. If the both runners are safe I'm not sure if the batter runner would get an RBI. I would guess he doesnt---sort of like no rbi if the batter hits into a double play and a run scores during that play.
AnswerRule 10.04(a) Credit the batter with a run batted in for every run which reaches home base because of the batters safe hit,sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, infield out of fielders choice: or which is forced over the plate by reason of the batter becoming a runner with the bases full (on a base on balls, or an award of first base for being touched by a pitched ball, or for INTERFERENCE or obstrction.The batter is automatically out and the runners may advance at their own risk. The uncaught third strike rule only applies when there are two outs or when there are less than two outs and there is no runner on first base. In either case, the batter would never be given an RBI for a run scored via the uncaught third strike rule. The batter would be charged with a strikeout in all cases.
