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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

What are the angles of a home base?

There are three 90 degree angles. (Looking at home plate from a "pitcher's viewpoint), the wide "front" of home plate has 90 degree angles on both sides. The back point, e.g. "the heart of the plate," is a 90 degree angle. The two angles closest to the batter's back foot are both 135 degrees. This is because these angles are the sum of a 90 degree angle and a 45 degree angle. The back "triangle" of home plate is a 45-45-90 triangle.

Why do they cancel baseball games when it rains?

Some possible reasons for a baseball game to be suspended are either a curfew imposed by a law, artificial light failure, severe weather, a preset time limit, or the game has ended with a tied score. Before artificial lighting was available games the major reason games were suspended was based on severe weather.

How far is it from home plate to the pitcher's mound in college baseball?

Same as in Babe Ruth, high school, American Legion, and the pros...60'6". No matter what the outside dimensions of the filed may be, the bases will always be 90' apart and the distance from home plate to the rubber will be as stated.

Can a runner score when a batter gets thrown out at first for the third out?

No. A runner can only advance on a fly ball after it is caught. Since there are two outs and the catch of the fly ball would make the third out. A runner cannot score before a fly ball is caught at any time.

If a ball is throw and bounces off the upright and back into the field of play is it a live or dead ball?

Once the passed ball hits any part of the goal posts it is considered dead. According to an article on chicagosports.com, former NFL referee Jerry Markbreit was asked a similar question. "If the ball hits the upright is it still in play on a forward pass or a field goal try?"

His answer was:

"The goal post is out-of-bounds in the end zone; however, a field goal try that hits any part of the goal posts and rebounds through scores three points. So, in this case, the goal post remains in play. If the ball rebounds back into the end zone or into the field of play, it cannot be advanced because it is dead by rule. If a forward pass hits the goal post, it is dead immediately and an incomplete pass is ruled."

Is a pitch legal if a defensive player has 1 foot in foul territory at the time of the pitch?

The location of the fielder's body has no bearing on whether a ball is fair or foul. It is the location of the ball when it is touched by the fielder or when it goes by the base that determines whether it is fair or foul.

If a ball bounces before it crosses the plate and hits a batter is that a walk?

If the ball lands in the dirt and the batter swings at it, I believe that is a strike, even if he hits it into fair territory. This is another one that may have to be improved by somebody else if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am on this one.

Do the base runners have to run when the bases are loaded and the batter hits the ball but gets out before reaching first base?

Yes. Since the batter is forced to run to first base the other runners are forced to advance. However, once the batter is put out at first base the other runners may attempt to go back to their original base.

Are little leaguers supposed to be taught to run on the third strike regardless of whether or not the catcher misses the ball?

No. There is no 'uncaught third strike' rule in Little League. A base runner can advance if a third strike is not caught but the batter may not reach first base due to an uncaught third strike.
Majors and minors can't, but juniors and seniors can.

What is the minimum number of active baseball players n the field during any part of an inning?

There must be a minimum and maximum of 9 players on the field for the defensive team which will include their current Pitcher on the mound however the offensive team can have a minimum of 1 player on the field and a maximum of 4 players on the field.

How much of the plate does the ball have to cross to be an inside or outside strike?

even if the smallest bit of the ball crosses over the edge of the plate, it is to be called a strike as long as it is still within the strike zone

Why doesn't the ball go to the first baseman when the ball is thrown around the horn?

I think either ball is tossed out, if there is a mark noticed on the ball. You will see the defensive team do this, b/c any mark on the ball enhances the batters ability to see the ball rotation on the pitch, thereby allowing him to effectively anticipate what movement the ball will make.

If a ball lands foul and roles in bounds is it foul?

If the ball lands foul past first or third base the ball is foul regardless of where it rolls. If the ball lands foul before first/third base and rolls fair before first/third base, the ball is fair. If the ball lands foul before first/third base and rolls foul past first/third base, the ball is foul.

If the ball is touched while it is in foul territory before reaching first or third base it is considered foul and vise versa if it is touched in fair territory. Otherwise whether it is fair or foul is determined by where the ball stops.

** if the ball hits any part of 1st or 3rd base it is a fair ball

Can a runner on first base be thrown out if he is attempting to steal second base on ball four?

No. After ball four is thrown to the batter it is a base on balls. The batter is entitled to first base, and any base runner forced ahead may advance. Even if the runner on first is attempting to steal on the pitch, he is awarded second base and cannot be thrown out.

Of course the runner from first is award second base, but is only protected up to the base. If he overruns or overslides the second base because in his steal attempt he was not paying attention, he can be tagged out if he is off the bag.

When there are zero outs and runners on first and second and the ball is hit to the pitcher where should the throw be made?

The runner isn't awarded anything. If the fielder can get the ball in time, the runner can still be thrown out at second.

The runner is only awarded if the ball is thrown out of the playing field, such as the dugout or the stands. It is then declared a dead ball and is treated like a ground-rule double; The runner receives his extra base.

Does the pitcher have to throw the ball to a base on a pickoff move?

Absolutely NOT. The pitcher does NOT have to disengage the rubber to attempt a throw to a base. There's a huge debate over this, but anyone who tells you that a pitcher has to step off before throwing to a base hasn't read their rulebook very carefully.

Why is a strike-out called a K?

In the old days, the scorer recorded outs by using the last letter of the way the batter made an out. the last letter of "struck" as in struck out, is the only one that is still with us today. Because "S" was already being used to denote a sacrifice.

What happens when the batter gets hit by the pitch while trying to bunt?

A pinch runner must be inserted for him at first base. Then, the batter that was hit cannot return, and the pinch runner must stay in the game (unless he's replaced by someone else, in which case the runner can't return).

What is a balk in baseball?

A balk is any of a large number of illegal actions made by a pitcher when he is on the rubber. When this happens, the ball is declared dead and all base runners are awarded the next base. The main reason for the rule is give a runner a fair change to steal a base. Simply put, a balk is a fake pitching move- an attempt to make it look to the runner like a pitch in being made when in fact the ball is being held in the pitcher's hand or going to a base.

It is also a balk when the catcher is out of the catcher's box when the pitcher begins his pitch, and when any player other than the catcher is not in fair territory when the pitcher begins his pitch.

How many strikes or balls a batter will get up to in softball?

Basically, three waysHe can strike out swinging. He can strike out looking, that is, taking a called third strike. And he can strike out by fouling off a third strike while attempting to bunt.

Fourth way: the batter get two strikes - gets hurt - gets replaced by someone else to finish the AB - and that someone else gets the 3rd strike via swinging and missing, strike looking or the foul bunt.

If a base runner touches a base and a following runner touches a base and the following runner is out can the proceding runner retun to the same base the following runner touched?

you wouldn't want to go back to a base you already touched

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...but if it was an open base, the runner could return to it, but it would be a pretty strange thing to do..........Yes he can go either way but if he passed a base like 3rd and wants to go back to 2nd he must retouch 3rd to go to 2nd. when your out your out of live play unless you interfere

How far apart are the bases in softball?

60 ft. In a fastpitch softball game the distance of the bases all around is 60 feet.

Is a foul ball is counted as a strike?

The first two foul balls count as strikes 1 and 2. After that, it is not a strike.

How many people in baseball can get out before the whole team is out?

The minimum number of players that a baseball team must be able to field is 9. If there are any less players at game time, the team without the correct amount of players will forfeit the game. In little league, many umpires will give teams leeway in getting the kids to the field, since the game is for the kids.