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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 is a infield fly rule in softball?
An 'infield fly' is a term in baseball where the ball shoots extremely high and is caught in the infield. This is important because it prevents a 'sacrifice fly' which would be a fly ball in the outfield where a base runner could possibly advance. It is also a rule in softball. If the ump calls "infield fly" then its an automatic out if there are runners on 1st and second with less than 2 outs or if bases are loaded with less than 2 outs. It is there so the team cannot get all three outs out of one play. If you leave the base after the ball has hit the mit of an infielder or has touched the ground you are at your own risk and is considered a steal.
Can a player throw the ball with his glove?
It depends on the circumstance. A ball can be thrown with a glove to a base in an attempt to force or tag out a runner. A ball can be thrown to a cutoff man with a glove. However, a pitcher cannot pitch with his glove.
Where do pro pitchers warm up before a game?
Pitchers can do their initial warm-ups anywhere, usually some light throwing to warm up their arms in the outfield area. Then they can move into the bullpen where there is a mound and a catcher where the height of the mound and distance to the catcher are identical to the mound and catcher on the playing field. Starting pitchers may use the bullpen for their warm-ups during pre-game ceremonies on the field, then move onto the mound on the field immediately prior to the start of the game, and relief pitchers will use the bullpen prior to going into the game.
A hit that gets the batter to second base safely?
There are many different hits that can give a player a safe passage to first base. A player can hit a line drive, a ball up the middle, a ball off the walls around the stadium, a home run, etc. Batters can also reach first through a error made by the defensive team.
Distance from second base to home on a baseball field?
The distance between every single base in softball is 60 feet. The distance to the pitcher's mound from home is either 40 or 43 feet depending on what level you are playing at. The outfield depth varies from field to field.
How do you get to first base without getting a hit?
In Major League Baseball, yes. There is a rule called the 'Uncaught Third Strike' rule. This rule states that if the catcher does not cleanly catch the pitched ball that results in a third strike, the batter may run to first base as if the ball were hit. If the batter reaches first base before the ball, the batter is awarded the base.
In baseball can you block a base?
If the 3rd baseman blocks the base without having the ball in his possession, it's obstruction, and the runner could be awarded home by the umpire, but at the very least, the runner will be safe at 3B.
Why do they only allow the ball to be used 4-5 times in Major League Baseball?
In the MLB, umpires will bring in a new ball at their discretion. Pitchers may ask the umpire for a new ball because they don't like the current ball, or are stalling a bit.
Umpires try to keep the game fair and balls get dirty with use and harder to see. They may also get nicked up when hit or when the hit the catcher's gear.
These days, umpires will replace a ball if it's thrown in the dirt by the pitcher. It may stay in play longer on outs made in the field longer.
For info on MLB and other baseball rules see:
http://www.hitpitchcatch.com/baseball-rules-softball-rules.html#MLBBaseball
Who is the 3rd base coach of the dodgers?
Dino Ebel is the third base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Dino was appointed by manager Mike Scioscia in 2005 and is in his 4th season as the third base coach.
What if the bat and hand hit the ball at the same time?
If the ball by rule is a fair ball, the runner must reach 1st base before he/she is put out. If the ball by rule is a foul ball, it is a strike. There are other rules regarding bunts, interference, and so on, but basically that's it.
An umpire is not supposed to throw the ball back to the pitcher with runners on base. If he does the ball is dead from the time he touches it to the time the pitcher has the ball on the pitching mound. So the runners cannot advance.
Can you hit a runner with the baseball to get them out?
Yes ... rule 5.10(c)(1) states:
"If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the play."
A situation similar to this occurred in a game between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays in 2005. Gabe Kapler of the Red Sox was on first base when Tony Graffanino hit a home run. Kapler went down with a ruptured achillies tendon between second and third base. Graffanino waited on second base while Kapler was loaded on a cart and taken off the field. Alejandro Machado entered the game as a pinch runner and finished the trot to home plate in Kapler's absence.
What is a good freshman catcher throw down time?
Generally speaking a catcher throws back to the pitcher, each pitch he catches. This throw however, is a direct, straight one, but has a velocity 75 miles per hour or less. The catcher's most throws travel a short distance to the pitcher who stands 50 feet 7 inches away ( generally ) However, often times a catcher is involved in a "live" throw which is thrown to stop a base-runner from stealing base, or the catcher is throwing the ball to one of his fellow players in an ongoing play that requires him to throw with accuracy and good speed. In such situations, the catcher may throw a baseball anywhere between 75 to 85 miles per hour.
Is batter out if he gets hit by ball ouside batter box is he out?
if he is the batter and INSIDE the batters box he gets 1 st base.....if he is outside of the batters box then he does not get 1st base. it becomes a judgment call if the ump calls it a ball,strike or called time.
If the pitched ball hits the umpire is it a dead ball?
The ball is dead whenever the umpire calls "time", whenever it goes out of play, when it becomes a foul ball, whenever a pitch hits a batter, or whenever a batted ball hits a runner (and a few other circumstances). It doesn't matter whether the pitcher has it or not. On the other hand, it can't be put back _in play_ until the pitcher has it and is on the rubber.
What comes out first when the ball is relaeased?
When using a conventional (or beginner's) grip, in which the middle and ring fingers go into their respective holes up to the second knuckle, all three fingers usually come out of the ball at the same time.
However, most good bowlers use what's known as a fingertip grip, in which those fingers only go in to the first knuckle. With this kind of delivery, the thumb exits the ball a fraction of a second before the fingers do, allowing the two fingers to generate extra turn on the ball and thereby increase its hook.
How many Major League Baseball games?
162 unless there's a tie for first and neither team could win the wild card.then it would be 163 if there are two teams tied for first.(not including playoffs)
Why five sides on a baseball base?
Many rules changed during the span of Baseball. Instead of explaining your answer, I'll give you some extra information on all of the things that have changed since 1877.
1877
- 15 inch square canvas bases were introduced.
- Home plate was placed in the angle formed by the intersection of the first and third base lines.
- The hitter was not counted an At-Bat if he was walked.
1879
- Umpires were introduced.
- All balls became "strikes," "balls," or "fouls." and the number of "called balls" was a ridiculous 9.
- The Player Reserve Clause was put into a contract.
- The pitcher had to stand facing a batter before pitching to him.
1880
- A walk was lowered to 8 "called balls"
- If the batted ball hit a runner, he was now declared out.
- On the third strike, the catcher was required to catch the pitch on the fly in order for an out to register.
1883
- The "foul bound catch" was abolished and the pitcher could deliver a ball from above his waist.
1884
- All of the restrictions on the deliver of a pitcher was removed.
- Base on balls is now reduced to 6 "called balls."
- Championships were to be decided on a percentage basis.
1885
- One side of the bat was allowed to be flat.
- home base could be made of marble or whitened rubber.
- Catchers and Umpires began using chest protectors.
1887
- The pitcher''s box was reduced to 4 feet by 5 1/2 feet
- Calling for high and low pitches was abolished.
- Base on balls reduced to 5 balls.
- This is the only year 4 "called strikes" was adopted.
- Base on balls were recorded as hits for this year only.
- The batter could now walk to 1st base if hit by the pitch.
- Marble was no longer allowed to be Home Plate, and the dimensions were changed to 12 inches.
- The rules recognized coaches for the first time.
1888
- Player reserve clause was written into the contracts of minor leaguers.
- Base on balls, again, did not count as an At-Bat.
- Batsman was awarded a base hit if he hit a runner with a batted ball.
1889
- Base on Balls again reduced to 4.
- The statistics of a sacrifice bunt were recognized.
1891
- Substitutions were permitted at any point in the game.
- Large padded mitts were allowed for catchers.
1893
- Pitching distance increased from 50 feet to 60 feet 6 inches.
- The pitching box was eliminated and a rubber slab 12 x 4 inches was substituted.
- The pitcher was required to place his rear foot against the slab.
- A sacrifice bat did not count as an At-Bat
- A flat sided bat was no longer allowed. The bat now had to be fully round and made completely of hard wood.
1894
- All foul bunts were counted as strikes
1895
- Pitching slab was enlarged to 24 x 6 inches.
- Bats were permitted to be 2 3/4 inches in diameter and not to exceed 42 inches.
- The Infield-Fly rule began.
- A foul-tip held by the catcher became a strike.
1901
- Catchers were compelled to remain continuously under the bat
1903
- Foul strike rule was adopted by the American League.
1904
- The height of the mound was limited to 15 inches higher than the level of the baselines.
1908
- Pitchers were prohibited from soiling a new ball
- Shin guards were reintroduced.
- The sacrifice rule was adopted.
1910
- The cork center was added to the official baseball.
1917
- Earned-Run statistics and definitions were added to the rules.
1920
- All freak deliveries, including the spitball, were outlawed.
- The failure of a preceding runner to touch a base would not affect the status of a succeeding runner.
- The batter was given credit for a home run in the last of the ninth inning if the winning run was on base when the ball was hit out of the field.
- The number of runs batted in were to be included in the official score.
- Frivolous ninth-inning uncontested steals in one-sided games were discarded.
1925
- Pitcher was allowed to use a resin bag.
- The minimum home-run distance was set at 250 feet.
1931
- The Sacrifice-Fly rule was brought back, only if a runner scored after the catch.
- Defensive interference was changed from an offense by the catcher only to all fielders.
- No fielder could take a position in line with a batter's vision with the deliberate intent to distract the batter in any way.
- Regulations referring to a batter contacting his own ball were clarified as was the area of bases awarded a batter when a defensive player threw his glove at a batted or thrown ball or in the case of spectator interference.
1953
- The rule was added (for 1954) that no equipment was to be shown on the field while batting. They had normally left their gloves on the field.
1959
- All new parks had to have minimum boundaries of 325-400-325 feet.
1968
- The anti-spitball rule was rewritten more strictly because of the number of wet pitches.
1969
- The pitcher's mound was lowered to 10 inches.
- The strike zone became smaller, from the armpits to the top of the knees.
- A pitching save was added to the official rules.
1971
- Helmets became mandatory for all batters.
1973
- The rules for glove size and color was standardized.
- The Designated Hitter was experimented by the American League.
1974
- The Save rule was rewritten.
- Minimum standards for individual championships were outlined.
1975
- Horse shortage allowed balls to be covered with cowhide.
- 3-Day Suspension was mandatory for any batter caught using a filled, doctored, or flat-surface bat.
- The Save rule was rewritten again.
2008
- Limited Instant Replay is added to the rules starting Friday, August 29 for Home Run calls and Fair or Foul calls.
How do you construct a wooden little league pitching mound?
Really all you need is an area that is 45 feet long. If you want you can attach a pitching mound and home plate to the ground, but removable ones work just as well. For any division except 18 U Gold and collegiate pace out 40 feet between the tip of home plate and the pitcher's mound. For 18U Gold and collegiate pace out 43 feet.
Is foul ball counted as a strike?
It depends on how the game is being played. Most of the time, foul balls don't count as a strike; you can hit a ton of foul balls while you're up to bat and it won't matter. If you're playing a strict game of baseball, though, if you go up to bat and hit two foul balls, they count as strikes. Then, if you miss the ball or whatever, that would be your third strike. And you're out. :)
Foul balls count as strikes when every the batter does not have two strikes, once a batter gets two strikes foul balls are no longer counted as strikes.
How do you make an appeal play in baseball?
If you're talking about an appeal of a runner missing a base, or leaving a base before a fly ball is caught, the proper procedure is as follows:
After play has completed, the pitcher, with the ball, steps on the pitching rubber and comes set. He then steps off the rubber legally and throws the ball to a defensive player near the base they are appealing was missed. This player then steps on the base. If the appeal is granted, the umpire will impose remedies as appropriate. If the appeal is denied, the umpire will so indicate. Note: an appeal is made while the ball is live. This means that any other runner may advance at their own risk.
When a fielder catches a ball and falls into the stands is it a foul ball or an out?
The baseball rules differentiate between a foul ball and a foul tip.
A foul tip caught by the catcher is a strike. If it's the third strike the result is a strikeout, otherwise the at bat continues.
A foul ball caught in the air by any fielder (including the catcher) is a pop out (or fly out, which is scored the same).
Major League Baseball rules define a foul tip as follows:
A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher's glove or hand.
Many people were taught that a foul tip is anything that does not go over the batter's head, or that does not go at least six feet high, but those criteria are not in the rule book.
You can step on the base for the out ... you can touch the bag with the hand that has the ball ... or this is my fave ... you can make a phantom tag ... that's when you close enough to the bag (with out making contact with the bag) to make the out ... the umpire will call the runner out ...
Improvement:
If you have the ball in your clear possession (in the glove, or your free hand) then the force out is in effect when any part of your body touches the bag before the running, whether it is foot, knee, either hand, or suppose any other body part you would use to tag a base --- the :phantom tag" mentioned above -- that is an umpire error and should not officially be an out
