You Make the Call
Game Situations with
Rule Justification
Situation 1
Runner on first base, less
then two outs, two strikes
on batter, who swings at
the pitch which hits
him/her. Is the batter out?
Situation 1
Yes – Rule 2.00-STRIKE (e) & 6.05(e).
The old myth comes back to haunt you
if you got this one wrong. The hands
are NOT part of the bat. We do not
know of a manufacturer that makes
bats with hands on them. Swinging
strike three, ball is dead and runner on
first stays on first.
Situation 2
Runner going from second to third
base falls over the shortstop that
was standing in the base line
fielding a batted ball. The third
baseman tags the runner with the
ball. Is the runner out?
Situation 2
Yes – Rule 7.08(b) & 7.09(1). The
base runner must give ground to a
defensive player who is making a
play on a batted ball. The runner is
out whether it is deemed
intentional or not intentional.
Situation 3
Fielder throws his/her glove
at a fair batted ball but does
not hit the ball. How many
bases should be awarded?
Situation 3
None – Rule 7.05(c). The
rule only penalizes a
defensive player if the ball is
TOUCHED by the thrown
glove.
Situation 4
Pitcher makes a wild pitch
which goes out of the
playing field. Should all
runners on base advance:
ONE, TWO or THREE Bases?
Situation 4
One – Rule 7.05 (h). One
from the rubber and two
from the field is the old
adage and still (for the most
part) applies.
Situation 5
With no runners on base,
pitcher raises his/her pivot
foot in the act of delivering a
pitch. Is this a balk?
Situation 5
No – Rule 8.05. However, it
would be one of two illegal
pitches that are outlined in 8.05
(e) & (g). You may also want to
review rule 2.00 – ILLEGAL
PITCH.
Situation 6
Batted ball strikes foul line
between home and first
base then rolls fair before
reaching first base. Is this a
FAIR ball or FOUL ball?
Situation 6
Fair – Rule 2.00. Review your
definition of a fair ball. A
batted ball that settles on
fair ground between home
and first base is a fair ball.
Situation 7
Fielder is standing in fair
territory when a fly ball touches
his/her glove which is just
outside of the foul line. Is this a
FAIR ball or FOUL ball?
Situation 7
Foul – Rule 2.00. A fair/foul fly shall
be adjudged according to the
relative position of the ball and the
foul line, not as to whether the
fielder is on fair or foul territory at
the time such fielder touches the
ball.
Situation 8
Outfielder catches a fly ball
then immediately collides
with another outfielder,
dropping the ball. Is the
batter SAFE or OUT?
Situation 8
Safe – Rule 2.00 – CATCH. It is
not a catch if the fielder collides
with a player, or with a wall, or
if that fielder falls down, and as
a result of such collision or
falling, drops the ball.
Situation 9
With two strikes on batter,
batter fouls a pitch which strikes
catcher’s chest protector.
Catcher grabs the rebound,
before the ball falls to the
round. Is the batter out?
Situation 9
No – Rule 2.00 – FOUL TIP.
Sharp and direct from the
bat to the catchers hand or
mitt and anything else is a
foul ball.
Situation 10
Lineups have been
announced. Before the
game starts, the manager
changes his/her shortstop. Is
this allowed?
Situation 10
Yes – Rule 3.03. Starting players
have reentry rights by rule. So a
starter (other than a pitcher) may
come out for a sub anytime, even
before the game starts and then
reenter to fulfill his/her mandatory
play.
Situation 11
Batter hits a home run after
which it is discovered he/she
had used an illegal bat.
Home run is disallowed.
RIGHT or WRONG?
Situation 11
Wrong – Rule 4.19(a). Illegal
equipment is removed from the
game and all action that resulted
from the use of the illegal
equipment remains. Home run
stands and bat removed.
Situation 12
Player in starting lineup is replaced
by substitute in bottom of second
inning. Another substitute replaces
the first substitute at the start of
the third inning. In what inning can
the original player re-enter the
game?
Situation 12
None – Rule 3.03. Starting players may
not return to the line up until their
substitute plays six (6) consecutive outs
and bats at least once; in this case the
first sub has not and can not get his/her
six (6) outs and will not have batted at
least once meaning the starter cannot
return in this game.
Situation 13
In how many situations
can a run score when the
third out is made on a
force play?
Situation 13
None – Rule 4.09(a)
EXCEPTIONS: (2). The rule is
pretty cut and dry in that it
specifically says no runs will
score when the third out of the
inning is a force play out.
Situation 14
Batter with a count of two
balls and one strike is
removed for another batter.
Does the count on the new
batter start over?
Situation 14
No – Rule 6.01 NOTE outlines if
the third out of the inning is
made while that batter is at bat
the count will start over, but not
when one batter takes the place
of another during an at bat.
Situation 15
Bases full, two out, batter
hits ball over fence for home
run. Batter misses first base.
Proper appeal is made. How
many runs score?
Situation 15
None – Rule 7.10(b) & 4.09(a)
EXCEPTIONS(1). As mentioned above
no runs will score when the third out
of the inning is made on the batter
runner before touching first base
and the defense initiates a proper
appeal.
Situation 16
Batter hits illegal pitch
and is thrown out at first
base. Does the out stand?
Situation 16
No – Rule 8.05 PENALTY. The umpire
should approach the manager of the
offensive team and advise him/her
that there is an option on this play.
The manager would take the results
of the play or the penalty for the
illegal pitch.
Situation 17
Fair batted ball hits the base
runner standing on third
base. The umpire calls
runner out. Is the umpire
correct?
Situation 17
Yes – Rule 7.08 (f). Another one of those
myths. The base does not protect a runner
from being called out when hit with a fair
batted ball before the ball has touched or
passed an infielder. EXCEPTION: If a runner
is touching a base when touched by an
Infield Fly, that runner is not out, although
the batter is out.
Situation 18
Runners on first and third, one out.
Batter hits a fly ball to centerfield which
is caught. Runner on first left when the
batter hit the ball and before he could
return, is doubled at first. Runner on
third crosses plate before out is made at
first. Does the run score?
Situation 18
Yes – Rule 2.00 – FORCE PLAY, 4.09 EXCEPTIONS & 7.10(a).
While most appeals must be verbal so the umpire knows
the defense is aware of a base running infraction this play
does not have to be verbal because the actions of the
defense lets the umpire know that they know the runner
on first did not tag up. The base runner on first base was
REQUIRED to tag up but when the batter was out on the
catch of the fly ball the force was removed and this
becomes a TIMING play. If the runner on third tags or
touches home plate before the ball gets to the first
baseman for the out at first the run would count.
Situation 19
Runners on second and third, two
out. Batter hits clean double and
is thrown out attempting to
stretch the hit into a triple.
Runner on second left too soon.
How many runs score?
Situation 19
None – Rule 7.13. In this case the batterrunner was thrown out thus opening up
bases in which to return runners
because of leaving early. Return both
runners to second and third and remove
the runs from the book. The violation by
one base runner shall affect all other
base runners.
Situation 20
Runner on first, batter hits ground
ball to first baseman who steps on
first base then throws to shortstop
standing on second base, the ball
arriving ahead of the runner. Umpire
rules runner out. Is the umpire
correct?
Situation 20
Wrong – Rule 2.00 – FORCE
PLAY. By stepping on first base
the defense team has removed
the force and to get the out at
second the base runner would
need to be tagged.
Situation 21
It is the top of the fifth inning. The
first batter walks. The next batter
doubles to right. The umpire realizes
that there has been no left fielder
since the inning started. Do you....
allow the runners to remain on base
or do you start the inning over?
Situation 21
Rule 1.01/4.17 - No action
may take place with less
than nine defensive players
on the field. The inning
starts over.
Situation 22
The batter hits a line drive up
the middle. The ball strikes the
rubber and deflects directly
into the dugout between first
base and home. What's the
award?
Situation 22
Rule 2.00 Definitions. It's a
foul ball!
There's no award!
MYTH #1
"The hands are part of the bat."If a batter is
hit on the hands while swinging at a pitch, or
while his/her hands are in the strike zone, it is
a strike. OTHERWISE, it is a hit batter and
he/she gets first base. In all cases the ball is
dead and no runners may advance. See Rule
2.00 BALL, PERSON, STRIKE (e),(f), TOUCH,
also Rule 6.08(b). THE HANDS ARE PART OF
THE PERSON.
MYTH #2
"He/she held the ball for 2 seconds before
he/she dropped it. That's a catch." The length
of time the ball is held has nothing to do with
the determination of a catch. The release of
the ball must be VOLUNTARY and
INTENTIONAL. See Rule 2.00 CATCH. The
fielder must prove that he/she had
COMPLETE control of the ball before releasing
it.
MYTH #3
"Removing the batting helmet
intentionally while running the
bases will result in a team
warning and the next player to
commit the infraction will be
ejected. NO out is called."
MYTH #3 cont.
MYTH: This type of thing does not happen
very often and does not warrant an
ejection. A reminder to the offensive team
is usually enough to stop this when it
happens. Usually it will happen and the
offensive player does not realize that they
have done it. Remind your equipment
manager to get the teams helmets that fit.
MYTH #4
"As the pitcher delivers the pitch, waving
or waggling the bat while in a bunt stance
is not allowed. This interferes with the
catcher and is dangerous in Little League.
The umpire shall warn the player and the
bench. Interference could be called on the
batter if the umpire judges that this
hindered a play by the catcher."
MYTH #4 cont.
MYTH: A real stretch of Rule
9.01(c). There is no way you can
call interference on the batter.
FORGET this application of rule
9.01(c), you have other legitimate
things to worry about.