Question 1
On an infield hit, the ball thrown to first pulls the first baseman off the bag and up the baseline towards home plate. The hitter (the base runner) tries to avoid running into the 1st baseman and ends up touching the white bag only.
Is the batter safe or out?
Answer
The base runner is allowed to have his base line, and if the first baseman interferes with the runner, the runner is allowed to touch the white bag, and is safe.
Question 2
A batter that had taken a runner at a previous at bat forgets to do so at his next at bat. He hits safely and reaches first base. The next batter comes to the plate and takes the 1st pitch. The defensive team then realizes that the previous batter had run for himself and asks the ump to call him out? Did the defensive team wait too long to make the request?
Answer
The defensive team has waited too long. The runner/batter has concluded their time at bat as soon as the first pitch is made to the next batter.
Question 3
A batter in hitting a ball (fair or foul), steps on the mat (or plate) to make contact with the ball; is the batter out regardless if the ball is fair or foul?
Answer
The batter is out. The play is called as soon as the player makes contact with the ball while on the plate. Does not matter if the ball is fair or foul.
Question 4
There is a runner on first and second base and nobody out. The batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop standing near second base. The short stop tags the second base runner, who is still on second base, and over throws the first baseman. After the person on second base was tagged, standing on second base, they break for third base and get there safely. The bases end up loaded. Was the person at second who was tagged while still on base out or safe and allowed to advance to third?
Answer
The shortstop tagging the runner on the base, forces the player out. Once the ball has been hit into play, second base is reserved for the player running from first to second, forcing the player on second off base (does not matter if they are still physically on the bag, they are considered to be on the baseline between second and third). If the shortstop then touches second, it would be a double play. One caveat – if the shortstop touches second base first, the player running from first to second is forced out, and if the shortstop then tags the payer on second base, the player on second is safe, as the force has been taken off by the shortstop touching the base first.
Question 5
Batter hits long ground ball into left field.
Ball lands fair and rolls into foul territory.
Ball rolls past outfield fence line still in foul territory.
Left fielder runs normally and picks up ball and throws it in.
Umpire does not declare ground rule double because the fielder threw the ball instead of waving his arms?
Answer
The opinion of the umpire is what determines the play. If the umpire believes the ball stayed inside the fence, play continues as normal. If the umpire believes the ball has passed the fence, he immediately calls a ground rule double. The defensive player throwing the ball in does not have to do anything to let the umpire know by waving their arms.
Question 6
Base runner on first with nobody out. A ball gets hit to second, the second baseman fumbles the ball and finally grabs the base ball with his throwing hand and touches second base with his empty catching glove. The runner from first gets to 2nd base after the 2nd baseman touches 2nd base with his empty glove (with the ball in his throwing hand) but gets to 2nd base before the 2nd baseman touches the base with the ball in his throwing hand. Is the runner safe or out?
Answer
The runner is out if the second baseman has control of the ball. Doesn't matter if the ball is in the hand or glove.
Question 7
A base runner over runs 3rd base as the throw comes in from left field. The runner goes back to touch third base and steps on the 3rd baseman’s foot which is on the 3rd base bag. The 3rd baseman tags the runner standing on his foot on the third base bag. Is the runner safe or out?
Answer
The runner is safe. The 3rd baseman must allow the runner to touch the base, even if unintentional the runner is considered safe. Once the 3rd baseman foot is on the bag, his foot is also considered part of the bag.
Question 8
Nobody out, runners on 1st and 2nd, infield fly rule should be in effect.
Batter pops up, the umpire says nothing, the infielder drops the ball, all runners advance and the batter runs to 1st.
After the play, the Defence complains that the infield fly should have been called.
Who is out, if anyone?
Answer
The calling of "Infield Fly Rule" is done by the umpire as a courtesy, although in play, the "Infield Fly Rule" does not have to be called. The play is an "Infield Fly Rule" (runners on first and second, or first, second and third with less than 2 out) so the batter is automatically out if the ball is easily catchable by an infielder (whether he catches it or not, in fair territory), and the other players may move as if the ball is in play, and standard rules apply to getting them out.
