ESBUA meeting 5/9/2022
Question 1
R3 1 Out. 0-0 count to batter, B3.
B3 hits a ground ball down the 1B foul line and bounds over the 1B bag. Left handed F3 dives on the ground and fields the ball behind the 1B bag. F3 stands up and throws to F2 in an attempt to retire R3. B5 is running towards 1B with his right foot on the foul line and his left foot is in fair territory. B5 is more than half way to 1B when the throw from F3 hits B5 and causes the ball to go into dead ball territory.
At the conclusion of play, what is your ruling? How many outs are there now? Where are runners placed, if play doesn’t stand as is?
As long as the batter-runner did not intentionally interfere with the throw from F3, there is no interference. A two base award should be granted to offense. R3 is awarded home, B3 is awarded 2B. There is still 1 out.
What RULE from the rule book justifies your decision?
Rule 8-4-1g The batter-runner is out if he runs outside the 3 foot running lane while the ball is being fielded or thrown to first base.
Question 2
R1 & R2 2 Outs. 0-0 count to new batter, B4.
As F1 delivers a legal pitch from the set position, R1 and R2 attempt a double steal. As F1 had started his motion to pitch, B4 puts up his hand requesting time and then proceeds to step completely out of the batter’s box. The plate umpire never granted time and the pitch is received by F2, who subsequently throws to F5 in an attempt to retire R2, but R2 is ruled to be safe at 3B. R1 acquires 2B. The batter stepping out of the batter’s box did not interfere with F2’s throw in an attempt to retire R2.
At the conclusion of play, what is your ruling? What is the count to the batter? Where are runners placed, if play doesn’t stand as is?
Regardless of the location of the pitch, B4 is charged with a strike for stepping out of the batter’s box. Before the next pitch, the count to B4 is 0-1. The ball remained live in spite of B5’s actions and since time was never called, R1 and R2’s successful steal of 2B and 3B, respectively, is allowed to stand. If in the umpire’s judgment, B4’s actions caused an unnecessary delay, a second strike may be awarded to B4.
What RULE from the rule book justifies your decision?
Rule 7-2-1 e - A strike is charged to the batter if he fails to take his position promptly in the batter’s box within 20 seconds. The batter must keep one foot in the batter’s box throughout the time at bat, unless exceptions a through h.
Rule 7-3-1
CASE BOOK 5.2.1 SITUATION A
Question 3
R1 1 Out 0-0 count to batter, B3.
R1 is attempting to steal on the pitch. B3 hits a long fly ball over the head of F8. R1, thinking the batted ball will not be caught, touches 2B and heads to 3B. The ball is caught up against the CF fence by F8 who then, proceeds to throw to 1B. Just before R1 reaches 3rd base, he stops and turns around and is heading back to re-touch 2B. Before R1 re-touches 2B, the throw from F8 goes into dead ball territory. R1 heads back and re-touches 1B.
At the conclusion of play, what is your ruling? What is the base award?
R1 is entitled to be 2 bases from the last legally occupied base at the time of F8’s throw. Therefore, R1 should be awarded 3B. However, since R1 is not permitted to legally re-touch 1B due to not having re-touched 2B before the ball was declared dead, R1 is liable to called out if the defense properly appeals. The umpire should inform R1 he is entitled to third base, but will rule R1 out if defense properly appeals.
What RULE from the rule book justifies your decision?
CASE BOOK 8.2.5 SITUATION A
Question 4
R2 1 Out 0-0 count to batter, B2.
B2 hits ball up the middle to F8. R2 touches 3B and attempts to score. There is going to be a close play at home. However, F8’s throw is offline and takes F2 into an area behind home plate on 1st base side. R2 slides off to the 3rd base side of home plate, reaching with his hand, touches home. As F2 receives the off-line throw from F8, BR is attempting to acquire 2B. R2’s momentum carries him through home plate and makes contact with F2 which causes F2’s throw to sail wildly into CF. BR remains at 2B with F8 backing up the wild throw from F2.
At the conclusion of play, what is your ruling? What is the base award?
This is an illegal slide by R2. If R2’s slide was directly towards home plate (baseline extended) and momentum carried R2 through home plate, his contact with F2 would have not have been considered interference. As per the rule, if a runner fails to execute a legal slide and makes contact with a fielder in the immediate act of making a play that alters the fielder’s attempt, a runner is out for interference. This is not a force play slide rule violation, so time should be called and any base runners are placed at the base they had acquired at the time of the interference. In this instance, the run would score and B2 would be ruled out for the interference.
A slide is considered illegal if (except at home plate) the runner goes beyond the base and then make contact with or alters the play of the fielder. At home plate, it is permissible for the slider’s momentum to carry him through the plate in a straight line (baseline extended).
What RULE from the rule book justifies your decision?
Rule 2-32-2 c, Rule 8-4-2 b PENALTY
CASE BOOK 2.32.2 SITUATION E
