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1.
HANDS
MYTH.
The hands are considered part of the bat. |
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hands are part of a person's body. If a pitch hits the batter's
hands the ball is dead; if he swung at the pitch, a strike is called
(NOT a foul). If he was avoiding the pitch, he is awarded first
base. |
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2.
RIGHT
TURN MYTH.
The batter-runner must turn to his right after
over-running first base. |
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batter-runner may turn left or right, provided that if he turns left
he does not make an attempt to advance. An attempt is a judgment
made by the umpire. The requirement is that the runner must
immediately return to first after overrunning or oversliding it. |
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3. BREAKING WRISTS MYTH.
If the batter breaks
his wrists when swinging, it's a strike. |
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strike is a judgment by the umpire as to whether the batter
attempted to strike the ball. Breaking the wrists, or the barrel of
the bat crossing the plate are simply guides to making the judgment
of an attempt, these are not rules. |
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4.
HIT PLATE MYTH.
If a
batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball. |
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plate is in fair territory. There is nothing special about it. If a
batted ball hits it, it is treated like any other batted ball. |
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5.
BATTER BOX INTERFERENCE MYTH.
The batter cannot be out for interference if he
is in the batter's box. |
The
batter's box is not a safety zone. A batter could be called out for
interference if the umpire judges that interference could or should
have been avoided.
The batter is protected while in the box for a short period of time.
After he has had time to react to the play he could be called for
interference if he does not move out of the box and interferes with
a play. Many people believe the batter's box is a safety zone for
the batter. It is not. The batter MAY be called out for interference
although he is within the box. The key words, impede, hinder,
confuse or obstruct apply to this situation. An umpire must use good
judgment. The batter cannot be expected to disappear. If he has a
chance to avoid interference after he has had time to react to the
situation and does not, he is guilty. If he just swung at a pitch,
or had to duck a pitch and is off-balance, he can't reasonably be
expected to then immediately avoid a play at the plate. However,
after some time passes, if a play develops at the plate, the batter
must get out of the box and avoid interference. The batter should
always be called out when he makes contact and is outside the box. |
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6.
FOUL-TIP MYTH.
The ball is dead on a foul-tip. |
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is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If the ball nicks the bat and goes
sharp and direct to the catcher's hand or glove and is caught, this
is a foul-tip by definition. A foul-tip is a strike and the ball is
alive. It is the same as a swing-and-miss. If the ball is not
caught, it is a foul ball. If the nicked pitch first hits the
catcher somewhere other than the hand or glove, it is not a
foul-tip, it is a foul ball. |
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7. SWITCH BOX MYTH.
The batter may not switch batter's boxes after
two strikes. |
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batter can switch boxes at any time, provided he does not do it
after the pitcher is ready to pitch. |
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8.
OUT OF ORDER MYTH.
The batter who batted out of order is the person
declared out. |
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PROPER batter is the one called out. Any hit or advance made by the
batter or runners due to the hit, walk, error or other reason is
nullified. The next batter is the one who follows the proper batter
who was called out. |
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9.
OVER-RUN FIRST BASE MYTH.
The batter may not overrun first base when he
gets a base-on-balls. |
| Rule
7.08 simply states that a batter-runner must immediately return
after overrunning first base. It doesn't state any exceptions as to
how the player became a runner. It could be a hit, walk, error or
dropped third strike. In Little League the runner may overrun. In
FED rules he may not and in Professional baseball, he may not. In
other programs that use the OBR he may if that is how the program
rules it. To overrun means that the runners momentum carried him
straight beyond the base after touching it. It does not mean to turn
and attempt to advance. Nor does it mean that he stepped over it or
stopped on it and then got off of it. |
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10.
DROPPED
THIRD STRIKE MYTH.
The
batter is out if he starts for the dugout before going to first. |
The
batter may attempt first base anytime prior to entering the dugout
or a dead ball area.
The batter becomes a runner when the third strike is not caught.
Therefore, if there are 2 outs and there is a runner at first, first
and second, or bases loaded, the batter creates a force by becoming
a runner. These runners are all forced to advance and an out may be
obtained by making a play on any one of them. If the bases are
loaded the catcher may step on home or throw to third, second or
first. |
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11.
BUNTING
STRIKE MYTH.
If
the batter does not pull the bat out of the zone while bunting,
it's a strike. |
A
STRIKE is an attempt to hit the ball. Simply holding the bat over
the plate is not an attempt. This is umpire judgment.
A BUNT is a batted ball not swung at, but INTENTIONALLY met with the
bat.
The key words are "intentionally met"
If no attempt is made to make contact with a ball outside the strike
zone, it should be called a ball. An effort must be made to
intentionally meet the ball with the bat. |
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12.
SECOND
BAT HIT MYTH.
The
batter is out if a bunted ball hits the ground and bounces back
up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat. |
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rule says the BAT cannot hit the ball a second time. When the BALL
hits the bat, it is not an out. Also, when the batter is still in
the box when this happens, it's treated as simply a foul ball. If
the batter is out of the box and the bat is over fair territory when
the second hit occurs, the batter would be out. |
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13.
FOOT
TOUCHES PLATE MYTH.
The
batter is out if his foot touches the plate. |
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be out, the batter's foot must be ENTIRELY outside the box when he
contacts the pitch and the ball goes fair or foul. He is not out if
he does not contact the pitch. There is no statement about touching
the plate. The toe could be on the plate and the heel could be
touching the line of the box, which means the foot is not entirely
outside the box. |
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14.
RUNNING
LANE MYTH.
The
batter-runner is always out if he runs outside the running lane
after a bunted ball. |
The
runner must be out of the lane AND cause interference. He is not out
simply for being outside the lane. He could be called for
interference even while in the lane. This is a judgment call.
The runner may step out of the lane a step or two before the base if
he moves from within the lane to out of it. If he is out of the lane
the whole distance to the base and is hit with a throw, he should be
out. |
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15.
HIGH
FIVE MYTH.
A
runner is out if he slaps hands with other players, after a
homerun is hit over the fence. |
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ball is dead on a homerun over the fence. You can't be put out while
the ball is dead except when you pass another runner. |
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16.
THE
TIE MYTH.
Tie
goes to the runner. |
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is no such thing in the world of umpiring. The runner is either out
or safe. The umpire must judge out or safe. It is impossible to
judge a tie. |
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17.
OUT-OF-PLAY
BALL MYTH.
The
runner gets the base he's going to, plus one on a ball thrown
out-of-play. |
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a fielder other than the pitcher throws the ball into dead ball
area, the award is 2 bases. The award is from where the runners were
at the time of the pitch if it is the first play by an infielder
before all runners have advanced or from where each runner was
physically positioned at the time the ball left the throwers hand on
all other plays.
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18.
COACH
TOUCH MYTH.
Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out. |
| Rule
7.09 says the runner is out if the coach PHYSICALLY ASSISTS the
runner. Hand slaps, back pats or simple touches are not physical
assists. |
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19.
REVERSE BASERUNNING MYTH.
Runners may never run the bases in reverse order. |
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order to correct a base running mistake, the runner MUST retrace his
steps and retouch the bases in reverse order. The only time a runner
is out for running in reverse, is when he is making a travesty of
the game or tries to confuse the defense. |
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20.
MUST
SLIDE MYTH.
The
runner must always slide when the play is close. |
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is no "must slide" rule. When the fielder has the ball in
his possession, the runner has two choices; slide OR attempt to get
around the fielder. He may NOT deliberately or maliciously contact
the fielder, but he is NOT required to slide. If the fielder does
not have possession but, is in the act of fielding, and contact is
made, it is a no-call unless the contact was intentional and
malicious. |
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21.
HIT
BY BALL ON BASE MYTH.
The
runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a
base. |
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bases are in fair territory. A runner is out when hit by a fair
batted ball while touching a base, except when hit by an infield-fly
or after the ball has passed a fielder and no other fielder had a
play on the ball. If the runner is touching first or third, he is
not out unless the ball touches him over fair territory. If one foot
is on the base and the other is in foul ground and he is hit on the
foul ground foot, he is not out. It is a foul ball. (If the ball has
not passed beyond first or third.) |
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22.
NO
STEAL ON FOUL-TIP MYTH.
A
runner may not steal on a foul-tip. |
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is nothing foul about a foul-tip. If the ball nicks the bat and goes
to the catcher's glove and is caught, this is a foul-tip by
definition. A foul-tip is a strike and the ball is alive. It is the
same as a swing-and-miss. If the ball is not caught, it is a foul
ball. |
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23.
FLY
BALL FORCE OUT MYTH.
It
is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on
a fly ball. |
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force play is when a runner is forced to advance because the batter
became a runner. When the batter is out on a caught fly, all forces
are removed. An out on an a failure to tag-up, is NOT a force out.
Any runs that cross the plate before this out will count. |
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24.
MISSED BASE APPEAL MYTH.
An appeal on a
runner who missed a base cannot be a force out. |
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runner must touch all the bases. If the runner misses a base to
which he was forced because the batter became a runner and is put
out before touching that base, the out is still a force play. If
this is the third out, no runs may score. The base can be touched or
the runner can be touched, either way it's a force out. |
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25.
OUT
OF THE BASELINE MYTH.
A
runner’s out if he’s out of the baseline to avoid a fielder
fielding a batted ball. |
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runner MUST avoid a fielder attempting to field a BATTED ball. A
runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when attempting
to avoid a tag. |
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26.
NO
ADVANCE ON INFIELD FLY MYTH.
Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called. |
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Infield-fly is no different than any other fly ball in regard to the
runners. The only difference is that they are never forced to
advance because the batter is out whether the ball is caught or not. |
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27.
NO
RUN ON THIRD OUT MYTH.
No
run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for
not tagging up. |
| Yes
it can. This is not a force play. A force play is when a runner is
forced to advance because the batter became a runner. When the
batter is out on a caught fly, all forces are removed. An out on an
a failure to tag-up, is NOT a force out. Any runs that cross the
plate before this out will count. |
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28.
NO
HIT ON BOUNCED PITCH MYTH.
A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit. |
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pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't
matter how it gets to the batter. The batter may hit any pitch that
is thrown. A pitch that bounces before reaching the plate may never
be a called strike or a legally caught third strike. (If the ball
does not cross the foul line, it is not a pitch.) |
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29. NO FIRST BASE ON BOUNCED PITCH MYTH.
The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after
it bounces.
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pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't
matter how it gets to the batter. If the batter is hit by a pitch
while attempting to avoid it, he is awarded first base. |
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30. TWO SECOND CATCH MYTH.
If a fielder holds a fly ball for two seconds
it's a catch. |
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catch is legal when the umpire judges that the fielder has COMPLETE
control of the ball. The release of the ball must be voluntary and
intentional. |
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31.
FOOT
TAG MYTH.
You
must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal. |
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can tag a base with ANY part of the body. |
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32.
DEAD
BALL ON BALK MYTH.
The
ball is always immediately dead on a balk. |
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Federation rules it is, not in any others. If a throw or pitch is
made after the balk call, the ball is delayed dead. At the end of
the play the balk may be enforced or not depending on what happened.
On a throw; if ALL runners advance on the play, the balk is ignored.
If not, the balk award is enforced from the time of pitch. On a
pitch; if ALL runners INCLUDING the batter, advance on the play, the
balk is ignored. Otherwise, it is no-pitch and the balk award is
made from the time of the pitch. |
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33.
FAIR
FEET, FAIR BALL MYTH.
If
a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched,
it is a fair ball. |
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position of the player's feet or any other part of the body is
irrelevant. A ball is judged fair or foul based on the relationship
between the ball and the ground at the time the ball is touched by
the fielder. |
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34.
APPEAL
MYTH.
The
ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can
be made. |
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appeal may be made anytime the ball is alive. The only time the ball
must go to the pitcher, is when time is out. The ball cannot be made
live until the pitcher has the ball while on the rubber and the
umpire says "Play." If time is not out, the appeal can be
made immediately. |
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35.
FALSE
WINDUP MYTH.
With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his
windup and then stops. |
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pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. If the ball
is not delivered, it is not a pitch. Therefore it cannot be a ball.
If this happens with runners on base it is a balk. The rule for LL
is different. It is an illegal pitch and a ball with or without
runners on base. |
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36.
MUST
SET TO PICK MYTH.
The
pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw. |
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pitcher is required to come to a complete stop in the Set position
before delivering the pitch, not before making a throw. |
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37.
MUST
STEP OFF RUBBER TO PICK MYTH.
The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off
throw. |
| If
the pitcher steps off the rubber he is no longer the pitcher, he is
a fielder. He can throw to a base from the rubber, provided he does
not break any of the rules under rule 8.05. |
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38.
FIELDER
OVER THE FENCE HOMERUN MYTH.
If a fielder catches a fly and then falls over a fence
it is a homerun. |
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long as the fielder is not touching the ground in dead ball
territory when he catches the ball, it is a legal catch if he holds
onto the ball and meets the definition of a catch. If the catch is
not the third out and the fielder falls down in dead ball territory
after catching the ball, all runners are awarded one base. If the
fielder remains on his feet in dead ball territory after the catch,
the ball is alive and he may make a play. |
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39.
DEAD
BALL WHEN UMPIRE IS HIT MYTH.
The ball is dead anytime an umpire is hit by the ball. |
| If
an umpire is hit by a batted ball before it passes a fielder, the
ball is dead. On any other batted or thrown ball, the ball is alive
when the umpire is hit with the ball. Umpire interference also
occurs when the plate umpire interferes with the catcher's attempt
to prevent a stolen base. |
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40.
HOME
PLATE UMPIRE MYTH.
The
home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime. |
| The
umpire who made a call or ruling may ask for help if he wishes. |
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