Misunderstood High School Rules

 
1a. 1st inning and the batter doubles into left field. However, the batter accidentally threw his bat. The bat clearly strikes the catcher and the catcher is on the ground in pain. Even before playing action concludes, the defensive coach is yelling "the batter threw the bat and hit my catcher, so the batter is out". What does the umpire do?
 
Call
Some coaches believe that a batter is out if he throws his bat. Admittedly, if a bat is thrown and it interferes with a put-out -- then an out can be declared by the umpire. With the exception of that case, the batter is never out on a thrown bat. The first thrown bat is a team warning and subsequent thrown bat results in a player ejection. An intentionally thrown bat is an immediate ejection, but still not an automatic out.

1b.  Six innings later in the same game as above in 1a, a teammate of the player who threw the bat singles to left. However, the batter threw his bat, but it harmlessly hit the backstop. The defensive coach does not notice the thrown bat, but the plate umpire does. What does the umpire do?
 
Call
Some coaches believe that a batter is out if he throws his bat. Admittedly, if a bat is thrown and it interferes with a put-out -- then an out can be declared by the umpire. With the exception of that case, the batter is never out on a thrown bat. The first thrown bat is a team warning and subsequent thrown bat results in a player ejection. An intentionally thrown bat is an immediate ejection, but still not an automatic out.

2. A batter grounds to the shortstop, but the batter beats the throw to 1st base. The batter overruns 1st base (as he legally is permitted). However, the batter-runner returns to 1st base by walking back with both feet entirely in fair territory. The first base coach yells to the batter-runner to return to first in foul territory as the defensive coach instructs his 1st baseman to tag the batter-runner while he is still in fair territory. When the batter-runner is tagged before returning to 1st base, what does the umpire do?
 
Call
A player is allowed to overrun first base, but he must immediately return to first. He could be put out if he makes an attempt to advance (or fakes an advance). The rule does not mention the position of the players feet (fair or foul) -- so that is not a consideration. At a camp that I was at last year, they use the phrase "as long as the player does not make a baseball-move toward second, then the player is protected."

3a. Is the batter-runner out if he overruns first base on a base-on-balls?
 
Call
NF 8-2-7 specifically notes that a player who is awarded a base on balls is not entitled to overrun first base.

3b. Is the batter-runner out if he overruns first base after being hit by a pitch?
 
Call
The ball is dead, so the runner is not at risk of being put out until the umpire puts the ball back in play.

3c. After a fair bunt, what if the batter-runner slides head-first into first base, is then called "safe", and then stands up and leaves the base to dust off the front of his uniform. Is he protected from being tagged out?
 
Call
This is a tricky one. The runner is out if he attempts (or fakes) to run to second base. He is also out if he is off the base on the home plate side of first. The umpire will have to determine if he losses protection while he dusts himself off (because he may not be immediately returning to the base).

4. With two outs, a 1-0 count, and the winning run on 3rd base, the batter hits a foul ball behind the backstop. The runner on 3rd base does not re-tag third after the foul ball. Instead he remains standing about 5 feet from third base. The umpire puts the ball in play and the pitcher delivers ball-2. The defensive coach then yells "the runner on 3rd did not re-tag. He is out and the inning is over". What do the umpires do?
 
Call
After a foul ball, the base runners have an obligation to return to their base at the time of the pitch. The umpire should not put the ball back into play until four conditions are met: 1) The batter is in the batter's box and is ready, 2) The pitcher is in contact with the pitching rubber, 3) The catcher is in his catcher's box and is ready, and 4) All runners have returned to their base occupied at the time of the pitch.

If the umpire puts the ball in play without the runners retouching AND their position on the base path does not give them an advantage in achieving the next base -- then play continues without penalty.

5. The right handed batter has a 2-1 count. The 3rd base coach calls "time" to talk to the batter. The batter returns to the plate but bats left handed. After the count goes to 3-2, the batter calls "time" and returns to the right handed batter's box to get ready for the full count pitch. Each time the batter changed batter's box, the defensive coach yells, "You can't allow that... once the batter starts the at-bat on one side of the plate, he can not change -- especially after two strikes!". Does the umpire have a problem with the batter changing batter's boxes?
 
Call
A batter may switch between the batter's boxes as long as the pitcher is not in a position ready to pitch (NF 7-3-3). In both of the situations described below, "time" was called, so it appears that the batter was not delaying the game, making a mockery of the game, or disconcerting the pitcher -- so the batter's switch should be allowed.

An ambidextrous pitcher must visually indicate which hand he intends to pitch to the batter. The pitcher may not change hands during that batter's time at-bat (unless the ambidextrous pitcher is injured or a pinch hitter is inserted).

6a. With a 2-2 count, the defensive coach notifies the plate umpire that the wrong batter is at the plate. The offensive coach admits that he did not notify anyone of this legal substitution. What does the umpire do?
 
Call
The coach should announce substitutions, but there is no penalty if his does not. This is known as an "unannounced substitution". This is very different from an "illegal substitution". While a coach may mix up these terms, an umpire should not. A legal and unannounced substitution is fine.

So, in all three cases (6a, 6b, and 6c), there is no penalty and the game continues.

6b. What if the unannounced (but legal) substitute is a runner on second base at the time he is discovered?
 
Call
The coach should announce substitutions, but there is no penalty if his does not. This is known as an "unannounced substitution". This is very different from an "illegal substitution". While a coach may mix up these terms, an umpire should not. A legal and unannounced substitution is fine.

So, in all three cases, there is no penalty and the game continues.

6c. What if the unannounced (but legal) substitute is playing shortstop and has just turned a double-play and then is discovered to be unannounced?
 
Call
The coach should announce substitutions, but there is no penalty if his does not. This is known as an "unannounced substitution". This is very different from an "illegal substitution". While a coach may mix up these terms, an umpire should not. A legal and unannounced substitution is fine.

So, in all three cases, there is no penalty and the game continues.

7. Who has the "right of way" when the defense is about to field a batted fair ball and the runner is legally running in his required narrow base path?
 
The shortstop is playing a couple of steps behind a straight-line between 2nd and 3rd base. Runners are on 1st and 2nd when the batter grounds to the shortstop (requiring both base runners to advance). The shortstop steps into the base path to field the ground ball, but the runner collides with the shortstop and both fall to the ground. The defense wants the runner called out for interference. The offense wants the runner to be awarded 3rd, due to the fielder obstructing the base runner in the base path.
 
A. The offense is right -- the runner has the right to run unobstructed within the base paths. The runner is awarded 3rd base.
B. Play on. Both the runner and fielder had a right to be where they were.
C. The defense is right -- the fielder has the right of way. The ball is dead and the runner is out.
D. Same as "C" and the umpire could also declare the batter out too (a double play).
 
Call
In this situation, the answer is "D". The runner, even though he is running within the base path, must avoid the fielder while the fielder is in the act of fielding the batted ball. If (in the umpire's judgement) the offensive interference prevented a defensive double-play, two outs may be called.
 
8a. Assume there is a runner standing on 3rd and no outs. With the infield at normal depth, a batted ball strikes the runner in fair territory while standing on the base, what is the call?
 
Call
The runner is out and the ball is dead (NF 8-4-2k).

8b. Same as 8a, but the runner is in foul territory (but still in contact with the base), what is the call?
 
Call
Foul ball.

8c. Assume there is a runner on 3rd and no outs. There is a slow roller up the 3rd base line and the 3rd baseman follows the ball up the line, waiting/hoping for the ball to go foul, and it strikes the runner in fair territory who is on the base, what is the call?
 
Call
Since the fielder already had a play on the ball, there is no penalty and play continues (NF 8-4-2k).
 
8d. Assume there is a runner standing on 3rd and no outs. A hard-hit batted ball deflects off the 3rd baseman and then the ball strikes the runner who is on the base, what is the call?
 
Call
There is no penalty for a runner struck be a deflected ball. Play continues.

8e. The bases are loaded and an infield fly is declared. The pop-up hits the runner who is standing on third base, what is the call?
 
BONUS: Must a runner who is standing on his base leave his base to get out of the way of a fielder making a play on a pop-up?
 
Call
There is no penalty for a runner struck be a deflected ball. Play continues.

BONUS: A runner does not need to leave the base but he also must also not interfere. If a runner "holds his ground" on the base (in the umpire's judgement) and interferes, he is out. If he made some reasonable effort to avoid the fielder, he is protected (NF 8-2-8).

9a. Defensive coaches believe that when they discover a player at-bat that does not match the line-up in their scorebook, then there must be a penalty. They also think that if they discover an out-of-order runner on a base, there should be some type of penalty too.
 
With the batting order: Player #11, #22, #33 and #44:
 
After player #11 singles, #33 steps in the batter's box, the umpire signals "play", and then the defense correctly points out that #22 should be batting. What is the call?
 
Call
The improper batter (#33) is replaced by the proper batter (#22). #22 assumes the count and there is no other penalty, NF 7-1-1.

9b. Same as question 9a, but the count is 2-2 on #33 before the error is detected?
 
Call
Same answer as 9a: the improper batter (#33) is replaced by the proper batter (#22). #22 assumes the count and there is no other penalty, NF 7-1-1.

9c. Same situation as questions 9a and 9b, but what if #33 singles, so number #11 moves to 3rd base on the single and then the defense immediately points out that #22 should have been batting instead of #33?
 
Call
The improper batter (#33) is removed from the base. The runner is returned to 1st base. The proper batter (#22) is declared out (Note, not the player who batted -- but the player who failed to bat is out!). #33 returns to bat for a second time.

9d. Same situation as above, but what if #33 singles and number #11 moves to 3rd base on the single and the defense waits until a 1-1 count on #44 to point out that #22 should have batted instead of #33?
 
Call
Since #44 has received a pitch, he is now the proper batter and play continues without penalty.

10. Runner on 3rd, one out, and the batter has a 2-2 count. The runner at third is stealing home on the pitch. The pitch is a perfect strike, so the batter swings (to avoid a called strike three and a tag-out at home). As the batter swings, the pitch hits the back of the batter's hand and rolls toward the pitcher. The pitcher has no play at home so he quickly throws to first to retire the batter -- but he over-throws first and the batter ends up at 2nd base. The scorekeeper puts up the go-ahead run on the scoreboard. What does the plate umpire do?
 
Call
This situation happened to me in a recent high school game. As soon as the pitch struck the hand of the batter (as the batter was swinging), the ball is dead, the batter is out (strike three), and the runner returns to third (NF 7-3-4). Even though I was attempting to kill the play, neither team paid attention to my dead ball call. I had to rule the batter out (who was standing at second) and return the runner to 3rd (he was celebrating in the dugout) and I had to have the run taken off the scoreboard (and I had to plan an escape route after the game).

11a. While on the pitching mound (but not on the pitching rubber), the pitcher licks his fingers and then takes the ball out of his glove (without wiping his fingers off). At that point, what does the umpire do when:
   A. The bases are loaded?
   B. The bases are empty?
 
Call
When not in contact with the rubber, if the pitcher goes to his mouth and then directly to the ball, there is no penalty until the pitcher assumes a pitching position on the rubber. At that point, regardless of the number of base runners, a ball is added to the count.

11b. While on the pitching rubber in the wind-up position and the ball in his glove, the pitcher licks his fingers, distinctly wipes off on his jersey and grabs the ball. At that point, what does the umpire do:
   A. With bases loaded?
   B. With bases empty?
 
Call
If the pitcher goes to his mouth while on the rubber (regardless if he wipes off), it is a balk if runners are on base and a ball otherwise.

12. I have noticed an increased tendency for coaches to ask umpires to get help from their umpire partners when they disagree with a call. Which of these 10 scenarios would you label:
 
A) Probably should ask your partner for help,  or
B) Should never ask your partner for help
 
1. On a really really close 6-3 ground-out, the field umpire signals "out", but the 1st base coach asks the field umpire to get help?
2. On a check swing that the plate umpire calls "strike", the 3rd base coach asks the plate umpire to get help?
3. On a check swing that the plate umpire calls "ball", the defensive coach asks the plate umpire to get help?
4. On a fly ball down the 3rd base line, the field umpire calls "foul" on a ball that actually was clearly fair. The 3rd base coach asks the field umpire to get help from the plate umpire?
5. On a fly ball down the 3rd base line, the plate umpire points "fair" on a ball that was clearly foul. The defensive coach asks the plate umpire to get help for the field umpire?
6. On a pitch that was likely out of the strike zone, the plate umpire calls "strike" and the 3rd base coach asks the plate umpire to get help from the field umpire?
7. From the "C" position, the field umpire calls the batter-runner out at first on a 6-3 ground-out, but the 1st base coach wants help because he thinks there was a pulled foot on the part of the first baseman?
8. On a steal of 2nd base, the field umpire calls the runner "out" on a really really close tag play, but the 3rd base coach asks the field umpire to get help from the plate umpire?
9. On an 0-2 pitch, with no outs and bases loaded, the batter swings and misses for strike 3, and the catcher drops the ball. The 3rd base coach wants the plate umpire to ask his partner if he saw the bat nick the ball (and therefore a foul ball)?
10. No outs and a runner on 3rd. The batter flies deep to center and the runner on 3rd base tags up and scores. The defense appeals that the runner left early. The plate umpire confirms the legal tag-up, but the defensive coach asks to get help from the field umpire?
 
Call
1. B: This is the field umpire's call, no matter how close the call
2. B: "Check swing strikes are not appealable"
3. A: This is the most common request for help and the plate umpire should generally go for help from his partner
4. B: Once you kill the ball with a foul call, you should not reverse that call
5. A: Although it would be rare, if you kept the ball live (fair), then at the end of playing action you could reverse the call to "foul", return the runners, and add a strike to the count.
6. B: Called balls and strikes are not appealable
7. A: If a coach asks for help on a pulled foot or swipe tag, it is customary to go for help from your partner, if you are unsure.
8. B: The field umpire is 6-10 feet from this call while the plate umpire is at least 125 feet away. Why would you ask your partner?
9. B: The plate umpire is 3-6 feet away from the tip. Why would your partner hear or see anything different?
10. A: The tag-up is clearly the plate umpire's responsibility to watch, but huddling may give the coaches "the illusion of teamwork".