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Originally Posted by BigMurr
First time poster, long time reader. I am going into coaching this year and wanted to clear up a few things I have taken note of so far in the MLB games I've watched this season.... I know MLB rules don't = the rules I will be coaching under, but for the most part they are common.
#1 - I saw an umpire call a "ball" twice on a pitcher for licking his fingers. The commentator mentioned he can't do this on the mound? Is this correct? Can he do it off the mound? I think the umpire was named Diaz.
#2 - Can an infield fly be called on a bunt that pops up high into the air?
#3 - Why do they always show the side TV angle on half-swings? Is it true that the bat has to cross the plate to be a strike on a check swing? I can't find a rule reference for this. What happens if a guy is way at the back of the box?
#4 - Does the pitcher have to have his entire foot on the pitching rubber or just part of it?
#5 - How far is the batters box away from the plate?
#6 - If a player hits the ball twice with his bat, is he out? Is it foul?
#7 - What happens if the runner runs out of that first baseline lane to avoid a first baseman attemting to catch an errant throw... but then the batter gets hit by the ball? Is it interference on the batter?
#8 - What is the process for appeals? It is common to see the pitcher set, step off, and throw to the base... but I can't find a reference for this either.
#9 - Do teams have to have a 1st base and 3rd base coach at all times?
Thanks a lot for some help. I want to make sure I am teaching my guys the correct rules.
I really appreciate any help.
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What the hell, since you're a coach, I'll bite...maybe I'll spare an umpire down the line from having you scream at them because "you're positive you know the rule."
All of my answers are pursuant to OBR (Official Baseball Rules) (aka MLB rules).
#1 That is correct. He may go to his mouth off the dirt area of the mound. The penalty is a ball. Pro umpires are instructed to call this.
#2 A BUNTED ball can never be an infield fly. (Nor can a line drive)
#3 (a) I don't know I'm not a TV producer. (b) Not under OBR...I believe NCAA has a rule to that effect, but don't quote me on that. (c) Not an issue under OBR since all we care about is "did the batter offer at the pitch, in our judgment".
#4 By interpretation, "any part of the pivot foot on the pitching plate is legal." Thus, not all of the pivot foot must be on the pitcher's plate.
#5 Pro umpires don't give a sh!t. What's a batter's box? (I think others will tell you 6-inches)
#6 The answer to this question is found on aisle 3 of my local grocery store: "Depends". "If a batter chops a ball into the dirt or the plate and it immediately strikes or comes up and strikes the batter, or his bat, it is a foul ball only, and not interference." If he hits the ball and then his bat strikes his batted ball a second time over fair territory...then the batter is out for interference.
#7 I'd have to see the play.
#8 The reason you described the appeal process as you did in your question (though you don't know it) is because of two things: (a) an appeal can only be made while the ball is LIVE AND (b) when the ball becomes dead the ONLY way it can become live again is for the pitcher to have the ball while in-contact with the pitcher's plate.
Thus, if a defense wants to appeal but the ball is dead at the moment they decide to appeal, they must give the ball to the pitcher, have the pitcher get "on the rubber" and have all of the umpires "discontinue their signaling of time" in order to make the ball LIVE. When the ball becomes LIVE, the pitcher MAY then legally disengage the pitcher's plate and throw to the base they wish to appeal (assuming the defense is appealing a missed base or that a runner left a base too soon). (Disengaging the rubber is not required.)
However, if the ball is LIVE (i.e. it never became dead) at the time the defense decides it wants to appeal, there is no need to go through all this. Rather, the defense can just throw the ball to a fielder who can touch the missed base and, at the same time, appeal to the umpire that the runner missed the base. Or the defense can throw it to a fielder who can tag the runner (who allegedly missed the base) standing on a subsequent base and, at the same time, appeal that the runner missed the base.
#9 Under MLB and NAPBL interpretations: Pro teams are REQUIRED to have two base coaches.