Baseball Myths and Conceptions

[Baseball_North]

Hey guys....

Can you help me come up with a list of "myths" that have been created somehow over the years.... you know, the ones that coaches and especially parents seem to always "know".

I can think of:

(1) The batted ball that bounces off the plate is automatically foul.

(2) No matter what play it is, or where the ball is thrown to, the runners get "the base they are going to, plus one more".

(3) I'm not sure if this is solely a Canadian rule (the "crash rule"), but "he didn't slide! he should be thrown out!"

(4) The classic "how is it an infield fly, if it's in the outfield?"

(5) Coaches that want an infield fly called on a bunt.

(6) Taking signs off the rubber is a balk.

(7) The strike zone is from the elbows to the knees vertically.

I must be missing some...

[GarthB]

Jim Booth has done your work for you. It's probably posted somewhere at Sleazeteamz. I'm sure one of denizens of that board also posts here and they can tell you where to find it.

[scyguy]

where do you think the idea for taking sign off of rubber is a balk originated? This is believed by alot of people.

[Illini_Ref]

The NFHS rules (Rule 6-1-1) states that the pitcher "shall take his sign from the catcher with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate" The penalty for violation of article 1 says that "The ball is dead immediately when an illegal pitch occurs. If there is no runner, a ball is awarded the batter. If there is a runner such illegal act is a BALK."

Seems to me that taking signs off the rubber IS a balk.

[TwoBits]

Interestingly enough, I was working on the same topic about 2 weeks ago! Got some great feedback from the members of this board. I have been discretely placing this list near concession stands at ball parks in my area.

Any more feedback is greatly appreciated!

Top Baseball/Softball Rule Myths

PLEASE REMEMBER that these are MYTHS and therefore are all FALSE unless otherwise noted by high school or local league rules.

The Batter
· The hands are considered part of the bat. FALSE
· If the batter breaks his/her wrists when swinging, it's a strike. FALSE
· The batter cannot be called out for interference if he/she is in the batter's box. FALSE
· The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes. FALSE
· The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out. FALSE
· The batter is out if he/she starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike. FALSE
· If the batter does not pull the bat back while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike. FALSE
· The batter is out if a bunted ball bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat. FALSE
· The batter is out if his foot touches the plate. FALSE in all codes except high school. This is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 7-3-2 & high school softball rule 7-3-2. In all codes, the batter is never called out if contact is not made with the pitch.
· A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit. FALSE
· The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces. FALSE

Running to First
· The batter-runner must turn to his/her right after over-running first base. FALSE
· The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls. FALSE in all codes except high school. This is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 8-4-2h exception & high school softball rule 8-7-3d &
8-7-3e.
· The batter-runner is always out if he/she runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball. FALSE

Base running
· A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players after a homerun is hit over the fence. FALSE
· Tie goes to the runner. FALSE. It doesn’t go to the fielder, either. The runner either beats the throw or the throw beats the runner. Ties do not exist.
· The runner gets the base he/she is going to plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play. FALSE
· Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out. FALSE
· Runners may never run the bases in reverse order. FALSE
· The runner must always slide when the play is close. FALSE, but some local leagues and age groups have mandatory slide rules. Check with your local league manager.
· The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base. FALSE in baseball, but TRUE in softball. See high school softball rule 8-8-13.
· A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. FALSE
· Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called. FALSE


Fair/Foul, Foul Tips, and Others
· If a batted ball hits the plate first, it's a foul ball. FALSE
· If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball. FALSE
· The ball is dead on a foul tip. FALSE
· A runner may not steal on a foul tip. FALSE
· If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds, it's a catch. FALSE
· If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence, it is a homerun. FALSE
· The ball is dead anytime the ball hits an umpire. FALSE
· The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime. FALSE

Appeals
· It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball. FALSE
· An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out. FALSE
· No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up. FALSE
· You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal. FALSE
· The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made. FALSE

Pitching
· The ball is always immediately dead on a balk. FALSE, but this is TRUE if a league is using high school rules, but in baseball only. See high school baseball rule 5-1-1k. In softball, the term “balk” is replaced with the term “illegal pitch”. However, in softball an illegal pitch is a delayed dead ball and may be hit by the batter if the pitch is released. In this case, after the play ends, the batting team may elect to take the illegal pitch penalty or take the result of the play. See high school softball rule 5-1-2a.
· With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his windup and then stops. FALSE, but this is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 6-1-2 Penalty & high school softball rule 6-1-2a Penalty.
· The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw. FALSE (Pickoffs not used in softball.)
· The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw. FALSE (Pickoffs not used in softball.)

Sources: On the Internet…http://www.eteamz.com/baseball/rules/obr/myths/
2004 National Federation of High Schools Baseball Rules Book
2004 National Federation of High Schools Softball Rules Book

[DG]

The ball hit the plate! Yeah, I know.

[David B]

Originally posted by Illini_Ref
The NFHS rules (Rule 6-1-1) states that the pitcher "shall take his sign from the catcher with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate" The penalty for violation of article 1 says that "The ball is dead immediately when an illegal pitch occurs. If there is no runner, a ball is awarded the batter. If there is a runner such illegal act is a BALK."

Seems to me that taking signs off the rubber IS a balk.

Wait a minute now. If states "when an illegal pitch occurs".

Simply taking the signs with the foot off the rubber is not an illegal pitch. Its a don't do that.

The purpose of the rule is to prevent the quick pitch.

So if the pitcher quick pitches then you have reason to make a call, but not simply by taking signs off the rubber.

I don't have my case book with me but I'm sure there is an example in there.

Thanks
David

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by David B

Wait a minute now. If states "when an illegal pitch occurs".

Simply taking the signs with the foot off the rubber is not an illegal pitch. Its a don't do that.

What's the FED definition of "Illegal Pitch?" (Hint: It's different from the OBR definition, and doesn't require a pitch)

I don't have my case book with me but I'm sure there is an example in there.

Thanks
David

I don't think there's an example. But it was on the FED part 1 test last year or the year prior. By rule, it's an illegal pitch and, thus, a balk.

It is a call that sometiomes gets "overlooked" in some parts.

[David B]

Originally posted by bob jenkins

What's the FED definition of "Illegal Pitch?" (Hint: It's different from the OBR definition, and doesn't require a pitch)

I don't think there's an example. But it was on the FED part 1 test last year or the year prior. By rule, it's an illegal pitch and, thus, a balk.

It is a call that sometiomes gets "overlooked" in some parts.

Maybe that's what I was thinking of.

Yeah overlooked is a good word for it round these parts.

Thanks
DAvid

[millhouse76]

Why overlook it? Tell the kid, and then if he does it again, call it. If you don't do anything about it, sooner or later the other coach is going to bring it up. This is a great opportunity to show the other coach that you are focused on the game and doing your job without being too over officious.

[David B]

Originally posted by millhouse76
Why overlook it? Tell the kid, and then if he does it again, call it. If you don't do anything about it, sooner or later the other coach is going to bring it up. This is a great opportunity to show the other coach that you are focused on the game and doing your job without being too over officious.

We must be talking apples and oranges.

The only time I have every heard or read about signs being taken off the rubber is small ball. (kids that don't shave)

In my 25 years of calling the other baseball (kids that shave) I have never seen it mentioned.

Maybe its the quality of baseball where I have called, but our coaches would never bring up such a trivial offense.

This would be like one mentioning the F3 has a foot out of bounds. (Of course in FED this is legal by rule)

Over officious is a good word for it.

Thanks
DAvid