Some rules questions

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by hags7

2 questions on tough rules:

1. Are the hands "part of the bat" when a batter is hit by a pitch? I haven't been able to find it in the rulebook.

2. What is the proper procedure for an appeal to a base? Is it required that the pitched step back on the rubber then step off to appeal, or can they just go straight to the appeal?

Thanks.

1. This is not a "tough rule", this is a silly myth.

2. Under all codes, if the ball is live, the pitcher does not have to take the rubber and step off. The codes differ as to what can/has to be done under dead ball situations.